Chapter 3

It had been three days and Operation AJ and Lance was in action. Lance came into work with his new clothes and everyone was gaping at him. AJ took one look and said approvingly, "Looks good, Mississippi." I looked triumphantly at Lance.

I kept placing Lance next to AJ while we were bartending, sending encouraging glances to Lance. After work on Thursday, AJ came up to both of us and threw his arms around our shoulders. "The bar is being closed for renovations this weekend, and I am throwing a party. Please tell me that you two pretty boys will be in attendance?"

I nodded. Anything that would show these two that they were meant for each other was good for me. "Sure, AJ. You know that we wouldn't miss one of your parties for the world."

"As long as you don't forget that you're having dinner with us first!" Chris yelled to us from where he was packing up his records.

"I'm sure that dinner with the married couple will end way before my party even starts." AJ assured him. Then he turned to Lance. "So, I haven't heard from you. You're coming, right?"

Lance smiled shyly. "Yeah, of course I am."

"Good." AJ said, satisfied, squeezing Lance a little tighter. I looked at Lance and we had to refrain from squealing like two teenage girls. AJ let go of us and then started to head out the door. "See you tomorrow."

Then, we squealed like thirteen year old girls.

Friday found me at Joey and Chris's doorstep with Josh, arguing about what I was wearing. "Can you even breathe in those pants?" Josh was asking me as Joey answered the door. We walked past him into the house without even saying hello.

"Why are you worried about what I wearing? Personally, I think that I look good." I retorted. And I did. I was wearing my best pair of leather pants and a shirt so sheer it was practically non-existent. "Plus, I'm going to a party after this, and I'm not going dressed in a t-shirt and jeans."

Josh rolled his eyes. "That may not be an improvement seeing how you wear your jeans." He muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him, my fists clenched at my sides.

"What I mean is, your pants always look like they're five seconds from slipping off! I'm surprised no one's mistaken you for a rent boy yet. Whatever, you're grown. Wear whatever you want." Josh threw up his hands and retreated to the family room.

"Well, hello to you too." Joey greeted laughingly as he grabbed my coat from me and hung it up.

"Sorry about that. Hey, Joe." I muttered as we walked to the family room where Josh and Chris were already sitting.

"Josh and Justin were arguing about Justin's choice of attire." Joey informed Chris.

"Josh and Justin weren't arguing," interjected Josh. "I just pointed out how Justin's clothes were a little too much just to go out with friends, and he didn't appreciate me point of view."

Joey laughed. "This is reminds me of when Justin came to visit you in junior year." Josh groaned and I buried my face in my hands.

"What happened?" Chris asked

"Oh, Chris it was so funny. Josh and I had just gotten our apartment, and Josh tells me that his sixteen year old former step-nephew wants to visit, and I'm like, sure. Justin had just come out, so he decides that Josh just has to take him to the Gay Pride parade. So, the day of, Justin comes out of the bathroom wearing a pair of jean cutoffs so short that he better not bend over any time soon, and nothing else save some glitter on his chest and eyelashes. And then to top it off, the kid's gotten a nipple ring from somewhere. Josh just explodes. He tells him that he's not taking him anywhere like that, because he's not trying to have someone snatch Justin off the street. And Justin's rolling his eyes and telling him that he can't help it if Josh has no style. It was so funny. And now, almost seven years later, they're having the same argument."

Josh balked. "He was practically naked! What kind of person would I have been to let a sixteen year old boy out like that? And a nipple ring? Who in the hell would do that for him? He was barely old enough to get his ears pierced, let alone his nipple. His father trusted me to take care of him and I was not taking him around a bunch of horny men looking like trade."

I turned to Josh. "I'm getting sick and tired of your derogatory comments about my clothes. And you could've just told me to put on a shirt or something. You didn't have to take the nipple ring out!" That was still a sore spot with me. I loved that nipple ring. It a silver barbell and then ends looked like little dice. I hadn't been able to find another one quite like that yet.

'Well, excuse me for looking out for you! Someone has to be the adult here because you keep doing things and never thinking of consequences, and God knows that I've gotten you out of so much shit. But if you don't want me to have your back, then fine Justin. Do whatever you want. I don't care." He leaned back in the chair and began to pout.

I sighed. I hate it when he does this. And I had to admit that Josh has had my back before when I got myself into awkward situations, like when I was seventeen and went to a party and the guy put GHB in my drink, and Josh saw and stopped me before I drank it. Or the time I decided to be a go-go dancer and the manager of the club I was in decided to try to get me involved in a prostitution ring….ok, I admit it, I'm a trouble magnet. And Josh has always been there to bail me out, one way or another. I smiled. Josh really is a great friend. I sat next to him and put my hand on his arm. "Hey, stop pouting, ok? I admit, you have been there for me. And yeah, now that I'm older I realize how stupid it was for me to try to go anywhere half naked."

Josh sighed. "Thanks. And you're right too. I mean, you're almost twenty-two, and I should treat you that way. It's just, I've known you since you were ten, you know? And sometimes I still see that ten year old. But you're grown and I should trust your judgment." We hugged. The good thing about me and Josh is that we can never stay mad at each other.

Chris chuckled and turned to me and Josh. "You two are too funny, you know that? Joey and I might have had the commitment ceremony, but you and Josh are the old married couple."

For that, Chris received two piercing glares.

After the dinner, Josh dropped me off at AJ's and the party was already in full swing. I came in to see AJ grinding on Lance and Lance smiling wide enough to brighten all of LA. When AJ spotted me, he grabbed Lance's hand and pulled him to where I was standing. "Like the pants, Timberlake." AJ complimented.

I smiled. "Thanks. Josh hated them, but you know how that goes. Hey, where's the beer?" I started to walk away when AJ caught my arm.

"Oh, no, Timberlake, you're not going anywhere. I want to dance with my two sexy co-workers." He pulled me in front of him and Lance behind him, and we danced for about three songs, and then I went and found the beer. After a while, though I remembered I had a paper to write on the changing use of music in cinema, and AJ offered to drive me home.

"So, what do you think about Lance?" I asked slyly, trying to get some info out of him.

"What do you mean?" he asked as he stopped at a light.

"I mean, what do you think about him? He's a nice guy. Kind of cute, too."

AJ rolled his eyes. "What are we, high school girls?" At my exasperated sigh, he chuckled. "Yeah, Lance is alright. He's got a nice ass."

I laughed. I knew that AJ had checked out Lance's ass.

Then he startled me by turning into a closed gas station and parking the car. He turned to me, his eyes dark, and said, "I'd rather talk about you though."

"Me?" I asked confused.

"Yes, you." AJ punctuated his words by sliding his palm up my thigh.

I was no longer confused.

I jumped away from his hand. "AJ, are you crazy? What about Lance?"

"What about him?"

"I thought you liked him. Like, wanted to get with him, liked him."

AJ gave an exasperated sigh. "What? Why would you think that? I mean, yeah, like I said, he's cute, but you are sex on legs. Why would I fool around with Mississippi when I can have you?" He moved towards me again, and I moved back until the door handle was stabbing me in the back.

"So, then why have you been all up on him all week?" I asked, still trying to wrap my brain around what AJ was saying.

"I haven't been all up on him. Like I said, he's a nice kid and he's in a new place, so I've been trying to make him comfortable. And mostly I've been doing that because he's your friend. But I don't want him. I want you."

My head was spinning. Me and AJ? Hell no! I couldn't even fathom the possibility. He moved towards me again and I jumped out the car. "Well, I'm sorry, but that's not going to happen. I just don't like you like that AJ."

His eyes narrowed and he jerked the gear shift into drive. "Fine. Fuck you then, you fucking tease." Then he drove off, leaving me in the middle of nowhere.

I panicked. I didn't have my wallet on me or anything. I spied a pay phone and thank God for all the millions of "dial down the center" collect calling commercials I had seen. I said my name and waited for a groggy Josh to answer.

"Justin?" he asked, and I winced when I realized that it had to be after 2 a.m.

"Josh, I hate to wake you up but I'm stranded and I need you to come pick me up."

Josh sighed. "Can't you just take the bus or something?"

I rolled my eyes. "Did you see my pants? I couldn't fit a dollar into these things. I thought that AJ would take me back home, but we had a fight and he left me in the middle of Hollywood."

"What!" Now Josh was fully awake.

"Yeah." I said, eyeing the streets. "Please come get me Josh. I promise that I'll never say another thing when you accuse me of dressing like trade. Just hurry up."

I heard Josh curse softly and then he said, "I'll be right there. Give me ten minutes." "Are you okay?" he asked looking me over, checking me for injuries.

'I'm fine. I just want to get home and sleep. And then kick that fucker's ass for leaving me in the middle of the Red Light District."

"And I'd be too happy to help." Josh growled. I smiled at him and his face softened. "Listen, since this weekend has already started out shitty for you how about tomorrow I go get some garlic chicken pizza, and we'll rent movies?"

"The Godfather trilogy?" I asked gleefully. Josh cringed. It isn't that he doesn't like the movies; it's just that I've watched them at least a million times and have the tendency to talk through them.

"Yes," he sighed, "We'll watch the Godfather trilogy."

I leaned back and smiled. Yep, like I said earlier, Josh is the greatest friend.

Chapter 4>>> [COMING SOON!!]
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