| Chapter One |
| January 13, 2001 Dulles International Airport "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now preparing to board for flight 1244 with nonstop service to Orlando, Florida..." a flight attendant announced over the PA. JC turned to Bobbie. "I guess this is it, huh?" he asked. "Sweetie, don't start talking like it's the end for us," she said. "We'll talk to each other on the phone, and I'll be visiting in a month for Valentine's Day, right?" "I know, Bobbie. But things will be different now. Everything we say to each other could possibly be aired on national television. You did sign that contract, right?" Bobbie laughed. "Why wouldn't I?" "I really don't know," JC answered. He then looked at the line of people heading on ot the plane and got up. "I think I better go, Bobbie," he said. "I know," she answered, handing JC his backpack. They kissed, then after pulling away Bobbie whispered, "I love you." "I love you too," JC answered back. He then walked over to the flight attendant to board the plane. Orlando International Airport Lance walked off the plane and into the airport terminal with several emothions running through his mind. Happiness that he was going to experience a new life and meet new people. Fear that his new housemates wouldn't accept his sexuality. Worry about how the world would accept him after the show started airing in the summer. He pushed it all aside and headed to the other end of the terminal where he was supposed to meet one of the girls in the house, Kaitlyn. 'Let's hope she doesn't get too attached to me,' Lance thought. Lance stopped at a newsstand first to pick up a newspaper. 'I'm living here for the next five months, so why not find out what's happening in town?' Leaving the store was when he got his first glimpse of what he was in for. A cameraman was off 20 feet ahead of Lance, filming his walk. 'Guess I have to look my best now,' he thought while checking for the gate where Kaitlyn would be arriving. When Lance reached the gate he saw that the plane would not be arriving for another half hour. He sat down and started reading the newspaper, but out of the corner of his eye he still saw something that was bothering him. "Do you have to sit there and film me at all times?" he finally asked. "Welcome to The Real World," the cameraman said. "This is your life 24/7 for the next five months. And since I'll be following you around a lot, I might as well introduce myself. I'm Joey." "Lance, but you already knew that," he answered. "So are you ready for this?" "Yeah, it's actually not as bad as you think. I pretty much film for ten to twelve hours a day then I'm off." "Sounds like fun," Lance joked. The two talked for a few minutes until they heard over the speaker, "Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to announce the arrival of flight 764 from Dayton, Ohio." Joey picked up his camera again. "Ready?" he asked. "I guess," the blonde answered. Joey walked over to the window to film the plane's taxi up to the gate, while Lance waited near the walkway to greet Kaitlyn. Not long after the plane started unloading, a young woman stepped out of the walkway. Her confused look made Lance take notice that it might be who he was looking for. "Kaitlyn?" he asked as he walked up to her. "Call me Katie," she said, giving him a big smile. "You must be Lance." He laughed. "James, if you want to be technical. It's a pleasure meeting you." Lance and Katie walked through the airport to the baggage claim to pick up their luggage. MTV had hired a van service to transport them to the new house. Once inside the van, the two bbegan talking. "So, you're from Ohio?" Lance asked. "Unfortunatley," Katie joked. "I grew up in Dayton, so this is my first chance to experience life outside of there. What about you? You sound like you're from down south." "Mississippi," he said, "pretty much the same conditions as you." "That's good, at least I know I'm not alone now. Are you seeing anybody back home?" 'Oh boy, here it comes already,' Lance thought. "Actually, I'm, um, not really into girls." Lance waited for the shock and horror to appear on Katie's face, but was surprised when she flashed another smile. "That's cool! I have a few gay friends back home, so living with one shouldn't be a problem." "Really?" "Of course. I don't judge people based on their sexuality, only their personality. And so far, you're the kind of guy I would love to become friends with." Lance smiled, then turned to Joey, who gave him an approving thumbs up behind the camera. He then leaned back in the seat and relaxed until they arrived at the house. Real World House "Thanks, man," JC told the van driver as he helped remove luggage from the back. As the driver took off, JC took his first good look at the place he'd be living for the next five months. He grabbed a few of his bags and headed up the walkway. Reaching the door, he was greeted by a petite brunette girl and tall, curly haired boy that couldn't be far out of his teens. "Hi there!" the girl said to JC. "Hi," he answered. "I'm JC." The guy smiled. "Cool. I'm Justin, and this is Michelle. Come on in!" "Thanks," JC said as he laid his bags by the doorway. Justin went out to get the rest, while Michelle walked him around the house. JC fell in love with everything, especially the grand piano sitting in the living room. "This place is amazing!" he exclaimed. "Isn't it? Justin and I haven't even seen half of it and we can't wait for the rest of the housemates to show up!" "Yeah, let's just hope they love it just as much." Justin came back in with the rest of JC's luggage. "They will. Who wouldn't love this house?" JC was curious. A second look at Justin made him look familiar. "Have I seen you somewhere before?" he asked. "Probably. I played basketball for UNC last year, even started a few games, until I blew my knee out against Maryland. So this won't be my first time on national TV." "That's why! I went to that Maryland game, I go to school there!" "Oh. Bastard," Justin replied. JC looked at him suspiciously before Justin started lauging. "Just playing! I'm not going to hold where you go to school against you, especially if we're going to be rooming together." JC was about to accept the apology until they heard a couple "Hello"s coming from the entryway. He, Justin, and Michelle went out to meet the new arrivals. "Damn, two hot girlies! Looks like we got ourselves some action, huh Jace?" Justin said. One of the girls pushed him against the wall. "Don't even think that you could ever go out with me, got it? And it's not because I'm black and you're white either, I just don't want to date anyone in the house." "Tina, that's a real nice way to greet our new friends," the other one said. "Forgive her for her manners. I'm Britney, by the way." "I apologize for Justin as well. He hit on me before we even left the airport, and I have a boyfriend back home!" Michelle said. Justin looked at her. "Wait, Shell, you didn't say that!" "Well, now I did!" JC spoke up. "Fighting already? Wait until the other two get here!" Tina let go of Justin. "Sorry guys. I know I shouldn't have done that, but my temper likes getting in the way a lot." "So, why don't we get to know each other better?" Justin asked, changing the subject. "JC, what does that stand for." "It's my initials, Joshua Chasez. But nobody even calls me that except my girlfriend." "Awwww, one of us has a boyfriend, and one has a girlfriend! I just kove romance stories," Britney sighed. Tina rolled her eyes. "Just what I needed." "Hey guys, there's another van pulling up," Michelle called out. "Wanna go meet them?" Everyone went outside to greet the two final houseguests. The first out of the van was a young woman, a little on the heavy side, but still attractive (much to Justin's approval). She was followed by a blonde guy wearing glasses. "Hi there!" Britney called out while walking towards the van. "Hi!" the new girl greeted. "I'm Katie, and this is Lance." JC and Justin went to the back of the van to help Lance with the suitcases. "Thanks guys," Lance said when they picked everything up for him. "No problem, what are new friends for?" Justin answered. JC was about to say something, but he was distracted by looking at Lance. 'He's beautiful,' JC thought, staring into Lance's pale green eyes. 'How does someone get an eye color like that?' Lance, at the same time, couldn't stop staring at JC. 'No, don't go getting a crush on your roommate already!' he told himself. But JC was extremely handsome, save for his hair that looked like he stuck a fork into the toaster. The guys headed inside, where they met the girls. "So, what do you do, Lance?" Michelle asked. "I'm a college student, at Ole Miss," he answered. "Any girlfriend?" Justin asked. 'Not again!' Lance thought. He looked at Katie, who gave him another smile. "No," he sighed. "Actually, I'm gay." JC's mouth dropped open. "You are?" "Yeah, is there a problem?" "No, no problem, right guys?" JC asked for support. "Nope, no problem here," Britney said. "Here either," Tina agreed. Justin and Michelle just stood there. Lance looked at them and wondered if they were just shy or if the really were against it. "What about you two?" he asked. Michelle spoke first. "I-I really don't know what to say. Where I grew up in Texas, I was only exposed to straight, white people. I never met someone of a differet race until I went to Yale, and I never knew anybody that was..." she trailed off. "Like me?" Lance asked. "Exactly. I mean, I'm fine with it, but this is just a first for me." "That's cool. What about you, Justin?" Justin stood there. "Whatever you want," he finally said. Then he changed the subject again. "So, are we going to choose rooms or what?" "That's a good idea," Katie agreed. "Are you three guys okay rooming together?" "Yeah, I guess," Justin said. "Good. Then you can have the large room. I'll room with Britney, and Tina and Michelle can be together." Everyone agreed with Katie and picked up their bags to head to their respective rooms. JC followed Lance, thinking, 'He's gay. And cute. Wait, did I just say that? I'm straight! I'm not interested in guys!I love Bobbie, no matter how annoying she can get. But Lance...I really want to get to know him well, though.' 'JC didn't seem to have any problems with me. Maybe that's a sign,' Lance told himself. 'What am I saying? There's no way he can be anything less than straight. He's probably the type that has five girls all over him wherever he goes.' Justin thought, 'I really don't have a problem with Lance in general. It's just that I'm not comfortable living with a guy who listens to Judy Garland all the time and decorates. I doubt he's really like that, though. He could just be normal except for who he dates.' The three guys went to their room, where they met each other with silence. 'It'll get better,' Justin thought. 'It's just going to be awkward for a couple days...or weeks.' Then they started unpacking and settling into their new lives. Next chapter Back to prologue Back to chapter index Back to story index |