End of February 2002

Chicago

Justin tried to stay away from JC as much as possible after what happened two weeks ago; he wasn’t sure how to act around his best friend. JC sot him a few times, trying to talk to him about it, but he shrugged him off and avoided him as much as he could. He was thankful they were in Chicago; JC would be staying at his parents’ place the three days they would be doing shows. Which meant Justin didn’t have to see him for three nights. He spent a lot of time hanging out with Tyler, which didn’t bother Tyler he felt as if Justin was just another older brother to him.

Justin threw his bag on the floor and locked the hotel door with the chain. He fell on the bed and ran a hand over his face and through his hair. He couldn’t get Tyler’s voice out of his head.

They had been in Justin’s hotel room for a few hours catching up; Tyler was on a ‘break’ as he put it from college.

“How much closer can the two of you get?” Tyler asked they were talking about JC and Justin.

Justin sighed and looked at Tyler a little embarrassed. “Can I tell you something Ty?” Justin asked feeling a little uneasy. He was going to let someone in on his secret. He needed to let someone in on it.

“Justin, you know you are like a brother to me. I’m not going to laugh at you… or hate you.” Tyler said giving Justin an odd look

“I… uh… I’ve… well…” Justin coughed thinking maybe this was a bad idea. He bit his lower lip and looked down at his hands. “I’ve kis…I’ve kissed Jace a few times.” He said quickly getting the words out in one breath.

Justin sat there not looking up at Tyler, he started to regret ever saying anything when he didn’t hear Tyler speak back. His eyes slowly rose, what caught him off guard was Tyler wasn’t puking, he didn’t even look shocked. Well, he looked a little shocked but not what Justin was expecting.

“You stumbled over your words to tell me you’re in love with my brother?” Tyler held back a laugh, but smiled.

“I’m not in love with him!” Justin half shouted giving Tyler a dirty look. “I just kissed him, it’s not like he kissed me back either of the times.” He added more calmly sighing slightly

“Justin I’ve known you for almost ten years. Five of which I’ve known you to be in love with Josh.” Tyler noted causing Justin to stop breathing for a second.

That was how long he had been in love with JC. “I’m that obvious?” Justin finely asked slowly taking a breath.

“No you aren’t.” Tyler stated getting off the bed. “You are like a brother to me. I can tell I see it the way you look at him. Not to mention every time I came out on tour YOU spent more time with Josh than I did.” Tyler smirked as Justin threw a pillow at him.

Justin sat up and shrugged his coat off his shoulders and down his body. He heard a soft knock on the door. He glanced at the clock noticing it was two in the morning. He got off the bed and opened the door.

“Justin, baby!” Karen smiled taking Justin into her arms.

“Karen I thought you took Tyler and Jace home.” Justin smiled as she patted his arm.

She walked into the room and grabbed his bag. “We were half way there and I couldn’t let one of my boys stay in a hotel when there is a prefect bed waiting for him.” She smiled turning around and looking at him.

“Karen…”

“Don’t give me any grief; you are a son to me. So put your coat on and let’s go.” She smiled walking past him and out the door. “Tyler suggested you stay said you’ve been having a hard time sleeping in these awful hotels!” She added

Justin made a dirty face to the now closed hotel door. He pulled his coat on and hurried after the women he came to calling mom when NSYNC started. Justin followed her to the car. He sighed noticing Tyler was asleep in the front seat, meaning he had to sit for an hour next to JC. Closely next to JC, once Justin got in the car he slapped Tyler up side the head.

“Hey Fucker, stop that shit.” He mumbled in his sleep moving his hand to rub the spot Justin slapped.

JC looked over at Justin and gave him an odd look. They hadn’t said much to each other since Justin attacked him in the hotel room a few weeks back.

“I didn’t know you were coming.” JC spoke softly so only Justin could hear him.

“Talk to ass moocher up there.” Justin shot a glare towards Tyler causing JC to smile. He pushed his hips out and rested his head on JC’s shoulder.

“I’m glad you came though. You’ve been avoiding me, we need to talk.” JC noted resting his head on Justin’s head.

Justin didn’t say anything, he just nodded his head and got more relaxed against JC’s body falling asleep.

JC opened his eyes when a bright light flashed in his face. Tyler had an evil grin on his face as he looked at JC the car door wide open. Before JC could say anything Tyler started talking.

“For your wedding!” Tyler tried to hold back his laughter as JC kicked at him. “Never know when you will come out to him.” He added with a slight smirk going around to the other side of the car.

“Shut up!” JC’s voice was low as he reached out and swatted at Tyler messing with Justin. “Leave him alone, can you not see he is sleeping.” JC added causing Tyler to grow horns.

Tyler started to shake Justin softly, which got no reaction out of him. Tyler looked at JC and smiled an even more evil smile at him. He sucked on his pointer finger for a few seconds, still shaking Justin with his other hand.

“Oh… Justin! That is how I like it… RIGHT IN MY EAR!” Tyler shouted putting his wet finger in Justin’s ear causing Justin to instantly wake up.

Justin shoved Tyler away from him. “Fuck Tyler, what the hell are you doing?” He shouted going after a now running Tyler.

JC sighed as he grabbed the bags out of the car and started towards the house. He stopped and looked at Tyler and Justin wrestling on the lawn. Karen took a few pictures of the boys and smiled at JC.

Karen knew, but JC didn’t know his mom knew. He thought only Tyler knew how he felt. His parents knew he wasn’t into girls, but they didn’t know he was gay. They just thought it was a phase, hoping he would find that right some one and get married and make them grandparents. But she knew, she could tell when ever he was with Justin. She knew for sure when she over heard Tyler talking to him on the phone. She didn’t think Justin was until that night when they fell asleep basically cuddling with each other in the car. She understood they were close, closer than JC and Tyler, but she didn’t think they were lovers.

JC smiled at his mom and went inside the house. He headed up the stairs to his bed room and threw down his and Justin’s bags. He knew this was going to be long three days. They had two shows there, he was happy they didn’t have to do anything tomorrow. Sleeping in until when ever he felt like getting out of bed.

Karen stopped both boys from walking any further than the front door.

“You both are covered in mud. You aren’t getting it all over my white carpets strip.” She pointed causing Tyler and Justin to look at each other then back to her. “I’m being serious. Pants, shoes socks and shirts, take them off and go take a shower. I don’t want mud in the beds!” She added as they both took their clothes off slowly throwing elbows into each others sides like brothers still trying to wrestle would do.

Karen smiled at Justin and Tyler, Tyler got along with Justin better than he did with JC.

“There mommy, I’m NAKED can I take a shower now?” Tyler stuck out his bottom lip as Justin ran past him pushing him over.

“I get the shower first!” He smiled as he started to run up the stairs. Tyler ran after him grabbing his left foot, causing Justin to fall on his face.

“I’m sorry, I get the shower… you can take one in Josh’s bedroom.” With that Tyler slammed the bathroom door shut and turned on the water.

Justin walked into JC’s bedroom and shut the door rather hard. He looked at JC who was reading a book, legs crossed Indian style glasses falling down his nose. Justin rolled his eyes as he walked into the bathroom. He took a short shower and was back in the room, a towel around his waist. JC looked up from the book he was reading causing his heart to stop. Justin was absolutely breath taking, water was still slightly dripping down his back and chest, and he was bent over digging through his bag.

JC watched as Justin pulled on a pair of boxer briefs, almost losing the towel before he was completely covered up. He watched as Justin pulled the towel around his back and dried off the rest of the way. He closed his eyes and willed him self to remain calm and not jump the poor boy right there.

Justin smirked at the reaction he caused JC to have. “You can stare, I’m used to people staring at my sex manliness! “Justin smiled jumping on the bed sitting on his knees

JC rolled his eyes, “I see more girlieness in you than I do manliness.” He gave a cocky smile closing his book and taking his glasses off. Before Justin could start with who was sexier he continued to talk, “I hope Tyler didn’t hurt you to much.” He smirked looking at a few cuts Justin had on his body

Justin looked over his chest and arms; he bit his lower lip and looked up at JC slowly, causing JC to take a deep breath. The look Justin was giving was none other than an ‘I want to fuck you’ look. Justin moved his face close to JC’s his lips almost on top of his.

“I’m used to it.” He whispered breathing slightly opening his mouth, “I like it rough.” He added reaching over JC’s shoulder.

JC taking this as Justin wanting to kiss was almost there but stopped when he saw the lights turn off and Justin’s body wasn’t hovering over his.