Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 03:59:56 -0800 (PST)
From: Red <redfirewitch@yahoo.com>
Subject: Boy Band: Hide In Plain Sight Part 12

Title: Hide In Plain Sight

Author: Red (redfirewitch@yahoo.com)

Pairing: JC/Justin...eventually.

Disclaimer: Color me surprised if this ends up to be
true!

Note:  Sorry for the delay! Monster block on this
story.

Dedication: To the people who were bugging me about
this! Yeah YOU! You know who you are!...Thank you!
**

Previously on HIPS

"You don't have anything over me! Stop..." JC fell
silent as he listened. Then fear came over his
expression. "No! Don't you even..."

JC pulled the phone away from his ear and Justin
grabbed at it.
"HELLO! HELLO?!"

There was only an engage tone. Justin switched off the
phone and was about to ask JC what Philip said when
the door bell rang.

"I'll get it!" Steven's voice rang out as they heard
the sound of his footsteps running down the stairs.

"Steven! NO!" JC yelled and ran for the door. "Steven!
Wait! Don't open..."

It was too late. By the time JC got there, the little
boy had already opened the door and was staring at the
smiling stranger who stood outside. JC turned the
corner and came to a sudden halt when he saw the
familiar face standing there. Justin and Chris were
beside him in a second followed by a panicking Lynn.
Justin froze in shock while Lynn grabbed Steven and
pulled him to her.

The group stood there in silence while the stranger
spoke.
"Is this a bad time?" Matt Vance asked, as he saw the
group staring at him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 12: The Green Eyed Monster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JC slumped against the wall in relief and buried his
face in his hands. Justin closed his eyes and took a
deep breath. Lynn and Chris looked at JC and Justin
and realised that the stranger wasn't Phillip. Steven
sensed the tension and looked at Matt fearfully. The
dark-haired man just stood outside, looking at the
occupants of the house, quizzically.

"Justin?" Matt called tentatively.

"Matt. What are you doing here?" Justin asked, then
immediately added. "Never mind."

Justin turned to JC in concern and put his hands on
the brunet's shoulder, bending slightly to look at
JC's face. He used his hand to pry away JC's hand from
his face.
"Josh, what did he say? Why were you so scared?"

JC just shook his head and pulled away from Justin. He
knelt down and reached for Steven. The little boy
willingly went into his arms. JC hugged the boy
tightly, closing his eyes as tears of relief began to
flow down his face.

"Justin, I really need to talk to..." Matt tried again.

Justin was torn between talking to Matt and talking to
JC but he quickly made a decision.
"Matt, I can't talk now. I'll call you later ok?"
Justin said as he walked towards Matt. He stepped
outside with Matt for second and closed the door
behind him slightly.

"Are you at least going to give me an explanation for
why you are chasing me out?" Matt asked, bitterly.

"I'm not chasing you out. It's just...look, I'll
explain everything later. I need to get back in there
now. I promise I'll tell you everything later." Justin
said, looking apologetically at his boyfriend.

Matt exhaled angrily.
"Fine. Go tend to your Josh. Call me when you deem
that I'm important enough," he said and stalked away
to his parked car.

"Matt!" Justin called out but Matt didn't stop.

Justin looked on helplessly. He wanted to tell Matt
but right then he needed to help his best friend.
Justin just hoped that Matt would understand. Justin
went back into the house and closed the door. Only JC
and Lynn were there as Lynn had asked Chris to take
Steven upstairs. She ushered JC and Justin into the
den. Justin put his arm around JC and guided him to
the couch.

Lynn sat down beside JC and looked at him in concern.
"What happened, Joshua?" Lynn asked.

JC leaned back on the couch.
"It was Phillip. He said that I can't run and that he
will always find me. He said that even if he couldn't
find me, he would find someone I cared about. Then he
said that he had a gift for me and that it's on the
doorstep right now. He told me to answer the door and
hung up. That's when the doorbell rang."

Lynn stared at him in shock.
"Oh my god...it could have been him?"

"Wait a minute. He must have known that Matt was about
to ring the doorbell. How could he know that Matt was
the door unless..." Justin trailed off.

"Unless he's keeping watch on the house." JC supplied.

"He knew that Matt was about to press the doorbell and
he saw a chance to screw with your head. The fucking
bastard!" Justin yelled.

Lynn ignored Justin's swear as she worriedly began to
pace the floor.
"I'm used to having the house watched by fans and the
media. But this..."

Justin stood up and hugged his mother.
"Mom, it will be ok. We just got careless because we
thought the fans wouldn't know that we were back here.
I'll get Johnny to get security to watch the house.
Lonnie can probably stay with us here."

"Justin. This isn't just some 12-year girl obsessed
with JC. This is a crazy and dangerous man. We have to
go to the police." Lynn insisted.

"And tell them what? We can't tell them anything
without mentioning JC's past. Right now, Phillip has
nothing on JC so whatever he says will be baseless.
But if we go and lodge a complain on him, they are
going to ask for reasons and they will know for sure."
Justin reasoned.

Lynn realised that what her son was saying made sense.
"Fine. But I want you to call Johnny right now and
arrange to have security posted around the house."

"I've already done it." Chris said as he entered the
room.

"Thanks, Chris. Is Steven ok?" Justin asked.

"Yeah. The runt's just a little shaken when JC yelled
and ran to the door." Chris explained, looking at JC.
JC hadn't moved once from where his head was buried
under his hands as he looked down at the carpet. "C?
You ok?"

JC took a deep breath and stood up. There was a
strange determination in his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Lynn, you better go talk to Steven."

Lynn nodded and stood up too. She gave JC a hug and a
brave smile before heading up the stairs. JC smiled
tiredly but it never quite reached his eyes.

"When is security getting here, Chris?" Justin asked,
not once looking away from JC.

"Anytime now."

"Ok, I'm going to rest up a bit." JC said and headed
for the stairs.

"Josh!" Justin called out. JC stopped but didn't look
back. "It's going to be ok."

JC turned back and nodded.
"Of course. I just need some time alone, J. You better
call Matt, J. Tell him I'm sorry about just now." With
that, JC left the room for his.

Chris watched his friend go and then turned to look at
Justin.
"Suddenly all our lives have gotten real shitty."

"We're lucky. JC's been dealing with this shit for
years." Justin said, then headed for the front door.
Grabbing his car keys he opened the door. "I'll be
back by 7."

"Wait up, Curly. Are you sure it's safe to go out on
your own?" Chris asked.

"I'll be fine. In the mood I am, that bastard is in
greater danger from me than I am from him. Just keep
an eye on JC and make sure that he doesn't go anywhere
alone." Justin said as he closed the door behind him.

Chris shook his head and reached for the phone. It was
up to him to let Lance and Joey know about the latest
development.

**

Justin used his spare key to enter Matt's apartment.
It was a studio apartment where the rooms were created
by dividers. The kitchen and living room area were
empty so Justin walked towards the bedroom. It was
empty too.

Justin came back to the living room and sat down on
the couch. Using the remote he clicked on the
television. He was vaguely aware of the programmes as
his thoughts were on JC. He still couldn't believe how
fast the good thing they had going had turned into a
nightmare. He hated the feeling of helplessness he
felt. The thought that his friends and family were in
danger was scaring him. And then there was JC.

All his life, JC had protected him and taken care of
him. But now, their roles were reversed. Justin felt
an intense need to protect JC. Not only from Phillip
but also from any more pain. And there was the tricky
part. He was a source of pain for JC. JC loved him but
he couldn't love him back.

'Couldn't you?'

Justin frowned at the question that the voice within
him had asked. Earlier, he had almost kissed JC. He
had wanted to. But was there some serious feelings
involved in that or was that just his screwed up way
of reaching out and comforting JC? He didn't know and
was all too glad that he didn't kiss JC. The last
thing JC needed was that added confusion.

Justin sighed in frustration and leaned his head back
on the back of the couch. The sound of the door
opening had him sitting up in a flash. He watched as
Matt entered his apartment, throwing his keys on the
table. He didn't see Justin, which gave the teenager
the chance to study his boyfriend.

They had met during the video shoot for Bye Bye Bye.
He was a charming and attractive guy and there had
been instant chemistry between them. Justin had just
told JC that he was gay and having JC tell him that
everything was ok with that, had boosted his
confidence. Matt had came on to him blatantly, seeming
to know him more than he knew himself. Justin had
wanted someone who was experienced and who teach him
about himself and Matt had fit that mould. Within a
week, Matt and Justin had made love.

Justin frowned as he remembered telling JC about it.
'Damn! I told him everything. He was in love with me
and I was telling about my first fuck with another
guy!'

In retrospect, Justin felt like shit. He could imagine
the pain JC must have experienced while listening to
him. But he was Justin's best friend and had put up
with the pain to give him a listening ear. Justin
wished that he could turn back time. He wished he
hadn't told JC about Matt. He wished that he JC had
told him about his feelings before he had met Matt.
He, most of all, wished that he could have stopped JC
from ever meeting Liam. Then none of this shit would
have happened.

"What are you doing here?"

The cold voice brought Justin out of his reverie. He
stood up and faced Matt.

"We need to talk."

"Apparently not. Why, is your Joshie asleep? Is that
how you found the time to come here?"

"Matt, earlier was not a good time! Why can't you
understand that? My mom was there! What did you want
me to say? 'Hi mom! This is Matt, my boyfriend. Oh by
the way, I'm gay!' Is that what you want?"

"Don't give me that bullshit, Justin! Just now wasn't
about your mom and you know it! It was about what it
has always been about! JC! I saw the way you fuss over
him! Like he's some fragile porcelain shit! I'm so
sick and tired of being second to the great Joshua
Chasez!"

"You don't understand. There are things going on with
him...he needs me."

"I need you too! You're my boyfriend, Justin! Not
his!"

"I know! Matt, I'm just asking you to give me some
time! Things are really messy right now."

"When ISN'T your life messy, Justin? It's always
something or another. I don't give a fuck about that!
But this isn't about your job. It's about JC! Your
best friend! Or so you say."

"Or so I say? What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that he means more to you than I do. "

"He's my best friend, Matt!" Justin protested.

"Maybe to you, he is. But what about to him? What are
you to him?"

Justin blinked. How did Matt know?
"I'm...his best friend."

"Is that all? Can you look me in the eyes and tell me
that he isn't in love with you?"

Justin was outright shocked this time.
"Where is all this coming from?"

"I see the way he looks at you, Justin. I don't like
it. But you are with him 24/7. What do you think that
does to me?"

"But I'm with YOU! Not HIM!"

"Are you? All he has to do is look a little upset and
you go running to him. Are you really with me?"

"This is ridiculous! I've told you a million times!
He's just my friend. He's been there for me through
the rough times. I have to be there for him too?"

Matt grabbed Justin's shoulder.
"Look me in the eyes and tell me that he isn't in love
with you."

"Why do..."

Matt shook his head.
"No! Look me in the eyes and say he isn't in love with
you."

Justin swallowed hard but remained silent.

Matt nodded and stepped back.
"I knew it. He is gay and in love with you and you
know it too. What, did he come on to you? Is he trying
to steal you away from me?"

"Matt..."

"No. Tell me everything, Justin. Is he trying to get
into your pants?!

"Stop it! JC's not like that! You have no idea what
he's going through!"

"Let me guess. Wanting what he can't have? Trying to
figure out how he can get rid of me?"

"This is more serious than your petty jealousy, Matt!
This is a matter of life and death!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't...I can't tell you." Justin answered.

"What!?" Matt exclaimed.

"This JC's secret. I can't tell you."

"So you don't trust me."

"It's not that..."

"Then what is it, Justin? Something is keeping us
apart and keeping you so--so dedicated to JC! Do you
expect me to just accept that you can't tell me and
keep quiet? It doesn't work that way!" Matt spat.

"You just have to trust me on this." Justin said.

"Trust works both way, Justin. And it's not you that I
don't trust. How can you be sure that whatever JC is
telling you, isn't just a ploy to keep you with him?"

"That's crazy!"

"Is it? Then tell me and let me judge for myself!"

Justin wondered if he could tell Matt. Matt was right.
This was a matter of trust. Could he afford to trust
Matt? Could he afford to NOT trust Matt?

"Alright. I will tell you but you must promise never
to let anyone know about this. I'm trusting you,
Matt." Justin warned.

Matt nodded.

"It began six years ago..."

**

"...that was why we were all freaked out when you saw
just now. He's obviously out there watching the house
or he wouldn't have known you were about the ring the
bell." Justin finished.

Matt was silent for a while, then looked at Justin.
"Did JC say specifically, before the door bell rang,
that this Phillip said he was outside the house?"

"No, why..."

"So it was only after the doorbell rang that he made
the huge scene."

"I don't like the way you..." Justin began but was
interrupted.

"Have you ever heard from this Phillip?

"No."

"Have you spoken to this Phillip?"

"No."

"This letter. How do you know that JC didn't write it
himself?"

"What?! What are you talking about?"

"The only evidence that all this happened is JC's
word. How do we know that he didn't write that letter
himself?"

"This is ridiculous! Why would he do that?"

"To create this crisis. To get you to fuss over him
the way you're doing!"

Justin shook his head in disbelief.
"You're crazy! I'm sorry I ever told you, Matt."
Justin said and moved towards the door.

Matt grabbed his arm.
"Think about it, Justin! This whole thing is
ridiculous and too incredible to be true! How can you
believe a word he says?!"

"Because I know him! He would never lie to me! I know
from the pain in his eyes that everything he said is
true."

"You know him that well?" Matt asked.

"Yes I do. Look, Matt. I don't know what's happening
to ask. Why are we fighting all the time? Is it
because of JC? Ok, so he's in love with me. But I'm
not in love with him so please stop making me choose
between the two of you. I don't want to do that!"

"What if I ask you to?"

Justin was silent for a moment. He then leaned forward
and kissed Matt softly on the lips.
"You already know the answer to that. So please don't
do it." Justin whispered and turned around to open the
door and leave.

Matt saw the door shut and closed his eyes. Justin
words reverberated in his head.

'I know him. I know from the pain in his eyes.' 'You
already know the answer'.

Justin was right. He did already know what Justin's
choice would be if he asked him to choose between him
and JC. Matt finally began to accept what he had
already suspected.

Justin was in love with JC.

**

Justin had parked his car in the garage and slowly
made his way into the house. He was distracted by the
million thoughts running through his head and didn't
pay attention to his surrounding.

He didn't know what to do. He was trying his best to
hold everything together but it was difficult. The
mess with Matt. The mess with Philip. The mess that
WAS JC. It was as if his life depended on JC's life.
When JC's life went down the drain, so did his. He
didn't resent his friend for it because he knew that
it was in part because of the intense need he felt to
protect JC. But at what cost could he protect JC? To
the extent of alienating Matt?

Justin knew that he had implicitly told Matt that JC
was more important to him than Matt himself. He
cringed now to remember those words. He had said that
word in a moment of passion. But he couldn't deny the
truth in them. What did that mean? Could it possibly
mean that he was not in love with Matt? Should the guy
he loved be the person who meant the most to him? Did
that mean that he was in love with JC?

"That's crazy. I've known him for years. If I was
really in love with him, I would have known before!"
Justin muttered to himself.

A he entered his house he put those thoughts aside.
Right now, there were more important things than his
love life. Justin walked into the den, looking for
Chris. He hoped that security was there by now. He
didn't like the fact that Philip might be outside,
watching the house, planning to hurt JC or anyone at
all.

Justin sighed. He just wanted to have one quiet
uneventful evening at home with his family and
friends. If he had one more shock, he was afraid he
was going to break down and cry. Maybe they could make
a pact not to talk about what was going on. Maybe they
could pretend that everything was like it was before.
Maybe...

A harried looking  Chris rushed towards him.
"You're back finally! Where have you been? You didn't
even take you cell phone!" Chris shouted.

Maybe not.
"Why? What happened? Is JC alright?" Justin asked,
worriedly.

"God, I hope so." Chris said, running his hand through
his hair nervously. "I don't when he...I was keeping an
eye on him but he..."

"What!?" Justin exclaimed, his heart starting to pound
in fear.

"JC's gone." Chris answered. "I don't know where he
went or when he left."

**
];-)