Part I
*This I Promise You* - A fan fiction story by Tammy "Tammtamm" Frederick © Sept. 2000, thetamm@yahoo.com (inspired by the song THIS I PROMISE YOU written by Richard Marx and sung by NSYNC - from their album NO STRINGS ATTACHED, released in 2000)
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"Joey, phone’s for you… it’s Steve." Lance handed the bus phone to a barely awake Joey.
"This better be good. I was having a great dream." Joey commented with a hoarse voice.
"I have some bad news, bud." Steve told his brother. Joey shot up and hit his head on the underside of the upper bunk.
"Mom and dad alright?" Joey asked.
"It’s Andy. He’s gone man…" Steve said. Joey interrupted him.
"What do you mean gone? As in not living in Pennsylvania any more, right?" Joey was beginning to feel sick to his stomach.
"I’m sorry, but I just got off the phone with his sister. He was killed two months ago. While you were in Japan. She’s still too numb to talk about it and I still get no answer or the answering machine at his home number. No one is picking up there."
"Oh man… oh man oh man oh man… Tara’s got to be devastated. He loved her so much." Joey began to cry.
"I can be down there in four hours." Steve said. It sounded like his brother needed him. Joey looked at his watch. It was 10:30am.
"Um, nah, I’ll be okay. I’ll see you and mom and dad in a few days. Could you find out where the grave is and call me back? If he’s buried nearby I want to pay my respects." Joey wanted to go visit the gravesite before he and the guys had to be at the venue for sound check.
"I’ll call you back as soon as I find out. Joe?" Steve said.
"Yeah?" Joey tried not to sound like he was crying.
"I’m sorry about Andy. I know how much he meant to you." Steve said before hanging up the phone. Joey looked at the pictures on his wall of when he was younger. The ones with Andy and him goofing off or just hanging out.
"I promised you once and I promise you now, Andrew… I’ll look after Tara for you, bud." Joey said. He sat on his bunk for a few more minutes before drying his eyes on his shirt and going out to face the guys.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Something’s up with Joey guys. I just heard him yelling on the phone with Steve." Lance said when JC, Justin, and Chris came back on the bus. They had gone for a morning run. Lance had sprained his ankle at a show in Virginia a few days before and was trying not to be on it too much per doctor’s orders.
"You sure? Joey hardly ever yells." Justin commented.
"I know. That’s why I’m worried." Lance told him. Joey came out. The guys pretended to be working on a song with Lance. Joey was grateful, he went into the bathroom and turned on the faucet.
"You’re right, Lance. He’s upset about something." JC said.
"Wonder what happened?" Chris said. JC went over to the bathroom door and knocked on it.
"Joey? Wanna talk about it?" he asked as he looked at his watch. He had to meet Richard Marx at 11:30 for a working lunch. They were going to write songs during lunch.
"No…" Joey thought to himself, but knew if he didn’t, the guys would really worry. He splashed some water on his face and opened the door. Lance handed Joey a glass of orange juice when he came out into the main area of the bus. Everyone sat down. Joey stared at the glass. He didn’t know how to start the conversation.
"Remember a few months ago when I had to pass up the chance to be the best man at a friend’s wedding?" he asked his bandmates and friends. They all nodded.
"You had to say no because we were in Japan for a month." Chris said.
"That friend, Andy, was killed a week before his wedding… two months ago." Joey broke down. He couldn’t believe Andy was gone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tara went to visit Andy’s grave. She hadn’t been there in a week. She had promised herself she would stop going so much so that she could try to move on with her life. She had stopped for flowers on the way there and took them with her when she got out of the car. She had to smile at the thought of owning a PT Cruiser. They had ordered it a year ago and it had arrived a few days ago. It was their wedding present to each other.
"I know I said I wouldn’t come back for a month or two, but I couldn’t stay away. I miss you so much, Andy. Nothing is the same anymore without you." She said as she placed the flowers on the gravestone. "I still can’t bring myself to go back to the house. Trish goes and retrieves the mail for me and David and Brandon keep the lawn mowed. Marxycat is with me at Trish’s. Please help me find the strength to go back to the house and to move on with my life without you. I need your help Andy. Please." She cried.
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"Andrew protected my privacy. I can understand why it was so hard for you to try to contact me." Joey took off his sunglasses and hat. Tara realized then who Joey was.
"Now I know why. You’re with NSYNC. He would refer to you as Just Joe or Joey Doe. Never by your last name and the pictures of you two when you were younger look nothing like you now." Tara told him. She sat down on the bench and offered him a seat. "How did you find out?"
"My brother Steve, tracked down Suzie this morning and she told him. We came here for a show tonight and I really wanted to see Andy but my emails had gone unanswered and the answering machine wasn’t picking up. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner. That I didn’t know sooner." Joey looked into her eyes. He could see the love she still had for Andrew.
"Don’t apologize. I understand and Andy would have too. That’s the way he is, I mean was." Both Tara and Joey were crying.
"I have to go now. I have some things I need to do. It was nice to meet you." Tara stuck out her hand to shake it. Joey, being the gentleman that he is, took it in his hand and kissed the top of her hand.
"I’d like to talk with you some more about our Andy. Can I call you sometime?" Joey asked. Tara thought it would be alright so she took out her business card and flipped it over and wrote her cell phone number on the back.
"It’s always on. Call me day or night." She said softly.
"Thank you." He watched her walk back to her car.
"I’ll watch after her, I promise Andy. I promise." Joey said and put his hand over his lips and then put the hand on the gravestone. "I’ll see you someday my friend." Joey said before turning to head back to the car that brought him to the cemetary. He noticed that the PT Cruiser that Tara had gotten into was still parked so he waved off his bodyguard and went over to it. She was leaning on the steering wheel crying. He tapped lightly on the window. He didn’t want to startle her. "Looks like we could both use that shoulder right now." Joey smiled at her. She nodded in agreement and unlocked the door for him. He motioned for the bodyguard to follow them and he got in on the passenger side in the back seat so that he wouldn’t be easily recognized. He didn’t want her car to be mobbed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Andy said you two met at a Richard Marx show on Long Island but that you had been talking online for a year."
"Yeah, we met thru an online fan digest. Then we met at my first Richard Marx concert. For a while he’d come down every other weekend or I’d go up there but then when it got serious, he was more flexible and transferred down here to a better job and we settled down. He never told me much about you all he would say is `Wait til you meet him Tar… he’s amazing’." She giggled. "Lo and behold, his best friend turns out to be in NSYNC." She said. "So, where are we going?" she asked.
"I don’t know, but I have to be back at the Keswick for sound check at 3pm." He said.
"The Keswick… isn’t Richard playing there tonight?" she asked as she pulled out of the cemetary.
"Yeah and we’re going to be singing with him on a few songs. We are also opening for him, but no one knows because it wasn’t announced. It’s a surprise so don’t tell anyone. Gerri was only going to tell those who are going to the meet and greet so that they would know to meet an hour earlier." Joey explained.
"Cool."
"Are you going tonight?" Joey asked.
"No. I’m not ready to see everyone just yet and I’m afraid that I would just break down again. Everything is still too fresh." She admitted.
"You can’t keep yourself hidden away for ever." Joey said.
"I haven’t been hiding. Friends and family have surrounded me since the accident. I barely have alone time to sleep let alone to visit Andy’s grave. Thank god Suzie finally convinced her parents to go back home. I was beginning to feel anger towards them for not leaving me be. So, tell me… how did the tour do? We had tickets to both shows in Philadelphia, but I sent my girlfriends in my place. I haven’t wanted to do anything without Andy. It just doesn’t feel right without him."
"You’re allowed to have fun you know." Joey said.
"I don’t even know the meaning of that word anymore. You must be devastated to find out two months after the fact. How are you staying so collected?" Tara asked when they pulled into a parking lot in a park.
"Talking to you is helping. Believe me. I wanted to throw things when I first found out this morning, but I didn’t want the guys to worry too much. And I had made a promise to Andy when I turned down the honor of being best man at the wedding." Joey admitted.
"Can I ask what that was?" she asked. She turned to look at him.
"I promised him that I’d look out for you and take care of you if he couldn’t. And I mean to follow thru with that." Joey said.
"I see." She got quiet.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no… just something a nurse told me when I got to the hospital that night." She searched for more tissues. Tears welled up.
"What? What was it?" Joey asked.
"His last words were `keeping your faith when I’m gone’. I now remember that phrase, it’s from …"
"This I promise you." They said in unison. His cell phone rang.
"I need to get this." Joey said and answered the phone. Tara got out of the car to give him some privacy.
"Hello?" Joey answered the phone.
"Hey, it’s Chris. You okay?" Chris asked.
"I’m alright. What’s going on?"
"Not a whole lot. Justin and Lance and I are working on this song and we wanted your opinion on the beat but it can wait. Did you find what you needed to?" Chris was concerned.
"Yeah, and then some. I’ll explain after sound check. 3pm, right?" he asked.
"Yeah. We’ll see you at sound check. Don’t be late."
"Nah, that’ll be JC, you know how he is when he’s working with Richard." Joey managed to laugh.
"We’ll see you in a little bit. Bye." Chris said and hung up the phone. Joey looked up after putting his phone away and saw that Tara was standing at the bank of a creek. He went out to join her. While he walked over to her he looked around the park and noticed how peaceful and beautiful it was.
"Isn’t this the place Andy proposed to you?" Joey asked.
"Boy he did tell you everything, didn’t he?" she chuckled. She was feeling better. Like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. They found a picnic table and talked about Andy for the next hour. Joey’s bodyguard finally went over and told him that they should leave. Tara gave them directions to the Keswick Theater and waited until they left before leaving to finish up her errands.
After she finished her errands she went home and turned on her computer for the first time since Andy’s death. Her email was full in both accounts. And the guestbook to Andy’s website was as well. She lost all track of time.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, glad you’re back." Lance greeted his friend when Joey met everyone at the theater. The rest of the guys agreed.
"Okay, where’s JC?" he laughed as they all embraced.
"I’m not that late." JC ran up from behind them.
"Ready for sound check?" Justin asked everyone. Joey took a deep breath and said, "Let’s do it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Tara? You home?" Trish asked as she opened the door. Tara looked at her alarm clock, it was 4:30.
"Yeah, I’m just answering some email." Tara shouted from her bedroom.
"These were waiting for you at the front door." Trish entered Tara’s room with a bouquet of carnations, baby’s breadth, and ferns. Her favorite combination. She instinctly reached for the card. It read,
Please come tonight, if not for yourself, for me. Sincerely, Joe
"Who’s Joe?" Trish asked as she read the card as well.
"A friend of Andy’s." Tara replied.
"You’ve got to come now. Please." Trish begged.
"Alright, alright. What time do we have to be there?"
"We have 30 minutes before we need to be at the eat and greet. And the meet and greet has been pushed up to 6pm. Gerri and Cathy have been making phone calls all day to let everyone know. Hurry up and get ready." Trish was soooo excited.
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"Joey, are you sure about this? You sure she is going to come?" JC asked as they sat in the bus and ate their dinner. Joey had told the guys about meeting Tara and how the day had evolved.
"I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t. She was to be the wife of my oldest and best friend. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. And I need her in my life right now. I need her to help me as much as I believe she needs me to help her. Please guys." Joey begged. He wanted them to sing THIS I PROMISE YOU a little differently that night. He wanted to go out into the crowd to find her and bring her closer to the stage. Richard’s manager came onto the bus.
"Okay gang, this is what I know. Gerri said the Repeat Offenders’ managed to get good seats in the center section, rows B, C, and D. She wasn’t able to find out what seat Tara will be in though. And Tara is scheduled to be backstage for the meet and greet. Gerri is going to arrange for Cathy to take Tara aside and bring her to her seat so that you’ll see her from the stage. Richard also said that you’re more than welcome to join him backstage for the meet and greet. He’s positive that the fans would love it as well." Rick Fagan told them.
"This is Richard’s night. We don’t want to crowd him, Rick, but thanks." Justin said for the guys. They were only there to sing a few songs and then sing back up on a few with Richard during his set.
"Rick, can I ask you a favor?" Joey got up from the table and took Rick off the bus.
"What’s he doing?" Lance asked.
"Taking care of his best friend’s girl. Just like the rest of us would do for him." JC said with a smile.
"In a heartbeat." Chris replied.
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"Tara… Trish, you guys ready to go?" Bonnie and Liz knocked on the apartment door. Liz had flown in from the mid-west to meet Tara, Trish, and Bonnie and go to the show with them.
"Tara? You ready?" Trish asked as she came out of her room. Tara opened her door.
"Do I look ready?" she asked.
"You look fabulous." Trish opened the door to greet Bonnie and Liz. Tara ran to the den to look for something.
"Hey Trish, where is she? Is she doing okay?" Bonnie asked immediately.
"She's actually coming tonight so I think that's a start. Otherwise, she's doing better than I thought she would be doing. I still can't get her to go back to the house though. That is still going to take some time.
"Beautiful flowers… who are they from?" Liz noticed the flowers Joey sent Tara.
"Some guy named Joe. He was a friend of Andy's. That's all she told me. Tara! Let's go!" Trish said from the hallway. Tara had grabbed her NOW AND FOREVER CD Single to get Richard's autograph on and a picture of Andy and Joe from when they were kids to ask Richard to give to Joey. She slipped those in her bag and checked her tissue supply before joining everyone in the hall.
"Tara… you look great." Bonnie said and gave Tara a hug.
"It's so great to see you Bon… it's been ages." Tara admitted, "And you must be Liz."
"Yeah, JR is in the car… let's go." Liz gave Tara a hug and led everyone down to the cars. Bonnie wasn't sure how to get to the theater so she was going to follow Tara and Trish down. Bonnie had to go to work right after the concert so JR and Liz would be driven back to her house by Tara and Trish.
"Trish, you're going to have to drive to the restaurant. I can't focus." Tara admitted when they got into the PT Cruiser.
"You alright?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, just a little shaky." Tara admitted. Her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered her phone. It was Joey.
"Hey… is this a bad time?"
"No, not at all, we were just heading over to the fan eat and greet. What are you doing?" she asked.
"Just relaxing and hanging out with the guys. Did you…" he broke off.
"Yes, I did. Thank you. You weren't calling just to see if I was going tonight? What's up?" Tara asked.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. We were both pretty raw today." Joey admitted.
"I'm better, thanks. How are you doing? I know this all has been quite a shock for you." Tara was concerned.
"I'm getting by. Is there anything you need? Anything I can do for you?" Joey was really trying too hard. He didn't know how to back off a little.
"You've already done more than enough. We're almost to the eat and greet. We'll talk later?" she asked.
"Definitely. Have fun tonight, okay?" Joey wanted her to have as good a night as she possibly could.
"I'll try. Good luck and you do the same." Tara said before hanging up the phone. She thought to herself how nice it was to finally meet Andy's oldest friend. Andy said that Joey would give you the shirt off his back to make you happy or to help you and metaphorically, that's what Joey was doing for her.
"Who was that?" Trish asked as they pulled into the parking lot outside of the Olive Garden.
"A new friend. C'mon, let's get tonight started." Tara gave Trish a smile and grabbed the poster board and supplies out of the back seat.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, everything's set for tonight. In case none of us has ever told you this. You are a great person and a good friend." JC said as he came off the bus.
"She's at the eat and greet with the other Roers. She sounds in better spirits now."
"I think she's helping you as much as you are her." JC said as a smile formed across Joey's lips.
"She was Andy's girl. He saw something remarkable in her just like she did in him. I owe him more than my life and I will do everything I can to get her thru this." Joey explained as they walked to the dressing rooms.
"Just don't sacrifice your own feelings regarding Andy, ok. It's alright to grieve." Steve, his brother said from behind them.
"Steve! I didn't expect you here."
"You need me and mom and dad right now. How could we not come down?" Steve said.
"You brought the folks?" Joey asked after they hugged.
"Of course. They're waiting in the last room down the hall for you." Steve said.
"Thanks man." Joey said and headed off down the hall.
"Thanks for the heads up, Josh." Steve said to JC when Joey was out of earshot.
"No problem. I need to go get ready. See ya." JC said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Everyone, thanks for coming tonight. This is the best turnout I've been to in a long time. It's so great to see everyone could make it." Tara said to the group of 40 or so Repeat Offenders. "The poster for RM is on the table near the exit door. Don't forget to sign it on the way out." Tara explained before returning to her seat. Everyone politely applauded. Tara caught up with friends she hadn't talked to in months on the phone, in person, or via the internet. A few had asked how she was doing since Andy's death and had wanted to express their condolences, but for the most part, she was able to hold back the tears.
"Tara, you're not eating." Trish had noticed Tara's plate. "Nervous?" she asked.
"Not really hungry, I guess." She admitted.
"Try to eat some of it. I bet you haven't eaten all day." Trish noticed.
"You know me too well, Trish." Tara chuckled. Shawn and Melanie came into the room and sat down with Tara and Trish.
"Sorry we're late… we overslept." Shawn admitted.
"It's alright. When did you get in?" Tara asked as they hugged.
"About noon, but you know how I hate to fly. Nicki sends her best and that I'm to kidnap you and take you home with me for a few days." Shawn said.
"Sounds great, but I can't get away right now." Tara said. It was true. She was in the midst of getting her designs ready for the spring season for next year.
"Well, think about it, alright?" Shawn asked.
"I will. Mel… how are you feeling these days? You look great!" Tara asked Melanie. She hadn't seen Melanie in over a year.
"I'm great! Ready for tonight?"
"I'm looking forward to tonight."
"Everyone, can I have your attention please?" Cathy and Jane stood up and banged a glass with a fork to get everyone's attention.
"As you may know, we've had to move the meet and greet up because RM has a special guest performing tonight and he knows that you would all probably enjoy seeing the guest as you do Richard. Don't forget to have your ID ready because security will be checking it. Check in for the meet and greeters is in 25 minutes and don't forget, after the show, we've got the Tiki Room at the holiday inn until 2am." Cathy announced. She had waited until the room started to clear out before going over to Tara.
"Hey Tara, after the meet and greet, I need to talk to you for a few minutes. Is that alright?" Cathy asked.
"Sure Cath…" Tara said. She and Trish gathered up the poster board and markers before heading out to her car. Bonnie and Liz and JR were waiting for them.
"Another fine eat and greet, Tara." Liz said.
"Yeah, thanks to Trish and Bonnie. I don't know where I'd be without these two. Let's get to the theater." Tara suggested. She let Trish drive and cranked up the cd player. DON'T MEAN NOTHING was blaring within seconds of the car starting.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey Tiny, have you seen them yet?" Joey asked his bodyguard that was with him that day. He got Tiny assigned to check the ID cards of the meet and greeters.
"Not yet J… relax… I’ll let you know when I see her. Now go back and stay away from the press and the door." Tiny playfully pushed Joey. Lance passed behind them on a skateboard.
"C’mon Joey… warm-ups." Lance said as he continued on down the hall. Joey followed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Here’s the change in the set list for us tonight. Any questions?" Richard asked his band – Rob Lavaque, Bruce Gaitsch, Bruce Atkinson, and Herman Matthews.
"What’s going on? Why the last minute changes?" Bruce G. asked Richard.
"Just want to emphasize on some of the new music from DAYS IN AVALON." Richard told him.
"Richard, five minutes." Rick said from a crack in the door.
"Rick, are the guys coming?"
"No, they say this is your night." Rick said.
"Give those kids a raise." Richard chuckled before turning back to the guys. "Okay, I know you guys all know these tunes. After the meet and greet, I have to go out and help NSYNC open up their set with THIS I PROMISE YOU. I’ll see you guys in about an hour." Richard said before leaving the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"J… she’s here. I don’t know what you did to convince her to come, but she’s here." Tiny said into his microphone after Trish and Tara cleared thru security into the meet and greet area.
"Does she look like she’s having a good time?" Joey asked.
"Gee Joey, you’re like a protective big brother." Chris said. They were all just chillin before they had to be onstage.
"Can’t help it. Just want to make tonight special for her. Like a new beginning of sorts for her." Joey explained.
"Don’t try so hard Joe. Don’t scare her off. Just let things happen naturally." Lance suggested.
"Speaking of big brothers…" Joey glanced at Lance.
"Can’t help it, we care about you, ya big lug." Justin gave Joey a noogy.
"Hey, don’t mess up the hair!." Joey joked and picked up Lance and plopped him down on the nearest coach. They were just messing around. Rick Fagan poked his head in.
"She’s here, Joey. Everything’s set and Cathy said she’s sitting on the end on the right hand side, row B." Rick explained.
"That’s a start. Thanks." Joey said as he looked up. He had Justin in a head lock. "Ya know, Justy… the cornrows are just soooo you." Joey pretended to swoon over his friend. Everyone laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, go on." Justin replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Oh crud! I forgot a camera." Tara was getting caught up in the moment and realized that she did, indeed, forget her camera.
"No you didn’t!" Trish pulled Tara’s camera out of her bag. "I packed it this morning, just in case." Trish explained.
"You are too good to me, Trish. Thanks." Tara said.
"Richard’s on his way gang. Form a line. No crowding, and remember, have a great visit with Richard!" Rick Fagan said when he entered the room. Tara looked around the room and saw many familiar faces. She saw Pam and her husband, Donna, Helen, Laura, Jill, Cameron, Corey, Greg and Danielle, Jaymee and Jaynie. Kristin and Christa. Jane and Tonya, Susan J. and Susan C. Amber and Andrea, Joshua and Jonathan. David and Katherine. Many faces and people she remembered from meeting at other shows and also online. She was situated in the middle of the line of fans waiting to meet and greet Richard. As soon as she saw Richard, she began to panic. She couldn’t be there without Andy. Both Bonnie and Trish noticed her anxiety.
"It’s okay, Tara. Just think of this as your first time meeting Richard. You’ll be fine. Think of the first time you heard Richard’s music and that feeling of going to your first concert to see him perform live." Bonnie suggested.
"Think of how much fun it was to stay up all night before hand with us and laugh so hard we all thought we would pee our pants. Think of how when Richard talks, it’s like no one else exists. Now breathe." Trish said as JR brought over a chair. Trish gently pushed Tara down into a chair. Cathy came over to them when she saw that Tara was looking flushed.
"Everything alright?" she asked. Tara shook her head.
"I’m not ready for this alone. I’m not sure I can get thru this." Tara admitted. Richard entered the room and went directly over to them.
"You’re the Tara I’ve been hearing so much about online and thru some friends, aren’t you?" he greeted her with a hug. Tara was trying not to burst out in tears. "It’s alright to grieve, Tara. And being here among friends does help. You’re doing fine. Why don’t you and I get a few pictures and then you can go to your seat?" Richard was great with her. He gave her a hug. She nodded and accepted a tissue from Trish. Trish took her camera and Tara stood up with Richard. She handed him the poster that they had made for him and asked him to give a picture to Joey for her. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Why don’t you go on ahead and give it to him yourself? Cathy and his bodyguard will take you inside." Richard pulled away from her and she looked at him.
"Is it alright?" she asked.
"Yes, go ahead and thanks for coming tonight. I know how hard it is for you to be here." Richard said. They hugged once more.
"Thank you. You are always so good to me." Tara gave him a kiss on the cheek. Cathy came over to her.
"Ready?" She asked. Tara nodded. Cathy had told Trish that Cathy was going to take her to the restroom to freshen up after meeting Richard. When they got to the door, Tara recognized Tiny.
"Hi Tara, I’m Joey’s bodyguard, Tiny. Do you need a few minutes?" he asked.
"No, what’s the plan?" she asked.
"Go ahead and find your seat. We were going to have him come out to you, but I think you might be better going backstage. I’ll go get him. One of the crew will come out to you in a few minutes. Are you alright? Do you want some water or anything?" Tiny asked.
"No, I’ll be just fine. Thank you. Thank you both." Tara said. She and Cathy went to find her seat. Tiny went to find Joey.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Justin, JC, Lance, and Chris were all looking out from behind the curtain.
"Is that her? She’s not really all that pretty." Justin had said.
"Justin, when are you going to learn that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" JC commented.
"Yeah, just because she’s not a size 2 with killer legs and long blonde hair, doesn’t mean that she’s not worth it. Some guys go for girls who have a brain and know how to use it. Their looks don’t matter." Chris added.
"She must be really special to have Joey this fixated on her." Lance commented.
"How is she?" Joey asked Tiny. They met up in the hall behind the stage.
"A little shaky. She could use a friend." Tiny reported.
"Thanks."
"Rick is getting Neil to bring her back. Why are you so nervous? Don’t put her on a pedestal." Tiny said.
"I just want her to enjoy herself. Andy said that they were inseperable since day one. Her being here without him is a big step for her." Joey admitted.
"Don’t treat her with kid gloves. She’ll hate it." Tiny said before turning around to go guard the door.
"I promise. Thanks Tiny.
"Joey said that Andy always described her as voluptuous and caring and very kind to everyone. Let’s not judge her by what she looks like on the outside." JC suggested as they were still looking at her.
"Try to imagine losing Britney, Justin… or Belle, Lance… how would you react if your whole world had crashed down on you?" Chris asked. He couldn’t imagine losing his girlfriend or his pugs. He knew he’d not be able to survive without them in his life. That’s how he felt.
"What about Kimberly? Did Joey tell her about all this?" Justin asked.
"That’s between Joe and Kim, not us." JC said.
"You mean Kim who can’t be happy unless she’s cheating on Joey?" Lance asked. Justin closed the curtain.
"She is not!" Justin said.
"Yes she is. Belle told me." Lance replied.
"Does Joey know?" Chris asked.
"If he does, he hasn’t said anything to us about it." JC replied.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Thanks Neil. Hi Tara, I’m so happy you decided to come." He admitted to Tara. Neil faded into the woodwork.
"Thanks, I brought you something." She pulled the picture out from her purse. She handed it to him. He instantly chuckled.
"Oh my goodness… it’s us with binky." He laughed.
"Binky?" Tara questioned.
"That was my security blanket. It went everywhere with me until I was like 9 or 10. Andy was so great about it. He never teased me about it. His dad had created a way for us to bike around with a wagon attached to one of the bikes so that I could keep Binky nearby. We would put that blanket through so much torture. I don’t know how our moms managed, but they always managed to keep it looking brand new and sooooo clean. Thank you for this. This is great." Joey looked at her.
"I’m glad you like it. Thank you for the flowers. I needed a pick-me-up too." She stated.
"You’re welcome. Hey, do you want to meet the rest of the guys?" Joey asked.
"I don’t think I could handle that right now… I am barely standing now as it is." She admitted.
"Okay. How did the eat and greet go?"
"We had a great turnout. Better than ever. The poster board was so filled with names and notes to Richard."
"So… I meant to ask you earlier… how’s your spring line coming along? It is about that time, isn’t it?" he asked.
"Yeah, thank goodness I have it finished already. We’re just getting models fitted with the prototypes for the catwalks now. My assistant and Trish, my roommate, are so helpful with running everything for me the past two months. I’m slowly getting back into the routine. It’s not easy though. What about you and the guys? Are you still touring? Or on a break or something?" Tara asked.
"We go back out in late October. After tonight, we’re just going to relax, but we have other projects away from each other that we’re working on. I’ll be going home to New York for a few days."
"That sounds good. You probably need a few days just by yourself." Tara encouraged him.
"Sometimes. But it won’t be for long though."
"Are you leaving right after the concert?"
"We’re going to go into the recording studio with Richard in Philly for the next two days first. JC and Richard wrote some new songs today and want to lay the tracks and vocals for them and see if they’re any good. We’ll be here until Monday I think." Joey told her. JC came into the room.
"Almost time." He said.
"JC, this is Tara. Tara, this is JC."
"It’s nice to meet you." Tara shook JC’s hand.
"It’s nice to meet you too. Enjoy the show." JC stated before exiting the room.
"He didn’t want to intrude." Joey explained.
"But he was curious." Tara chuckled.
"Yeah, the others are too. I bet they’re all outside that door." Joey smiled and shook his head.
"Probably. So, are you ready to go out and sing?" she asked.
"Yeah, I’m ready. How about you?"
"Yeah, I’m looking forward to my first NSYNC concert." She agreed with him.
"Well, let’s get you back to your seat." Joey said and put on a hat and sunglasses. "Think anyone will notice?" he asked.
"It’s your beard, it’ll give you away every time… and your smile too." She said.
"Well, that’s okay. I’m escorting you out anyway. Just follow my lead." Joey said. There was a knock on the door.
"Let’s go." Rick said and opened the door. Joey’s plan was to be the last one on stage. During the beginning of THIS I PROMISE YOU, he was going to sing as he walked Tara to her seat from the stage.
Tara stood behind Joey. She wasn’t sure what was going on or why he was doing what he was doing, but she was enjoying it. Richard was onstage.
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When the visions around you.
Bring tears to your eyes…
And all that surround you,
Are secrets and lies
I’ll be your strength,
I’ll give you hope,
Keeping your faith when it’s gone.
Joey led her to her seat. She had started to cry. He took out his handkerchief.
The one you should call has been standing here all along…
Joey wiped away the tears that were falling down Tara’s face and then handed her the handkerchief before kissing her on the cheek and looking upwards toward the ceiling. The rest of the guys turned around and joined in on the chorus.
And I will take you in my arms,
And hold you right where you belong…
(Justin) Every word I say is true…
This I Promise you. Oohhh, I Promise you."
(JC)"I’ve loved you forever, In lifetimes before…
(Joey) "And I promise you never, Will you hurt anymore.
Joey did not take his eyes off of her for the remainder of the song.
Trish couldn’t believe it. The Joe that sent Tara flowers was Joey Fatone from NSYNC. She just snapped away role after role of film. The next song was their acapella song "I THOUGHT SHE KNEW". Richard had left to go backstage for the remainder of the set. They also sang "Space Cowboy", "Tearin Up My Heart", "Together Again", and before finishing with "God must have spent a little more time on you", Joey spoke: "How is everyone tonight?" He asked. The audience screamed. "Who wudda thunk you come to a Richard Marx concert and his opening act is none other than NSYNC!" He continued. "I have a true story to tell you about before we sing this next song. Let me first start off by saying that these four guys, Lance, JC, Chris, and Justin, have been wonderful to work with and I am so honored to be their friend as well. They’ve been great to me today. See, today, I found out that my best friend in the whole world died. It’s not easy being in a group that is so busy and so popular. See, this best friend died a few months ago. He not only left me behind, but he left behind a wonderful fiancé. We’d like to dedicate this next song from Andy, to Tara." Joey said. Tara had tears running down her cheeks. One of the guards came over to her and led her back up to the stage where she hugged each and every guy and said thank you to them all. JC and Joey took her offstage with them.
"You guys were amazing." Tara said when they all got backstage. She had to wipe her face again. "Thank you so much."
"Just doing a friend a favor." Chris said, "Hi, I’m Chris."
"I’m Lance."
"I’m Justin."
"And we’ve already met, I’m JC." The guys all introduced themselves.
"How much has Joey told you about today?" Tara asked.
"All of it. He really does wear his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Andy and now, you. How are you doing though?" Lance asked.
"It hasn’t been easy. I take things as they come, day by day. He cooked this all up at the last minute? Didn’t you Joey?" she asked. Joey nodded.
"My way of saying goodbye to Andy and to let him know that I will always be here for you."
"Well, I should get back out to Trish and the gang. And I’ll see you guys on stage with Richard in a little bit. Joey, go get a few minutes rest. You look a little flushed." Tara suggested.
"I’m alright." He insisted. He was just very emotional.
"She’s right, Joe… you do." JC said.
"Is everything alright?" Cathy came backstage to ask.
"Yeah, Joe… thanks again." Tara gave him a hug before disappearing back out to her seat.
"Joe you don’t look good." Justin said.
"I just need a few minutes. Excuse me." He said and went to the dressing room. He got his cell phone from Tiny and dialed his girlfriend, Kim’s, number.
"Hello?" a male voice answered the phone.
"Shit… you shouldn’t have answered that…" he heard Kim say in the background.
"Hello? Hello?" Kim asked.
"Kim? How could you?" Joey said and hung up the phone. He was so upset that he tossed a table over and threw his duffle bag at the wall.
"Hey, hey… what’s going on in here?" Lance asked. He had gone in to grab a new shirt.
"Nothing, man… nothing." Joey said and crouched down in a corner to cry. Lance didn’t leave the room. He wanted to be there for Joey.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"He’s the Joe that sent you flowers, isn’t he?" Trish asked when Tara and Cathy went back to their seats.
"Yeah, he was Andy’s best friend." Tara admitted. Everyone that Tara knew had gathered around during the intermission to talk with her. They wanted to know how it felt to have NSYNC sing to her, to meet them, to hug them, and to talk to them. Some wanted to know how she knew Joey.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Joey, talk to me… we’re going to be going back on stage in a little while. What happened between backstage and coming here after Tara went back to her seat?"
"I tried to call Kim again. For the upteenth time today."
"What happened?"
"Some guy answered the phone and I could hear her in the background telling him he shouldn’t have answered the phone."
"Shit." Lance said.
"You know she’s cheating on me?" Joey said.
"Belle said she’s seen Kim with other guys while we’ve been gone. She and Kim don’t really get along." Lance told him.
"Do you think Kim’s cheating on me?" Joey asked him.
"Yeah, I do." Lance was honest with Joey.
"Man, my best friend and my best girl all in the same day… God, this sucks." Joey said as he stood up. There was a knock on the door.
"Richard’s set just started. We’ve got about a half hour or so before we should be out there." Chris said from the doorway.
"Thanks… we’ll be right there." Lance told him.
"Gee, what happened here? Looks like a scene from the movie TWISTER." Chris chuckled and closed the door behind him. Joey and Lance laughed as they looked around the room.
"He’s right. I’ve made a mess out of this room."
"C’mon, I’ll help you clean it up." Lance said. They began to put things in their rightful places and turned the table to it’s regular position.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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As Tara and the gang were leaving, Tiny (Joey’s bodyguard) called out to her from the stage. He had a note for her from Joey. It read:
Let Tiny bring you to me – Joe"Tiny, let me see my friends off. We drove in my car." She explained to the bodyguard.
"I’ll wait right here. Five minutes." Tiny replied.
"Thanks Tiny." She said. Trish, JR, and Liz were waiting for her.
"Trish, Liz, JR… I’ve got something I need to finish. Trish, here are my keys. Please drive carefully." Tara said.
"How are you going to get home? What’s going on? Is everything all right?" Trish, JR, and Liz spat out at once.
"Joey and I need each other right now. I’ll be fine and I’m sure he’ll have someone take me home. Don’t worry about me. Go have fun with the gang and explain that I’m just not into the party scene tonight." Tara stated.
"Well, alright. I’ll keep my celly on. Call if you need me." Trish said and gave Tara a hug. She hugged Liz and JR and went back to Tiny.
"Let’s go Tiny." She said and followed him to a car.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What are you doing here by yourself? You’re very brave." Tara said when she and Tiny arrived at the park they were at earlier that day.
"I just wanted to see you without everyone else around and without any other distractions. I have to meet up with the guys at the recording studio and we’re going to be pretty busy the two days that I’m here." Joey explained. "It really is beautiful here, even at night." Joey said.
"Thank you for tonight and for finding me. Tonight has lifted a weight off my shoulders that I really didn’t know I was carrying. I know that your schedule is very hectic and busy but if you could ever find time to call me or come visit me, all you need to do is call." Tara walked over to him.
"Only if you promise to do the same. I don’t have many people in my life. I can’t really, but there’s something about you besides the connection to Andy that I know I don’t want to lose any chance of a friendship with you."
"Deal. But, you’re upset about something. There’s another reason why you came here." Tara could see that something other than Andy was bothering him.
He chuckled.
"I found out tonight that the girl I thought I would marry someday has been cheating on me. I don’t know how long but apparently a while. How ironic that I lose my best friend and my best girl in the same day."
"You still have us, and now, Tara." Justin said. He and the guys had followed Tiny and Tara to the park at Tiny’s request.
"And none of us are going anywhere." Tara put her hand on his chin to look directly in his eyes. "This I promise you." She said. They both smiled and embraced each other.
