Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 09:23:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jim Higgins <bangoremail1@yahoo.com>
Subject: Lance's Story:  Prologue: Valentine's Day

Hey everyone!

So here it is.  The prologue for the much anticipated and asked for story
of Lance and JC.  I got many comments while writing Jamie's Romance that
their side story was a nice one and everyone wanted to know more of it.
There will be several times that the two stories will cross over, so you
might be seeing some familiar scenes from a different perspective.

This story will completely stand alone and it won't be necessary to read
Jamie's Romance to follow anything going on (hopefully).  It's not going to
be a long detailed account, but rather a glimpse here and there into what
made him the Lance that Jamie came to know and to explain (or try to)
everything that was hinted at in the other story.

The prologue just sets up the story so it's not very long.

Confused?  Well, don't worry... just read and hopefully enjoy!

A big thanks to Casey and Dhiad (Donica) for a bunch of ideas that helped
me start this many months ago... thanks you two!


As usual:
This story is purely fiction and is not intended to imply anything about
the true sexuality of  'N Sync or anyone associated with their organization
or the reality of their lives.  It is meant for those over the age of 18
only and those who wish to read stories with sexual content.


***********

Lance's Story

***********



PROLOGUE:  VALENTINE'S DAY


	"Land your punch, I stand my ground
	We break for lunch and a second round
	We set them up, we knock them down
	Valentine's Day

	Me and you, you and him
	Him and her, us and them
	We keep score, love as war
	Valentine's Day

	I lost my teeth, I lost my hair
	I lost my mind, you don't care
	Love is war, all is fair
	On Valentine's Day"

		- James Taylor


It was a hot day in Orlando for February.  Temperatures soared and the sun
baked everything.  James Lance Bass sat at a table near his pool in the
shade of an umbrella.  He was deep in thought watching two of his best
friends floating on a big mattress in the cool water.  Justin and Jamie had
been together for over a year and they were as much in love now as they
were when they first met.

It was the day before Valentine's Day and Lance's heart ached at the
thought.  It had been one year ago that JC had proposed to him.  A silent
tear ran down his cheek at the memory of the proposal.  He had been so
happy then, the surprise for Jamie turning into one of the happiest days of
his own life.


	<<JC got down on one knee.  Lance's heart was
	hammering in his chest.  'Surely this isn't
	what I think it is?' he thought to himself.
	JC's words brought him out of his distraction.

	"James, you are the world to me.  The last five
	months have been the happiest of my life and I
	don't ever want it to end."  Lance watched
	incredulously as JC reached into his pocket and
	pulled something out in his closed hand.

	"James Lance Bass, will you marry me?"   Lance's
	vision swam when he saw the silver ring inset
	with a sparkling green emerald.>>


Of course he had accepted.  JC was the man of his dreams.  He was
soft-spoken, gentle, good-natured, handsome, considerate, loving... the
list went on and on.  And he still was all those things, but Lance didn't
know if JC loved him anymore and it was breaking his heart.  With the
exception of the Superbowl appearance, where he kept to himself, no one had
seen JC since Christmas which was a painful memory in itself.  According to
the world they were supposedly recording their new album, but they couldn't
do much without JC.

Ever since the summer tour something had changed inside JC and whenever
Lance thought he had figured it out and fixed it, he'd find that he was
wrong.  Through the fall, his behavior had become erratic with strange mood
changes, he started drinking more and their relationship became strained as
they started bickering, something they had never done in all the years they
had known each other.  It was right after the Billboard Awards that JC
started to seriously discuss postponing the wedding.

Lance had almost fallen apart.  JC gave no reasons and as December wore on
Lance spiraled into a deep depression, worrying everyone before Johnny made
regular appointments for him with Greg who put him on medication.

Through the next few weeks they were strangers in their home.  They slept
in the same bed but rarely touched.  Lance tried to get JC to talk but it
only ended in arguments.  Finally on Christmas eve JC went home after
exchanging gifts with Lance.  He left a short note asking him to forgive
him and promising to return.  He begged Lance to keep the ring and promised
he would make everything right.

"How did it all go so wrong?" Lance sighed to himself unhappily.

With a forced smile, Lance watched the guys cuddle in the center of the
pool.  Every so often one would playfully splash the other with water.
They were always so cute together and being with them made Lance feel
better.

After Jamie's rape, it took time to get their relationship on solid ground.
They had worked hard at it and had grown stronger together because of it.
Lance knew their love was strong but that wasn't the only reason they had
stayed together.  Deep down he knew that they were -meant- for each other,
in some greater cosmic way.

Lance thought back on the day when they had proposed to each other.  They
knew each other so well that they laughed, filled with happiness.  Both of
them had promised their lives to each other that day and Justin had made
another more important promise.  A promise that was changing all their
lives, a promise that showed everyone just how much he loved Jamie.  Justin
wouldn't hide their marriage like he had to hide their relationship.

In addition to being happy for them, Lance was slightly envious.  He wasn't
proud to feel this way, he considered Jamie and Justin his best friends.
But ever since he and Josh had grown apart, their closeness only kept
reminding him of what he didn't have.

Lance stood and called over to them to get their attention.  "Guys, it's
getting a little hot for me out here.  I'm gonna go in and catch a nap for
awhile."

"Ok, Lance.  You alright?" Jamie asked with concern.  "You want to talk
about anything?"

"No thanks, I'm fine, just a little hot and tired."

"What time we heading to Joey's?" Justin asked.

"Not for a couple more hours.  You guys take care not to burn too badly."

"Ok, Momma Bass," they giggled together.  Lance gave them a mock disgusted
face and laughed himself before heading back into the house, missing the
concerned looks that Jamie and Justin shared.  As maddening as they could
be at times, he really was glad they were staying with him while their
house was getting fumigated, it helped his depression.

He longed for the cool, quiet solitude of his room.  Passing through the
door, he stood looking at the bed that he hadn't slept in since Josh had
left, he couldn't bring himself to.  Looking at the wall he stopped by one
picture of him and JC in each other's arms laughing for the camera.  With a
sob he went over to the couches and lay down on one, toying with the ring
on his finger that he would never take off.  Tears started flowing down his
cheeks.  Tears for what was lost and what was to have been his wedding day.
Valentine's Day.  Staring up at the ceiling he started remembering.



tbc...


As always comments, suggestion and constructive criticisms are always welcome!


Notes:
Valentine's Day - James Taylor: 1988 from 'Never Die Young'



Jim
bangoremail1@yahoo.com
AIM: bangoremail
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bangoremail1