Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 20:58:30 EST From: Adam - <aci_85@hotmail.com> Subject: Love Interest - Chapter 4 Last time on Chapter 3 of Love Interest - "Where to?" The cabbie asked turning around.. "Take me to any store that is still open right now." "What kinda store?" "Any store, if you know of any department store that is open this late, get me there. I got enough cash to pay no matter how far." JC answered the question, and the driver gave him an odd smile. "Sure thing, I think I might know just the place." The cabbie turned back, and with a push on the gas, they were off. For what though? ____________________________________________________________________________ "What time is it?" Chris asked, rubbing his eyes to catch that everyone was already waiting for him in the living room, excluding Justin, Christina, and still the absence of JC. "It's 8:30. Justin is asleep, and Christina is up waiting for him to wake up. She wants to make sure he wakes up with some one there. And JC hasn't come home yet." Brittney answered, turning her attention back to the tv show they had been watching. "Oh" Chris mumbled taking a seat next to his girlfriend, and drowning himself in the tv as well. ____________________________________________________________________________ "You sure you got enough cash for that long of a ride buddy?" The same cabbie JC had left with early in the morning, was now question the amount of cash that it would take to get him to the destination he was now asking to be taken to. "Yeah, trust me, I got enough." JC shook his head, hoping the driver would get the gist, and get a move on. "Even after you bought all that stuff?" "Yeah, even after all of this. Now could we just get there already. I'm kinda in a hurry man." JC was now being inconsiderate, but he didn't care, he was in a rush, and he wasn't in the mood to be delayed any further. ____________________________________________________________________________ "What do you guys want to do today?" "I don't know, if Justin is up to anything I don't think it should be too strenous. He probably won't even feel like leaving, and I don't think any of us should either. We all should be here for him, while he needs us." Brittney answered the question asked by Joey, as the clock struck 9. They were surprised to hear footsteps coming down the steps. Turning they all saw Christina approaching them. "I don't think he is waking up anytime soon. He seems to be out pretty good still." "Well, maybe one of us should go up and be there. He needs at least one of us with him." Dani suggested, but she knew Christina needed a break. "I guess I will." Brittney smiled, and stood. Christina took her seat, while Brittney headed towards the steps. She walked into JC's room, and saw Justin still sound asleep on the bed. "I'm sorry Justin." She whispered before taking her seat, the guilt was starting to seep into her as well. She felt responsible for making Justin to come to the realization that he was in love with his friend. And that realization had caused a lot of pain in the young man, and she took a part in that pain. "So, which one us will get the honor of talking to Lynn today? I mean, she calls everyday, and she will probably want to talk to Justin. So who gets to tell her that her son is gay and in love with Josh, and that he just came to the realization after Brittney forced it onto him?" Chris asked jokingly, as the tv show they had been watching came to a conclusion. It was now 9:30, and Justin was still asleep. Brittney was still on her shift, and they were now bored with tv. "Ya know, it's only 9:30, and we are already bored. What are we gonna do the rest of the day?" Joey asked, looking around the room for suggestions. "Well, we can go swimming later." Lance suggested, knowing that besides that there only other option was to watch tv. "We only have 2 more days before we go on tour and you want to swim?" Christina asked frustrated. "Yeah, I want to spend time with my boyfriend before he goes away again. And that means out of a house." Dani complained. "Your lucky though, you get to be away from us. We all have to tour together, for this big 'special' tour." Chris hoped to make his girlfriend feel better with comedy. "I am not going to like touring with you guys, especially if Justin and JC don't get this shit settled." Christina complained, but was shocked to hear the door turn open. "Any one home?" The shock turned to mutual confusion between all the inhabitants of the room, as they turned to see JC standing in the door way. In his hands a teddy bear, and a bouquet of roses. Before anyone could really say anything, JC was laughing at the looks on there faces. "What's so funny? You think it's funny that you had us all pissed at your? Or do you find it funny that Justin didn't get to sleep until early in the morning waiting up for you?" Chris started the yelling, while everyone else waited for an answer from JC. "I didn't mean to hurt him. I was just laughing at you guys." JC kept up his laughter, but the looks of anger didn't leave the other faces. "Did Jim give you that cheap ass shit?" Christina asked, joining in on the arguement. "No, I bought this stuff. For Justin, I want to apologize. I got to thinking last night, after Jim fell asleep. I realized that I was the cause of Justin's sadness, so I figured I would come home as quick as I could. But first I went pretty far to get him this stuff. I want to make the apology just right." JC smiled, hoping he would be forgiven now. "oh" was a unison reaction from everyone in the room. "Well you better apologize good, and while your at it, maybe you should ask him out." Christina suggested, but she got a look from most members of the room except for JC. "Maybe" JC smiled, and he got a smile from the rest of the group. Turning he walked from the room and up the steps towards Justin's bedroom. Making the same mistake Brittney had the day earlier, he found an empty bedroom. But thinking ahead of himself, he didn't return downstairs, but he walked down the hallway some, and entered his own bedroom. Finding Brittney sitting beside the bed, and Justin still asleep the same feeling of guilt he had the night earlier crept over his body. Lightly tapping Brittney on the shoulder, he smiled. She didn't know why, but without the yelling she expected to give JC, she turned with out hesitation and left the room. Sitting down on the bed, he gently ran his fingers through Justin's hair. Waiting for the youngster to stir, he smiled when the eyes focused together, both of them staring at each other. Before Justin could do anything, he was met with a powerful hug from JC. The hug was returned, but JC could tell that Justin was still upset with him, and he knew he better be thinking of a damn good explanation. "Justin, we need to talk." "uh huh" "I'm really sorry about yesterday. I should have been there for you when you were crying, but I just didn't realize what I was doing. I had no idea that I was ignoring you and neglecting you when I should have been there for you. I'm your bestfriend, I have no excuse not to be there when you need me." Both of them sat in silence after JC's semi-explanation. Neither said a word, but just stared lovingly at each other. Admist the silence, Justin's eyes blinked, and he noticed that teddy bear and the roses. A sting of pain hit him, and JC could tell. "What's wrong Justin?" "Did Jim get you those flowers and stuff?" Justin asked, with pain in his eyes and in his voice. "No, he didn't. I got these for you Justin. I'm sorry for what I did. And I wanted to make it up for you. The roses are because I love you, and the teddy bear is because I'm sorry. I will never leave you alone again on purpose, but if I do, the teddy bear will always be there in my place." Handing over the gifts, Justin's eyes let out the tears he was holding in. JC knew they were not tears of pain though, but of love and happiness. "I love you too." "Um, Justin, that brings me to what I really wanted to do. I dumped Jim last night, and I was kinda wondering, if you would like to be my new boyfriend?" Justin didn't know what to say, sitting in front of him was the man of his dreams. And coming from the mouth of that man were the words he had only recently realized that he longed to hear. And he was speechless. No words could come out of his mouth, and no motion of his head could complete the feelings he had. JC took that as a yes, and put a gentle kiss on Justin's lips. Justin didn't know what to do, so he leaned in and the kiss became more passionate. With in minutes it was over though, and Justin was breathing for air, while JC was smiling with a smirk. "Um, you think we could go downstairs. I gotta lot of unhappy people who want me to make amends, and you have a lot of people who have been worried about you." "Sure..." Justin managed to speak, still struck with the realization that he and JC were dating. "But um, Josh, are we um dating, or going out. Because ya know, you and Jim were together, and I donno." JC couldn't help but laugh at the nervousness of Justin's questioning. Justin had a sad face on, upset that he had to think about Jim and JC together. "Nope, me and Jim are no more. You and me are now, and we are it. No one else will take your place." JC answered his boyfriend, his eyes sparkling with happiness. "Now how about we go downstairs and tell everyone the good news?" "Okay." Justin agreed, and with a quick grab, his hand was in JC's and they were heading down the stairs. JC led the way into the living room where he knew the group would be. The tv had been turned off, and apparently the group had been talking about something. But within seconds, all eyes focused on Justin and JC. Most waiting to see if they had made up, not really caring at the time if they were dating. "So?" Brittney asked first, with a wide smile on her face. "Well, Justin and I talked, and he thinks it would be best if I moved out. And I agreed, I should get to know Jim alot better if I am sleeping at his place for a while. Not to mention we won't have to be around each other except when we are on tour. Right Just?" JC answered the question casually, but his story was blown off by Justin's horrified look. "Huh?" "I apologized to him, and then I asked him out." JC answered truthfull this time, smiling at Justin's now more relaxed face. Everyone else in the room was either smiling, or had faces of awe in them. They expected the apology part, but when Brittney had mentioned to JC that he should ask Justin out, they didn't think he would do it with in the same time period as the apology. Most of them didn't even expect Justin to except the apology right off the bat, they knew him to be stubborn. "Aren't ya'll gonna say something?" JC insisted, waited for some one to say something. After another twenty seconds of silence, Justin spoke up. "I'm happy for us Josh." This brought on a round of snickers and giggles from the room. JC led Justin to the only open spot to sit, and took the seat. He let Justin take a seat on his lap, and the room broke into a normal discussion again. After a few minutes of a discussion about the upcoming tour, the focus came back to the new couple. "You guys know the risks you are taking?" Christina asked, the topic now changing. "Yeah." JC answered quickly, almost upset that Christina would even ask. "If you two breakup, what does that mean to the group?" Lance asked his question next, getting another look from JC. "We aren't going to break up. We've waited to long to date, and now that we are, we both know it's right." Justin nodded in approval, and the question was dismissed like the first. "When are you guys gonna tell management? And what about your parents?" Chris asked, getting a disgusted look from JC and Justin at the same time. If looks could kill, Chris would have been dead. "I don't know about management, if they find out they are gonna wanna make me do some shit with Brittney just to make me look straight. And I'm tired of that shit." Justin muttered, and was surprised to feel a slight tap on his head. "Don't swear." It was JC, and Justin just smiled. "And my parents already know I'm bi, so when they find out about me and Justin it will make them happy. They'll just say that he is perfect for me." "And my parents won't mind, at least I don't think they will. I never thought about that, they don't even know that I'm gay yet." Justin thought disappointedly. JC tightened his loving hold around Justin's waist, letting him know everything was okay. "You don't have to tell them until your ready baby. Your mom won't be home until after we are on tour. You can just call her, and it will make it easier then doing it in person." JC suggested, hoping that Justin wouldn't let it get to him. Justin didn't say anything he just nodded. "So what are you two up for today?" Lance asked, hoping to change the subject from the obviously sensitve subject that was already at hand. "Why is it our decision? You know I hate it when things are left up to me." JC replied, disappointed that the decision came down to him and Justin. "Becuase Justin was the one upset all day, and it was your fault. So we weren't going to go out unless you two wanted to." Lance answered back harshly. "Oh." JC managed to get out, a little confused by Lance's anger. He expected it, but after the conversation, he had figured that everybody had forgotten his little get together with his quickie boyfriend Jim. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that Josh." Lance realized. "I know, it's cool." JC smiled, and the group sat in a slow discussion of the events that have transpired in the last few weeks. ____________________________________________________________________________ TBC..... ____________________________________________________________________________ Well this chapter ended happily. No conflict to drag onto the next chapter. Well let me know what you think of this chapter. I will have Chapter 5 out with in the next two days. ____________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com .