Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 00:57:47 +1100
From: AK W <curly_and_josh@hotmail.com>
Subject: try walking in my shoes 2

I know I said I wouldn't be writing anymore of this story, but I also told
my Mum that I was a virgin until I was 20 and My fiancee that I never drink
and drive. So I'm a compulsive liar. I also had some help from the
fantastic Jeff from Sydney (a good Aussie Boy) who sent me a rough outline
of the chapter and got me to fill in the details. Anybody who wants to have
a go at the next chapter, I really would love to hear from you because I
really don't know where to take the story, I really should be completing
the thousands of unfinished Uni assignments I have, so this story will be
on the back-burner for quite a while unless someone else does
something. Anyway enjoy, Love and Stuff, AKW

Disclaimer: I know for a 100% certain fact that NSYNC have no idea who the
hell I am! I also have a sneaking suspicion that JC, Lance and Justin are
all as camp as a row of pink tents, dress nicely, dance well and have
money. Sure signs that they are gay.  They are still trying to cover that
fact up with their various "fashion accessories" (i.e. Beverly, Britney and
Bobby -- hey 3 "B's" is that a coincidence? Can they possibly be hiring
these people?)  so I will go along with that illusion and say that I have
no Idea of their sexuality (OH puh-leeze! If they aren't donut punching
I'll stop imagining Lance naked!) Thanks to all the people who wrote to me
(I'll remember your names next time) especially Jeff, who has a fantastic
imagination and a filthy, grotty, disgusting mind to go with it!

******************************************************************************

Justin couldn't sleep, he had been happy that his plan had worked, the five
band members had spent the day together and had enjoyed themselves. Joey's
mood had improved from total depression to one of near euphoria. They were
all exhausted by the time they had returned to the hotel, but happy
nonetheless.
    After retiring to their rooms Justin had been too keyed up to sleep,
but too physically drained to change and hit the hotel gym, as per normal
routine. With JC sleeping soundly he headed to Joeys room to have a chat,
which was a normal occurrence before Joey began to have problems, as
neither Joey nor Justin liked to sleep early.

Justin had listened at the door for signs that Joey was still awake, but
had heard instead Joey sobbing endlessly. He had been immediately concerned
for Joey, but respected his privacy too much to knock, instead he just
padded barefoot back down the hallway to his room and climbed back into
bed. Sleep would not come, no matter how hard he tried, he kept worrying
about Joey. After an hour and a half of tossing and turning he decided that
the best thing to do was to confront Joey about the problem. He slipped
silently from his bed so as not to wake JC, and headed toward Joeys room.

Through the door he could hear the forlorn sounds of Morrissey. He
immediately felt like crying, Justin had always been sensitive to the
feelings of his friends and Joey was hurting so he felt useless, his
attempt to remedy the situation had failed and he didn't know what to do.

"When you say it's gonna happen now well when exactly do you mean see I've
already waited too long and all my hope is gone..."

Bang bang bang "Joe you awake?"

"I am human and I need to belong just like anybody else does"

"Joe it's Juz, let me in...please"

"You could meet somebody who really loves you so you go and you stand on
your own and you leave on your own and you go home and you cry and you want
to die"

The lyrics resonated through Justin's thoughts with mind-numbing clarity
and he ran full pelt down the hall toward the lifts, where he began his
slow decent to the lobby. The lobby was fairly deserted but the few people
who were milling about at that late hour stared in amazement as the curly
haired blonde dashed across the lobby toward the reception desk in nothing
but a pair of Donald duck boxers and a white wife beater.

"I need the spare key to room 208!" He sighed breathlessly.

"I can't give..." The receptionist, a prim woman in her late 30's began,
before she realized who he was.  She stared in amazement at his state, but
reached for the key, placing it gently in Justin's open hand.

"Have a nice..." She began, before Justin turned on his heal and ran back
toward the lift, without even a thank-you.

As the lift climbed slowly toward the floor Justin allowed himself to think
about what had been at the back of his mind since Joey had not responded to
his request to open the door. He shuddered at the thought of finding Joey,
the once happy and humorous member of the group, in a bath with his wrists
slashed, or something equally as gruesome.  Justin had never experienced
depression of any sort before, but he had read stories of people who had
done unspeakable things to save themselves from eternal misery. As he ran
toward the door of the room tears streamed down his face.

"Joe" he called, his voice cracking as he unlocked the door "It's Juzzy, I
just wanted to see..."

He trailed off as he entered the room to find Joey's double bed empty, he
checked the large bathroom but found it also empty. He rushed through the
kitchen of the large suite, toward the living area. The music got louder as
he entered the living room, the song now different.

"Every morning I walk toward the edge and throw little things off like car
parts, bottles and cutlery whatever I find lying around and imagine what my
body would sound like slamming against those rocks"

Justin stared at the stereo in disgust. "UGH!" he groaned, hitting the
power button and ending the macabre wailing. He noticed a jumble of bottles
covering the small dining table and the floor littered with rubbish despite
housekeeping having cleaned it only that morning. As he scanned the living
area he could still not see Joey.

"Joe?" he called again, before noticing the heavy curtains blowing with the
wind of an open balcony door behind it. An involuntary shiver rocked
Justin's body for the second time in a few minutes.  "Shit" he muttered as
he ran for the door. He stepped out cautiously, scanning the balcony
railing as he did so, afraid of what he might find. Then he saw movement in
the corner and looked to see Joey leaning against the door behind him.

"Joey?"

"Hi Juz." Joey replied somberly. "Hey, ya wanna drink?" he asked with a
little more enthusiasm.

As Justin moved closer he noticed Joey was wrapped only in a towel, drawn
tightly around his waist.

In one hand he held an open bottle of bourbon, and with the other hand he
offered Justin a beer from the stash he had beside him. "I know you don't
drink, but it's no fun drinking alone." Joey slurred

"Joe you're drunk, and you'll catch your death out here, you must be
freezing. Come on back inside."

"I don't wanna!" Joey responded in a voice that reminded Justin of a child
throwing a tantrum. "Besides I can't get up." He continued before bursting
into a fit of sick laughter.

Justin disappeared into the hotel room and returned a few seconds later
wrapped in the doona from Joeys bed. "I'll make a deal with you Joe, I'll
have a drink with you if you tell me what's been eating you for the past
month or so." Justin reasoned.

"Eating me? Joey asked "I dunno whatcha mea..."

"Cut the bullshit Joe, you know exactly what I mean." Justin interrupted
forcefully but with kindness.

"OK Whatever." Joey responded, giving in easily due to his drunkenness.
Justin sat down next to the older man and wrapped the doona around them
both. Joey opened the beer and handed it to Justin, before resting his head
on Justin's shoulder and starting to cry.  Justin ran his fingers through
Joey's hair comfortingly until finally the crying stopped. As Justin leaned
down to ask for an explanation, he realised Joey was asleep.

"Ah big man, I only wish I could help." Justin whispered.

OK, to be continued, at another time, by another person. If you wanna have
a go at the next chapter send me your ideas and I will add them to the
story.  If you think this story sucks, tell me and I'll stop writing it.
You all know the address (Curly_and_josh@hotmail.com). Bye for now, love
and stuff, AKW.