We have moved on to the following week. The boys are now in the recording studio. They haven't heard anymore from Lance's mother, after slapping her with a gag order. All the guys now know that they are all either bi or gay but there are still some secrets left to be disclosed.

"JC?"

"Yeah, Johnny?"

"For the third time now. How many songs do you have for the album? Do you think you could possibly pay attention to the meeting? We'll be done soon and then you can go back to where ever you have been spacing to lately."

"Sorry. I've had a lot on my mind lately."

He is so cute when he is embarrassed. I wonder what has him so troubled. I wish he would talk to me about it. I'm getting tired of living with a hermit. If he hides in his room tonight I'm gonna barge.....

"LANCE? Man what is with you and JC lately. You two have the attention span of Chris? Do you have anything we need to discuss? If not I think I'll call this meeting so you boys can go home and space out on your own time. You know what is really bad? I can't believe I'm about to say this. Chris has been the only one paying attention during this whole meeting. You boys better get your heads together before you go in the studio. You can all go. JC I need you to stay here so we can talk about your songs. I wanted to take a look at them and maybe go over a few ideas I have for a couple of songs that we got from Richard Marx. He said you boys could do these songs as long as you and he produced them. He doesn't want anyone else touching his songs. I guess you made an impression on him with the last album."

"Thanks Johnny."

At Lance and JC's house.

Man, I hope he don't get pissed that we planned this party for him. He hates surprise parties. He doesn't even like to celebrate his birthday. I wonder why. He never has been much on birthdays. He goes all out for ours but when it comes to his he hides in his room all day. At least we got him out of the house for a little while today. Guess we'll have to give Johnny a little bonus for keeping JC at the office. I wonder what they're doing anyway.

"Hey, Lance. I'm done with the balloons. What ya want me to do now," Justin yells from the living room.

"Just go hide. JC and Johnny should be here any minute now. I told Johnny to keep him busy for an hour. Go find a good place to hide all that hair."

"Whatcha trying to say about my hair there albino boy?"

"Nothing Justin, just go hide. Here they come."

[JC and Johnny walk up the driveway and open the door.]

"SURPRISE."

"Holy shit," JC yells. He closes his eyes and then dashes up the stairs.

"Ok, that went really well," Chris says sarcastically.

"Shut up Chris." They all said in unison.

What was that all about? I wonder if I should go up and check on him.

"JC? Are you ok? Can I come in?"

"Lance?"

"Yeah, it's just me Jayce. You ok? Why are you crying?"

"I don't know. You know I don't like surprises and you know I don't like to celebrate my birthday."

"Why is that Jayce?"

"I don't know man. I just have this feeling that something really bad happened to me on my birthday when I was little. I can't remember it but it just ... I don't know I just get this weird feeling on my birthday."

"Well, you know the guys worked really hard on this party and I think you should at least come down for a little while. If you start getting wierded out I'll kick everybody out and we can spend the rest of the night eating Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. I bought you like a whole gallon of the stuff today. There, is that a smile I see on your face. Uh oh. Don't let it get too big. Ah. Gotcha. I knew there was one in there. Go wash your face and come on down stairs."

"All right I'll be down in a few. Ok?"

"Is he ok Lance?" Joey asks.

"Yeah, he'll be down in a few. He's just washing up."

Ding, Dong.

"I got it," Chris yells from the kitchen. "Hey, Mrs. C. I didn't know you were coming. Mr. C. How you doin?"

"Fine Chris. Could you let us in please?" Roy asks. "Is JC here? We have something we need to talk to him about."

"Yeah, he should be down in a few. Come on in. Make yourselves at home."

"You boys threw him a birthday party? That's so sweet of you." Karen says.

"Mom, Dad. What are you doing here?" JC asks from the bottom of the stairs.

"We have something we need to tell you. It's very important. Could we talk in private?" Karen states.

"Whatever you have to tell me. You can say in front of these guys. It's not like they're not going to find out anyway."

"Ok. You may want to sit down for this." Roy starts.