Disclaimer - This story contains gay relationships between the members of the pop music band 98 Degrees and a fictional character. This story in no way implies that any members of 98 Degrees is gay (but if they are they should feel free to e-mail me). If you are under the legal age to read pornographic material in your area please leave immediately. The author takes no responsibility for anyone's actions based upon this work of fiction.
Questions, Comments, Suggestions - e-mail GayNight@hotmail.com
Now that that is out of the way. Enjoy!!!
98 Degrees is HOT!!!
"We didn't expect this to come so soon, but since it has, you need to make a decision: which of us to choose," Nick finished.
"I can't," I said. "I can't just choose. I don't even know you that well. We've only known each other a few days, how can anyone make a decision on as little as that. I could make the wrong choice and then where would we all be?" my voice faded to silence.
"Well, I have an idea," Nick said. "Why don't we each take half a day with you tomorrow, then you can decide what you want."
I could tell that this pained both of them, but I also knew that it would hurt much more later if something wasn't done now. Besides, I couldn't live with myself for too long if I kept on like this. "That sounds like a good idea to me." I told them. "Jeff?"
"Fine with me, but cutie over here is gonna be in for shock when he doesn't win," Jeff replied smiling. We laughed at his joke.
This was some unconcious message to all of us. The laughter died quickly and we all sat unmoving and unspeaking, thinking our own thoughts. "Well guys," I said, "I'd better get going, I want to get some sleep tonight so I'd better head for home. Since I've gotta fit both of you in we'd better get and early start. How about we all have breakfast together tomorrow morning at the hotel, then we'll figure out who wants to be first. Sound good?"
They both replied affirmatively. I quietly slipped out of the room. Sighing as the door closed I walked down the hall peaking my head into the room everyone was in earlier. I saw Meg and Drew curled up next to each other, talking quietly. Justin was no longer in the room, so I assumed he had gotted bored with the conversation and went to his own room. 'Poor guy,' I thought. 'He seems to be the quietest of the group, but I wonder if that is because he is quiet or because of something else. I wonder. . .' I broke out of my trance and watched Meg and Drew for a moment, feeling a surge of joy at how happy they were.
They talked quietly, completely enthralled with each other, oblivious to the rest of the world. "Sorry to disturb you two love-birds, but it is getting late and we need to get going, hun," I told them.
They glanced up quickly, startled by my sudden speech. "I don't wanna go," Meg whined.
"To bad babe, I'm driving and I'm leaving now. You can stay and walk later if you want," I joked. She made a sour face at me. "I'm coming back tomorrow so I can pick you up and bring you too if you want."
"I don't have to work, so you'd better come pick me up," she said.
"What time are you coming tomorrow?" Drew asked.
"Well, I was gonna meet Nick and Jeff for breakfast so probably around 7:30 or 8:00."
"See you then babe," Drew said, smiling.
Meg leaned in and kissed him on the forehead, making his smile broaden. Then she pulled back and walked over to me. We walked out of the room in silence, not speaking till we reached the elevator and the doors had closed behind us.
"So how'd it go?" we both asked. We broke into quiet laughs.
"You first," I said.
"Well, Drew is not only drop-dead gorgeous, but he is also great company. He is funny, intelligent, and an all around great guy," she replied.
"That's not what I meant."
"Oh, well. . . We just sat and talked for awhile, and kissed a little bit. I think we might get something going," she smiled. "Now you."
"Well, it looked like we were going to have some more fun in the tub, but I put a stop to that. As much as I would have enjoyed the experience it isn't what I want. I want something real, something more than sex. So tomorrow we're gonna meet for breakfast than I'm going to spend half the day with each. By than I should be able to decide who I like more. I was thinking of introducing them to Skyler later, after I'm set up."
"Cool! Where is Skyler anyway? What has he been up to?"
"I'm not really sure what he has been doing, but he was in Orlando. I think he was working for Disney or MGM, but I don't know for sure. He's supposed to fly in sometime tomorrow morning for a week-long vacation at home."
The elevator opened it's doors letting us out into the lobby. We continued to talk as we walked to my car.
"But won't you have to go pick him up?"
"I'm gonna see if I can get mom and dad to pick him up. As much as I'd like to see him, right now Nick and Jeff are a little higher priority. Even if nothing works out, they are trying to get me a killer job. I'm only gonna tell them about the job for now."
"Sounds good. I hope it works out for you," Meg said, smiling but somehow giving a serious air to the smile.
We got in my car and drove to her house in silence. We were both so enwrapped in our own thoughts that we almost forgot the other person was there.
Upon reaching Meg's house, Meg leaned over and gave me a light kiss on the cheek. "Listen Tris. I know that Nick is the cuter of the two, but that isn't important. I think that you would get along better in a relationship with Jeff than Nick. I don't know why I think that, it is just one of those feelings that I have, but don't take my feelings as the end-all. What you feel, and what you want is the most important."
I stared at her through the whole speech, touched by her concern. When she had finished I spoke up, "Thanks for the advice Meg, but I have to do what my heart tells me, no matter what. This is one decision that I can't afford to mess up." I smiled at her.
"I understand, just be yourself and trust in fate," she said, returning my smile. "Whoa!!!" she said, breaking the mood. "What was that!?! I never talk like that. I'm just a city girl." We both broke into laughter.
"See you tomorrow at 7:00. Make sure you get up in plenty of time to be ready."
"Men," she said, reaching over and 'slapping' me lightly on the shoulder.
"Can't you hit any harder than that?"
"You want to find out?"
"Nope!"
"Alright then. See you tomorrow, hun."
"See yah, babe."
Meg closed the door and walked to her door. Seeing her safely enter the house I gunned the engine and sped off down the road. Upon arriving at home. I parked the car and slipped into my room, trying to avoid my parents.
For once I was successful, and made it to my room without being stopped. I didn't even bother to remove my clotes. I fell into bed and fell asleep moments later.
My eyes opened to soft daylight, filtered through sea-green curtains. I lay immobile for a few moments before my mind engaged. I turned my head to look at the clock. It read 6:45. 'SHIT!!!' I thought.
I jumped out of bed and ran to the shower. I threw off my clothes and jumped into the warm water. After cleaning myself throughly I stepped ut of the shower, dried off, shaved, put on suitable cologne, and ran back into my room. I found some clothes and put them on. I glanced at the clock again, 7:00. A new record.
I ran out to my car and sped off to Meg's house. I pulled up in front of her house and beeped the horn twice. She came running out and jumped in the car before I knew what had happened.
"I'm glad you're so happy to see me that you ran out here like a crazy woman," I joked.
"Who cares about you," she retorted, "I just need to get to the hotel."
I gave her a sad puppy dog face.
"Ok, fine, I care about you too."
"That's good, now lets get going." We pulled away from the curb and headed to the hotel.
Since it was so early, it took us almost no time to reach the hotel. We walked into the lobby together. We reached the elevator just as it opened, carrying all the guys.
"Oh look at these guys," I said, "they're faces seem familiar, but I can't seem to place them. Any ideas Meg?"
"They look familiar to me too. Especially this one," she said moving in front of Drew.
The guys smiled. "I don't know who these crazy people are," Nick said, "but we were headed for breakfast, maybe they'd like the join us. It might jog their memories." We all broke into laughter.
"Come on," Justin said, "let's go find some food in this place."
We walked through the lobby to a small restaurant/cafe, found a table in a corner and sat down. "So what are everyone's plans for today?" I asked.
"Well, as you know Nick and I are going to be with you for half the day each, Justin is going out to check out the city, and see if he can find some chicks. Drew here is going to attempt to gain Meg's favor. . .," Jeff said.
"Hey now," Drew said, mock offended.
"It's ok," Meg began, "he's just jealous."
"I have proof against that babe," I said laughing.
We quieted down as a waiter approached. "May I take you order please?"
We all placed our orders then resumed our talk.
"I'm surprised the waiter didn't go crazy having celebrities at his table," Meg said.
"We've eaten here a few times, he was our waiter once. I think he got over it the first time," Justin told her.
The conversation split: Meg, Drew, and Justin talking, and Jeff, Nick, and myself talking.
"So who is first?" I asked.
"Well we haven't really talked about it," Nick began.
"We thought you could decide," Jeff finished.
"No, I'm not choosing. It is your decision, I don't care," I replied.
Jeff and Nick looked at each other. "Well I guess I'll go first then," Jeff said.
"That ok with you Nick?" I asked.
"Yeah, sure."
"Good. We'll meet back here for lunch, then Nick and I can go wandering about. Then we'll meet upstairs and go out for dinner. Sound good to everyone?"
"Sounds good to me," Jeff said.
"Ok with me," Nick said.
"Alright. Now lets eat," I said as the waiter appeared with our food.
"How'd you do that?" Jeff asked.
"I dunno," I replied, digging into my eggs.
When we finished eating Drew and Meg headed back upstairs, Justin headed outside through the lobby where a small group of fans were yelling and screaming. After a few minutes, Nick followed Justin. When he stepped into the lobby the screams almost doubled in intensity.
"Poor Justin," I mused.
"What?" Jeff asked.
"Poor Justin," I replied matter-of-factly. "He seems like such a nice guy, and I'm sure he's fun to be around, but he is eclipsed by the rest of you guys."
"Yeah he is a great guy. It's just that he is so quiet. I mean if he tried more he could be just as 'popular' as the rest of us. That just isn't him, he prefers quiet, calm, that kind of stuff, and he's pretty shy too. To an extent we are all eclipsed by Nick, but none of us hold it against him. With Justin though, it is just different. He doesn't really want to be recognized a whole lot. If you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I think I understand." We sat there for a moment in quiet thought. "Well, we'd better get going, the minutes are ticking by."
We walked out through the rear entrance of the hotel, then walked around to my car. We weren't spotted by any of the girls, they were too busy trying to touch Justin and Nick.
I started the car and pulled away from the curve. "So where you want to go?" I asked.
"I don't know. You know any places that are any good?"
"Well, it depends. There are the malls, there's downtown, there are parks, playgrounds, gyms. Just pick something you want to do, and we'll do it," I replied.
"Well, I want to go somewhere that I won't be recognized, which rules out downtown, the mall, and the gyms. Playground isn't exactly my style so I guess that leaves a park. Besides, a park will give us some quite time to talk quietly."
I smiled at him and he smiled back. "I like your logic," I told him. "Alright, I know the perfect place." I turned the next corner, heading for the place that I loved to go to just sit around and think about the numerous troubles in my life. Because of the still early hour, it took very little time to reach the park.
I parked the car in a small lot. We got out and walked into the calming atmosphere. "I love it here," I told Jeff. "The air is so soothing, and quiet. My life is far from quiet, and the completely different atmosphere here keeps me from going crazy. Or too far crazy anyway."
He smiled at me. "I know what you mean. Very often, we are so busy running from press conference to press conference, being mobbed by fans on the way, then jumping into a performance and trying to look around inbetween all of it, we get so stressed out that we don't even realize it. Then we get a few days to unwind and we don't even know what to do with our time. It is the strangest sensation in the world, and, in some ways, one of the best."
We walked in silence for a few moments, taking in each others words. "Here, let me show you this place I found a while ago. It's the place where I always go when I really need to take a step back and breath before diving back into the whirlwind we call life." He laughed softly. I grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind me.
Eventually we came to a row of bushes, but I pushed through them. We came to a line of trees, intermigled with the bushes. I stood outside this, pulled out my cellphone and turned it off before putting it back in my.
"Why are you turning your cell off?" Jeff asked.
"I made a little promise to myself that I wouldn't bring the outside world into my little 'sanctuary', and a cellphone is definetely the outside world," I told him.
"Then I'd better turn mine off," he said, doing just that.
Having 'cut ourselves off', we walked into a small clearing overlooking the pond in the center of the park. The morning sun glistening on the unmoving surface of the the pond and shining up into the clearing mesmerized me for a moment. I sighed, caught up in the beauty of the moment.
Jeff must have heard me because he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing," I quickly responded. "Just thinking about how beautiful all this is, and how much I love being here with someone who understands why I want to be here."
"Have you brought anyone else here?" he asked.
"No."
"Not even Meg."
"No, not even Meg."
"I'm surprised, she seems like someone who you would share everything with."
"Well, in some ways you are right but in others. . . The thing about Meg is she is a great all around person, and she is my best friend. But she doesn't always understand me. As a matter of fact, I don't know anyone who fully understands me. This is one of the things she wouldn't understand. I don't know why I am sure of that, but somehow I am," I told him.
"I know what you mean, it is the same way with me and the guys. I love them and were are the best of friends, but there are some things that they just don't understand, and I don't believe that they ever will."
We sat down and stared at the pond not speaking. The only sounds were the soft breeze through the trees, and the sounds of birds chittering to each other. Although the silence went on for a relatively long time, it was not an awkward silence. It was more of a contemplative silence.
"You never really told us, how did you manage to get backstage passes. Did you win a contest with a local radio station, or do you know someone that works at the theatre?" Jeff asked after several long moments.
"I won a contest," I replied.
"What kind of contest?" he asked.
"Well, it is actually a little embarassing, but here goes. I had to sit on one of the largest blocks of ice I have seen in my entire life. There were a bunch of girls, but I was the only guy. We had to stuff our pants and sit on the ice blocks. Whoever sat for the longest period of time got four tickets and passes. I won."
"I guess it is kind of fitting," he said. "We are 98 Degrees, maybe the ice was supposed to cool you down," he laughed.
"I guess," I said. "But actually, the way I won was really odd. I used a form of meditation, a take off of the Buddhist and Yoga techniques. I didn't know if it would work, but I figured that trying it couldn't hurt. The technique is to actually will yourself to lose the feeling in your body, and let your mind drift, not focusing on any one thought. Even though it sounds crazy, it worked. I really did lose feeling in my body, or more acurately I just didn't pay attention to it. I didn't use it for transcendence, unless you want to consider yourselfs gods."
"I wouldn't mind," he interjected, smiling evily.
"I'm sure," I said, absentmindedly glancing at my watch. "You're not going to believe this, but it is 11:30. We'd better head back if we are going to meet Nick for lunch."
"Yeah, I guess we'd better," Jeff said solemly.
"Listen Jeff," I said looking directly into his eyes, "as far as I am concerned you are every bit a cute, gorgeous, beautiful, whatever, as Nick. Stop worrying so much, if we are meant to be then we will be, but if we're not then we won't be. Don't worry about it, and let fate make its own choices. There is someone out there for you, even if it isn't me." I pause for a moment, he simply stared at me dumbfounded. "I know you didn't say anything, but I could tell by the expression in your voice and the look on your face. You'll learn that I am very good at reading people, it's almost like a sixth sense."
Jeff continued to stare at me unmoving for a few short moments, then his face twisted into a smile. "Ok, I'll take your advice. Besides everyone knows that I am much more desirable than Nick."
"You'd better hope you are," I said, getting up and walking out of the clearing.
Jeff trailed behind me for a few moments, before catching up. We walked back to the car making small talk.
"It's going to take forever to get back to the hotel," I said as we climed into the car. "Traffic this time of day is horrible."
I was right. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To Be Continue
*Sorry about how long it took to get this segment out. I had someting important come up and I barely had enough time to check my e-mail, much less write a story. Sorry about all those promises that I made about getting it out, but every time I thought I could get started I was needed again.