|
Disclaimer: I do NOT know nor
have I ever met any member of *NSYNC. They are their own person and, well, I
don't particularly want to know them. Shoots down all those preconceived
notions, you know. Anyway, I mean no offense to any person mentioned in my
stories. I hold the deepest respect for who they are and what they do. So in
other words: read, have fun, make merry, and remember that these stories are FICTION and, therefore, NOT real. |
Scoop 5
Lance tried not to let the fact that
JC was bringing a date into his home bother him. It shouldn’t matter. After
all, he and JC weren’t an item. He shouldn’t get his hopes up just because
Chris made him think he had a chance. There was absolutely no reason for him to
feel hurt. It was ridiculous. The only thing between them was friendship.
“Lance, last time I checked beef stew
didn’t call for diced carrots,” Joey said as he watched Lance become more upset
with every passing second.
“Huh?” Lance looked down at the
cutting board in front of him. He was barely conscience of the knife in his
hand. What had once been piles of carrot chunks were now finely diced mounds.
Some days he couldn’t even get the little things right.
Joey didn’t know what JC was up to,
but it had better work. Teasing Lance was one thing but hurting him was
another. “Come on, Lance. You know it’s probably nothing. JC hasn’t really been
out to meet anyone new lately.”
“I know. I know. It’s just that…I
mean, I finally admitted how I feel.” Lance gestured with his hands and started
to babble. “Well, I didn’t admit it. I never came right out and said, ‘I’m
bisexual’. Especially not to JC, but that’s not the point. And, actually, you
guys drug it out of me. I didn’t volunteer the information so…come to think of
it how did you guys know?”
Chris and Joey rolled their eyes at
Lance’s babbling. “Umm…what exactly is your point, Scoop? And can we get to it
sometime before the New Year?”
Chris smacked Joey on the arm. “Joey!
We’re supposed to be his support network.” Joey just grinned, and Chris turned
back to Lance. He batted his eyelashes at Lance and in an atrocious French
accent said, “Yes, however rude Joseph may be, he is correct. You must focus,
Lance, darling, baby.” He primly crossed his legs and leaned his elbows on the
counter. “Now tell us exactly what is bothering you.”
Lance smiled at Chris’s antics before
turning his attention back to the knife. Absently he used it to draw roads in
the carrot heaps. “It’s all out in the open now. I can’t deny how I feel and it
just hurts to see him with someone else. When I kept it to myself, I could
pretend it didn’t matter. Now everything is different. If he doesn’t fee-”
“It’s Busta.”
Chris’s head shot up as he looked at
Joey. “What about Busta?”
Lance looked at Joey. He was confused.
What did Busta have to do with his love life?
“No, wait. Maybe it’s Dirk.” Joey bit
his lip and looked confused. “Or maybe it’s Justin. No. Can’t be Justin. He’s
going with me tonight,” he said to himself.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Chris said totally clueless as to where Joey was going with this.
Joey rolled his eyes. “JC’s date. I’m
just trying to figure out who it is.”
“Joe, Busta would never be JC’s date.
He’s Curly’s designated companion when Brit’s not around. Besides, he likes
Lance better.”
“OH! OH! I got it. It’s Oliver.”
Joey’s eyes lit up.
“The stuffed bear Lance got him for
Christmas last year?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know, Joey. Why would he
invite a stuffed bear to dinner? I mean…dinner, Joe. With food. Toys don’t
eat.” Chris gave Joey an are-you-stupid look. “I think he invited some chick.”
“Hmm…you could be right. But…I’m still
voting for Oliver.” He just shook his head. Chris could be dense some times.
Lance cracked a grin and looked back
and forth between the two. “You guys need some serious psychological help. Do
you know that?”
Joey jumped up and rushed over to
Lance. He threw his arms around his neck in a quick hug. “Woohoo! Mission
accomplished.” Joey clapped his hands together and smiled dreamily at Lance.
Lance eyed Joey. “What?”
“You smiled.” Joey sighed. “Now my
life is complete. I can go party with no worries.”
Lance pointed his knife at him causing
him to back away from him. “Git! And you and Justin had better not get into too
much trouble.”
“Would we do something like that?”
Joey tried his best to look innocent.
“YES!” Both Chris and Lance shouted.
“Bye, bye, bye.” Lance and Chris
groaned in unison. Joey really needed to learn a new line.
“Hey, Jus, wanna tell me what’s
wrong?” JC watched as Justin picked at invisible spots of lint on his shirt. It
was obvious that something was troubling him, and JC couldn’t just stand by and
not try to help.
Justin fiddled with the hem of his
shirt before finally meeting JC’s eyes. His direct stare conveyed the
seriousness of his mood. “How do you really feel about Lance?”
JC was taken aback by the question.
Surely Justin knew how he felt. Wasn’t his feeling the whole reason he’d
confided in Justin in the first place? “What do you mean how do I feel?”
“Joey called and told me about the
whole date issue for dinner tonight. I want to make sure you’re not just playing
with Lance. He’s my bro just like you are and if I thought you were going to
hurt him I’d have to cut your liver out. I really do not want to do that.”
JC dropped his gaze. He admired
Justin’s fierce protectiveness however unwarranted it was. His friends should
know him better than that. Playing with people’s emotions was not one of his
favorite hobbies. He took a deep breath and chose his words carefully so that
there would be no misunderstanding. “A little over six years ago I had never
met James Lance Bass. I was a perfectly normal 18 year old. I hung with my
friends, I chased girls, and never once did I even think about being with a
guy.” JC looked Justin in the eye and continued. “Then *NSYNC happened and my
whole life changed. For a long time my private life went on as it had before
with it being a little less private. I still hung with my friends. I still went
out with girls. But then something strange happened. One day one of my best
friends got sick and was hospitalized.”
Suddenly the tile pattern on Justin’s
floor took on an infinite fascination for JC. He blinked back the moisture
gathering in his eyes as he tried to recall what exactly happened that day.
Some of it was still a blur. “Did you know that I spent that whole night in the
hospital chapel praying that Lance would be okay? I promised to make any deal
with God that He would accept just as long as Lance made it through okay. I
don’t think I have ever been as scared as I was that day.”
He looked at Justin who was still
regarding him with a steady gaze. “God conveniently pointed out to me sometime
during my fervent praying that Lance was more than just my friend. It was like
he opened my eyes and for the first time everything made sense. In that moment
I knew Lance would be all right and that we would have our chance together.
Later on what scared me the most was the realization that the love of my life
had been lying in a hospital bed, possibly dying, and I could have lost him
before I even knew I wanted him. So if you’re asking if I love Lance, yes, I
do. He means more to me than anything in my life.”
A slow smile spread across Justin’s
face. “I’m glad you said that ‘cause I was really not looking forward to
beating you up.”
“As if, you little curly haired freak.
You couldn’t beat me up if you tried.”
“Who you callin’ a freak, Mr.
I-knocked-myself-out-running-into-a-door.”
“Oh, that was low.”
Justin just shrugged. “If the shoe
fits.”
JC laughed at the expression on
Justin’s face. They could start out a conversation seriously but it always
ended lightly. “So what are you doing tonight? You gonna come watch me work on
Lance?”
“As much as I’d love to watch your
feeble attempts at winning Lance over, I’m sorry to say that I have other
plans. Joe and I are going out tonight.”
“What kind of friend are you?”
Justin grinned and wagged his
eyebrows. “The kind that knows more is not always merrier. I still can’t
believe you won’t just come out and tell him how you feel. You might be
surprised.”
JC laughed. “The chase is half the
fun, Jus. I can’t have him feel like he wasn’t properly pursued now can I?
Besides, I know that we’re going to be together. Right now I want to savor the
little moments I can steal from him. I am confident this will be the last
romantic relationship for both of us, and I want to do it right.” He grinned
mischievously. “‘Sides, it’s fun to see him get all flustered.”
“You’re very strange. Do you know
that?”
“Yeah, yeah. But seriously, Lance
completes me in ways I didn’t think were possible.” He blushed slightly. “He
takes care of me. He treats me like I’m special. He listens even when I say the
dumbest things. He understands me.”
Justin gave JC an innocent look. “He
makes you say cheesy things.”
JC laughed. “It’s hard to put into
words, Jus. The closest I can come is that Diamond Rio song Lance likes. You
know the one I’m talking about.” JC began to sing a few bars. “It’s like just
before dark…jump in the car…buyin’ ice cream to see how far…we can drive before
it melts…kinda feelin’…there’s a cow in the road and you swerve to the
left…fates skips a beat and it scares you to death and you laugh until you
cry…that’s how you’re love makes me feel inside.”
“Now that’s scary.”
“What? That I love him that much.”
Justin laughed. “No. That you know the
words to that song.”
JC scrunched up his face. “Ha, ha.
Funny guy. Just wait till you experience the big one.”
“Umm…I think I’ll stick to the hearts
and flowers. You can keep the cows and ice cream.”
“You think you’re funny don’t you?”
A sigh issued from Justin’s lips. “I
know I’m funny.” He grinned and proceeded to finish the work he and JC had
started earlier.
“You know, Lance, we are pathetic
individuals. Joey is out clubbing with Justin and we’re sitting here waiting
for lover boy and his date.” Chris casually stated as he lounged in a kitchen
chair. “It’s Saturday night. We’re young and gorgeous. We should be out chasin’
booty. Not sitting here pining for Dani and JC. So I repeat, ‘We are pathetic.’”
“Well, you’re half right. I’m
pathetic. At least you have a girlfriend.” Lance gave Chris a critical look.
“And I prefer to think of it as being love challenged.” He shrugged his
shoulders. “It just sounds better.”
Chris burst out laughing. “Don’t lie,
Lansten. You’re just in it for the nookie.”
Lance groaned and covered his eyes.
Trust Chris to reduce everything to sex. “Yep, okay. You figured me out. I’ve
been hiding my need for sex in the closet for years.”
“You wanna have sex in the closet?”
Lance smacked Chris up side the head.
“Shut up! You know what I meant.”
“Can we say ‘abusive’?” Chris said as
he rubbed his head. “Man, I hope JC knows your kinky little fantasies before he
commits to anything.”
Lance leaned back in his chair and crossed
his hands over his stomach as he contemplated Chris. Did he know something
about how JC felt? Or was he just projecting wishful thinking? The little
pipsqueak could be annoying at times and, for once, Lance wanted to have the
last word. “You’re just jealous you’re not in my kinky fantasies.”
Chris sat up straight in his chair.
“Dude, I’m in everybody’s kinky fantasies. What’re you talking about?”
So much for having the last word.
Lance rolled his eyes. And people called Justin conceited. “Umm hmm, just keep
telling yourself that, little man. I’ll believe it when I can’t get the image
of you running around in the buff out of my mind. Until then, well, you’re
better off not knowing my deepest, darkest fantasies.” That should hold him for
a while.
Chris cocked an eyebrow at him. “Not
very imaginative, huh?”
Lance blushed lightly and grinned. Busted!
“No, not really.”
“Ah, Lansten, you haven’t learned anything from me in the last few years have you? I’m disappointed.” He let out an exaggerated breath. “And to think, you were one of my four most promising protégés.”
“Uh, yeah, wish I could say I’m sorry
to disappoint you, but…I’m not. Anyway, give it up, old man. I’m just a good
little boy and you can’t corrupt me.” Lance’s eyes crinkled, and he stuck his
tongue out at Chris. There was way too much cheese in their relationship. On
the upside, all this banter was taking his mind off JC and his damnedable date.
Ugh! Great going, Bass, you almost went for a whole minute without thinking
of JC.
“I’ll never give up…and who you
callin’ old? Just remember, my pretty, in the end I’ll get you and your little
weasel, too.”
Lance huffed. “Fer-ret. Ferret. Dirk
is a ferret not a weasel.”
Chris looked confused for a minute.
“Who said anything about Dirk? I was talking about JC.”
“Oh, that’s it. You’re goin’ down.”
Lance jumped out of his chair and lunged at Chris. He smacked into Chris’s
hastily vacated chair and then faced his friend. “You are so dead.”
“Now, Lance, let’s be reasonable.”
Lance squinted his eyes. The best way
to Chris would be over the table but he didn’t want to break the dishes. That
left the old fake-right-and-go-left routine. Slowly he stalked to the right.
“If you kill me, I’m telling your
mother!”
Just a little more to the left. Yeah,
that’s it. Lance swiftly reversed direction and tackled Chris. He put him in a
headlock and proceeded to give him a noogie. “My mom knows how evil you are.
She’d probably bake me cookies if I killed you. Now take it back or I’ll rub
you bald.”
JC paused with his date outside the
dining room doorway. He wiped his sweaty hands on his pants and then pasted on
a smile. It was show time.
He walked into the dining room just in
time to see that the show had already begun.
“Oh, that’s it. You’re goin’ down. You
are so dead.”
He watched Lance lunge out of his
chair at Chris. Chris moved at the last second and Lance hit the empty chair.
He grabbed onto it to stabilize himself. The unguarded look of enjoyment on
Lance’s beautiful face nearly took his breath away.
“Now, Lance, let’s be reasonable.”
JC grinned when he saw the nervous
look on Chris’s face. Evidently he hadn’t planned on Lance trying to attack
him. JC took in the now sinister look on Lance’s face that couldn’t hide the
mischievous sparkle in his eyes. The boy had a plan and Chris had better watch
out.
Lance moved to the right and Chris
followed suit by moving farther around the table. No, Chris, not that way.
You’re falling right into his trap. Of course JC just kept his mouth shut and
watched. Chris hadn’t realized that Lance wasn’t really moving that far and
that he, in fact, was moving right in to Lance’s avenue of attack.
“If you kill me, I’m telling your
mother!”
JC winced. Didn’t Chris know it’s a
big no-no to bring a man’s momma into a fight? Oh, well, too late now. He was
almost in position. JC watched Lance’s muscle tense for the attack.
Annnnnd, he’s off. Lance practically
flew at Chris. The two hit the floor with a satisfying thud and immediately
Lance had Chris in a headlock.
“My mom knows how evil you are. She’d
probably bake me cookies if I killed you. Now take it back or I’ll rub you
bald.”
“O-“
Time to make his presence known. “Umm,
guys, an I interrupting?”
Lance looked up to see a pair of legs
encased in black cargo pants leading up to a chest covered by a royal blue
button down shirt. His eyes snagged on the top three buttons which were undone
and revealing a tantalizing portion of chest. Finally he looked up to see JC’s
smiling face. His mind froze. JC looked absolutely delectable.
“Sooo, JC, where’s your date?”
Chris’s question snapped Lance out of
his trance. He hurriedly scanned the room but found no trace of a date.
“Right here.”
“JC, that’s a piece of paper.”
“This isn’t just a piece of paper.
It’s my date and my future.”
Chris looked at Lance. “Do you
remember what I said about us being pathetic?” Lance shook his head. “I was
wrong.” Chris turned back to JC with a patient smile. “So, JC, why don’t you
umm…introduce us to your date.”
JC’s smile was nearly blinding. “Guys,
this is FreeLance. Lance, I believe the two of you are already acquainted.”
Lance raised his eyebrows quizzically.
He gestured over his shoulder. “Umm, yeah. We go way back.”
“Uh huh, whatever, C. Those are the
contracts you signed this afternoon.” Lance could almost see the light bulb
blink on over Chris’s head. “Oh, wait! FreeLance is your date. Lance is
FreeLance. That would make Lance your date. So…Lance is your future. Am I
right?” Chris looked extremely pleased with himself. “I didn’t go to college
for nothing.” A pained expression came over his face. “Ugh. Now my brain hurts.
This is all too strange for me. I’m outta here.” Chris jumped up and with one last
look back bolted out the door.
“Need some help?” JC noted the blush
spreading across Lance’s cheeks.
Lance turned his head to look at JC
and saw that he had extended one hand. He grabbed it, and JC hauled him up off
the floor. He ducked his head and muttered, “Thanks.”
“No problem.” JC held Lance’s hand for
a moment longer than necessary.
Lance met JC’s eyes and then tugged
his hand free. He turned around and surveyed the table. “I hope you’re hungry.
I had planned on feeding four people.” He let a short laugh escape. “I think
the last time we cleared a room this quick was when I was having back problems
and you tried to help me and we ended up on the bed and the guys thought we
were gettin’ freaky together.”
JC laughed along with him. “Yeah, but
that was all your fault. You were the one moaning my name. Loudly. –“
“And you liked every minute of it,
too.”
“- And the guys ran in to see what was
wrong.”
Lance watched JC space out. He must be
having some memory. He waved his hand in front of JC’s face. “Yoo-hoo, earth to
JC.”
“Huh? Oh, are we ready to eat yet? I’m
starved.”
“Yeah, come on. You get to serve
yourself tonight.”
“But I wanted you to wait on me.”
“Me! Wait on you.” Lance acted
incredulous as he handed JC a bowl. “I cooked. You should be waiting on me.”
JC squinted his eyes and tried not to
laugh. “How ‘bout I kiss you, and we call it even.”
Lance’s heart skipped a beat. He
couldn’t be serious. There was no way he was that lucky. “Okay, but only this
once.”
“Tsk. Tsk, Lansten. You might like
it.” Lance groaned to himself. That’s what he was afraid of. “Okay, now close
your eyes.” He obediently did as he was told. He flinched slightly when JC
loosely grabbed hold of his upper arms. “Easy, Lance. It’s not like I’m gonna
hurt you,” JC murmured. A nod was his only answer.
The first brush of JC’s lips against
his own was tentative. When he didn’t pull back the pressure on his lips
increased. Warmth started to seep throughout his body as JC’s lips continued to
work over his. The kisses were light and teasing. Then he felt the warm wetness
of JC’s tongue. A line of fire shot straight to his groin when JC tasted his
lips. He grabbed onto JC’s upper arms to steady himself as JC sucked his lower
lip into his mouth, and then…it was over.
“Now see. That wasn’t so bad.”
Bad? Bad? That was freaking
excellent...no, earth shattering. That was the absolute most amazing kiss of
his life. Lance slowly opened his eyes. JC’s sparkling blue ones were staring
right back at him. “No, not to bad at all.”
“Now that that is out of the way,
let’s eat.” JC bounded to the stove and lifted the lid off pot. The groan of
appreciation he let out didn’t do anything to ease Lance’s arousal.
They were half way through dinner and
Lance’s breathing had finally returned to normal and his arousal had been
pushed to the back of his mind. Everything was back to normal. They talked
about everyday things, the break ending, Thanksgiving, the rapid approach of
Christmas. Finally Lance asked the question that had been bugging him since JC
arrived. “Jace, why did you bring you’re contracts as a date?”
JC paused with his fork almost to his
mouth. “What?”
“Why did you tell me you had a date
and then show up with those contracts?”
JC laid his fork back down. This was
the moment he’d been dreading. How was he supposed to explain without coming
out and saying he was trying to make Lance jealous? “Uh…ah…I was just doing
what you told me to.”
Lance wasn’t buying the innocent look
JC was selling. “Uh huh, and what exactly did I tell you to do?”
“You specifically told me not to
forget to date them. Sooo…we talked it over and they agreed to come as my date
and…here we are.”
Lance gaped at JC for a moment before
erupting in laughter. “What,” Lance wiped a tear from his eye, “am I going to
do with you?”
JC lost himself for a moment in
Lance’s laughing eyes and infectious smile. This was a moment he would always
treasure. “Weeeellll, you could tell me that you were jealous and then kiss me
to show that you’re not mad.” He watched the laughter die abruptly in Lance’s
eyes only to be replaced with something else. Apprehension.
“JC –“
“Guys! You are never gonna believe
what I just saw.” JC and Lance both turned at Chris’s untimely intrusion.
TBC…