PIntentions

A listener.

Chris observed. He took notes. Then he came to his own conclusion of the entire Joey, Lance and JC incident. He, like, Justin knew that Lance and JC were going to be a couple before Joey did. He too, didn't want to get involved in the whole situation. He was contented to merely see where he can help. That was how he found out about Lance.

"Chris, I'm gay." Lance had blurted out to Chris during one of the rare moments where he wasn't with his girlfriend or the others didn't pester Lance.

"That's nice." Chris had said simply. "You're still my friend and the same person I knew five minutes ago."

"You don't hate me?"

"Should I?"

"Well…I don't know."

"I don't hate you, Lance. I'm glad you told me about it. Now I can start teasing you about staring at JC the whole day."

"I have a crush on JC."

"That explains a lot." Chris smiled easily. He simply let the younger man ramble on about how wonderful JC was and how impossible it was between the two of them. Chris had to hide a small smile when Lance told him that. JC had been ogling Lance since god-knows-when. Chris was sure it was a matter of time before they got together.

He sure didn't count on Joey being in the whole equation of things.

Trouble in *N Sync land.

It started with looks. Then it progressed to Joey vying with JC for Lance's attention. Chris simply observed. Then everything blew up.

Joey confessed his love for Lance.

Lance and JC announced their relationship the next day.

Justin's guilt problem and his making it up to Joey.

Chris wasn't blind, he saw Justin washing his comfort teddy bear and then giving it to Joey. He sensed the Justin was guilty because he didn't tell Joey what he had known about Lance and JC.

A little help can go a long way.

And that had been a week ago. Finally, Chris got so sick and tired of seeing Joey grit his teeth every time JC made a disparaging remark. He was going to have to kill himself if he saw Justin give Joey a guilty look again. Besides, Lance was overdoing the nothing-is-wrong routine.

Time for him to go to work.

"I didn’t know I was just so jealous." JC held his head in his hands.

"Look, have a talk with Lance. Tell him how you feel and stop it with Joey. Lance loves you not him. If he didn’t love you, Lance would have been with Joey now." Chris had persuaded JC. He had toned down on the barbs after Chris gave him a lecture about sensitivity.

Chris gave a small smile as he remembered how JC had realized his remarks were doing more harm. The couple had a talk. JC stopped the ugly quips and Lance dropped the silly act.

Then he told Justin to stop feeling guilty.

And when Joey opted out of another group lunch, Chris had leaned over and whispered in his ear to get over it and move on. Joey didn't stand a chance against Justin who dragged him off to lunch with the whole group. It was awkward but at least they were in the same room and having a civil conversation.

It was only a matter of time when things get back to normal.