AN: Hi again! Here's chapter 2. I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I forgot to mention, but this is set during next year's convention in Wilmington (it was a good pretext for a reunion, right?). Also, everything written here is FICTION (unfortunately). Oh, and I actually have no idea how cons work in terms of production but since this is fiction I thought "what the hell, I'll just write it this way" (bear with me haha). Anyway, if you're reading and (maybe) reviewing this, THANK YOU! Let me know what you think :) C.

PS: thank you for your reviews on chapter 1, they made my day.

"Baby girl, you look great!"

Joy laughed as Antown came close to give her a small hug. "How long has it been?"

"Too long, old friend." she smiled, looking past him to see James walk through the door, clearly being nagged by Robert, who almost skipped around him, not ever shutting up.

Antwon looked back to see where her attention had been diverted to.

"You two really need to get it on." he stated.

Joy's jaw almost hit the floor at her friend's crude comment. She couldn't say she was surprised, he had always been forward when it came to speak his mind.

"Antwon!" she scolded "That's not very appropriate of you to say. Plus, we're two polar opposites, who happen to be good friends and..."

"Baby girl, you're rambling. I know you and my man James have this special thing going on and I wouldn't want to meddle but if you two dorks don't work it out I've already been recruited by blondie to fix you up."

"Shantel?"

"Robert."

She stifled a laugh, shaking her head and patting him on the back.

"Alright, buddy, thanks. See you later."

James waited alone in the room where the Naley photo ops were being held, leaning back against the wall, going through his Instagram feed. Joy had posted the photo they took earlier, and everyone was going mental over it. They did look couple-y, as usual. He smiled when he got a text notification: Joy had sent him their pictures. We're too cute for words, baby J! xo it read.

He wondered if she'd ever see him as anything other than "baby James". Rob was right, he did have a crush on her. How could he not? She was gorgeous, kind, funny and extremely talented. He couldn't get enough of her. James never grew tired of her presence. Something about her had this strange power over him.

His relationship had become tiring and dull so when his girlfriend told him she wanted to end things he was torn between feeling heartbroken and being relieved. Even though he felt a heavy weight inside his rib cage, he wasn't reminded of it as often today because her presence eased the pain he was in.

Joy walked in, rolling up her sleeves and moving to stand beside him.

"We're a hit." she announced, showing him her million dollar smile.

He returned her grin, shrugging. "I told you we were epic."

They took a couple of pictures before a fan requested they'd pretend they were gazing adoringly into each other's eyes.

Joy wrapped her arms around his neck and did as she was asked. James' blue eyes burning into her own, his intense gaze making her feel something she couldn't quite explain. He had a way of always making her feel special just by looking at her.

"You two should date!" the fan blurted out confidently.

"I've been hearing that quite a lot lately." Joy replied, avoiding to meet James' eyes.

James didn't say a word, burying his hands in his pockets as he tried to act casual.

"Hardcore shipper right here." she jested, hugging the fan goodbye.

The photo ops were finished and both were looking forward to their well-deserved break. They walked side by side down the hall back to the green room.

"This year they decided to organize a dinner with formal dress code instead of the regular one we used to have. I'm really curious about what Antwon will be wearing tonight. What do you think?" Joy asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between the pair.

James stopped on his tracks, pretending to be deep in thought. "That's actually a pretty good question. He always makes some bold choices."

"That's one way to look at it." she snorted, instantly covering her mouth with her hands.

"Did you just..."

"Don't!" she pleaded.

James erupted into a fit of laughter and Joy groaned, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"You're never going to let me live this down, are you?"

"Not for a second, sweetcheeks." he winked, finally managing to stop laughing, noticing the frown on her face. "Oh come on... I promise I won't mention it to anyone, alright? It was kinda cute, actually." he joked, and, in an unexpected moment of bravery, placed his arm around her shoulders, squeezing her tightly against his side.

"Yeah, yeah..." she rolled her eyes lightheartedly and opened the door, only to find the room empty.

"Where's everybody?

"They left about ten minutes or so to get ready for dinner." an assistant explained, as she entered the room to restock the refreshments table.

"Shit, Sophia and I were supposed to share the car the production lent us for the weekend!" Joy grunted.

"I was stuck with Rob." James said, checking his phone for any texts or calls letting him know he was on his own. "Unbelievable."

"Guess I'm calling a cab." she sighed.

"We can share one if you'd like." James offered. "Where are you staying?"

"The Hilton..."

"They booked us all to stay in the same place, hu? I'll call a cab."

The cab didn't take long to arrive. As the gentleman he was, James opened the door for Joy to climb in, joining her and letting the taxi driver know where they wanted to go. When they got to the hotel, Joy saw the time on her phone, mumbling something about not being able to be ready on time, tapping her foot impatiently while they waited for the elevator to come down.

James chuckled to himself as she checked her watch time and time again as they went up.

"This is not funny. I thought we had more time..." she whimpered, just before the familiar ring let them know they had arrived.

" I don't know why you're worried about that, you'll look great even if you have less time to get ready" he said, matter-of-factly when they stepped out into the hall.

She scoffed, looking for her room key, hidden somewhere in her purse before halting in front of her door. "This is me."

"I'm staying right down the hall. Do you think they managed to book the whole floor?"

"Probably, they must want to make sure Rob and Chad don't wander off on food runs."

"They did try to drag me out of bed last night to get pizza."

"Why am I not surprised?" Joy pondered, turning her back on him to open the door. "Go get ready, you handsome buggar. We're supposed to be meeting downstairs, right?"

James simply nodded, taking in the way she called him handsome once again and waiting until she closed the door behind her to walk down the hall to his own room.

Joy took a shower, wrapping a towel around her body and rushing around her neat suite looking for the dress and shoes she had packed specifically for that night, laying the dress carefully on the bed, before putting on her lingerie.

She heard a knock on the door and hastily grabbed a robe, going to see who it was.

"Hey pretty lady!" Sophia greeted sheepishly, waltzing into her room in a green bustier cocktail dress, her hair down in gorgeous waves.

"You look beautiful, Soph." Joy smiled, untying her robe.

"Hey, hey, hey! Is that how you're going to show up at the dinner? You little rebel, disrespecting the dress code, I like it!" her bubbly friend gushed, sitting down on the bed.

"Haha, very funny! I'm still pissed you left me at the convention center without saying anything." She pointed out, turning on the hair dryer, missing Sophia's reply over the noise.

Sophia got up, grabbing the hair dryer from her. "Let me help you with that."

"Thank you."
"I see you brought the red dress. Nice!"

"You did threaten to pinch me really hard if I didn't." Joy snickered, closing her eyes while Sophia picked up a rounded brush, starting to straighten her hair.

"I have my ways..." Sophia shrugged. "So... Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room, or...?"

"What elephant in the room?" she questioned, turning to look at her.

"Well, you know, the whole James- is-single-and-you-should-totally-take-advantage-of-that situation."

"Did Robert set you up to this?"
"Maybe..."
"He just broke up with his girlfriend, Soph. They had been dating for a while. He needs to grief and figure his life out before you nerds try to set him up with someone else, you know that..." She shook her head, looking down at her hands.

"You would make an adorable little pair, just saying..." Sophia mumbled as she finished tying Joy's hair up in a bun, leaving some strands out to frame her face. "Voilá!" she cheered triumphantly, satisfied with her work once she saw a small smile creep up on her friend's face.

"You do have some weird fairy godmother hands. Thank you. Now, get me my make-up from the bedside table, please."
"Your wishes are my commands."

Sophia did as she was asked and stood back while Joy calmly applied her make-up.

"How late am I?" she asked, as she sprayed her favorite perfume on her neck and the back of her ear, getting up and picking up her garment.

"You still have time, don't worry. Listen, I'm going to swing by my room to get my phone and I'm meeting Shantel in the lobby, okay?"

"Yeah, go on, just zip my dress up before you go, please."

Downstairs, the cast had been divided into two separate groups to leave for the convention center. James adjusted his blazer, looking down the room from time to time, checking if she had come down yet.

Sophia came down, smirking once she saw the disappointed look on James' face when he realised she wasn't the one he was so eagerly waiting for.

"Hey stranger. " she greeted him.

"Hey..."

"She'll be down in a minute."

"What?" he snapped back to reality, having clearly missed the suggestive tone in her voice.

"You don't fool anyone, baby James." Sophia winked, leaving him alone to join Shantel and Ashley.

He pretended he didn't understand what she meant, leaning against the pillar next to the reception desk, going through his Instagram feed for the tenth time in half an hour. Nothing new.

His brother had texted him to let him know he had seen the snap Joy had shared and that he "totally approved" but he "had dibs" on her since 2002, to which he had replied "Alright Stu, don't worry."

"Finally!" Shantel chanted, throwing her hands up in the air. "I was beggining to think I was going to have get you ready myself.

James looked up from his phone, being left speachless at the sight of her. He knew she'd look amazing but he had no idea that, fourteen years later, she could still knock the wind out of him.

Joy had chosen a beautiful red A-line dress with a generous cleavage that accentuated her tiny waist and she could only be described as a fallen angel. He bit his lip, discreetly eyeing her up and down.

"Okay buddy, you can breathe now." Chad came up from behind him with Rob, tapping him on the shoulder. "Come on everybody, Joy's here, it's time to go."

At the sound of Chad's voice, Joy glanced in his direction, locking eyes with James. She smiled, scrunching up her nose, the way she always did. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

Shantel linked arms with Joy, leading her outside and leaving him standing there, completely dumbfounded.

"Dude, did you just choke?" Rob asked, trying to hold in the laughter.

"Shut up."