Disclaimer: Again, not mine. Don't know. Didn't happen.
Lance noticed two things when he woke up. One was that he was sore, and the other was that they were moving. He sighed and sat up from his bottom bunk, immediately taking note of both Joey and Chris' closed curtains. The door to the bathroom was shut, but the light was out which meant that no one was in there, and the door connecting the bedroom area to the rest of the living room was shut as well, but Lance could strain his ears and make out a low rumble, which meant that either people were talking or someone was watching the tv.
Lance crossed the few feet between his side of the bus and Joey's, and carefully pulled back the curtain to peer in at the sleeping boy. Joey's face was twisted in a grimace, his Superman bedsheets that he'd gotten from JC for his birthday tangled in a large heap around his body. At least he was asleep, Lance reasoned sadly, lightly touching Joey's arm, then let the curtain fall shut. The polished wooden floor was cold on Lance's bare feet, and he frowned, wondering who had taken off his shoes and socks, which rested neatly under his bed. Probably JC, Lance told himself, reaching up and pulling back the curtain for Chris' bunk. Chris was also sleeping, his face much more peaceful than Joey's as he lay on his stomach, his cheek on the mattress as he held the pillow over his head. Lance smiled at the sight, lightly kissed the hand that Chris had resting beside him on the bed, and watched as Chris' lips slowly curled into a smile. That brought a small grin to Lance's face, and he turned to look at his own bunk to put on his socks when he noticed that Justin's bunk, above his, had the curtain shut. Lance frowned slightly and crossed back to his own side, carefully pulling the curtain to Justin's bunk up.
Justin was sleeping on his side, curled up like a small little angel with a golden halo-ed haze surrounding him as he tightly clutched baby blue silk sheets to his chest.
Lance's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe as he stared at Justin. There was no sunlight; the sun was actually disappearing behind the horizon from the looks of it through the window, but there was still an approximate 2-inch golden dusting surrounding Justin's sleeping figure. Lance's jaw fell; his lips parting as he stared in bewilderment. He really did look like a golden angel.
Lance shook himself finally, letting the soft, dark blue cotton curtain slip between his fingers and obliterate his view of Justin completely. He continued to stare at the ground in disbelief as he mentally tried to process what he had just seen, and was half tempted to peek in again, just to see if maybe it was a trick of the light. When he came to the conclusion that he didn't want to risk the possibility of it not being a play on the setting sun, he turned on his heel and quickly walked out to the living room, being careful to stay especially quiet for the occupants of the room who were sleeping. He entered the living room, frowning when he couldn't see JC immediately even though the tv was on. He shut the door quietly, then released the knob to make as little noise as possible, going over towards the couch and sitting down, picking up the remote. Still warm... So where was JC?
As a cartoon chicken ran across the screen, Lance's face screwed up in half amusement, half sneer, and he let out a small laugh. Now he had two questions: Where was JC, and what was he watching?!
"Well I see you've become acquainted with Chicken. Wait til you meet Cow," JC advised, and Lance glanced up in time to see JC holding one hand on the back of the couch and vaulting himself over it, landing cleanly next to Lance. Lance grinned at him, impressed, and leaned his head on JC's shoulder, feeling the energy JC had exerted in that movement radiating off of his body and basking in it happily.
"Can I ask you a stupid question, Jace?" Lance asked, resting his chin on JC's shoulder to look up at him.
"Does involve kissing me? 'cause you know you can do that anytime," JC teased, moving his arm from under Lance's chin and wrapping it around his shoulders, playing with the hair at the back of Lance's head and causing shivers of pleasure to radiate down Lance's spine. He loved it when people played with his hair, and the casual way in which JC did it made it that much more sweet.
Lance flashed a devilish grin. "Well it wasn't my question, but if you insist..." He winked at JC, then laughed. "Seriously, man, question."
"Tell me what you think about this," JC sang.
Lance arched an eyebrow, then burst out laughing. "I didn't know you were an 'Independent Woman', Jace."
JC grinned. "There's lots of things no one knows about me," he taunted, then laughed and smiled sweetly. "Shoot with the q, Lance my man."
Lance snickered, then calmed down enough to ask his question. "Where were you?"
"Talkin' to Gary to find out where we were. We just crossed state borders. We'll be home in a day. Then we get to kick at home for a while and then we're in the studio learnin' new moves with Wade."
Lance groaned. "Joy, Jace. That made my day. Thanks."
JC laughed and hugged him. "It's not so bad."
Lance sighed. "Easy for you to say. You don't suck." He shrugged, then frowned slightly as he tried to figure out how to word his next question. "Justin was sleeping," Lance began slowly, saved when JC interrupted him from continuing.
"Yeah. He was exhausted after damage control with Chris all morning. He fell asleep on the couch so I sent him to bed around 1:30; 2:00. Something like that."
"What time is it now?" Lance asked, looking at the vcr anyway for the clock to find out on his own.
"It's almost 8," JC answered, sighing. "Hard to believe the entire day's almost gone, huh?"
Lance nodded, shaking his head. "Very hard to believe." He paused and looked up at JC. "Hey, Jace?"
JC slowly tore his eyes away from the tv and looked down at Lance. "Hmm?"
Lance hesitated. "Do you believe in angels?" He could not believe he just asked that question. He could not believe he just asked that question. What was he thinking?! The words just rolled off of his tongue before he could stop them! Was he insane? JC was going to ask why, and then what was he going to say? Because he thought Justin looked like one for a whole 30 seconds?
JC nodded seriously. "Yes, I do," he answered. "I believe they come to us in all shapes and sizes and forms, and sometimes, when we least expect it and in the strangest, sometimes most trying, ways. But yes, I believe that angels are here with us on earth, and they make their presenses known when you would least expect it."
Lance nodded slowly back, and then wearily sank his head onto JC's chest. He was still slightly fatigued from his long rest, but he was too awake to sleep. That, and he wanted to mull over JC's words for a few minutes. JC had a very interesting point.
"Now can I ask you a question?"
JC's delicate, soothing voice entered Lance's thoughts like a small trail of smoke wafting in through an open window, clearing out Lance's mind of everything except his voice. He smiled up at JC and nodded. "Of course, Jace."
JC smiled. "I was thinking of getting a new backyard lawn chair and table set, and I was thinking that once we hit home I'd like to go scope out some. And since you've got such great taste, I thought maybe you'd like to accompany me."
Lance flashed a teasing grin, thrilled that his best friend had asked him to go. "Sure, Jace. That's just your excuse, isn't it? You really just want me to spend as much time as possible with you."
JC snickered. "Lance, if I wanted to spend time with you I'd scoop you up off your feet and carry you into that bedroom and make you scream a few times. No, that is not my excuse to spend time with you. I just need someone with good taste, because everyone says mine sucks."
Lance's heart was still fluttering, and he felt a light dusting of red on his cheeks, wondering if JC noticed. "Of course I'll go with you, man. Why wouldn't I?"
JC just shrugged. "Just checkin'. Trying to be considerate and all that crap. Next time I won't ask, I'll just tell you that you're coming."
Lance teasingly ran his fingers along JC's hard, muscled stomach. "I like 'em forceful," he breathed, playfully seductive.
"And I like 'em obedient," JC teased back, capturing Lance's exploring hand in his and interlocking their fingers, resting his head against Lance's. Lance closed his eyes and contented himself to listen to JC's steady, even breathing, resting his temple against the bony shoulder of his best friend and group member, familiar in the position. JC's musky, gentle smell invaded Lance's senses until he was only breathing in JC's scent; no longer air. And it was so nice, so wonderful, to sit with JC this way. Especially when Lance felt JC reaching for something, and a second later the tv was off and the bus was enveloped in silence, except for the sound of JC's steady breathing, soft against Lance's ear and cheek and creating goose bumps across Lance's entire body.
Lance wasn't sure how long they stayed there for, and he honestly didn't care. All he knew was that some time later, when the sun had already set and the sky was being dotted by stars, a low, pained moan from the bedroom roused them. They were standing as they heard a loud thump, and then Joey's, "Ow!"
Lance's eyes widened in horror and he and JC hurried to the bedroom, flinging open the door to see Joey laying sprawled out on the floor. Joey was tangled up in his bedsheets, and one of his feet was hooked on the edge of the bed as he lay on the floor, panting and moaning, holding his head with a hand he managed to free from the mess he was in. Justin's head sticking out of his curtain to see what was going on, and there was no movement from Chris' bunk.
Lance relaxed once he saw that everyone was alright, and he hurried to help Joey up and out of the mess. Justin's laughter could be heard from above, and Lance shot him an annoyed look. "You're giving him and all of us a headache," Lance snapped at him. "Shut up."
Justin went on laughing with a grand wave of his hand as Lance pushed Joey's arm under a sheet and over his body, still trying to get him out. Joey, however, was struggling, which not only got him tangled up worse but also made Lance's job harder as he tried to avoid getting wacked with one of Joey's flailing limbs.
"Justin, I mean it," Lance snapped, glaring up at him over his shoulder from where he leaned his upper body on the edge of his bed to look down, the curtain pulled back half way so that they could see his white wife beater. "Don't think I won't have JC gag you!"
"Joe, you look like a bug," Justin laughed, his shoulders still shaking.
"Haha, Justin, you're such a riot," Lance tossed back sarcastically, turning his attention back to Joey and trying to figure out the best way to get Joey out of this web of sheets. "Joe, stop thrashing!" Lance ordered, watching as Joey's body fell limp, almost completely mummified in the Superman sheets. Joey's eyes pleaded up at him, but the rest of his face was covered, though Lance could just imagine that pout on his face. Lance's eyes swept over the entanglement, trying to see a way to get Joey out, then got an idea and leaned forward, pushing and pulling and yanking and tugging, completely ignoring Justin who was still laughing, and sighed in relief when Joey lay on the floor on his back completely, panting for air.
"Thank you," Joey breathed. "You're my savior."
"Yeah, 'cause someone else couldn't get his lazy ass up off his bed and stop laughing for five minutes to help," Lance shot back, giving Justin a pointed, disgusted glare. He couldn't believe that Justin would just sit there while poor Joey flailed around, obviously still in pain from his hang over, and not do anything about it except watch.
"Hey!" Justin exclaimed indignantly, his laughter finally ceasing. "JC wasn't doing anything, either! Why am I getting singled out?"
"JC also wasn't as loud as a banshee!" Lance hissed back angrily.
Justin's eyes narrowed. "Oh, now I'm a banshee? Thanks, Lance. I really know how much you care."
Lance arched an eyebrow, his face clearing to mock surprise. "I cared?" he returned, his voice surprised. "I had no idea."
Justin mocked a disgusted smile back and yanked the curtain shut, retreating behind it.
Lance rolled his eyes and looked back at Joey, who was looking up at him with wounded eyes. "Come on, Joe," Lance instructed gently. "Let's get you back in bed."
"I have a headache," Joey moaned, even as Lance reached around his muscled body and tried to hoist him up, Joey pushing off of the ground himself. Lance nodded, sighing, even as Joey dropped back into his bunk with a grunt and soft moan of pain. Lance picked up his Superman sheets off of the floor and carefully resettled them around him, tucking Joey into his bed and glancing up around Joey's bunk.
The entire thing was papered with pictures of the five of them, as well as his family, a few cute celebrities, a couple of postcards that he'd picked up here and there, and cool sayings that he found that he liked. One in particular caught Lance's eyes, and his hands stilled in fixing the bed as he read it. I don't know whether to smile because he is my friend, or cry because he isn't mine. Lance frowned at the words as he pondered them.
"Lance? You okay?"
JC's soft voice and gentle touch on Lance's knee jerked Lance back into reality, and he smiled reassuringly at JC. "Of course, Jace," he promised, shaking his head. "I was just checkin' out Joey's decorated little bunk here." He looked in at Joey, whose eyes were open. "You want something to drink, Joe? Maybe some medicine to help the pain?"
Joey groaned and threw an arm over his eyes. "No thanks. Just sleep."
"No problem. JC and I will be in the living room if you need anything." Lance patted Joey's stomach. "Get some rest. You'll feel better tomorrow."
"God I hope so," Joey muttered, and Lance smiled gently and stood, quietly closing the curtain behind them. JC was standing, already heading towards the door, but waiting and looking back at Lance.
"Let's go," Lance prompted, starting towards the door. JC turned around and headed out, and when his back was turned, Lance stuck his hand in between the curtain and the wall of Justin's bunk. Justin's hand clasped his immediately for a few brief seconds as Lance walked past without turning to look at the bunk, and then they were letting go as Lance followed JC, who never noticed a thing.
"I don't think I've ever been happier to see home in my life!" Lance moaned, throwing his arms wide open and abandoning his bags on the ground on the sidewalk in front of his house.
JC laughed. "Sure you have. Like that time we were in those swamps and we had to stay in those muddy clothes 'cause we didn't have any extras? I think you were much happier then. You actually hugged your front door."
Lance glanced over past his arm at JC, who was looking up at the house with a smile, and then Lance burst out laughing, dropping his arms and snatching up his bags, hoisting them up onto his shoulder. "Let's go!" he exclaimed happily, running up the walk eagerly. The key--an actual key, not a card--felt strange in his hand, especially with as heavy as it was, but it was a comforting weight, a feeling he always associated with being home. He twisted and turned the locks, and then grabbed the handle and turned, pushing his way inside the spotless house.
"Home!" Lance cried enthusiastically, turning around and hugging JC. JC started laughing but Lance was too happy to pay him any heed. He loved being home; feeling the comfort of home. He wanted to see everything even though he knew what would be there. It was the familiarity of the place that bubbled up inside of Lance and spilled outside of him, making him bounce eagerly from one room to another, grabbing JC's hand when JC lagged and pulling him around.
When Lance's unconcerned inspection of the house was over, they both dropped onto the couch in his living room, a large, comfy, light gray one. Lance's entire house was decorated in hues of blacks and whites and grays. The fireplace was black and white marble, as was the kitchen and the bathrooms. The carpeting was light gray, as were the curtains and most of the furniture. The kitchen table was black oak, and the dining room was just polished oak, but the dining room had a very brown and tan feel to it, with the tables and matching chairs and china cabinet. It almost didn't seem to go with the rest of the house, but somehow when Lance's sister Stacy had decorated it, she had done an excellent job.
JC let out a contented sigh that brought a smile to Lance's lips. JC sure sounded happily. Well, Lance couldn't blame him. Lance was happy, too. He loved being home. And with JC living only a few miles away, they had plenty of time together, so he wouldn't miss JC. Not that Chris, Joey, or Justin lived that far away, either... Chris was twenty minutes, Joey was practically next door to Chris, and Justin was 40 minutes away. He liked to live on the outskirts, which was exactly where he was. A nice, cute little neighboorhood full of rich people with expensive houses that all kept to themselves. Lance and JC's neighboorhood was certainly much more sociable, and when they came home for over a few days, they often threw a barbeque in Lance's backyard and invited the neighboorhood to join them. Barbeques were always going on there. Joey and Chris lived in a well off, but not rich, neighboorhood, and they loved it. It was a cross between Lance's area and Justin's: They had barbeques twice in the summer and once during the winter, but for the most part they stayed to themselves.
JC's head came down on Lance's shoulder, and Lance leaned his own head against JC's and placed his hand over where JC had put his hand on his own thigh. JC's fingers curled to make room for Lance's, their hands stacked but their fingers falling through the spaces between each other. "I think we should order pizza for dinner," JC commented suddenly.
Lance had to laugh. Of all the things for JC to want... But it did sound good. "Do they even deliver to our neighboorhood?" Lance countered, grinning. "Isn't it considered a social blemish to be seen with a pizza car outside your front door?"
JC snickered. "They probably would have a corinary."
Lance and JC pulled away at the same time, JC to find the phone book and Lance, the phone. Lance snatched it off of its cradle beside the couch while JC flipped through the phone book that was on the small shelf under the couch-side table, searching for the pizza place.
"Where do you want it from?" JC asked, his voice muttered as he looked down and scanned the list.
Lance thought out loud. "Domino's is great, but Pizza Hut's are bigger."
JC paused and met his eyes, his expression thoughtful. "Last time we were home, yeah, but that was a long time ago."
Lance shrugged and sank down against the couch, resting his head on the back cushion. "I don't care, JC," he told him, holding out the phone and closing his eyes. "You decide."
"Lance!" JC whined, taking away the phone. "This isn't fun for me if you're indecisive!"
"Okay, I decide to let you decide," Lance stated calmly, trying not to let the smirk that was dying to get out play on his lips. A second later there was a hand in Lance's stomach and a loud smacking sound filled the room as Lance doubled over, laughing even as he clutched his stomach at JC's playful swat.
"You are so sarcastic," JC exclaimed, shaking his head. "How did I get stuck with you?"
Lance grinned and leaned his chin on JC's shoulder. "'Cause I'm cute," he answered plainly. JC glanced at him from mere inches away and smiled slightly; fondly.
"You are that," he conceeded, touching Lance's head with his own before sitting up again and getting back to business. "Now help me pick out a pizza place!"
"Okay. Domino's." Lance smiled prettily up at JC. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
JC flashed a grin at him. "You do excel at being cute, don't you?"
Lance laughed. "I'm the best," he boasted, then laughed softly and settled his cheek against JC's shoulder, listening to JC dial the phone number and place their order. As he spoke, JC's free hand came up and lightly stroked Lance's cheek, and Lance smiled, snuggling against JC comfortably. JC smelled yummy, like a fresh summer morning, and it made Lance happy. JC's fingers were soft against his cheek, and the gentle caress was heavenly, putting Lance at peace immediately.
JC clicked the phone off and leaned his head against Lance's, cupping his cheek. "You okay, babe?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with concern.
Lance smiled at the casual term of endearment. That was one reason he loved being at home with JC. When they were on tour, he was "Lance", "Lansten", and occasionally, "James Lance Bass!" when JC was really unhappy with him. But when they were home together, Lance became, "babe", "baby", "cutie", "honey", "sweetie", and any other affectionate name JC could come up with at the moment.
"Yeah," Lance agreed softly as he let out a small breath, snuggling against JC. "I'm fine. Thanks."
JC's lips lightly brushed over Lance's forehead and Lance had to bite his lip to contain his shiver of delight. JC was always such a touchy-feely kind of person, but it really never meant anything until they were alone together. In public, JC was friendly, and often could be found hanging off of Lance in some way, but it wasn't until they were in the privacy of one of their hotel rooms or at home that JC's caresses actually began to mean something. When they were alone, JC was kind, and gentle, and he knew every sensitive spot on Lance's body, though somehow they had still managed to never pass the "friends-that-flirt" barrier.
Lance wondered if maybe this little excursion back home for a few weeks would change that.
"How long?" Lance mumbled, not even aware of how tired he was until he closed his eyes and found that he couldn't open them. He was warm, and content, and sleepy, and JC was providing the perfect pillow.
"'Bout 30 minutes," JC's tired slur came back, and Lance smiled slightly, thinking that he wasn't the only exhausted one around here. "15.48."
"Wallet," Lance muttered, nuzzling against JC's neck to get more comfortable. JC slipped an arm around his shoulders and pulled, forcing both of them into laying down on the couch. Lance's head rested on JC's shoulder, pressed up against the back of the couch and on JC as JC rested back against the pillows, an arm around Lance's back between him and the couch, and his other hand holding Lance's on his chest. Lance sighed contentedly, allowing himself the small luxury of a kiss to JC's neck, which he held for several long seconds before finally pulling away and resting. The next thing he knew, he felt JC's hand on his butt and his eyes flew open, shocked and frozen. JC chuckled softly and then there was a tugging sensation from his back pocket, and JC held up Lance's wallet, riffling through it to pull out a twenty before slipping it back in, his smile smug. Lance blushed and carefully avoided eye contact, his cheeks flaming.
"It's okay," JC soothed quietly, his voice sounding as though he were trying not to laugh. "I think you're cute when you're embarassed."
Lance could feel the heat in his face, and simply buried it over JC's shoulder in the pillow, taking a moment to revel in the feel of JC's chest as it shook with laughter. He smiled into the pillow, glad that he could make JC so happy, and turned his face so that his lips were mere centimeters from JC's neck and slowly breathed, knowing that JC always got goose bumps and shivered when he did. Sure enough, JC's laughter ceased and he shivered, pulling Lance tighter against him. Lance could feel the urge to either have Lance's lips touch JC's neck or JC pull away completely building up inside his best friend, so after another few minutes, he lightly leaned forward and touched JC's neck with his lips. JC sighed softly and his fingers tightened on Lance's body, until Lance pulled away and again resettled on JC's shoulder, listening to the soft thumping of his best friends' heart.
What felt like only minutes later, they heard the doorbell ringing, and Lance's eyes tiredly pulled themselves open. He let out a soft sigh at having to get up off of JC, who was still breathing peacefully, and for a moment, Lance paused to study him, taking in the soft white skin, the pink lips, the long, soft eyelashes, and the dark hair at the top of his head. JC was beautiful. He really was. How Lance got to be so lucky as to have him in his life, he wasn't sure, but every day his prayers held thanks for bringing JC to him.
The doorbell rang again, and Lance reluctantly rolled off of JC, tugging the twenty out of JC's fingers and going to the door in case the doorbell woke JC up before he had a chance to. Lance reached for the door handle and pulled it open with a flourish.
"Hi. You ordered a pizza?" The boy on his stoop couldn't be a day over 18, but he was certainly cute enough. Probably an afterschool job to take his girlfriend out on the weekends. He had short, dirty blond hair that was spiked much like Lance's own, and big blue eyes that seemed to smile on their own. His skin was impossibly tan, accented by the whiteness of his teeth. He also had an air about him that said he knew he looked good, and Lance hated that.
Lance grinned and nodded. "Yeah. Here." He handed over the twenty and took the pizza. The boy started to give him the change, but Lance waved him down. "You keep it. Have a nice night."
The boy arched an eyebrow and winked at him teasingly. "I'll do that."
Lance's eyes widened in surprise slightly. He wasn't... Oh my god, the boy was flirting with him! Well... He could do flirting. "How old are you?" Lance asked, purposefully letting his southern drawl thicken as he leaned against the doorframe, allowing his eyes to trail up the boys' body until he finally met the boys' blue eyes, which were wide and excited.
"18."
Lance almost snickered. "And how old do you think I am?"
Now it was Lance getting the full body check-out. The boys' gaze drifted up, pausing at a spot that made Lance uncomfortable, and then slowly working his way back up to hit Lance's eyes head on. "Any age you wanna be, man."
Lance had to admire his guts. Not just anyone would try to pick up the guy they were delivering pizza to. He flashed a grin. "You legal, babe?"
The boys' lips parted and he licked them unconsciously, his eyes widening in appreciation of Lance's advances. "I'm legal," he agreed, still checking Lance out.
Lance grinned. "And what would your girlfriend say if she knew that you were trying to pick up some guy you just delivered a pizza to?"
"Well he'd probably take one look at you and congratulate me."
Gutsy. He was definitely gutsy. Lance couldn't help but be impressed with the kids' attempts. Still, the pizza was starting to burn Lance's hand, and he wanted to get back to JC. Though... This kid was certainly amusing.
"Tell ya what, kid," Lance drawled, watching the briefest scowl cross over the boys' face before smoothed it out completely, replacing it with that charming, devilish grin. Lance paused in his own words, amazed at the boys' abilities to recompose so quickly. Maybe he wouldn't kick the kid out just yet. "You let me go set this down, and I'll talk with you for a few."
The boys' lips spread into a teasing grin. "I should warn you I'm addictive."
Lance repressed his laugh and simply smirked. "And kid, I should warn you," he leaned forward until he was only inches away, taking immediate note of the way the boy froze and tensed; the way his lips parted and his breath caught in his throat. "So am I." With a smirk, Lance left the door open and took the pizza into the kitchen, setting it down on the table before slowly making his way back out to the front door, where the boy was now leaning on his back against the doorframe. He made no attempt to hide that he was staring at Lance, waiting for his return, and again Lance admired his guts.
"So you live here with anybody?" the boy asked, glancing around the lavish home with mild interest. "It's a nice place." He purposefully dropped his gaze and met Lance's. "Expensive."
Lance shrugged disinterestedly. "It's home," he agreed, crossing to the side the boy was on and leaning against the wall over his shoulder, still inside the house. The boy was looking up over his shoulder at Lance, and his eyes kept drifting to Lance's lips. Lance had to withhold his smirk. "And no, I don't live here with anyone."
The boy arched an eyebrow. "You live in a place like this all by yourself?"
Lance nodded slowly, studying the boys' reaction. He seemed dazed, almost, but ever confident and cocky of himself. Sort of reminded him of someone that he couldn't place...
"You famous or somethin'?" the boy asked, eyeing him critically. "You look kinda familiar."
Lance shrugged and shook his head. "Nope. Just lucky." He paused and snapped his fingers. "Actually, you know, I won the lottery a few years back. That's how come I can afford this place. You probably saw my picture in the paper or something. '18 year old picks lucky numbers, gets rich quick'?"
The boy's eyes widened, then narrowed. "You playin', man?"
Lance leaned further over the boys' shoulder and whispered in his ear. "I am anything you want me to be."
The boy froze, and Lance nodded, satisfied, and stepped away. "I think that answers that question," Lance said conversationally, albeit gently. "Go home. Take a cold shower, and jump in bed with your boyfriend. And don't try to pick up any more guys that you deliver pizza's to unless you're sure they're gay." Lance reached out for the door to close it, gasping and stepping back when it was suddenly blocked and held open.
"I'm not sure you're not," the boy countered, his eyes burning into Lance's. Lance paused, momentarily caught off guard. The boy was close; only inches away. Lance frowned slightly. "But I'll tell you one thing, man, I won't be forgetting you anytime soon. And you have not seen the last of me." The words were pieced together as a warning, but they came out as a mischevious promise. The boy suddenly smiled and let the door go, but by that time, Lance was clutching onto it, his heart pounding. "I'll see you around...?"
"Lance." Lance nearly smacked his hands over his mouth in horror. What the hell was he doing, giving some scarily intense boy his name?! For all he knew, this boy could stalk him or something.
The boy smiled warmly. "Lance. I like that. I'll see you around, Lance." He turned around to go.
"Hey!" Lance called after him, frowning in bewilderment. The boy turned back, a cocky smile playing across his lips. "Your name?"
The boy grinned. "Ace. That's what all my friends call me."
This time, Lance was unable to keep the smile from his lips. "Ace," he repeated, tilting his head at him.
The boy winked. "Anytime, man. Anytime." He turned around and went to his car, leaving Lance to stare after him in shock. He could not believe how much he had just succumbed to the charm of some child. Was he insane?!
Lance quickly went back into the house, shutting the door tightly behind him and locking all the bolts on it before leaning his back against the door and closing his eyes, not even aware that he was panting for air until he found that he couldn't breathe. He was even sweating, and his heart was racing a mile a minute. What was he doing?! He was Lance Bass, Lance Bass of Nsync, practically being a pedafile. And with a boy, nonetheless! He was too old for this, he really was. He'd leave the raging, confusing hormones to 15 year olds. Right now, he had a best friend to go wake up.
He thought back to the boy... Ace, and those sparkling blue eyes and blond hair. He was certainly adorable, there was no disputing that. But he had mentioned a boyfriend, and Lance didn't mess with taken people. It was just a common rule of thumb.
Lance sighed and entered the living room, stopping to listen to JC's steady breathing. His mind cleared for a moment as he simply listened, smiling. Just the simple breath going in and out of JC's body left Lance with a feeling of peace, and calmly he strode to the couch, all images of the boy fading out of his mind as he leaned over the back of it and looked down at JC's beautiful face. Slowly, ever so slowly, he leaned down and placed a soft, gentle kiss on JC's forehead. He felt JC smile below him, and then he pulled away, looking down to see that he had been right, and that JC was smiling. Lance smiled back and leaned over to coo in JC's ear. "JC," Lance sang softly. "Jace, wake up, honey. Pizza's here."
"Mmm... Just a few more minutes," JC mumbled, unconsciously turning his head to snuggle against where Lance's breath came from. Lance smiled down at him and allowed his lips to touch JC's ear, and then brush over JC's cheeks before trying again.
"Jace... Come on, baby. Sit up for me."
"Five minutes," JC pleaded, still not awake yet.
"Jace..." Lance breathed, a devilish smile curling his lips. "If you wake up I'll blow you."
JC's eyes flew open and he stared at Lance with an open jaw and wide eyes. Lance smiled happily, glad that his tactic had worked, and then couldn't resist bursting out into laughter at JC's stunned, shocked face.
"That was a joke, correct?" JC asked warily, still not sitting up. Lance could see how hard he was breathing and tried not to laugh again.
"Correct, darling," Lance assured him primly. He flashed an easy grin. "Now sit up already before I have to mush your pizza into a shake and make you drink it."
JC yawned and stretched widely, narrowly missing Lance's ear. Lance flashed a mock-annoyed look at him, then caught the hand before it landed back on JC's lap with the other one. He studied JC's hand as JC spoke. "Did you pay the delivery guy?"
Lance dropped JC's hand in shock, then slowly sputtered with laughter until he was laughing so hard that he had to sit down on the back of the couch to keep from collappsing to the ground. JC was talking to him, asking him what his problem was, but Lance couldn't stop laughing. He had paid the delivery guy, alright, but Lance was pretty sure he got more in return.
Finally JC gave up. "Pizza in the kitchen?" he asked, and when Lance couldn't stop to give him an answer, he threw his hands up in the air and went into the kitchen on his own. Lance forced himself to stop laughing, calmly wiping away tears of laughter that had started to form, and followed JC into the kitchen. JC had plopped down in one of the chairs, using another as a foot rest, and was already taking a large bite out of one of the gooey pieces. Lance smiled at the sight of him and joined JC at the table, sitting on JC's legs where they rested on the other chair and taking a slice of pizza for himself.
"You know," JC began, swallowing a mouthful of pizza and eyeing Lance critically. "There are four other chairs you could choose from."
Lance crossed his eyes as he watched the cheese ooze out from the pizza and stretch from the length of his arm to his mouth. He quickly caught it up, finished the bite, and smiled teasingly at JC. "I could," he relented, shooting JC a playful, puppy-dog look. "But then I couldn't be near you, Jace, and you want me near you, don't you?"
JC arched an eyebrow and studied him as he chewed thoughtfully on another bite. "You're awfully giddy," he commented. "Exactly how hot was the delivery boy?"
Lance blushed and looked down, embarassed. Damn JC was quick. Not that he thought JC was dumb, but he didn't expect him to catch on quite so fast.
JC leaned forward, intrigued. "Would I have liked him?"
Lance did not like the idea of JC hitting on Ace. For some reason, it made the food in his stomach start churning, and he adamantly shook his head. "He's not really your type."
JC shrugged and flashed an easy grin, leaning back in his chair. "So tell me about him. Guy's gotta be awfully special if he's makin' you blush!"
"Jace," Lance said warningly. For some reason, he didn't want to be discussing the boy with JC. Ace was his secret... His alone. And he didn't want to be sharing him with anyone else.
JC hiked an eyebrow, but he nodded. "Okay, Lance. You don't have to say anything. I'm just messing with you anyway."
Lance sighed. "I know, Jace." He shook his head. "Ignore me. Yes, he was very cute."
"Did you get his number?" JC asked casually, taking another bite of the hot pizza. "Damn that's hot."
Lance made a face at JC, mainly to hide his own blush. "No, I didn't get his number. He was just a child."
"Children are people, too," JC objected plainly, studying a piece of pepperoni that sat on his pizza. "They need lovin' just like the rest of us."
Lance shook his head. "He was practically illegal for me."
"Practically," JC repeated pointedly, his study of the meat over as he popped it into his mouth, pleased. "But as long as all his parts are in working order..."
"JC!" Lance exclaimed, sitting up straight and looking in horror and mortification at his best friend. "Where is your mind today?"
"Reach out about four inches and you'll find it," JC told him, nodding at where Lance had a hand on JC's thigh. Lance looked down at his hand, then at JC's crotch, and finally up at JC, who was grinning devilishly. Lance couldn't help it. He snickered and then burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. JC was always so much fun to hang out with. And somehow he always managed to lighten the mood.
"If I lean down, I'll find it, too," Lance teased, watching JC's face for his reaction. JC's eyes widened slightly, but he grinned back.
"You're also eating pizza," JC reminded.
Lance winked at him and deliberately slid his hand up JC's thigh slowly. "I'll give it up for you, baby."
"Get away!" JC laughed, smacking away Lance's hand only inches before Lance touched a rather sensitive area. Lance grinned as he settled back and happily chewed a bite of pizza from the slice, letting his thoughts drift back to Ace. God the boy had been adorable. But he wasn't Lance's type. And he had a boyfriend. Never a good combination. Though those eyes had been to die for. And they were going to be home for a few weeks. And Lance did hate to cook...
But no. He wasn't going to call and hope that that boy was there again. That would just be obsessively stupid, and Lance was not obsessive. Or stupid. Most of the time. But he was not going to call for that boy again!
Damn it, he'd already said that!
Lance climbed off of JC's legs and went to the refridgerator, tearing another bite of pizza off from the slice as he pulled the door open. "Want a Coke?" Lance asked, pulling two out without waiting for an answer. He turned back to see JC frowning towards the front door, and Lance turned quickly to look, as if he could see it from where he stood. "What's wrong?" Lance asked, when JC said nothing.
JC continued to frown and stood, dropping his half-eaten third slice onto the top part of the pizza box. "I don't know. I thought I heard a car. You sit tight, I'll be right back." He gave Lance a pat on the front of his shoulder, his other hand on Lance's hip, as he walked by, as if trying to portray how Lance should not move. Lance watched him walk down the hallway with a puzzled expression, trying to remember if they had invited the other guys over. He was sure that they hadn't, and JC was probably imagining things anyway. With that thought, Lance dropped down into the chair JC's legs had previously occupied, placing the Cokes on the table and setting down his pizza to snap one open. He strained to listen for JC's voice and anyone else's, but he heard nothing except JC's footsteps, JC opening the front door... JC not shutting the front door... Lance frowned, the silence in his body almost eery as he longed to hear any peep out of JC. Finally, the door shut and JC's footsteps could be heard making their way back to the kitchen, and Lance looked towards the entrance of the kitchen expectantly.
JC was holding up a folded piece of ripped notebook paper with a bit of tape attached to it. A smirk was playing across his lips. "Ace, huh?"
Lance's heart stopped and then he jumped to his feet, snatching the paper from JC's fingers and it open. Ace Larusso, 555-4398. His eyes widened in horror and shock; his stomach twisting and knotting as he stared, slowly looking up at JC's smiling face. He had never been happier to see a number before, and yet, at the same time, he was scared out of his mind. It was that that he chose to react to. "Jesus, Jace!" Lance exclaimed, slamming the paper down onto the kitchen table and startling both of them. "The kid came back to give me his number!"
"Yeah, and he didn't knock or ring the doorbell or anything," JC tsked mockingly, dropping down into his previously occupied seat. "The nerve of him, sneaking away without getting a goodnight kiss!"
Lance narrowed his eyes warningly at JC. "He was a boy, Jace. Do you understand that? A child. I'd get hauled off to jail for even thinking about him!"
"Well how old did he say he was?" JC asked, his eyebrows furrowing as he picked his pizza back up and continued eating, chewing thoughtfully as he regarded Lance. Lance hated being stared at, especially since he knew JC was analyzing his every reaction to the subject matter. How quickly his breathing sped up, how pale or red he got, how wide his eyes went, how quick and terse his voice became... And Lance knew he was playing directly into JC's hands.
"18," Lance answered, trying to remain somewhat normal. "He couldn't have been a day over 17."
JC shrugged. "He said he was 18, take him at his word."
Lance stopped short and glared at JC. "He also said he had a boyfriend."
JC's eyebrow slowly came up, then he shrugged carelessly again. "He was probably lying to see what you thought about gay people."
Lance sighed in exasperation. JC was playing the god damn devil's advocate, but Lance was already having the struggle internally. He knew he wanted to call the boy with the knowing, mischevious smile and bright blue eyes, but he also knew that that would turn out to be a bad idea. What if the kid figured out who he was? Not what if, when. And how many people would he know directly connected to the media? Or even indirectly? It was an unnecessary risk Lance wasn't willing to take. Too many people could and would be hurt by such news, and it just wasn't worth it. Not for that boy with the egotistical attitude that screamed of cockiness and a passion that few knew and even fewer possessed.
But he wasn't going to think of that!
"That was a pretty daring move," JC continued, nodding at Lance's hand on the table. More specifically, what was under Lance's hand on the table. Lance glanced down at the paper and the scratchy scrawl that just screamed guy's handwriting. It looked as though it had been torn out of a spiral-bound notebook. Probably from one of his classes, Lance thought with a sneer. At high school. I can't believe he actually thought I would call.
I don't believe I'm not going to.
Lance looked up at JC, who was talking again. "I'd call him just out of sheer impression."
Lance began thinking up ammo to shoot back at his best friend. "It was probably the house," Lance objected, already warming up to the idea. "He probably saw how expensive and rich it was and decided that I'd be an easy target. He could be a kept man. Hell, Jace, he's a pizza delivery boy. He can't be making much money, and this probably looked like his ticket to freedom."
JC frowned at him. "Lance, if that was it, do you really think he'd have left his name and number so casually, instead of paired with a cutesy little letter?"
Lance sighed and left the paper on the table, joining JC again and resuming his position, seated on JC's legs as he picked up the already coldening pizza. "He's just a child, Joshua," Lance reminded softly, his mind on the dazzling grin the boy had. "Just a child."
"Lance, he's not asking you to sleep with him or do anything. Just call. Maybe a date. Possibly a kiss. Nothing life threatening or major." JC's voice was soothing and controlled, and Lance needed that so much right now that he simply wanted to hug JC for forever. But unfortunately, JC was wrong.
"It is major," Lance objected, sparking up. "Jace, what if it got out, huh? What if it got out that I, Lance Bass, member of Nsync, was dating a guy? Even if we only went out once, if it got out that I went out on a date with a guy, it wouldn't matter. Our careers would be over and you know it. You know it, Jace." Lance's pained, earnest face remained as he slouched back, looking down at the pizza and then up at JC for his reaction.
JC's eyes burned with hidden, pained anger that was lit from the depths of JC's soul, and Lance had never been more afraid of his best friend in his entire life. "Of course I know," JC spat darkly. "I gave up the love of my life for this group, because it couldn't get out that I was gay. You think that didn't royally fuck with my mind? God, Lance, I thought my heart had literally been ripped from my chest. It took me two years to recover from that. And I'm still not even completely over it."
Lance abandoned his unwanted pizza in the box and slid forward until he was in JC's lap, and then, once he was there, wrapped his arms as tightly around him as he could. He heard the soft thud as JC tossed his pizza back into the box, and then JC's arms were tight around him as JC buried his face in Lance's chest. Lance sighed softly and closed his eyes, pressing his nose into JC's hair; his lips against JC's head. "I know, baby," Lance whispered softly, keeping JC protectively in his embrace. "I know. It's okay." Lance never wanted anything more than to kiss away the stains from JC's soul, but there was nothing he could do. JC's pain was his own; his history locked away in his mind forever. And there was nothing he could do.
"I miss him," JC whispered, his voice trembling. Lance nearly winced and held back his own tears as he hugged JC even tighter.
"I know, Josh," Lance assured him quietly. "I know you do." Lightly Lance stroked JC's hair, feeling JC slump against him and depend on him completely to support them. Lance could do that. Lance was strong.
Without ever breaking his hold on JC, Lance slid off of his lap and then shifted, scooping JC up into his arms and carrying him down the hallway to his bedroom. JC wrapped his arms around Lance's neck and held his face against his shoulder, and Lance could hear his ragged breathing as he tried desperately not to cry.
When they reached the bedroom, Lance laid JC out on the white sheets and pulled away, taking note of his best friends' damp eyes, which he promptly covered by throwing a pillow over his face. Lance smiled slightly, but it died away quickly and he reached for JC's shoes, untying the once-white shoelaces and slipping them off. Next to go were JC's socks, and then JC's pants. Lance didn't flinch as he undid the button, and the only time JC tensed was when Lance pulled down the zipper. JC was wearing his favorite boxers, Lance noted, the dark blue ones with dark green stripes up the sides. Lance reached for JC's shirt, tugging it up over his musculed chest, and then waited as JC reluctantly moved the pillow from his wet face so Lance could slip the shirt up over his head. As soon as he was done, the pillow came back over JC's face, and Lance smiled at him, tossing his clothes on the ground and then going for JC's suitcase in the other room. He found JC's favorite pj's, dark blue flannel and black ones, and redressed JC quickly. When JC was done, he stripped to his boxers easily in the center of the room, reaching for his tee shirt and track pants, and then going to the king sized bed, sliding in beside JC. JC immediately abandoned the pillow and wrapped his arms around Lance, and Lance cuddled him as best as he could, trying to give JC any solace that he could.
Lance still remembered the day that JC broke up with Stan. JC had been getting a lot of flack from the media about being gay, all rumors, of course, and Lou pulled JC aside and told him that it was either Stan or the group, and it better not be the group because they had a contract. JC had tearfully ended the 3 and a half year relationship, and he had never been the same again. He trusted the guys with his life, but it was just the guys, and mainly only Lance and Justin, because those were the two closest to him before the breakup, and after, they had been the ones to pull him back together. God, Lance could still remember feeling Justin's hand on his back as they laid together with JC between them and they did their best to keep as little space as possible between their three bodies, just so that wherever JC turned would be someone that cared about him, just in case. For almost six months, the three were inseparable.
Lance felt JC's body gradually go limp, and Lance nearly sighed in relief when he heard JC's steady breathing, an immediate indicator that he was asleep. He lightly stroked JC's back, as helpless as he had been when JC and Stan first broke up. He didn't know the words to comfort JC with; didn't know the right way to hold him to make him forget. He was useless at making JC feel better, and he hated himself for that. He just wanted to be a good friend for JC. That was all he ever wanted.
Lance's thoughts gradually made their way to Ace, and with a sigh, he decided not to stop them. His mind replayed again and again the events of the night, from when he had opened the door and caught that cocky smile to when the boy had tensed and frozen at Lance's close proximity as he whispered in his ear. How this boy could have gotten into his mind so quickly bewildered and annoyed Lance, but the boy was like a seed planted in his mind, and the roots quickly spread throughout his brain, making their way into every little crack and crevice there. Lance was consumed completely by the memory of the boy, which was more vivid than when it had been happening. Those beautiful eyes, that healthy, tan glow, and that georgeous body. Bodies like that should have been considered crimes against nature, as they just begged to be grabbed and touched and held...
Lance sighed in exasperation at his own thoughts and tightened his hold on JC before forcing himself to close his eyes and try to get some rest.
~~~~End Part Two~~~~