Scoop2

Joey was admiring the blonde and red head across the room. Both were dressed as hookers and they were talking to Britney and Christina. Both were tall. About his own height he would guess and as far as he could tell they had curves in all the right places.

“Jive knows how to throw a Halloween party don’t they, Joe?”

Joey drug his attention away from the girls across the room. “Yeah, swell. Nick’s dressed as a Backstreet Baby right down to the pacifier and diaper. AJ is the only nun I’ve ever seen with sideburns and a goatee. Christina is predictably a genie and Brit’s dressed like Lara Croft. You and I, however, have the best cos-“

“Guys, we have to go back on tour soon.”

“Nice outfit Lance, but I thought you were coming as Zorro.” Chris said, as he looked Lance over.

Lance sighed, took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. “I was until Justette and Jaycina convinced me they needed a pimp for the evening.” He put his hat back on and then a look of hope appeared in his glassy eyes. “Oh, God! I know! If I beg I bet management will let me go make a guest appearance on some show. I don’t care what show. Any show will do. I just need to leave.”

“Lansten, chill and tell Uncle Joey and Aunt Chris what’s wrong.” Chris smacked Joey in the stomach and sent him a death glare for calling him “Aunt.”

“He’s driving me crazy!” Lance shouted then clamped his mouth shut when a nearby group of people turned to look at him.

“Who? JC?”

“Yes, JC! First he was a palm tree, and then he was the closet monster. I swear I nearly had a heart attack when he jumped out of the closet at me. I hear the scoop-a-doop song at least three times a day,” Lance said illustrating his point by holding up three fingers. “Sunday he tied a sheet around his neck, pretended to be Superman and ran around the house in only a pair of red Speedos. Yesterday he literally breathed down my neck all day. He was constantly looking over my shoulder wanting to know what I was doing.”

Chris and Joey were trying to hold their laughter in. Lance’s face was getting red and he was gesturing madly. It occurred to both of them that Scoop hadn’t been this animated in a long time. “Thought you were going to commit him if he started acting like Joey?”

“Hey!”

Lance continued to drone on ignoring Chris. “I was making dinner last night and I was singing along to the radio. Cher’s Shoop Shoop song was playing. I was minding my own business marinating the steaks and singing along when Josh came in. He was acting all normal until we got to the chorus. All of a sudden instead of “shoop shoop” Josh sings out “scoop scoop” and slaps me on the ass. Hard. After I told him it hurt he offered to kiss it and make it better.” Lance looked to the side and shook his head like he didn’t know what the hell was going on. “What are you two laughing at?”

Joey and Chris were nearly in tears. Joey was leaning on Chris trying to catch his breath and talk. “And let me guess…Today JC…decided he was…going to dress you for this…party.” Joey couldn’t help it as he and Chris broke out into another fit of laughter.

Lance pouted. “I didn’t have a choice. He hid my Zorro costume. We’re only four days into our two-week break and I’m ready to go back on the road. God, I’m going insane.” Lance looked at the ceiling and then back at his friends. He finally took in what they were wearing. “Who are you two freaks anyway?”

“I am that gorgeous Greek god Hercules and this is my little buddy Iolaus.”

Chris smacked Joey in the stomach again. “Half god, you ass. And I am not Giligan, Skipper, so don’t call me little buddy.”

Lance decided to head off the war. “Whatever guys. Nice wigs”

“Like you have any room to talk there, Scoop. You look like you should be standing on a street corner diddling two dollar whores.”

“Hey, big guy, that’s my pimp daddy you’re talking about,” came the breathy but decidedly masculine voice from behind Joey.

Joey and Chris turned to look at the new arrivals and their mouths dropped open. It was the red head and blonde Joey had been admiring earlier.

“Guys, meet my two dollar whores, Justette and Jaycina.” Lance said in a dry voice.

“Oh. My. God.” Chris said as Justin and JC cuddled up on either side of Lance. He took note of the long-suffering expression on Lance’s face.

“Yeah, what he said.” Joey finally got his mouth closed. He walked around the trio taking in everything. From behind, JC and Justin looked like two damn fine women and he was having a hard time grasping that this was the softer side of two of his best friends.

“So what do you think?” Justin said in a breathy girlie voice. He gave a twirl so Joey and Chris could admire his mini-skirt and halter top that were liberally padded to give him the shape of a woman. He was mentally cursing JC. His feet hurt from the high heels and the fish net stockings over his newly shaved legs felt really strange. Not to mention the fact that every time he turned his head strands from the blonde wig would fall into his face and obscure his view. As he waited for them to finish their inspection he leaned over to Josh and whispered into his ear. “I’m not sure you’re ever gonna be able to repay this debt.”

Chris looked over at Joey and then back at the trio. He thoughtfully stroked his goatee before answering Justin’s question. “I like it. What about you, Joe? Think we should make it part of the show?”

“NO! Absolutely not.” Lance vehemently nixed that idea.

“Aw, come on, Lance. They do look mighty fine.” Joey teased as Lance quietly fumed.

“Well, guys, it’s been fun but I’m gonna go see if Brit’s up for a little action.”

“Umm, Justin-Justette….”

“Yeah, Joe?”

“Britney’s not into girls.”

“Well, duh!”

“Right now you look like a girl.” Joey pointed out.

Justin grinned. “I’ll just have to talk her into a little bit of lesbian experimentation then won’t I?” With that Justin was off.

“Come on, Lance. Let’s go dance.” JC said as he dragged Lance toward the dance floor where a slow song had just started.

Lance tried to resist. “JC! I don’t….” But JC just kept pulling. Lance looked back over his should at Joey and Chris. “Help! Please!” He watched as Joey and Chris shook their heads and saluted him with their drink glasses. He was at JC’s mercy now.

After the crowd had swallowed up JC and Lance, Joey took as gulp of his drink and said, “You know, Chris. We have really strange friends.”

Chris glanced at Joey and then back out to the dance floor. “Yeah, but at least there’s never a dull moment.” Both stood there for a moment silently observing the party before bursting into giggles. They shared a smile and then moved to the dance floor to find partners.

“Please, Lance. Oh, God! I need you.”

“JC, we’re in the garage. It’s ten feet to the door and then another thirty feet to the couch. You can make it that far by yourself.” Lance said as he took the keys out of the engine. He looked over at Josh. The poor guy was looking kind of frazzled. His wig was askew, his boobs were lying in his lap and his high-heels were on the floorboard next to his feet.

“That’s about forty feet too far. Please, Scoop. I don’t think I can walk.”

Lance sighed. Some days he just got sick of being nice. “Josh, I am not carrying you into the house. It’s your own fault you can’t walk. I did not ask you to dress up as a hooker and wear four inch spike heels.”

“Well, fine. Be that way.” JC pouted as he gingerly got out of the car. He leaned on the door for support and watched Lance walk to the front of the car.

“JC, stop being a baby.”

Josh stuck his tongue out at Lance before he hobbled to the front of the car. He held on to the hood for support the whole way. He honestly did not think he could make it to the couch.

“Geez, I really am gullible.” Lance mumbled as he strode over to JC and swept him into his arms. He stood there for a moment settling Josh’s weight in his arms. His eyes connected with Josh’s.

Josh’s whole face lit up with a smile as he sighed. “My hero.”

“Shut up, goof, or we may not make it into the house.”

Josh wrapped his arms around Lance’s neck and laid his head on his shoulder. His sigh was barely audible. “Lance, do you realize this has to be a record for us. It’s only like 9:15. We weren’t even at the party for an hour.” He hated making Lance carry him but it felt so good. Now if he could just pull a Justin and get some cuddling in during the movie this night would be just about perfect.

Lance grunted as he hoisted JC a little higher in his arms and turned sideways to go through the door. “Someone, not mentioning any names Joshua Chasez, said they were extremely uncomfortable and wanted to go home. Now being the good little pimp daddy I am, I brought my little Jaycina home.”

“Watch it, Scoop. I don’t have my boobs in. If you call me Jaycina again I may have to retaliate.” JC leaned his head back to glare at Lance.

Lance bit his lip trying not to smile. “Yes, Jaycina. Oooomf-“

Josh grabbed Lance’s head and threw his weight backward causing Lance to fall with him onto the couch. They went down hard with Lance landing on top of JC. Immediately Josh flipped Lance and sat up on his hips. “Gosh, Lance, I didn’t know you cared. If you were looking for some action you should have just said so.” He squirmed around a little and swore he felt Lance start to harden before he was unceremoniously dumped on the floor. “Ouch!”

Lance blew on his fingertips and then rubbed them on his shirt. “Joey taught me that move. Like it?”

JC pouted. “No.” He looked up at Lance. “So what movie are we watching?”

“When a Stranger Calls Back.”

“Eww, sounds scary. Should I be afraid?”

Lance looked at him and grinned evilly. “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

“Oh, I’m shakin’!”

Lance rolled his eyes and stood up. “That’s just because you’re horny, and,” he did a body beautiful pose, “you know you’re not getting any of my hot bod tonight.” He ducked laughing as JC threw a pillow from the couch at him. “Oh, crippled ho, do you think you can handle starting the movie while I make popcorn?”

JC scrunched his face up and sent Lance a sarcastic look. “I’ll have to crawl to the TV, but I think I’ll manage.”

“Great! Back in a couple of minutes.”

Lance took a deep breath as he pulled the popcorn down out of the cabinet. That had been close. JC’s squirming had caused him to develop a major hard on. It was a good thing they had always teased each other sexually or he never would have made it out of the room in one piece.

As Lance stuck the popcorn in the microwave he pondered why JC was the only man ever to really turn him on. He had admired men all his life, and, even though he knew homosexual thoughts were frowned upon, he had always held an attraction for the same sex. Not that he didn’t find women attractive, he did. It was just that recently no women had made him feel alive and no woman ever had made him feel like Josh did.

The dinging of the microwave pulled Lance from his thoughts. He poured the popcorn into a bowl, grabbed the butter packet and headed for the den.

Josh was on the couch with the remote in hand. Lance couldn’t help but laugh. The wig was still crooked and now Josh had a five o’clock shadow to complete the look. “Josh, man, you need anything else while I’m up?”

“Oh, you got the movie theatre popcorn.” Josh said as he grabbed the bowl out of Lance’s hand. He stuffed a handful of popcorn in his mouth before answering Lance. “Would you get me some sweats and a t-shirt.” Josh plucked at the mini skirt. “A mini skirt and halter top isn’t exactly my idea of the ideal movie watching ensemble.”

“Sure, man.” Lance headed upstairs. He stopped in his room and changed into shorts and a t-shirt. He next went into Josh’s room and rummaged through the closet until he found the requested items. He went into the bathroom and wet a washcloth anticipating Josh’s request for something to remove his makeup with.

On his way back downstairs Lance passed Josh’s bed. The red lights of the alarm clock on the bedside table caught his attention. Thinking of the movie they were getting ready to watch, Lance hastily laid the clothes and washcloth down and decided it was time for a little payback.

Lance stood in the doorway listening to JC sing. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face. Josh really was a nut.

Josh sat on the couch bobbing his head and tapping out the beat of the music on his knees as he sang. “…Called myself up on the phone…just to see if I was home. I’m a nut. I’m a nut. I’manutI’manutI’manut. Asked myself out on a date. Met myself at a half past eight. I’m a nut. I’m a nut. I’manutI’manutI’manut. Took myself to the picture show. Sat right down in the very front row. I’m a nut. I’m a nut. I’manutI’manutI’manut. Wrapped my arms around my waist. Got so fresh I slapped my face. I’m a nut. I’m a nut. I’manutI’manutI’manut.”

“Josh! Tell me something I didn’t know.”

“Dude! What took you so long?”

“I had to change clothes and then go on a archeological dig through your closet to find these.” Lance said as he held up Josh’s requested clothing. He handed Josh the clothes and then the washcloth.

Josh looked up from the washcloth. “You are too good to me.”

“Yeah, I know, but what are friends for.”

“Scoop, have I told you that I appreciate your letting me stay here?”

“Let me think.” Lance scratched his chin and starred at the ceiling for a moment. Then he started ticking things off on his fingers. “Well, you’ve told me I have a rabid ferret, you’re in love with my bathroom, my floors are perfect for the Risky Business slide and I have a nice ass. Nope, no appreciation there.”

“Well, I do appreciate it. And you still have the bathroom of my dreams and great floors.”

“I told you you can move in if you want. It’s not like I have a live-in lover it’s going to bother. And, if you move in, you get to have that big ole bathroom all to yourself.” Lance shrugged his shoulders. Maybe this time Josh would say yes. Then he could torture himself with Josh’s presence even when they were on break.

“Better watch it there, Scoop. I may just take you up on that.”

“Anytime, Chasez. Anytime.”

“Okay, that was a freaky movie. Nobody could paint themselves up that way. It’s humanly impossible.” JC shuddered. “My favorite part was where he set her alarm clock to go off at midnight just to freak her out and make her think she was crazy. Evil.”

Lance grinned. “Yeah, evil. Talk about scarring the shit out of you.”

“I know. I think I’d crap in my pants if that happened to me.”

“On that pleasant thought, ‘night, C. Sleep tight.”

“’Night, Lance.”

Lance left JC at his door and headed on to his own room. He crawled into bed and looked at the clock. 11:37. He turned off the light and settled back into bed waiting for said shit to hit the fan. This was going to be good.

Lance looked at the clock for about the millionth time. 11:59. He could almost hear JC now. He scooted down in the bed until he was laying flat and waited for the show to start. Right on schedule Lance heard the most God-awful screeching coming from down the hall. The next thing he knew his bedroom door was slamming against the wall and JC had launched himself toward the bed from about five feet away. Lance didn’t have time to think. When JC landed on him, he wrapped his arms around him and JC’s momentum carried them both to the other side of the bed and onto the floor.

They lay in a twisted heap on the floor. Lance had the breath knocked out of him as he had landed on the bottom. He had both of his arms around JC and the sheets were twisted around them. JC was breathing hard and had his face buried in Lance’s neck.

“Josh! Josh! Are you okay?” Lance tried to shake JC but he couldn’t move. The sheets were too tightly wrapped around them.

JC started speaking against Lance’s neck. “My alarm clock…my clock went off at midnight. I know it was set for nine because I…I have to go to the studio in the m-morning. I…I don’t know what happened.” He was shaking slightly and a cold sweat had broken out all over his body.

He could feel the vibrations in Lance’s chest before he heard the laughter. He looked up to see tears streaming from Lance’s eyes he was laughing so hard. “You ass. You did this didn’t you?”

Lance didn’t even try to stop the laughter. He roared at the looked on Josh’s face.

“Well?”

“I…I couldn’t resist.” He tried to talk through his laughter. “Payback’s a bitch!”

JC tried to get up but all he managed to do was bump and grind into Lance. He finally got free and sat up. “It’s not funny.”

Lance raised up on his elbow and wiped his eyes. “Yes. It is.” He watched JC sit there and fume for a minute. “JC?”

“What?”

Yep, JC didn’t like it when the joke was on him. “You scream like a girl.” With that Lance fell back on the floor laughing.

“Laugh it up, big boy. I’m sleeping in here with you tonight. You’ve gone and scared me now.” JC crossed his arms over his chest. He was expecting an argument.

“I guess it’s the least I can do. Come on. I’m sleepy. Let’s go to bed.”

Josh helped Lance straighten the covers and then crawled into bed beside him. He drifted off to sleep thinking about Lance inviting him to bed for another reason. He didn’t realize he had snuggled up to Lance or that Lance really didn’t seem to mind.