Date: Thu, 04 May 2000 09:33:00 -0700
From: zakrin zakrin <zakrin@bolt.com>
Subject: going with the flow 2, celeb,  boy-bands

Hi again, not very good huh? I realise that but hey I'm trying. Anyway,
anybody know who Steve is yet? I'm quite sure most if not all of you do.
I know its bad but I can take it, let me know how bad. Until next time,
take care all.

Disclaimer: This is a work of FICTION. As such, it does not imply anything
about the true sexualities or anything else for that matter of the
celebrities mentioned in the story.  This story contains homosexual
themes. If you are below the legal age to read such material, please
leave. If such material offends you, go away. If it is illegal to view
such material where you leave, go somewhere else.


Going with the flow
Chapter 2
--------------------


     Now I'm usually a very cool and accommodating person, but if there
was one thing I hated during a holiday, it was to be roused from sleep up
by someone or something besides my biological clock. So when the phone
rang I was of course, very pissed off. This was especially so when I had
left instructions that I was not to be disturbed unless there was an
emergency.

     "Yeah what?" I yelled into the phone before it even reached my ear.

     "Ummm Steve, this is JC from last night. My friends and I were just
wondering if you would like join us for breakfast."

    I was trying very hard to keep from swearing. First they keep me up
all night, and then they wake me up to have breakfast. Did they think I
was like one of their crazed fans or something? Since I wasn't going to
get anymore sleep anyway, and it appeared that this particular boy-band
wouldn't leave me alone until I've had breakfast with them at least, I
agreed.

     "Great Steve. We're in suite 302."

     "Right, across the hall," I replied, trying to put as much sarcasm as
I could into those four words. "I'll be there in 15 minutes."

     "Gee that's right, I totally forgot. Anyway we'll see you in 15 then.
Bye."

     I couldn't help but smile as I put the phone down. The guy was
suddenly anxious to hang up the phone. So, there not as thick headed as I
thought.

   I was ready in ten minutes. Since I wasn't meeting anybody that I
wanted to impress, dressed casually. I choose a blue t-shirt and a pair of
faded jeans. With that I made my way to the other suite on the floor.

     I knocked twice on the door and waited. The door opened almost
immediately. "Good morning JC. What's for breakfast?" I asked in my most
cheery tone as he stepped aside to let me in.

     "Anything you like?" he replied sheepishly, leading me to the living
area. While the suite was identical to mine, it was much larger. Of
course, it was meant to house five people so that was no surprise. As we
approached the living room, I heard hushed whispers.

     "Why the hell did we have to invite some stranger over here? He could
be some psycho stalker for all we know."

    "Calm down Just, somehow I doubt he's like that. And you know as well
as I do that we have to talk to him about last night. Besides, he saved my
ass remember?"

     With that we reached our destination. JC cleared his throat and they
all hushed up. I saw that the other members of NSYNC were in the room.
Justin and Chris were sitting on the sofa with their breakfast in hand
while Joey and Lance were seated at the mini-bar. They all looked like
they were dressed for company.

    "Guys this is Steve," JC introduced them to me. They all got up and
introduced themselves. Justin didn't say much and it was clear that he
didn't trust me. Unlike Joey and Chris and were already treating me like
friend. Finally, Lance came over and just hugged me.

     "Thank you," he whispered in my ear. When he pulled back, I say his
eyes for the first time. I lost myself in those green eyes for a moment.
In them, I saw pain and hurt but I also saw hope. He must have saw the
same in my eyes because we just stared at each other for what seemed like
an eternity.

     The moment was lost when JC once again cleared his throat. I smiled
at him and turned towards the table where the food was laid out. I took a
piece of toast, some eggs and some bacon and poured myself some coffee.
Knowing they wanted to talk, I sat down on the floor by the sofa and dug
in. They just exchanged glances with each other and steal occasional
glances at me. The tension was uncomfortable to say the least but I just
ignored them and ate. I wasn't the one with something to say.


     After a while it became obvious that no one was going to say anything
so I put my plate the table and got up, "It's been fun boys, but breakfast
is over so I should be leaving.

     "Wait Steve,"

     I looked over my shoulder, "Yes?"

     "Do you mind staying a while? We wanna talk to you and maybe we can
get to know each other?" Justin said.

    Now that surprised me. I would have expected anyone else to say
something but not Justin. "Okay, what did you want to talk about?"

     "For starters, you know who we are right?" He asked, trying to keep
the nervousness from his voice.

     "Yes, you are five guys who happen to be in sync," I said with a
smile. I was rewarded with a short laugh from all of them. The tension
eased a little then heightened again as they realized what my words could
mean. "Hey guys, you don't have to worry about what happened last night or
where I met Lance, I won't tell a soul," as I said this my gaze fell
directly on Lance. They all looked like they had something to say but I
cut them off, "Believe it or not that's up to you but that's all you're
going to get from me." I didn't really want to go to deeply into the
reasons so I just left it at that and prayed that it was good enough.

     "Then I guess we'll have to take your word for it. So tell us about
yourself," Lance said.

     "There's not much to tell really. I'm 23 years old. I'm currently on
holiday from Ireland, I'm suppose you can call me a musician and as you
probably know already, I'm gay but not many people know that so I know
what it's like," I said as I looked Lance in the eyes.

     "Musician huh? Cool. Kinda like us," Chris said, his first real words
since we met.

     "Yes, but I'm nowhere near where you guys are," I said with a smile.

     "What exactly do you do?"

     "Well, like you, I'm in a group, I sing a bit and write music
sometimes."

     "Maybe you can write something for us sometime. I mean I'm sure
you're damn good cause that suite you're in must cost a bomb," Lance said.
I chuckled as the others glared at him. Realising his mistake he blushed.
"I'm so sorry, that didn't come out right did it?"

     "No I didn't but don't worry I know what you mean." He was still
blushing slightly. He was so cute with his cheeks pink that I couldn't
help but laugh out loud. They all looked at me like I was crazy or
something. Now it was my turn to blush. Lance started laughing at that
point. I seems that he had caught on. The others were really worried now.
They looked back and forth between Lance and me and started to chuckle as
well. Okay, so they were not that worried.

     "Well, I make quite a good living actually, playing the local scene
and I like to think some of my songs are not that bad. And I have been
saving up for this." I was exactly lying was I? I have been planning this
trip for a while and I sure as hell needed it.

     Suddenly I was tackled from behind. Bloody hell, I knew this routine
well enough. I've had my fair share of it. Before I knew it I was
wrestling with Justin and Joey while the other three just laughed their
heads off. Like I said, I was used to this so I managed to hold my on for
a while but there was no way I was going to win when it was two against
one. One thing the little impromptu wrestling match did was it got rid of
lingering traces of tension and we just relaxed and talked.

     "So, we all know why I'm here, what are you boys doing here?"

     "Awww and here I thought you were a fan," Justin was giggling at his
own comment. "We have a concert tonight."

     "Concert eh? That sounds like fun. All I get to do is a few gigs here
and there but I love it."

     "Yeah man, its just great to be up on stage doing what you love and
having people just loving you back," JC said glancing at his wrist, "Sorry
to cut this short guys but we really have to go. It's nice meeting you
Steve, we're probably holding your vacation anyway. Thanks again and I
think I speak for all of us when I say we trust you."

     We all got up and they all offered me their hands again. Joey took it
a step further and pulled me into a bear hug. When I got to Lance, I gave
him a hug. Nothing special, I just wanted to reassure him again and let
him know were we friends. He hugged back.

     I headed back to my suite while my new friends (?) went towards the
elevator. Just as I was about to enter, JC came running towards me. This
was getting to be a habit of his. "Hey Steve, you wanna come to the
concert later? We can just hang out after or something."

     "Sure, I'm free tonight anyway and it's been a while since I've been
to a concert anyway," I replied.

   "Cool, I won't keep ya here any longer. I'll leave you a ticket and a
backstage pass at the reception desk.  We'll see ya tonight then."

     'Well that went well, what do I do now?' I asked myself. It was just
about noon. I decided to just go for another one of my walks since I
didn't feel like staying in anyway.


Meanwhile...


     "So what do you guys think about Steve?" Chris asked as their limo
sped of to the concert centre.

     "He seems like a nice guy, I mean he did do me a big favor and he
knew who we were and he was way cool about it."

     "Yeah, but maybe he's just not a fan. Think we can trust him? He may
be gay but he doesn't have much to lose if he outed you Lance," Justin
said, pointing out the obvious.

     "I know Just, but I have this feeling that I can trust him. Come on
guys, you all know what I'm talking about, I know you felt it too."

     "I agree with Lance. I think we can trust him. Come to think of it
it's not like we have much of a choice anyway," Joey said as the others
nodded in agreement.

     "You wanna talk bout last night Lansten? Why the hell did you run off
like that? Scared the shit out of us man," JC said concern in his voice.
They had been holding off this discussion for long enough. The incident
the night before was just the tip of the iceberg. Lance had not been
himself for the past few weeks.

     "There's nothing to talk about," Lance said squirming in his seat, "I
just got drunk and did something stupid. Sorry guys."

     "Lance, we're not really mad at you about last night. You know that
we're okay with you being gay and all that. You were drunk, it happens.
You didn't get caught, well actually you did but what we wanna know is
what's bothering you," Justin said reaching over to squeeze Lance's
shoulder, "You've been out of it for weeks now. We worry about you a lot.
You know we're there for you right?"

     "It's nothing really. I just have a lot on my mind lately." From the
looks on their faces Lance could see that his friends were not satisfied
with his answer. "Okay, put it this way, I just wish I was straight and
normal like everybody else. I hate that I have to hide and live a lie. No
relationships and worst of all no love," he screamed finally letting out
what was in his chest. The others were stunned at this outburst but they
understood. There wasn't much they could say or do so they just gathered
round and hugged the now sobbing Lance.