1. Don't Renege on Our Love, Justin/JC
Thunder Forever
by J-Lo
The skin of Justin's wrist is warm and smooth. JC rests his head there and hears Justin say, "If we weren't who we are, it would be a different story."
*
It started when they first met, hands everywhere and lips against lips that barely knew how to kiss. Years later, they met again in Orlando, and made each other hum.
*
JC slides away from Justin and looks at the ceiling. "A different story?"
Justin sighs. "You know what I mean."
"I want you to say it."
"JC -- "
"I want you to say it."
*
Lou brought people in, and the young ones studied history while the old ones did voice work. Steps were learned together and rooms were shared because there wasn't enough money. And one night, a cold snap sent JC into Justin's bed, sent Lance into Joey's, left Chris to fend for himself. And one night, things changed.
*
"Lance has changed things."
"Do you love him?"
Justin's fingers trail up JC's arm. "I could."
*
It took time to agree on what felt right. Chris told JC that sex was the physical manifestation of emotions, and they called it making love. Joey told Justin to be careful, and they used condoms. Lou told everybody about marketing to young girls, and they kept it a secret.
*
"How long have you been sleeping together?"
"A while." Justin presses his lips against JC's shoulder.
"Before or after we broke up?"
"After," Justin whispers, and JC leans into Justin's touch. "After."
*
They spent time in a place where it was okay for boys to walk down the street holding hands. Chris provided the distraction, became such a handful that no one would notice they were gone, or that they came back smelling of fresh liquor and stale sex.
*
JC slides Justin into rubber. "This is really it."
Hips arch. "I know."
"Because I can't keep doing this."
JC looks Justin in the eye. "I know."
*
Fame was expensive. Money here for costumes, money there for videos, money everywhere in Lou's pockets. Then sickness washed over Lance and suddenly, it wasn't so fun anymore.
*
"Are you going to come?"
JC sees the pulse in Justin's neck and grits his teeth. "I don't think so."
"What can I do?"
He braces his foot against Justin's back. "That. Keep doing that."
*
The four of them slept on the same bed until Lance came back. None of them slept much after that, not until depositions had been given and testimony had been taken. And not even then.
*
Justin sips from a bottle of water and passes it to JC. "Can you stay?"
"I don't think so."
"I didn't think so, either."
*
JC knocked a teacup off Justin's dresser. It shattered as thin as shell, and they never found all the pieces.
*
"Could you turn out the light?" Justin pulls the sheets up to his chin.
JC slips into Justin's shirt. "I will."
There is no touching and then JC walks away, leaves Justin behind with loose change on the nightstand and a book open to a page that reads, "She had already cut one of his phrases into the rock, one of the first things he had said to her, which she had held on to like a raft in her years of fear."