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 6a

Before Lance or JC could react to Chris’s statement, he hastily blurted out the rest. “Oh my, God. Oh my, God. I just saw Justin and Joey.”

Chris was going to die. There was no two ways about it. If he had waited two minutes, just two more minutes he would have gotten to see something. The fire in JC’s eyes turned to frustrated anger. Now instead of making out with Lance he had to sit and listen to Chris say he’d seen Joey and Justin. He looked to the ceiling briefly. You’re mad at me aren’t you, God? You’re punishing me for not telling Lance how I feel. Please just give me a little time because I swear I’m doing this all for love.

Lance didn’t know whether he wanted to kill Chris or kiss him. He settled on watching him bounce excitedly in place. “Chris, you see Justin and Joey nearly everyday. What was so special about this time that made you drive all the way over here to tell us.”

“Man, I didn’t just see them. I really saw them.”

JC could feel his frustrations rising. The sexiest man on Earth was having dinner with him. Everything was going great. He’d gotten to kiss him earlier in the night, and it had looked like maybe he would have gotten to enjoy a few more kisses but, no, the walking, talking, ball of energy had to burst in on the scene. Understandably he was upset and it made him practically snarl, “What the hell are you talking about, Chris?”

Lance laid a hand on his arm warningly. “Josh, let him finish.”

JC looked from Chris to Lance. He could see the concern in Lance’s eyes. He gripped the hand on his arm and blew out a breath. Only for Lance. He turned back to Chris and mumbled, “Sorry. Keep going.”

“Well, see, after I left here…”

Chris’s voice was barely a murmur in the background. All of Lance’s attention was trained on the warm hand currently covering his own. He could feel the warm imprint of each finger as it lightly gripped him. JC stroked his thumb absently over his hand and the slightly rough skin stimulated his nerve endings, sending tingles of awareness up his arm and directly to his groin. The slow back and forth movement of JC’s thumb was mesmerizing, and Lance found himself unable to look away from it.

He became aware that he’d missed something when JC tensed and stopped stroking his hand. He sat for a moment missing the sensual contact before he ventured a look at JC’s face. His eyes traveled first to JC’s incredulous expression and then to Chris’s bemused one. Uh oh. Must have been something important that he missed. “Sorry, guys, I kinda zoned out. What did you say?”

Lance noted the dazed look in JC’s eyes when he swung his head around. The intense blue gaze was slightly unfocused as it fastened on him, and Lance instantly became concerned. “Josh?”

“They’re sleeping together.”

Lance’s brow crinkled. He couldn’t have heard that right. “What?”

JC spoke slowly. “Justin and Joey are sleeping together. Chris went over to Justin’s when he couldn’t find them at the club, and he walked in on them having sex.” At Lance’s look of confusion JC continued. “With each other.”

A look of astonishment crossed Lance’s face. Of all the people he would have picked, it would never have been Justin and Joey. He looked to Chris for confirmation. Chris just shook his head as he continued to bounce excitedly. Lance could see the sincerity clearly mirrored in his eyes. “Chris…are you alright with this?”

Lance watched Chris wring his hands. He couldn’t quite read the expression on his face. “I…I…Shit! I think it’s on crack, Lance. I mean Justin hookin’ up with Joey.” A look of wonder appeared on Chris’s face. “Damn! I can’t believe they got together.” A look of extreme mischief crossed his face. “Woohoo! Blackmail oportunit-aaas! Now I can finally catch them in some embarrassing moments and they’ll have to leave me alone about mine.” Chris turned and, for the second time that night, rushed out the door.

Lance stared at the door. A half smile hovered on his lips. His mind was racing. Justin and Joey. Justin and Joey. Justin and Joey. It was a mantra repeated over and over. A feeling of relief washed over him. The line had been crossed, and he wasn’t the one that had to do it.

“Well…that was interesting.” Lance turned to JC who just shrugged and went back to eating.

The remainder of dinner had passed in a strained silence. Well, it was strained for Lance. JC acted as though nothing unusual had happened. He had tried to engage Lance in conversation but Lance wouldn’t respond. He was too preoccupied with thoughts of Joey and Justin. The tension lessened when they moved to the den.

JC sat at the piano in an attempt to ease the awkwardness he could feel emanating from Lance. Maybe he had been wrong. Maybe Lance wasn’t homosexually inclined. The thought sadden him. He looked down at the keys and then stoked them like an old lover. This was his refuge. Here he could just be and nothing would bother him. Maybe for a few minutes he could forget all the uncertainties. He began to play as his thoughts drifted aimlessly. As the haunting notes filled the air he surrendered to the music and let himself fly. His eyes were closed and a blissful expression graced his face.

Lance watched as JC lost himself in his music. From his seat across the room he could see the passion radiate from JC. It was like a visible aura that surrounded him. His whole body seemed to glow with emotion. Lance had never seen a more beautiful sight, and it called to him on a primitive level. His oft-denied desires rose in tandem with the rhythm of the music and pulled him into the emotion of the song. Lance made a decision. There was no turning back.

The song finished, JC opened his eyes to find Lance’s exquisite green eyes trained on him. Even from across the room JC could feel their burn. So much passion lived in those eyes that JC couldn’t help but fall into them. As he stared into their mesmerizing depths he saw apprehension and worry replace the passion. He stared for a moment more and then made his way over to sit beside Lance.

“You wanna talk about it?”

Worry flashed in Lance’s eyes. He had come to a decision, and he wasn’t sure how to proceed. “I…It’s…How…” The words wouldn’t seem to come. He just didn’t know how to phrase what he needed to say.

“Lance, it’s okay.” A pained expression crossed JC’s face. “If Justin and Joey being together bothers you that bad, we’ll work something out. I’m sure neither one of them wants to hurt you.”

Lance looked at JC’s crestfallen expression. A small smile played on his lips. “Ah, JC, that wasn’t what I was trying to say.” JC perked up instantly, and Lance’s smile spread even more. “What I was trying to say was…” Lance tried a different tactic. “Well, it’s that I…” That didn’t work either. “Damn! Why is this so difficult to say to you?” He had told Chris and Joey. Why couldn’t he say it to JC? He knew it was because JC was the one he loved. If Chris and Joey had rejected him he could have survived but, God, if JC rejected him he would die a thousand deaths.

“Just say it, Lance. I’m on the edge of my seat over here.”

Lance raised an eyebrow, temporarily distracted from the subject. “If you call what you’re doing sitting on the edge of your seat, I’d hate to see what sprawled in the corner of the couch looked like.”

“Cheeky. You know what I meant. Now, spit it out. What’s so hard to say?”

“I…I…”

“Lance!” JC warningly prompted.

“I’m bisexual.” Lance closed his eyes tightly and waited for JC’s reaction. A startled snort and then choking laughs was not what he expected.

Relief nearly choked JC as his brain processed what Lance had said. Laughter spilled out before he could stop it, and he watched Lance’s eyes pop open in surprise. When he saw the look in them he tried to quell his laughter. “Sorry. That’s just…uh…by my calculations that brings the total of bi *NSYNC members to,” Lance watched him count on his fingers, “four.” More laughter erupted from his lips. “’Cause you cannot tell me that Joey and Justin are entirely gay. They both like women too much.

Lance was thrown for a minute. “Four? JC, you can’t count.”

“Can too. See. Justin,” He held up one finger, “Joey,” another one joined the first, “you,” there went a third one, “and me.” there went the fourth one.

Lance’s heart nearly stopped. “Since when?”

“Since when what?”

“Since when are you bi?” Lance could feel his heart thud. With two little words JC had turned his life upside down. A spark of hope lit deep inside. JC was bi. Lance felt like jumping for joy.

“Since, umm, a couple of years ago I guess.” A sheepish expression crossed his face. “I just never got around to telling anyone.” He thought of Justin and crossed his fingers. He couldn’t explain that to Lance right at the moment. Maybe on their first anniversary.

“Never got around to telling anyone. JC!”

JC cleared his throat. “Lance!” He looked at him pointedly. “You have no room to talk. How long have you been having these feelings?”

Lance had the grace to look embarrassed. A bright smile then covered his face. “We make quite a pair don’t we?” He laughed lightly. A two-ton weight had just been lifted off his chest. “Subconsciously I’ve always known I was bisexual. Looking back now everything is so clear. I remember once being at summer camp and being crazy for the girls. But not ten minutes later I would be checking out some of the other boys. I didn’t make the connection back then. The full impact didn’t really hit me until I was in my teens.” A playful grin appeared on his lips. “It’s kind of hard to deny that you’re bi when you get turned on by the quarterback as well as the head cheerleader he’s dating.”

“That would make it a little difficult.” JC laughed and relaxed further into the couch. His dancing blue eyes focused on Lance, and he couldn’t believe how stunning he looked at that moment. Coming out agreed with him. “So have you ever resented the way you are?”

Lance sobered at the thought. “Jace, I didn’t wake up one morning and go ‘oh, I like boys’. It’s always been a part of me. I’ve had to come to terms with some things. There is the whole ‘am I going to hell’ thing. I’ve spent many hours on my knees praying to God that he would love me just the same. I prayed that he would accept me for who I am and not for whom I love.” Lance leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. He turned his head and looked at JC. “You know what He told me?”

“What?”

“He told me that love is special no matter who you find it with. It’s not who you love, it’s how you love.” Lance grinned. “Three little letters. Mix ‘em up and it makes all the difference.

“You know, I think you’re right.” A contented smile settled on JC’s face. “He told me the same thing.”

“So what about you? How did realize your sexuality?” Lance pulled one of his legs up on the couch and scooted closer to JC.

JC hesitated for a moment. He wanted to tell Lance but at the same time he didn’t want to reveal his feelings for him. His game of cat and mouse was too much fun to abandon quickly.

Lance waved his hand in front of JC’s face. “Woohoo! Jace, anybody home?”

JC snapped his attention back to Lance. “Sorry. I was thinking.”

The grin died on Lance’s face. “Josh, if you don’t want to tell me it’s okay. I don’t want to force you just to satisfy my curiosity.”

JC grabbed Lance around the neck and pulled him down to give him a noogie. “Don’t even think that. I’m gonna tell you, squirt. I’m just not ready to tell you all of it.”

Lance couldn’t contain his relieved laughter. He wanted JC to share everything with him. “Hey! Hey! Watch the hair. I spent two minutes getting it to look perfect.”

JC let Lance up. “And I do appreciate the effort.” He rolled his eyes for effect.

They sat there for a few minutes with Lance patiently waiting for JC to continue with his story. He was about to burst at the seams, and the ticking of the mantle clock was slowly driving him insane. Finally he couldn’t stand the suspense any longer. “Jace, are you going to tell me or am I going to have to do a Vulcan mind meld on you?”

JC cocked an eyebrow at him. “Mr. Spock you ain’t, Lansten.”

“Well, not to rush you or anything but…the suspense is killing me.”

“Patience is a virtue, little fish.” JC gave him a mock scowl. “Practice it.”

Lance rolled his eyes. “Yes, oh wise and corny big daddy.” Lance sat there for about a minute as JC regarded him through lowered lids. “Okay, I’ve practiced enough. Tell me.”

A smile was JC’s only response. He was aware that if he didn’t state his response just right he could give Lance entirely the wrong idea. “Lance, have you ever been so consumed by something that it overshadowed everything in your life? I mean, literally, it was all you focused on, and everything else was just details.”

Lance studied JC for a moment. “I don’t know, Jace. You know I tend to get lost in the details. I can’t really think of anything that consuming.”

JC nodded. “For me music has been all consuming. Up until a couple of years ago I ate, slept, and breathed music. I didn’t put energy into my relationships.” JC scooted closer to Lance and started to gesture with his hands. “When I spent time with you and the guys I was there but in the back of my mind the music was always playing. It was always the first priority in my life.”

It was clear to Lance that JC was weighing each word he spoke carefully. There was more to the story than he was telling. “So what changed? What took the place of the music?”

JC totally ignored Lance’s second question and avoided any mention that there was a person he was interested in. That one would have to wait until much later. “One night my world was turned upside down. I didn’t know what to do. I felt lost. The music couldn’t help me and I didn’t know where to turn. There was really only one place I could go. So I found a little chapel, and I hit my knees and prayed. I talked to God for hours.” JC’s eyes took on a far away look. “That night was an eye opening experience. God pointed out things to me that I had been totally oblivious to.” A laugh escaped JC’s lips. “It’s funny, like you said. Looking back now the signs were all there I had just never slowed down enough to see them. But I’m not gonna let that happen again. The people in my life are too important to take for granted and,” JC winked at Lance, “you never know when the ONE might be right under your nose.” He smacked Lance on the stomach. “You gotta keep you eyes open, Lansten.”

“Really. I’ve heard that before,” was the sarcastic reply.

“No kidding?” JC smacked himself on the head. “And here I thought I had an original thought.”

“Nah, your hair gel prevents that.”

“What? Damn, I can’t win for losing.” JC’s eyes met Lance’s and they shared a smile as they sat back to think about the night’s revelations.

The two sat in a companionable silence, each lost in his own thoughts. As the minutes ticked by there was a subtle shift in the air.

JC peeked over at Lance and caught him staring at him. When their eyes met they both burst into laughter. Immediately JC was across the couch placing small kisses on Lance’s face. “Take me, Scoop. I’m yours.”

Lance tried to push JC away but was weak with laughter. “Get off me, you nut.”

JC fell back in his corner of the couch laughing. He tried to speak several times but was overcome with laughter. Finally wiping the tears out of his eyes he managed to get out, “I’m glad we had this talk. It’s about damn time.”

Lance agreed. “Me, too. I didn’t realize how much we’ve been holding back. It feels good to have it out in the open.” He shook his head as a thought occurred to him. “You do realize we’re going to be, umm, exposed to Joe and Jus once we get back on the road don’t you?”

JC scrunched up his face. “Ewww…thank you for that lovely mental picture. Just when I thought I’d been exposed to every horror known to man you bring that up.” He sat there for a moment. “They’ll drive us crazy. I can see it now, Justin’ll whine, ‘Josh, why don’t you go ride with Lance. He’ll be lonely since Joey is staying with me.’

A laugh escaped Lance. “Yeah, or else we’ll be stopping every twenty minutes so they can have a moment. We might as well kick one of them off the bus and just share. I think we’d all be a lot happier.”

“Err…I vote Justin moves to your bus. I like ours better than yours.”

“Okay, the Chasez-Bass bus it is.” Lance stretched out on the couch and laid his head in JC’s lap. “So when should we tell them? And should we give Chris the option of moving, too?”

JC looked down and brushed his fingers through Lance’s hair. “Somehow I’m thinking Chris will relish this opportunity to gather incriminating info on them. I’m sure he’ll want to stay with them. And tell them what? That we know or that we’re changing living arrangements?”

Lance crossed his eyes and scowled. “Living arrangements. Let’s see how long it takes them to come right out and tell us they’re together.”

“Sounds like a plan. I guess we should tell them about the move tomorrow so we have enough time to get everything moved before we hit the road on Tuesday.”

Lance shook his head and placed his arm underneath his head. “You’re probably right.” He cocked his head to the side. “You know from this angle your razor doesn’t work that well.”

JC looked down to meet Lance’s eyes. He could see the humor shining in them. “What are you talking about?”

Lance moved his hand from behind his head and touched just underneath JC’s chin. “You missed a spot.”

JC rubbed his hand along his jaw and felt the rough patch of stubble Lance had touched. Guess he hadn’t been as careful getting ready as he thought he had. “That’s not my razor’s fault. I have, um, spontaneous hair growth. Yeah, that’s it.”

Lance rolled his eyes. “Riiight. So what are we doing for the rest of the night?” He was quite comfortable right here in JC’s lap but he thought he should at least make a suggestion.

“I don’t know. I think I’m ready for bed. This has been an unusual day.”

“I won’t deny that but I’m kinda in the mood for dancing.”

JC arched his eyebrow questioningly. “Club?”

“Uh huh.”

JC sighed. “Fast or slow?”

Lance’s brow furrowed in thought. “Slow.”

JC let his head fall back against the couch. “Lance, you are going to be the death of me.”

“Yeah, but what a way to go.” A mischievous smile played on Lance’s lips and his eyes sparkled merrily.

Bringing his hands together JC looked toward the ceiling. “Oh, Lord. Save me from impish, green-eyed blondes.”

“Come on. We won’t stay long and, if you’re real good, I’ll save a dance for you.”

“See that you do,” JC mumbled. The evening’s turn of events pleased him. Although his grumbles could be heard all the way to the club, he was silently thanking Joey and Justin for their indiscretions. If it weren’t for them, he wouldn’t have the prolonged opportunity to woo Lance that their sharing a bus would afford.

Chris pulled into Justin’s drive and shut the car off. He gathered up his squirt guns and silly string and crept into the house. Silently he made his way to the den where he had seen Joey and Justin earlier. He slowed to a stop just outside the doorway and prepared his arsenal for attack. He peeked inside and spied Joey sitting, fully dressed, on the couch watching television. His eyes scanned the rest of the room but there was no sign of Justin.

“What are you doing here?”

Chris yelped and jumped as Justin’s voice came from behind him. He dropped everything he had been carrying as he whirled around. He was met with Justin’s smiling face. “Jesus, Justin, you scared the shit out of me!”

Justin shrugged and grinned. “I have that effect on people.”

“Jussy! Is the popcorn ready yet?” Joey yelled from his position in front of the TV.

Jussy? Chris watched Justin walk over to the couch and lean down behind Joey. It was strange watching the two in such intimate proximity. Justin had his right hand on Joey’s neck while he spoke into his left ear. His curly hair was mussed and his white wife beater looked like it had been hastily pulled down to his low riding jeans. Chris eased a little closer so he could hear what they were saying.

“…but, Jo-Jo, I think we should tell…”

“Not right now, Justin. Later.”

Evidently they didn’t know that Chris had seen them. Maybe he could still get even with them. As affectionate as Justin and Joey both were he figured catching them in a compromising position wouldn’t be that difficult. He eyed them critically. Nope, not hard at all considering how they were acting. Justin was now threading his fingers through Joey’s hair, and Joey was laughing at something Justin had whispered to him. Grudgingly he admitted they looked cute together even if he had never gotten any of the vibes from Justin that he did from Joey. Evidently Justin was in stealth mode and kept his pings under tight wraps. Either that or Chris’s gaydar wasn’t tuned right.

Justin dropped a kiss on the top of Joey’s head and pushed away from the couch. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Facing Chris surprise showed on his face. It was clear to Chris that he had been caught up in the moment and had forgotten he was there. “Chris! You’re still here.”

Chris’s left eyebrow rose of its own accord and he couldn’t control the sarcasm in his voice. Not that he really wanted to. “Yeah, my ride to the next star system called and said he was sick so I decided to hang out with you two losers.” He glanced over at Joey and then back to Justin. “I didn’t interrupt anything did I?”

In two long strides Justin was by his side. He stopped just short of reaching him and to his right. He bowed mockingly at the waist. With his arms he ushered Chris into the room. “Not at all, good sir. In fact we were about to watch a movie and the Cinema de Timberlake is always happy to have multiple patrons.” Justin rose up and pointed to a chair. In his best Ebonics he said, “Now sit yo’ ass down. The movie be startin’ in two minutes.”

“Dude, you’re weird.” Chris shook his head and headed for a chair as Justin exited the room. He plopped down into an overstuffed chair and regarded Joey who was sitting perpendicular to him on the couch. He didn’t look like he’d been having sex. Then again, it had been a couple of hours. However, he couldn’t discount the sparkle in his eyes. Normally he didn’t look like that. “So what have you and J been up to all night?”

Joey flashed Chris a grin. Crinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes, and he relaxed into the corner of the couch. “Ah, you know, a little of this. A little of that.” Shifting a little so that he was turned more toward Chris, he stretched his legs out and crossed them at the ankles. His arm made its way to the back of the couch. “We went to a club. Did the usual. Dance. Drink. Have fun. What about you? Did you play referee with Lance and JC’s date?”

“Not even. That freak we call JC is on some weird shit.” His eyes crossed as two coke cans were suddenly held close in front of his eyes. He took one of them. “Thanks, Curly.”

“You’re welcome.”

Justin curled up on the couch next to Joey. Chris watched as he fitted himself into the niche Joey had created by placing his arm on the back of the couch. He settled back against Joey’s side and set the popcorn bowl in his lap. The other can he had been carrying was unceremoniously grabbed out of his hand. He glared over his shoulder at Joey.

“You don’t drink this stuff.”

Justin turned back to his popcorn. “Whatever. I know that. It was for you anyway.”

The exchange amused Chris. Justin was acting quite the girlfriend, which was contradictory to what he’d seen earlier. Joey should be the one waiting on Justin. “You’re becoming very domesticated, Jus. What’s the deal?”

Justin scowled. “Nothing. I’m just a good host.” A handful of popcorn made its way to his mouth. He munched quickly and then swallowed. “So what were you saying about JC?”

Avoidance, thy name be Justin. Chris cocked an eyebrow. He decided to let them slide for the time being. “In a round about way, JC’s date turned out to be Lance.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Chris laughed. They both looked so clueless. “JC showed up with his FreeLance contracts spouting that they were his date and future. He really has turned into a complete psycho. Any doctor would certify him insane on the spot. But, anyway, he was a little too weird for me and since I wasn’t needed for moral support I split.” Yeah, I split and came over here to find the two of you getting freaky deaky on the couch. What is this? Torment and torture Chris day.

“Ugh…and you call me weird.” Justin’s face scrunched up and he shook his head. “Maybe those two will finally hook up. All their sexual tension is getting to me.”

I’ll just be it is. “You are weird. Just a different kind.” Chris raised the can of coke to his mouth and said before taking a drink, “So what are we gonna watch?”

Justin glanced at Joey and then at Chris. He smiled innocently. “The Birdcage.”

Coke spewed from Chris’s mouth. His eyes burned and he started to cough. Through the tears he saw Justin and Joey doubled over laughing. They thought they were too cute. Just wait till he got finished with them. “It’s not funny,” he managed to rasp out. “I’ve spent all night around gay couples. I do not want to watch them on TV no matter how funny the movie.”

Joey gave Chris an innocent look. “Whatcha talkin’ ‘bout Chris? I thought you had just been at Lance’s. There’s only one couple over there.”

“Don’t give me that innocent look!” Chris gulped in a deep breath and coughed. In a normal voice he managed to get out, “I saw you two.”

Surprise was etched on Justin’s face. “Saw us. What’d you mean you saw us?”

“I saw you,” he pointed a finger at Joey who was holding his arms around Justin’s waist, “and him getting it on. I came looking for you when I couldn’t find you at the club and you two were freakin’ on the couch. I have never, and wish to never, see that much of your skin again.”

A mischievous expression crossed Joey’s face. He laid his head on Justin’s shoulder and spoke. “Well, Jus, I think we’re caught. We might as well fess up.” He raised his head up and looked directly at Chris. “Did you tell Lance and JC?”

Chris tried to back step. Maybe he had been wrong to blurt out what he had seen. He never thought he might hurt Joey or Justin. “Uh…well…uh…”

Justin rolled his eyes, exasperated with Chris. “Did you or didn’t you?”

Finally Chris just gave in. “Of course I did! You can’t expect me to see your naked ass humpin’ Joey’s and not need some support. It was friggin’ traumatizing.”

Justin fell back against Joey laughing. He couldn’t help it. The picture Chris had just painted seemed ridiculous. He pulled away from Joey and scooted closer to Chris’s chair. “God, Chris, that was good. But I wasn’t, uh, humpin’ Joey. He had underwear on. My naked ass was just for your benefit. We wanted you to believe what you saw.”

Chris glared at Justin. “Would you mind telling me what exactly you’re talking about?”

“We set you up, man. It wasn’t real.” Joey leaned on his elbows on his knees and wiped the tears from his eyes. “We’re trying to push Lance and JC together. If we pretend Justin and I are together then we can stick them on a bus together and they’ll have to spend time together.” Joey looked thoughtful for a moment. “Damn, that was a lot of togethers.” Justin reached over and smacked him on the side of the head. Joey glared at him as he rubbed his head and continued. “Anyway, Justin and I being together in a, quote,” he held his fingers up mimicking quotation marks, “gay relationship will take the pressure off of them. They shouldn’t be as nervous about being together if someone crosses that line before them. As long as they think our relationship is real everything should be fine.”

“That’s nice and all but could you tell me again why I had to see Justin au natural.”

Joey rolled his eyes and leaned back against the couch. Justin was the one to explain it to Chris. “We don’t want to lie to them. That would undermine our whole friendship. That’s why we set you up. We wanted you to believe it so that you wouldn’t be lying to them. When it comes time to explain why we’re spending so much time together we’re gonna tell them that we’re working on a project. One that’s very special and will be a surprise.”

Chris grumbled. “That’s gonna be some surprise. How do I fit into it now that I know the truth?” He sat up straight and looked them in the eyes. “’Cause I refuse to lie to them about something this important.”

Justin closed his eyes and formulated what he wanted to say. He respected Chris’s position. Hell, he shared it. There were just some things that needed to be done, though. Lance and JC had danced around each other for far too long. “Tell them that you don’t want to talk about it. We have to do this, Chris. They need us to do this. It’s our mission in life.”

“Mission my ass,” Chris mumbled to himself. To the other two he said, “Count me in. The things we do for our friends.” He blew out a breath and eyed Justin and Joey. “Are you sure the two of you are strictly platonic? There’s no freakiness between?”

Justin laughed. “Chris, move on. We’ve covered this.”

“I’m still not convinced. That little scene I saw looked very real.”

Joey groaned. “You’re never going to let us live this down are you?”

“Umm, let me think….no!”

Justin jumped up. Their little discussion had gone on long enough. “Good. Now that that’s all settled, can we get back to the movie? I am in some serious need for a good kick butt movie.”

“I thought we were watching The Birdcage.”

“Er…no. We were only going to watch that for as long as it took you to say something.” He pulled out another movie case and brandished it at Chris. “This is what we’re really going to watch.”

“Aliens. Hmm…I wonder if we’re the only people that go from pretend gay relationships to acid bleeding monsters in the space of a few minutes.”

Joey piped up. “Doubtful but look at it this way. At least we’ll never be accused of being boring.”

“True. True.” Chris looked at Justin. “Well, stick it in. The night isn’t getting any younger.”

Justin looked at Chris sternly. “Chris, I’m flattered. Really. I am. But for the duration, Joey is my man. I will not be sticking anything in for you.”

“Yeah, Christopher, that’s my man you’re propositioning! And nobody messes with what’s mine.”

Chris flushed and shot daggers at Joey who was trying not to laugh. “You know what I meant,” Chris mumbled. He frowned at Justin. “Now, Justin, would you please put the movie in the VCR?”

“Why certainly, Mr. Kirkpatrick.” Justin laughed and did as requested. He settled back against the couch and silently thanked God that he had such wonderful friends. Glancing from Chris to Joey, he knew that they, along with Lance and JC, were what made his life worth living. Everything else was just writing on the wall compared to four such special people. More supportive and caring people he had never met. He was glad he could give back a little happiness even if it was by pretending to be Joey’s man, which, he reminded himself, wasn’t that bad at all.

TBC…

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