Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 23:07:10 -0700
From: Star Writer <crazystar@canoemail.com>
Subject: Crazy

Well, I have to admit that I've never written anything like this before.
Actually I didn't even know where to start, but hopefully as I work on this
crazy thing y'all will give me a hand and tell me: a) what a shitty job I'm
doing; and(more hopefully) b) what I can do to improve it
(crazystar@canoe.ca).

Anyways, uh, the usual disclaimer stuff applies here, so don't read if
you're not supposed to, or at least ask your mommy first(just kidding). If
you're looking for tons of hot sex, well go away and check back in a few
months. Anyone that believes he or she can "get down" without getting to
know someone is totally not cool. Oh yeah, I'm not implying anything about
anyone in this story, what you're about to read is just a figment of my
imagination and you happen to be sitting in. So... Here we go:

Crazy
Chapter 1

IT'S HOT. But that's ok, because I love it when it's hot outside. The
beach, the games, the water, the sports... and, most importantly, the tan!
I mean, what would a blond dude do without his tan? I guess he'd be
somewhat of an albino. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's
just not me you know?  Anyways, it's a good thing that I'm in Florida. I
needed to get away from home. I really needed some space. And that's
exactly what I was doing, where else to do it but at Disney World. Or at
least that's what I was doing with my first day here.

It's tough losing your best friend. Even if it's just that he or she is
moving to another place. At least you can still talk on the phone, right? I
wasn't so lucky. The one person I was closest to in the world was dead.
Killed in a car accident. Some of my friends tried to console me by saying
that at least he died instantly. It sure didn't make things any easier.
I've spent way too many nights crying, and I knew that I had to get over
it. That's why I'm here. I figured a change of scenery would be good for
me. You know, try to get my mind off things by immersing myself into the
fun and sun of Orlando. Not to mention I wouldn't have people telling me
every five seconds that things were going to be ok when I totally knew that
they weren't.

Besides, I had a some cash in the bank from an inheritance I had a few
years ago, and I'd never really been able to bring myself to spend any of
it. I felt totally guilty because here my Great Grandmother left me
everything she had, and I barely knew her. I still don't know why she did
it, but I guess that if she went to the trouble of leaving it for me, then
she must of wanted me to enjoy it. So, I told my mother, who is a travel
agent, to arrange everything and that I wouldn't be coming back until I had
dealt with this.

"But what about school?" God I hated that tone she used.

"Mom, it'll be cool. You know that I have more than enough money in the
bank to live comfortably for the rest of my life, so it's not like it's a
huge deal. Besides, I don't think that I could actually go through with it
right now. I need to clean this up so that I can go on with the rest of my
life." I held my breath waiting for her response. I was truly afraid of
what she might say. If she wasn't cool with it I'd be forced to decide
between keeping her happy or maintaining my sanity.

"Do you promise that you'll go back to school when you've got things
figured out?" Exhale.

"Yeah mom, I promise, don't worry I wouldn't want you and Dad to not be
able to brag to people that your son's a doctor!"

"Ryan, you know better than that. Your father and I have only ever wanted
you to be happy. You know that we'd support you no matter what you decided
to do. Mind you, we would need a little bit of time to adjust."

"Geez, it's good to know that if I disapoint you guys that you won't disown
me... for long" I gave up and started to giggle. A nasty habit of mine, I
dunno, maybe that;s why my friends say that I act like a three year old!

"Hey!" She slaps me on the arm. "Good to see that you love me too!"

"Ouch! Well I guess I'll take that as a blessing."

"You better because that's as good as it's going to get smart ass."

So, things had gone suprisingly well. I had to admit that I had been
totally scared when I had approached her about it. I loved her, but we
weren't that close. I mean we could talk, but I could never totally let
myself be completely honest and open with her. Come to think of it, Kevin
was the only one I had ever been able to be completely open with... Ugh!
Kevin. The tears were starting again. Why can't I just get on with my life?
I had to get back to the Hotel. Unfortunately some metal thing got in the
way. And the next thing I knew I was laying flat on my back on the
cement. For being such an athlete you wouldn't think that I'm such a clutz,
but I am.

"Woah, dude! Are you ok?" I'm from Canada, so every American has an accent
to me, but I think this one was kinda Southern or something.

"Uh, yeah... I'm ok I guess. I wasn't watching where I was going." I tried
to cover my face so that the tears didn't show through, but I wasn't
getting any breaks here.

"I don't think so bro. I can usually tell when people are lying,"
Shit. Whatever Gods there may be please save me from complete and total
embarrassment. "and you're doing two kinds. Neither is crunk. Here."  He
grabbed me and pulled me up and then stuck out his hand. "I'm Justin, and
there's no way that I'm letting you go away from here without telling me
what's up."

I took his hand and shook very briefly. "Ryan. Thanks for helping, and no
offense Justin, but I really don't think that it's any of your business."
If I had been looking at him and not the ground, he would have just
received one of my patented death stares.

 "Dude, you nearly run into me, but end up tripping over a bench," Is that
why my leg is throbbing?  "you're not going to get away with telling me
you're ok. Besides, I can't help not trying to help someone who obviously
needs it, otherwise I'll spend the rest of the week wondering what the hell
was wrong with the guy who tripped over the bench! So think of it as we're
doing each other a favour."

"Well..." I was kinda hesitant about this whole thing, I mean I've never
met anyone so forward.

"No buts bro, just say yes, it'll take less time, cuz I'm totally not
giving up on this."

"I guess I haven't got much of a choice do I?" I finally looked up at him,
after staring at the ground the whole time. He had the most caring eyes in
the world, and I knew then that this guy was maybe a little crazy, but he
definitely cared about people. There was something familiar about him, but
I just couldn't place it. Besides, maybe he might help me get over this
whole thing. "I'm sorry for acting like an asshole, but I've had a lot on
my mind lately you know?"

"No worries Ryan. You like iced coffee?"

"Yeah Justin I totally do. It's way better than hot coffee. And you can
call me Ry, most of my friends do."

"Cool Ry, and call me Just. Lets hit a Starbucks for some Frappicino's, and
then you can start talking."

On the way there we just chatted about the normal things that people talk
about when they first meet. You know favorite sports, colours, where you
were born, etc. Just kinda basic stuff. As it turned out we had a lot in
common. We both loved basketball, chilling, watching cool movies, friends,
and the colour blue to name a few. We were also both 18, athletic type
guys, with blond hair and blue eyes. I guess we might pass for cousins or
something. Bout the only major differences were that I had never ridden I
Jet-Ski and had never ridden a Mountain Bike. I was shocked at that. I
guess just because where I came from(Vancouver) nearly every one and their
uncle had ridden at least a little bit before. I'd have to fix that if we
became good friends.

One other similarity that popped up was that we both liked to sing.

"I have to be honest with you though Just, I'm not that great. I just like
to do it. You know, in the shower, on the way to school... nothing worth
writing home about dude."

Justin just smiled. "Ry, I'm sure that you're better than you
think. Besides, I'm not that great either. I'm sure you're better than I
am." That voice, hmm... now I could swear that I've heard it before, but
it's probably just because I heard it earlier in the day or
something. Right? "Ry? Hey dude, what kinda Frappaccino do you want?"

"Huh? Oh sorry, I was just thinking bout something. I'll have a Mocha Frap
please."

"What size sir?" Ugh. What a tone and she didn't even look at me. What have
I lost the touch or something just cuz I trip over a bench?

"Uh..."

"Tall, Grande, or Venti?" Bitch!

"Uh, Venti please."

"Fine that'll be four-sixty." I went to fish in my pocket for some of that
wierd Green money-I thought they said money doesn't grow on trees!- but
Justin stopped me.

"Here's Ten, can you make that two please?"

"Fine! Go wait over there." Holy, attitude. She pointed to a line up sign
without even looking at us.

"Uh, Just you don't have to. I mean..."

"Naw, chill Ry. It's cool. Man, you're going to have to learn not to argue
with me!" I threw my arms up in defeat and walked over to the sign with
Justin.

"Two Venti Mocha Frappaccinos?"

Justin put his hand up. "That'd be us!"

"OH-MY-GOD! IT'S YOU!" This one screamed. Well at least she looked at us. I
was starting to wonder what he did to get that kinda reaction out of her
when I had my Frap shoved in my hand and felt myself being dragged out of
the store.

"RUN RYAN!" I did as I was told like a good boy and ran. We ran for about
five minutes until we stopped at the beach, where there weren't too many
people around. We both flopped down on the logs there.

"You wanna explain that to me Justin? What did you do to that girl to make
her so upset? Did you dump her or something?" I sat up to look at him.

"Uh, well... no. It's not what I did, it's more like who I am dude." He
smiled weakly.

"Well it's not like your some mass murderer or something, right? I mean
unless you're some famous dude or something I don't see why she would..."
The look on his face explained everything. "Great! Some guy wants to help
me out and be my friend, and then I find out he's a murderer!" I tried to
sound angry, but my giggles broke through, and we both started to laugh and
roll on the sand.

When we calmed down he stuck out his hand. "Well, I guess it's no use in
trying to keep it a secret now.  Justin Randall Timberlake, pleased to meet
you."

I waited a few seconds and faked being upset, but then I just smiled and
firmly shook his hand. "Ryan Bryce Olsen, I think we already introduced
ourselves, but at least now I know what bells that were going off in my
head were for! Geez, great CD. And what's that crap about me being able to
sing better than you?"

"You knew who I was?" He looked really confused, and a little upset.

"Naw Just. I just had this weird feeling that you seemed famaliar
somehow. I just couldn't place it. But when you told me your full name,
than I figured it out."

"How come you knew my name then, but not my face."

"Well, I have the CD, but I got it without the cover since a friend of
mine, Janet, stole it before she gave it to me. Plus I haven't had much
time to watch TV, so it's been a while since I saw one of your videos and
stuff, plus I wasn't really paying attention because that was when I
thought you guys were just some wash out group trying to imitate the
Backstreet Boys or something."

"So what made you change your mind Ry? And then how did you figure out who
I was from my name?"

"Well I listened to the CD, and I liked it, all of it. And how many Justin
Timberlakes are there in this world?"

He smiled at that. "Yeah I guess you've got a point... so you're cool with
all that."

"Yeah dude, I mean just because you sing and dance for a living, and are
totally famous doesn't mean you're more important than I or anyone else
is. It just means that a whole lot more people know your name!" I lightly
punched him in the arm. Then he punched me back.

"K, well with that done. It's time for you to talk buddy. You've stalled
long enough." He looked at me with those caring eyes again. It was then
that I knew that Just would turn out to be an awsome friend...


Haha, well that's it for now. I'll write a little more later, but until
then let me know at crazystar@canoe.ca what y'all think!