Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 19:43:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: James <midwestjames@yahoo.com>
Subject: My New Life Part 16 (midwestjames) (mm slow rom)

Legal Disclaimer:

     This story is totally fictional and is not meant to imply anything
about the personalities of Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, J.C. Chasez,
Joey Fatone, or Chris Kirkpatrick of the music group Nsync.  If you are
under the age of 18, offended by male/male material, or it is illegal to view
such materials in your area, you should be leaving now.  This is a
story of friendship and only time will tell which direction it will take.

Like anyone who writes feed back, good or bad is needed.  The good feed
back, strokes our ego.  The bad feed back, strokes the delete key.  <grin>

My e-mail: midwestjames@yahoo.com

This story can also be found on my web site at:
http://www.geocities.com/midwestjames


My New Life
By James

Last Time

It was after two in the morning and Marc was still too hipper to sleep.  He
stood at the big sliding doors that lead out to the balcony.  Dressed only
in his sleeping shorts he looked out at the lights of the city and his own
reflection.

Marc saw Lance's reflection as he came out of his bedroom wearing only
boxers, He had his pillow and blanket. Marc smiled at himself, for he could
hear Chris snoring up a storm and knew Lance had been driven out by the
noise.

The sleepy eye Lance noticed Marc standing at the sliding doors.  Dropping
his pillow and blanket on a couch.  Lance walked up behind Marc and he
wrapped his arms around Marc's waist and laid his head on shoulder.  Marc
watched the reflection of Lance as his eye shot wide open and he became
fully awake.  Feeling Lance tense up, Marc placed his hands on top of
Lance's and held him in place.

Marc softly said. "Please, don't pull away.  I like how it feels when you
hold me."

Lance slowly relaxed as Marc lightly rubbed the back of his arms.  They
stood there for a long time not saying anything, just enjoying the
closeness.

It was Marc who broke the silence.  "Lance how do you stand the feeling
after you perform?"

"What feeling?" Lance asked a little concerned.

"Tonight when I was on stage performing, I felt so great.  I felt like I
could go on forever.  But now, there is an emptiness."

Lance smiled, knowing what Marc was talking about.  "Your coming down off
an adrenalin high.  And to answer you next question.  It does get easer to
handle with time."

"Thinks, I thought I was weird."

"Not any weirder than the rest of us.  We all go through it."

Marc watched Lance's reflection for a long time.

"Lance."

"Hum"

"I love you."

"What?"

Turning to face him, Marc repeated.  "James Lance Bass, I love you."

Looking deep into Marc's eyes he could see no deceit, only love.  Pulling
Marc to him, he kissed him softly on the lips.  "Marc, I love you too."

* * *

Part 16 The Tests

Wrapping his arms around Lance, Marc pulled him close.  Looking into his
beautiful green eyes, his heart soared, he was so happy.  "I can't believe
this is happening." said Marc as he leaned in for another kiss.  A soft,
lingering kiss.

As their lips parted Lance looked into Marc's dark blue eyes and asked.
"Marc are you ready for this?"

Stepping back from the embrace March took Lance's hand and led him to a
couch.  Setting down he pulled Lance down next to him.  "Am I ready for
this?  Lance I have been asking my self that question for days.  I don't
know.  The only thing I do know is when I look at you, I want to be more
than just friends.  And that scares me."

Frowning Lance asks.  "Afraid of having feelings for another man?"

"No, afraid of how you felt about me.  And what this would do to your
friendship with the guys."

"Marc, I came out to them last year.  They know I'm gay."

"Your gay?  Oh wow." said Marc with a grin.  Lance just elbowed him in the
ribs.  "How did they take the news?"

"Not to good at first.  Josh had the hardest time with it."

"Really, I got the impression you two are close."

"We are.  But it took him some time to realize I'm the same person he knew
after my announcement as I was before."

"How your parents take the news?"

"My dad surprised me, he had suspected I was gay."

"And you mom?"

"Not too well, she didn't say anything.  Just sat there in shock.  Than she
got up and went for a walk.  She was gone for two hours.  It was getting
dark when she came home.  I waited for her on the front steps."

"What she do?"

"She hugged me, and told me she loved me.  Than gave me a box of rubbers."

"She didn't!"

"Yeah, she did.  I was in total shock."

Grinning Marc said.  "She sounds like someone I'd like to get to know."

"There is a good chance you'll meet her."

They sat there in silence for a few minutes holding hands, when Lance
asked. "What about your family?"

"Well, you know I spent a lot of time in the hospital.  I was there over
three months.  And it seamed that most every nurse at one time or another
had given me a sponge bath."

"Your were popular?" said Lance with a grin.

"I was being examined.  They all wanted to see what I had."

"Did anything come up during these sponge baths."

"Only with one nurse."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, nurse Allen."

"Allen?"

"Yeah Allen.  He was assigned to me after the girls lost interest."

"What happened?"

"Every time he would give me my bath I would rise to the occasion, so to
speak.  He would laugh and I would turn red.  And would you believe he
noted it in my chart, the ass hole."

"Where all the other nurses could read it?"

"And Doc Tom.  After seeing the chart he came in and we had the bird and
bees talk."

"Oh how embarrassing."

"No, not really.  Remember I had no knowledge of this.  I was a 19 year old
virgin.  I didn't go through puberty.  I missed the voice change, pimples,
and the ranging hormones.  I bypassed all that."

"I forget about that."

"Well we sat up all night talking and in the end I realized I was gay."

"And he was ok with that?"

"Yeah, he accepted it, and he accepted me."

"Marc, have you been with anyone?"

"No.  I'm still a virgin."  "And you?"

Not able to look Marc in the eye Lance said.  "I was with someone briefly,
a while back.  But I found out he wasn't really interested in me, but what
he could get from me.  It never went past kissing.  So I guess I'm still a
virgin too."

"Lance, would you be too upset if we take this slow?  I'm not ready for a
sexual relationship yet."

"Anything you want Marc.  And truthfully I think we need to get to know
each other better first.  When we're both ready it will happen.  Until then
we can. . ."

"Hold hands. . .Kiss. . . Hold each other. . . Cuddle. . . And what ever
else feels good." said Marc with a smile.

"So are we together?" asked Lance.

"You bet your cute ass we are." said Marc as he leaned in and gave his guy
a kiss.

"Lance, we need to tell the other guys about this, I'm just worried about
what they going to say."

"There going to say it's damn well about time you two got together."  said
Josh from behind them.

Turning they saw Josh leaning against the wall grinning at them.

"Jo. . Josh how long have you been there?" asked Marc.

"Long enough to know you two finally have gotten together.  And I'm very
happy for you both."

A little confused Marc asked.  "What do you mean finally?"

Smiling as Josh sat in a chair.  "The way you two are around each other,
you would have to be blind not to notice how much you liked each other."

"I didn't thank I was being that obvious." said Lance.

"The only ones who didn't notice, seamed to be you two."  grinned Josh.

"You all figured this out before we did?" asked Marc.

"It wasn't that hard.  And it got to be fun watching you two.  The only
questions was who would make the first move and when."

"Where you making bets on us?" Marc said with a smile.

"No bets, but we did guess.  Mine was Lance made the first move, and it
would happen by the end of the first week of tour."

Lance and Marc looked at each other and smiled.  "Marc made the first
move." said Lance.

"And it was after midnight of a new week."  said Marc.  "You were close but
no gold ring."

"What was the others guess?"  asked Lance.

"You'll have to ask them yourself.  In the morning.  The morning that is
not that far away.  And I am going back to bed and to get some more sleep."
said Josh as he got up.  "And you two should try to get some rest.  We do
have a concert tonight."

Marc and Lance got up and Lance went to Josh and hugged him.  "Thanks
Josh."  Marc also hugged Josh. "Thanks for understanding."

Marc watched Josh go back to his room than turned to see Lance making up
the couch for his bed.  Walking over to Lance he took his hand.  "Your not
sleeping on the couch." Marc grinned. "Come with me." as he led Lance to
his bedroom.

"What about Joey?"

"He'll have to sleep in his own bed.  There's only room for you and me.
Besides it will make his day when he finds us together."

* * * Joey woke with nature calling.  Sleepily he went to the bathroom to
take care of his full bladder.  Yawning as he returned to his bed he
glanced at Marc's bed to find it still filled.  Sitting on his bed Joey was
dumbfounded to see Marc spooned up to Lance with his arms wrapped around
him, both sleeping soundly.

Joey came out of the bedroom with a silly grin on his face.  Chris looked
up to see Joey.  "Morning Joe.  I see Marc and Lance must be out running
again."

"Nnoo their not." said Joey.  Motioning to the others, he led them into the
bedroom to see what he had found.

Everyone tip toed in to see what Joey had found, than quietly moved back to
the living room suppressing laughter.

"Oh wow, they finally got together." said Justin.

"When did it happen?  Lance went to bed the same time as I did." said
Chris.

"Early this morning.  I found them out here talking." said Josh.

* * * Marc woke when he heard Joey going to the bathroom.  Feeling the warm
body snuggled in his arms he decided to play possum to see what would
happen.  Marc could hear Joe come out and sit on his bed and yawn.  It
seemed that he was part way through a yawn when something stopped it.  Marc
could hear Joe take in a sharp breath than softly mutter "Damn they did
it."

He could hear Joey get up and leave the room.  Marc lightly started to rub
his guys chest.  The skin was hairless and so smooth, nothing like the soft
brown fur the covered his upper body.  Lance's breathing quickened at
Marc's touch.  The door opened, and Marc froze.  There was multiple foot
steps coming in to the room.  They came around the bed and stopped to take
in the view of the sleeping pair.  Than not too quietly went back to the
living room.

Marc smiled. Leaned in and nuzzled Lance's ear.  Immediately goose bumps
sprouted all over Lance.  Smiling at the effect.  "Good morning."

Snuggling back into Marc's strong arms.  "Morning"

"We've had visitors."

"Oh, was that the heard of elephants that passed thru."

"Yeah, I think our little secret is out."

"I came out last year.  It's you that has been outed."

* * *

"I knew Marc would be the one to make the first move." said Chris.

"It took a lot of courage.  Not only did he come out to Lance, but was
taking a chance, that we would not except him and he could loose all of
us." stated Josh.

"Yeah that did take a lot of courage.  Wonder why he chose last night?"
asked Joey.

"I think last night was Marc's night to shine.  Everything went fantastic
and he was feeling great.  Lance just happened to be at the right place at
the right time." said Josh.

"He didn't have anything to loose." stated Chris.

"No. actually he had everything to loose.  Lance may not have felt the same
way about him.  Or one or all of us may not have excepted them.  Remember
it didn't go that smooth when Lance came out to us."  said Josh,
remembering his own reaction to Lance.

"But this isn't a problem. Right?"  asked Chris.

"No problem." said Justin.

"No problem." said Joey.

"Definitely no problem." said Josh.

"Well how long do we let them sleep?" asked Justin.

"They need to be getting up now." said Joey.  "If we're to be ready on time
for our bus ride."

* * *

The door opened and Joey went around and squatted down in front of his
sleeping friends.  Before he could say anything Marc's eyes slowly opened
and he smiled. "Morning Joe." "Morning Joe." echoed Lance.

Grinning, "Morning guys, are we comfortable?"

"Very." said Lance as he snuggled deeper into Marc's chest.

"Well I hate to have to ruin your morning but you need to get going."

Marc reached for the blanket, to throw it off.  "Hold on, I'll give you two
some privacy." as he fell back on the floor, loosing his balance.

 "Why?  Like there's something you haven't seen."  throwing off the covers
Marc grinned at Joey's reaction.


Joey was relived to see they were both wearing shorts.  Getting up he left
a little embarrassed.

Laughing at Joes embarrassment Marc asked.  "You want the shower first?"

"I should go back to my own room and get dressed."

"Do you really want to go out there alone?"

Looking at the door.  "No, not really."

"You take a shower while I shave. Than we can switch."

"I don't have anything to wear."

"That could be interesting." grinning Marc. "I think I can find you
something to wear.  Shorts ok?  All my pants will be a little long on you."

"Yeah, shorts will be fine."

Lance headed into the bath as Marc went to his suit case and found boxers,
shorts, and shirts for the both of them.

Lance was already in the shower when Marc walked in with underwear.
Removing his, he wrapped a towel around his waist and preceded to brush his
teeth.  Taking the can of shave cream Marc lathered up his face.  Lance
turned off the water and reached for a towel.  Marc was shaving as he came
out of the shower and began to dry off.  Looking up he saw Marc watching
him in the mirror.  "Your going to cut yourself it you keep doing that."

"Doing what?"

"You know what."

Grinning "I can't help it.  I'm a peeping tom."  finishing his shave he
went to get in the shower.

"Can I use you tooth brush?"

"Sure, anything I have is yours."

Marc stood under the shower letting the hot water run over his body.
Smiling at himself, he was amazed at how lucky he was to have Lance in his
life.  Quickly lathering up his body he rinsed and stepped out of the
shower.

Lance had put on a pair of boxers and was shaving when Marc stepped out of
the shower.  As he dried off he noticed Lance playing his game so he
decided to give him a good view.  Lance blushed when he realized Marc had
caught him looking.

Putting on his boxers he moved up behind Lance as he was putting the
finishing touches of his hair.  "Looking good." he said looking over
Lance's shoulder.  Lance turned and put his arms around Marc's nick and
gave him a proper good morning kiss.  "Hum, mintie fresh."  said Marc.
Wrapping his arms around Lance's waist he picked him up and turned around
and placing him down.  "Now go get dressed."  as he turned back to the
mirror to style his hair.

* * *

Looking around the room to see if anything had been forgotten.  "I think
that's everything."  looking at Lance seeing he had something in his hand.
"What do you have in your hand?"

"Just my underwear from last night."

"Well throw it in, so I can close the suitcase."  Lance gave Marc a funny
look. "You'll get them back."  "Maybe."

Lance tossed in the underwear and Marc closed the suitcase.  They each
grabbed a bag and headed out to the living room.

Joey looked up as the door opened and out came Lance and Marc.  "Finally,
now I can get dressed and packed."

Placing the bags on the luggage cart Marc turned to Joey.  "The door was
unlocked.  No one was keeping you out of our bedroom."  Turning to
Lance. "Are your bags all packed?"

"I just have to throw in a few things."

"Ok, I'll help you with them."  Turning to Lance's bedroom they found their
way blocked by Justin and Chris.

"Marc, is there something you'd like to shair with us this morning?" asked
Justin.

"Oh. Hum yeah." closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.  "Guys there is
something you should know."  looking over to Josh for some help.  Josh
smiled and nodded for him to continue.  "Last night I did something that
I've been wanting to do for a week."

"And that was?" quizzed Chris.

Looking into Lance's eyes.  "I told Lance I was gay.  And that I loved
him."

"Oh, we've known that.  Are you two together?" teased Justin.

Taking Marc's hand.  "Yeah, were together." answered Lance.

Pulling Marc into a hug, Justin softly said.  "I'm happy for you Marc.  But
remember, Scoop is my best friend.  Don't hurt him.  Or I may be forced to
rip off one of your favorite body parts."

Looking over to an amused Josh.  "Justin, I wouldn't want that, I promise
to be a gentleman." said Marc.

Justin turned his attention to Lance.  "That goes for you too.  Don't hurt
Marc.  The part about the body part doesn't apply though.  I'll just have
to beat the shit out of you."

"Oh! now I see how it is.  Double standards." said Marc.

Turning back to Marc. "You, I don't have to perform with, Lance I do." with
a cheesy smile.

"Then your all right about this?" asked Marc.

"Yeah, we're all right with it.  Nothings really has changed that much."
said Justin.

"Speak for yourself, I've lost my room mate." said Chris.

Putting his arm around Chris's shoulder.  "Funny you should mentioned that.
I know this great guy, who just so happens to be needing a room mate."

* * * "Marc do we have to do this now?"

"My dad and Sara will be leaving soon.  Don't worry it will be fine."

Knocking on the door it was quickly answered by Sara.  "Morning guys.  Come
on in."

Marc had to give Lance a little push to get him moving.  "Morning sis, is
dad up?"

"Yeah, he just went in to finish packing.  Why?"

"There's something I need to talk to both of you about."

Looking at Lance, seeing how uncomfortable he was, Sara knew this had
something to do with him and her brother.  "Dad's over there." indicating a
bedroom door.

Marc nudged Lance toward the door.  Sara had to stifle a laugh, Lance so
did not want to be here.  He was so adorable.

Marc knocked of the door.  "Yes"

"Dad it's me.  I need to talk to you."

"Come in Marc."

Opening the door Marc let Sara enter than pushed Lance in ahead of him.

"Good morning guys, what's up?" asked Doc Tom as he looked over a very
nerves Lance.

"Dad, I wanted to let you know I have fallen in love."

"Oh, is it anyone I know?" said Tom looking at Lance.

Taking Lance's hand in his own. "No, you haven't met him yet."

Lance's head snapped to look at Marc in shock.

"His name is James.  James Bass.  And I love him."

The shocked look was quickly replaced with a big smile.

"The last couple of weeks I have gotten to know James, for who he is, not
what he presents to the public as Lance.  I realized I needed him in my
life."

"I take it the feeling is mutual?" Tom asked Lance.

"Yes, I love your son very much." said Lance.

Marc gave James hand a squeeze as he looked into his sparkling green eyes.

"From the way you two look at each other there is no denying it you two are
in love.  But I do have to ask are you ready for what this will
relationship will bring with it?"

"I know it is going to be hard, I don't want to do anything that will
jeopardize James career.  As hard as it is going to be I still want to try
this."

Turning to James, Tom asked.  "Have you been tested for HIV?"

"Dad!"  Marc said in protest.

"No, Marc that is a valid question.  Since I came out last year the
management has required tests every six months.  And as if last month I was
clean."

"Good.  As if last week Marc was also clean."

Marc was flabbergasted that his dad had been checking him for HIV.

"Son it's not that I don't trust you.  I know you are smart enough to
protect yourself.  It's just for my own piece of mind, I have been
monitoring your blood.  We still don't know what your life was like before
you came into our lives."

"I understand, it never dawned on me about what might have happened
before."

 "Son I'm happy for you and James."  taking both boys into an embrace.

Turning to Sara.  "Well?"

"For someone who is supposed to be so intelligent, it took you long enough
to figure this out."  hugging Marc.

Embracing James, Sara whispered.  "Don't you hurt my brother. If you do, I
will hunt you down and wop your ass.  You hear me?"

"Loud and Clear." answered James.

* * *

Sara and her dad went with the boys to the back entrance of the hotel to
say their good byes.  Justin, Chris and Joey said their good byes and got
on the bus.  Sara and Josh moved off to the rear of the bus to say good
bye, ending with a very long kiss.

"Well I got to go." said Marc as he hugged his dad.

"Be happy Marc.  You've got a good guy there.  Treat him right."

"I will dad."

"Have I told you today how proud I am of you?"

"No, but it is nice to know."

"Stay safe son.  Call when you can."

"I will.  Love you dad."  Marc said with one last squeeze.

Turning to Sara. "Buy sis."

"Take care of yourself and that guy of yours."

"I intend to."  "Love you." leaning in he gave his sister a kiss.

Lance offered his hand to Doc Tom but was pulled into a hug.  Sara repeated
the jester and added a kiss to the cheek.

The good byes was witnessed by Lynn and Pete and the others.

As the bus pulled out Lynn asked Marc and Lance to join her and Pete in the
rear lounge.

* * *

"Marc please shut the door and sit down." said Pete.  Doing as told, Marc
shut the door and sat down next to Lance.

"Marc is there something I should know about?"

Looking over to Lance for direction.  Lance nodded for him to go ahead.
"Late last night I told Lance that I'm gay.  And that I love him."

Pete closed his eyes absorbing Marc's little announcement.  Knowing what he
needed to do, but not liking it.  Looking Marc in the eye.  "Marc, what are
you up to?  What do you really want?"

A little shocked at the question.  "I'm not up to anything and I don't want
anything."

"I've heard that before.  You come into their lives pretending to be
friends and buddy, buddy and all along your out to take what you can from
them.  Well it's not going to work this time."

"What have I done that makes you think I'm out to take advantage of
anyone?"


"I know your kind, you had a week to weasel your way into their lives.  Got
them to bring you on tour.  And last night, how many shots of them where
there?  With little captions identifying them as best friends."

"Yes you know me.  There was an agreement, PBS knew who I was with.  They
wanted to do just that.  But I wouldn't agree to it.  I told them if that
was all they wanted me for, to forget the concert.  And did you ever wonder
why the seating order in the box?  I placed you, Sara, and my dad on the
outside as a screen, so no one could see them."

"Marc calm down." pleaded Lance.

"No I will not calm down!  Pete if that is what you think of me, stop this
bus.  And I'll get off.  I'm sure I can still catch my family before they
leave town.  But remember one thing.  I will not give up Lance.  Some how,
some way, I will be a part of his life.  I will be in every audience, in
every city you play in.  And when the tour ends and you no longer have
control of his life, I will be there.  Because I love him and he loves me,
we will be together."

* * *

In the front of the bus every word of the exchange between Marc and Pete
could be heard.  Sitting there they heard Marc's declaration of his love
for Lance.

Justin quietly said.  "If Marc leaves, I'm going with him."

"What? Do you know what you are saying?" asked Chris.

"Yes I do.  Chris do you think Lance is going to let him walk out of his
life?  I don't think so.  I think he will go with Marc.  And if he does so
will I.  Pete is wrong about Marc.  And until he realizes it, there will be
no more tour."

"I agree with Justin." said Josh.  "No Marc, no tour."

* * * Pete sat there looking into Marc's eyes, seeing he meant every word.

"Marc, I'm glad you feel that way.  And I'm sorry to have to put you threw
this.  I needed to know if this was real or a scam."

"You mean this was a test?" asked Marc.

"In a way, it was.  But if your answer would have been anything other than
what you said, I would have sent you packing."

Turning to Lynn.  "You knew he was going to do this?  I thought you were
working for me."

"Marc I do work for you, and I also work for BMG.  I don't agree with the
way Pete handled this but I do understand why he did it.  There are people
out there who would like nothing else than to find out something about a
member of Nsync to use it to hurt the group and bring them down.  It has
been tried, before.  That's why you signed the secrecy statements, to
protect the boys."

Lance took Marc's hand and felt it shaking.  Marc was still angry.
Squeezing his hand, Marc turned to look at Lance.  Marc saw the concern in
his eyes as Lance gazed at their hands.  Marc saw his hand was shaking from
his anger.  Acknowledging Lance's concern with a squeeze of his hand.
Gazing into James eyes Marc cleared his mind of all anger.

Lance watched Marc's eyes as he got this faraway look, as though he was
some place else.  Then life returned to his eyes, the twinkle was back and
his hand was no longer shaking.

"Marc, I'm not trying to make it difficult for you and Lance.  But I do
have to remind you about the secrecy agreement you signed, and in lite of
your choice, management will require HIV testing."

"Pete that wont be a problem.  Contact my dad, he has the results of my
latest test taken last week.  I am clean."

"You two do know there can not be any open displays of affection.  What you
do in private is up to you but in public watch your self."

"We understand." said Lance.

"Lynn, I'm sorry about questioning who you work for.  I understand that
when it comes to the boys, they will come first.  As they should."

"Marc, no matter what, your musical career would have continued.  And I
would have been there with you.  We just need to work at keeping the two
separate."

"Yeah, that's going to be hard."  looking around the lounge for the first
time.  "You know this is a very interesting room."  Turning to James.  "How
about a tour of the rest of this place?"

Getting up Marc and Lance left the lounge closing the door behind them.

"Very interesting room?  How about a tour of the rest of this place?
Couldn't you come up with something more original to get out of there?"

"No.  My mind is a little fuzzy.  Besides I do want a tour of the bus.
Since I will be spending most of my summer in here."

"Well that was the lounge.  It has a TV, VCR, stereo and Nintendo.  We
spend a lot of time in there.  This area is the bunk area six on the right
and two on the left with the restroom and galley kitchen.  It's not much of
a kitchen, refrigerator, for soft drinks and snacks and a microwave for
popcorn and . . . . Popcorn."

"Popcorn hum, I'll work on getting a little more variety.  Which is my
bunk?"

"This upper one here." indicating the bunk they were standing in front of.

Marc pulled back the curtin and looked in.  "Not too bad.  Where's yours?"

Smiling. "Right below yours."

"Convenient."

"I thought so."  taking Marc's hand, he led him forward.  The table sits
six and the couch across from it.  Then there's George, our driver."
George looked up into the mirror and gave Marc a nod.  Marc waved and said.
"Hi George."

Marc and Lance sat on the couch.  The guys were sitting around the table
with weird looks on their face.  "Hi guys whats up?" asked Marc.

Getting no response he turned to Lance.  He indicated the lounge.

"Oh, I see.  Sound carries on this thing."

"Marc what happened in there?"

Turning to look at Lance.  "Nothing.  Pete just wanted to be sure we
understand how important it is to keep our friendship under wraps."

"That's not what it sounded like from here." said Justin.

"Oh, that.  It was his way of finding out if I was out to take advantage of
you all.  And if my feeling for Lance was real."

"Since your still here I take it he was convinced?" asked Joey.

"Yes, I can stay.  But it would have been fun to become a stalker.  I think
I could have driven Pete insane before the end of the tour."

"That's if he didn't have you arrested first." said Lance.

"Ah, but you would come and visited me wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, once a month on visitors day."

* * *

The bus pulled into the arena just before noon.  Going into the secured
area with the other buses and semis George parked near an entrance.

Grabbing his backpack Marc went with the guys into the arena.  The arena
was a lot bigger than the theater.

"Pete, were having problems with the video screens."  said Brit the stage
manager.

"Well what's wrong?" asked Pete.  As the group walked on to the stage,
looking up at the twenty foot video screens.

"We're getting some really strange shit.  We've tried everything we can
think of.  Take a look, see what you think."

"Lets see what you have." said Pete as everybody, including Marc looked up
at the screens.

The picture was fuzzy and you couldn't make out what it was.  "Can you
focus?"

"Every time we try that, this is what we get."  the screens went black than
there were flashes of light going off all over the place.  Than Marc heard
a familiar drum beat and the screens came in to focus.  Marc stood there in
amazement watching himself perform Jubilation.

Lance looked at Marc's face and was amazed at his expression.  He wanted so
much to go over and hold him, but he knew he couldn't.

As the performance ended, applause erupted all around Marc.  Every member
of the Nsync staff had joined Marc on stage.  With shouts of bravo,
fantastic job Marc, good going kid and all right Marc!

"Thank you." said Marc to everyone.  "I didn't thank any of you ever heard
of PBS let alone watched it."

* * *
 TBC

Authors Note: Well boys and girls, from the letters I'm gotten most
everyone was happy with Marc's choice.  I would like to thank all of you
who have written with your comments and encouragement.  I'm sorry it has
taken so long to get this chapter out, but I took a well deserved vacation.
Now that I'm back and hard at work, I will try to get the next chapters out
on a more regular schedule.  I would like to take this time to thank Clive,
author of Grand Encounter and First Impression, for hosting my story on his
web site.  Take some time and check out his site.
http://www.geocities.com/author_clive/