Living in the Shadows
Chapter 7
Joey woke up to the sound of a phone ringing. He opened his eyes a crack and tried to figure out where he was when he saw Sabrina's small form curled up in a ball on the other end of the couch near his feet.
"What time is it?" Sabrina asked slowly waking up.
"Four thirty." Joey answered looking at his watch.
Sabrina groaned and laid her heavy head back down. "I'm going to kill him."
"Kill who?" Joey whispered.
"Wade. He always calls when we have these things, but normally we're awake." Sabrina answered.
"Come here." Joey said holding out his hand.
"What?"
"Come here, there's no point in you sleeping so cramped when we both can lay down." Joey explained.
"Whatever, I'm too tired to argue." Sabrina said coming to him.
"Lie down sweetie." Joey said scooting so that his back was against the back of the couch.
Sabrina lay down in front of him with her back to his front making a perfect fit, then Joey put his arm around her and pulled her closer.
"Good night 'Brina." he whispered.
Sabrina melted against him when she felt his hot breath against her neck. "Good night Joey." she whispered back.
Five hours later, the phone rang again disturbing the sleeping couple. Sabrina slowly opened her eyes and found herself facing Joey cuddling against his chest. She raised her eyes and found him watching her so she smiled and then stretched her legs, moving closer to him.
"Good morning." Joey whispered returning her smile.
"Good morning." Sabrina whispered.
"Did you sleep well?" Joey asked.
"Wonderful thank you." Sabrina purred.
Joey lifted his hand to caress her hair and marveled at its softness.
Sabrina leaned her head back pressing into his tender touch. She was willing to forget that he was dating her sister for but a breath as his touch was driving her crazy.
"Sabrina," Joey whispered slowly lowering his head.
"Would somebody answer the damn phone?" Amber whined coming into the room.
"Good morning Amber, did you sleep well?" Sabrina said quickly sitting up.
"Not really, but it looks like you guys did." Amber smirked.
"I did thanks." Sabrina nodded standing up.
"Who the bleep has been calling nonstop?" Amber said checking the caller ID.
"That's Wade." Sabrina said standing beside her.
"Wonder what he wanted?" Amber asked rhetorically.
"Let me find out." Sabrina said picking up the phone.
"Where have you been?" Wade asked the moment she answered.
"Home." Sabrina answered.
"Why haven't you answered the phone? I've been calling all morning." Wade asked sounding frustrated.
"Sorry, it was on vibrate." Sabrina lied instantly feeling bad for doing so.
"Well, I was calling to let you know you need to come in today. I've called everyone else except Joey. I can't seem to get a hold of him and I don't know Melody's number." Wade explained the reason for his call.
"I'll let him know." Sabrina added feeling a blush creeping up her neck.
"I'll ask you about that later." Wade laughed. "Be here as soon as possible, we have a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Sabrina asked.
"Just be here." Wade answered.
Sabrina flipped her phone shut and looked at Joey. "We have to go in today."
"Why?" Joey wondered.
"He didn't say, he just said we had a problem." Sabrina shook her head.
"Damn, we were gonna do a movie today, but alas, work beckons." Amber sighed dramatically.
"You'll get over it." Sabrina said grabbing her purse and her keys.
"We're going now?" Joey asked.
"He wanted us there asap." Sabrina shrugged.
"You're going to wear that?" Joey asked looking at her pajamas.
"I can dance in this if need be, but I don't think I'll need to." Sabrina explained.
"Okay." Joey nodded. "Are we taking separate vehicles or do you wanna ride with me?"
"We're both going to the same place, I'll ride with you. As long as you don't mind bringing me back when we're done." Sabrina smiled.
"And what are you going to do Miss Amber? Would you like to come?" Joey offered.
"And see what Justin's up to? Sure, I'm game." Amber nodded slipping into her flip flops. "Is this outfit suitable for you?"
Joey laughed and nodded. "I don't care what you wear."
"Okay, but you care about what Sabby wears?" Amber grinned.
"She dances, I didn't know if she'd be comfortable in that." Joey defending, knowing how totally lame he sounded.
"I'm fine, let's go." Sabrina said changing the subject.
Joey led the way to his car and opened the front passenger door for Sabrina and helped her in. He then glared at Amber who got in the backseat and was currently laughing at him.
It was obvious that Joey cared for Sabrina as he went slightly beyond being friendly. Sabrina wasn't oblivious to the fact, but she wasn't sure if she should feel special or if she should tell him to stop. She liked the attention because in her heart of hearts, she did have feelings for him deeper than friendship.
"So what do you think is the problem?" Amber asked from the back.
"I have no idea." Joey said popping in a CD.
"I have a feeling one of the girls got hurt." Sabrina sighed. She heard a familiar opening song and looked at Joey who was smiling.
"Andy Hunter up in the hizzle." Amber said busting a move.
Sabrina turned it to number eight, her favorite song 'To Life, to Love'. She heard the beginning and sat back in her seat and relaxed. She started getting into the song when the singing entered.
I’ve been to the Garden
Breathed the sweetest air
Alive and wanting more
Ate the fruit and honey
I’ve tasted the sweetest sweet
I am full on life
So come on, come on now
Let’s run together
Come on, come on now
Let’s get together
To life, to love
To life, to love
I am addicted
I need more life from You
Don’t let me suffocate
I need You closer
I wanna feel new wine now
Flowing through my veins
Joey watched Sabrina dance about in her seat and smiled tenderly. She was so energetic and so full of life that it was contagious. He had to force his mind away from where it was headed. He was thinking about their near kiss this morning, longing to experience the real thing yet feeling guilty for having those thoughts.
"Penny for your thoughts." Sabrina smiled interrupting his thoughts.
"Maybe some other time." Joey shook his head.
"Fair enough." Sabrina nodded.
They arrived at the studio and saw they were the last to arrive. They went in and found Justin, JC, Stacy, Sara, Alexia, Lance, Chris, and Elaine sitting around.
"Can I kiss you?" Chris asked seeing her shirt.
"Sure Chris, you can kiss my ASS." Sabrina smiled sweetly.
"Bend over." Chris winked.
Sabrina walked over to Chris and smacked him upside the head.
"Ow." Chris rubbed his head and stuck out his bottom lip.
"So what's this pow wow all about?" Amber asked making her presence known.
"Hey baby, what are you doing here?" Justin asked going over to her.
"Came to see you." Amber smiled.
"Well I'm glad you did." Justin said lowering his mouth to kiss her softly.
Amber wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him closer.
"Get a room." Sabrina rolled her eyes at her friends.
"Wanna make out?" Chris asked wiggling his eyebrows at her suggestively.
"Sure." Sabrina shook her head.
"Come here baby." Chris said coming towards her with open arms.
"Hide me." Sabrina said seeking refuge by Joey.
Joey chuckled and put an arm around her shoulders bringing her under his wing of protection.
"Stand back, I have a great and fierce protector." Sabrina stated.
"Who? Joey? His girlfriend just walked through the door, I really don't think she'd like it." Chris grinned evilly.
Joey and Sabrina looked towards the door and sure enough Melody stood there throwing daggers in their direction.
Sabrina turned to Joey and looked at him with longing. Joey squeezed her waist then walked over to greet his girlfriend.
"Hey Mel." he greeted.
"Hello." Melody answered coolly.
"How are you this morning?" Joey asked.
"Good. I tried calling you last night, why did you have your phone off?" she asked sticking her nose in his business.
"I didn't want to be disturbed." Joey answered.
"Why not?" Melody demanded.
"Leave it alone." Joey shook his head.
Sabrina rolled her eyes and sat down on the floor against the wall and brought her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her knees and waited for Wade.
Just as she sat down and got comfortable, Wade came in followed by Jaime who was walking with crutches and had a cast on her left ankle.
"People listen up." Wade said clapping his hands.
Sabrina got to her feet and went to stand next to Wade.
"Was you can see we have a problem. We just lost one of our dancers, as of this morning Joey doesn't have a partner." Wade explained.
"I'm so sorry guys, I was in a car accident. I never meant for this to happen." Jamie said getting teared up.
"Of course not." Sabrina shook her head and walked over to Jaime and wrapped her arms around the young girl.
Jaime let herself breakdown for the first time since the accident and started sobbing.
"It's okay sweetie, just let it out." Sabrina murmured caressing her hair to comfort her.
The others in the room felt her pain, they'd never been in an accident, but they sympathized with her.
"It was scary, I was driving through a green light and this driver came flying through the red light and swiped me. I swear, my life flashed before my eyes." Jaime cried. "And now I'm stuck in a cast for the next two months and I can't come with you guys and I totally let you down."
"Jaime, honey, look at me." Sabrina said pulling her chin up. She wiped away her tears then added, "This is NOT your fault, did you ask that car to plow into you? I don't believe you did and you WILL be coming with us. You can be my help. We all know who's going to take your place since we only have a week left before the tour starts."
"Wade stepped in at that moment and agreed what Sabrina had said. "I do still want you to come with us. You worked very hard this month and I'm very proud of you. You can help me backstage and such because my beautiful helper will be on stage and doing costume changes."
"Are you serious?" Jaime sniffled calming down some.
"Of course we're serious. We didn't dance our asses off together just to kick you to the curb. Once you get a fun walking boot we'll have a grand ole time dancing around getting back into it, and when you get it off, you can try and see how it feels and maybe get your spot back." Sabrina smiled.
"Who's replacing her?" Melody asked rudely.
"Sabrina of course." Chris glared at her.
"She can't. I won't let her." Melody steamed.
"You won't let me?" Sabrina said acknowledging her sister.
"That's right." Melody challenged.
"Let me tell you something Melody, you do not own me, nor do you own this company. It's about time you get over yourself." Sabrina told her.
"How little you know. I can always get my way." Melody sneered.
Something inside Sabrina snapped. She leaned back and punched Melody in the face then launched at her and knocked her to the ground.
"You stupid bitch." Sabrina screamed hitting everywhere she could.
"Get off me you psycho." Melody yelled.
Justin wrapped his arms around Sabrina's waist and hauled her off of Melody, whom Joey grabbed.
"Let go of me." Sabrina demanded fighting against him.
"Stop it." Justin said in her ear.
Sabrina crumpled in Justin's arms and started crying hysterically. Caught by surprise, Justin picked her up and carried her out of the studio and into their dressing room.
"Are you happy?" Wade asked Melody glaring at her.
For the first time in many years, Melody knew that she had gone overboard. She shrugged her shoulders and didn't dare say a word.
"I think it would be best if you leave." Joey said distancing himself from her.
"You're taking her side over mine?" Melody looked appalled at the thought.
"I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm telling you to get out of my face before I explode and do or say something I may come to regret." Joey fisted his hands at his sides and willed himself to calm down.
"Whatever." Melody huffed then slammed the door in her wake.
"Thank you Joey." Wade said slapping him on the back. "Dump her already."
"Stupid bitch." Amber gritted her teeth.
"You guys are free to go if you'd like." Wade dismissed then went to find Sabrina.
Wade walked into the guys' dressing room and found a disturbing sight. Sabrina was sitting on the corner of the couch curled tightly in a ball sobbing hysterically. There wasn't anything quiet about it, she was openly crying.
"Hey Sabby, it's okay sweetie." Wade said kneeling in front of her.
"It's n-not o...okay. She h-hates me and I n-never did anything to her." Sabrina cried running out of breath.
"She doesn't hate you honey, she's your sister." Wade reasoned putting his hand on her knee.
Sabrina jumped at his touch and immediately shied away curling herself tighter rocking in her misery.
Wade saw her closing off completely as she cried harder.
"Sabrina relax." Justin said sitting on the couch next to her.
"She's going to pass out if she doesn't get a decent breath." Wade told Justin who was just as worried.
Suddenly Sabrina started coughing really hard. She was crying, coughing and dry heaving to the point that she couldn't get any air.
"Get Joey." Wade ordered Justin.
Justin ran down the hall to find Joey while Wade tried desperately to calm Sabrina down.
"Joey!" Justin shouted hoping to get a response.
Justin went in the studio and found who he was looking for. "Joey come here now."
Joey saw the look on Justin's pale face and immediately followed him.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked.
"Sabrina's cried herself to hysterics and she won't calm down, and she can't catch her breath." Justin answered opening the door to the dressing room.
The sight that Joey walked in on nearly brought him to his knees, Sabrina was still trying to catch her breath, but had returned to her sheltered position.
"Sabrina, there's someone here to see you." Wade said hoping to get through her fog.
"That's right 'Brina, it's me." Joey said softly, moving to sit right next to her on the couch.
Joey's voice penetrated Sabrina's brain and as she focused on his voice, she realized he was truly sitting next to her.
"What are you d-doing here?" Sabrina hiccupped.
"Checking on you." Joey answered picking her up and gently setting her into his lap.
Sabrina let herself be lifted into Joey's lap and buried her face in his neck. She drew strength from him and finally felt herself relaxing.
Joey held her close and murmured in her ear, comforting her. He saw the look of concern on his friends' faces imagining he looked the same.
"I'm so sorry for making a scene." Sabrina sniffled and sat up a few minutes later.
"I think she deserved a scene. I can't believe how rude she was." Justin said shaking his head.
"That's my sister, the rude bitch." Sabrina chuckled.
"Here you go." Wade handed her a handful of tissues.
"Thanks." Sabrina accepted them and wiped her face and blew her nose until it was empty.
"She's gone now." Wade rolled her eyes.
"What did you do?" Sabrina asked curiously.
"I didn't do anything." Wade answered.
"What do you mean?" Sabrina wondered.
"I made her leave." Joey spoke up.
"You did?" Sabrina looked at Joey.
"Yes, what she did was childish and rude. It's about time she starts thinking of someone else but herself." Joey explained.
Sabrina stared at him unblinkingly, feeling a warmth in the pit of her stomach. "You made her leave because of me?"
"Not because of you, I made her leave because she had no right to be here in the first place." Joey shook his head.
Sabrina knew that he'd made a huge sacrifice because of her. She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. She softly kissed his cheek before pulling away. "Thanks for caring, and being such a good friend."
Joey dared not say anything lest he say the wrong thing or say something he may later regret. He smiled and nodded showing her he cared.
"And thank you guys, my friends." Sabrina said holding out her hands.
"I love you, Sabrina." Wade said getting up to give her a hug.
"I love you too Wade," Sabrina said hugging him back.
"Don't forget about me." Justin whined.
"Well come here, I'm not getting up, I'm comfy right here." Sabrina said patting Joey's lap.
"Okay." Justin laughed. He slipped his arms around her and gave her a long hug.
"thanks." Sabrina smiled.
"We're here for you hon." Justin answered.
"Thanks Justin."
"Quit hugging my man." Amber said coming into the room.
"I'm done." Sabrina winked.
"So what are y'all doing?" Amber sat down next to Justin on the floor.
"Sitting her." Sabrina answered leaning back against Joey.
Joey wrapped his arms around her waist and she rested her hands on his.
Wade took out his digital camera and took a picture of Joey and Sabrina on the couch, thinking it was a perfect Kodak Moment.
"Hey now." Sabrina stated.
"What? It was a perfect picture moment." Wade returned turning to aim at Justin and Amber.
"Hey." Amber greeted flipping the camera off.
"Nice pose." Wade chuckled.
"Thank you." Amber grinned.
"So are you okay with the whole dancing thing?" Wade asked Sabrina.
"What choice do I have? We don't have any time to find someone else in 8 days." Sabrina shrugged.
"I didn't ask if you had a choice, I asked if you were okay with it." Wade shook his head.
"I love to dance, I don't like the thought of dancing in front of a crowd that large, but I want to dance whether it be on stage or to choreograph." Sabrina answered.
"That's why I love you." Wade smiled with a nod. "You're always willing to step up to the plate and get the job done.
Sabrina smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Take a compliment." Wade chuckled.
"I can take a compliment." Sabrina scowled at him.
"No you can't." Amber shook her head.
"I don't like the spotlight what can I say?" Sabrina shrugged.
"I reckon that could be a good thing. Keeps you down to earth and not all about you." Justin smiled.
Sabrina opened her mouth to reply when the door opened and Melody stood there staring at them.
Sabrina fell to the side when Joey quickly jumped up to stand.
*Song To Life to Love by Andy Hunter