Surprisingly, after the big story exploded onto the press Michelle Schrade has fallen off the face of the earth. While my sources say she has yet to check out of the hotel, no one knows where she is. Not surprisingly, Justin Timberlake has been M.I.A. Makes one wonder, is there something going on that we all hoped for but weren’t sure about?

In other news, looks like the gorgeous Orlando Bloom and his American beauty, Kate Bosworth, are going as strong as ever. (Click here for picture)

Much to Michelle’s dismay, Julie didn’t agree with her plan of coming home. Amy, on the other hand, was totally for pulling her back to house they all camped out at during moments when they needed one another.

They hadn’t just gotten off the phone with Michelle. Leaving her with the knowledge the soonest she could come home was in two days- when her original flight was arranged.

“You’ve got to feel like a total ass J. I mean, the girl is heartbroken and you’re putting the business first.” Amy said shaking her head in dismay.

“I’m not putting the business first,” Julie said defensively.

“Oh yeah, so why can’t she come home? That slut goes to a nationally credited newspaper to tell the world that Mike begged for a man back and we want Mike to stay in what already was a sticky situation. Do I need to remind you that Orlando and his beautiful girlfriend Kate are there? Nothing spells compassion quite like, ‘No Mike stays in Colorado, because the press is good. Oh, and while you’re at it enjoy watching the man who had just begun to make you feel something after a year.”

Julie winced at Amy’s words but knew she had to be ‘the tough love’ of Mike’s management. “She is getting to the heart of every girl in the world. She runs now, the Justin thing looks staged and she looks like she is running for cover. We really want Stacey to think she got exactly what she wanted. No, Amy, I’m doing this because Mike staying is a kick in the ass to Stacey. She may have gotten Timmy, but she has nothing compared to what Mike has.”

“A broken heart. For the record, I’m completely against you on this,” Amy said slamming her pen down and storming out of their office.

Julie looked out at the New York skyline. So much work had gotten them to this office; small mistakes would be their destruction. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure whether she was doing the right thing. She wasn’t sure she wasn’t completely against her own business minded decision.

~*~*~*

Mike splashed the cool water on her face in hopes to awaken her senses. Julie was right, Tim was a long time ago, and she needed to get over it. Ex’s are allowed to move on to Barbie like girls. They are allowed to get married. She needed to remind herself of how far she had come.

Yet, it wouldn’t help the feeling of complete abandon and loneliness that was slowly overcoming her.

She looked her at herself in the mirror and cringed. Oh, where was Celia now for the perfect shot. The pathetic star at her absolute worst. Turning away, she pushed the bathroom door open and moved towards the bedroom.

She still couldn’t keep the memories from washing over her, but she was sure a nice gulp of the Whiskey in her room would help. How cliché, a ‘rock star’ drinking to get away from their problems. But it hurt too much. No matter how old the issue was.

She let her gaze venture towards her guitar and shook her head. Music was beyond her. She crawled into bed and pulled the covers over her head and let her sobs come more frequently.

~*~*~

Orlando let his gaze caress Kate as she lay sleeping in their bed. Her shoulders were pale to the burgundy of the inn’s sheets. She was such a beautiful creature, inside and out. Why couldn’t he just be happy with the near perfection he had.

When they had gotten into the room, they had turned the television on and saw Mike’s face plastered everywhere. He knew only too well how paparazzi could make life a bitch. But, Mike’s life was far worse than his when it came to cameras. Who knew a small story like this would make the news and would stop regular programmed television. He’d been thinking that thought when Kate had flipped the television screen off and seduced him in a way only she could. He let himself just feel and now as he lay there, he felt guilt wash over him.

Yet, he knew he could never be with Mike. He liked his privacy. He needed his privacy. Any chance with Mike would prevent that. At a young age he learned to make sacrifices, and he just didn’t think it was worth the sacrifice of privacy.

He rolled over so his vision wouldn’t be Kate. So he could look at the blank white ceiling. Yet, fate pulled his strings again. Kate snuggled against him letting her hand lay over his heart.

There was no way he could hurt this woman, after everything they’d been through. He would break ties with Mike now and just be friends. He was sure it would be hard, but he was a strong man, he could do it.

Couldn’t he?

~*~*

Justin slipped the key back into his pocket and stood still for a moment. He could hear her sobbing. A piece of him shattered with each tear. Closing his eyes and licking his lips he headed towards the bedroom.

He opened the door, and saw her in her ‘this is the worst day of all’ position. Under the covers. She used to tell him that the covers hid everything that is and was. He made his way towards her and sat down at the edge of the bed.

Licking and biting his lips, his huskily asked, “what can I do?”

There was a slight movement underneath the covers but she didn’t surface. “Make it go away, Justin.”

Like a child. She’d never been weak, but she sounded just like a five year-old. He decided not to fight the urges he was having and was quickly under the covers with her. His arms were securely wrapped around her and his lips pressed softly against her temple.

“Mischa, I really wish I could.”

“I know I shouldn’t be this bad. I know I’m being a baby, but I can’t make the hurt go away. I loved him with everything I was and it wasn’t enough. How can you not love someone enough when you love them unconditionally?”

He brushed his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer, more possessively. Running his hands up and down her back he felt old memories wash over him. “I don’t have the answers, Mish. I don’t. If I did I wouldn’t have gone through the same thing.”

She looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot and so sad he was ready to weep. “I’m so alone. They won’t let me come home. I’m tired of being me, I just wanna be someone else. Anyone else but the girl, who has to put on a smiley face, does what will get the best publicity, and lie under the covers hiding from the world.”

Tenderly he brushed his fingertips over her eyebrows. “I always said I’d get you in bed.”

A giggle escaped and she shook her head. She reached up and cupped his face. Her eyes locked with his and gently pressed her lips to his cheek. “I am so grateful you’re here.”

“Don’t get sappy on me,” he said with a grin. “You know Mikey, you don’t want to be you, so let’s not be us for the rest of the night, ok?”

She looked a little startled and shook her head. “What do you mean?”

“Lets do what celebrities do best,” he said, his grin increasing by the moment.

“Justin…?”

“Let’s play make believe. Just for tonight, I’ll be Randall, and I’ll shave my head and wear horribly preppy clothes and you can be who ever you want to be. How do you like them apples?”

She pushed the covers off and grinned up at him. “I think there are moments you are a genius.”

Before he could ask ‘who’ she would be tonight she’d already headed towards her closet. He may have created a monster, but at least she would be a happy one.

Chapter 17
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