New Story: Behind It All Lays The Truth - Britney/Christina
Behind It All Lays the Truth
Disclaimer: The inspiration for this story was from articles and the media, the rest is fabrication. (Yes, that US Weekly article about Christina’s shirt really does exist, the quotes in italics all exist). The timeline is all correct too (Justin and Britney did break up in March 02’, Christina got that shirt a few weeks later, Britney kissed Colin in Jan 03’, etc. I left Jordan out of the story because that would make things too complicated). Everything else is made up.
Author: Amy (joshs_girl)
Pairing: Britney/Christina
Rating: R
Guest appearances by: Nsync, Madonna, Missy Elliot, Colin Farrell, and others
Summary: The truth behind those articles.
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“A beautiful person inside.” - Britney using 4 words to describe Christina when asked to describe her in 3 words, MKL, MMC era
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Late 2000…
Britney moved her hands down to Christina’s hips and kissed her neck softly. Christina closed her eyes slowly and sighed.
“Do you really have to leave?” Christina mumbled, pulling Britney closer to her.
“Yeah.” Britney kissed her again and then got out from under the sheets. “I have to go meet Justin.”
“Mm.” Christina opened her eyes. “Stay. Please?”
Britney pulled her pants up and looked at Christina, sympathetically. “I can’t. I wish I could.”
Christina propped herself up and sat on the edge of the bed. “Fuck. Just tell him you forgot.”
Britney smirked. “That’s a horrible excuse.”
Christina smiled and shook her head. “Fine.”
“I’ll see you later, okay?” Britney tugged her shirt down and then leaned over and Christina kissed her.
“I’ll call you.”
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“I just broke down and started crying one night about that article because of how mean it was, just to talk about, 'Oh, Britney's Madonna without the brain.’ That is so mean and it's like, shut up, already!” - Christina on magazine articles that pit her against Britney, MTV Asia, December 2000
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June 2001…
“Justin!” Jamie Lynn smacked his arm as he snatched the video game controller from her and smirked.
From the table across the room, Britney rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you guys play a two player game?”
“There are no two players on this game.” Justin looked back at her, and then gave Jamie Lynn the controller back. She made a face. “You can have it, kid.”
Justin made his way over to Britney and sat down beside her at the table, kissing her softly on the lips. “Hey, you.”
“Hey.” Britney looked up from the paper that she was scribbling on.
“What are you doing?”
“Writing a song.” Britney smiled at him.
“Yeah?” Justin put his arm around her and pulled her towards him, kissing her again. “Want to go upstairs?”
Britney put her paper away. “Sure.”
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“They were inseparable on the 'Mickey Mouse Club'. I mean literally. Britney's mom Lynne and I lived at each other's apartments practically with these girls back and forth. They're so alike, personality wise. I remember more than once that Christina was furious, crying and everything else because she'd read horrible things about Britney she'd come in and say 'look at this, this isn't fair, she's not like this'.” - Shelly Kearns (Christina’s mother), on the Britney/Christina feud rumors, January 2001, Allpop.com
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March 2002….
“I don’t fucking understand this!” Justin shook his head violently and tried to maintain his rage. “I don’t!”
“Justin, it’s-.”
“Why? Was I not enough?”
Britney bit her lip. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Well maybe you should fucking think before you act on your impulses!”
“Justin, it was this emotional thing that-.”
“That I didn’t provide?”
Britney didn’t say anything. Justin stared at her, his lip shaking.
“Who did you cheat on me with?”
“Stop blaming me.” Britney snapped at him. “You weren’t there for me.”
“And that gives you permission to fuck somebody else?” Justin narrowed his eyes. “Who was it?”
Britney shook her head and didn’t reply.
Justin squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists. “Shit. What ever. This is so fucking over.”
Britney swallowed.
“I trusted you with my life.” Justin told her before he left the room, slamming the door behind him.
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“Did she tell you she tried to kiss me?” - Britney when asked about seeing Christina right after the Justin break-up in March 02’, CD:UK, fall 2003
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A few weeks later…
Britney wandered up and down the aisles of the grocery store, searching for the milk, yogurt, ice cream - the dairy section.
“Excuse me,” Britney spoke up as she saw an employee - a young man with a green polo shirt - stocking canned tomatoes on top of each other on the shelves. “Where’s the milk?”
“Oh, we just moved it to aisle 3.” He said, barely looking up.
“Thanks.” Britney muttered and made her way towards aisle 3. She picked up a carton of milk and then made her way to the checkout counter.
She picked up the latest US Weekly from the stand beside the cashier and set it right beside the milk.
The cashier looked up briefly and noticed who Britney was, but didn’t care enough to say anything. She rang up the items quickly and bagged them. “Your total comes to $6.80.”
Britney handed her two fives and took the bag. The cashier handed her the change and Britney left the store quickly.
Rob waited outside for her in the car and motioned for her to quickly get in. Britney jumped into the convertible and drove off.
When she got home, Rob went his separate way and Britney went inside.
Christina sat there on the leather couch, her feet propped up on the table.
Christina looked over at her. “Brit. Hey.”
Britney kicked off her shoes and closed the door. She made her way over to Christina and embraced her, kissing her deeply and then pulling back before Christina could initiate anything else. Christina rolled her eyes.
“Hey.”
“Whatcha’ buy?”
“Milk.” Britney pulled out the magazine. “And the latest.”
Christina groaned and rolled her eyes again. “Why would you buy that?”
Britney raised her eyebrows. “Well, there’s something interesting in here.”
Christina leaned back on the couch as Britney flipped through the pages. She stopped at a page and started reading dramatically. “Is the rivalry between Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears ending?”
Christina grinned and Britney giggled, continuing with less drama. “‘Aguilera, 21, was recently shopping at the Los Angeles boutique Kitson and ran across a $65 white t-shirt that read I Love Britney’, that is a heart sign by the way, ‘which a store employee reported that she bought.’” Britney set the magazine down and Christina frowned.
“So where is this shirt, Miss Aguilera?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise, you know.”
“Okay. So.” Britney moved towards Christina and pushed her back towards the couch, placing a kiss on her jaw and then taking her lower lip between her teeth.
“They…that …even before I could show you…” Christina breathed out as Britney rubbed her thighs through her pants.
Britney nibbled on Christina’s neck, causing her to moan. “You’re going… to give... me a… hickey.” She made out in between pants.
“You like it.” Britney said simply and grinned.
Christina’s hands fumbled with Britney’s as they both tried to get Christina’s pants undone.
“Remind me to get shirts about you more often.”
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“I, of course I love her, I mean, I think she's great.” - Christina on Britney, CD:UK, October 2002
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October 2002….
Britney’s head felt like it was spinning. The people around her in the club danced fast, and usually she’d join in, but right now she just felt sick.
She put a hand to her forehead and gulped, and then weaved through the crowd to make her way back to the table.
She had come to the club with Christina, and they had found JC, Joey, and Chris, who all happened to be there as well. JC and Christina were sitting in a booth, drinking and talking, and Joey was probably hitting on some girls on the dance floor. Chris had gone off somewhere out of the club. Britney scanned around her quickly and couldn’t spot him, so she just made her way over to Christina and JC.
Christina wrapped her arm around Britney’s waist as she sat down in the booth, and it was pretty obvious if someone was sitting close to them, but her arm was well hidden from the people that were farther away.
JC looked at Britney and smiled widely. She forced a smile back at him and then leaned her head on Christina’s shoulder.
Christina moved her arm up from Britney’s waist and rubbed her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Um, I feel kind of sick.”
“You know what’s good for that?” JC butted in, and Christina held her hand up to stop him.
“JC, don’t start with your new organic food stories again.”
“Hey,” JC scowled, “It works, alright?”
“Uh-huh.” Christina then turned her attention back to Britney. “You want to leave?”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll just stay here. You go enjoy yourself.” Britney shrugged.
“Ginger root would work.” JC blurted out.
Christina glanced at him quickly and then turned back to Britney. “Brit, if you’re not feeling great-.”
“Hey you guys!” Joey interrupted, jumping into his seat next to JC. “What’s going on?”
“Britney is sick.” JC told him.
“Oh, are you okay?” Joey gave her a smile.
Britney nodded. Christina sighed and kissed her on the neck.
“Brit, I think-.”
“Shit, be careful.” Britney jumped and looked around the room, nervously. “Don’t do that here.”
Joey grinned. “Please do.”
Christina kicked him underneath the table. “Okay, let’s get out of here. Brit?”
Britney blinked and stood up after Christina did.
“Okay.”
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“She can always make me smile and feel good about myself.” - Christina on what she likes about Britney, MKL, MMC era
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December 2002…
Christina scrambled around Britney’s kitchen, searching for the ketchup. It wasn’t in the fridge, it wasn’t in the cupboards, and it wasn’t hidden behind the teapot. She couldn’t find it anywhere she looked.
“Brit?” Christina called out, and waited for a response.
“Yeah?” Christina heard Britney call out from the direction of the living room.
“Where’s the ketchup?”
“I don’t have anymore!”
“Shit,” Christina mumbled to herself. “How can I have macaroni and cheese without ketchup?”
“What?”
Christina shook her head. “You want some macaroni and cheese too?”
“No thanks!”
Christina took her plate of macaroni and cheese and headed towards the living room, sitting down beside Britney on the couch. She immediately rested her feet on another chair in front of her and sat back to eat her macaroni.
“Chrissy?”
“Hm?” Christina chewed her food.
“You know what my mom said to me today?”
“What did she say?”
Britney picked up the remote and pressed the ‘mute’ button, and then moved closer to Christina.
“Um.” Britney sighed. “I was talking to her on the phone today. She asked me why I haven’t dated or kissed a boy in so long. She’s like, ‘when are you going to meet a new boy?’”
Christina raised her eyebrows and then put her plate down on the table. “What did you say?”
“I just said I haven’t met a boy yet. And she asked me when I will, and I said I don’t know.”
Christina grinned. “Whatever. She doesn’t think anything else of it, does she?”
Britney shrugged and then shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Christina then put her hand on Britney’s arm and pulled her towards her. “Cm’ere.”
Britney grinned and scooted close to Christina, almost sitting in her lap.
Christina kissed her passionately and Britney sighed into her mouth.
“Lynne can think what she wants.” Christina said quietly.
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“Thank God for Britney on that show.” - Christina on the Mickey Mouse Club, Maxim, January 2003
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January 2003…
Christina was at Trish’s place when her cell phone rang. She glanced at it quickly and saw it flash Britney’s name.
“Hey sweetie.”
“Hey Christina, I need to talk to you about something. I know you’re not going to agree with me or anything, but I think I really need to do it.”
“Who is it?” Trish asked, walking into the room with a plate of bite-sized sandwiches.
Christina waved her off. “What is it?”
Britney paused for a few seconds. “It’s…remember when I told you last month about what my mom said?”
“About your lack of boyfriends?”
“Um, yeah. So she’s, she’s been bugging me about it. So I thought that I should kiss a boy-.”
“What the fuck?” Christina winced.
Britney went on nervously. “Look, it’ll just be for publicity. I’m going to go with Colin Farrell to some movie premiere today, and, we’ll kiss. She’ll definitely see it because we’ll do it in front of cameras.”
Christina shook her head and Trish watched her curiously. “You don’t have to fucking to do that to prove to her whatever.”
“Christina, I haven’t even kissed a boy in I don’t know how long. I don’t want her to think stuff. She knows I’ve been spending a lot of time with you.”
Christina sighed in frustration.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” Britney said.
Christina gulped. “Okay, do it. Just. Okay. We have to talk about this later.”
“Yeah.” Britney said softly, and the way she said it so gently made Christina picture her panting that into her ear.
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Love you.”
“I love you too.”
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A seat filler at the 2003 AMAs said that Britney cried during Christina’s performance of Impossible/Beautiful, because when Christina sang ‘You are beautiful’, she pointed at Britney. - Livedaily forum
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“So how are we going to deal with this?”
Britney looked puzzled, and Christina sighed.
“This. Your mom. Are you going to be kissing boys every few months now for a camera?”
Britney shook her head. “I didn’t think about this.”
Christina sat down on the coffee table so she was facing Britney. “You…” She reached her hand up to caress Britney’s cheek softly and then pulled back. “You didn’t.”
Britney reached into her purse for her pack of Marlboros, and then pulled one out, along with a lighter.
“Fuck,” Christina groaned. “Don’t fucking do that.”
Britney lit it and inhaled the smoke, breathing it out and sighing in satisfaction as the nicotine hit her system.
Christina coughed. “Britney.”
“I’m so confused.”
Christina pulled the cigarette out of Britney’s mouth and stubbed it out on a newspaper that was lying beside her.
“Please.”
Britney blinked. “Christina.”
“Maybe she should know.”
“No, no. She can’t.”
“Brit, my mom knows!”
Britney didn’t say anything.
“My family knows, some of my friends know…” Christina took Britney’s hand in both of hers and continued. “And not one person on your side knows.”
“That’s not true. JC and Joey know.”
“That doesn’t count.” Christina replied.
“Sure it does.”
“Maybe Lynne should know.”
Britney shook her head and pulled her hand away from Christina’s grasp. “How about we just continue like everything is fine, and then, when the time comes that she begins to turn suspicious again, we can figure something out. Plan?”
Christina looked into Britney’s eyes and after a few seconds, looked down. “No, Brit. What are you going to do then? Kiss some more boys?”
“No.”
“Find a beard?”
“No. I…” Britney trailed off. “I’ll think about it.”
“You’ll think about it,” Christina repeated quietly, and then spoke up, “Okay. Fine.”
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Britney was seen crying while leaving Justin’s birthday bash.
Christina’s limo was also seen circling the block after Britney went in, and then Christina came in 15 minutes later.
(E! Access Hollywood, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, & Star magazine - January 31 2003)
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A few weeks later…
Christina didn’t see Britney since their conversation for about a week, she had flown to New York to talk to publicists and her manager about the “shocking kiss” and they had to prepare her for what she was going to say to the media. Then she had flown home to Louisiana to spend some time with her family. Then back to New York for the TRL Awards. She returned to California in a week.
And she now knew that Christina was going on tour with Justin.
“I heard it from Fe.” Britney said, making herself comfortable in the back of the limo beside Christina. They were on their way to Justin’s birthday party.
“Brit, you were flying all over the place. I tried to contact you.”
“A week after she told me.”
Christina frowned. “Well…”
“What do you think about it?”
“What do I think about it?” Christina studied Britney. “What do you think about it?”
“I just think its weird, that’s all.”
“I’m touring with your ex.”
“You’re touring with my ex,” Britney repeated, “Do you feel bad that he doesn’t know that you’re the reason we broke up?”
“Fuck,” Christina rubbed her forehead, “I’m not thinking of it like that. Maybe you can make amends.”
“How?” Britney paused. “‘Hey Justin, the reason why we’re not together anymore is because I was sleeping with your tour mate who is also your friend. Peace?’”
Christina adjusted the bandana on her head and sighed. The limo came to a slow stop. “Are you going to go in first?”
“I guess.” Britney said, watching Christina.
Christina leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
“I’m sorry for being-.” Britney started.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry too.” Christina smiled.
Britney smiled back at her and stepped out of the limo, closing the door behind her.
Rob was already out of the passenger seat, and he waved her over quickly, and then they walked past the cameras and reporters into the building where Justin’s birthday was being held.
Britney lost Rob in the crowd of people somehow. She had spotted Trace, so she went over to him and greeted him.
“Hi, Britney.” Trace welcomed.
“Hey, do you know where Justin is?”
Trace scratched his head. “Uh, over there somewhere I saw him last.” He pointed towards the area where a bunch of people were huddled around.
Britney nodded. “Okay, thanks.”
Britney made her way over, and when she got closer she could see Justin’s head in the middle of the crowd surrounding him. She pushed herself past the throng of people and stopped right beside him.
Everyone was talking to him and laughing and making jokes. Justin was obviously overwhelmed, but enjoyed it anyhow.
“Hi.” Justin said as he noticed Britney beside him.
“Hey.”
Justin then looked around at the mob swarming around him, and then mumbled, “Excuse me,” to them and grabbed Britney’s arm and pulled them both out of the area.
“How are you doing?” Britney asked once they were safe and away from the horde.
“Oh. I’m doing fine. I wanted to talk to you about, you know…”
“You’re going on tour with Christina.”
Justin nodded. “Right.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Um, well I just thought, you know, I should talk to you about it. Because, well, I thought maybe you’d think it was a horrible thing for me or her to do. Seeing as I’m your ex and she’s your former best friend-.”
Britney shook her head, and interrupted him. “It’s fine. I already had this discussion with her.”
Justin gave her a small smile. “Okay. Well, it was manager’s idea anyway.”
Britney shrugged. “Okay.”
Justin nodded. “Okay.”
“So are you two reuniting?”
“Yeah, we’re cool. I haven’t got the chance to talk to her that much, you know, with all the publicity and press we have to do, but yeah.”
Britney swallowed. He had no idea. Suddenly she felt like crying. “You’re friends now?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay,” Britney patted him on the arm, “I’m going to go now.”
Justin looked confused. “Why? You just got here.”
Britney coughed. “Um, yeah, well I’ll see you later. Okay.”
Justin blinked. “Britney-.”
Britney ignored him. “Bye J. Happy birthday.”
And she turned without glancing back, leaving the party. She spotted Rob outside and he followed her as she made her way to the limos, tears welling up in her eyes.
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Christina: I miss you.
Britney: I miss you too.
- TRL Awards 2003 with Britney co-hosting, when Christina called in to accept an award, February 2003
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Christina called her the next day, she had just found out about what happened.
Britney’s voice was still sleepy and her eyes were hardly opened. “He doesn’t know, Chris. I just, I felt so bad.”
Christina sighed into the receiver. “Yeah. Are you okay though?”
“I’m fine.” Britney yawned.
“Yeah, you are fine,” Christina agreed and Britney rolled her eyes on the other end of the line, “You think I should just cancel the tour then?”
Britney frowned. “No, don’t do that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Christina seemed satisfied, because she didn’t push the issue anymore. “Okay.”
“So are you coming over?”
“Mm. I have some stuff I have to do this morning. I’ll come over later, okay?”
Britney buried her head in her pillow. “Fuck that stuff you have to do, just, come here.”
“Sorry, babe, I can’t put it off anymore.”
“Did I tell you I got a waterbed a few days ago?”
Christina laughed. “Tempting.”
“Isn’t it? So fuck the stuff you have to do today.”
“As appealing as that is, I can’t. Sorry.” Christina kissed the phone.
Britney sighed unhappily. “Okay. See you later then.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
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“I miss Brit-Brit.” - Christina, 1999?, MTV Buzzclip
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July 2003…
The beer was freezing in Christina’s hand. She set it down on the table and shuffled her scrabble letters around.
Justin was rearranging things in the mini-fridge. After a minute, he walked back to Christina with a small bag of peanuts in his hand.
“Want some?” Justin offered, and Christina shook her head no.
Justin sat down across from Christina and opened the bag of peanuts. Christina looked out the window of the tour bus and watched the green scenery pass her by.
“Is it my turn?” Justin asked, examining the scrabble board.
Christina nodded her head yes and turned back to Justin and the scrabble game.
There was silence for a few minutes as Justin tried to figure out his next move, and Christina broke it. “So, tour’s almost over, huh. Couple more dates.”
“Yeah.” Justin mumbled.
Christina paused and tried to look him in the eye. “Justin, you’re…you’re over the Britney break-up, right?”
Justin looked up at her. “Yes, yeah I am. I’ve been in another relationship for a while now, Cameron, you know.”
Christina broke eye contact and looked down. “So, you wouldn’t be mad if I told you something about it that you didn’t know?”
Justin raised an eyebrow. “Like what? What do you mean?”
“Um,” Christina blinked, “Its okay. Forget it.”
Justin shook his head. “No, you brought it up. Tell me.”
Christina closed her eyes tightly and rubbed her forehead. “Um…”
Justin swallowed. “What is it?”
Christina shook her head and opened her eyes. “Forget it.”
“Is it bad?”
Christina hesitated before answering, and Justin counted six seconds in his head before she replied. “You’ll be mad.”
Justin furrowed his eyebrows. “Fuck, Christina, you can’t just. You can’t just say you have something important to tell me and then not say it. Tell me.”
“I feel bad.” Christina replied weakly.
“What is it?” Justin tried again.
“Okay,” Christina gulped, “Um, remember when Britney cheated on you?”
Justin rolled his eyes. “Yes, I remember.”
“Well, um. Remember you asked her who it was with, she didn’t tell you.”
“It was Wade.”
“You just assumed that.”
“Right,” Justin nodded, “It makes sense to me though.”
“Well, it wasn’t him.”
Justin looked at Christina curiously. “Well, who was it then?”
“Um, it was, um.” Christina bit her lip nervously. “Um, it was.”
Justin peered at her. “Who was it?”
Christina caught a glimpse of the cell phone on the table, remembering she had to call Britney tonight.
“Well?” Justin persisted.
Christina gulped, and decided to just let it out quickly. “It was me.”
Justin stood up, startled. He stepped back and the chair he was sitting on toppled over when he kicked it accidentally with his boot. “W-w-what?”
Christina bit her lip. Justin’s mouth was gaped open, and he was staring at her in shock. “Yeah.”
“Y-you?” Justin breathed. “It was you?”
“Um.” Christina’s hands felt clammy all of a sudden, and she looked away from Justin, nervous.
“Holy shit, I’ve.” Justin crushed the peanuts in his hand. “I’ve been on tour with you and I’ve been friends with you and. Shit.”
Christina didn’t say anything to him; she just tried to keep eye contact away.
“You, you’ve spent all this time with me since the tour and this whole time. You, you didn’t say anything.” Justin rubbed his eyes.
“I couldn’t.”
“This can’t be true. I can’t believe this.” Justin said when Christina looked up to meet his eyes. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“I’m sorry.”
Justin shook his head. “Sorry for what? Fucking her, or not telling me that you were fucking her?”
Christina looked apologetic.
“You still are, aren’t you?” Justin raised a hand to his head and scratched his ear. “You’re still with her.”
Christina stayed quiet. The bus had come to a halt next to a McDonald’s, and Justin started stepping back towards the doors.
“Wait, Justin. Wait.” Christina stood up and reached her arm out.
Justin shook his head. He left the bus before Christina could say anything more to him.
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“Hello?”
Christina pressed the phone closer to her ear. “Britney?”
“Hey, I miss you.”
Christina sniffed. “Britney.”
“What’s wrong?” Britney’s voice was so soothing and tender Christina just wanted to hold her.
“Please don’t be mad, I. I.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m on the tour bus.”
“Oh.”
“Brit, I told Justin.”
Britney hesitated on the other end. “You told him what?”
“Um, I told him about. Um, about us and that I was the reason for the break-.”
“What?” Britney’s tone changed from gentle to angry. “What the fuck, why would you. Why would you do that?”
Christina shifted uncomfortably. “He should know, Brit. I toured with him the whole summer and hung out with him all spring, and, the tour’s almost over. In just two days, Britney. I thought I should tell him.”
“No. No, no. What did he say?”
“He’s mad, obviously.”
Britney cursed. “No, fuck. He wasn’t supposed to know.”
“It’s been a long time since you broke up.”
“What if he tells my mom, Christina?”
“Brit,” Christina sniffed again, “Do you think it’s fair that he didn’t know?”
Britney didn’t answer. Christina tried again.
“It isn’t fair, at all. Britney?”
“My mom is going to be so mad.”
“Fuck,” Christina shook her head, “Fuck that.”
“No.” Britney snapped.
“Why would he tell her anyway?”
“Um, because he told her it was Wade and she always believed that. And he was close to her, so he’ll want to correct her.”
“Well, whatever. It’s time she knew anyway.”
“No. Christina.”
“I have to go.”
Britney hung up the phone before Christina did.
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The next day, Christina got a voice mail message from Britney. It simply said one sentence.
He told her.
Christina called Britney as soon as she could, and Britney answered on the fourth ring.
“Yeah?”
Christina bit her lip. “What did she say?”
“What do you think? She hates you. She doesn’t want me to ever hang around you again.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“From now on we have to meet in secret. There’s no way she can find out.”
“Yeah.”
“Chrissy, I love you, okay?”
Christina smiled. “I love you too.”
“So let’s stop with all the tension?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s too much friction between us. The only friction I want from you is-.”
“Mm hmm.”
Britney laughed. “Okay, we’re good?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you in two days when the tour is over.”
“Okay, I love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll call you later.”
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August 2003…
Britney didn’t know Christina was going to be here. It was supposed to be JLo, as she recalled from her conversation with Madonna. JLo was supposed to be the other bride at the VMA performance.
But apparently she had cancelled at the last minute, so Madonna had to find somebody else. And that somebody was Christina.
When Christina arrived into the room, Britney’s jaw dropped open and she automatically turned to Madonna.
“Um, that’s the replacement?”
“I hope that’s not a problem?” Madonna raised one eyebrow and looked at Britney challengingly.
Christina came over and said hi to both of them, standing closer to Britney than Britney thought was necessary for the simple and minimal conversation she was supposed to be having with her and Madonna.
Britney excused herself and made her way over to the other side of the room where Missy was standing sipping from a Pepsi can.
“What’s up?” Missy looked at Britney, and Britney shrugged.
“Nothing much.”
“You don’t want her here?” Missy nodded towards Christina.
“Um,” Britney shook her head, “It’s not that.”
Missy winked. “Sure, it’s not. You didn’t look too happy when she came in.”
“Oh.” Britney said dumbly. Missy didn’t pursue it anymore. She walked off with her Pepsi can over to some tech guys at the door.
Christina walked over a few minutes later.
“What’s up with you?” She questioned Britney, watching her visibly uncomfortable.
“Um. Should you be here? And should you be in public talking to me?”
Christina looked irritated. “I can’t talk to you?”
“Is this a good idea?”
“You’re paranoid.”
“No, I’m not.”
Christina sighed.
“You’re making things too obvious.”
“How? Are we making out in front of the camera? Quite the opposite from what I’ve heard actually, we’re kissing Madonna.”
Britney shook her head. “Whatever.” She walked away.
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Christina was wearing an ‘I f*cked Britney Spears’ pin at the 2003 VMA after-party.
(Photos at Reuters, WireImage, CMM, etc.)
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Britney was hanging off of Madonna the whole party. Christina watched her from a distance. But she stayed away, hanging out with Trish and Alison at the bar.
Trish and Alison kept poking fun at the ‘I f*cked Britney Spears’ pin that Christina was sporting on her jacket. Christina had found that pin at some boutique store in L.A., and picked it up.
Halfway through the party, Britney walked by Christina with one of the MTV crew and glanced at Christina as she walked past. Christina gave her a smile and Britney suddenly noticed her pin. She blinked and looked startled, and then shot Christina a look before walking off.
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“Well overall I think she needs to do that [loosen up] but it's OK.” - Christina on Britney at the 2003 VMAs, August 2003
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“You’re fucking kidding me, right?” Britney had found Christina walking to her limo after the party and jumped in with her.
“What?” Christina shrugged. She was tired.
Britney closed the door behind her. “I talk to you at rehearsals about this, and then you go ahead and flash this pin around.”
“It’s really not a big deal,” Christina yawned. “No one cares.”
“My mom does.”
“Britney, stop with that.”
Britney looked agitated. “Okay, I’ll stop. Bye.” She opened the door and started to get out.
“Wait, Brit-.”
“Don’t you think it’ll be much easier if we weren’t together?”
Christina tried to grab at Britney’s arm, but Britney pulled back.
“No, Brit-.”
“Bye.” Britney said quietly, and shut the door behind her.
Christina wanted to cry.
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November 2003…
The next few months since the VMAs, Christina tried calling contacting Britney many times. Britney never answered her phone when she called. She left messages. Britney never answered them either.
Christina felt hurt and angry. This issue was stupid, it was so stupid and she was so angry at herself and Britney for making it go on so long.
So right now, Christina was just resting in her home with Trish eating ice cream beside her. Some guy from Blender magazine was supposed to be coming over today to do an interview with her. She didn’t want him to; she wasn’t in the mood to do an interview. But the interview was already set up and everything, so she couldn’t cancel now.
The guy came over in the evening, and shook Christina’s hand with a firm grip and introduced himself as Nick. He turned the tape recorder on instantly and made himself comfortable on her couch.
“So, let’s get this out of the way first,” Nick leered at her, “Did the VMA performance live up to your expectations?”
Christina shrugged and started going on about what she thought of the VMAs, what she thought about MTV.
“What about Britney?” Nick asked, trying to get the dirt.
Christina gulped and looked down at her cuticles nervously. “I was up for kissing Britney, but Britney wasn’t. She was…she seemed very distant, even during rehearsals. Every time I tried to start a conversation with her - well, let’s just say she seemed nervous the whole time. I wanted to reach out to her, because I feel she needs somebody in her life right now to help guide her.”
Christina knew she should stop, but she was upset and angry and right now she just didn’t care. It felt good to get things out, and Nick seemed very happy to be getting this gossip. He urged for her to continue.
“You believe that you’re right for this job, to help guide her?”
“Well,” Christina couldn’t stop herself now that she had started, “I feel I’ve grown a lot this year, and we did used to be friends once, after all. But who knows, maybe I’m not the right person to offer it.”
Nick nodded. “Go on.”
Trish intervened. “Christina, you’re-.”
Christina shook her head and excused herself, quickly heading to the kitchen with Trish following her.
“Christina, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know,” Christina looked at Trish for sympathy, “I couldn’t stop. It feels good to get stuff out.”
“Well, stop right now.”
Christina nodded at her. “You know what she said to me?”
“What?”
Christina blinked and imitated Britney’s voice. “I haven’t even kissed a boy in I don’t know how long.”
Trish rolled her eyes. Christina quickly poured herself a glass of water.
“Okay, go back to the interview. No more talk about Britney.”
In the other room, Nick smiled wickedly. Little did they know, he had just caught all they said in the kitchen on tape.
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“I know what a great girl she is. She can be very mean sometimes, but that doesn’t make her bad in my eyes. I know what she’s really like.” - Britney on Christina’s Blender comments, Viva, December 2003
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December 2003…
Christina had picked up the latest Blender on her way home, and she was now rifling through the pages. They had twisted some of her words, taken things out of context, and added a few sentences. What Christina expected from journalists like that.
The magazine had just came out today, and Christina wanted to be the first to pick it up so she could field questions later on once she knew the material in the magazine.
She heard the doorbell ring, and she sighed and put the magazine down. She headed over to the door and opened it without checking who it was.
Britney stepped in, drenched from the rain outside. Christina stared at her in surprise and Britney smiled anxiously at her.
Christina stepped back and Britney closed the door behind her.
“Hi.” Britney said quietly.
Christina gawked at her.
“I just wanted to apologize.”
“Um,” Christina stumbled for words, “You’re…you’re sorry?”
Britney nodded her head. “Yeah, I’m sorry for being so stupid and uptight. I made a huge mistake, and. I’m sorry. That’s all I can say.”
Christina blinked. “I’m sorry too.”
“It’s okay, it was my fault.”
“No, you don’t know what I’m sorry about.”
Britney watched her, concerned. “Are you okay?”
Christina then burst into tears and buried her face in Britney’s shirt. “I’m s-so sorry. F-forgive me, please.”
Britney wrapped her arms around Christina. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Christina trembled in Britney’s arms and Britney held her tighter. “B-Brit, I’m s-so s-sorry.”
“Okay,” Britney kissed her hair while Christina sobbed, “It’s okay.”
Christina looked up at Britney. Britney wiped her tears away and then kissed her nose. “Chrissy, its okay.”
Christina sniffed and smiled at Britney. Britney smiled back.
“If you hear anything within the next while from, um, whatever,” Christina took Britney’s hand in her own, “I didn’t mean it, okay?”
Britney shrugged. “Okay. What-.”
Christina kissed her deeply and Britney pulled Christina closer to her by the waist.
Next thing Christina knew, Britney had leaded her over to the bedroom and was kissing her and leading her towards the bed at the same time.
When Britney pushed Christina onto the bed, Christina felt for the glossy pages of the magazine that was still lying on her bed. When she felt it, she grabbed it and threw it off of the bed, hoping that it would land somewhere that Britney couldn’t see.
Britney heard the thud of it landing, and she peered towards where the sound came from. “What was that?”
Christina shrugged, mumbled, “I don’t know,” and pulled Britney back down by her neck and resumed kissing her. She started tugging down at Britney’s pants to make sure Britney would forget about the thud.
Britney forgot quickly.
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Silence. Christina pulled the blanket closer around her and snuggled in closer to Britney. Britney curled around her and kissed her earlobe.
“That was good.” Britney said. It broke the silence. Christina laughed.
“Yeah, it was.”
“I almost forgot how good you were.”
Christina grinned. Britney’s laugh was throaty and quiet, at the same time.
Britney sat up. “You’re fucking sexy.”
Christina rolled her eyes. “Thanks.”
“That magazine, I mean.”
Christina sat up quickly, and noticed the red Blender magazine in the corner. Shit, she had forgotten about that.
Britney started to get up to go over to pick it up, so Christina grabbed her and pulled her back down on top of her.
“How about we do that sex thing again?” Christina suggested, hoping to stall her.
Britney giggled and kissed her. “I want to see that magazine first.”
“No, come on,” Christina held on to Britney, “It’s boring. There are no pictures in it except for the cover.”
Britney rolled her eyes. “You want me bad, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Christina told her, not letting go.
“Well, keep your hormones in check for a minute,” Britney pulled herself out of Christina’s arms quickly, “I just want to see that.”
She got up and Christina followed her. When Britney got close to the magazine, Christina stepped in front of her and wrapped her arms around Britney, kissing her adoringly.
Okay, Christina thought, time to distract her.
Britney’s skin felt hot underneath Christina’s fingertips as she moved her hands lower to Britney’s stomach, and then Britney’s thighs. She took one hand off of Britney and grabbed the magazine off of the table where it had unfortunately landed.
The magazine in one hand, and Britney in the other, she guided Britney back over to the bed. She pushed Britney down and straddled her, and then set the magazine down on the mattress beside her.
Britney’s breath hitched when Christina lowered her mouth to Britney’s nipple. She didn’t know why she was doing this, stalling Britney, because Britney would find out later anyway. But she didn’t want Britney to find out, not now.
Christina left wet kisses down Britney’s breasts and stomach. Britney was breathing heavily as Christina went back to Britney’s face, kissing her passionately.
“Christina, please, just-.” Britney uttered, and Christina slid a finger into her. Britney moaned and grabbed onto Christina’s shoulders, trying to push her farther in.
Christina sucked on Britney’s neck while adding two more fingers.
When Britney had her eyes closed happily, Christina kept pushing her fingers into her. With her other hand, Christina grabbed the magazine and sneaked it underneath the mattress. When she had safely placed it under there, Christina sighed and returned back to Britney.
“Oh,” Britney moaned, “Christina.”
Christina pumped faster, and Britney wrapped her arm around Christina’s back for support.
When Britney came, she bit into Christina’s shoulder to keep from screaming out. When Britney was done moaning, Christina slowly took out her fingers and placed a kiss to Britney’s cheek.
“Good?” Christina grinned at her, and Britney nodded contently.
Christina got off of Britney and lay down beside her, satisfied.
Britney wrapped her arms around Christina’s torso and kissed her jaw. “I love you.”
Christina smiled. “I love you too.”
Britney ran a hand over Christina’s stomach. “So how about you show me that magazine now?”
Christina gulped.
Britney smiled at her reaction. “You’re beginning to make me suspicious, you know.”
“Um.” Christina blinked.
“Where is it?”
Christina looked at Britney worriedly.
Britney reached under the mattress and pulled it out. “Here it is.”
Christina swallowed again. “Um.”
Britney flipped through the pages until she found the article about Christina. She checked the pictures out carefully, making comments like ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’, but Christina was too nervous to speak.
Britney began reading the article. Christina wished she could just disappear right that second.
Britney didn’t say anything once she read all the stuff Christina had said about her, in fact, she didn’t say anything until she got to the end of the whole article.
Then she laughed.
Christina looked at her, confused. “What’s so funny?”
“This,” Britney rolled her eyes, “God, these magazines are so full of it. They’re always making bullshit up to sell more magazines.”
Christina shook her head. “No, Brit. It’s true.”
Britney tossed the magazine onto the nightstand and gazed at Christina. “Huh?”
Christina bit her lip, she didn’t want this happening. She wished she could take everything she had said back. “I. I said those things.”
Britney cleared her throat and paused. “What?”
“Um,” Christina felt her lip quivering, “I said those things.”
Britney laughed. “Whatever. Sure you did.”
Christina shuddered. “I did.”
Britney stopped laughing. “Really?”
“Yes. Well, they twisted my words a lot, but-.”
“So that, ‘I haven’t even kissed a boy in I don’t know how long’ isn’t just a coincidence?”
Christina shook her head again, and Britney’s face fell.
“Then what’s this? If you think all that about me, why did you say you’re sorry and why did we just do all this?” Britney gestured to the bed as she stood up and grabbed her clothes.
“I didn’t mean it-.”
“It’s not the fact that you said it, but the fact that you said it to a fucking magazine,” Britney retorted, “Airing that shit for the whole world.”
Christina pulled the blanket up to her chest. “I’m sorry.”
“The hell you are,” Britney tried to laugh, but struggled, and all that came out was a low sound in the back of her throat, “You’re not.”
“I’m sorry, Britney.”
Britney shook her head and began dressing. “Why did you just sleep with me? To make a fool out of me?”
“Huh?” Christina bit down on her lip, hard.
“Well,” Britney said as she pulled her shirt on, “I’m sorry too. I’m sorry that this didn’t work out.”
Christina looked at Britney in horror. “No, please.”
Britney fastened the belt on her pants. “I can’t believe you said that.”
Christina squeezed her eyes shut, and when she reopened them, Britney was gone.
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January 2004...
Britney was high from the weed Jason had given her. And she was angry at the same time and didn’t care about anything.
Jason was a manipulative bastard. So while they were watching the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with Britney stoned out of her mind, he suggested they do something crazy. Then he lit a joint and put it to his lips.
Britney looked over at him, her eyes glazed over and red, she simply suggested one thing. “Let’s get married.”
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Britney called her mom once she had said ‘I do’, and her mom took the next flight over to Las Vegas to meet Britney, shocked and furious.
Lance had coincidentally been in Las Vegas too, so he came over as soon as he heard the news from one of the hotel staff.
Britney and Jason both looked blank as Lynne scolded and Lance looked worried, trying to get Lynne to calm down.
Britney felt numb and stupid, not like she did when she had suggested this to Jason in the hotel room. Then, she felt it was the right thing to do.
A big ‘fuck you’ to Christina.
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“Um, going back really quickly, I know this is not on the cue card, whatever blah blah, but ab-about regarding the B-Britney thing, I did write her a letter, just wanted everybody to know, regarding the Blender article, and um, it was very personal and it was about the fact that, you know, being two female artists in this industry, you know, we gotta be there for each other, and you know, no matter what gets blown out of proportion or whatever, I said I didn't stand behind the article and what not, but I have yet to hear back from Miss Brit. So, Britney, if you hear this, you know, I'd like an answer, I'd like a response, you know, we do have a history.” - Christina on the Britney/Blender issue, TRL, February 2004
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` February 2004…
Christina had spent all morning penning this letter to Britney. She wanted it to be perfect, and she wanted it to say what she really felt.
When she was pleased with it, she had written 5 pages without skipping any lines. She folded it and sealed it into an envelope, and then jotted down Britney’s name and address, and then writing her return address in the corner. She stuck a stamp on it, and then placed it on the table for Alison to mail it.
Britney had given a response to Christina’s Blender interview with an interview of her own. That was the only time Britney had communicated with her since she had found out about Christina’s Blender, and it was through the press.
Christina just hoped that Britney would respond.
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April 2004…
The first time Christina saw Kevin’s picture with Britney was on the cover of US Weekly. A few hours later, she realized that she recognized him. He was a dancer - he had danced for both Britney and Justin in the past.
He hadn’t made much money then, Christina recalled. He probably really did enjoy being with Britney because he got to come along with her on the star ride - limos, first class airplane rides, movie premieres. And then not to mention he probably enjoyed her cash, too.
Christina thought it was harmless though. Just a short rebound fling - Britney would wake up soon. Probably within the next month or so.
Oh boy... was she wrong.
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September 2004…
Britney never responded to Christina’s letter.
She also had gotten married again - to Kevin.
Christina had tried many times to get through to Britney - she had gone on TRL, and a bunch of magazine interviews talking about how sorry she is and please, Britney, respond to the letter.
Britney never did.
So when Christina saw pictures of Britney’s wedding, with the track suits and the chicken fingers and hamburgers, and the groomsmen sporting the word PIMP emblazoned on their jackets - she couldn’t help but feel sad.
This wasn’t what Britney wanted at all. This wasn’t the wedding that she had dreamed about and gushed about with Christina, all those nights when they were together, cuddled together in Britney's bed.
Christina didn’t understand one bit why Britney had done that.
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“I don’t know her anymore.” - Christina on Britney’s marriage to Kevin Federline, Access Hollywood, fall 2004
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