Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:23:39 EST
From: THRAWN5678@aol.com
Subject: You'll Never Guess Who Ran Into Me Today- Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don't know anybody from N Sync, though I'd sure like to, and thus
this story is fiction and is not intended to imply anything about the true
sexuality of the celebrities mentioned or any personal knowledge about their
private lives. This story should not be read by anybody who is not legally
allowed to read it.. So if you're underage, leave right now!!

Author's Note: The story continues!! I don't have much to say here this
time around. If you have any comments or suggestions, e-mail me at
THRAWN5678@aol.com.  If ya want to be placed on the Never Guess Mailing
list, just tell me.

I want to thank everybody for their support and encouragement, especially
Jimmy, Kevin, Charlie, and ND. Thanx people, couldn't have done it without
your support!

Here are some good stories:
Jamie's Romance (a Justin story, and a darn good one too!!)
Millenium Love (a Brian Littrell story)
My Surprise Romance (a Lance story)
Lance in Shining Armour (duh)
Lance's Story (a Lance/JC story and a spinoff of Jamie's Romance)
and many more!! But I can't remember the names of them...I'll put them down
as I remember them...

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You'll Never Guess Who Ran Into Me Today
by Squall Thrawn

Chapter 4

The two men rode the service elevator to the 17th floor of the Adam's Mark
Hotel.  They stood in the elevator in silence, Ryan busy thinking about how
to avoid telling Lance that he was gay, and Lance trying to figure out this
feeling that he was experiencing.

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Lance stepped out first, and led
the way for Ryan. Standing near the elevators was a huge black man. Lance
greeted him.

"Hey, how are ya doin, Lonnie?" said Lance. "How lively has it been
tonight?"

"It's been pretty quiet so far," replied the huge bodyguard. "They're
watching some movie. Say, who's your friend?"

"Oh, this is Ryan. He's a friend of mine. I kinda ran into him tonight, and
invited him up so that we could catch up on what's been happening. We'll
probably order some food from room service."

"Pleased to meet you, Ryan," said Lonnie.

"Ryan, this is Lonnie, one of our bodyguards. He looks intimidating, but
really he's just a big teddy bear," said Lance.

"Umm, hi.." said Ryan awkwardly.

"Well, Lon, we're gonna go to my room now. I'll talk to ya later, big guy,"
Lance said. He led Ryan to his room. Lance got out his key and opened the
door. He gestured for Ryan to go in. Ryan went in the room, and Lance was
following him when a door opened across the hall, and JC entered the
hallway.

"Hey, Scoop, where have you been? You missed "Spaceballs," JC said with a
grin.  Then he noticed Ryan. "And who is this, Scoop?"

"His name is Ryan, and he's a friend. We were just going to talk and order
some room service." Lance gave JC a meaningful stare that said that he
would explain later. JC nodded.

"Well, I'll have to talk to ya later, Ryan. I've got to go to Chris's room
right now. It's a pleasure to meet you."

With that, JC went down the hallway, and knocked on another door. The door
opened, and JC went in.

Lance turned to Ryan. "Well, what do you want to do? Do you want to order
some food? Or maybe you want to take a shower?"

Ryan shyly said, "Well, I'd kinda like to take a shower, but I don't have
any spare clothes with me..."

"That's ok, Ryan," said Lance. "You can borrow some of mine. I'll send down
your clothes to be cleaned. And no, it's not a problem, so don't try to
refuse on that count."

Ryan blushed. "Thanks, Lance. I don't know how I can ever repay you for
this."

"No repayments are necessary. That's what friends are for, Ryan." Lance
went over to his dresser. "Here's some t-shirts, and a few pairs of
shorts. Just use what you want. The towels are in the bathroom."

"Thanks.. Well, I'll go take my shower now.." Ryan walked over to the
dresser and looked through it briefly, then picked out a black shirt and
some khaki shorts.

"Alright, Ryan," said Lance. Ryan went into the bathroom and locked the
door.  Lance then went to the door and opened it. JC was standing outside
the door with a questioning look on his face.

"So, what's the story, Scoop?" asked JC.

Lance sighed. "It's a long story. Basically, I was driving around
St. Louis, and I turned down a side street. And Ryan wasn't watching where
he was going, and he walked right into my path. And he didn't move, Josh!
It was as if he wanted to be hit!! I managed to stop just inches from
him. I was so scared!! I got out and tried to talk to him, but he fainted
at first. When he woke up, we talked a bit.  And he cried a lot. Josh,
something happened in his life that would actually want to make him end
it!!" Lance burst into tears.  "I felt so sorry for him!! And I felt
this..connection to him. I can't describe it. So I invited him up here so
that I could listen to him, and help him. Ryan seems like such a sweet guy,
Josh.  I want to help him sooo much."

JC had stood there, silently listening as Lance recounted Ryan's
plight. Finally, Lance had run out of words. "Wow. That's quite a story
there, Lance. You're being a good friend to Ryan. It sure sounds like he
needs one. Remember, we're here too. Any friend of yours is a friend of
ours."

"Thanks, Josh. I appreciate it. I've got to go back in there. He's taking a
shower right now, and I don't want him to get finished and find me
gone. I'm worried about him." Lance wiped his eyes, and then turned around
to go back in his room.

JC watched as Lance walked into his room and closed the door. JC sighed. He
noticed how Lance had spoke of Ryan. JC had a feeling that that Lance's
feelings about Ryan weren't merely the normal kind that exists between
friends. JC had wondered about Lance for years. He had never dated, at
least JC didn't think so.  But Lance had remained somewhat aloof, never
sharing much. Maybe Lance himself didn't really know which side he was
on. JC just hoped that Lance would come to him and the other guys when he
was ready.

------

Ryan stripped down, and got into the shower. He just wanted to refresh
himself after the long and tiring day's events. As he showered, he thought
about Lance.  'He is so hot!! But even if he was gay, which he probably
isn't, he wouldn't be interested in me. After all, he could have almost
anybody he wanted, and he sure wouldn't want somebody with as much
emotional baggage as I have. He'll probably hate me when I tell him that
I'm gay... If he does, I'm not sure if I can take any more of this...'

As Ryan continued washing off, he saw the scar left by his rather
spectacular biking accident a year ago. While biking with Greg, he had hit
a rock and had gone flying over the handlebars. He had gashed his arm
pretty badly on a sharp rock, and had hit his head. Greg had called an
ambulance for him. Ryan was drifting in and out of consciousness, and there
was only one thing he remembered: that of Greg holding him, and telling him
that everything would be alright. It was at that moment that Ryan had
fallen deeply and madly in love with Greg.

'Those were good times,' Ryan thought. 'I thought we'd always be at least
friends...' With that, Ryan began sobbing..

Just then, he heard a knock on the door.

"Hey, are you ok in there?" yelled Lance. "You've been in there for quite
some time."

"Yeah, I'm ok," Ryan lied. "I'll be right out."

Ryan turned off the shower and got out. He towelled off, and looked at the
clothes that Lance had lent him. He put on the black tanktop and the khaki
shorts, and opened the bathroom door. Lance was sitting in a chair, looking
out the window.

Ryan slowly walked towards Lance, who turned towards Ryan with a small
smile on his face.

'Wow,' Lance thought to himself. 'He's kinda hot. Wait, what did I just
say? Why am I feeling this way? I can't be attracted to guys.. and yet..'

"Earth to Lance, Earth to Lance, come in please," said Ryan, grinning.

"Oh, sorry, Ryan, I was thinking," said Lance, blushing.

"About what?"

" I was wondering about how anybody could hurt a guy as nice and cute as
you are," said Lance. 'Damn!! Did I say cute? It just slipped out! I hope
he isn't offended.' Lance looked over at Ryan for a reaction, but Ryan was
just staring down at the ground. Lance got up from his chair and put his
arm around Ryan's shoulders. He gently led Ryan over to the bed and sat him
down.

"Listen, Ryan, it's ok. You can tell me. I'm your friend, and I'll be here
no matter what."

With that, Ryan broke down and started crying.

"What's the matter, Ryan? Please, tell me!! I want to help you in any way I
can!!"

Ryan sniffed, and wiped his eyes. "That's what Greg said, just before
he..."  Ryan choked up again.

'What is it? What could it possibly be that would make his friend turn on
him so quickly?' thought Lance. "Please, Ryan, tell me. I'm your friend,
and I won't run out on you."

"Lance?"

"Yes, Ryan?"

"I'm... I'm gay..

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That's all for now!! Tell me what you think!!

Squall Thrawn
THRAWN5678@aol.com