Part 14
Joey walked into the kitchen, welcomed by his older friend sitting at the table, sipping on his coffee. Joey mumbled a good morning and focused on the coffee machine. He had no doubt; he shouldn't have taken this last beer. Thankfully the pain wasn't unbearable, just annoying. Chris cleared his throat getting Joey's attention who turned around so he was facing his friend.

" I think something is going on between Justin and Lance." Chris said sternly. Joey sighed and sat on the nearest chair.
" I think so too. When I walked by Lance's room I saw them holding each other in their sleep. Maybe it's nothing though." Chris shook his head and pushed his coffee away.
" I forgot my wallet in the car yesterday. So this morning I went to get it but couldn't remember exactly where it was. While searching I found a used condom on the floor. They did disappeared for a long time last night."
" At least they used protection." Joey said, smiling weakly, afraid of what the whole situation meant. " What do we do now? They're old enough to do whatever they want. It's not like we can stop them. Do we tell Britney about this? She has a right to know, she's Justin's girlfriend after all. I didn't even know Justin was swinging that way."
" Are you hurt by now? You've been thinking a lot in the last minute." Chris said jokingly before growing back serious. " It's up to them Joe. I'm afraid of what will come out of it. What if they both fall into depression? I don't think we're strong enough to help them. And I think they both feel lost."

Joey nodded in agreement and opened his mouth to say something else when the ringing of the phone interrupted him. He was about to stand up when Chris told him he would take it. Joey returned to the sink, pouring himself a well-deserved coffee.
" Yeah?" Chris half mumbled into the phone.
" Chris?"
" Howie? What's wrong?" Chris asked nervously. With only one word he could feel something wasn't right.
" Were you busy?" Howie asked quietly.
" I was talking with Joey about…some potentials problem."
" The Lance and Justin thing?" Howie asked, Chris looked at the window, wondering if Howie was outside, spying on them.
" How do you know that? They don't even know we know." Chris babbled.
" Someone saw them yesterday." Howie said, sounding very nervous.
" WHAT? Those two…I'm gonna kill them. They should have been careful. Whoever saw them, we're gonna pay for his silence. A scandal is the last thing we need."
" I don't think he wants any money Chris." Chris became confused with the conversation. Howie was hiding something.
" Howie, tell me what's going on." The older man pleaded quietly into the phone.
" Look…come here as soon as you can. I can't tell you over the phone. Be ready for something big. Something you weren't expecting."
" Howie! You're scaring me! Tell me already!" Chris nearly yelled.
" I gotta go Chris. Pollyanna is here. Bye."

Howie hung up before Chris could say anything else. Chris stared at the phone for a few seconds before going back into the kitchen.

" Come on Joe, we're going at Howie's place." He said, grabbing Joey's coffee and throwing it in the sink.
" Huh? What? Why?"

Chris shrugged and walked out of the house quickly, followed closely by a confused Joey.

~*~

JC walked sleepily into the living room. Howie was pacing nervously and looked through the window every ten seconds. JC sat on the couch, unnoticed by his friend. He smirked and moved quietly to be in Howie's way.

" AAAHHHH!" Howie screamed as he bumped into JC. Putting his hand on his chest, he tried to calm himself. He glared at JC while the other man was chuckling.
" You okay?" Pollyanna asked from the kitchen.
" Yeah" He yelled before looking back at JC. " I see you're feeling better this morning. That's good." He resumed his pacing.
Joey frowned. " Why are you so nervous?"
" Huh? Nothing. It's just…I called Chris." Howie blurred out, avoiding the blue eyes.
" WHAT? What were you thinking?" JC wanted to run away again. But he couldn't do it anymore. " Why Howie? Why did you call them?" He said, sitting on the couch again. " They're gonna hate me." He whispered, scared. Howie sat beside him slowly, looking directly at him.
" You have to let them know you're alive. I don't know how they're gonna react but you have to do it. Take your life back, stop hiding."

A knock at the door made JC jump nervously. He tried to stand up but Howie held him firmly on the couch. He knew something like this would happen. That was why he had wanted Pollyanna with him. She would take care of Chris while he would make sure JC would stay.

" I can't Howie." JC whimpered, unaware of his two friends watching from the doorway with their months wide open. " I've been an idiot. I…"
" J…JC? It is really you?" Joey stuttered, shock written all over his face. " You're alive?" Tears filled Joey's eyes and he made a run for JC, hugging him tightly. JC, surprised, hugged him back his watering was well. Soon Chris was joining the embrace, happy to see his friend again.

Howie took it as his cue to leave them alone and joined his sister in the doorway. She wiped her eyes and leaned gently against her younger brother.

" It's beautiful to see them like this. I don't think they knew how important they are in each other's lives. She said smiling softly at the display of affection taking place in the living room.
" You're right. I guess we never realise it until it's too late." He replied both thinking about their sister who was now watching them from above. " We should give them some privacy. Beside, I need to call the guys. I don't want to miss the chance…you never know." He smiled sheepishly at her and walked in the kitchen. Pollyanna looked a last time at the now reunited friends before following Howie.

Chris, Joey and JC finally broke their embrace, feeling stupid but ignoring it. JC smiled shyly at them. " Oh guys…I missed you all so much." He swallowed back the lump forming in his throat. " You don't hate me?" He asked looking at the ground. Chris sighed and looked at Joey, knowing he was thinking the same thing.

" To be honest, I'm very angry. I can't believe you did this to us. But I'm so happy to see you again that my anger is nothing compared to my joy." The older man said honestly, meaning each word.
" Guys…" JC whispered. " I need to see Lance. Even if he's with Justin now." He pleaded through the tears that were now falling.

~*~

The phone rang, disturbing Lance in his sleep. He groaned and sat the best way he could before picking up the phone. Justin's arms were around his waist, holding on him for dear life.

" 'lo?" He mumbled, not sure if the person at the other end had heard him.
" Hey Lance! Did I wake you up?" A cheerful voice asked.
" Yeah but it was time for me to get out of the bed anyway. How are you Britney?" He asked, happy to hear her voice.
" I'm fine. Still pissed against management. I can't believe they didn't let me go home in a month an a half." She said, the anger in her voice evident.
" When are you coming back? Justin needs you. Badly." She sighed and held back the sadness she had felt for the last month.
" I need him too. That's why I'm calling. Can you put him on the phone please?" Lance nodded and shook Justin gently.
" Curly? Wake up. Britney's on the phone."

Justin eyes opened immediately, a new light of hope in them. Lance smiled at the joy he saw into those young blue eyes. Justin picked the phone, moving slightly but staying close to Lance.

" Sweetheart! I miss you! When are you coming back?"

Lance didn't listen the rest of the conversation but he knew it was good news but the sound of Justin's voice. He was happy for him but it made him miss JC more.

" I love you Brit." Justin said right before hanging up with his girlfriend. The smile on his face was something Lance hadn't seen in the last month. He knew his friend would be all right now. He wished he could say the same about himself.

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