Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 14:50:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: "[iso-8859-1] Clive" <bigc79_uk@yahoo.com>
Subject: First Impression 4

Comments:-
What  can I say I don't want to make this section long so I am just going to
put  some name up to say thanks for reading and writing me on not just story
but   Grand   Encounter   also...   Radu,   Ricky,   Kyle,  Britain,  Billy,
Billy_Burrew(different  one  to  Billy!),  Mike, Tonny, Yuli, Frank, Phantom
(thanks  for  the B'day pressie), Shaun, Scott, Kevin, Patrick, Si, kewlboy,
James,  Gr8oneMikeH,  Lulu, Tam and all those others that have written to me
about  First Impression. THANKYOU. Finally once again I would appreciate any
comments (good or bad) to: bigc79_uk@yahoo.com Thanks and hope you enjoy the
story :)

Disclaimer:-
This story is fiction and does not imply anything about the group * Nsync or
any other person involved in full or in part. If you are under the legal age
to  read  such  material  in  your area please leave immediately. The author
takes  no  responsibility  for  anyone's  actions  based  upon  this work of
fiction.

Previously:-
                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joey looked over at Michael and a small smile began to form on his face, "No
Mike,  ...  we  are  the  ones who should apologise for being such asses. We
didn't think what consequences could arise from a stupid joke like that. And
I  know  that  I speak on behalf of the others by saying I am truly sorry to
hear about your loss."

Michael's  eyes  drew  in  quizzically and then he realised that he had even
with all he efforts let slip about the loss of that someone that he was fond
of.

"I  know that we all feel sorry for our behaviour and I am sure that I speak
for  the  others  also  when I ask you to come and be our VIP at our concert
tonight.  And  I  know  Josh there wants you to come." Justin said this with
total  and utter composure but the rest of the guys just burst into laughter
at what Justin had said.

JC shot that same look in Justin's direction but only receive the finger and
then  looked  back to wards Michael who by now had shed his sad and low face
in place for a small but definate smile and glimmer in his eye.

"I  would  be delighted to accept your invitation" Michael returned Justin's
proposed    suggestion    but   never   broke   eye   contact   with   Josh.

                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                              First Impression
                           Chapter Four: Feelings
                                  By Clive

It  wasn't  a  long  trip  to the Arena from the hotel, but still Justin had
assured  Michael  that it was most definitely necessary to take the car from
the  hotel.  All  six  of  the  young men rode down the elevator towards the
basement level and all the while Michael kept asking himself what were these
feeling he was having for Josh...

The  Elevator reached the garage level and the doors slowly opened to expose
the  dimly  lit  underground car park. Slowly one by one the five members of
Nsync  left  the  elevator  followed  closely behind by Michael (not knowing
where  the car that was going to pick them up was he thought it best to take
back  point).  Chris  lead  up  front  with only JC, Lance and Joey directly
behind  him  because by now Justin had fallen into step with Michael to keep
him company.

Michael  keep  close  to  the  group  in  front  and didn't even acknowledge
Justin's  appearance  beside him, not that he was being rude but simply that
he  was  too  deep  in concentration trying to figure out where his life was
leading  him...  after  all  over the last few months his life had a taken a
complete  u-turn  and  he  was  heading in a direction on a path that he had
never  planned on taking... as he stayed deep in mind numbing thought Justin
looked  over  and as Michael had done earlier and he attempted to read where
Michael  was  coming  from... why was he so distant one moment and then open
the next. Both Michael and Justin where jolted out of their though when they
came  colliding  into  contact with Joey and Lance, and only just missing JC
slender form by a short distance.

"Watch it you two freaks..." Joey barked at the two stragglers

Neither  of  them looked like they were going to air an apology so Joey just
turned  and  made  a  b-line for the waiting car. As Joey almost stormed off
Michael  shifted  his weight so that he was now looking Justin directly face
on.

"What  pissed  him off so much... I mean we only bumped into him and he goes
all  awol...  I  mean  what's  up  with that?" Michael questioned Justin who
simply shrugged it off and explained that if he wanted to get any info on or
about  Joey  he was going to have to ask Chris... the two of them were water
tight... like a ducks arse!

Michael  and  Justin  joined  the  others in the group just as the reached a
heavy looking dark tinted windowed Jeep. Michael had thought to himself that
he  would have been taking a trip in one of the limos that he always thought
that  VIP's  always travelled around in, but obviously not these guys... but
then that was kinda cool in its own way. As JC had promised the ride over to
the  Arena  was uneventful... in fact it took hardly any time at all, but as
they arrived at the entrance to the staff side of the arena Michael suddenly
realised  why they had insisted in taking the vehicle instead of walking. It
was  like  a zoo at feeding time, there were teenage girls and the odd young
male  standing  idly  around  but as soon as the Jeep started to pull up the
hoards  of  teenagers  turned  in  to a wild pack of animals, beating at the
windows  and  in  an almost hysterical manner trying to get the attention of
the  occupants.  As  Michael watched on he couldn't help wondering if it was
possible  for  the  people  outside  the Jeep to see in. Justin glanced over
towards  Michaels direction to see if he was handling the situation alright,
after  all  it  could become over powering some times knowing that there are
crazed driven, screaming adolescents battling to make their way to where you
are  and  all  that  divided  them  from  crowds was a thin door... Justin's
thoughts  were  again  cut short as he saw what he thought was the beginning
of...  yes  the  beginning of laughter emanating from Michael. Curiosity got
the better of Justin and he had to know what Michael found so, so, funny.

Michael  proceeded  to  explain  to the group the reason for his inquisitive
bash  of  laughter  and  then  to  ease  their  concern  with regards to his
sanity...  although it took quite some convincing with Chris... The show was
spectacular  to  say the least, Michael found himself captivated through out
the  whole  show,  but  mostly  he  found  his  gaze  held  on one member in
particular.  Justin  noticed this "wandering eye" that Michael had developed
for one of his band mates and couldn't help feel something that he had never
felt  before.  In  fact Justin found himself so lost for the third time that
day  in  thought  that  he  almost missed his entrance to a verse but it was
seemingly  unapparent to the crowd of fans. The show ended in a dramatic set
of  fireworks way above the arena... and again Michael began to remember the
sight  of the lights and the overall effort put in to the production, he was
to  say a word, speechless and in awe to the skill involved in mounting this
sort of a performance, night after night after night.

                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As  the teens and crowds started to dissipate from the arena Michael started
to  make  his way over to the security station to eventually make his way to
the  guys dressing rooms. Surprisingly he met little effort to stop him from
getting  backstage  and  when  he  made it to the green room he could hear a
heated discussion-taking place behind the thin plywood door.

"Fuck  Just... you almost missed your verse for Christ sake... what were you
thinking?"  Michael  was attempting to make out the voice of the accuser but
was having his hearing impaired by the door in his way.

"Lay  off  him... we all make mistakes and I don't that the people that were
paying  to  listen to us noticed, so sit back, kick it and relax!" This time
Michael  knew  that  it was Lance who was being the intimidator... after all
his low voice would have been impossible to confuse with say Chris'.

At  this point Michael decided to make his presence known and lightly rapped
on  the  door and before waiting for a reply pushed the door ajar and titled
his  head  in. It was apparent now that it was JC that had judged Justin and
he could see that Justin held his head low in defeat.

"Well  I thought you sang angelically my friend," Michael began to speak and
as  the  words finished forming all the room had turned round to see Michael
beaming  his  smile  into  the room, "and on top of that I didn't notice you
make  a  mistake... although Chris was out by a sixth in Sailing... and Joey
was  off  pitch,  but  only slightly in Digital GetDown." And as Michael was
speaking  he  made mental note to explain to Chris and Joey that he was only
doing  this  to  ease the pressure on poor Justin... but he was right and he
knew it.

"I was not off thank you very much," Joey looked around the room and now all
the  others,  including  Chris were beaming just like Michael was, "O.K so I
might  have been a incy wincy bit off... but no one could have heard it" and
as he said that Justin burst in to laughter but he wasn't alone. The rest of
the room slowly followed suit when the realisation that in fact at least one
person had heard the 'slight' off key mistakes.

"You  care  to  fill us in how you know so much about music my boy?" JC said
try to put on his best fatherly tone.

"Well  to  cut  a long story short I studied it back home. Any waz I guess I
will  see  you  guys later I should let you do your thang." Michael finished
off  with a twang to his voice, which again sent Justin in hysterics... 'God
that  boy  cracks up at anything' Michael thought to himself as he raised an
eyebrow and shook his head at the same time.

"No  stay..."  JC  cut  in forcing the room to silence, "I mean... you don't
have  to go, you can ride back with us... we... weren't not going to be long
and I was kinda wondering,"

"We..." Chris was the one that cut in this time.

"We..."  JC  said emphasising it this time, "were wondering if you wanted to
come out for a meal after the show, I mean well now. That is if you want"

Michaels'  smile grew wider thinking about how nervous JC seemed and yet how
eager  he  was  to get him to come to dinner. And he liked it; maybe Michael
wasn't the only one who was having these 'feelings'.

                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As  with the concert, dinner went by almost perfectly... almost. Michael did
feel  like  he was put on the spot at one point of the evening when they all
decided  to  team  up on him and try to find out why he was in the States...
after  all  he had admitted earlier that he may stay for some time, maybe he
was  working  on  something over here, but he wouldn't spill. As the evening
closed  to an end Michael reflected back on the what had transpired over the
last 24 hours and found himself almost as a non-believer, he had to admit it
that  if  he  were to tell some of his friends back home that he had meet up
with one of the most talented boy bands (not that many people would know who
they were in the UK) they would probably put it off as one of his fancy wild
imagination  trips.  But  it  was  all  true,  wasn't it? He had to question
himself,  in  all  honesty  he wouldn't believe it if one of his friends had
told  him.  But  then saying that he didn't have many friends left not since
the day he found out about...

"Dip shit, you going to get a move on" Joey jovially rebutted.

"Don't  get  your  knickers in a twist!" Michael responded sending the group
into  a  fit  of  hysterics,  after  all  the look on Joey's face was almost
priceless.  Especially  when  he  explained that he didn't get it, he didn't
wear knickers!

And  as the evening drew to an end, the six young men made their way back to
the  hotel  and soon found their rooms one by one. Michael stepped up to his
door  and  as  he  began  to  open  it he was shocked from behind by someone
placing  their  hand on his shoulder. Michael spun round on his heal to face
the person that had near shocked him.

"Christ  JC..."  Michael began in a state sounding out of breath, in fact it
sounded like he had just run a marathon.

"Mike...  erm  Michael,  I was wondering if we could talk," JC stood waiting
for  an answer gazing in to the deep pools that were Michaels eyes hoping to
see  something  there  that  he knew he felt. "I suppose you don't feel like
talking." This time JC seemed disheartened and broken.

Michael  snapped  out  of  his  trance  as  JC shifted his gaze away and the
contact  with those blue idyllic eyes was lost. It was only now that Michael
noticed  that  he had spaced out and that JC seemed... some what dishevelled
and  almost rejected... "I'm sorry Josh, what did you say?" Michael asked in
a caring and enduring tone

"I...  don't  worry...  we  can talk some other time." Was all JC said as he
started  to  skulk  off towards the end door where the rest of the guys were
staying.

"Josh,  please." was all Michael need say. As the words reached JC they were
almost  hypnotic, JC's feed felt heavy and he felt the need to turn and move
close towards the other... but how could he, they were so different. Weren't
they?

JC  didn't turn he just felt his heart fall and he slowly broke down quietly
feeling the need to be held, to hold, and to be loved. Of course he couldn't
let  anyone in the group see him like this so he turned with slow deliberate
gate  to his stance not looking up to the eyes of the man in front of him he
moved forward once again. As he reached to Michael he slowly lifted his eyes
to meet those pools of pure affection again.

"Josh..." was all Michael said before he was silenced by JC's lips.


         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

             Finally Contact info :) You can reach me by mail:
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