Date: Sat, 03 Feb 2001 03:15:42 -0000
From: Chained Soul <soul_of_the_night@hotmail.com>
Subject: 'Can't Run Away' -Chapter Two

Disclaimer: This story is not true. I do not know the
guys from *NSYNC. This did NOT happen. Got that? And this
story can be a little dark. I am warning you. If you like happy
endings and no tears, then this story isn't for you. Under 18
years old? Don't read this. If you do, don't blame me for any
trouble u run into. Homophobic? LEAVE. This isn't for you.
What are u even doing at Nifty???
	This is my first attempt at a story for Nifty. Uh...hope you
like it.  Let me know.    Soul_of_the_night@hotmail.com
************************************************************************

JC awoke two hours later in a very bad mood.
Just as he had decided that he didn't wish to
see anyone today, Joey walked into the room.

"Hey. Good morning. How you feelin' man?" He asked, smiling.

	JC sighed. He didn't want to have to be nice. But Joey
was his friend.  At least, Joey was his friend at the time. Friendship.
The exact reason he had to hide. The exact reason that he hurt so much.
He didn't dare speak up about the truth. His friends were too special.

"I'm fine, Joe." He finally spoke. 'I am lying.' He thought. 'Lying to
my best friend. Oh I wish I could tell you, Joe. I wish I could tell
all of you guys. I hate this.'

"C'mon. Do you think I am an idiot? Talk to me." Joey requested.

'Don't look at me like that. I don't need to see that look. You get that
concerned brother look. Stop it. Joe, I can't tell you! You'll hate me.
I can't...' JC's thoughts were interupted as Joey spoke again.

"Josh, c'mon, man. I am not blind. Don't lie. None of this 'I'm fine' crap.
Can't you see what is happening? Everyone is worried about you. Justin is
freaked because you pushed him away. Chris too. Lance knows something's
wrong. He thinks you hate him for some reason. And I...I don't know
what to think. Please...please talk to me."

JC shivered. His eyes clouded over with tears. 'No.' He thought. 'I won't
let him see me cry again.' With that, he headed into the bathroom and
locked the door. He collapsed onto the floor, sobbing. It was all too much.
Just way too much. He could hear Joey knocking on the door. He could hear
his friend calling his name. But what he couldn't hear, refused to hear
was the love in his friend's voice. The caring, tender love of a best
friend. It was all just too much.

****************************************************************************

^^ Joey's Point Of View ^^

I knew I had to do something. But JC had locked himself in, locked us all
out. In more ways than one. I decided to get the other guys. There was
no way that I could handle this by myself. I called Chris and explained
the situation. He got the rest of the guys and was by my side in no time.

"Jace?" Chris asked through the door. I stood still, terrified by a sudden
thought that hit me like a ton of bricks. My personal care stuff was in
there. My razor was in there. Oh, Josh, please don't find it. Don't even
think it. Chris knocked on the door. Still no response. I freaked.

For some reason, Justin looked even more frightened than I felt. I
didn't know why but I didn't like the look on his face.He approached the
bathroom door slowly.

"Josh? C'mon. Open the door, man. You're scaring me."

I didn't know what to make of all this. Justin knew something. I could see
it in his eyes. Damn this was weird. All of a sudden, Justin closed his
eyes.
He let out a soft breath before again calling Josh's name.

This wasn't right at all. Justin knew something that he couldn't tell us,
and that scared me more than JC being locked in that room. I knew
what I had to do.

I told Justin to move than I backed up and ran at the door, pushing my
right shoulder into it. I knew for a fact that the door didn't lock very
well. As I expected, the door was forced open when I hit it. Josh was
sitting beside the bathtub, crying, his head in his hands.
*****************************************************************************
Sorry so short. I just wanted to get this part of the story sent in
to be posted because I am going away for the weekend and won't be back for
a few days. I have to meet with a few people about something important and
I am going out of the state to do so.
Any comments, suggestions, death threats (hehe), or flames can be sent to:
soul_of_the_night@hotmail.com
Thanks for Reading!!! :)