Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 21:27:34 -0700 From: Terrie P Stentz <divakitt@juno.com> Subject: Justin's Secrets chapter 7 Sorry for the semi-boring chapter. The next one will be out tomorrow or the next day. Scouts honor! Quick French lesson, because I use some in this chapter: Je regardais la tele = I was watching TV Je sais = I know Quelle program = what program Disclaimer: This story is in no way meant to portray the lives or *NSYNC or anyone else mentioned herein. I do not claim to know *NSYNC or anything about their sexual preferences. If you are offended by this type of material, please leave now. If you are too young to be reading this type of material, you can also leave . . . or don't get caught. Please send questions, comments, criticism, and complaints to DivaKitT@juno.com. Thank you and enjoy. * * * "Everyone ready to go?" Lance asked the group, smiling brightly. * * * The group piled into two separate cars; Joey and Chris in Joey's SUV and the others (Britney, Angelique, Justin, JC, and Lance) in Lance's four runner. Lance drove with Britney riding shot gun and the other three sitting in the back. "So, Angel, when was the last time you went to Disney? Britney asked curiously. "I think it was about nine or ten years ago," Angelique replied. "Wow. It's so much different now," Britney declared. "Yeah, there's a lot of new stuff to see. Maybe we should split up into smaller groups . . . cover more distance," JC suggested. "Sounds like a good idea to me," Lance said smirking. "So, how do you guys wanna go about this?" "Well, Chris and Joey should have no problem going off on their own," Justin said. "True," Lance agreed. "Well, Angel, why don't you and I go together. I have so many things that I want to tell you about," Britney chattered. "Sure, Brit. That sounds great," Angelique replied. "So, that leaves us three guys right?" Lance asked with a smirk. He caught Angelique's eye in the review mirror, and saw her panic. "Actually, maybe we should all stick together. It's a big park, how are we going to be able to find each other later?" Angelique argued, trying to keep Lance away from Justin. "We can figure out a place to meet. You'd be surprised how well we all know this place. We come here all the time. Besides, I can show you where the stage for my concert is," Britney informed Angel, happily. Lance looked into his mirror again, to find Angelique glaring at him. He raised an eyebrow playfully. "You're doing a concert here Brit?" Justin spoke up. "Yeah, the day after tomorrow. I'm stuck with Darren all day," she sighed. "You say that like you don't enjoy it," Justin laughed. "Oh, you know I'm playing!" Britney laughed. "You're going to be at our concert right, Brit?" JC asked. "I wouldn't miss it," she replied with a bright smile. They pulled into the parking lot a few short minutes later, walking slowly towards the entrance, pushing each other around and laughing at just about everything. Joey and Chris were waiting at the entrance for everyone. "Took you guys long enough," Joey teased. "We came up with a plan," Lance announced as the group walked up. "We're splitting up. That way everyone can do their own thing, and we'll meet back here in about three hours. Then, we can decide what to do next." Joey shrugged. "So, me and Joey are a group right?" Chris spoke up. Lance nodded. "And Britney and Angel, and me and JC and Justin," Lance informed them. "You girls sure you don't want to go with us?" Joey asked batting his eyelashes flirtatiously. Britney and Angelique looked at each other. "Maybe for a little while," Angel spoke up. Joey smiled. "Anyway! I'm ready to go guys," JC said bouncing up and down on his toes hyperly. "Alright already. Let's go before JC explodes," Justin laughed. "Okay. Back here in four hours," Lance reiterated. With that the group walked into the park, the two smaller groups going separate directions. * * * "He's cute," Lance muttered watching a guy walk by with his girlfriend. "How come all the cute guys have to be straight?" Lance asked rhetorically. JC and Justin looked at him a moment before cracking up. "What?!" Lance asked indignantly. "It's true. Name one cute guy you know who is bi or gay and not taken." The other two thought for a moment. Then, Justin smiled widely. "Kevin and Brian aren't taken," Justin laughed, ducking out from under Lance's attempted slap. But JC caught him in a headlock. "Yes, they are, Curly. Not only are they straight, they're engaged," JC remarked with a laugh. "Oh come on! You really believe their straight! Look at them. The tight clothes . . . the music . . . the cheesy shows. Personally, I think this whole marriage thing is a sham! They're just trying to cover up the fact that they have BOY TOYS!!!" Justin could barely talk he was laughing so hard. JC proceeded to give Justin a rough noogie, still holding him tightly. "Well, a lot of people would say the same thing about you two," Lance joked, but the other two stopped mid-noogie, jaws practically hitting the pavement. Neither one noticed the other's reaction, the only thing on their minds were the few unthoughtful words that Lance had uttered. Lance continued walking, smiling to himself. Those two were hilarious. It was so obvious that they liked each other, but they were so busy making sure no one "figured them out" that they couldn't "figure it out" for themselves! Lance turned around to face them. "Well, you know it's true. How many people think we're all gay?" Lance asked a tone of mocking tainting the otherwise serious question. Justin pulled himself together first, and gave Lance a cheesy smile. "I thought the last census named you the gay one," Justin remarked with a teasing smile. Lance, caught a little off guard simply stared at him for a moment before sobering up. "Well," he said seriously. "they were wrong." Justin couldn't hold back a giggle. "Who's the gay one then, Joey? It's got to be the fruity hair," Justin cackled. "I think you're the gay one, Curly," JC laughed, grabbing his friend around the neck again. "The 'fro and those huge rocks in your ears and all those ass-ess-o-rize you keep in your dresser." Justin simply stood there, letting JC tease him. How had they even come onto a topic like this? Justin was close to tears. Why were they talking about this? Lance. Damn him. He was always the one bringing this stuff up. First his crush on JC and now that there are no cute guys available. How the hell had he figured this all out? Lance watched the tears brimming in his friends eyes and realized that he'd taken things a little too far. He walked over and pulled JC off Justin's back, putting his arms around Justin, he pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Justin. We just got carried away is all. I didn't mean to upset you. I'll stop, okay?" Lance whispered quietly into Justin's ear. He felt Justin nod his head slightly. Justin reached a hand up, between their bodies, to wipe the unshed tears from his crystal blue eyes. "We cool?" Lance asked softly, pulling back a little and looking into Justin's eyes. Justin nodded slightly, giving a small smile. "Yeah, we're cool," he replied. Lance smiled at him brightly. Letting go, but leaving one arm around Justin's shoulders. "J, you okay?" JC asked his voice full of concern. He threw an arm around his best friend's shoulder. "What's wrong?" "Nothing," Justin lied. "I think I just got something in my eye." Justin proceeded to rub his eye, proving his point. JC rolled his eyes, obviously buying the lie when he scolded Justin for rubbing his eye. "Don't rub it if there's something in there. Lemme see," JC commanded. Justin promptly swatted his hand away, but JC persisted, taking ahold of Justin's hand and placing his other hand on Justin's cheek. "Stop, Josh, it's gone really," Justin swore. "Are you sure?" JC asked. JC looked at him for a second, standing no more than a few inches away, his thumb rubbing softly across Justin's cheek . . . "It's fine," Justin whispered, his voice unsteady, having JC so close. Lance rolled his eyes. What the hell was wrong with these two?! How much pushing was this going to take? He began walking away, leaving the two standing there. Lance looked at his watch. They still had another hour and a half to burn. What the hell were they going to do for another hour and a half? Lance couldn't help them if they wouldn't help themselves. * * * After the first two hours, the girls broke away from Joey and Chris. They hadn't seen each other in a little over a year, and they had a lot to talk about. The topic on Angelique's mind just happened to be Justin. "Lance knows about Justin," Angel said after a few minutes of them walking in silence. "He does?" Britney asked sounding unsurprised. "I figured he would." "Well, I did too, but he won't just be quiet about it! He's . . . provoking Justin," Angelique fumed. "What do you mean?" Britney inquired looking over at her angry friend. "He keeps . . . mentioning it. I don't know what he's doing, but I can see the wheels turning every time he looks at Justin . . . and JC too. He knows about Justin's feelings, so, I think he's bothering JC about it too, but I know he hasn't said anything about it directly. I made him swear not too, but he's doing everything he can to get around his promise without actually breaking it," Angelique growled. Britney couldn't help but laugh. "Angel, you're getting way too worked up," Britney giggled. "I don't see the problem. Who cares if Lance is playing matchmaker? Someone should. It is soo obvious that those two like each other." Angelique stopped and looked at her friend. "You really think so?" she asked softly. Britney stopped walking and turned around to face her friend. "Yeah, I really do," she said after a moment. Britney gave her friend a wide smile and put an arm around her shoulder. "Come on, let's go have some fun. We're running out of time." * * * The three groups met back at the entrance a few hours later. "You guys have fun?" Joey asked everyone. Everyone responded positively, saying it had been a lot of fun and that it was too bad they only had the short amount of time. Justin and JC, on the other hand, were basically sleeping standing up. Justin was resting his head on JC's shoulder, with his arm around JC's waist, and his hand tucked sleepily into JC's back pocket. While JC rested his head on Justin's soft, curly hair, with his arm thrown gently around Justin's shoulders, in a protective, loving gesture. "So, what does everyone want to do now?" JC asked unconsciously rubbing a hand across Justin's back. "I want to go to clubbin'." "I want to go home." Chris and Justin spoke at the same time. "Well, as much fun as it would be to go clubbin with y'all, I have to be up early tomorrow for rehearsals," Britney said with a sigh. "I think I'm gonna have to agree with Justin and Britney," JC threw in. "It's been a long day." "Yeah, me too," Lance spoke up. "Okay, Joe, I guess it's you and me," Chris said, turning to his friend. Joey shrugged. "Alright, then, I guess we're going to get going," Lance announced. Everyone said their good byes, and went their separate ways. Chris and Joey walking to their car and the other five walking tiredly to Lance's. The drive was not very long, only about twenty minutes or so, but somehow in the span of about five minutes the car grew extremely quiet. Britney had fallen asleep on her arm which she was resting on the windowsill. Angelique was staring blankly out the window, watching the flashing lights of Orlando's nightlife zoom past. And well . . . Justin and JC . . . Justin and JC had fallen asleep too. Justin was leaning his head on JC's shoulder again while JC was resting his head on Justin's. JC had his arm resting on the back of the seat and was unconsciously toying with Justin's curls as he slept. Wrapping them and unwrapping them slowly around his fingers. Justin had wriggled tightly into JC's embrace, burying his face in JC's warm shirt. Lance glanced at them in his rear view mirror and he couldn't help but smile. "I know you're trying help, but maybe you should just let them figure it out for themselves," Angel's voice floated quietly to the front of the car. "You know, I was thinking that exact same thing today," Lance sighed. "I can't help them if they can't help themselves." He saw looked in his mirror and saw Angelique nod her head, so he continued. "I mean, it's there, and it's obvious to all of us who know them, but if they can't see it, nothing can make them." Angelique nodded again and went back to staring out the window. They pulled up to the house a few minutes later. Lance turned off the car and reached over to wake Britney up. "Hey, doll. We're back at Justin's. You ought to get home and get some sleep," Lance whispered with a soft smile. Britney nodded her head and smiled groggily, fishing her keys out of her pocket as she climbed out of the car. Lance reached back and shook JC lightly, trying to wake him up without waking Justin up. After a moment, JC responded, by opening his eyes and looking around. "We're home," Lance told him quietly. "You get to wake Justin up." JC nodded and looked down at his friend who was still curled up against him. JC unbuckled his seat belt, then reached around to unbuckle Justin's before attempting to wake his friend up. "Justin," he said, softly shaking his friend. "Josh," Justin mumbled curling up against JC tighter. JC laughed. "Hey, Justin. We need to get you in the house. You can sleep in your own comfortable bed," JC coaxed. "I'm comfy right here," Justin murmured adorably. He nuzzled his face into JC's chest. JC laughed again. "Well, I can't sleep sitting up," JC argued. "You always do," Justin yawned. "Am I going to have to drag you inside?" JC asked. "You could carry me," Justin suggested, stretching out so he was now laying on JC's lap. JC sighed, looking down at his best friend asleep on his lap. 'Justin could be extremely cute sometimes,' JC thought to himself. 'Most of the time.' JC realized that he was not going to get Justin up of his own will. So, he scooted out from under Justin, who immediately whined about his comfy pillow going away. He leaned over Justin, placing his hands under Justin's arms and pulling him into a sitting position. He grabbed his friend under the knees and behind the back and lifted him out of the car, kicking the door closed behind him. He readjusted the young man in his arms, supporting him close to his chest, so he would be able to carry him easier. Justin's arms linked tightly around JC's neck as JC carried him into the quiet house. Lance and Angelique were talking at the foot of the stairs as JC passed. "Are you staying, Lansten?" he asked. "Um, yeah. I'm just going to crash on the couch," Lance replied. "You can have Chris's room," JC informed him, pausing at the top of the stairs to look at his friend. "He'll probably crash with Joey." With that, JC turned and continued down the hall. Lance and Angelique looked at each other and shrugged. "Like I said," Lance told her quietly," if they don't see it . . . we can't do much to help." JC padded slowly into Justin's room, setting his friend gently on the edge of the bed. He removed Justin's shoes and socks, then pulled off his jeans, jacket, and black tee-shirt. He pulled back the covers, then lifted Justin up again, moving him so that he was under the covers. JC tucked the covers around his best friend, then planted a light kiss on Justin's forehead. "Night, Curly," he whispered. "Night, Josh. I love you," Justin whispered, already sleeping. "I love you too, Justin," JC smiled as he walked to the door. "Really?" came Justin's innocent, tired question. JC stopped at the door, his hand on the knob, and smiled. "Yeah, really, Justin," he said softly, before closing the door and walking down the hall to his own room. * * * Justin woke up the next morning feeling cranky and uncomfortable. You know that feeling you get when you wake up and you're not ready to get up yet, but you know you're not going to be able to fall back asleep . . . that's the feeling. He rolled grumpily out of bed, setting his feet on the floor and laying back down to stretch his arms over his head. With a grunt he stood up and ambled out into the hallway. Justin laughed as he heard JC snoring lightly across the hallway. That boy sure could sleep. Justin stumbled sleepily down the stairs and into the kitchen. He waved a groggy hello to Angelique who was sitting at the table. He walked over to the cupboard, pulling down a box of cereal and a bowl. After fixing himself a bowl of cereal, he sat happily next to Angel, chomping away. Angel stared at him over her cup of tea a few seconds before breaking down and beginning to giggle. "What?" Justin asked around a mouthful of cereal. "Nothing. You're just funny," she replied. "Why?" he persisted, shoving another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. "Because you come down here all grumpy and tired, but as soon as you get your cereal, you're fine." Justin paused mid-bite, his spoonful of cereal hanging in the air. He closed his mouth and looked at the spoon, then back down at his cereal . . . then shrugged and shoved the spoon happily into his mouth. Angelique laughed. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her tea before taking a small sip. "Lance knows," she said quietly. Justin stopped eating and set his spoon down into his bowl. "I thought he did," Justin replied. Angel nodded taking another sip of her tea. "I think he's trying to set you and JC up," Angel reported. "Is it working?" She smiled over her cup at Justin. His mouth hung open a little indignantly. "No, considering that JC isn't gay," Justin said a little flustered. "Lance seems to think otherwise," Angelique remarked blankly. "Yeah, he basically said the same thing to me. Do you think he knows something we don't?" Justin asked. Before Angelique could respond, Joshua came running into the kitchen. "Mommy mommy, je regardais la tele et . . . oh, hi daddy," Josh smiled when he saw Justin. Justin grinned widely. Joshua had only recently started calling him that. Before it had always been Justin so that no one would find out. Justin reached down to pick Josh up, sitting him on his lap, so Josh could see both of his parents from where he sat. "Morning Joshy. Did you sleep good?" Justin asked. "Oui," the little boy replied. "Je regardais la tele." "Je sais," Justin replied, deciding to practice his French. "Quelle program?" "Power Rangers," Josh giggled. "Power Rangers? You were watching Power Rangers!?" Justin said sounding excited. "I used to watch that show all the time!" Josh giggled as Justin tickled his sides. Angelique watched as her boys played together. She loved to watch Justin and Josh play around, it just made her happy. "Hey, Joshua," Angel asked, waiting until she had his attention before continuing. "What were you going to tell me?" Joshua thought for a minute, then shrugged his shoulders. He wiggled his way off Justin's lap then, ran back to watch more television. Justin and Angel looked at each other and started laughing. "He's so much like you, Justin. Always running around," Angelique laughed. Justin smiled to hear that. Before he could respond the phone rang. Justin sighed and got up to answer it. "Hello?" "Hi, Justin?" came Britney's voice along with some loud blaring music and the voice of someone counting off for a dance step. "Oh, hey Britney. Where are you? It's really loud," Justin asked. "I'm at rehearsals. It's the music," she explained. "I'm on a quick break. I just wanted to call and make sure that all y'all are coming to my concert tomorrow night. I knew that now was the only time I could definitely get ahold of you." "Um, yeah. I think that I speak for all of us when I say, we wouldn't miss it for the world," Justin laughed. "Great," Britney replied. "Well, I gotta get going. So, I'll see you tomorrow." "Okay, great. Tell Darren I say hi, and that we'll see him tomorrow," Justin said loudly, trying to talk over the music. "Okay, bye doll." With that, she hung up, not giving Justin a chance to say goodbye. He shrugged and hung up as well. "That was Britney, I take it," Angel assumed. "Yeah, she says that we're expected at here concert tomorrow night. I said that's fine. I hope that's okay with you," Justin informed her. "Of course. I've never seen her perform before. I can't wait," Angelique replied. Justin smiled brightly. "Okay, well, I am going to go and take a shower because I feel gross," Justin laughed. Angel smiled and nodded in reply. "Okay, see you in a few." Justin ran out of the room and up the stairs, skipping past Lance into the bathroom closing and locking the door behind him with an evil cackle. "Justin!" Lance whined. "I was going to take a shower." "Too slow!" Justin replied through the door. Lance sighed. Now he was going to have to wait for Justin to get done, and God only knew how long that was going to take. Lance walked down the hall and into the master bedroom. He padded through the room into the bathroom, waiting for a minute until he heard Justin start singing, that meant he was in the shower. He reached out and flushed the toilet. Turning around and walking back out into the hallway just as he heard Justin's unmistakable scream. "Shit! Damn you, Lance," he heard Justin yell. Lance could only laugh to himself. What was he going to do for the next fourty-five minutes while Justin was in the bathroom. "Wake up Josh," he said to himself with a snicker. Lance walked the few short steps to JC's room opening and closing the door with no effort to be quiet. He sauntered over to the bed and plopped down next to his sleeping band mate. "Josh?" he said. No response. "Joshua?" he said again, lightly poking his friend in the stomach. JC muttered something about not wanting to go to school and rolled over. Lance smiled to himself. "Josh, you should get up," he laughed, shaking his friend lightly. "I dun't wanna," JC mumbled into his pillow. "I'm going to tickle you if you don't get up," Lance laughed. "That's cruel," JC rolling over onto his back and looking up at his friend. "What time is it?" he asked. Lance leaned over and picked up the clock looking at it and then showing it to JC. JC groaned, rolling back over and mumbling something into his pillow. "What was that?" Lance asked playfully poking his friend in the side. JC rolled over once more. Sitting up, he leaned in close to Lance's ear, putting his hand up as if he were going to whisper, then, "I SAID IT'S TOO DAMN EARLY FOR ANY NORMAL PERSON TO BE UP!!!" he screamed in Lance's ear. "You're the only one still sleeping," Lance informed him. "I'M NOT SLEEPING NOW!!!" JC yelled. "Thanks to me, and damn, you're cranky," Lance remarked. JC grumbled something and threw one arm over his eyes. "I was in the middle of a really good dream," JC explained. "What was it about?" Lance asked. "None of your business," JC smiled. "Oooh, it was about a boy wasn't it," Lance teased. "Let's just say that I was going to get myself a nice piece of ass," JC informed his friend with a smile. "This, quote, 'nice piece of ass' wouldn't be a tall, sexy, curly haired, young man, who is now in the shower, would it?" Lance asked with an evil grin. JC sat straight up, his jaw practically hitting the floor. Even in the dark room, Lance could see his face begin to turn a nice dark crimson color. "N-no!" JC stuttered. "You were so!" Lance squealed. "I was not!" JC argued indignantly. "Oh my God! JC, you were so! Your face is all red!" Lance laughed. "Damn!" JC shouted covering his cheeks with his hands. "Lord, JC, why don't you just tell him!?" Lance asked curiously. "Tell him what? That I had a dream about him?" JC questioned. "That you're in love with him," Lance exclaimed. JC's mouth open as if he were going to protest to the comment, but quickly shut it again. "I'm not in love with him," JC whispered sounding as if he were trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince Lance. "Yes, you are, Josh. Maybe you don't quite realize it, but it shows in everything you do," Lance told him quietly. JC stared at Lance in shock. Why did Lance think he was in love with Justin? What made him think that? JC only did the things for Justin that he would do for the other guys. "Why do you think I'm in love with Justin?" JC asked softly. Lance looked at him and smiled gently. JC hadn't realized it was love, that much was obvious by the look on his face. "Do you remember how you responded when you found out that Justin had Joshua? Do you remember how jealous you were all those times he would be on the phone with Angel, and not have time for you? You're having dreams about him, Josh. And honestly would you ever carry Joey to bed like you did for Justin last night?" Lance replied with a laugh. JC couldn't help laugh along with the last part. He couldn't ever see carrying Joey or any of the guys other than Justin to bed. He would have woken them up and made them walk. "Well, it doesn't matter," JC replied his smile fading. "Justin has Angelique." "He said himself that they're not dating. You heard him," Lance argued. "That doesn't mean he's gay," JC fought back. Lance shrugged unconcerned by the comment. "You never know," Lance said standing up. JC grabbed his arm quickly. "What do you mean by that?" JC asked. As Lance started to reply, he heard Justin's voice from the hallway. "Hey, Scoop, it's your turn for the shower. Fucker. That water god damn hurt," Justin hollered. "Don't take the Lord's name in vain," Lance yelled weakly. Justin peeked in the door, still dripping from the shower, wearing only a towel around his waist. "What Lance?" he asked. "I said, don't take the Lord's name in vain," Lance repeated rolling his eyes. "Oh," Justin replied stepping back into the hallway. Then he stuck his head back in the door. "How 'bout this then . . . that water fucking hurt!" he yelled before ducking back out of the room and jogging down the hallway to his own bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Lance chuckled. He turned to walk into the hall, but found JC's hand still on his arm. He turned and looked down at his friend. "What did you mean by that?" JC asked again. Lance shrugged. "I just have a feeling," Lance replied, slipping out of JC's grip and walking into the hallway, closing the door behind him. He had to smile to himself. He wasn't really trying to get involved anymore. It had been an accident. He hadn't really thought that JC was dreaming about Justin, it was just a coincidence . . . but a lucky one. Lance locked the bathroom door, and got ready for his shower. He had been standing under the warm water for only seconds before, it began to get extremely hot. He jumped out from under the stream, gasping for breath. "Justin! You are so dead!" he yelled as he heard Justin laughing hysterically in the hallway. * * * TBC . . . Please send questions and comments to DivaKitT@juno.com. Thank you.