Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 00:47:43 EDT
From: Nick815Leo@aol.com
Subject: Boys In The Limelight (Part 3)

To my few readers I just wanted to apologize for the late arrival of this
third part.  I didn't ever get as far as I wanted to with it but I figured
I'd lose you all if I didn't post soon.

This story is totally fictional.  It's not meant to imply anything
about the sexuality or beliefs of anyone in the story.  Some characters are
merely based on real life people from 98 Degrees, the BSB and N'Sync.
Reality and this story are separate.  Feel free to respond to the story and
let me know what you think! My email address in  Nick815Leo@aol.com.  That
said, enjoy.


Boys In The Limelight (Part 3)

    The next morning Nick woke up with Dane's head resting on his chest,
he was still deep in sleep.  Nick began to run his hand through Dane's chin
length golden curls.  Looking around the room he was content just to wait
for his lover to wake up slowly.

    "Mmnphh... g'morning.." Dane said in a childlike voice as Nick
continued to play with one of his curls.

    "Hey sweetie, sleep well?" he asked kissing him lightly on the
forehead.  Dane nodded and rolled on top of Nick so he could kiss him
better.  He slipped underneath the covers and met up with Nick's rock hard
member.  Kissing each ball lightly he began to lovingly suck the whole shaft
into his mouth.

    "This is how I like to be woken up..." Nick said giggling.  Dane let
him slip out of his mouth and resurfaced without finishing.  He kissed Nick
gently and pushed the covers of the bed away.

    "What's wrong babe?" Nick asked with genuine concern in his
voice.

    "Nothing, I just know what time it is, and you're late and so am I --
come and take a shower with me." Dane grinned.  Nick hopped out of bed
and followed Dane into the bathroom so he could fully enjoy getting ready
for the day.

    Kevin blinked his eyes a few times as he slowly began to wake up.
Normally he didn't run late and he knew that most of the guys would be
arriving to eat the traditional "Breakfast in Kevin's room" in a short while,
so he ran into the bathroom to take his shower.

    He turned the water on and stepped inside, leaving his boxers and
t-shirt in a heap on the floor.  The warm water hit his face and ran down as
he brought the soap to his body.

    "Damn this feels good." he said aloud.  As he was washing his hair
he heard what sounded like knocking from out in his room.  `It's probably
just Howie' he though to himself so he yelled from inside the shower,

    "Come on in!" he finished rinsing his hair and tied his towel around
his waist as he stepped out into his room and over to the bed to get
dressed.  Without looking he began to talk to Howie.

    "So you ready to tour with these guys? I think they'll be good and I
know Dane's happy about it."

    "I know.. I'm really happy for Nick too. They were apart too long."
the voice was far from Howie's.  Kevin turned around to see Jeff Timmons
standing by the door.

    "You aren't Howie..." Kevin blurted out.  Jeff's face fell.

    "I couldn't remember what time to meet, and Drew was in the
shower so I just came over early so I wouldn't be late.  I'm sorry, I'll go."
Jeff muttered quickly.  Kevin pulled a tight heather gray t-shirt on.

    "No! Er . . . . you don't have to. .  Sit down. Let me get dressed."
Kevin said a bit too eagerly.

    Jeff moved over and sat down on Kevin's bed while Kevin went
into the bathroom to put on his boxers and a pair of baggy black jeans.  He
hung up his towel and checked himself once again in the mirror before
returning to the main room.  He moved over to the plush chair facing the
bed and sat down in it.

    "So how are things with your group lately?" he said nonchalantly.

    "Well it's hard without Justin.. but it's also kind of interesting to
rearrange our music.  He wasn't always comfortable being with us either,
because Nick is gay and well ...because we're all well, more..."

    "Attractive?" Kevin finished his sentence for him.  Jeff lifted one
eyebrow, he leaned back on one elbow, his white t-shirt stretching over his
muscular chest.

    "Yeah pretty much.  So how do you deal with Nick and Brian both
being gay?   Does it bother you?" Jeff asked probingly.

    "Not at all.  Brian's my cousin, I've always loved him.  Nick's
practically family too.  If they're happy who am I to say what gender they
should find attractive?  Besides, they both have found equally loving and
attractive guys who happen to be just as talented.  Why? Does it bother
you that your Nick is gay?" Kevin responded.

    "Oh no, not really." He said fidgeting.  Kevin got up and moved
over to the bed to grab his watch, as he did so he placed a hand on Jeff's
shoulder for a second.

    "That's good.  We all need to be friends if we're going to enjoy this
tour."   Kevin and Jeff talked about the other guys from the groups for a
short while longer, until people started filtering in from both groups for
breakfast.

    Howie and AJ came together already laughing and they sat down
on a couch after loading plates up with food.  Howie eagerly munched on a
strip of bacon.  Nick and Justin followed shortly after, walking into the
room holding hands.  AJ looked up at them and "aww-ed" as they giggled
and headed over to the nearest couch.  Justin plopped down into it as Nick
looked down at him.

    "Want something to eat Curly?" he asked with a sweet smile.
Justin merely nodded sleepily and slumped back down on the sofa.  Kevin
looked at Justin and giggled.

    "Rough night?" Kevin snickered.

    "One of the best," Justin replied, "but yeah it was long. And thick."
He laughed with an evil grin on his face.

    "Ohhhhh Kay. Way too much information Just'."  They all laughed.

    Joey, Lance and Chris were the next to walk in, followed by Brian
and JC and then Drew.  Most of the guys began to eat and talk, laughing at
their different inside jokes.  Drew remained in the doorway until he spotted
Jeff who was still sitting on Kevin's bed.  He moved over to the bed and
sat on it's edge.  He smiled at Jeff.

    "Hey man! How late were we up?" Drew asked with energy
apparent in his face.  Kevin perked up at their conversation.

    "I can't remember bro' but damn it was fun!" Drew hit Jeff lightly
on the shoulder and Kevin's face fell.  He hadn't thought that Jeff and
Drew might be more than friends.

    Minutes before Kevin was about to call the guys to order and go
over their plans for the day Nick Lachey finally arrived at the door.  As he
was stepping inside cautiously both Kevin and Nick C. caught a glimpse of
Dane in the doorway.  Lachey was obviously giving him a goodbye kiss.

    "Dane!" Nick called, "Eat with us!"

    "Yeah c'mon kiddo, eat something." Kevin said somewhat fatherly.
Dane looked into the room somewhat self-consciously and then shook his
head no.


    "I want to guys, believe me," he was looking into his boyfriend's
eyes, "but really, I've got so much to do before the concert tomorrow
night. I can't." With that he threw his messenger bag over his shoulder and
practically ran down the hallway to catch a cab to the arena.

    "Okay guys now that Nick is here we should begin.  I need to go
over plans for today and tomorrow now, in case we don't all get a chance
to meet up like this again.  It's going to be a crazy tour, that I can
promise.
Today after breakfast we need to head over to the Arena.  We're going to
be rehearsing for the show as well as recording two tracks from each group
for a promotional release to send out ahead of the tour.  We've already lost
time and PR on tomorrow night's concert.  Somehow I doubt we'll be
playing to an empty theater, but it's always better for us when it's packed.
It's 9:30 now, we need to be at the Arena by ten and it's a little bit of a
ride
if you recall so we need to get going right about now.  98 Degrees is going
to go for recording first while `N Sync and the BSB do sound checks and
wardrobe.  Then we're going to switch and 98* is going to do their sound
checks and wardrobe while we record in the studio they've set up for us.
Then `N Sync and 98* rehearse and the BSB records.  Then `N Sync
records and after that we should all be rehashing.  It's going to be a long
long day. Everybody know what they're doing now?"

    "Um... wait... Kevin? What are we doing here again? Go over that
first part." Howie joked.

    "Please don't." Justin replied smirking.  Some of the guys started to
get up and stretch.

    "Okay then guys, get your stuff and head for the limos." Kevin was
his normal father-figure.  He glanced back at Jeff who was laughing at
something Drew said.  Turning around he grabbed his bag and headed out
into the hallway.

    Getting out of the cab and throwing money at the driver Dane ran
into the main doors of the Arena.  He threw his Crew badge on a chain
around his neck and bolted for the stage.  As he drew closer he could see
Ken already on headset.  He stopped in front of his boss and mouthed the
word `sorry' as he could tell Ken was listening to someone talk.  He
walked around Ken to a crate and picked up a wireless of his own.
Tapping a button twice he said into the mic, "I'm on."

    "Hey Dane, nice of you to join us." Ken said, somewhat as a joke,
somewhat with irritation.


    "Sorry chief, I'm heading upstairs to warm the lights."  Dane ran up
behind the stage and into a booth set to the left of the stage and slightly in
front of it.  The entire booth blended in with the mostly black arena.  Crew
members were busy working on the stage setting it up and prepping the
arena for the masses that would arrive in less than 24 hours.  Dane thought
to himself that it was odd that management was forcing them to set up
early.  With an efficient crew a set could easily be assembled in under 4-8
hours.  Dane shrugged and began to flip switches on the lighting board.

    Arriving at the arena all the boys piled out of their limos and headed
off in separate directions, divided into their three respective groups.  Jeff
looked back at Kevin as he was directed by Drew and Nick to follow with
them to wardrobe.  Quickly he snapped out of his daze and ran to catch up
with them.

    In the recording studio set up in a back hall of the arena Jeff, Nick
and Drew, the New 98 Degrees, began to lay out their vocals for the
promotional track of `I Do'.  Jeff and Nick were talking to one another
about how to cover for Justin Jeffre's absence when Drew's cellular phone
rang.  The two of them glanced over as he answered it.

    "Hello?" Drew asked a bit curious to know who was there.

    "Drew honey, it's Mom,"  Cate Fopma-Leimbach said into her end
of the receiver, "am I interrupting?"

    "Mom! No! How are you?" Drew was excited to hear from his
mother.

    "I'm just fine sweety," she paused for a moment, "is Nick there?"

    "Oh. Yeah. He's right here..."

    "Can I talk to him hon'?"

    "Sure mom, I love you." Drew sounded somewhat dejected.

    "Love you too baby."  Drew walked over to Nick and handed him
the phone.  Nick brought it to his ear with a smile.

    "Hey Mom!!"

    "Hey sugar, how are you?"


    "I'm doing great, you?"

    "Just fine, pretty boring here at home.  You know, not as exciting
as my boys' lives.  How's your boyfriend.. Dane?" Cate was still getting
used to the idea of saying `boyfriend'.

    "Oh mom, he's perfect.  Really. He's very excited to meet you
tomorrow night."  Nick grinned to Jeff.

    "Me?" she laughed into the phone, "Well, I'm still going to take
you all out to dinner tomorrow after the show so we'll meet then.  I just
wanted to let you know that I have gotten reservations for you, Drew, Jeff
and Dane, but if you want to bring anyone else along just give me a call
back by tonight at five. Okay?"

    "Sounds great mom," Jeff looked at Nick somewhat anxiously,
"well, we've got to continue recording now..."

    "Of course.  I'll see you tomorrow night."

    "I love you mom."

    "I love you too sweetheart.  Tell Jeff I love him too."

    "Sure mom, see you tomorrow."  With that Nick handed the phone
back to Drew and they continued to work away.

    Kevin and the rest of the BSB had finished getting fitted for some
of the new costumes that they would be using in the concept of the show.
Nick had only complained a little about trying the clothes on so many time,
but when `N Sync arrived to be fitted and Justin shed some clothes Carter
shut up.  They kissed lovingly when things were wrapping up.

    "Hey cutie. I missed you." Nick said as he circled his arms around
Justin's waist.

    "I bet you didn't.  I bet you just stared at Brian's ass the whole time
didn't you." Justin fired back playfully.

    "Whatchoo talkin' `bout my ass for?" Brian spun around.

    "Yeah leave his ass out of this. It's mine" JC laughed as he
smacked Brian's ass playfully.  The two couples kissed respectively.  Kevin
just watched from where he'd been hanging up his clothes with a strange
look on his face.

    "Come on guys, enough of that.  Let's get going." Kevin grumbled.

    The day wound on and finally after Fatima and a few of her dancers
felt that the routines were aptly drilled into the different groups they were
let off the hook for a free evening.  Brian, JC, Justin and Carter, Nick and
Dane as well as Drew had decided to go out to a restaurant in LA that JC
knew of.  Lance and Joey decided to tag along on their way to the limos
and hopped in.  AJ, Chris and Howie were going to pick up Britney Spears
and go out to dinner and then a club, while at the same time not staying out
all night, as they promised to Kevin they wouldn't.

    Everyone had been accounted for in Kevin's mind, except for Jeff.
Kevin turned around before getting in the limo and saw Jeff approaching
him.  He felt a bit uneasy seeing such a beautiful man walking towards him.

    "Hey Kevin.  I was wondering if you just wanted to catch a movie
or something?  Maybe order some food? I want to talk to you." Kevin had
a look of shock on his face.

    "Sure Jeff.. sounds .. great." Kevin smiled.