Chapter 1
JOEY'SAPARTMENTJOEY'SAPARTMENTJOEY'SAPARTMENT
JC knocked on the large wooden door, and smiled when Joey answered.
"Hey, man."
"Oh, hey JC." Joey began to reach for his wallet. "How much?"
"Joe, don't make it seem like such a constant thing." JC sighed as he rubbed his forehead.
"Just tell me how much you need."
"Fine, $2000." Joey pulled out the cash and handed it over.
"You know, JC, you should really stop all of this. It's running both of us dry." JC removed his hand from his face and slammed it against the wall.
"Dammit, Joey, you never understand. The business will get better soon and I can pay you back."
"Fine." Joey turned to go back into his apartment. "Just tell Justin and Lance I said hi." He looked back to see JC was leaving and probably hadn't even heard him. JC walked back over to the Jeep and sighed before placing the cash in the glove compartment. It's not like he didn't really plan on paying Joey back. He would just as soon as the business got better. He had other debts, too. JC was quickly at the little apartment he had gotten when he began to lose the money. He knocked on the paint chipped door.
"Who is it?"
"It's just me, JC."
"Ok." Lance opened the door to show a mini-fridge, a tattered couch and a few of doorways going off to bedrooms and bathrooms. "Did you get the money?"
"Yeah."
"So, we won't need anymore for a while, right?"
"Well, this is just for tonight. Justin found out about this guy who will give us a great price." He took a hand to rub against Lance's cheek. The younger man bit his bottom lip. "Don't worry. We can go and see if Chris'll give us some, ok?"
"Do you think he will?" Lance's eyes brightened up.
"Sure. I promise you won't have to... come up with the money again."
"I'm sorry. I know it doesn't just hurt me."
"It's ok, honey." JC walked over to the couch and shoved his hand deep into the cotton to produce a wad of cash held together with a rubber band. He added the money in his pocket to the bundle and placed it back in hiding. "Hey, Lance?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know how long Justin's gonna be?"
"He said he would be back at one."
"He better be."
CHARLIE'SCHARLIE'SCHARLIE'SCHARLIE'S
Justin walked over to the counter and sat down. He noticed a large man with several tattoos looking at him.
"Hey."
"Hey there."
"Aren't you Justin Timberlake?" Justin ran a hand over his shaved head.
"The one and only."
"What ya doing in a place like this?"
"I was gonna buy a drink, but I left all my cash at home. Guess I'll leave." The man grabbed hold of his hand.
"No, I'll buy you a beer."
"Thanks." Justin flashed a winning smile. He loved Charlie's-so many stupid fags he could take advantage of. Justin chugged the beer and looked down at his watch. "Oh... I gotta go."
"Sure you don't want to stay a little."
"Sorry, but here's my number. Give me a call." Justin slipped a paper with some numbers scribbled on it. He had no idea whose number is actually was, but he didn't care. Stupid fucking pedophiles would take it every time thinking they had the one and only Justin Timberlake. Justin left the bar and began his walk home.
THEAPARTMENTTHEAPARTMENTTHEAPARTMENT
Justin looked through the bundle of money and smiled before looking up to his friends.
"This is gonna get us plenty, guys."
"Thank God. We're nearly out." JC held up a tiny baggie of white powder.
"Maybe we could finish this junk off. I mean, we worked hard for it. We should, you know, reward ourselves." Lance licked his dry lips as he fingered the bruises on his stomach.
"Sure, man. Reward time." Justin sat down and got to work, producing a few lines of powder. JC held out a short straw and bent down. Quickly, they were short a line and the thin brunette grabbed his head before smiling at the other two.
"Good shit." The other two happily snorted some themselves.
"I wanna see the money again." The strangely sober Justin reached into the stuffing of the couch he sat on. Justin was always so serious and calm even when he was high as a kite. JC simply hugged himself and only uncurled to pull Lance over to him.
"This is worth it." Lance lied down next to JC who began kissing the deep bruises on his pale skin.
"I bet it is." Justin watched the other two, still holding tightly onto the money.
"It doesn't even hurt anymore." Lance closed his eyes. JC couldn't tell if he was asleep or not, but kept on kissing his friend's skin.
"We should call Chris." Justin walked towards the phone that sat on the floor in the corner of the room. Suddenly, Lance's eyes popped open.
"You haven't talked to him yet?"
"He'll give us the money, sweetie." JC pushed the blond's head to the ground and continued kissing him, not paying attention to the shaking of his body.
"Don't worry so much. He's always given it to us before."
"Ok." Justin could still hear the shaking in Lance's voice, but picked up the phone.
"Hey, Chris." Lance watched in suspense as Justin coolly talked to the man on the other side of the line. "I know we owe you from before, but we just need a little." Justin waited for the response. "No, it's just for groceries and rent and stuff like that." He was clearly angry now and the drugs were not helping. "I know, but we'll pay you back. We're getting this good shit tonight that'll bring in cash." Justin was now barely able to keep from yelling into the phone. "No, your money is not for that. Don't be so damn selfish." Lance was silently crying and pushed JC aside.
"Justin, tell him we'll pay him back."
"Oh, that was just Lance. Look, we really will pay you back soon."
"Tell him we just need a little."
"He already knows, Lance." Lance pulled the phone away from his friend.
"Hey Chris."
"Hi."
"You have to lend us the money."
"You won't pay me back."
"Yes we will."
"You know that's a lie, Lance."
"Please, I don't want to get the money."
"You don't have to."
"We need the money or we'll lose the apartment."
"Bye." Lance put the phone down and looked over to JC.
"You said he'd give us the money." JC stood up and looked down at the younger man.
"He would have if you weren't freaking out like that. He probably thought you were high."
"I was high." Lance stomped off to a bathroom.
"You deserve it, you little shit." Lance ran the cold water over his hands for a few seconds before rubbing it against his face. JC walked over to the door and spoke through the thin plywood they used when the original fell off. "I'll call Heath. He'll give us the money. You like Heath, don't you?"
"Leave me alone."
"It's your fault. I hope you have fun tonight."
"JC, come on. We can go a few more days. They won't really evict us. I'm sure of it." Justin tried to pry the angry man away from the door.
"No, Justin. We need the money and it's Lance's fault we didn't get it from Chris. He's gonna earn it again." JC pushed Justin away before walking over to the phone and dialing the memorized number. Justin knocked on the door.
"It's just me." The door opened up and Justin walked into the tiny bathroom. "Don't worry, man. Everything's gone be ok. He's just bluffing." Lance fell to the ground, his face still wet with water and tears.
"You always say that."
"I know." Justin bent down and hugged the sobbing man. "Just one more time, ok? I promise it's not gonna happen anymore after tonight. We'll have the junk and we'll make so much money and we'll never have to worry again."