Okeydokey folks, here's the new chapter of Losing Control. I'm really sorry 'bout SOMH... I just have to put some finishing touches on it and you can expect it by next week. We've really enjoyed writing this story, and all your totally cool responses to it!
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Losing Control: Chapter 3 (MJ)
"Well, do any of you have anything to say for yourselves before we begin this meeting?" Jared asked, ignoring Kevin's and Lance's attempts to speak to him. Eight stony faces looked back at him, and he smiled an evil smile.
A young man popped his head in nervously and said, "Uh, sir, we have Miss Fatima on the line now, do you want to talk to her?"
Jared glanced at Mat, who said, "It's your turn." Shrugging, he made his way to the door. "You know what to do, don't you?" he said, as an amused look crossed his face. "You bet I do." smirked Mat.
This exchange plainly did not bring comfort to any of the boys' hearts, even though they were trying to act nonchalant about it.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here then?" she said as she rubbed her hands together. There was no answer as ten faces, with all kinds of expressions on them, looked back at her. Most were angry, and she could see some that were just bursting to spew out expletives. But they were still a little wary from Jared's outburst from earlier. Two, however, looked at her pleadingly, faces turned up at her. She smiled indulgently back at them before asking, "Does anyone know why we are here?" Looking back at the two very worried leaders, who nodded uncomfortably, she continued, "Well?"
Silence. She sighed and wondered how Jared always managed to get anyone to bend to his will. "Okay, today's meeting is about your joint tour with each other. The reason behind this tour is very simple. We are determined to quash the rumors that the two groups are at loggerheads with each other, and the board has decided that this would be the simplest and clearest way to go about it."
"Why?" asked JC.
Thank God, thought Mat in relief, at least there is one more sensible one. But his next words brought her down again.
"I want a very, very, very good reason as to why we have to tour with these.. these.. unworthies." spat JC.
Mat sighed as she looked at JC and then told them what she had told Kevin and Lance at the previous meeting.
The eight boys were temporarily stunned, then AJ spat back out, "Well, I think you're lying, bitch!" An uproar of agreement ensued as Mat nodded her head at AJ's bodyguard and he quickly stepped forward, placing a piece of tape over AJ's mouth. Everyone quickly shut up except for Justin, who obviously didn't see what happened. Mat nodded her head at Lonnie, who quickly taped Justin's mouth too. Kevin and Lance stood up and started to argue angrily with her, but she motioned for them to shut up and sit down, and they did so, grumbling, for they had promised to follow, to the best of their abilities, Mat's and Jared's orders.
"Since you have decided to behave like children, you will be treated like children," she said, shooting Brian a look. He immediately stopped giggling. However, she had to admit, AJ and Justin did look funny, as they struggled to remove the tape. One was rubbing his cheek against his shirt sleave, and the other... well, she couldn't fathom what the other was doing. Oh well. "I will not have any foul language on this tour that is directed at people. You can direct it at things that go wrong, happenings, objects, anything but people. And animals." she added as an afterthought, remembering Chris' Busta and her own Charlie. "Foul language will result in a 30 minute time out, as illustrated by our darling AJ over there." The aforementioned person shot a murderous glace at her before resuming his rubbing. "Uncalled-for interruption and other unnecessary noise will result in a 20 minute time out, as illustrated by Justin." She finally figured out what Justin was doing. He was using his tongue to poke at the tape. Mat wondered what duct tape tasted like, but obviously it was nasty as Justin made a face. "Other punishments will be meted out when deemed necessary. When you stop deciding to behave like children, let me know. Also, the incident I just mentioned did happen. The girls are still in hospital, and we'll give you the addresses later." she said in answer to Kevin's and Lance's unasked questions. "If you still doubt me, here's a letter from one of the girls." Mat said as she unfolded the piece of paper. "She dictated it to her mom, who wrote it down for her.
Dear Backstreet Boys, I'm one of your biggest fans ever and when Julie insulted you I was very angry and so I fought with her. I'm real sorry now when the nice lady explained that you and 'Nsync were friends and you wouldn't have liked to see us fight. I'm gonna say sorry to Julie when I see her next time, I promise. I hope to see you soon.
Your biggest fan,
Nina
(PS: Could you come at 3 in the afternoon? My sister will be there, and she is one of your biggest fans too. Thank you.)"
There was an uncomfortable silence at the end of the letter, and Mat saw some guilty looks. She grinned to herself. The tension broke when the door opened. Jared came back in and motioned to her, laughing as he noticed the new additions to the features of the two boyband members. They huddled in quiet conversation, and Lance overheard them, as he was closest to them. What he heard made him gulp nervously. The whispered words "Fatima... Friday... dance... new routine..." floated to him. He had two left feet, everyone knew that, Fatima especially. Oh no, he groaned inwardly. And today was Wednesday! He had only one more day of freedom! Kevin wondered what was making Lance so nervous, then grinned as he remembered that Jared had gone out to receive a call from Fatima. He grinned away, remembering Lance's famous clumsiness, till Jared and Mat came back from their huddled conversation.
Seeing that the boyband members had fallen into discussion, frequently throwing disgusted looks at the other group's members, and at Mat and himself, Jared rapped on the table with his knuckles. They turned sullenly to look at him. "Well, come on, isn't there another ray of sunshine here besides the two of us?" he asked in a mock-surprised tone. Lance sat with his head in his hands and Kevin seemed to be trying to make up his mind about something. "Alright, Fatima just called and said that she'd be flying down on Friday to teach you the dance routines for your new tour. If you have any questions, this is the time to ask. NOW." he said sternly. He waited, then looked at Mat, who shrugged. "Okay then, this meeting is over, but Justin and AJ must stay behind to continue their time out." The boys were brought out the same way they were brought in, and it was only till they were reaching the entrance of the building when they were uncuffed and nearly pushed, blinking, into the bright morning sunlight.
"Man, are they gonna do this to us every time?" asked Brian. Kevin looked back at the building and said, "I don't know."
"Wow, fancy that," said Nick. "Train doesn't know something that has to do with management!"
"Hey, that was my line!" said Howie, as they sat in the limo that took them all back to the house.
And in the 'Nsync limo, these sentiments were echoed. "You sure they're from management? I smell something fishy here," said Chris.
"You smell fishy all the time, old man," ribbed Joey. "How long do you think they'll keep Curly?" he asked, turning to Lance.
"I don't know, Mat said it'd be 20 minutes right?"
"Yeah, well, Big Daddy ain't happy," said Chris, pointing to the morose man at the back of the limo.
"He's never happy without Curly." It was more of an understatement than anything else.
"Okay, but we've got more important things to do."
"Like keeping Fatima off your back?" chuckled Joey.
"Yeah, and others." Lance took it in his stride. After all, who said being in a boyband was easy?
Okay, so this isn't the best I've done. I'll admit it. Just don't get me on my knees begging for forgiveness. I have bad knees. :) Alright, enough with the cheesy jokes already. I'll just have to hope against hope that you liked it. You did? Great! LOL.
Next Chapter... by the one and only ... DRUID!
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Luv ya,
MJ and Druid