[July 18, 2002]
        "Jenny, that's not fair. Everyone is coming. We all agreed about this. You can't turn back on it now!"
        "Brian, it's not my fault that I'm busy. I didn't plan to be working the entire week!" Jenny exclaimed into the phone.             "They let me come in March. But that was it. They refused to let me off to come back for graduation, how do you think I'd be able to get out now?"
        "Chin and Kevin are coming from Paris. You don't think they had other things to do? What about AJ? He has scheduled his tour around our reunions, for crying out loud! What about Lance and Hannah? And Howie? Nick? Everyone is busy, Jenny. It's all a matter of how much they all tried to be here... and how much you obviously aren't," Brian snapped back. Jenny was silent for a moment.
        "Brian, I have to go. I don't want to argue with you anymore," Jenny sighed. "I'll call you guys on the twenty-second ok?"
        "Fine."
        "Bye, Brian..."
        He heard a click and groaned. How did everything get so crazy? What happened? Where had that once perfect world gone? Only Howie, Cathy, Hannah, and Lance had that still. But what about everyone else? What about...him and Jenny?
        Jenny slipped through the door as silently as possible. She hoped she wouldn't wake anyone. She glanced at her watch; she could barely see the time, but a light from the kitchen allowed her to see it was near 1AM. She hated staying at the university's library so late, but she had to. Slowly walking to the kitchen, she found Brian slumped over a pad of paper, scribbling furiously.
        "Brian?" Jenny placed a comforting hand on his back. He whirled around to see his angel.
        "Hey, you..." he whispered as he pulled her close.
        "What are you doing up so late, mister?" Jenny smiled gently as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
        "Waiting for you..." He leaned in and kissed her.
        "I'm sorry..." Jenny whispered as she rested her forehead against his.
        "Forgiven," Brian smiled. "Since when did you get so into your work anyway?"
        "Since this is the last year of college and I figured I gotta do something with myself," Jenny pulled away a little.
        "Promise you won't break any more dates?" Brian pouted.
        "Promise," Jenny hooked her pinky around Brian's and kissed him.
        What had happened to that promise?
        Torn to shreds the moment Jenny was accepted for a medical internship on the east coast.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[the next day]
        "I'm so sorry that I'm late!" Chin dropped her two shopping bags by the table and gave Kevin a quick hug.
        "Don't worry about it," Kevin grinned, "I was a little late too." Chin reached for a menu. "Got you covered," Kevin spoke up just as a waitress walked up with an iced latté and a glass of water. Chin smiled.
        "Water?" she asked him when the waitress left.
        "Don't feel like drinking much else," Kevin shrugged.
        "So.." Chin took a sip of her latté and looked up at Kevin. "You nervous?"
        "About going back?" Kevin drank some water.
        "Yeah..."
        "Well, don't forget, I have been visiting the house a lot, so I'm not as much a stranger as you are," Kevin joked.
        "Hey!" Chin frowned.
        "But, yeah, I guess a little...I mean, everybody together under one roof again? Four months ago..." Kevin trailed off, looking at the already empty glass in his hands. He switched gears. "I've talked to everyone a few times. Not really Jenny, though."
        "No one has spoken to Jenny much..."
        "Not that many people have spoken with you, either," Kevin pointed out.
        "Well I'm talking to you now!" Chin whined.
        "That's because I'm in Paris with you, dear."
        "So are designers still fighting over your body?" Chin changed the subject.
        "Of course! Why wouldn't they be?" he frowned.
        "Kevin The Model," Chin laughed.
        "No poking fun at me...I'm a fragile piece of art!"
        "Whatever," she rolled her eyes.
        "What about Age?" Kevin asked. "You promised me you'd talk to him." Chin was silent for a moment.
        "He's been busy on tour," she shrugged.
        Kevin studied Chin's face...she had given that excuse before, but he decided not to push it. "Brian's real upset about Jenny not coming."
        "She's NOT?!" Chin exclaimed.
        "I think we should kidnap her and force her to go." Kevin raised an eyebrow.
        "It's an idea..." Chin smiled.
        "An idea we should definitely consider..." Kevin grinned evilly.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[the next day--July 20th]
        "Haven't seen you guys in a few months." AJ shoved his duffel into the compartment above him.
        "Yeah, it's been awhile." Howie sat down by the window.
        "I get the aisle seat!" Nick exclaimed.
        "Same old Nick." AJ shook his head and sat down beside Howie. Nick pouted but shrugged it off and sat down in his seat. It was a bit of an understatement, considering how Nick had changed since he had broken up with Julie in November...
        "So when was the last time you've been home?" Howie asked AJ, flipping through a magazine.
        "Home, eh? Haven't heard it called that in some time," AJ sighed. "Last time was in April. I haven't had time to visit them on my own since."
        "Me and Howie visited them in May for their graduation," Nick piped up.
        "Everyone, but you and Jen... You know, Chin was kind of upset..." Nick replied quietly as a flight attendant began to show everyone the safety procedures. Maybe it had been tense between him and Julie, but he had made the effort to be there. Hell, Brian had even come, though Jenny hadn't.
        "I know," AJ groaned. Before he could say anything else, Howie cut in.
        "Hey, check it out!" D exclaimed, pointing to an article in the magazine he had bought at an airport newsstand.
        "Pictures by Hannah... impressive..." AJ skimmed the article.
        "Wow," Nick breathed, leaning over AJ's shoulder. "Our girls are really getting their names out there... Look--Julie wrote this! Julie has her own column in the local newspaper...I think she helps out with the editing and layout, too...I guess they liked her that much in that newspaper of hers that they lend her out," Nick laughed.
        "I've really missed out on the past few months, huh?" AJ leaned back as the plane began to take off.
        "Hannah's also NSYNC's photographer..." Howie added.
        "What? She is?! How come I never knew that?" Nick yelped.
        "Welcome to my world..." AJ patted him on the back.
        "What better job is there than that?  Doing your favorite thing as your job, and the subject of the photographs being your boyfriend," Howie chuckled. "Anyway, AJ...someone you can tell us about is Chin...We heard from the girls that she hasn't really spoken to anyone much since Paris...has she talked to you?" Howie nudged AJ. As much as Nick told himself not to think of it, his mind reminded him of what Chin had done to AJ.
        "You let her talk to you?" Nick raised an eyebrow.
        "I thought you were afraid of planes." AJ gave Nick a shut-up-and-spare-me look. AJ did have questions for Chin about what had really happened, many questions, but had been too afraid to confront her. He was still hurting...
        "Getting used to them," Nick shrugged and pressed down the fake mustache he was sporting.
        "Nick--that thing looks ridiculous. We're in first class, and we have our bodyguards. Do you really need it?... Anyway, J--so how is she?" Howie shut the window.
        "I wish I knew," AJ sighed. Both hadn't really spoken since the breakup...Brian and Nick seemed to think AJ had a right to keep communication at a minimum, though Howie and Kevin always asked AJ about it...did they know something he didn't? "How are the other girls?" he asked.
        "Well, Cathy is doing well. She got a job at YMCA coaching kids in several sports. You know her. Lacrosse, Kick-boxing, Waterpolo, Crew... that girl has some amazing energy," Howie said smiling, thinking of her. Nick and AJ glanced at Howie, both thinking the same thing... they wished for what Howie and Cathy had.
        "This is going to be an interesting reunion." AJ closed his eyes and shifted his hat over his face.
        "Yup," Howie yawned. Nick glanced at his friends and smiled.
        "Definitely..." he whispered, "Definitely..." He nodded and drifted off.

[that evening]
        "So everyone is coming, right?" AJ asked, dropping his bag by the stairs.
        "Yes. Chin is coming..." Hannah shook her head. AJ gave her a look.
        "That's not what I meant."
        "Jenny isn't..." Brian stated from his seat on the floor.
        "Sorry, Bri," Nick sat down next to his friend.
        "Doesn't matter," he shrugged.
        "So, Sarah, what time are Kevin and Chin due from Paris?" Howie spoke up.
        "Late tomorrow night. They told us not to bother waiting up for them," she replied.
        "So when did you two get here?" Nick asked Hannah and Lance.
        "Few days ago," Lance yawned.
        "Someone's going to sleep soon," Julie smiled. Lance shrugged.
        "I think we should all call it a night," Hannah suggested.
        "I'm up for that!" Cathy stretched. Howie smiled as he watched her, then wrapped an arm around her waist and squeezed her. She giggled softly, leaning her head on his shoulder.
        "Anyways..." AJ spoke up, snapping everyone out of their dream world. "I'm taking the upstairs room!"
        "I got downstairs," Lance stated, "And Brian already grabbed upstairs as well."
        "Well, let's go, roomie!" Nick yanked Brian to his feet.
        "I'm guessing I'm your roommate," Howie turned to Lance.
        "Along with Kevin...the usual." Lance shrugged and grinned. "Good night, y'all," he said.
        "Night," Sarah politely added in for everyone.
        Soon, everyone had exchanged good nights and left to sleep.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[July 21]
        "Coming!" Jenny yelled. She gently placed her dishes into the sink and headed toward the door. "Who is it?" she asked.
        "Your best friends!"
        "What?!" Jenny swung the door open to find Kevin and Chin on the doorstep.
        "Hey, babe! Haven't seen you in FOREVER!" Chin wrapped her arms tightly around Jenny. "How you been?"
        "Depends on how long you two are staying...I need some company."
        "Well, actually..." Kevin glanced at Chin, who smiled, "We were on our way to meet up with everyone."
        "Remember what tomorrow is?" Chin asked.
        "Reunion... yeah I remember...Come on in." Jenny stepped aside.
        "Wow, nice apartment!" Kevin whistled.
        "Thanks," Jenny grinned.
        "So as we were saying..." Chin nudged Kevin.
        "Oh! Yes, we have an extra ticket. Two way. On us. Interested?" Kevin held up an envelope. Jenny bit her lip.
        "Everyone will be SO surprised. And SO happy. Especially one certain gentleman...I think you know who I mean..." Chin smiled. Jenny looked away. "So what do you think? Come on. It's free!"
        "Well...I GUESS I can move some things around, get people to cover for me, and take my laptop along..." Jenny thought out loud. Could she do it? Could she go? "What time do you need me to be ready?" Jenny shrugged and smiled.
        "Yes!" Chin grinned and squished Jenny in a tight hug.
        "Is an hour enough time?" Kevin asked, smiling as well.
        "Let's GO!" Chin grabbed Jenny's arm and they rushed off to pack.