JC drove home like a madman. He squealed his tires as he peeled into his driveway. He slammed the garage door behind him on his way into the house. His dad was at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and reading the local section of the paper. "Josh," he said wryly, looking up at his son over the edge of the paper, "you're home early."
"Look, Dad, I'm really sorry, ok? Some weird stuff happened last night. I'm sorry I didn't come home sooner."
"Anything you want to talk about?"
"No, not really."
"All right, if you change you mind, let me know. Your mother went grocery shopping. Call her on her cell to tell her your safe, will you?"
"OK," JC nodded and went into his bedroom. He took off his clothes from the party and slid into a pair of boxers. He needed a long hot shower, but first he needed to call his mom.
It rang six times before JC heard a breathy "Hello?"
"Hi, Mom."
"Josh! My God! Are you OK? Where have you been? I've been worried to death!"
"Mom, I'm fine. I spent the night at Brian's."
"Josh, why didn't you call?"
"I fell asleep, Mom, I'm really sorry."
"Oh Josh, I was just so worried. I'm glad you're OK. But please, don't make me worry like that again. Promise me you'll call me next time!"
"I promise. I'm sorry, Mom. I'm gonna go take a shower."
"OK, honey, I'll talk to you when I get home. I love you."
"Thanks, Mom. Bye."
"Bye, Josh."
Josh hung up the phone and headed for the bathroom. He turned the water on and slipped off his boxers. Looking in the mirror, he noticed faded bite marks along his shoulders. Justin. JC ran his hands through his unkempt hair, remembering how Justin's hands had felt there the night before. He ran his hands down his chest, over his stomach, down to his stiffening cock. He remembered Justin's touch, Justin's lips. If he kept this up, he knew he'd be sporting a major erection in no time. JC stepped into the shower.
As the hot water beat over him, JC let his hands wander over his own flesh. He was right -- he was hard. Closing his eyes, JC went back and relived the night he'd spent with Justin. As his hands slid over his cock, he remembered how Justin's fingers and tongue had felt there. And he wanted to feel that all again. He got off quickly, thinking of Justin, whispering Justin's name.
JC rinsed off after his climax and then grabbed the soap, washing himself up. He hadn't meant to leave Justin the way he had this morning. He wanted it to be something sweet, something tender. Something like the way Justin had looked at him the night before. Something like the way Justin made him feel, all woozy and delicious. But instead, he'd gotten scared and he'd left pissed off. He hadn't even said good-bye. That was no good at all. He'd have to do something to make it up to Justin. But what?
Justin drove home more calmly than JC had, but that didn't mean he wasn't upset. JC hadn't even said good-bye. When he waltzed in the front door, Justin was met with silence. His mom and dad weren't home, but there was a note by the refrigerator. "You're in big trouble young man," it said, "so don't even start with the excuses. You're grounded."
"Fuck," Justin breathed. He crumpled up the note and headed for his room. He stripped off his clothes and walked naked down the hall to the bathroom. He took a quick shower trying not to think about anything at all. He was mostly successful. After toweling off and sliding into a pair of track pants and an old t-shirt, Justin poured himself a bowl of cereal and sat down at the kitchen table.
What the fuck am I going to do about JC? Justin really had no idea. The other boy had seemed all sweet when they woke up this morning, but Justin had been too busy freaking out about the fact that they'd spent the night together naked in Brian's room to respond to JC's attempts to be cute. JC was cute, Justin had always known that, and then he'd gotten what he'd always wanted, and then he'd blown it this morning by acting so stupid and not paying attention to JC. Fuck. And then JC had left, all pissed off. Justin really couldn't blame him -- he had been an ass that morning.
He'd have to make it up to him. But how? Justin didn't know.
The rest of Justin's weekend had passed uneventfully. Since he was grounded -- only for the rest of the weekend, but still -- he didn't go out Saturday night, and he didn't leave his room Sunday afternoon. He looked over some of his homework for Monday, but he really didn't feel like studying. Mostly he just lay there on his bed, daydreaming about JC. He thought about calling the other boy a few times, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He didn't know what to say.
When Justin drove to Jefferson High School Monday morning, he was ready to be out of his house. He wasn't too psyched about the school day, but he was looking forward to basketball practice after school. The whole day dragged by slowly, until just before last period, when he found a note in his locker. It was a girl's handwriting, but he didn't recognize whose. Justin's jaw dropped when he read it. "Rumor has it you're fucking JC Chasez. Forget about getting in my pants -- I know you wanted to."
Justin's eyes blazed in anger. Had Brian told? When he had promised not to? Justin had to know, and he had to know then. He stormed off down the hall in search of his friend. When he found him outside of their English classroom, Justin shoved the note at him, hissing, "You fucking promised!"
As Brian read the note, his eyes grew wide, but he told Justin, "I didn't say anything, 'Lake, I swear on my life."
"Then where the fuck did whoever wrote that get her info?" Justin fumed.
"I don't have any clue -- wow, 'Lake, I'm sorry, man."
"Fuck, Brian, does the whole school know?"
Lance strolled up to the pair then. "Know what, Justin? That you sucked JC's dick?"
Justin turned on his teammate and was about to throw him against the wall when Brian stepped between them. "Justin, calm down," Brian said. "Lance, where did you hear that?"
"Fuck, Brian, I heard it from Mr. Timberlake and his new boyfriend. In your room on Friday. I heard it myself."
"Fuck," Justin breathed, "And you told the whole fucking school?"
"Naw, just a few friends. I told them to keep it a secret, but you know how these things are..." Lance looked up, his green eyes dancing at Justin's pain.
"Lance, you asshole! How dare you! It was none of your business what happened that night!" Justin yelled.
"No, Justin, you're wrong. You're my teammate, so your business is my business. And the rest of the team's. You're sleeping with the enemy and you know it. Don't deny it cause I heard you. If you don't want to tell the guys yourself what happened, then I will. It's that simple."
Justin's face fell. He couldn't imagine facing the rest of the guys with this. He didn't even really know what was going on, he hadn't talked to JC since Saturday morning right before they left Brian's, and that hadn't been pretty. All of a sudden, Justin did not want to go to practice anymore. At all.
"Tell them," Lance said again, "Or I will." He turned and walked away. Justin was left looking at Brian, who tried to give his arm a sympathetic squeeze. Justin shook him off.
"Fuck."