Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 22:09:20 +0000
From: Angel1313@att.net
Subject: Open Your Eyes ch.7

Open Your Eyes
Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't know/own/have anything to do with *NSYNC. If you don't
like homosexual relationships, what are you doing in Nifty anyway? Feel
free to send me feedback, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you, and enjoy!
-Angel1313 ^_^

Note: This is from Lance's point of view, so it will be in first person.
I'm not really Lance, so if I get something about him totally wrong, you
can tell me, but, uh, I *do* have a literary license, you know!  =P

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	"Hey, Scoop, can I talk to you?" What's wrong, Chris? Have I been
spending too much time with your best friend?
	"Sure, c'mon in." I really don't feel like seeing you right
now. It's nine in the morning, and "Jurassic Park" ran late.
	"Listen, Lance, I don't really want to drag this out, so I'll just
cut to the chase." What is he talking about? I haven't done anything to
Chris. Hell, I've hardly talked to him for the past couple days. It must be
about Joey.
	"Well, Justin and JC both spoke to me yesterday, after they each
spoke to you. You know that I didn't watch a movie last night because I
asked Justin if he wanted to invite JC and he began to cry, saying that he
was going to break up with him? Once I got the story from him, he explained
that you had told him that it was a good idea." Uh-oh. I don't like where
he's going with this.
	"I would have just thought that you were trying to help," Would
have? That's not a good sign. "Except that I had talked to JC
earlier. After you went out to lunch with him. And I bet you already know
what he told me about Justin and Britney, and what you said." Great. He's
talked to them both.
	"Now, do you care to tell me *why* you're trying to break up JC and
Justin?" No, I don't. It's none of your business. Although, I am glad that
Joey didn't tell him yet. I thought best friends were supposed to tell each
other everything.
	"I'm surprised Joey hasn't said anything to you yet. I thought you
guys were closer than that." May as well play the "I'm replacing you as
Joey's best friend" card.
	"Look, all that Joey has said is that you've got your eye on
someone in the group." WHAT?!
	"He what?!" How could Joey do that to me?!
	"Oh, don't act all pissed off. He was happy, Lance. He's the only
reason I'm not beating the shit out of you right now." Like you could, old
man.
	"Why is he stopping you? He's made it pretty clear that he doesn't
care about my feelings for JC." Oops. I wasn't supposed to say that.
	"It's JC? You like JC?" No, dumbass, I just said that to throw you
off.
	"Yeah, and Joey supports him and Justin, even though he knows I
love JC."
	"What?! Have you *told* him that it's JC?"
	"Well, no, not exactly, but that's besides the point. JC and Justin
obviously don't belong together, or else they wouldn't have fought so much
when I talked to them." I know Joey knows. He couldn't possibly think that
it's this annoying old man or that airhead, Justin.
	Why does he look so angry all of a sudden? "I can't believe this!
Damn it, are you blind? Open your eyes, Lance. They're in love! And Joey!
God, can't you see it? He loves you, Lance. He fucking loves you and you
can't even see it! Stop chasing after something you'll never get. Stop
ruining their lives. Why don't you try to start living your own? There's a
whole world of opportunities for you, Scoop, if you'd only take a moment to
look for them."
	What? Joey... loves me? Wait, Chris, don't go! I didn't know, I
didn't know, I didn't know...

	How could I have been so stupid? I've been thinking about Joey
since Chris told me how he feels about me. How *didn't* I see it? How he
always goes out of his way to make sure I'm included. How he always offers
to go out clubbing with me. How he watched "Jurassic Park" even though he
likes "There's Something About Mary" better. It all adds up. How could I
messed up so much?
	And how do I feel about *him*? I know that I like spending time
with him, and that he makes me happy, but... Wait. Did I just say that he
makes me happy? I guess he does. In fact, every time I try to think of
something that I did that I enjoyed, it's always time that I spent with
Joey. But what about JC? I've loved him for so long, I don't know if I
*can* love Joey. But if I really love him, then why do I feel like I'm
obligated to do so? I guess it's `cause I've spent so much time on JC that
I forgot *why* I loved him. Loved? I guess I'm more over him then I
thought.
	Why did I love JC? He's nice, polite, and good looking, but he was
never interested in me. It was always, "Oh, that's nice, Lance. Say, have
you seen Curly?" He never wanted to spend time with me. I always had to
find a way to trap him. God, the more I think about this, the more pathetic
I feel. What was I doing? How could I not have seen JC's love for Justin?
Breaking them up wouldn't have helped. They'd get back together. In fact,
from what I hear, they've been having a "heart to heart" for the past
couple hours. They'll probably be closer *after* that then before I got
them to fight.
	*Sigh* I wish that I didn't have a conscience. This would be so
much easier if I didn't feel so guilty. And it's not just that I tried to
come between JC and Justin. It's that I wasn't aware of Joey's
feelings. Now I know I'll never be able to replace Chris as his best
friend. I'm obviously a lousy friend, and a bad person in general.
	I guess I'll have to apologize to JC and Justin. If they'll talk to
me, that is. Or maybe they didn't realize what I was trying to do. Maybe we
can forget that this whole thing ever happened. I'll just show my support
for them from now on. But as for Joey...
	What? Who's at my door now? I don't think Chris is speaking to me,
and JC and Justin are probably still working things out.
	"Hey, Lance. Can I come in?" Oh, Joey. Of course!
	"Yes, please do." I'm so nervous right now, I don't know what to
do. Did Chris tell him about me and JC? Did he tell him that I know he
loves me? Oh God... I guess I'll just have to wait for him to start
talking.
	"So, what's up, Scoop? Chris is in a pissy mood, so I had to get
out of there. And JC an' Justin are fighting or something. It's strange, I
don't know what brought that on. They were getting along so well, and
they're so into each other and stuff." I know, Joey. I know. I'm sorry.
	"Joey, I'm sorry." I just had to say it. Just looking into his
beautiful doe-eyes is enough to make me regret that I've ignored his
feelings for so long. And my own.
	"Sorry? What for?" I bet that beautiful smile will disappear after
I tell you.
	"I tried to break up JC and Justin. No, wait, let me finish. I
thought that I was in love with JC. And maybe I was. But if I ever was in
love with him, it was a *long* time ago. I just didn't want to let go. I
thought he'd be mine if I could ruin things between him and Justin, but
Chris made me realize that I never had a chance. JC's heart has belonged to
Justin since the day those two met. But I didn't see that. I was so
determined to get JC that I ignored how I was actually feeling. About you."
Oh my God, I can't believe I said that. Do I love Joey? Have I ever *not*
loved Joey?
	"I-I can't believe this. It's all pretty sudden. But... Wait, what
did you say? How do you feel about me?" It's all I can do not to laugh
right now. The look on his face when he realized what I said was just
priceless!
	"I love you, Joey. Recently you've been the only good thing in my
life. It took Chris to make me see, but I *do* have so many opportunities
to be happy and they all revolve around you." I can't believe I said that!
Is he even going to want me after I told him about JC? And that I tried to
come between JC and Justin? I should've kept my mouth shut. Then at least
he wouldn't know what a bad person I am.
	"I love you, too, Scoop. I can't believe this is happening." Aw,
he's so cute when he looks all shocked. Wait, did he say that he loves me
too? What's happening? Are we going to get... together?
	"So, what comes next, Joey?" I can't believe I'm blushing. Oh, he
knows it, too. But I forgive him for laughing `cause he's got such a warm
smile.
	"I guess I ask you to be my boyfriend. What do you say?" OH MY
GOD!!!
	"YES!" Oops, I should stick to yelling in my head. "I, uh, mean,
sure Joe. I'd like that." Oh, nice save! He probably doesn't think you're
too crazy now.
	"Great! I can't believe we're together, Lance. I've loved you for
so long..." Have you? God, how long have I been hurting you, Joe?
	"I'm so sorry that I didn't realize any of this earlier. I'm so
sorry, Joey." Oh, good, start to cry. Aw, but he's holding me, so I guess
it's okay.
	"Hey, it's all right. I was happy as long as you were
happy. Besides, you were worth the wait." If he doesn't be quiet, I'm never
going to stop crying! The boy is just too sweet!
	"I love you, Joey." I really do. I really, really do.
	"And I love you." How did I not fall for those beautiful eyes
sooner? Maybe I did.
	"Thank you, Joey. For everything." I mean it.
	"It's my pleasure." And now I finally understand why you say
that. It's the truth.

*OWARI*

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Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry this is out so late! I had completely forgotten
about "OYE." Thank you so much, Red! If you hadn't bugged me about
this... Anyway, that's the end ("owari" is the equivilent of "the end" in
Japanese... so I'm into anime... but if I wasn't, then I would've never
discovered yaoi and therefore slash, so it's a good thing, I hope ^_^) and
I don't have an epilogue planned or anything, but if you think I should
have one, I suppose I could try to whip one up. Well, I hope you liked it!
-Angel ^_^