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.

I would also like to say that in this part some of the characters rag on JC’s clothing choices. Personally, I enjoy his fashion sense. He wears the coolest pants out there and, well, the boy is just sexy. So I hope no one takes offense because I do not mean to imply JC dresses badly.

Scoop 8

Lance tapped his fingers on his thigh as he waited for someone to say something. His announcement hadn’t contained any new information, however, in itself the announcement was highly unexpected. So here he sat with JC on his right side, Chris in the chair to JC’s right, and Justin and Joey occupying the couch directly across from him waiting for one of them to say something.

Justin was the first to respond. “What do you mean, bisexual?”

An amused smirk crossed Lance’s face before he answered. “Bi, Latin for two. Sexual, of the sexes or the relationships or feelings between them. Put it together and it means attracted to both male and female.” Lance had to bite his check to keep from laughing. Justin could be so dense at times.

Justin waved his hand dismissively. “I know what the word means, Lance. What I want to know is why you’re telling us now?”

“I thought it was time to officially get it out in the open. It occurred to me that we’ve never discussed this as a group, and we need to because it affects all of us. Now Joey, Jace, and Chris already know about me so my announcement was for your benefit. Do you have a problem with it?”

Justin paused with a thoughtful expression on his face. Slowly his eyes met Lance’s and he shook his head. “Yes, I do.” A small smile crossed his face as he saw JC tense out of the corner of his eye. Without giving him a chance to rush to his man’s defense he breezily continued. “I don’t like it that I’m the last one to hear it from you.” He grumbled to himself, “Not like I didn’t already know,” he stressed, “but I hate being the last one let in on the not-so-secret secret.”

Lance laughed and reached over to cuff Justin on the ear. “Sh’up, squirt! I’m not the only one with secrets around here.” A broad, knowing grin spread across his face as he watched Justin and Joey squirm in their seats.

They were going to great lengths to hook him and JC up and he appreciated it but the tension was getting to them. There was no doubt in his mind that when they had agreed to their pretend relationship neither one of them anticipated the effect it would have. What was more surprising to him than anything, though, was that they had done nothing about it. Both were the types to go after what they wanted and it baffled Lance that neither had made the first move on the other. Oh, well, he thought. Those snails were about to morph into rabbits.

“Yeah, but the rest of us aren’t as open about our secrets. I’ve know you were gay since the day you said Adrian Paul was the sexiest man on Earth.”

“Bi, Justin,” Lance said exasperated. “I still like women. And what are you talking about? I never said anything about liking Adrian Paul.”

JC broke into their exchange. “Uh…er…Jus, that was me.” Lance turned to see a sheepish expression on JC’s face. “I said that, although, I have since changed my mind.”

Justin grumbled. “Well, it really doesn’t matter. I knew anyway. Who cares how?”

Lance, completely ignoring Justin, couldn’t resist teasing JC a little. “Woo, Jace, since when did you become a fan of Highlander?”

“Since they cast the second sexiest man in the universe as the lead.”

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

“Well, then. Who’s the first sexiest man in the universe?”

“Hmm…I could say Brad Pitt or Ben Affleck or maybe David James Elliot or Michael T. Weiss but,” his sigh was audible throughout the whole room, “according to Heather, you’re the sexiest man in the universe.

The pause after JC’s statement was deafening. Lance was the first to recover. “Okay, now that we know your sister needs her head examined…Are there any other comments on me being bisexual? Speak now or wait ‘til later.” Lance looked each one of them in the eye. Justin looked petulant while every one else had smiles of varying intensity on their faces. “Okay, next order of business.”

“That’s me! That’s me! I’m next.” JC piped up as he absent-mindedly bounced in place. “I’m bi too.”

“Oh, my God!” Chris yelled as he jumped up out of the chair. “Not you too. You can’t be bi. How did this happen? You seemed so…so… You dress too badly to be gay! Men who swing that way are supposed to have better fashion sense.”

JC flinched at Chris’s reaction. He had been sure they would all accept him. After all, they knew about Lance and it didn’t bother them. Justin and Joey were together and no one seemed to mind. The blood drained from his face making him pale. Why did Chris care that he swung that way too?

It was Lance’s turn to tense at Chris’s unexpected reaction. Of all of them Chris had seemed the most accepting. Helplessly he watched the blood drain from JC’s face and his heart went out to him. Rage filled him as he turned to confront Chris. No one got away with hurting the man he loved. No one. “Chris.” The threat in his voice was unmistakable.

Chris grinned madly and plopped down in Lance’s lap. He wrapped his arms around Lance’s neck and placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek. “Down boy. I was only joking.” He made a production of sizing up JC’s appearance and then leaning toward Lance to mock whisper, “Besides, with the clothes he wears it’s obvious he’s a little off. I mean look at him. He’s a flamer wannabe.”

“You dick! I thought you were serious. And I do not flame. I dress eccentrically.”

“I don’t know, JC. He could be right.” Joey turned to look at Chris. “Personally, I think his straight side fights with his gay side and the battle takes place in the fashion theatre.” He turned back to JC with sympathetic eyes. “And, frankly, both sides are losing. Maybe you should think about a cease fire.”

JC glared at Joey and then at Justin who was trying not to laugh. “You’re only saying that because you’re jealous.”

“Uh huh, keep telling yourself that.”

“JC, the pants you wore in the TIPY video looked like they were made of genuine squirrel hide. That’s not eccentric. That’s weird.”

“Yeah, Jace. Joey and me were discussing putting in a disclaimer at the end saying no small, furry rodents were hurt during the making of the video.”

“Hmpf! I don’t make fun of your clothes.” JC replied. “You’re lucky I love you guys or I would be majorly offended.”

“That’s because I dress very well.” Justin’s eyes twinkled as he sized up his two friends. They were so cute. Lance was trying to untangle himself from Chris so that he could comfort JC, and JC was pouting because no one had defended his fashion sense. They made quite a pair.

Finally Lance was able to shove Chris off of his lap. He glared at the other three before sliding closer to JC and patting him on the back in a comforting manner. True some of JC’s clothes were atrocious, but for the most part he looked very nice in what he wore. It wasn’t as if they all hadn’t worn butt ugly clothes at one point or another. Besides, this was a matter of principle. “I happen to like most of Josh’s clothes. He’s right. You’re just jealous you can’t pull off some of the combinations he wears.”

“I’d like to pull off some of the combinations he wears,” Chris muttered from his ignoble sprawl on the floor where Lance dumped him, “AND BURN THEM!” he practically shouted. A flush appeared across his face the minute he stopped talking. “Okay, maybe that was a little harsh. But,” he stressed, “I would like to rearrange your closet so that matching outfits hang together so you would have some clue as to what kind of shirt you’re supposed to wear with those weird pants you have a thing for.”

“Hey! I like JC’s weird pants. They have character.” Lance was beginning to get into this argument. They didn’t argue often about wardrobe but this was kind of fun. Part of the time, he knew, JC only wore his more eccentric clothes to see what kind of reaction he would get. It had almost become a game, one in which he excelled.

“You like his pants because he’s in them!”

“That’s beside the point. He still has some really cool pants-”

Chris interrupted him with a wave of his hand. “Don’t even try to deny it, Lance. You dream of disposing of his clothes.”

Lance looked at JC and took in the interest those beautiful blue eyes were radiating. Well, he had wanted to start pushing the envelope in their relationship. Now was as good a time as any to start. He leaned closer until he was pressed against JC’s side and then he switched his attention back to Chris. “Yeah, you’re right, but,” he wagged his eyebrows suggestively, “for a different reason entirely.” JC stiffened slightly but relaxed when Lance rubbed his hand comfortingly down his back.

While Chris was trying to figure out exactly what Lance had meant by that statement, Justin and Joey adopted similar expressions of incredulity at Chris’s lack of comprehension. They rolled their eyes and sat back to wait for him to get it.

When the light bulb finally blinked on in Chris’s head, Lance could almost swear he saw it. “Oh, my GOD! LANCE! That was not a mental picture I needed.” He laid out flat on his back on the floor and ran his hands down his face. “I think…I’m scarred for life.” He leveled a disproving stare at Lance. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Oh, I am. Terribly ashamed,” Lance nodded contritely. “I am so ashamed I’m not gonna tell you how sexy his ass looks when he bends over to take off those spandex shorts he always wears under his pants after a show.”

“Lance!” Chris had a horrified expression on his face.

“You watch me change into my underwear?”

Lance turned his head to see that JC was watching him closely. Curiosity and hope filled his riveting blue eyes. For a moment Lance got lost in the endless ocean of blue that told him so much about the man he loved. Before he could get too mushy he winked and pinched JC’s ass. JC yelped. “Everybody has a hobby, Joshua. Can I help it if starin’ at your delectable ass is mine?”

“Well –“

“Justin and I would like to take this opportunity to say that we don’t know you. You bear a vague resemblance to the guy we auditioned to be the bass, but that’s it.”

Lance glared at Joey for the interruption.

“Sooo,” Justin drew out, “both of you are bisexual and living on a bus together…and Lance’s hobby is starin’ at your ass.” He adopted an innocent expression. “How’s that workin’ for ya?”

Lance settled more comfortably against JC and rested his cheek on his shoulder. In that position he could inhale the intoxicating scent of JC’s cologne. Maybe he would just skip the rest of the meeting and snuggle with JC. That would definitely be more fun.

“Helloooo! Earth to the snuggle bunnies! Anybody home?” Justin’s voice sing-songed.

“Huh?” Lance was slow to respond. JC had leaned his head against his own and both of them had had their eyes closed.

“I said,” Justin repeated, “How is two bisexual guys living together on one bus working?”

A quick glance at JC showed that he wasn’t about to answer the question. His eyes had taken on a dreamy quality that Lance would like to see under much more private and intimate circumstances. “Well, for the most part, nothing is any different except somehow I got talked into being his guinea pig.” The dazed looked left JC’s eyes as he pulled away to defend whatever it was Lance was accusing him of. “He wanted to learn how to kiss a guy, and I was the only poor schmo handy. Now I have to practice kissing him at least once a day every day and –“

“Hey! I’m not that bad of a kisser. You said so yourself.”

“…lately, he’s threatened to throw me out and replace me with a boyfriend.” Lance shook his head, “Sheesh, you try to help a guy out and he turns around and slams the door on your ass before you can get out of the way.”

“Fine! Just for that I’m dumping you for a girl.”

Lance pretended to pout but the twinkle was evident in his crystalline green eyes. “Whatever. You can’t dump me. You don’t have me. Besides, I don’t think I care anymore.”

“Now, Lance, you know I was only kidding,” JC tried to placate.

Lance affected a hurt look. Some days JC was so gullible. “Sure, Josh, whatever you say.”

“Lance –“

“Come off it, C. Can’t you tell he’s playing with you?” Chris said exasperated with the exchange. He felt a sharp pain in his side as Lance kicked him with the toe of his boot. “What? I’m only concerned for the both of you. We all know JC needs lots and lots of practice kissing and you couldn’t get a guy by yourself if your life depended on it.” Quickly he scrambled up off the floor and lunged behind the couch Justin and Joey were occupying before Lance or JC could retaliate.

“Christopher, you should know better than to interrupt me when I’m playing with Jace’s mind.”

“Yeah, Chris!” JC winked at him. “Don’t interrupt Lance when he’s playing with my mind…or anything else for that matter.”

“Oh, my Lord. You two are too much. You do realized I’m going to need therapy don’t you?” Chris shook his head and threw his hands in the air. He was talking to himself more than anything. “The doctors won’t know what to do with me. I’ll be put in a little padded room and my only company will be my sock puppet, George, who isn’t speaking to me. I’ll never get out. No little Kirkpatricks will gather around my feet and call me daddy. There will be no –“

“Chris, I hate to interrupt you and Dr. Casper but…” Joey started.

“Huh? Who’s Dr. Casper?”

“Woohoo! Mission accomplished!” JC wrapped his arm around Lance’s neck. “We finally drove him over the edge.”

Lance looked sideways at JC before quirking up the side of his mouth. “Vroom!” JC fell over laughing as he collapsed into a fit of giggles.

Justin just shook his head. “Lance, you’re twenty-two years old. You should not be giggling. It’s not manly.”

Lance continued to giggle as he tried to help JC sit back up. “I am,” giggle, “secure enough in my masculinity to,” still more giggles erupted out of him, “giggle.” Finally he had a laughing JC propped up against the arm of the couch and was wiping at the tears streaming from his eyes.

“Whatever, man. Shut up already. I have something to say too.”

JC squeezed Lance’s thigh and then winked at him. Lance understood the unspoken communiqué. It was time. Justin was going to spill the beans about having a relationship with Joey. At least that’s what he knew JC was thinking.

“I…uh…I’m bi as well,” Justin said hesitantly.

The look of shock on Joey’s face surprised Lance. Ah! So that’s it, he thought. Joey must have thought Justin to be straight so he had done nothing to jeopardize their friendship with unwanted advances. Boy was he in for a surprise.

“Oh my. My little Justin has finally come out of the closet.” Mirroring his earlier actions with Lance, Chris wrapped his arms around Justin’s neck from behind and placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek. “I’m so proud of you!” He then patted him on the shoulder sternly and in a firm voice said, “If you ever make a move on my irresistible body I will not hesitate to kill you.”

“As if, you freak.” Justin wrenched away from Chris’s arms and practically fell into Joey’s lap. He glared at Chris as Joey’s arms wrapped securely around his waist keeping him from falling to the floor. “You couldn’t pay me to make a move on you.”

“But, Justin,” Chris started as he climbed over the back of the couch, straddling Justin his intent. Joey’s voice froze him in midair.

“Can it, Chris. He said he wasn’t interested.” Joey’s voice brooked no disobedience.

“Geez, Joe. Touchy much?” Chris said flippantly yet he gingerly backed away from Justin and settled on the couch arm instead. He was not about to arouse Joey’s wrath when it came to Justin. The unrequited sexual tension between the two would make that the equivalent of tossing a lighted match into a jar of gasoline and he did not want to get caught in that particular explosion.

Lance sat with bated breath as Joey glared at Chris and Chris watched Justin struggle to sit up. The undercurrents were unmistakable. Playfulness oozed from Chris while Joey radiated nothing but serious intent. He was most definitely broadcasting his claim on Justin loud and clear. Lance marveled that Justin seemed oblivious to the exchange as finally he worked his way out of Joey’s lap and onto his knees on the couch.

Momentarily Lance was distracted as JC squeezed his arm and made a production of rolling his eyes at Joey’s display of jealousy. Briefly he wondered why seeing JC clown around with one of the other guys didn’t bother him, as it seemed to bother Joey when Justin did it. The only conclusion he could draw was that he was secure in JC’s feelings for him even if they hadn’t directly discussed them.

He smiled at JC to show he felt the same and then turned back to watch the spectacle before him.

Justin slowly spanned the short distance between Chris and himself on his knees. The expression on his face could only be described as predatory. When he licked his lips seductively Chris’s eyes took on a haunted, hunted look. It was really quite amusing. Finally reaching Chris, Justin went in for the kill. He placed his hands on the couch arm on either side of him and slowly leaned forward.

Lance bit his lip and tried not to laugh as he watched Justin. He was like a predator stalking his prey and Chris was that prey. Justin spoke in his most seductive voice. “Chris,” it came out breathy as he leaned close. Lance couldn’t see Justin’s eyes but he was sure merriment was sparkling in them. The closer Justin got the further back Chris leaned.

Once again Lance was distracted by JC who had dropped his head down on Lance’s shoulder and was trying to stifle his laughter. Briefly Lance contemplated the shaggy, unstyled locks adorning JC’s head. He really did like the new hairstyle JC had adopted. With the highlights it made him look casual and relaxed in a beach bum sort of way. It was extremely sexy, and at night when JC would fall asleep next to him, he would gently run his fingers through the soft, silky strands inhaling the sweet combined scent of shampoo and JC before drifting off to sleep.

The shaking of JC’s shoulders increased until Lance was sure he was going to explode from the contained laughter. Not taking his eyes off Justin and Chris, Lance wrapped his arm around JC’s neck and covered his mouth with his hand. An outburst of laughter could stop the show before it really got started.

Lance’s plan backfired on him. JC’s firm, pouty lips served as more of a distraction to him than his laughter would have been. Suddenly every nerve ending in his hand became super-sensitized and his eyes were uncontrollably drawn back to the shaggy locks just under his chin. His body didn’t register the plush comfort of the couch they were sitting on. The constriction of his jeans from JC’s nearness receded into the background. Chris, Joey, Justin, none of them matter. Nothing mattered except the lips pressing into his hand. All thoughts about the amusing little scene across the way fled out the window at the simple, warm touch.

The breath caught in his throat as JC parted those sensual lips and licked at his palm. The roughness of his tongue lightly played across the sensitive skin at the base of his fingers teasing them with its moist seduction. It was the single most erotic thing JC had ever done to him.

Just as feeling was beginning to return to one rather enlarged portion of his body Lance felt JC’s teeth nip his palm. The sharp sting startled him into snatching his hand away and uttering a shocked cry, which was followed closely by another startled cry, this one from Chris.

“Ah! Damn it!”

Lance quickly turned his attention to Chris who was again sprawled on the floor, this time because he had fallen off the arm of the couch. Justin had shifted until he was peering down at Chris and Joey was looking over Justin’s shoulder with a satisfied smirk on his face.

Chris gingerly rubbed the back of his head as he glared at Lance. “What did you yell for, dip weed? You made me fall.”

“Me!” Lance cried indigently. “I had nothing to do with it. It’s Justin’s fault.”

“Yeah, don’t be blaming it on Lance!” Lance looked to see JC’s twinkling eyes as he defended him. Pointedly he looked at Justin and then at Joey hoping that JC would get the idea. He did. “Justin did it.” He pointed at Justin accusingly. “It’s all his fault.”

“Hey! Hey! I didn’t-“

“Don’t even try to deny it, curly fry. We all saw you back Chris up to the edge and practically push him over.” Lance was happy to note that Joey’s was beginning to look perturbed by them attacking his man.

“But I didn’t and you two didn’t see anything. You were so wrapped up in each oth-“

“He’s right, Jus,” Chris cut him off. He smacked him on the back of the head from his kneeling position on the floor. “You were making a move on my irresistible body and I was trying to defend myself and then Lance startled me and that makes it your fault.”

A frustrated look crossed Justin’s face. “But-“

“No buts. You-“

“That’s enough,” Joey roared. Lance winced at the anger but was secretly pleased that Joey had displayed it protecting Justin. Everyone else, except for Justin who wore an expression of incredulity, wore similar satisfied smirks. Whether they had coordinated their efforts or not, the result had been the same. Joey lost his cool defending Justin. Lance felt like dancing…or kissing JC. Sneakily he eyed JC who was trying to placate Joey with false murmurs of apology.

Without a second thought he pounced on JC knocking him onto his back on the couch. Furiously his lips attacked JC’s and then as quickly as he had begun he stopped and sat up. He noted with satisfaction the dazed look on JC’s face and the slightly stunned looks on Chris, Justin, and Joey’s faces.

JC was slow to respond. He licked his lips slowly and looked at Lance from under hooded eyelids. A discreet cough from Justin’s vicinity snapped him out of the Lance-induced stupor. A light blush covered his face as he met Lance’s eyes. He cocked one perfect eyebrow and tried to even the score. “Want to explain what that was all about, Mr. Bass. I mean, I know I’m sexy and all but…”

Lance shrugged innocently. “I had an urge. I couldn’t help myself.” He nodded to himself. “I think it was all the tension in the room. Made me just want to grab something.” The other four were looking at him like he as though he’d just said his mother was purple and he was from Mars. “What?” he tried to defend without succumbing to laughter. “None of you have ever had an urge like that?”

Chris made retching sounds as he covered his eyes. “Urges, yes. But, damn, Lance. My eyes! My eyes! My poor virgin eyes. Man,” he pleaded, “next time you have an urge keep it on your side of the couch or wait until you’re in private. I don’t think we make enough money for me to afford the therapy your actions are gonna cause me to need.”

Lance rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I distinctly remember you telling me you had some kinky fantasy about watching.”

“Girls! Watching girls!” Chris buried his head in his hands. “Can we please not discuss this? I’m gonna traumatize my therapist with these stories. No one will…hey, that could be fun.” His face turned thoughtful as he got lost in his mental wonderings. “Hmm…that has definite possibilities.”

Justin looked at Joey with a pleading expression. “Can we just commit him now and save some trouble?”

Solemnly JC raised his hand. “I second the motion.”

Lance leaned against JC and smiled into the twinkling blue eyes. “All in favor?”

Four hands and voices rose in perfect harmony. “Aye!”

Chris jumped up and started waving his hands in the air frantically. “You can’t vote me off the island! I’m the only straight man in the *NSYNC boat. What will…” Chris caught Joey’s glowering expression and realized what he’d just let slip. “Oops!” he said sheepishly. “Sorry, Joe. It just sorta slipped out.”

Joey sighed and shook his head. “It’s alright. I’ll forgive you this time, Kirkpatrick. I was going to tell them anyway since,” a grin quirked up the corner of his mouth, “everyone was sharing.”

A jubilant expression crossed Justin’s face as Lance watched. He leaned his head against JC’s unconsciously as he mentally smacked himself upside the head. It was appalling that he hadn’t realized it before. How could he have been so clueless not to realize that neither one knew the other batted for the other team?

JC’s lips grazed his temple then settled next to his ear. “You ready to drop the bomb on them?” he whispered. It was all Lance could do not to shiver uncontrollably from the sensation of JC’s breath on his ear.

He sighed. “Not really, but I don’t have much of a choice.” Not now that the plan is in motion. Lance sighed again. The reality of his plan was just beginning to hit him full force. It would be four hellish nights before he could hold JC’s body close to his like this as they slept. All of a sudden this game sucked. He was ready for it to end.

“Hey, guys,” Lance sat up straight, “I wasn’t exactly truthful earlier.” That got everyone’s attention. “I did think it was time to get our, uh, sexualities out in the open but the real reason I decided to bring it up was because we’re under house arrest for the next five nights and I thought we should get it out into the open.”

Justin’s forehead puckered in a frown. “House arrest?”

Chris was more enthusiastic. “Oooohhh! Oooohhh! Does that mean handcuffs? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.” He circled his hands in front of him. “Gonna partay!” Justin smacked him on the back of the head.

“That does not mean you get handcuffs, Chris.”

“Don’t worry, CK,” JC winked at him, “if it’ll make you feel any better I’ll hunt down a pair and cuff you to the bed each night.” A mischievous grin crossed his face. “Course I can’t guarantee I’ll be there to let you out but I’ll still chain you down.”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. You just don’t love me anymore. Otherwise you’d stay the whole night with me.”

Lance tried hard not to roll his eyes. Trust Chris to find a way to make this depressing situation funny. Beside him JC shrugged his shoulders and shook his head negatively with an expression that said, “Yep, you’re right.”

“Lance,” Joey spoke for the first time, “why are we under house arrest. We haven’t done anything bad lately. I can’t remember any of us getting into trouble.”

Lance leaned back against the back of the couch and inconspicuously ran his fingers across the small of JC’s back to remind himself exactly why he was doing this. He sighed and met Joey’s eyes. “Johnny says we need bonding time. He thinks we’re growing apart and before the fans start to notice he wants us to grow, uh, back together?” He slowed down as he realized how stupid that sounded. Silently he shook his head to himself before continuing. “Anyway, he’s ordered us to spend the next five nights bonding. Each night we get a different roommate and we have to,” he held up his hands mimicking quotation marks, “bond. You know, reacquaint ourselves with each other’s deep, dark secrets.”

“No, man. Say it isn’t so.” Chris whined. “I have to spend enough time with you losers as it is. Now you’re telling me I have to share my room with you.” He looked straight at Lance. “This sucks. I protest.”

“Duly noted. But there’s nothing we can do about it.” Lance shook his head. “I tried to reason with Johnny but he would have none of it. So for the next five nights we’re stuck with each other. Oh,” he remembered the kicker, “and no going out. We’re confined to our rooms.”

“Awww, damn! Confined to our rooms confined to our rooms or confined to our floor confined to our rooms?”

“Rooms, Christopher. We’re only supposed to come out in the event of an emergency.”

“But what if like on the night I get Justin he tries to seduce me or something. I won’t have anyone there to protect me.”

“You know, Chris,” JC leaned back in a casual sprawl against the couch. He narrowed his eyes seductively and raked Chris with his gaze, “Justin isn’t the only one you have to worry about. Has it occurred to you yet that the four of us are bi and you’re not?” He glanced at Lance whose smile mirrored his and then at Justin and Joey who were looking at him like he was crazy. “You’re an endangered species in this group.” He wagged his eyebrows. “We might take it upon ourselves to bring you around to our way of thinking.”

“Ah, shut up, fluffy. You don’t scare me. Besides, there is always one exception that proves the rule and that is I, Christopher Kirkpatrick, rule proving exception!” Four pillows hit him simultaneously.

Lance looked around at his friends who were all in various states of laughter. It was these times that he treasured more than any. They had all been through so much together that a little thing like sexual preference wasn’t about to come between them. As he was wont to do, Lance turned toward JC to find him silently contemplating him with subdued eyes. He reached out and buried his fingers in the hair at the nape of JC’s neck. His voice came out low. “You okay?”

JC sighed and leaned closer to him. “Yeah, just a little bummed. I was just getting used to living with you and now I have to be uprooted all over again.”

Lance slid his hand over to the side of JC’s neck and pulled his head down for a kiss to the temple. “It’ll be okay. According to the sleeping grid I drew up we get the fifth night together so that’s only four nights apart. We’ll survive. Besides,” he winked, “I never said what constituted an emergency.”

“Hey!”

Lance reluctantly turned to see Justin waving his hands

“I thought we told you two no more PDA’s.”

A frown crossed JC’s face as he glared at Justin. “You told Lance no more displaying his urges. You never said anything about affection. So there.” JC stuck out his tongue and then pouted.

“But –“

Lance watched at Joey laid a hand on Justin’s back and whispered into his ear. He hoped Joey could keep that boy in line because sometimes he was just plain annoying.

“Sorry, Lance, JC. My bad.” Justin looked sheepish as he apologized at Joey’s prompting.

“Ah, it’s okay. But,” Lance sat up straight, “back to business. I’ve drawn up a sleeping grid so we’ll all know who we’re supposed to room with.” He pulled out a sheet of paper. “Tonight I get Justin. Joey, you and Chris are together, and Josh, man, you’re the lone gunman.”

“Yeehaw!” His voice was less than enthusiastic.

Lance was about as excited as he was, but, he reminded himself for the umpteenth time, this would do all of them some good. And, if it worked out the way he planned, Joey and Justin would finally be together and not just pretending, and he and Josh would be ready to admit how they felt.

From across the room Joey’s snort interrupted his thoughts. “I still can’t believe it. Both of you,” he gestured to Justin and then Lance, “are bi. Man, I always knew they taught you to drive on the other side of the road in those southern states,” Joey said as he shook his head and smiled.

Chris perked up with a disbelieving expression on his face. “What the hell? Joey, you just admitted the same thing and you’re not southern.”

“Yeah, but I come by mine naturally.”

Chris rolled his eyes and punched Joey in the arm. “Do you realize how stupid that sounds? Naturally?”

“Yeah, Joe, cause like Justin and I didn’t pick ours up at Bob’s Get It and Go because we felt like trying something different.” Lance said dryly before laughing at the absurdity of the situation. He’d take anything to get his mind off not rooming with JC.

“Whatever, guys. Leave Joey alone. I thought it was funny.” Justin defended.

“Well of course you would,” Chris said as he pounced on Justin and proceeded to tickle him. “You think Joey’s just the shit.”

Justin easily flipped them until he was on top of Chris and had his arms pinned at his sides. “Damn straight!”

“That’s me not you, remember?”

Justin flashed a predatory smile at Chris before lowering his mouth down to his ear and sucking on the lobe. “I’m working on changing that.”

“Oh, God!” Chris yelled as he heaved Justin off of him and jumped to his feet. “You suck, Timberlake!”

“Yeah, and I blow too. What’s your point?” Justin said innocently from his undignified sprawl on the floor.

“Oh, GOD! First Lance and JC. Now you. What am I go-“

JC interrupted Chris’ tirade. “Boys, I know you’re having fun but it’s time for us to go to our rooms.” Alone, JC’s mind taunted him. Lance wouldn’t be holding him as he drifted off to sleep. It was going to be a long night. With a last longing glance at Lance, JC got up and quietly exited the room.

“Dude! JC just sent himself to his room.” Chris looked wonderingly at Justin who shrugged from his position at Joey’s feet.

“I think he’s depressed he’s not rooming with Lance.”

Right beside them Joey sighed to himself. I know exactly how he feels. He looked down at Justin with a wistful expression before standing and heading to the room he was sharing with Chris.

Lance, totally clueless as to what his band mates were discussing, thought back to that day so many months before when he had overheard the conversation between Chris, Joey, and Justin. It had taken him longer than he expected but he was ready to go after the weak link to put the final stage of his plan into action. “Justin, we need to talk.”

TBC…

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