~*~ In the backroom ~*~

"Sometimes I wonder why I waste my time trying to be civil to you!"

"It’s not your time that’s being wasted! It’s mine!"

"You are such an ass hole!"

"If you had to put up with your bitchy-ness you’d be an ass hole too!"

"Excuse me?"

"Have you gone deaf woman?! You heard what I said!"

------------------------

~*~ In the kitchen ~*~

"Someone should go in there before Rori tries to break Joey’s nose again." Justin Timberlake said offhandedly as he searched the bus’s refrigerator for something edible.

"I vote you go." JC Chasez said.I don’t think so. Last time I did she almost killed me." Justin objected.

"But you’re her boyfriend now." Ali said, helping JC’s point."What about Lance or Chris?" Justin whined.

"I broke it up last time." Chris said. "And Lance is on the phone."

"Why can’t Ali go? She’s Rori’s best friend." Justin said

"He has a point." JC said smiling at his girlfriend.

"Thanks a lot guys." Ali said getting up and heading towards the back of the bus.

"You’ll get a big kiss when you get back." JC promised.

"Gee, that makes it all worth while."

When she opened the back door of the bus Ali was greeted by Joey and Rori’s shouts.

"I can’t believe you!" Rori yelled.

"If you wouldn’t be so stubb—" Joey Fatone began, but was cut off by Ali, who put her hand over his mouth

"Once again, I have to separate you two like you are 3 years old. Joey, stay in here. Rori, you’re coming with me."

"I feel like I’m being arrested." Rori muttered as she followed Ali to the front of the bus.

"Maybe you should be." Ali replied.

"I can’t help it that he has worse mood swings than a pregnant woman." Rori said sitting next to Justin at the table.

"His mood swings aren’t that bad Rori, you want some?" Justin asked offering her the bag of Cheetos he was eating from.

"No thanks. When do we stop?"

"A half hour." Lance answered, still on the phone.

"30 minutes on this fu—"

"Don’t say it." Ali warned her friend.

"Sorry." Rori apologized as she began taping her nails on the table.

"Stop it." Justin said grabbing her hand after a few moments, "You know that bothers the hell out of me."

Rori sighed and looked around at her friends.

"What on earth are you guys watching?" She asked referring to the movie they were all watching intently.

"Don’t know." JC answered.

"You don’t know?"

"Nope."

"I really need to get off this bus." Rori said opening a can of pop.

"Hey James, open the door so we can push Rori out!" Ali yelled to the driver.

"Love you too."

"It was a joke Rori. Don’t take everything I sat so seriously. Just because you’re in a bad mood doesn’t mean you have to take it out on us."

"I’m not in a bad mood. I’m just not in a good mood."

"Can I help make your mood better?" Justin whispered in her ear.

"Right now? Justin babe, I don’t mind a little public display of affection but don’t you think that’s going a little bit too far?"

"How about when we get to the hotel?"

Rori turned around to face him.

"Only if you make me one promise."

"Anything."

"You have to brush your teeth, you have Cheeto breath."

"I think I can do that." Justin laughed.

"Man, you guys aren’t subtle at all, you get right to the point."

"No one asked for your opinion Christopher."

"Well, I felt like sharing it."

"Well, I didn’t feel like hearing it."

"Okay, geez, sorry."

"How much longer on this bus Poo Foo?" Rori asked Lance

"I don’t know, 10 maybe 15 minutes. Don’t call me Poo Foo."

"Good Lord! Do you think they could make your stops any farther apart?!" Rori stood up and stomped to the back of the bus. Joey immediately came to the front.

"What is she mad about now?"

"You’ll be better off if you don’t ask." JC said.

"I’m gonna go talk to her." Justin stood up and went to see what was really bothering his girlfriend. He cracked the door to the back entertainment room and peeked in.

"Rori? Wanna talk?"

"No, but you can come in here anyway."

Justin closed the door behind him and sat down next to Rori. She put her head in his lap and looked up at him.

"Tell me what’s wrong."

Rori shook her head.

"Please?"

"I’m just tired of this bus, I’ll be fine once we can sleep on solid ground."

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"I don’t think so." Justin argued.

"Well I do."

"Rori, one minute you were laughing and the next you almost bit Chris’ head off. I doubt it’s just the bus."

"Look," Rori jumped up grabbing Justin’s hand; "we stopped."

"We’ll talk later then, okay?"

"I’m fine Justy." She kissed his cheek. "Let’s go!

Justin decided as Rori pulled him off the bus, that he’d have Ali talk to her.