Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2000 21:59:34 EST
From: SweetAngel472023@aol.com
Subject: 'A Second Chance' Chapter 3

Here's the 3rd Chapter of my story. Happy New Year!

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: The usual stuff applies. This is a work of fiction, the product
of my over active imagination. I am not implying anything about the sexuality
of the members of the two bands. And if you are underage or find the thought
of two men in love and/or having sex repulsive, please leave.

    Here is the third Chapter of 'A second Chance'. I still haven't heard
anything from my readers (and I do hope that someone is actually reading
this). So if you are, just let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate
that. Thanx.
    Here's a funny thought: I actually discovered today that I still have a
copy of the first Backstreet Boys CD. I'm listening to it right now even
though that's usually not my kind of music.
    Anyways...enjoy!

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    Nick had gone straight to his room as soon as he had arrived home. He
didn't speak to anyone and even refused to come down for dinner. Finally, his
parents didn't know what to do anymore. What was wrong with their son? In
total despair, Mrs. Carter decided to call Brian. As Nick's best friend he
might know what was going on. But no such luck. Even though Brian had noticed
that Nick seemed absent and lost in thought, he had decided not to ask and as
a result, he could only guess what was upsetting his friend. He promised to
come over and talk to Nick right away.

    Britney Spears was very upset with her boyfriend. She knew, being in the
same business, that it was hard to keep promises, but this time Justin had
taken it too far. This was supposed to be their first Christmas together. Of
course she'd been disappointed when she found out that Justin would have to
be in New York for an interview on Christmas Day. But he had promised to come
by her house as soon as he got back. His plane had landed two hours ago and
still no sign of Justin. She had tried calling him, but his cell phone was
turned off and no one was picking up at his house. Frustrated she plopped
down on the couch and watched a rerun of the Christmas special on MTV. Soon
she was asleep.
    The ringing of the phone woke her up. She picked it up and pressed the
'phone' button. An all too familiar voice greeted her.
    "I'm so sorry. I didn't forget, but I have so much on my mind.  I had to
think some stuff through."
    "Justin Randall Timberlake, you screwed up big time. This better be
good." Britney shot back.
    "You have every right to be upset, but this is something very important.
You'll see in a few minutes. I'm on my way to your house." Justin made no
effort to console his girlfriend. And why bother? She wouldn't be his
girlfriend for very long. After what had happened at the MTV studio, he
couldn't deny it anymore. Even though he had tried to convince himself of the
opposite, he now knew for sure: he was gay. After he had finally accepted
that fact he decided to come clean right away. Everyone should know. And the
first one on his list was Britney. She wasn't only the person most likely to
understand, she also the one who most deserved to know.
    As Justin turned the corner, Britney's house came into view. Tears shot
into his eyes at the prospect of revealing his true self for the first time
ever. He parked the car in the driveway and tried to calm down. 'This is it,'
he murmured to himself as he left the car, 'this is it.' Britney was already
standing in the doorway and as he saw her sweetie crying, she knew that it
was serious. Even though she had been looking forward to giving him a piece
of her mind, at the sight of Justin all her anger dissolved, leaving her
wondering what was going on.

    "Nick, please open the door. It's me, Brian. You have to tell me what
happened. You know that you can trust me, I'll try and help you." Brian had
been knocking at Nick's bedroom door and begging to be let in for at least
fifteen minutes now. He could hear his friend crying in there and he knew
that something must've happened between Justin and Nick. He had noticed
Justin leaving the room shortly after Nick, and he had seen the looks on
their faces when they had returned a while later. If only Nick would open the
door so Brian could at least try and comfort him. He leaned against the wall,
close to tears himself. Why was Nick behaving like this? Suddenly, the door
opened and Nick peeked out.
    "Brian? I'm sorry. Come in. I need to talk to you." Nick's voice was
barely audible, a mere whisper. It almost scared Brian. He entered the room
and sat down on the bed.
    "Will you tell me what happened?" he asked. Nick sighed.
    "If I ever had a chance with Justin, I screwed it up today." He stated.
Then he started to sob again. Brian took him in his arms and listened
intently as Nick related his sad tale.

    Britney led a sobbing Justin into the living room and they sat down on
the couch. She put he TV on mute.  It was still set on the MTV rerun, and as
Justin saw scenes from the interview, just minutes before that kiss, he broke
down in Britney's arms. She comforted him for a while, but as he wouldn't
calm down, her curiosity took over. She held him at arm's length and searched
his handsome face for a clue. But all she saw was confusion and fear.
    "Ok baby. Enough already. I don't wanna seem heartless, but the suspense
is killing me. Spit it out." Silence. Then, in a quiet and toneless voice,
came Justin's explanation.
    "I'm gay." After it was finally out, he felt surprisingly calm, almost
too calm. Leaning back he waited for Britney's response.
    "O god. I knew something has been bothering you for the past month or so.
So that's it? You're gay? How'd you find out?" She had almost suspected it,
yet she was still sad that this relationship was over. She had been convinced
that Justin was the one. They had so much in common, they were so compatible.
She sighed.
    "How did I find out? I kissed Nick Carter." He almost smiled at the
expression on Britney's face.
    "You what?  You and the cute Backstreet Boy? You never cease to amaze me.
C'mon, I want details. How did that happen?"  Justin felt a huge weight
lifting.  She was taking it better than he could've hoped for, and he was
finally able to relax.
    "Well, I don't actually remember who was kissing who, or even who started
it. But I definitely know that I liked it." Yes, it did feel good to finally
talk about those feelings. He finally felt whole. Now if only he could work
things out with Nick...

    "And then we were kissing." A weak smile flashed over Nick's face as he
recalled that moment. The smile grew into laughter as he saw the look of
horror on Brian's face.
    "You're just too much. You kissed him? How did he react?" Brian managed
to ask.
    "Well, that's the problem. At first it felt like he was enjoying it too,
but then pulled away, and he looked so disgusted. I think he hates me now.
How could I to this?" the smile was gone from his face and replaced by tears
that were welling up in his eyes again.
    "And the worst thing is that I really like him. And now I know for sure
that he's straight, or he wouldn't have run off like that." Nick let himself
fall back on his bed and for a second he wished he'd never have to get up
again.
    "Maybe he was just surprised. You never know. You could still have a
chance, all you have to do is talk to him." Brian tried to console
    "How am is supposed to ever face him again?" Nick asked, and for once,
Brian didn't have an answer.
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    Ok, that's it folks. The latest Chapter. Hope you liked it. The next one
won't be out till the next year, because I'm really busy this weekend, but
I'll try to get it done as soon as possible.  In the meantime: e-mail me! I'd
hate to sound like I'm begging for feedback, but I really need to know what
you think of the story so far.
Have a Happy New Year!
j