Chapter 24 By Sunday night, Lance was miserable. He never realized how much of his life as of late had surrounded Justin. With him gone, Lance was all alone. He had gone down to the gym to work out, but the minute he walked inside, he noticed Joey over at weights. He tried to turn before Joey could see him, but it was too late. Joey stood up putting down the weight he was curling, and walked over by Lance pushing him slightly. He didn't say a word, and neither did Lance. Once Joey was out of sight, Lance decided to leave. The urge to work out now gone. The next day, Lance waited by the phone. He had missed Justin's call the night before, and he didn't want to miss it again. When the phone rang, he jumped from his bed and answered it. "Hey, Lance." "Hey, baby. Sorry about missing your call." "It's okay. How you been doing?" "Good. Bumped into Joey though, and I mean that literally." "Damn it. Listen I hate that you have to spend the week there alone. I wish I could have you come up here with me, but..." "I know, Justin. You haven't told your mom yet. And with the way my parents reacted when I told them, I understand why not." "I'm sorry about your parents, Lance." "I'm fine now. Haven't had them in my life in awhile. The only way I know they are still around is cause dad still foots the bill for college every semester." "Listen I have to go. Jon wants to play basketball. I... damn Jon... one sec... you know what I want to say. I just can't." "I love you, too, baby." By the next night, Lance was depressed. He actually was almost tempted to drive up to Justin's and surprise him, but he resisted the urge to do so. When the phone rang just passed eleven o'clock, he looked at the phone confused. Justin had already called earlier that night. He decided to let the answering machine get it. "Lance, you there?" The second he heard Justin's voice, he picked up the phone. "Hey, baby, you okay?" "Can't sleep." "Why? What's bothering you?" Lance asked as he lay down on his bed. "Nothing. It's stupid really." "No, it isn't. Not if it is keeping you up. Tell me." "It's just this whole Thanksgiving thing. My whole family is going to be there, and they are all going to be asking me about school and stuff. Then they will ask if I am seeing someone new since I am no longer with Britney, and I can't tell them anything. Can't say yes I am seeing the greatest guy because then all hell would break loose. All I want is to share you with them. This way it seems wrong." "I know, but telling all your family you are gay and seeing someone is too much to spring on them on a family get together. You need to start small. Maybe tell your mom first, but not on Thanksgiving." "Yeah, you're right. You know I miss you. All I want right now is to climb into bed with you and fall asleep in your arms." "Only a few more days, and then we will do just that." An idea was beginning to form in Lance's mind. "Justin when do you leave tomorrow?" "After mom gets home from work and Jon from school. Why?" "Just so I know what time to call you tomorrow." "Oh, we should be here until about 5:30 or so. Josh and Brit are helping out with their families, so I will be all by myself tomorrow." "Sorry, baby. Wish I could be there." "Yeah, me too," Justin said in a small voice that made Lance picture him pouting. "Call me tomorrow during the day, okay?" "Sure. Talk to you then." "Night, Lance. Love you." "Night, baby." Hanging up the phone was always hard for Justin. He could lay in bed and talk to Lance all night, but he knew he couldn't. Lance did help make him feel better. He was right. He should tell his mom first. Shutting off the light, he was finally able to fall asleep. The next morning, Justin woke up around nine. the house was quiet. Jon was already in school, and his mother had gone in at eight. He rubbed his eyes sleepily, as he padded in stockinged feet down to the kitchen. Pouring himself some cereal, he went into the living room and started to watch television.  At around ten, there was a knock on the door. "Who the hell could that be?" Justin asked the empty room. Getting up, he walked over to the door looking out the peekhole, but all he saw was someone standing there in a jacket and baseball cap facing away from the door. Opening the door slowly, he opened his mouth to speak, but instead he let out a gasp as the person turned around. "Surprise." changes 23 menu changes 25