DISCLAIMER: I don't know, own, see, buy, love, etc, the guys. I just happen to think they make really good music, and so I thought I'd write a little story 'bout 'em, 'cause they're kinda cute, too! Lol!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Amy, thanks for proofing, and all of your support! To everyone who's written me, thank you! :)


        Justin wandered out of the bedroom the next morning exhausted. He and Lance had stayed up late the previous night... Too late. Though, Justin had to admit, he'd do it again. He'd had a lot of fun with Lance last night. He always knew that Lance was fun to hang around, but he'd had no idea just how much fun Lance really was. As the days went by, though, Justin found himself growing more and more jealous of JC, who got to hang out with Lance all the time, simply by the dubbed title of best friend.
        Lance and JC were sitting in the love seat together, looking very cozy. JC had an arm around Lance's shoulders--as usual--and Lance was leaning against him. They were cute together, but they were always cute together, especially in those pictures that they always took. Somehow Lance and JC always managed to get put together, and they were really cute.
        "Morning Curly!" JC greeted warmly, way too chipper for the early time of 11:40. Justin considered strangling JC, then decided that Lance might get a little bit upset at him, not to mention all the screaming girls that went to their concerts just to see JC's pretty face. Too bad for them that JC's not interested, Justin thought with a slight snicker. JC didn't even swing their way.
        Justin decided to let JC off without an ass-kicking, but only because it chalked JC's happy mood up to Lance being with him. Otherwise, JC would be a dead man.
        "Morning," Justin muttered, dropping down onto the couch--and onto Joey. Joey barely acknowledged the boy on his lap as he continued to study the people on MTV intently. Justin scowled at him, then turned to look for Chris, who was no where to be seen. He wasn't sleeping, so Justin assumed he was in the game room.
        "Late night?" JC teased.
        "Something like that," Justin agreed tiredly, dropping his head to the back of the couch. "Is it bright or is it just me?"
        "Well I don't think it's you," JC told him, and Justin would have been blind to miss the adoring look JC sent Lance's way. Justin's eyes widened in surprise, but Lance was completely oblivious, watching the tv. Justin had to admit, he was a little surprised that JC was being so obvious, but he supposed Lance wasn't exactly being subtle himself.
        "Hey Curly, there's your girlfriend," Joey snickered, gesturing to the tv. Justin looked back at the tv, staring in horror at the string bikini top and tight, coochie shorts his girlfriend was wearing.
        "Hi!" Britney giggled. "I'm Britney Spears, and this is 'hangin' out with Britney Spears'! So come on!" She made a waving motion with her hand, and the camera cut out to run the intro to the show.
        "It's scripted," Lance stuck in gently, and Justin met his bright green eyes, which were right now filled with sympathy. "She's told to say and wear all that."
        "I appreciate your effort, Lance, but I know the truth." Justin sighed and stared at the tv. "My girlfriend exposes herself on stage. Thousands of people see what should be for her own eyes only. And possibly mine, if and when we get married."
        Lance frowned, but the expression was gone before Justin could ask. "She's told what to wear," he insisted. "She's talked about it before. And they basically write out exactly what she's supposed to say. She's just a really good actress. And she sells records. Yes, she's cute and she's nice to look at, and sex sells. She's just trying to get her record out there. But just because she's currently in character doesn't mean that's how she really is."
        Justin studied Lance closely. Everything Lance said made sense. It was all a bunch of crap, but it was nice crap. Everyone knew what a slut Justin's girlfriend was, and yet Lance was still trying to defend her to her own boyfriend. Lance was really sweet.
        Lance seemed to be uncomfortable with Justin's careful inspection, because he shyly dropped his eyes and then turned back to the tv. "Joe, change the channel," Lance ordered quietly. Wordlessly, Joey picked up the remote and began flipping. Justin looked back at Lance, who was now in both of JC's arms, and JC looked like he was trying to protect and soothe Lance, who was simply staring at the tv while Joey flipped.
        Justin smiled at the sight of Lance and JC curled up together, wondering why his heart beat skipped a couple of times, then ignored it. It was probably because of Britney's overexposure. He sighed, thinking about the last time they had talked. She was always so sweet, but he knew that he also got an act. Justin Timberlake was many things, but dumb wasn't one of them. He knew perfectly well that she put on one face for him, one for the public, one for when she wanted something, and then someplace under that was the real her, a shy and timid, frightened girl.
        "Phone," Joey announced, and they all paused to listen to the song. That was Justin's song, and he dejectedly found his way into the sleeping room area, picked up his phone, and accepted the call.
        "Hello?" Justin asked.
        "Hey sweetie!"
        Justin cringed. "Hey baby. How're you?"
        "I'm great! Are you watching me on MTV?"
        Justin cleared his throat. "Uh, we were, for a minute. Joey changed the channel."
        Britney laughed. "Can you believe what they had me in? I protested it the whole time, and they still put me in it. Oh well. It sells, right?"
        Justin frowned, hearing the same words come out of Lance's mouth in his mind. "Right," Justin agreed off handedly.
        "I mean, you guys take off your shirts to sell albums, I can show a bit of my chest." Britney giggled. "So what're you guys up to today?"
        Justin sighed. "We're just going to be on the bus until tomorrow night. Then we've got a stop in Idaho."
        "When are you going to come see me?" Britney asked. "I've got a stop over in LA in a couple of weeks, and then I'm off to England. Can you manage a few hours for your girlfriend?"
        Justin tried not to sigh again. "I'll try Britney, I promise I will, but I never know what my schedule is going to look like."
        Britney, as expected, pouted. "I know. I just miss you, baby."
        Justin rubbed his forehead. "I miss you, too, Brit."
        Britney started talking to someone that was with her, then rushed out, "I've got to go, baby. Bye!"
        "Bye--" Justin started, but she was already gone. Justin stared at the phone, then ended the phone call, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.
        A hand slowly rubbed across Justin's back, and he jumped a few inches, startled, looking over quickly to his right side, where a leg was now pressing against his own.
        "What're you doing here?" Justin asked Lance, who had yet to remove his comforting hand.
        "I thought I'd come check on you," Lance answered softly, studying him. "Are you alright?"
        "My girlfriend's a slut, but yeah, I'm okay." Justin dropped his head into his hands again. "What did I do to deserve this, Lance? Really, be honest with me. Am I a bad person?"
        "Oh Justin," Lance sighed sympethetically, and the sound sent shivers down Justin's spine. "You're not a bad person at all. Britney's not a slut, she's... an exhibitionist. There's a difference. She's comfortable with her body and wants to show it off. There's nothing wrong with that, I suppose, as long as it's all look and no touch."
        Justin gave Lance a blank look. "And do you honestly believe that there's 'no touch' involved?"
        Lance nodded stubbornly. "She may be slightly flaky, but she cares about you."
        Justin shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder why I stay with her."
        Lance paused, and Justin could feel the depths of those green eyes staring through him. "Why do you?" Lance asked softly.
        Justin shrugged. "I don't know." He looked up at Lance. "What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be out there making nice-nice with JC?"
        Lance's gentle look slowly gave way to one of slight hurt and anger, to Justin's surprise. "My friends needing me is more important than flirting," Lance told Justin coldly. "But if you don't want any company, then I'll go." He stood, and before Justin knew what he was doing, he snatched out and grabbed Lance's wrist.
        "Wait," Justin pleaded, and Lance turned around. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you sound superficial. I just... Thank you, Lance."
        To Justin's surprise, Lance knelt down in front of him, and placed his hands on Justin's knees. Justin leaned back slightly as Lance's green eyes gazed into his own, like lasers. "Justin," Lance said softly, and Justin felt like he'd just been soothed for hours, just by Lance's one word. "Everything will be okay," Lance continued, his voice just as lulling. "Everything is going to work out exactly the way that it should. You've worked hard... Let destiny play a few innings for you."
        Justin smiled softly at Lance. "I don't know where you came from," he began, and to his horror felt himself getting choked up. "But I'm glad that you're here. I could really use a friend like you, Lance Bass."
        "Likewise, Justin Timberlake."

        "How is he?" JC asked when Lance came out of the bed area. Joey was gone, presumably to go play Sega with Chris. That left JC and Lance... Alone. Lance's heart sped up a few more beats per second.
        Lance smiled sadly. "He's resting." He hesitantly went back to JC's side at the love seat, repressing his smile and the way his heart fluttered when JC held open his arms. Lance collappsed into them, feeling like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He felt awful that Justin was feeling so bad, and there was nothing he could do about it.
        "We're all very lucky to have a friend like you, Lance," JC sighed against Lance's temple, and Lance nearly shivered at the sensation of JC's lips. "You're a very special person."
        Lance smiled slightly. "Thanks, JC," he said softly. "I'm glad that you're my friend, too."
        "Best friend," JC corrected, grinning. "It doesn't get much closer than us, Lance."
        Lance shook his head. "Not much," he agreed, leaning into JC. JC knew almost everything about Lance... Minus the part where Lance thought he could be falling in love with JC, but that was just a minor technacality.
        "Lansten?"
        Lance was so content to rest his head on JC's shoulder and have JC's head leaning against his own that he reluctantly opened his eyes and answered. "Hmmm?"
        "I'm glad that we're best friends."
        Lance smiled. "Me too, JC," he agreed, shifting to snuggle up against JC further, wrapping an arm over JC's stomach and resting his head on JC's shoulder against his neck. It took him a few seconds to get situated, but he did, and again closed his eyes, letting out a little sigh. JC held Lance tightly, and slowly Lance allowed himself to fall helpless to that protective embrace.

        It was a few hours later that Lance woke up, still in JC's arms, and while he did not want to move... Moving was the last thing Lance wanted to do, Lance wanted to check on Justin and make sure he was alright. Justin was so susceptable... Even after all he'd been through. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and that was one of the things Lance loved about him. Only sometimes Justin needed a little bit of protecting. Not that Lance was the ideal guy for the job, but he'd do his best not to disappoint Justin, at least until he found someone better.
        Carefully Lance slipped out of JC's arms, missing the warmth immediately, and taking a moment to smile at JC when he mumbled something and curled up into himself. Lance sighed and went to the bedroom area, pushing open the door and asking, "Justin?" softly. No answer. The bunks were completely silent, and not even Justin's breathing could be heard. Lance frowned and took a step into the room. "Justin?" Lance asked again, a bit louder. Still no answer, and still no breathing.
        "Yes?"
        Lance cried out and jumped a foot in the air as he whirled around with wide, terrified eyes. Justin's own eyes were wide, and the two stared at each other as they tried to calm down. Lance's world started to fill with black spots, and so he sat down to try and catch his breath, ending up on his own bunk. Justin sat down beside him.
        "Don't sneak up on me like that," Lance panted, holding a hand to his chest. "You scared the crap outta me."
        Justin looked like he couldn't decide whether he wanted to laugh or apologize. Finally, he settled for both, laughing as he offered an amused, "I'm sorry."
        Lance sighed and shook his head to try and clear the spots, and once he had most of his focus back, he looked up to see Justin's smile gone, his blue eyes muddled and cautious. Lance frowned in confusion.
        "What're you doing?" Justin asked quietly. "I was out in the living room at the table when you detached yourself from JC. Why are you looking for me?"
        Lance was surprised by Justin's line of questioning. "I was worried about you," he answered, still frowning. "I wanted to make sure that you were alright."
        Something flashed in those blue eyes, but Justin merely shrugged. "I'm okay," he assured Lance easily. "And if you want, I'll even help you sneak in back under JC's arm..."
        Lance laughed. "That's okay. But thanks anyway." He yawned tiredly, then offered Justin a warm smile. "How about you and I play a game?"
        Justin arched an eyebrow. "It's not spin the bottle or anything, is it? Because I know that you may find me attractive, but you and JC are starting something, and I've got a girlfriend..."
        Lance rolled his eyes and laughed, throwing a teasing punch into Justin's stomach. Justin was grinning as well, and innocently smacked away Lance's harmless pounding. "I was thinking more along the lines of monopoly," Lance corrected, grinning. Justin didn't need to know that he'd been checked out more than once by the green-eyed band member, though it was only when Justin was wearing clothes. Not even Lance was willing to take advantage of Justin's trust with his body. "Maybe something a little easier for you? Like, 'Sorry'?"
        "I'll sorry you!" Justin exclaimed, throwing himself onto Lance. They tumbled back onto Lance's bed, Justin on top of Lance and their legs entangled, but they were laughing too hard to notice. Well... To move, anyway. Both males noticed. And Lance wasn't willing to admit it was actually sort of nice to be this close to Justin.
        "Oh yeah?" Lance demanded, then threw himself against the bigger boy. They went flying backwards and back out onto the ground, where they landed with a thud, Justin on his stomach on the ground and Lance on his stomach on Justin's back. Justin turned around quickly and wrestled with Lance. Lance gasped when Justin easily slung him over his shoulder like he weighed nothing.
        "Jeez you're light, Lance," Justin commented.
        "Says the boy who would blow away if someone breathed on him!" Lance countered, all the blood rushing to his head. "Justin put me down!"
        "Hey, this 'boy who would blow away if someone breathed on him' is lifting your sorry bum without breaking a sweat or staggering in the slightest. If anything, you should be impressed."
        "I'm extatic at your amazing capabilities, Justin, now put me down!" Lance was starting to feel like his head was going to explode.
        "No way. You're being mean to me. I think I'll just let you hang here for a while, until you apologize to me."
        "For what?" Lance exclaimed, bewildered. The pressure in his head was building up, and he was starting to see black again.
        "For saying that I'd blow away! I'm not weak! Or small!"
        "Fine! I'm sorry that I said you'd blow away. You are not weak or small, now please put me down before I pass out!"
        Lance was immediately on his feet. "Are you okay?" Justin asked worriedly, studying him.
        Lance crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue before flopping back onto his bed.
        Justin followed a second later, laying on his stomach beside Lance. "I like monopoly," he offered.
        Lance turned to stare at him, and then started laughing at the absurdity of the statement. Justin could be so funny sometimes. Britney was a very lucky--and very stupid--girl. As much as Lance thought she was nice, for her to treat Justin the way she did... With no respect whatsoever, it was just wrong. Justin deserved so much better.
        "Monopoly it is," Lance declared, scrambling out of the bunk, reaching under his bed, and pulling out the board game before grabbing Justin's hand and dragging him out to the table, where he found his notebook. He looked up at Justin, but Justin was intently studying the little car, and so Lance shrugged and set it aside. Lance didn't remember leaving it on that side of the table, but that didn't really matter.
        "What're you guys doing?" JC's tired voice croaked as he sat up and looked at them, blinking against the light.
        "We're going to play monopoly. Wanna join us?" Lance invited, thinking how adorable JC was when he first woke up.
        JC yawned and stretched. "I'll get Joey and Chris," he said, standing tiredly and going to the game room.
        Lance watched him go and then turned back to Justin, who was giving him a knowing smile. Lance blushed furiously and looked down while Justin burst out laughing.

        "What's the funniest rumor you guys have ever heard?" the reporter asked the guys over the speaker phone.
        The guys paused to think about it. "There was one that said I was an alien," Chris offered. "But that's true, so I don't really know about that one."
        "There was a rumor going around that I was pregnant," Joey spoke up, shuddering. "That was really embarassing."
        "How about you, Justin?" the reporter asked, and Justin rolled his eyes. Of course he got singled out. His eyes met Lance's from across the table, and Lance smiled devilishly from under JC's arm.
        "I think the strangest rumor either Justin or I got was when we heard that we were dating," Lance spoke up, his eyes twinkling mischeviously. Justin clamped a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. The other guys were all laughing and making no effort to disguise it, teasing both Lance and Justin.
        "Dating?" the reporter repeated, sounding surprised.
        "Oh yeah," Lance continued, scoffing. "Apparently we were dating for six months when the rumor got out. And not only that, but we'd cheated on each other with other people--namely Britney Spears and Rachel Leigh Cook. It was crazy. We finally, ah, broke up when we realized our constant bickering was destroying the group."
        "And how long ago did you all hear that?" the reporter sounded puzzled, and Lance was looking like he was trying not to laugh. Justin was biting his lip and had his hand over his mouth, but the other guys were just hooting with laughter.
        "About three days," Lance answered seriously, and that was it. Justin couldn't help the cry of laughter that escaped his lips, and his eyes met Lance's, who was now chuckling slightly, watching Justin.
        "Justin? Any thoughts?"
        "Yes," Justin said, hoping he sounded gravely serious. "It was five months."
        It was Lance's turn to burst out laughing, and he didn't even bother to try and hide it. The other four were howling as well, so after grinning at them, Justin started laughing, too.
        "Are any of you involved with someone?" the reporter asked, sounding like she wasn't getting the joke.
        "Oh, yeah, remember?" Chris stuck in. "Lance and Justin." Joey burst out laughing and he and Chris slapped hands while Justin smacked Chris up along the back of his head and Lance shook his head, grinning.
        "Well, I am," Chris answered, calming down slightly. "Susan and I have been together for about a year."
        "I'm looking," Joey said.
        "Nope," JC answered cheerfully.
        "I'm not," Lance added.
        "Neither am I," Justin concluded. "There's really no time for a relationship on the road. You don't have enough time to devote the proper attention to that other person."
        "Except for Justin and Lance," Chris objected. "They have time together 'cause they work together."
        Lance threw a pillow at Chris' face, and after the pillow met its target exactly and fell away, Chris sat there for a minute longer, his tongue out, his eyes half shut and crossed, and then slowly dropped to Joey's lap, who was beside him.
        "You're so funny, Chris," Lance drolled, then laughed himself. "Seriously, Justin's right. It's just too hard to have a relationship on the road."
        "How close are you guys, really?"
        They exchanged surprised looks, and Lance cleared his throat. "Well, in a couple of weeks we get a two week vacation, and we're each going our separate ways for the first week, and the second week we're going to fly to the Caribbean and enjoy ourselves a little partay on the beach. Together. Because we want to."
        "We love each other," Joey added.
        "But we don't love each other," Chris corrected, and he and Joey burst out laughing. "'cept for maybe Lance and Justin!"
        "Chris!" Lance and Justin yelped together.
        JC sighed. "Joey's right. We do love each other. We're all best friends, and normally when we have these breaks we call each other at least every other day. We're together 360 days out of the year, and you can't help but create unbreakable bonds when you're together that much. We're more than just friends, but we're more than just family, too. We're a part of each other."
        "Yeah," the guys all echoed, and Justin paused to think about that. Hearing JC say it just like that... It felt strange, almost, and he couldn't describe why. He shrugged slightly and looked back up only to find Lance's concerned eyes on him. Justin offered Lance a grin and Lance returned it, though he still looked a little worried.
        "Last question: Who are you guys closest to in the group?"
        They all frowned and looked at each other, and eventually Lance cleared his throat. "I think you caught us a little off guard with that," he told her, laughing slightly. "We're all so close that we just sorta congregate in the middle of the bus or hotel room and talk about our problems. There really aren't any favorites, but there are those that we have more in common with than others. For example, I'd say I have the most in common with JC and Justin."
        Justin looked up and met Lance's green eyes in surprise, embarassment, and delight. JC looked just as surprised as Justin, and if Justin wasn't mistaken, JC looked a little jealous. Justin almost laughed out loud.
        "I probably have the most in common with Joey and Justin," Chris offered.
        "Chris and Lance," Justin added, seeing the smile cross over Lance's features.
        "Lance," JC declared.
        "Chris," Joey finished.
        "Alright. Well, thank you guys for taking the time to do this interview, and I wish you the best of luck."
        "Thank you," they all said, then exchanged goodbyes with her and hung up the phone. They all stretched and shuddered, glad to have it over.
        "So where did you hear that rumor about you and Justin?" Chris asked Lance. Justin stopped moving mid stretch and sat back up, watching Lance and JC. JC stiffened slightly, but Lance was stretching widely and didn't notice.
        Lance laughed. "I made it up."
        Joey, Chris, and JC all stared at him.
        "Why...?" Chris asked warily. "Because now people are going to go spreading a rumor you made up yourself."
        Lance shrugged. "It's so utterly ridiculous I thought it would show we have a sense of humor about ourselves. I mean, seriously? Me and Justin? It's a bit far fetched, don't you guys think?"
        Justin nodded emphatically. "If it was anyone, you'd think it was like, me and Chris," Justin teased, shooting a sly glance at Chris, who sputtered a protest. "Or like, Lance and JC." Justin watched JC's face carefully. Lance paled and blushed, shooting Justin a pointed look, but JC was smiling slightly, his eyes taking on a far away look. Justin glanced at Lance and then to JC to indicate to Lance to take a look, but by the time Lance finally caught on, JC was back in reality, and Justin nearly sighed in exasperation. "But either way, definitely not Lance and I. The 'egotistical teen heart throb' and the 'shy, sweet one'. I don't see it working."
        Lance was frowning slightly, and Justin hoped he hadn't offended Lance, suddenly feeling very bad about his generic assessment of their characters.
        "No offence," Justin stuck in quickly, still watching Lance. Lance looked surprised at the notion, then nodded and smiled before frowning again.
        "Let's get back to our game," JC suggested, his arm back around Lance. Lance settled against him easily, but he was still wearing that frown, and it didn't disappear all night.

        Hey Lance! As I write this, you're sleeping. With JC, wink wink, nudge nudge. You look awfully comfortable together! Very adorable.
        I had a dream after you left me in the bedroom after my lovely (note the sarcasm, if you will) conversation with little Miss Britney Spears. It wasn't a very pleasant dream, and when I woke up, I had this awful pounding feeling against my chest, and I could hear my heart in my ears. What was the dream about? Be patient, my friend, I'll share all:
        I was standing in the middle of our stage, and there was this huge crowd in front of me... All screaming girls, all trying to break past security and grab a piece of me, whether it be my clothes, my hair, or even my flesh. They didn't care, they just wanted part of me. And I was so scared, but there was no one else there. There must have been security holding back the fans, but I didn't see them. All I saw was myself, on the stage, in costume, holding a microphone. There was no music, no back up, no nothing. I didn't know where you guys were, and I couldn't go on without you. So I just stood there; lost. Finally I heard a tune in the back of my head... Like someone was humming, you know? But it wasn't one of our songs. It was someone else's song... A melody I heard only in my head. And then these words popped into my head, only I don't know what they're from. Maybe a poem or something? You're the literary one... You tell me: "My soul has been searching, my heart has been yearning, And yet I found everything here, in the one place that was always near." I don't know what it's from, but I think I said that already. Oh, yup, I did. Anyway, so I sang the words, and the screams of the girls got so loud that I nearly went deaf. And... Suddenly... I was up in the air. Yes, in the air, just as the girls were breaking through the barracade and coming up onto the stage. And I looked down to see who was pulling me up... Only there was no one there on the ropes. When I reached the top, I unbuckled myself and stepped onto the catwalk, and you all were there, but Britney was in front of you, and she had her hands on her hips and she goes, "I don't ever want to see you again!" and then she shoved me off the catwalk.
        I woke up immediately after that, soaked in sweat and panting.
        That was about twenty minutes ago, and I still have chills. It was a nasty nightmare, and... You're waking up now. You're... detaching yourself from JC now... You're watching JC now... Aw, how cute... You're going into the bedroom now... And now you're... calling my name? I better go see what you want then, huh? Lata Lansten!
        Lance reread the note several times, studying Justin's sleeping form on the couch. Justin had fallen asleep about an hour ago while they watched a movie, and JC had woken up about ten minutes ago and went to bed. He'd actually fallen asleep on Lance's shoulder, and as soon as JC was gone, Lance was at his notebook, scrambling to read what Justin wrote. Now that he knew, however, he felt sorry for the sleeping boy, and almost wanted to wake him up, just to hug him.
        Lance slowly decapped the pen and wrote out a reply.

        You know why that dream couldn't possibly be true, Jus? It's because if Britney was perchance standing on the catwalk and even made a motion like she was going to push you off, her ass would be over the side of that railing before she could say, "Ooops." Seriously, man, I would never let anything happen to you. I'm sorry that you had such a nasty dream, though. That's seriously rough.
        You're sleeping right now, and you look awfully peaceful... I almost hate to wake you and send you to your bed, but I know that if I don't, when Joey comes in here around 8 or 9 you're going to be cranky 'cause he'll wake you up.
        I hope you aren't angry about that interview thing yesterday. I was only playing around. I thought it was pretty funny... (Especially when you stuck in that 'five months' thing... That was priceless, Jus, it really was!) It was one of the more funner interviews we've had... If there's such a word as 'funner', anyway. Oh well!
        You're starting to shift and wake up now, and so while short, this has to end. I'm going to go put you to bed. Bye! Oh! One last thing! Remember what I said: You can always tell that your nightmare is crap because 1) I wouldn't leave you alone on stage like that, and 2) I wouldn't let Britney touch you if I thought she was going to hurt you, alright? The guys and I are behind you 100% , Curly. Night!
        Justin looked up from the entry, vaguely remembering Lance gently shaking him and practically carrying him to his bed the night before. Currently Lance was sitting in the love seat with JC, his legs in JC's lap while they talked quietly, joking, laughing, and from the looks of it, flirting. Justin smiled, glad for his friend, and then frowned when he felt something give a small tug on his heart. He had no idea what it was from, and it was starting to make him mad.
        Alone. The word repeated in Justin's mind. Alone. Lonely.
        Justin picked up the notebook and began writing in small, precise letters.
        Do you ever feel alone, Lansten? I mean, really alone? Here we are, surrounded by people literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and yet I still feel completely alone, like I'm all by myself in this. I don't even know what 'this' this is. I just know that sometimes I feel like no one understands, no one cares, no one wants to know what really goes on inside my mind. I think that's why I like this notebook. I can understand why you like to write in it, or at least, did, before I started writing in it. I promise, I'll buy you a new one next time we go shopping. In the meantime, if you tell me to skip a page or something, you've got my word that my eyes won't even graze over it. But where was I? Oh, yeah. It's like... With this notebook, no one is watching you, no one is condemning you, and yet you still get a response... Some sort of reassurance. I don't know how you feel when you read what I write, but no matter what you say, I never feel judgemental or anything. Just support. So feel free to unleash it all onto me, Lansten, because I think this is a sort of 'no-holds barred' notebook, to borrow a wrestling term.
        Wrestling. Wow. When was the last time I thought about that? It must have been at least a few months ago, when we just happened to catch a show. Lord, Lance, I remember when every Sunday and Monday night you would find me plopped down in front of my floor, watching WWF. I used to love cheering for the good guys, booing the heels, and then cheering for the heels and booing for the faces. Do you know what those terms mean? I know you don't watch, so I'll explain: A face is a good guy. A heel is a bad guy. I used to love wrestling, when I was a little kid. I don't have time to watch it anymore, and sometimes I wonder what's going on in their world.
        Do you sometimes feel like we're in another world?
        This bus doesn't even feel like reality, you know? I wonder what reality is, sometimes. Is that when I'm at home in Tennassee? Or is it when I'm with you guys, back in Orlando? Or on the bus? Or in our hotels? Is it when we're preforming? That's when I feel most alive. When I'm out there, in front of the crowd, watching the smiles and tears on our fans' faces. That's what it's really all about.
        Do you miss home?
        I want to go home, but not to Tennassee. I never told you guys this, but last time I went back, they treated me like I was some sort of hero or something. Me! A hero! Lance, I sing. That's it. I never saved anyone's life, I never preformed a miracle, and I've never given a speech for civil rights or something. All I do is carry a pretty tune, and they treat me like I'm on some sort of level above them. It hurt so badly to go home to that, because home is where I expect to get back to my roots. But it wasn't, this time, Lance. I was alone, again.
        I'm depressing you, aren't I? Sometimes I think about scribbling out what I just wrote, and then I think that you might make me tell you what I wrote, and I'd much rather that you read it instead of me say it. I tend to ramble on in here, and even if your face twists in disgust while you read, I can't see it. Somehow, that's comforting.
        Anyway, I'll go now. Bye, Lansten.

        Lance read the entry several times, feeling his heart start to bleed for the southerner. Poor Justin, Lance thought to himself. It's just not fair for him to have to think he's going through this alone.
        Lance had an idea, but it would mean exposing himself completely and wholly to someone... 'No holds barred' as Justin put it. And while Justin was giving himself completely to Lance, Lance was more reserved about trusting people. He always had been. Still... Justin needed something. He needed to know that he wasn't alone. Lance glanced over at Justin on the couch. He and JC were joking around, teasing and playfully wrestling, and Lance made a spur of the moment decision.
        Turn to page one and have a good read, Justin. You are not alone.

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