I looked at JC. "Yea.. finish up your sentence." I looked him curiously.
	"Well, you remember when we were in the car earlier Mandy?" Justin cut in.
	"Yea. What about it?" I asked.
	"Well the group singing that song, *N SYNC?"  
"That's us." Justin said gently, as if I were going to faint or something if he said it too loudly.
	"No way!" I said, a look of disbelief crossing my face. 
	"Yes way." Chris said.
	"No way." I repeated firmly.
	"Way, Mandy." JC said gently. "Want us to prove it?"
	I looked at him, nodding slowly. JC was awfully hot, and if chances were good, he was single.
	"Okay, this is a remake of a Boston song we're doing. Listen." JC told me.
"Well it's more than a feeling, when I hear that old song they used to play. And I begin dreamin', till I see Mary-Anne walk away..." They began to harmonize, and my eyes grew wide. "I close my eyes and turn away..." JC sang as they finished. They weren't lying! They were *N SYNC!
	"You okay Mand?" Justin asked, looking at me.
	I nodded. "Yea, I never knew you could sing Kiddo!" I said, glancing at JC for a second.
	Justin nodded. "You've been gone awhile." He said simply. 
	I nodded. "Too long I think. Why didn't you tell me!?" I asked, slightly hurt.
	"Hey! I'm allowed to have a few secrets! Besides, if you had been a fan, how weird would that have been? Very weird! Besides, I didn't think you'd believe me." He said. I sat on the couch.
	"Well I believe now." I said simply.
	Conrad called us into dinner. We ate hamburgers and french fries, oddly enough. I giggled to JC, who was sitting on my left, how weird it was being in a formal room like this and eating such informal food. JC laughed and munched on a fry. We ate and then we all decided to roam around in the space behind Gran's house, I guess you could of called it her back yard, except that once again, it was so huge. We hung out, basically talking until Justin and Chris got it into their heads that I deserved a dip in the pool. I shook my head as they inched toward me.
	"Not a chance guys." The mischief gleamed in their eyes. I shook my head. "No! Oh come on guys! I don't wanna get wet." I kept on inching back, and the two of them began to inch forward. Soon Joey and Lance were trying to help them surround me. "Umm I can't swim?" I said, I shot JC a pleading glance, but he only laughed and continued to watch. I glanced at the four guys, and turned on my heel and darted to the groves of trees that were about 200 yards away. The guys made chase, but I was a good 150 feet ahead of them. But they were quick and were gaining on me. I grabbed at a fat apple tree with a low branch and quickly hoisted myself up. I had spent a good many years climbing trees, so I got up fairly quickly. I stepped up a few more branches, just to be sure that even Joey couldn't reach me. I grabbed apples off the branch, just to be sure I was properly armed, and I waited silently.
	"Where'd she go?" I heard Chris ask, panting a bit. He sounded about 45 feet away or so.
	"She came in here. I saw her." Chris said, panting a bit too. I took a deep breath, so as to slow my panting, that way I couldn't be heard breathing.
	"Maybe she went back towards JC?" Lance panted.
	"No, she's here. In a tree I'm sure." Justin said, I could see him, he was looking into the trees. I ducked behind some foliage. Smart boy, I thought.
	"She couldn't of climbed that fast." Chris said.
	"Yeah, these branches are so high it would of taken her some serious work, and she was running fairly fast." Lance said. I caught a glimpse of the back of his head.
	"Not Mandy. She's been climbing trees since we were little. She's speedy at it too." Justin said.
	A twig snapped. The guys' heads turned toward the sound. 
	"She's in a tree huh?" Joey said in a harsh whisper.
	"Okay so I was wrong. Come on! She's going in that pool, one way or another!" Justin laughed mischievously. The guys nodded and walked toward the sound. After they were a good 200 yards away or so, I jumped down from the tree, landing softly in the leaves. I darted in the opposite way from the guys and ran smack dab into a dark, hard object. I gasped, ready to scream.
	"SHHH!" Came a harsh whisper.
	"JC!? But... I thought... the sound..?" I said in broken sentences.
	"A rock. I couldn't let em toss you into the pool." JC smiled. When I looked at him questioningly he said, "You can't swim, remember?"
	I nodded. "Yeah, right." I agreed, almost sadly. I had wanted him to rescue me for a better reason than that one, but at least I was rescued. JC took my hand and led me back to the back stairs of the mansion. He held my hand the entire way! I smiled inwardly. So maybe he did like me! We sat on the steps for a good 20 minutes before the guys returned from the orchard area.
	"What?! How did you-?" Lance asked.
	"Mandy Magic." I replied.
	"How in the world-?" Chris asked.
	"Mandy Magic, I told you." I repeated.
	"Were you in a tree?" Justin asked.
	"Maybe, maybe not. Oh, and I've been climbing trees since I was 5 guys. It doesn't take me too long to get up. Justin was right on that point." I said knowingly, and got up and began to walk up the stairs to the back doors.
	"So you were in a tree! I told you guys!" Justin said, already forgetting about the pool. He began to follow JC and I up the stairs, the others as well. Eventually the guys all had to go home, and it looked to me like things between JC and I might even become an actual "thing" to speak of, because JC gave me his number, telling me to call him. Justin didn't seem notice. JC kissed my cheek, gave me a hug, and left. The other guys did as well. Gran came in not too much later, as Justin and I were in the middle of a fierce game of Mario Kart. I was beating him, but only barely. Gran said her hellos, telling us she was very tired, and that she was going to bed. At about 11:30 Justin stood. I yawned. I hugged him and he said he'd drop by in a few days.
	After he left I found my way up to my room, getting lost at least three times before I found my door. But as soon as I found my room I darted inside, and made my way to the dresser. I dug out some p.j.'s and went into the bathroom, turning on the water for the huge bathtub. I filled the tub up  really far, and because the tub was so huge this took some time, but I eventually got it up there. The water was so warm that I almost fell asleep. About an hour later I climbed out of the water. My fingertips were all pruny. I climbed into my p.j.'s and towel dried my wavy hair. It was still damp, but I didn't care. I climbed into bed and fell fast asleep.
The Next Morning
	My eyes fluttered open the next morning as a knock came at my door. I glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to the huge bed. It was 10:30. I had slept in quite a bit! I got up and opened the door, only to find Grandma behind it.
	"You're not dressed yet?" She asked surprisedly.
	"No, I was up till late with Justin last night Gran." I said, rubbing my eyes.
	"Oh, well then. Get dressed and come down for breakfast. I've got some errands to run, and I need to know how you're going to fit into all my plans."
	I nodded and she left. I went to the dresser, yawning. I pulled out some especially huge JNCO jeans, and a D.K.N.Y. tee-shirt with a cute Anime chick on the front. I climbed into them, still somewhat asleep. I pulled on some socks and my Sketcher boots. I didn't own too many pairs of JNCO's or too many D.K.N.Y. shirts, but I figured out here I needed to fit in as much as possible, and this was basicly the kind of clothes the guys had been wearing yesterday, so at least for today I'd be in style. I went to the bathroom to brush my hair and put on at least a little make-up.
	I went down stairs, asking a maid where the dining room was. She told me and I found it not too much later. I sat down as Conrad placed a plate of scrambled eggs and sausage and hashbrowns in front of me. I flashed him a smile and ate as Gran explained her plans for today.
	"Well Mandy, I'm having a large, very expensive, very exclusive party here on Saturday, and I need to go a few places, get a few things arranged. I don't want you moping around here all day, so I figured I could drop you off somewhere to hang out. Would you like to go to the mall today?" Gran said, looking at me.
	"Yea, but I'm totally broke Gran." I told her truthfully.
	"Oh that's no problem honey. I'll take care of that. I've missed so many Christmases and birthdays that it probably wouldn't matter how much you spent dearie." She smiled at me.
	"Okay, sure. Can I wear one of the dresses upstairs for the party?" I asked, wondering if I'd have to buy a dress or not.
	"Why yes! That's why they're there!" she said. I finished eating and Gran and I went to the car. We got in and Gran pulled out of the circular drive.
	As we hit the highway, Gran started up a conversation. "So how did it go?" she asked, referring to last night with the guys.
	I told her all about it, neglecting to tell her about my crush on JC. "They tried to throw me in the pool Gran, but I hid in a tree while JC distracted them." Gran chuckled.
	"So do you like JC?" She asked.
	My eyes grew wide. "How do you know?" I asked her in return.
	"I have my ways Mandy." She laughed.
	"Well shhh, okay? I don't wanna scare him." I told her.
	"I can keep a secret child. Trust me." 
	I nodded. We continued to talk until Gran pulled up in front of the mall. Gran pulled a gold card out of her pocket and handed it to me. "Now I trust you not to buy the whole mall, but do buy whatever you'd like. Money is no longer an object Mandy. Call this number when your ready to go home and Conrad will send a car to come pick you up." She handed me the credit card and a slip of paper. I hugged her and hopped out of the car. I waved and she left. I then went inside the huge mall. I stuck the number and the wonderful piece of plastic in my pocket and began to roam around. I walked past Spencer's, and past an electronics place. I eventually came to one of those "You Are Here" dealies and scanned the lists of stores. I eventually found the names and places of a few stores I wanted to at least go into. I headed for the Limited, since that was closest. I hated mall shopping more than anything because everything was super-expensive, and I usually didn't have the money or the spendthrift-like tendencies to be able to bring myself to shell out the money, no matter how much I wanted something. But today was different. I was spending someone else's money, and I had enough money to be able to go a little overboard. I kinda liked that feeling.
	I went into the Limited and glanced around. My eyes darted to a rack full of brightly-colored tee shirts. I dug around untill I found this bright orange one with a cool cartoon chick on the front. I pulled it off the rack. I also talked myself into a neeto pair of khaki cargo pants. I pulled out the credit card and handed it to the woman, who didn't seem to notice that a kid was giving her a credit card. Must of been a fairly common thing I guessed. I took my bag, after signing Gran's name to the reciept.
	I went to a few other stores, not buying something from every store, but by the time 2:30 rolled around I had aquired about 10 bags, and spent about $600 or so. I felt bad, cause I thought I had gone overboard just a bit, but I decided to get a shake and forget my worries. If Gran thought I had spent too much then I could just return some things, no problem. I went to the food court and bought myself a strawberry shake from Mc Donalds, the only place close by. I flopped down in a booth, shoving the bags over to one side. I was having major buyer's remorse.
	I decided to distract myself by scoping out the local cuties. A booth or two down had two guys and a girl sitting in it. One guy had blonde hair, and light eyes, probally blue. He had a huge ballcap pulled low over his eyes, as if he was trying to hide from someone or something He was cute, but he was obviously with the girl, who had blonde hair and a nice smile. She was laughing ang giggling, as were the two guys. The last guy had short blonde hair, and a pair of sunglasses on top of his head. He had dark eyes, and a cute smile. He also had a hat, but his was sitting on the table near his elbow. I guessed hats were chic in Tampa or something. He was making jokes and craking the couple up. I sighed and looked away, reminding myself not to stare.
	I finished off my shake, forcing myself not to steal another glance at the cute guy. I didn't even look up as I grabbed my bags and slid out of the booth, slamming into someone or something and landing right onto my butt, bags flying.
	"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry. I wasn't-" I said, looking up to see who I'd hit. I stopped suddenly as I saw it was the guy I had been forcing myself not to look at. "p-paying attention." I finished after a short silence.
	The guy smiled. "Not a problem. I wasn't really watching either." he held out a hand to help my up. I took it and he helped pull me to my feet. I smiled to him my thanks, and began to pick up all of my bags. He knelt down next to me and helped me. "Jeeze, and I thought I was a mad shopper." he muttered.
	I laughed. "Well, I'm definately regretting buying most of this stuff." I said, trying not to sound like too much of an idiot.
	"Ah. I see. Well since I knocked you over, I think I should probally tell you my name. I'm A.J." He looked at me oddly, as if I might turn into a different person once I knew who he was.
	I held out a hand. "I'm Mandy."
	He took my hand. shook it, and handed me the last bag. I stood. "Nice to meet you Mandy." 
	"You too." I said, adjusting the bags.
	"Can I help ya?" He asked. "I've got a free hand." he held out a hand, and I was tempted to hand him a bag or two, but instead I stupidly said,
	"But aren't you here with people? I mean, I wouldn't want to intrude-" I started.
	"Naw, one more is fine!" He said and I smiled, handing him a couple of bags. We made our way to the couple that he had been hanging with earlier. The blonde girl looked at A.J. and said, "Take long enough slow-poke?" she noticed me and elbowed the blonde one, who turned his gaze from the passing mall crowd to me.
	"Abby meet Mandy. Mandy this is Abby." A.J. introduced.
	"Hi." I told her, giving her my most sincere smile.
	"Um, hi." Abby said, giving me an odd look.
	A.J. flashed Abby an unreadble look and said, "Nick, meet Mandy. Mandy meet Nick."
	Nick looked at me from under his cap saying, "Hi." He gave me a wierd look, and I got the strange feeling he didn't trust me.
	"Hiya." I told him, feeling strangely out of place.
	We walked around, and my uneasiness subsided. I got to know Abby fairly well, but A.J. and Nick seemed a bit reserved still. 
	Nick wanted to head off the the arcade, and A.J went along with him so he didn't have to go alone. Abby and I went off to do some more shopping. Well at least Abby was going to shop. I promised myself I wouldn't buy another thing. We went into this huge vintage store to look around.
	"Hey Abby, why doesn't Nick like me? I mean, he seems so suspicious." I asked her, suddenly wondering.
	She looked at me with wide eyes. "It's not that he doesn't like you Mandy. He's just a very private guy. He doesn't trust anyone right off the bat. He didn't trust me at first either. Don't worry. He likes you well enough, he's just being careful. A.J.'s the same way, he's just not that way with you cause-" she stopped short.
	"He likes me?" I asked, trying to finish her sentence.
	"It's not my place to say anything." She said after a moment of silence. I shrugged nodding.
	We went to a few more stores and my reserve held up. I didn't buy a single thing. But Abby did buy a few things. "I need to check and see if a new single I want is out. Let's go the the Mu§ic $tore." I nodded.
	"Alright."
	We went in and Abby glanced around some shelves. "Mandy, what kinda music do you listen to?"
	"Mostly alternative," I told her, "But I did hear of this cool group. They're local and they've got these harmonies Abby, oh my gosh! And the guys, oh wow! They are hot! They're called-"
	"Backstreet Boys?" Abby asked suddenly.
	"No, *N SYNC. Who's Backstreet Boys?" I asked, changing the subject.
	"A group, very like *N SYNC, cept they've been around a little longer. Here, it's better to let you listen. Put those on." She said, pointing to a big metal box on the wall with headphones attached. I slid on the headphones, and Abby ran to a shelf and pulled a single off the rack, she ran back, quickly swiped the barcode under the machine, and went to put it back. She didn't even let me SEE the cover. I closed my eyes and listened. A cool beat came up, with a heavy bass. I didn't know the names of the singers but I could tell them each apart, since I have the odd ability to pick apart harmonies and notes.
	"Everybody! Rock your body! Everybody! Rock your body right!" came the first voice.
	"Backstreet's back! Alright!" Came a group of five, maybe four voices.
	"Oh my god we're back again! Brothers, sisters everybody sing! Gonna bring the flava, show you how! Got a question for ya, better answer now!" sang this sexy, raspy voice, that somehow sounded strangely familiar. I closed my eyes, trying to recall the voice. I sighed and continued to listen.
	"Am I original?" asked another heavenly voice.
	"Yeah!" Called the group.
	"Am I the only one?" asked the voice from earlier.
	"Yeah!" Called the group
	"Am I sexual?" asked the heavenly one.
	"Yeah!" Called the group again.
	"Am I everything you need? You'd better rock your body now!" sang the guy.
	"Everybody!" came the group.
	"Yeah?" it was still the group, but it was supposed to be the crowd's response.
	"Rock your body!"
	"Yeah!" 
	"Everybody! Rock your body right! Backstreet's back! Alright!" Then the music faded out.
	"Hey! It stopped short!" I said looking at Abby angrily.
	"Well duh! It's only a sample. You've gotta buy the single to hear it all!" she said with a laugh.
	"Well gimme it! I want it!" I said, starting tward the shelf where she had picked up the single. Abby grabbed my arm.
	"You've bought enough first off, and secondly, you can borrow my copy for free." She said, smiling.
	"Alright. Let's go find the guys." I told her.
	We found the arcade, and drug the reluctant boys out. I glanced at my watch. It was 6:00! I had been at the mall for about 6 hours! I had to go home! "Crap! I gotta go home guys, I've been here all day." I told them, sighing.
	A.J. frowned. "You do? Man, lemme give you my number. Nick, got a pen?" Nick dug into the pocket of his huge baggy Tommy jeans, and produced a pen. 
	"Here, lemme find this piece of paper in my pocket for ya to write it on." I told him, since I'd have to dig out the number for Gran's house anyways. I dug through my pockets, but it wasn't there! "Holy shit." I said, muttering the first real curse I'd said in a long time. I sighed, almost regretting cursing in front of A.J. and Abby and Nick, but it was too late now.
	"What's wrong?" A.J. asked, ignoring the curse.
	"I can't find the number I need to call to get home." I told him, worry filling my eyes.
	"Oh, lovely." Abby said.
	"Do you know where your grandma lives?" Nick asked, finally starting to soften up a bit.
	"Um, oh my god..." I muttered, thinking. "I do! I know how to get there, I mean she let me drive home from the airport." I said, my dispair leaving me a bit.
	I told them the directions Gran had given me at the airport. "That's not too far from me." Nick said.
	"I've gotta get over to your house later today anyway Nick, cause of.. the um... the thing... So we'll all go to Mandy's then head up your place. Sound good?" A.J. asked, running a hand thoughtfully over his goateed chin.
	"Alright." Nick said.
	"Come on Mandy, we'll get ya home!" A.J. said, pulling my arm gently tward the exit.