Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 13:30:17 EST
From: Storywrightr@aol.com
Subject: All Grown Up--Part 16

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. It contains
characters who share names, descriptions, etc., with real-
life people (specifically members of the groups *N SYNC and
Backstreet Boys); however, this is all fantasy and in no
way is to insinuate anything about those people.

Thanks to everyone who has written me notes. It means a lot
to me--and I really appreciate the feedback. All comments
welcome. E-mail me at storywrightr@aol.com. Thanks.

Special thanks to Eriker--as always!


All Grown Up 16--New Friends


B: Hello?

JC: Hey Brian, it's JC.

B: Oh, hi, JC. I saw the ID come up, but thought maybe it
was Nick using your phone or something.

JC: No, it's me. [then quickly] That's okay, isn't it?

B: Yeah, sure, sure it's fine. . . . Um, I guess just a
surprise. Um, how ya been?

JC: Good, good. You?

B: Good. . . . Yeah, good.

JC: Great. . . . Um, Justin and Nick both told me about
your new music. They say you're doin' some great stuff.

B: Oh, that's nice of them. I hope so. I'm liking doing it.
I had a meeting up in San Francisco last week--some singers
I think may do some of them. And Justin may do one of them!

JC: I think I just "heard" you smile! [laughing]

B: Huh? Oh, yeah, gotcha--I guess so. [joining the
laughing]

JC: So that's great. . . . Hey! Congratulations on your
anniversary and all. That's cool man!

B: Oh, yeah, thanks. It's pretty important to me.

JC: Yeah, well, of course! I mean that's about as important
as things get, huh?

B: Yeah, for me. Well, along with my daughter . . .
[quietly after a pause] and her dad.

JC: [equally quiet] Yeah. [pause]

B: So, Nick says you spend a lot of time in your studio.

JC: Yeah, yeah--I love doin' that. I can spend hours in
there and never realize the day has gone by, you know? Huh!
Of course you know! You probably do that too!

B: Yeah, I can get pretty lost in it. I just sit at the
piano in my living room though. I mean I have some
computers attached to capture the stuff and to transcribe
it, but I'm just in the open air of my living room--most of
the time with the windows open to the beach.

JC: Wow--that must be so cool to be on the beach all the
time. And the natural sounds coming in while you are
working! I do sit at an old-fashioned--you know, REAL--
piano, but I'm closed in a sound-proof room. But if it
wasn't, I'd just hear the sound of traffic.

B: Yeah. [pause]

JC: Listen, Brian, um, the reason I called . . . [pause]

B: Yeah? I thought there might be a reason! [chuckling]

JC: [joining in the laughter] Oh yeah! I guess this does
seem strange, huh?

B: Maybe a little.

JC: Well, it's like this, um . . . [pause]

B: Maybe if we play twenty questions. Would that help?

JC: [laughing] No, now come on!

B: [seriously] Did you call to tell me to stop talking to
Nick? Or maybe Justin?

JC: [shocked] NO! No man! NO! Not that! Not either of
those!

B: Oh good. That's a relief.

JC: NO! Man--it's like just the opposite!

B: You want me TO talk to them?

JC: [laughing] No--I mean yes--and ME--me too!

B: You're losing me.

JC: [speaking quickly] Look, I'm not saying any of this
very well, but I guess I called to make peace--no that's
not right--well, I hope it's not right--I mean I hope that
THAT'S not needed. I don't think there's bad blood between
us. It just seems like there's no blood between us--nothing
there. And I guess I've finally realized that I'm probably
missing out on something pretty special. If my favorite two
men in the world both love you and think of you as a best
friend, I'd like to know you too. I'd like you to be MY
friend.

B: Oh!

JC: I'm being a jerk, huh? You must think I'm a total ass.

B: No! Not at all. I think I've just been given a really
nice compliment.

JC: Cool! Yeah, I meant it that way. I mean, you know, even
back in the old days, it always seemed you and me never had
a chance to become friends. Too often we'd end up on
different sides of things--or at least it seemed like that.
Or maybe it was the Nick and Justin thing. But you know
it's like two sets of twins marrying each other or
something--I mean, not that Justin and I are twins, but you
know? Like two sets of best friends came together. And
Justin and Nick have at least gotten friendly over the
years, but you and me, we never had a chance.

B: Yeah, I do see. There always seemed to be something in
the way huh? And for the past ten years, I doubt you've
thought about it with any regrets!

JC: Ouch. Guess I deserved that.

B: It wasn't meant to be a jab--just stating the facts.

JC: No, that's cool. And you're right. I wasn't even so
sure how I felt about you and Justin talking again. Not
that it's any of my business.

B: Wish some other people realized that!

JC: Oh yeah? Yeah, guess most people think everything is
their business--especially if they care about one or the
other of you. That was my thing. I just was really worried
about Justin. Nick says I think too much--he accuses you of
that too, you know! [laughing] Who knows, maybe we're kind
of alike!

B: I think that would be a compliment.

JC: Really? Thanks. That's nice of you to say. . . . Nick
also thinks I wasn't trusting Justin enough--and trusting
him to be strong enough to face whatever. I think I was
wrong about that.

B: Yeah. I think Justin is one of the strongest people I've
ever met. I think he could face just about anything--not
that I plan to give him any shit to face--I'm trying not to.

JC: Yeah, I can tell. I can tell that the love you guys had
is still there, isn't it?

B: Yeah. I'm like the luckiest man in the world, JC. I
mean, I fucked up last time! And here I have another
chance! Another chance to be happy!

JC: Hey, I think you had a lot of help fucking up last
time! Find me anyone innocent in that crowd!

B: Well, maybe one little baby girl . . .

JC: Yeah. But she's no baby anymore! She can take care of
herself.

B: Yeah, but we're trying to make it as easy as possible on
her.

JC: Good. . . . Hey, I don't want you to get mad at Justin
or anything--or to think that he's telling me things he
shouldn't--but he told me that both of you had some words
with your mother. I don't want to bring up a sore topic,
but I just want to say, I for one think you are a very good
man, Brian. You've really turned your life around. I'd be
very proud for you to think of me as a friend.

B: Wow, JC, I don't know what to say. That's really kind of
you. And I do think of you as a friend. Guess we've just
never taken it beyond kind of thinking of each other as
Justin's friend or Nick's friend or whatever. It'd be cool
to know you for you.

JC: Yeah! And gee look, we share a lot of interests. I'd
love to come to your place sometime and see your set up--
I really love the idea of being open to the sounds of the
ocean! And if you ever wanted to make a recording without
the background noises, you could come here and work in the
studio. Or just come and play some ball on the basketball
court we built! You still play?

B: Not so well--since the accident, my legs don't always
cooperate as much as I'd like--but I do okay!

JC: Oh, sorry--didn't mean to bring up--

B: Hey! No problem! Actually I always remind potential
opponents of my accident--keeps them off guard! [laughing]

JC: [big laugh] Ha! That's great! I want you on my team!

B: Deal! We'll challenge Nick and Justin!

JC: Yeah!

B: And I'd love to have you come over to the house. You
know, Justin and I've been talking about this musical I've
been doing some work on.

JC: Yeah, he thinks there's some good stuff there!

B: And we were talking about a little different slant to
the story and stuff--anyway--if you had some time, it'd be
very cool for you to hear some of it and tell us--or me--
what you think--if it works or whatever.

JC: Oh yeah! That'd be great! I'd love doing that!

B: Cool! We'll have to see how our styles go together--
maybe we could do something together.

JC: A collaboration! Very, very cool! I'd be honored!

B: As would I! . . . And I'd be honored to call you MY
friend, JC--not just Justin's friend or Nick's friend--or
lover or whatever.

JC: There you go Brian--how can people ever resist you? You
know exactly what to say and how to say it to really touch
a person. It would be MY honor to call you friend!

B: Cool. Hey! What day next week you free? We can spend
some time at the piano then walk down the beach to the pier
for lunch!

JC: Great! How 'bout Tuesday?

B: Perfect! Let's do it!

JC: Thanks Brian. I mean, really thanks--for giving me a
chance.

B: Same back at you man! I feel really lucky to get another
chance too.

JC: Kay. Tuesday! Bye Bri.

B: Bye JC.