Part 2
The entire day went slowly. They always had to wait for JC. Their spaced out friend was taking his time, moving when he wanted to. Chris and Joey goofed around, trying to make the atmosphere more supportable. But Lance ignored them and spent the day observing JC. He tried to find any ways he could to get through him. The more he watched him, the more confused he got. He couldn't find an explanation.

Justin discretely watched Lance. He could see the pain in the green eyes. He could feel the pain emanating from Lance's body. He cursed JC for what he was doing to his friend. Justin tried to remember when it had all started. He couldn't find exactly when but estimated it was almost two months ago. Not long after he had confessed his love for Lance to Justin. They had been to a little restaurant and unfortunately, some people had heard JC talk. The words 'fag' and 'queer' had been heard a couple of time. The older man hadn't taken it well at all. The first thing Justin knew, he was alone in the restaurant. JC was running as fast as he could. Taken by surprise, Justin hadn't been able to follow him.

" Justin, have you seen JC?" Justin broke out of his thoughts at the sound of Johnny's voice. The man looked at his young charge with a smirk on his face, obviously amused by Justin thoughtful state.

" He's somewhere around. Don't know where exactly. Why?" He asked curiously.
" We're thinking about using some of his songs on the next album. Can you find him for me and ask him to bring his work to me?" Johnny asked gently but firmly.
" Yeah sure." Justin nodded and stood up.

He walked around in the studio where they were doing their photoshot. He found Joey and Chris still playing around with everything they could in one of the dressing room. They were leaving a mess behind them. Justin could only smiled at them and continue his search.

Suddenly, he realised that if he couldn't reach JC by talking or yelling at him, they could easily do it by the music. Music was the only thing that had always matters in JC's life. The young man walked happily in the halls, happiness filling him with the idea he might have found the solution.

" Where am I now?" He asked in the empty hall, realising he had no idea of where he was. He turned around a couple of time, getting frustrated by the situation.
" What are you doing?" Lance asked, walking out of nowhere. He smiled shyly to his friend and walked to him. Justin had a hard time to see Lance like that but there was nothing he could do, yet.
" I have to find JC. Johnny's order." Justin said, bringing his hand to his forehead. Lance chuckled.
" You better find him. I saw him outside earlier."

Lance guided Justin toward the exit. He pushed the door slowly, peeking outside and making sure there wasn't any fans outside. He scanned the park near of the building and sighed in relief. It was safe. He pushed the door completely and searched for JC. When he saw the object of his affection, he stopped abruptly, forgetting Justin behind him. Justin, not seeing that Lance had stopped, bumped right into him, hitting his shoulder against Lance.

" What's wrong?" Justin asked, looking at Lance who stood frozen on his spot. He followed the gaze of his passive friend and understood. JC was lying on his back, shirtless. Sweat was covering his chest and his hair was wet. He couldn't understand how come he was wet and pushed the question in the back of his mind. He elbowed Lance. " Stop drooling Scoop." He teased. Lance shook his head and blushed lightly. The curly man laughed and dragged him to JC.

" Hey JC!" Justin greeted him the most cheerfully he could. JC sat up and put his silly grin back up.
" What can I do for you?" Lance frowned at the unfamiliarity in JC's voice. It was soft but cold
" Johnny want you to bring the songs you want on the next album." JC stood up and looked right into his best friend's eyes, which instinctively took a step back.
" I've burned them." He said neutrally but softly.
" What?" Justin and Lance said in confusion.
" Writing is bringing back the sad emotions which makes me feel bad energy. I need to focus on the positive. Music is sadness, music is pain." He looked a last time at his friend and walked back in the building. The two younger member of the group stayed frozen stunned by what they had heard.

" He didn't just said what I think he did, did he?" Lance whispered, looking at the closed door. Justin shrugged, his face still showing his surprise. After a while he ran inside after JC, leaving Lance alone in the park. Lance leaned against a tree and slowly sat on the ground. Something was definitely wrong. JC burning his songs wasn't making any sense.

Justin walked inside and found JC gathering his things together. " Where are you going?" He asked moving closer.
" I have a meeting." JC answered softly, not looking up.
" You can't." Justin said nervously. " We're not done yet. You can't leave like that. Tell me at least where you're going." He said observing his best friend who was now acting like they didn't know each other.
" You wouldn't understand Justin. You can't. I need to go now." JC walked away from Justin again.

Lance, after staring at nothing for minutes, finally stood up just in time to see JC leaving. He wanted to run after him but something stopped Lance. A sick feeling inside. A feeling that he would soon find out what was up with JC. Since he was young, Lance had always felt things that he couldn't understand. He had never talked about that to anyone, afraid of their reaction. But so far it had always been right. When he had got the call asking him to join the group, the need to get away from Lou and lots of little things that made a difference. He had ignored his 'weird feelings' once and ended up in the hospital for exhaustion. After the incident, he made the vow to never ignore his feelings again. So now, even if he knew something was wrong with JC, deep down he felt he couldn't do anything about it right now. He just hoped it would be soon.

Joey walked outside after he heard JC and Justin talking, assuming Lance would be somewhere outside. He was right. Lance was standing, obviously lost in his thoughts.

" Hey Lance!" he shouted from the door. Lance turned his head and slowly made his way back toward the building.
" What's up Joe?" He asked, reaching the spot where his older friend was.
" I talked with Johnny, we're leaving. Something's wrong with the photograph. Are you okay?" Joey asked, seeing the cloud in his blond friend's eyes.
" I could be better you know." Lance said sadly and looked down at the ground.
" Everything will be fine Scoop." Putting his arm around Lance's shoulder, Joey hoped he wasn't lying to his friend.

~*~

" Welcome back JC. Have you made a decision?" A man dressed in white asked to JC who had just entered the room.
" Yes sir. I'll follow you. But I'd like to make my friends see the light." JC said nervously. The man in front of him breathed deeply and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he smiled softly.
" You can. But be careful. We talked about it."

JC nodded, a sudden joy filling him. He would help Lance. He would bring him to the joy and the peace he had found. The simple thought of it made him smile. They would live together forever and nothing would stop them. Nothing.

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