Dont Wanna Lose

Disclaimer: This story is fiction and does not represent the real people that might be mentioned here. If you are under 18 or if it is illegal to read this in the country where you live, the city where you are, etc. then don't. Again, this is just some fantasy I concocted in my head so don't get insulted.

Chapter 15: Don't Wanna Lose Written by: "Bear"

It was mid-day in the town of moguls and movie stars. Of course, though, one shining star was still in dreamland sleeping the day away. He laid comfortably in the soft fluffy pillows and the warm down comforters.

He was shaken on the shoulders lightly as his lover tried to wake him. "Nick... Nick, wake-up." Justin said trying to get any sign of life from his sleeping angel.

Nick turned over from his left side to his right facing Justin with still closed eyes. He groaned slightly. "Just...not again. I'm still tired. It's still sensitive." Nick said carelessly.

Justin punched Nick on the right shoulder. "Get up, you dork."

"Ow..." Nick echoed from slight pain as his eyes busted open. He looked up at Justin with shock. "Why did you hit me for?"

"Cause you're being a pain." Justin said smugly before getting up from the bed and turning away from Nick.

Nick looked at Justin who was all dressed up. He was wearing tan cargo pants and blue Abercrombie shirt with a white shirt under it. Nick looked at Justin quizzically not knowing why Justin would be up so early and why he was all dressed. Justin was walking away from Nick and was heading towards the door. Nick knew he had to make amends before Justin left. Nick jumped out of the covers and off the bed. "Justin, wait." Justin didn't turn around but kept walking. Nick ran towards Justin and grabbed his arm before he could walk out of the room. "I'm sorry. I was being a jerk."

Justin didn't answer but kept his body facing away from Nick's direction. He then tried to shake Nick's grip away from his arm but Nick wouldn't let go. Nick knew his mistakes. He wasn't thinking clearly moments earlier and probably hurt Justin's feelings. Nick tugged on Justin's arm so that Justin would turn around but Justin didn't. So, Nick then put his other arm around Justin's body and made Justin face him. But as soon as he did, Nick's gaze went down towards the floor not wanting to see Justin's face. "I...I'm sorry Justin. Love, I love you though." Nick said quietly before slowly returning his eyes onto Justin's face. When Nick's eyes finally settled upon Justin's he was a little puzzled. There on Justin's face was a silly grin. "What?...What are you smiling at?" Nick asked surprised by Justin's reaction.

Justin then placed both his arms around Nick's shoulders and brought his face closer to Nick's. "You...You're so cute like that."

"Like what?" Nick asked kind of angry that Justin wasn't taking this seriously.

Justin brought his face closer again. "When you want someone to forgive you. You flash your eyelids and then put on that three-year-old pout of yours."

"Do not." Nick said whining.

"That's cute too." Justin said

"What?" Nick asked not liking Justin's answer.

"When you whine like a five-year-old." Justin answered plainly.

"So what? I have a five-year-old pout and whine like a three-year-old." Nick said sarcastically.

Justin brought his head closer again so that their lips were only inches apart. Whispering to Nick he said, "No, you have a pout of a three-year-old, a whine of a five- year-old, and a body of an Olympian God." Justin said seductively before kissing Nick on the lips. Nick didn't respond for a moment still angry from Justin's mockery of him but soon responded to his desire for Justin. He caressed Justin's thin lips with his enjoying their morning kiss. Justin pulled away from the kiss only for Nick to move forward with his own body wanting the kiss to last more. "Eww...morning breath." Justin said laughing before breaking away from Nick and walking back to the room.

"I do not." Nick said yelling to Justin. Nick then brought his hand to his face and breathed into it to smell if he did. Nick shook his head no before following Justin back to the room.

Justin turned back towards Nick smiling. "I made you breakfast." Justin said referring to the table in Nick's room.

Nick looked amazed at Justin. "You did?" Nick asked looking at the food that was arranged upon the tabletop.

"Well, kinda. I went out and bought it. But I did take it out of the boxes and put it on plates and stuff."

Nick laughed as approached Justin bringing his arms around his waist and pulling Justin into him. "That's okay. You're not my boyfriend because of your cooking skills anyway." Nick said before leaning in for a kiss. Justin pulled his head back slightly bringing his hand in front of Nick's face and pointing at his mouth. "I do not have morning breath." Nick said with authority.

Justin laughed. "I know." Justin said as he leaned back into the kiss. The kiss was soft but passionate as they treasured their time together. Over the last few days they've spent almost every waking and sleeping moment together. They had found their love for each other and now they were exploring every aspect of it. They had built a friendship before but now they were exploring a different kind of relationship together. A relationship of passion, desire, affection, and commitment.

As they both separated from their kiss they felt a coldness upon their lips. The isolation of it brought a sense of discomfort between the two. Nick and Justin both looked into their eyes and again leaned in for a kiss. But Nick pulled back momentarily as a thought entered his mind. "How'd you get breakfast?" Nick asked.

"I drove to Denny's and got some take-out." Justin answered.

"And what did you drive?"

Justin smiled sheepishly as his cheeks reddened slightly. "I took your car."

"And how did you find my keys?"

"It was on the dresser."

"And did I tell you that you can drive my car?"

"No, but I kinda figured." Justin answered shrugging his shoulders

Nick looked at Justin astonished. "Oh...you? You kinda figured. Yes, Mr. No one but me can drive my car but me."

"I let other people drive my car." Justin replied softly.

"We'll see when we get to Orlando." Nick said happily.

Justin looked at Nick worriedly. `Will he drive my car?' Justin asked himself. Deciding to change the subject, Justin pulled on Nick's hand. "Come on...breakfast is getting cold."

"You're not getting away that easily Mr. Timberlake. When we get back to O- town, I'm going to drive that Beamer of yours." Nick said slyly.

Justin groaned as he pulled Nick towards the table while shaking his head.

+++++++++++++

People were hustling and bustling around the city. It was the eve of the millennium and people were all around town trying to tie up loose ends. Some people shopped for extra food just in case the world actually ended while others prepared for their night of partying.

In the town of Orlando, JC woke up with a groan. He hasn't been in the mood for this the last couple of days. Things were not going right in his life. It was like a complete 180 and he knew what the cause of it was. There was no excitement anymore, no more fun, it was just routine. He missed the guys, all the guys. It just wasn't the same when one of them wasn't there. It was like a missing link or component and things just didn't click.

They had a performance that night in Disney World. Of course JC could think of other things he could be doing on New Year's Eve but he had a job to do. It was late in the afternoon already and he needed to go to the venue soon. JC got out of bed and walked across the hall with hope. He opened the door slowly wishing that his best friend was there. JC was disappointed of course as he looked into Justin's room and saw no trace of him. Everything was still the way it was as he left it. Not a thing had been moved since the day after Christmas.

JC closed the door again and walked back to his room. He hoped that Justin was at the venue already but somewhere deep in the pit of his stomach he knew that it was unlikely.

+++++++++++++

Nick was in the kitchen cutting up some vegetables for their dinner that night. He liked cooking but most of the time there was no reason to do it. It was a hobby that he liked to do occasionally but cooking for one is no fun.

As he continued on his task, Nick was kind of startled as he suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around his chest. He breathed a little sigh of relief, as he knew that there was only one person in the world who would do such a thing. Nick then felt Justin's chin lightly placed upon his shoulders. "Whatcha doin?" Justin asked softly.

Nick kept on cutting the carrots into little slices as Justin warmed up next to him. "Cutting up these veggies to go into the skillet." Nick replied.

"Oh..." Justin said as he lightly grinded his hips into Nick's behind. Nick moaned quietly as Justin tried to arouse him.

"Just...Justin..." Nick said as he tried to keep his attention at his work.

"Uh huh..." Justin replied as he turned his head and placed gentle kisses upon Nick's neck. Nick moaned again as Justin started to grind his thick manhood into Nick's behind.

"Oh...uh, Just..." Nick tried to stop Justin. Nick couldn't keep focus anymore as he dropped the knife upon the table and slowly closed his eyes and lean his head towards Justin's stimulation.

"I love you Nick." Justin said heartfully as he started to moved his hands around Nick's chest, tugging on the shirt as he continued with his grinding.

Even though Nick treasured this moment he knew that it could not continue. If they started with their lovemaking again it would not stop until late in the night and they would not get anything done. With all the will power he could muster he turned around into Justin's embrace. Meanwhile, Justin having more access to Nick's body started to attack Nick's neck by softly kissing and sucking on the sensitive skin. "Just...oh... Justin, hold on." Nick said lightly pushing on Justin's shoulders.

Justin backed away slightly breathing heavily. Nick looked into Justin's eyes where the only thing he could see was love and desire. Nick leaned in for a small tender kiss not wanting to disappoint Justin. As Nick backed off from the kiss, Justin tried to keep Nick's bottom lip in his as long as possible. Nick sighed a bit. "I'm sorry love but we can't right now."

"Why?" Justin asked staring at Nick's lips wanting it to come back to his.

"I've got to..." Nick tried to answer back before feeling Justin's soft lips upon his again. Justin kissed him with need and intensity. Nick tried to hold on with his might and lightly pushed Justin back again. "I gotta finish dinner." Nick said quickly.

"I'm not hungry." Justin said leaning in for a kiss again.

Before he could though, Nick was able to hold him back. "Well, you will be later. Plus what are we gonna eat for New Year's Eve if I don't?"

"I could eat you..." Justin said smiling and kind of giving into Nick's suggestion.

Nick chuckled slightly. "As much as I would like that, I think you need some real food too."

Justin moved his hands around Nick's back as deep down he knew he needed Nick right now and not food. "Can't you do that later?" Justin asked kind of whining. "I know something else we could do that's a lot more fun." Justin said smiling.

"Uh huh, I bet you do. You horn dog." Nick said.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Justin asked.

"I mean..." Nick said as he moved his hands around Justin's body. Nick slowly dropped his right hand below Justin's waist and cupped Justin's tool within it and massaging the hardness in his palm. "If this doesn't try to defy gravity all the time then maybe we would actually get out of this house once in awhile."

Justin looked at Nick angrily. "Well then, me and my...my..." Justin said exasperated. "Will just stay away from you from now on so that you can see the sun." Justin said before trying to get out of Nick's arms.

"You're too easy." Nick said as he pulled upon Justin's arm that he still had a grasp on. Nick then brought his left hand upon the back of Justin's head and pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss. He slowly entered Justin's mouth as his tongue invaded a familiar setting. He pulled back with a slightly shocked Justin. "You know I wouldn't care if I ever saw the sun again as long as I was with you."

Justin nodded. "I'm sorry. I guess I was acting stupid. Hormones you know...it's kind of hard to control."

"Yeah, the key word there is hard." Nick said with a laugh. "Now come on and help me with this. The faster I'm done, the sooner we can play." Nick said with a wink.

++++++++++++

Lance opened the door slowly and carefully trying to make as little sound as possible. I guess he tried too hard to be quiet because as soon as he walked in, there was three sets of eyes upon him. He didn't want to do this. He hated being the messenger. He looked especially at JC who he knew would not like what he said. "Hey." He said quietly.

"So, what's up?" Joey asked waiting impatiently.

"Yeah, what did he say?" Chris added.

"Ah...he said he wasn't gonna make it."

Lance gazed at JC who now turned his back to him. He knew that JC was gritting his teeth and was about to blow up any second. "Why? Why can't he get here?" asked Chris.

"He...he didn't say. He just said that he's not coming."

Everyone jumped a bit as JC slammed his fists onto the table and walked out of the room and slamming the door. Lance sighed as JC passed him knowing the confusion that JC was feeling. Joey got up from his chair and walked towards the door but Lance blocked him with his arm. "No, Joey. Leave him alone. I think he just needs time to cool off."

Joey backed off and went to sit in the couch. "So, what's happening Scoop? What the hell is up with Justin?" Chris asked again gaining some anger in his tone.

Lance walked towards them and sat upon the chair that JC just relinquished.

He ran his right hand through hair in thought. "I really don't know guys. This one got passed me."

"Why am I feeling that we don't know everything that we're supposed to know?" Joey asked of Lance from his position.

Lance nodded his head no and put his face in his hands. Chris got up from his chair and walked towards Lance. He leaned against the table and put a hand upon Lance's shoulders. "Lance I think we all know you know more than your telling. Tell us please."

Lance shook his head in his hands. He couldn't. He was just merely guessing. He didn't have all the facts or the right to say anything about the subject.

Lance brought his face up from his hands and looked into Chris' face. "Guys, I can't. All I have are feelings and guesses. I don't know what to tell you except that I don't have anything to tell you. JC is out there upset because his best friend is not talking to him and because he has no idea where Justin is. We're in here all in a loop because Justin is not here with us. And to top it off we have to perform tonight without him." Lance paused trying to gather himself. "Guys, I don't know where Justin is. He calls up and leaves me a message. If I get a hold of him, he tells me he's not coming and when I ask him questions he doesn't answer. He tells me that he's not ready yet. That he will when he can. I don't know where he is and what he's doing."

Joey got up from the couch and approached his two bandmates. "I think we all need some answers from Curly right now."

"But maybe he just needs time to himself right now." Chris said thinking about what Justin might be going through.

"No, Chris. One day he leaves without a trace. The next he's not coming in to the studio and today he doesn't show up for a show. He doesn't even give us a reason to why. We're all bro's here and we treat each other that way. If he's got a problem then he should come to us for help. That's how we are. He should know that."

"You of all people should know how hard it is to talk to family. Sometimes it's that much harder because they are family." Chris added in spite.

"That's harsh Chris." Joey answered. "We're all better than that. We treat each other better. We're more than a family. We're friends, best friends. We've been through a lot together. And when we have problems we will still get through them, together."

"Yes, I know that but Justin is young. He's still insecure about stuff and sometimes it's hard to come to your closest friends."

"That's what we are, Chris, we're close friends. What's the purpose of that if he can't talk to us. He knows that we'll support him anyway we can." Joey fired back.

"It's not always that easy, Joe. Maybe he hasn't even figured it out yet." Chris said yelling back.

Lance took a deep breath as he felt the tension in his shoulders. "Shut up, you two." Lance yelled at them. Chris and Joey looked at Lance with shock. Lance was usually the calm one. He would stop the arguments but in a calm and rational way, not blow up in people's faces. "Stop arguing. Stop bickering." Lance yelled at his bandmates as he got up from the chair. "We can't do anything about it now. He's not here and it's no use for us to fight over this. It's New Year's Eve and we have a show to do without one of our lead singers. We have a lot more important things to talk about."

Joey and Chris nodded at Lance. They've never really seen this side of him. Of courses they've seen him mad at times but not at this level. Lance would act mad but after a couple of minutes he would be back to his old self again. "So...um...what are we going to do?" Chris asked.

"Officially, Justin is sick. He's not feeling well or something of the sort." Lance told the guys. "We can't cancel the show so that means that that guy out there who's moping around will have to sing his ass off." Lance said referring to JC.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Joey asked.

"I don't know Joey. I hope so because we've got no other options. Let's just be okay with this. JC is the one who needs our support. No rebellion in the ranks, okay guys?"

Joey and Chris nodded to Lance's suggestion. For the next couple of hours they would have to put up a front. It was a fake disguise but it was for their sakes also. They need to show JC that they're okay with this and be able to support him. Which meant no fighting or bickering or even up to the point of not mentioning Justin's name. They would have to figure things out in the new year.

++++++++++

Nick was sitting up upon the king size bed reading a magazine wearing a flannel red boxers. Justin, meanwhile, walked out of the bathroom wearing similar boxers but in a different color. He walked towards the bed and sat on the side and then turned his torso so he could look at Nick. Justin gently placed his right hand upon Nick's leg and slowly moved it up and down the length Nick's bare skin. "Whatcha readin'?" Justin asked.

Nick didn't look up from the magazine. "Dear Teen. My name is Jennifer and I'm 15 and I wrote to say that the article you guys wrote about Nsync was great. I learned so many things that I didn't know about the guys plus they looked so hot in the pictures, especially Justin. Justin is so built and when I saw that picture I nearly fainted. I immediately took it out of the magazine, put it up on my wall, and kissed it all night. I only wished that that was the real Justin and he was kissing me back. Plus, did you see that bulge in his pants. He must be really."

"It does not say that." Justin said taking the magazine away from Nick's hands.

Nick smiled back at Justin's amused and shocked face. "Well, it did say all the other things."

"Uh huh, whatever." Justin said flipping through the magazine trying to find where Nick was reading.

"Plus the whole buldge thing is true. My Love is really hung." Nick said moving and coiling his body around Justin's.

Justin, meanwhile, simply sat on the side of the bed with his foot still on the floor as Nick moved his body so that his upper half was now in front of Justin. Nick looked up at Justin's face from his position at Justin's lap as if asking for permission. Justin simply looked back and threw the magazine away from the bed. Nick then turned his head and smiled at the swelling that was beginning to show through Justin's boxers. Nick reached out his hand and unbuttoned the opening. With his right hand he gently took the burgeoning penis out of its confines and as soon as Justin's manhood was in sight Nick brought his head down and licked the tip of Justin's penis. Justin held back his moan as Nick swirled his hot tongue around Justin's purple head. Justin brought his arms behind him and placed it behind Nick's body for support. He leaned back as Nick started to go down on the length of Justin's manhood. Soon Nick's nose touched the warm fabric that Justin still had on. Nick then slowly tightened the suction that he had on Justin's dick as Justin exhaled his pleasure. After that Nick came up from Justin's penis and kissed the head.

Nick then swung his legs around and stood up from the bed. Justin still had his eyes closed from the pleasure that Nick had given him. Nick approached Justin and slowly pushed him to the top of the bed. With Justin laying back on the bed Nick grabbed the top of Justin's boxers and pulled it down. Justin meanwhile was working on instinct as his body instinctively brought his hips up to ease Nick's task. Justin opened his eyes as he felt a slight chilly breeze hit his uncovered body. Justin gazed at Nick as Nick seductively took his boxers off. Nick then climbed back onto the bed while keeping his eyes upon Justin's face. He positioned himself upon Justin's rock hard penis. Justin instantly brought his hands upon Nick's hips and stopped him. "Nick we." Justin argued.

"Shhhh." Nick silenced him. "I want to this." Nick replied with pleading eyes.

Justin nodded his head but with slight concern for Nick. Nick then took a hold of Justin's thick tool and placed it near his hole. With complete confidence and love Nick slowly lowered himself upon his lover's broad manhood. Nick instantly closed his eyes as he felt pain run up his spine. He tried to relax himself and give himself openly. Nick with tightly shut eyes felt himself beginning to weaken. A single tear ran down Nick's face as he was about to black out. Justin, sensing this immediately grabbed Nick's upper body and brought down to his own. Justin quickly embraced Nick caressed his back.

With Justin's penis still partially inside of Nick he rolled their bodies on the bed so that Nick was now that one with his back upon the mattress. Justin brought his upper body up and looked at Nick's face. Justin placed a small kiss upon Nick's eyelids. "Are you okay?" Justin asked sincerely.

Nick opened his gorgeous windows for Justin's piercing blue eyes and nodded yes. Justin then brought his hand upon Nick's cheek and caressed it with care. Nick closed his eyes and turned his head towards the smooth hand. Justin meanwhile slowly brought his lower body forward bringing more of his manhood inside Nick's body. Carefully and gently Justin's broad penis entered Nick as Nick's hands tightly grasped the sheets trying to contain the pain and the pleasure he was feeling.

With Justin completely inside Nick he took a moment for Nick to get adjusted. Soon enough though he started to bring his penis out and gently bring back inside. With each stroke and thrust he brought, Nick felt more alive as their gentle lovemaking overwhelmed them. Nick let Justin control the speed of their intercourse as he knew that Justin would never rush something that both held such importance in their relationship. As Nick moaned in pleasure Justin placed small kisses upon Nick's chin tracing it all around his face. Justin then moved down to Nick's soft supple neck. A neck he knew all too well. Justin knew the right places to lay his sweet kisses to arouse and stimulate Nick.

As the minutes flew by they never faltered in the speed of their lovemaking. Something that they never rushed and had complete trust in. Justin place his red thin lips upon Nick and gently opened then. Soon enough Justin's tongue entered Nick's as he once again entered a place he knew too well. The curvature and texture of Nick's mouth he knew like the back of his hand. He then played and toyed with Nick's own tongue as they spoke the language of love and pleasure. Justin slowly retreated his tongue out of Nick's mouth and placed a small kiss upon Nick's lips before bringing his head up. Justin looked towards the bedside table and saw the clock. Justin stopped his thrusting as he look upon Nick's pleasure written face. He waited for Nick's eyes to open before he talked. In a very faint voice Justin said, "It's pass midnight. Happy New Year's Nick."

Nick simply smiled back at Justin and nodded his reply. Nick then brought his upper body up to meet Justin and instantly brought his lips back upon Justin. Justin instantly lost the meaning of the moment as he knew that New Year's was one thing but what they were sharing right now was more important.

++++++++++

Nick woke up to the sound of scuffling around his room. He slowly opened his eyes and got used to the light entering the room. He sat up on the bed and looked around the bedroom and saw Justin moving around packing up his bag. "Good morning love." Nick said slightly hoarse.

Justin turned towards the voice and smiled at his lover. "Mornin' Nick."

Justin was all dressed and made up. Nick looked at his boyfriend with amazement. "How can you be so chippy in the morning? Aren't you even tired?" Nick asked.

Justin walked up towards Nick on the bed and sat beside him. He lightly placed a small kiss upon Nick's soft lips. "A little bit..."

"A little bit? Geez...I'm all sore from last night and you're not even hurting."

"I'm sorry, are you okay? I can give you a little massage if you want." Justin said bringing Nick's body into him. He slowly started to rub Nick's back with his hands trying to loosen Nick's muscles.

"No, I'm fine I think. I just need a hot shower and I should be fine." Nick said loving the caressing hands upon his back. "How long before we need to be in the airport?"

"Two hours." Justin replied. He slowly pulled out of their embrace and look into a Nick's still sleepy face. "Take a shower and I'll finish packing. Do you want me to pack you anything?"

Nick ran his hand through his hair thinking over the question. "No, I should be fine. I have everything I need back home." Nick said as he got up from the bed and headed for the bathroom. Before reaching the doorway, "Wait, maybe you can pack me some video games just in case." Nick said.

Justin smiled at Nick's answer. "You're hopeless you know that."

++++++++++++

Nick was on his flight back to Orlando sitting in first class. He did not like flying and wondered why some genius couldn't have invented something else as a way to get around the world. He was nervous, kinda scared, and to top it off he was sitting next to some old geezer. Usually, he was very cordial to senior citizens. When his family used to own a nursing home he loved many of the people who lived there. They were close to his heart and he was close to theirs. But, this man was just annoying. He was mean and grumpy. The man was about fifty to sixty years old and had white balding hair. He couldn't handle it anymore; he didn't want to think about so he simply started to close his eyes.

After only moments though he felt a tapping on his shoulder. He sighed to himself. `What does this old man want now?' he asked himself consciously. He opened his eyes and looked at the man sitting next to him. The man simply shook his head no and pointed to other side of Nick. Nick turned his body around and looked at who was trying to get his attention. He was suddenly taken a back when a handsome young man came into his view. He had the most gorgeous brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that could melt any heart. "Um...yes?" Nick asked losing his voice for a second.

"Hi, sorry to disturb you." The young man said as Nick listened to his wonderful sweet voice. "But I'm a little scared of flying and thought maybe you knew a few tricks." Finishing his thoughts with that same pure smile that Nick saw when he opened his eyes.

Nick chuckled slightly at the thought. The man looked at him questioningly at the thought that Nick was making fun of him. "I'm sorry but I'm kinda scared of flying too. I don't really have any tricks. Maybe I should make some up, come to think of it." Nick replied.

"Oh, okay. I'm sorry for disturbing you then." The man said easing back to his seat across the aisle.

"Wait, maybe talking could help." Nick said trying to bring back the young man's gaze upon him.

"I guess it couldn't hurt." The young man said as he returned his attention back to Nick.

"Well, my name is Nick." Nick said as he reached his hand out across the aisle to shake the young man's hand.

"It's nice to meet you Nick." The young man replied.

Nick kind of shivered as he felt the young man's electric touch. "So, why are you going to Orlando?"

The young man shifted in his seat so that he could talk to Nick better. "Oh, I have to take care of some business. I wished it was leisure instead but what can you do?"

"I'm sure it won't be that bad. You'll probably have a lot of time to go check out the sights."

"I wasn't really talking about the sights." The young man said seductively.

Nick instantly got a lump in his throat as he heard the change the young man's tone. Nick turned his head around to check the old man sitting next to him.

The old man quickly reacted trying to act as if he wasn't listening to their conversation. Nick ignored him knowing the he couldn't do anything if the old man wanted to eavesdrop. Nick returned his attention back to the handsome man across the aisle and was about to say something but a flight attendant walk in between them.

As soon as the flight attendant was gone from sight, the young man leaned across the aisle to talk to Nick. Nick also leaned in trying to find out what the young man wanted. "Have you ever heard of the mile high club?" the young man asked.

Nick's heart quickly started to race as he again checked the old man sitting next to him. Again the old man tried to act if he just didn't hear what they said but from the look of the old man's face Nick knew the wiser. "Um...I'm not really..." Nick tried to answer back.

"It's a pretty elite club." The young man said. "It's pretty HARD to get IN. But a little TRUST from me and you could be in the RIDE of a lifetime." The young man continued stressing a few words in his sentences.

Nick instantly felt a jump in his pants as his underwear started to feel confining. He his was now going a mile a minute as he felt excitement and danger. The young man then unfastened his seat belt and got up from his chair. As he walked into the aisle, the young man placed his hand upon Nick's shoulders and slightly squeezed it. He then proceeded to walk down the aisle before turning back and giving Nick a smile before going into a washroom stall.

Nick sat there for a moment pondering his situation. His heart beating faster and faster while the lump in his pants started to grow and grow. He looked at the old man with a sly smile who had a shock look in his face. Nick got up from his chair and walked down the aisle. He turned back to look at the old man who was just sitting there shell- shocked. Nick got up to the washroom stall, opened it slowly before getting in.

++++++++++++

Nick walked around the baggage claim trying to find that one he was looking for. He searched carefully carrying a small backpack that was mounted behind him.

He had sunglasses on and a baseball cap as to try and not attract any unwanted attention. After a couple of minutes, he finally spotted what he was trying to find. Nick walked up very slowly behind the tall muscular youth and ever so quietly whispered, "Hi there sexy." Nick said in a low voice.

The youth didn't move but a smile spread over his gorgeous face. He kept his focus in front of him and answered carelessly. "Come on, you know I told you to stop doing that. I'm getting all excited now and you know we can't be jumping into every public bathroom we see to get it on. It's too dangerous, Lance."

"Huh..." Nick said dumbfounded by Justin's answer. It took a minute for him to realize before recollecting his thoughts. Nick lightly punched Justin on the shoulder which made the Nsyncer turn. "Very funny you little trickster." Nick said half-heartedly.

"Oh my God, it's you." Justin said sarcastically trying hard not to laugh. "I thought you were Lance."

"Ha, ha very funny." Nick said kind of pouting.

"Ohh...you know you're the only one." Justin said in a child's voice. "There's nobody else but you." Justin said in mockery while holding Nick's face in his hand and shaking it from side to side.

Nick jerked his face away from Justin's grip. "It better be Mr. Timberlake or I'll make Lorena Bobbit look like a saint." Nick said seriously.

"Okay, okay. Touchy...I'll behave." Justin said before turning back into the carousel. "...from now on." Justin added under his breath with a sly smile.

Nick immediately stepped in front of Justin and looked him straight in the eyes. "I heard that you..."

Justin immediately put his hands up. "I was just joking...just joking."

"Uh huh." Nick said unconvinced before walking a little bit away from Justin.

"Someone didn't have a good flight." Justin said to himself away from Nick's ears.

++++++++++++

Justin and Nick walked towards Justin's car which was parked in the extended lot in the airport. Justin holding 2 medium sized bags which contained the clothes he bought while in Los Angeles and Nick a gray backpack hung over one of his shoulders. Nick followed Justin aimlessly to the car without the two exchanging a word. It was one the first moments that they've spent together in the last week or so when they've felt uncomfortable. It was one of the weird moments that people share and this time it was theirs.

They both felt it and couldn't hide it from each other. They were being passive in the moment, not totally sure with what to do or what to say. They waited for each other to start what they were both thinking of. As they got near the car, Justin pulled his keys from his pockets and pressed a button on the keychain. The car lit up and two beeps emanated. Justin went to the back of the car and opened up the trunk before dropping his two bags in. As he looked up, he saw Nick standing in front of the car on the driver side. Nick looked kind of confused and unsure. Justin walked up to Nick with a deep breath.

With Justin toe to toe with Nick they both looked into each other's eyes. Justin wanted to speak but felt his throat instantly dry up. His heart aching but he was not sure of why. There he was in front of his lover, his boyfriend and tears about to fall from his eyes. "I..I..." Justin said not able to complete his thought. Justin simply brought his right hand up to Nick's face and gently ran his hand over Nick's cheek.

Nick closed his eyes and leaned his head more to the caressing hand of his sweetheart. Nick moaned quietly as memories of their time together came into his mind. Nick then turned his head and kissed the gentle hand that was upon his face.

With his eyes closed and speaking from his heart Nick muttered, "I love you Just."

A single tear ran down Justin's face as all the tension within his heart was released. Through his internal struggle his body was finally able to comply to his heart. "I love you too Nick."

As Justin's voice echoed within Nick's ears, Nick smiled warmly and slowly opened his eyes. Nick looked onto Justin's face which held mixed emotions, one of joy and sadness. Nick could feel at that instant the connection that they had. It was as if they were sharing one heart. Nick opened his arms and brought Justin into a tight embrace. As they did, all the tension within their bodies were released and all their doubts washed away. He held Justin closed not caring about the world at that instant.

After awhile, they both started to relax and even Justin started to giggle.

"What are you laughing about?" Nick inquisitively asked.

Justin pulled out of the hug slightly and looked at Nick. "We're being so childish about this." Justin said plainly.

"No, we're not." Nick answered. "Maybe a little dramatic though." Nick continued in second thought.

"It's not like we're not gonna see each other again or something." Justin said as he tried to laugh out his comment.

"Yeah, we're gonna see each other real soon aren't we?" Nick tried to say before pulling Justin into another tight embrace. "I'll miss you so much. The last couple of days have been the best time of my life." Nick said heartfully into Justin's ear.

Justin nodded. "Mine too Nick. Mine too."

As they both reluctantly pulled out of each other's arm they both took a step backwards knowing that if they were any closer they would never let each other go. Justin opened the door to his car and stepped in. Justin started up the car and then let the window down. He looked up to Nick and warily smiled. "Call me when you get back to Tampa." Justin said hopefully.

"I'll call you as soon as I get in the door." Nick replied. And with that Justin pulled out of his parking spot and went out of the parking lot.

+++++++++++++

As the cab ran down a familiar street Nick's heart was racing. He was on cloud nine or something. It was as if the world was perfect at that exact moment.

Everything was fine in his life and it couldn't be any better. It was euphoria that he felt. As the cab screech to a halt he gave the driver the fare and a large tip. Nick opened the door and quickly got out. Looking at the driveway of the house, he noticed his car parked still in the same spot he left it. He excitedly walked over to his car, opened it, and threw his backpack in. After that, he quickly ran to the front door and rang the doorbell many times because of his excitement. Nick waited impatiently for the door to open as he couldn't contain his joy any longer. As the door opened Nick came up to him and quickly give him a kiss on the cheek before pushing and making his way inside the house.

The man still half-asleep was clearly confused by the whole situation. He lightly rubbed his sparkling eyes and looked out to an empty yard. He turned around and saw tall blue eyed blond who simply couldn't contain himself. Nick was going all around the living room touching anything and everything like he was just discovering the world around him. He closed the door and made his way to the living room. He tried to focus on Nick but it wasn't easy as it seemed. Nick was jumping from place to place doing nothing and everything. "Nick....Nick, what are you doing?"

As Nick heard the voice he quickly stopped his movement and looked at the person standing in front of him. He was lazily dressed in a loose gray shirt and colorful boxers. "Hi Kevy...good morning...isn't it great today."

Kevin lightly held his head as his body still hasn't recovered from the alcohol that his system had from the night before. "Geez Nick it's too early for this." Nick jumped over to Kevin and quickly gave him the biggest and tightest hug he could achieve. He then gave Kevin a kiss on the cheek and then ruffled Kevin's hair before moving around the room again doing nothing and everything. Kevin, a little shock and still very confused with the whole experience questioned his state of mind. `Am I dreaming this? God, what did I drink last night?' Kevin coming back to reality tried to focus back on Nick who was still jumping from place to place. "Nick stop. You're giving me more of a headache."

Nick quickly stopped and turned back to Kevin. "I'm sorry Kev but I'm just so happy. I can't help it." Nick then made his way back to Kevin and gave him another hug.

Kevin, again surprised by Nick's action tried to react. "Okay...okay stop hugging me. What is up with you?" Kevin said as he tried to get his head on straight.

Nick walked away from Kevin and headed for the mantle and started fiddling with little figurines. Kevin meanwhile made his way towards the couch and sat down. He held his head again as it was still reeling from the night before and this morning's events. Nick quickly put back the figurine and faced Kevin with the widest smile. "I'm in love Kevin." Nick said loudly.

"Huh..." Kevin asked still not back in the land of the living. `I couldn't have heard that. It must be in my mind.' Kevin told himself.

Nick quickly jumped on the couch next to Kevin causing Kevin to lose some balance. "I'm in love Kevin. I am so in love." Nick said.

Kevin looked at him suspiciously. "What are you saying?" Kevin asked still not getting what the blond boy was getting at.

"I'm in love Kevin. Don't you get it? I'm in love." Nick answered before quickly getting up from the couch and moving around the room again.

Kevin sat there for a minute still dumbfounded and trying to compute everything in his head. He looked up again trying to focus on Nick. "Nick...geez...would you please sit down for one minute as I try to get all this."

Nick sighed before quickly making his way back next to Kevin. "I'm in love Kevin. I'm in love with the most perfect man in the world. He's funny, wonderful, handsome, smart, athletic, and he was the cutest way of..."

"Okay, okay slow down for a minute. My mind is still in bed and I think I left my body somewhere near the bar last night." Kevin tried to joke. "So, you're in love."

"Uh huh." Nick answered brightly nodding his head vehimantly.

"Okay, first you've got to calm down." Kevin said noticing Nick's emotional state.

Nick quickly jumped out of the couch. "But I can't Kev. I'm so happy that I don't know what to do. I have all this energy that I don't know what to do with. I'm just..I'm just...you know...I'm in love Kev."

Kevin brought his hands up and grabbed Nick's and pulled him back down to the couch. "Okay, okay. I get that you're in love." Kevin said with a laugh. "You've said it enough times this morning that it actually registered in my brain. So, your in love...does he feel the same way."

"He does Kevin...he does." Nick said bouncing up and down on the couch.

"Okay...okay calm down Nicky. Let's just get through the whole story." Kevin said as he couldn't contain the happiness he felt for Nick. He hasn't seen Nick this happy in a long time. He felt joy that Nick felt happy. "So how did it happen?"

"He came down to L.A. to see me. I was so surprise. It was so great."

"So, you met him in L.A.? I thought you went down there to get away." Kevin tried ask.

"It was so sweet in a way." Nick continued not even recognizing Kevin's comment. "I opened my door and there he was holding this gift he wanted to give me. At first I was scared but then we talked." Nick said as he mindlessly got up from the couch and started to walk around telling the story. Kevin wanted to ask questions since he has so many but he knew that Nick was in his own world right now. "It was weird Kevin. I knew I loved him but I just couldn't let myself do it. Then he told me he loved me too and I just couldn't handle it. I ran away." Nick continued his story animatedly as he moved around the room with Kevin's attention focused on him. "I thought he left when I heard the door close but when I went back down in the middle of the night he was still here. Can you believe it Kev? He was still there. It just warmed my heart so much. Seeing him there laying on the couch waiting for me. When I asked him why he was still there he told me there was no other place for him."

Nick then made his way back to the couch and looked at Kevin straight in the eyes. "That's when I knew Kev. I knew then that I would do anything for him. And he would do anything for me. I knew that our love was special and that we would care about each other. That we can make it through anything. Then...then he kissed me." Nick said before plopping his body onto the couch. "It was so sweet and tender." Nick said putting his finger on his lips. "Then he pushed me down onto the floor and he crawled on top of me and then..." Nick said quickly sitting up again. "Then I so much wanted to give myself to him but it was too soon. That night Kev...that night we just held each other. It was so sweet and comforting. He held me close around his body and I slept to the beating of his heart. Oh my god Kevin. It was just the happiest moment of my life." Nick said jumping out of the couch.

"Okay...now that I know more that I think I would ever want to know who is this guy?" Kevin said pulling Nick back down on the couch.

"It's Justin." Nick answered excitedly.

"Justin?" Kevin asked not really sure.

"Justin...Justin Timberlake." Nick said before hugging Kevin again.

"Justin Timberlake." Kevin said in disbelief.

"Yeah, he's made me so happy Kev." Nick said still hugging Kevin.

"I'm...I'm happy for you too Nicky." Kevin whispered into Nick's ear as he held onto the youth tighter as his face cringed and his heart began to twist itself into knots.

+++++++++++

JC parked the car in the driveway and proceeded to get out. He was still not himself this morning. His voice was aching and he was still sleepy. As he walked carelessly towards the front door he suddenly bumped into something. It took him a moment to realize but there it was this car blocking his way. As he tried to get his bearings together he thought to himself that the car seemed familiar. `No, it couldn't be.' JC said to himself. JC walked around the car and approached the front door.

He took out his key and tried it only to discover that it was already unlock. JC opened the door and stepped in. As he was walking in he saw two bags at the foot of the stairs.

Suddenly, it hit JC. `Justin's home.' He momentarily got excited and even happy that his best friend was back but then he realized the reality of the situation. Justin was back and he's been gone all this time without any explanation. His joy was suddenly exchanged with anger.

As he walked in more deliberately into the house he soon heard voices emanating from the kitchen. JC could clearly hear Lynn talking. As he approached closer to the room he suddenly hear a voice he hadn't heard in over a week. `Justin.' JC's heart started to beat a little faster anticipating the moment. As he stood at the doorway he saw Lynn preparing some food and as his eyes scanned the room, there was Justin sitting at the table talking to his mom. There just seemed to be a glow about him. Justin was happy and excited as he talked to his mom. There was a new light about him.

Justin was more animated and re-energized. Something had change.

JC decided that it was time for his presence to be known as he cleared his throat loudly. Both Lynn and Justin looked his way as JC both stared them down. Lynn immediately walked towards JC. "Morning JC. How are you?" she said as she gave JC a hug.

JC let Lynn embrace her momentarily. "I'm fine and you?"

"Good JC. Very good. Justin's back." Lynn said stepping back from JC and looking back at Justin.

"I can see that." JC said with some animosity in his voice.

"Hi Josh" Justin said with a smile as he stood up from his chair.

JC meanwhile snapped his head in his direction with deadly stare. "Hi Justin." JC said as he gritted his teeth.

Justin stepped closer to JC and grabbed his arm. JC meanwhile turned away from Justin and jerked away from Justin. Lynn sensing the tension within the two made her way out. "I'll leave you guys alone for awhile." Lynn said before leaving the room.

Justin staring at the back of JC's head didn't know what to say. "Josh...JC, come on."

JC quickly turned around to face Justin. His face with the appearance of hurt and anger. "Don't do that Curly. Don't do that."

"Don't do what?" Justin asked with some hurt in his voice.

"Don't think that everything is okay. Don't think that everything will fall back into place just because you're back."

"I...I didn't think that. I just...just..."

"Just what Justin? What did you think was gonna happen? You leave without any notice and then you come back and everything's gonna be okay."

"I didn't think that. I know I have a lot of explaining to do. I'm sorry."

"You're sorry for what. For not showing up to the studio. For not going to dance rehearsal. For not doing a show. Or how about leaving your friends high and dry."

Justin stared angrily at JC. "That was low Josh. I didn't do that. You know I wouldn't do that."

"I don't know anything anymore. I don't know you anymore. You've changed Justin. Who are you?"

"I'm still the same JC. The same person that you've always known."

"My Curly wouldn't leave without telling me where he's going. My Curly wouldn't not show up for an appearance. My Curly talks to his best friend. You're not him Justin." JC paused for a moment. "So who are you Justin?"

Justin shook his head for a moment before gazing down to the floor. He slowly turned his body away from JC knowing he had lost something during the time JC entered the room. "I'm...I'm sorry JC." Justin said quietly. "I don't know what else to say."

"Tell me what's going on. Tell me what's going on in your head. Tell me...tell me anything." JC yelled.

Justin quickly turned back to JC with watery eyes. "What do you want me to say? What do you want me to say JC?" Justin yelled back.

"I want you to tell me what's going on in your mind. What the hell you're thinking. What you've been doing the last week. Where you were." JC answered loudly.

Justin was beginning to crush under the pressure JC had put him in. "I...I don't have to explain anything to you." Justin yelled as loud as he can. "I can do whatever I want. What I do is my business. It's not yours or anybody else's."

JC reacted the only way he knew how. `How dare he yell back at him.' "You can't do anything you want Justin. There's four other guys who have to deal with whatever you do. Your business is everybody else's business."

"Fuck off, JC" Justin yelled right at JC's face.

"Don't you fucking swear at me." JC yelled right back. "You have no right do that."

The tears that Justin was trying to hold back during their whole confrontation suddenly poured out. He couldn't hold it within anymore. As soon as he saw the anger within JC's eyes it all came gushing out. Justin stepped aside from JC and proceeded to leave the room. "Leave me alone JC." Justin asked quietly as he left the room.

JC still reeling from their confrontation followed Justin. "Where are you going? We're not done talking." JC continued. Justin didn't answer but walked straight through the hall and grabbed his bags that were still at the bottom of the stairs. "Where the fuck do you think you're going Justin?" JC yelled.

Justin looked back at JC with pleading eyes. He looked to the right where he saw his mom standing in the doorway of the dining room. "I'm going. I'll call you when I get there." Justin said towards his mom. His mom just nodded and let Justin be.

JC quickly walked towards Justin but Justin made his way out of the house. "Where are you going? We have meetings and rehearsals. Justin...Justin..." JC yelled as Justin left.

++++++++++++

Nick turned into the circle driveway to his house but to his surprise he found a car already parked in front of his house. As he got out of the car he saw someone sitting at his front door with two bags. As Nick stepped closer, he stood up. "Justin..." Nick asked kind of confused.

Justin tried to smile and opened up his arms. Nick needed no other encouragement as he ran up to Justin enveloping his lover into his arms. "Surprise." Justin said quietly into Nick's ear as he brought Nick's body closer to his.

"Wow...what are you doing here?" Nick asked. Justin kind of pulled away and pouted. "No...no, it's not bad. I'm just a little surprised." Nick said in defense before pulling Justin back into him.

Justin let the tension within his shoulders released as he laid his head down on Nick's shoulder. "Me and JC got in a fight. I didn't know where else to go." Justin said quietly.

Nick softly ran his hand up and down Justin's back trying to comfort him. "It's okay Just. You guys probably just had a little disagreement. You'll guys will be fine in no time." Nick said soothingly to Justin. Justin simply nodded trying to agree to Nick's suggestions. "Come...let's go in." Nick said as he let go and Justin and picked up Justin's bags.

++++++++++++++

A knock came upon JC's door. JC sat on his bed staring at the wooden entrance. He didn't reply. The door slowly creaked open as Lynn poked her head inside the bedroom. "Can I talk to you JC?" Lynn asked. JC looked away from Lynn momentarily and gazed down upon the bed. He nodded his head yes as Lynn walked forward and took a seat facing JC upon the bed. "How you doing?" Lynn kindly asked.

JC's sad eyes laid itself upon Lynn's face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for earlier. I was being a jerk."

"No, you weren't JC. You just didn't handle your emotions very well."

"I yelled at him Lynn. I made him leave." JC said with guilt.

"You didn't make him leave JC. He just needed some time."

JC nodded. "Time away from me." JC added under his breath.

"Don't you say that." Lynn chastised him. "Justin is just discovering himself. He needs time to do that."

"That's what I don't understand. Why can't he tell me? I can help him. We've gone through so many things together. He's just shut me out." JC asked in frustration.

Lynn brought her hand and rest it upon JC's shoulder. "Let him discover it for himself JC. Let him do this by himself."

"But...but I've always been there. He...he nee..."

"He's fine JC. He knows what he has to do. He can take care of himself."

"But I feel...I feel like..."

"You feel unneeded. You feel kind of useless." Lynn asked. JC slowly nodded his head yes. "Don't feel like that JC. You'll always be his best friend. His best bud. There's gonna be a time when he needs you and that's when he needs you the most. Right now, he's trying to do things himself but when he doesn't know what to do. You know what? You'll be the first person he'll come to."

"But I feel like I don't know him anymore. I don't know what's going on."

Lynn shook her head. She was cursing herself for not doing this earlier. "JC...I'm sorry if I haven't been straightforward with you but Justin asked me not to. I've known."

"Huh..." JC asked.

"I've known all along where Justin is and what he's been doing." Lynn answered plainly.

"How...how could you..."

"He's been calling me. Keeping me updated with what's happening. He didn't want me to worry."

"But why...why wouldn't he want you to tell me. I've been so...so worried."

"I...I can't say JC. You have to ask him yourself. I don't want to be the one to tell you. Let him tell you."

JC nodded. "I still don't get it Lynn. Why...why all this?"

"Ask him JC. Ask him." JC nodded. "And this time listen to him and try to understand."

"Okay...thanks Lynn."

++++++++++

Justin and Nick sat at the breakfast table in Nick's house. It was set up next to Nick's luxurious kitchen. The room had four patio doors that walked out to the backyard and had a beautiful view of the ocean. The light from outside shined the room with beauty and glory.

Justin and Nick sat next to each other with Nick eating some bagels and Justin some cereal. They had spent a nice quiet night together just holding each other and talking to each other's soul. It was nice to share these kind of quiet moments with each other when not a single word needed to be uttered. As Nick finished his food he longingly looked at Justin finish his big bowl of cereal. He watched in astonishment at his lover, boyfriend. Nick couldn't believe that such a wonderful person reciprocated his love. As Nick examined Justin's face and then his character by reminiscing on the times they spent together he couldn't find a single flaw in him. Nick sat there staring at Justin just thinking how lucky he was.

As Justin sat there completely engrossed in his food he suddenly felt two piercing eyes looking upon him. Justin brought his gaze up to Nick's perfect face and smiled. "What? What are you staring at?" Justin asked kind of getting conscious of his actions.

"Huh?" Nick asked shaking his head momentarily out of his dream like state.

"I wasn't staring. I wasn't staring at anything." Nick replied.

"Is it me? Do I eat weird or something?" Justin asked.

"No. No, it's not that." Nick replied before getting up from his chair and picking up his plate.

"What is it then?" Justin asked.

Nick walked away from the table and walked towards the sink where he proceeded to turn on the faucet. "Oh, it was nothing I was just thinking."

Justin looked back down at his food suddenly not feeling as hungry as before. He picked up his bowl and made his way to where Nick was. "What were you thinking about?" Justin asked as he placed his bowl next to the sink where Nick was standing.

Nick proceeded to wash the plates as he tried to answer Justin. "I was just thinking about us." Nick said casually.

"Really?" Justin responded. "What about?" Justin asked a little intrigued at what Nick might have been thinking.

Nick turned around momentarily with his hands still soapy. He looked straight into Justin and with all his courage said, "Why do you love me?" Nick asked.

"Huh?" Justin asked surprised by the question. "What...what kind of question is that?" Justin asked not knowing how to answer such a question.

"It's a question Justin. You either have an answer to it or you not." Nick said before turning back to his task.

Justin stood there a little shock from everything as Nick continued washing the dishes. Justin knew he loved Nick but how could he put it into words. Justin walked up behind Nick and made him turn around. Nick looked a little surprised but Justin stared him down. Justin then reached around Nick and turned off the faucet. "Nick, I love..."

"Justin, you don't..."

Justin stared Nick right in the eye which quickly shut him up. "Nick, I love you because of the person you are. I love you because...because of everything you do. You make my day better just because you're there. You make my dreams come true whenever we hold each other at night. You make me want to be a better person. When the sun comes up you're the reason I want to get up. You in my life complete me."

"Oh Justin..." Nick said as he tried to peer back into Justin's eyes. Justin meanwhile began to lose his words. His gaze traveled away from Nick.

"Ni...Nick, I don't know what else to say. I love you. So much that I don't know what to do sometimes. So much that if I see a tear in your eye it hurts me. So much...so much that...I can't put it into words Nick. You're everything to me."

"Justin...no, no...I'm sorry." Nick said. "I shouldn't have said anything." Nick continued before turning back towards the sink.

Justin meanwhile stepped towards Nick and brought his arms around Nick's body. He quickly embraced him and placed his face upon Nick's back. Justin held him tight not knowing what was going in Nick's mind that would ask him such a question. They were both still discovering things about each other and opening themselves up for one another. It was a progression in their relationship and one that comes with a price. Whenever you let yourself be open to another you let yourself be open to hurt and right now, at this moment that was what in their minds and heart.

As Nick finished washing dishes he dried his hands on a towel before putting both of his hands upon Justin's. They both just stood there living the moment. Finally, Nick opened Justin's arm as he turned around and properly embraced him. They communicated with no words but with actions and heart. It was a moment of feeling and occasion. Their love for one another spoke to their souls.

+++++++++++++

Nick went around his bedroom picking clothes and other things up. He was tidying up. Yes, he was kind of messy but now there was two of them being kind of messy. Even he couldn't figure out what's what. As he tried to organize some things as best as he could he suddenly heard the bathroom door open.

Justin stepped out with a white fluffy towel around his waist. Every time Nick looked at him he would still have that tingling sensation especially now when Justin was half-naked and still a little bit wet. Nick stared at him for a second making Justin smile. He knew what was going on Nick's mind. He thinks the same thing every time they see each other for the first time after being apart. Justin lazily walked to his bags and opened them to get some clothes. In doing so Justin sighed, "God, I hate living off suitcases." Justin said to no one in particular.

Nick just kind of snickered at Justin. "What? You're not used to it by now?" Nick questioned.

Justin turned around on his heels. "I didn't say I wasn't used to it. I just said I didn't like doing it."

"Oh, well that's different then."

"Yeah." Justin answered before rummaging through his bag again to find something suitable to wear. After awhile, Justin finally found something he liked and took out some khaki painter's pants and a Gap shirt. He threw the clothes on and then proceeded to go back into the bathroom to fix his hair.

When Justin came back out all pretty and perfect he found Nick deep in thought sitting on the bed. He was looking at nothing in particular, something into the distant, just kind of staring. "Hey you. Somebody in there?" Justin asked kind of joking.

Nick shook himself out of his trance and looked at Justin. "Oh, yeah. I was just kind of thinking."

"Well don't think too hard. I don't want you to strain yourself or nothing."

"Ha, ha." Nick said sarcastically. "Then I guess you wouldn't want to know what I was thinking about now wouldn't you." Nick said getting off the bed and walking away from Justin.

Justin stood there for a second looking at Nick start to pick things up again. "I didn't want to know anyway." Justin answered. Justin waited for an answer from Nick but he couldn't wait out any longer. "Okay...okay. I give. Please tell me." Justin pleaded.

"No, you made fun of me." Nick replied with a pout.

Justin came up to Nick and hugged him. "Oh, I'm sorry Pooh Bear. I didn't mean to. Did I hurt your feelings?" Justin asked in a bit of condescending voice.

Nick brought his head up so he could look at Justin. "Yes." He said with those puppy dog eyes. Nick then brought his head back down upon Justin's shoulders and rested them there. "But it's okay. I just wanted a hug from you."

"So, you want to tell Love what you were thinking about Pooh Bear."

In a very soft child-like voice Nick answered. "I was just thinking that if you want you could leave some clothes here so you know."

"What Pooh Bear?" Justin asked but knowing what he was referring about.

"So you know...you wouldn't feel like you're living off a suitcase or something." Nick answered.

"Pooh Bear, are you asking Love to move in with Pooh Bear?" Justin asked smiling.

"No." Nick answered kind of quickly. "Well, maybe if you want to." Nick added before brushing his face against Justin's neck.

"Well, in that case I would love to Pooh Bear." Justin replied.

"Really?" Nick asked bringing his head up from Justin's shoulder. Justin meanwhile just nodded his answer. "Cool." Nick replied before placing a short kiss on Justin's lips and then bringing his head back down onto Justin's shoulder. Justin just giggled at Nick's reaction before lovingly stroking Nick's back for comfort.

+++++++++++++

Justin sat in his seat nervously. He kept moving and looking around the other cars in the highway just to make sure they were okay. Justin kept fiddling with his fingers and kept jiggling his legs up and down. He was unsure of this. Of course Nick had conned him into doing this but he still didn't like it. It's not like Nick was a bad driver or nothing he just wasn't all the secure in the thought.

Nick meanwhile kept smiling and kept his attention on the road. This wasn't a new experience for him, no not at all, but the pure joy of the moment was because of the reaction he was getting from the person next to him. Even before getting into the car Justin went over rules of driving with him like a student at a DMV class. Nick just nodded during the whole occurrence letting Justin do his thing. It wasn't like he never drove before, Nick thought he was even a better driver than Justin, here but he couldn't say that. Not at that moment or they would never get anywhere.

Nick momentarily took a glance at Justin who was on the passenger side. Justin looked really uptight. Nick just giggled. He took his right hand out of the wheel and patted Justin's knee for comfort. "Justin, would you calm down. Nothing's gonna happen." Nick tried to reassure him.

Justin kinda nodded for a second before realizing where Nick's hand was. "Both hands on the wheel. Both hands." Justin said kind of loudly.

Nick instantly brought his right hand back on the wheel and then turned his head towards Justin. "Sorry." Nick sheepishly smiled.

Justin just shook his head. "Eyes on the road." Justin reminded him.

Nick brought his attention back to the road. "Sheesh, somebody's being a grouch." Nick said.

"I am not." Justin replied.

"You won't even let me drive over sixty." Nick slyly answered back.

"It's the speed limit." Justin said. "I just want us to be safe."

"Yeah sure. Whatever." Nick remarked. "It's just because I'm driving your car that you're being like this."

"Being like what?" Justin asked.

"Not fun." Nick answered plainly. Justin didn't answer back. "You just don't trust me with your car." Nick added.

Justin swallowed his emotions. "I...I do. I trust you with my car." Justin was able to mutter out.

"Really?" Nick asked.

"Uh huh." Justin answered hesistantly.

"Okay." Nick replied before shifting gears and changing to the fast lane and flooring the accelerator.

Justin was instantly pushed back to his seat as he yelled, "Niiiiiick."

+++++++++++++

Justin's Mercedes Benz came to a screeching halt in front of an office building. "Okay, we're here." Nick said gleefully.

"Thank God." Justin said with a sigh of relief. "I'm driving on the way back." Justin authoritatively said.

"Oh come on. I was just having a little fun." Nick decided to whine.

"Nah uh. That wasn't fun. My heart leapt to my throat Nick. It was scary." Justin said still getting over the shock.

"I'll be good." Nick said flashing his eyelids at Justin.

"Nope, it isn't gonna work Nick. I let you drive my car and then you do this. I'm gonna drive when we go back."

"Justin..." Nick whined some more.

Justin just kinda stared at him. "We'll see okay. We'll work on it." Justin replied.

"Okay." Nick nodded. "You gonna pick me up?" Nick asked.

Justin looked at Nick dumbfounded. "Of course. How else do you think you're gonna get home." Justin asked.

"Oh...yeah." Nick replied. "I'll call you when the meeting is over. If you guys run late then I'll just hang at Kev's house, k?"

"Okay." Justin answered before leaning across the car and giving Nick a kiss on the lips.

"Okay cool." Nick said before getting out of the car and heading towards the entrance. Meanwhile, Justin jumped over to the driver's side and drove off towards his own meeting.

+++++++++++

Nick got off the designated floor and made his way towards the conference room. He could already hear people talking so he knew that most of the guys were there already. As he opened the door everyone stopped to look at him. Howie and AJ instantly came over and gave him a hug.

"How's it goin' bud?" AJ asked.

"It's goin'." Nick replied with a smile.

"Hmmm..." Howie said looking at Nick.

AJ just looked at Howie curiously. "What?" Nick asked about the laugh because of the look on Howie's face.

"Something's different about you?"

"What? Nothing's different." Nick innocently answered back. "What are you talking about."

AJ looked Nick over carefully again trying to see what Howie was getting at. "I don't see anything different D." AJ said trying to put in his own opinion.

"No Bone. I definitely see a difference with our young one here." Howie replied deep in thought.

"Nothing's different D." Nick answered back. "Now stop."

"Hmmm...It's not the clothes. Nick's always had bad taste in clothes." Howie said directing his thoughts to AJ while Nick just kind of frowned at Howie. "It's not the hair. Ugly hair as it is. Not the face. He's still using that mask from Halloween."

"D..." Nick said getting kind of annoyed.

"Wait...wait, hold your horses Nick. I'm trying to figure this out." Howie said trying to look like he was really deep in thought. Then finally he looked up to Nick's face with a sly smile. "He got some." Howie said.

"Huh?" AJ asked looking at Howie. When Howie didn't say anything AJ looked at a smiling Nick.

"D, don't be playin' like that." Nick said.

"Nah uh...I can see it. You got some Nick. You got laid." Howie said blatantly.

"Oh, I get it." AJ said in afterthought. "Huh, wait..." AJ continued realizing what it actually meant.

"I did not AJ. D's lyin' to you." Nick said in defense.

"Nope, I see the signs Nick. All the signs are there. The glow surrounding around you. That smile on your face that you can't take off. The way you walked in here." Howie replied.

"I did not walk in weird." Nick said forcefully.

"Hmmm...I did see you kind of limpin'." AJ added.

Nick looked at AJ disappointedly. "Come on Nick. Tell." Howie said.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Nick replied holding his head up high.

"Oh come on Nick. Tell, who was it? Was he cute? Is he hot?" AJ asked excitedly.

Nick looked at AJ strangely. "Why would you care Bone? You're not gay. Don't tell me you've switched teams while I was gone."

AJ kind of looked shocked for a second. "No." AJ responded plainly. "Can't a guy be interested without being called gay." AJ said before walking away.

"Sorry Bone." Nick yelled after AJ. AJ just wave his hand back accepting the apology.

"So, come on Nick. Who is it?" Howie kept pounding away.

"Didn't you just hear D. It's no one." Nick replied.

"Come on Nick. Come on. Who'd you fuck?" Howie said kind of loud.

As soon as Kevin heard the words come out of Howie's mouth his head instantly snapped to the two. "Howard...come on. We have a meeting to do. You can bother Nick later." Kevin said authoritively.

"You're not out of this one buddy." Howie said before taking a seat in the table.

Nick looked at Kevin and mouthed thank you. Kevin just nodded his answer. As soon as everyone in the room sat down Nick noticed that someone was missing.

"Kevin, where's Brian?"

Kevin looked up from his papers to gaze at Nick. "He called. He said he was running late. He should be here soon."

"Oh, okay." Nick replied. As soon as Nick finished his sentence the door opened to the conference room and a very distressed and disfigured Brian walked in.

His hair was unmanaged and his clothes were not particularly delightful. "Hi Bri." Nick said looking kind of worried at his friend.

"You look like shit." AJ said from the other side of the table.

`Let AJ be the blunt one.' Howie thought. "Hey B. What's up? You okay dude?" Howie asked as he stood up and offered his seat to Brian.

"Yeah I'm fine. I just had a bad morning." Brian replied with a hoarse voice.

Howie took another seat as he looked up to see Kevin. "You okay Brian?" Kevin asked in a monotone voice. Brian just nodded his head keeping his gaze down low. "Okay, let's start this." Kevin said as he flipped through his folder trying to figure out all the things they needed to cover today.

+++++++++++++

In another part of town the other boy band of Orlando was having a similar meeting. Justin ran through the hallway knowing that he was running late as it is. As he reached the conference room doors he stopped momentarily and took a deep breath before walking in. As he opened the door five heads instantly snapped towards his direction. Justin smiled uncomfortably before taking a seat near the door. "Sorry." He replied.

Janet Monroe, their new organizer and representative for Jive, just nodded her head and continued with the meeting. "Since you guys are all here now let's get to the most important items on our agenda. Lance would you care to explain the new schedule."

Lance took a moment to look at Justin still trying to figure out the youth.

JC and him have talked especially about what happened a couple days ago. He could not see anything different about Justin. Lance thought of it as strange. He would have thought that Justin might be a little guilty or something about what happened between him and JC but Justin seemed perfectly content. He shook of his worries for now and focused on the task at hand. He took out a piece of paper from his folder and started to read it. "Okay, here's what we've got to do. In six days we're heading to Los Angeles to tape the video for Bye Bye Bye. The director will meet us there and talk to us about treatment they've created for our concept." The guys simply nodded their approval. "The first two days we're there we have dance rehearsals and then the next two we'll be shooting the video. Now, MTV is gonna be there because they're doing a Making of the Video so be on guard and watch what you say." Lance reminded them. "Then we have a few days off before we've got to get ready for the American Music Awards where we'll perform the single. Then we're doing a big promotional tour after that." Everbody groaned at that note. "We're doing TRL, magazine shoots, and talk shows because we're releasing the album February 15." Lance finished as he put back the paper in his folder.

"We're releasing the album after Valentine's Day." Justin said.

Everybody in the room suddenly looked at him. Justin instantly felt uncomfortable. This was his buds but the last weeks he hasn't been there with them. Lance was the one to answer. "Yeah, February 15. We thought it would be a nice Valentine's Day present to the fans." Lance answered thinking the issue was finished but to his surprise it wasn't.

"But shouldn't we wait a little longer."

Again, there it was his band mates looking at him strangely. Lance looked confused not knowing what Justin was getting at. He really thought that the issue was done and finished with but Justin wasn't letting it go. "Justin, we've been sitting on this album for the last four months. I would think you would be as eager as I am to release this album."

"I am but I just think we should wait a little while before releasing it." Justin replied.

"Justin, what are you talking about?" Joey asked frustrated. "This is what we've been fighting for. This album, our album."

Justin looked at his bandmates for support but he could find none. "I just thought that you know...I just think we should release it at a later date. I think it's too soon."

"What do you mean too soon? We're done with the album. We've got the rights to it, our name on it. What else is there?" Joey asked as his voice began to rise.

"I just think we should sit on it for awhile." Justin replied confidently.

Joey could not figure his friend out and he was getting angry. Lance noticing this put a hand on Joey's shoulder to calm him down. Lance looked towards JC who hasn't said anything. Usually he would be the one to talk to Justin about something like this but all he could see in JC's eyes is confusion. As Lance looked over at Chris, Chris just hanged his head down. Lance didn't like this, this was not the group he was associated with a couple of weeks ago. "Justin there's really nothing else to do. The date is set." Lance explain to Justin before looking over to Janet.

Janet nodded her head agreeing with Lance. "Yeah, I mean if there's nothing else pertinent for you guys to deal with there's really no other reason for why you guys can't release the album in February."

Justin just shut his mouth and folded his arms in front of his chest. He was not gonna win this battle he thought but he knew he could win the war.

+++++++++++

As the Nsync meeting finished Justin quickly made his exit out of the conference room. The other Nsync guys stood in shock as Justin quickly left. JC looked disappointed not knowing what to do for the first time in his life. He didn't know how to deal with this. Chris meanwhile had been quiet. Chris has never been one for confrontation with anybody. He might say something here and there but when the cards are down Chris doesn't like to take sides. Joey on the other hand was steaming. He couldn't figure out why Justin was acting like this. Justin questioned so many things in their meeting making their already long meeting longer. Justin kept arguing with why this, can we change this, and stuff.

Lance looked on to his three other band mates and just sighed before running out the door after Justin. As he reached the hallway he called for the blond youth, "Justin..."

Justin stopped on his track and turned around surprised. "Lance, what?"

As Lance made his way next to Justin he looked for any clue to help him out. "Can we talk Just?" Lance asked.

"About what Lance?" Justin asked in return.

"About this...about that." Lance pointing back to the conference room.

Justin just shook his head. "I can't Lance...I'm running late as it is."

"Where are you going?" Lance replied.

"I just have to be somewhere." Justin answered not giving Lance any clue.

"What...was it that phone call? Who was it?" Lance asked trying to get any crumb or detail out of Justin's mind.

"What phone call?" Justin asked trying to play dumb.

"The phone call, Just. The phone call during the meeting where you had to leave the room."

Justin shook his head again at Lance. "No Lance. I've just got to get going." Justin answered as he turned away from Lance.

Lance was not about to let this go. He grabbed Justin's forearm and forced him back to look at him. Justin surprised at Lance's actions stared him down. Lance quickly regretted his actions. "I'm sorry...but we need to talk Just."

"What for?" Justin replied.

"We need to talk about you." Lance tried to answer soothingly.

"What about me?" Justin asked strongly.

"You...you being gone after Christmas, not showing up to a show on New Years."

"I told you guys about that."

"Yeah you did but we still don't know why? Like where were you? Where are you now Justin? Where are you staying? How can we contact you?" Lance asked exasperated.

"I don't need to explain myself to you." Justin said arrogantly. "You have nothing to complain about. I showed up today. I know what's going on. You have nothing to worry about."

"Justin we're your friends. We're a group. We want to know what's going on in your life. We worry about you."

"I told you already Lance you have nothing to worry about." Justin replied confidently.

"God, Justin..." Lance yelled aggravated. "We're just trying to be your friends."

"Well why don't you be a good friend and leave me alone for awhile." Justin answered back. "I'll see you guys in Los Angeles." Justin added before leaving a very confused and angry Lance.

++++++++++++

As the last line of Bye Bye Bye echoed through the studio, the Nsync guys took their final poses. "Okay. That's great. We're done for the day." Darren yelled out to the boys from the corner.

All the boys took a deep sigh of relief knowing their day of torture was finally done. All the boys first thanked Darren before heading to their bags and getting their water bottles. Darren slipped out of the studio quickly, knowing he would have a full day tomorrow too.

The boys of Nsync stood around in one corner of the studio with their bags and belongings just trying to calm down. They had towels around their necks and water bottles in their hands. The day started off with some tension as the guys got together for dance rehearsal early in the morning. The guys mostly kept to themselves or would talk to one but not the rest of the group. Chris and Joey would talk and do their thing while Lance and JC did the same which left Justin alone.

The whole situation did not make it easy for them to dance together. For no other intended purposes they were not in sync with each other and it showed. Of course Darren quickly took care of that and tried to get the guys focus on their choreography instead of whatever problems they had to deal with each other. He was a choreographer not a psychiatrist. It wasn't his place to do the latter.

As the guys gathered their stuff and walked out of the studio everyone was pretty quiet from either being tired out from their dancing or just because of the situation. All the guys had questions in their mind about Justin. Justin for the first time in their lives have been closed off to them. He's hardly told them anything and the only time they've seen him is either in rehearsals or meetings. They didn't know what had happened. Even coming to Los Angeles, Justin took a different flight than them. The first time they saw him in L.A. was in the meeting with the director and of course they had to act like nothing was the matter since MTV was there. It was just a new and weird situation for all of them and they didn't know how to react.

When they got outside the building Justin turned back to all of them. They all looked up at him with hope. "I won't be coming to rehearsal tomorrow." Justin said plainly to them.

Lance instantly put a hand upon Joey's shoulder knowing he could react first. "Why can't you come to rehearsal tomorrow, Just?" Lance asked trying to keep this encounter calm.

"I have another engagement and I can't cancel." Justin responded professionally.

JC opened his mouth slightly but closed it once again. Lance saw it out of the corner of his eye and just nodded for the whole group. "We understand Justin."

"Okay." Justin replied nodding his head. "I'll see you guys at the shoot."

Justin added before heading into the limo and getting in.

All the guys watched as the door close and the black tinted limo leave with their bandmate inside. Joey and Chris looked at Lance questioningly. "Let's not talk out there okay. We'll talk in the limo." Lance answered.

The rest of Nsync stepped into another limo and as soon as the door closed Joey started. "How can you let him go?" Joey asked.

"What was I suppose to do? You guys didn't say anything."

"We thought you were gonna say something." Chris said quietly.

"Well I didn't know what to say." Lance replied

"Something like...No." Joey said sarcastically.

"And what then he would have fought it and done what he wanted anyway." Lance replied.

"Well at least he would have known that it wasn't right." Joey added. "He knew that we had rehearsal tomorrow why would he schedule this...this thing."

"I don't know why don't you ask him next time." Lance answered getting fed up of this whole situation. "Why do I have to be the messenger...the middle man...you guys have a problem with Justin then talk to him. I've done enough talking and it hasn't done crap."

"JC..." Joey said asking for his reaction.

JC just shook his head. He answered softly, "I don't know what to do Joe. He's not my Justin anymore. I can't figure him out."

Joey just sighed and plopped his back into the seat. "And what is that whole other limo thing anyway." Chris finally saying something. "Who's in there?"

"Huh?" Joey asked sitting back up.

Chris turned to Joey in his seat. "There's somebody in there. I've seen him...well I think it's a him. Yesterday after the meeting I thought I saw a figure in there and just now when he went inside I know I saw someone in there."

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Joey asked.

"I just figured it out a second ago. It's just kind of unusual. Why would there be a person picking Justin up all the time."

"I don't know." Joey replied looking over to Lance.

Lance shook his head no. "Don't look at me. I didn't even know there was a guy in there."

"Then where did he get the limo? Where is he staying at? Why did he take a different flight than us?" Joey blurted all the questions that were on everybody's minds.

JC just blocked them out. He had other issues on his mind. His friendship with Justin had nearly vanished. He simply turned his head and just stared outside the window.

++++++++++++

Justin parked his car in front of the restaurant and gave his keys to the valet. As he walked in the hostess directed him to the table. As Justin approached the table, the middle age mildly chubby man got out of his seat and shook Justin's hand. When they were both sitting down, "Thank you for meeting me." Justin said.

"I always have time for one of my biggest artists." The man replied.

"Thank you anyways." Justin replied.

"So, why did you want this meeting Mr. Timberlake."

"Justin, please."

"Okay, Justin."

"I need to talk to you about the new album."

"Yes, I hear great things about it. We expect over a million sales in the first week." The man replied happily.

"No, I need to talk to you about delaying the release." Justin said.

"Huh?" The man asked. "I thought I heard you guys were done with the album. Did I hear wrong?"

"No, no." Justin replied. "I want the album release delayed."

"Well, why do you need to talk to me. Nsync has control over when the album is released."

"I know but they...the album has to be delayed." Justin said.

"Justin, this isn't a matter for the label. Talk to your band mates or your manager. This is no concern of mine."

"They don't want to delay the released that's why I'm talking to you. And if I talk to Johnny it will get back to the guys. This has to come from you...from the top or else it won't happen."

"This is an Nsync matter Justin not one for Zomba. If you have a problem take it up with your group."

"This is a matter for Zomba." Justin said confidently.

"What do you mean?" the man asked.

"I'm just saying that if this album is not delayed Nsync is not the only one going to be affected but so is your biggest selling act."

"I don't think I like your tone Mr. Timberlake."

"What I want is very simple." Justin replied softly. "I want my group's album release date to be delayed. Make up any excuse. Promotion, contract problems, factory problems, anything as long as it's delayed or your biggest selling band might face an internal problem."

"Mr. Timberlake, what are you getting at?"

"I have three letters for you. B...S...B."

So, what the hell is Justin doing? What is his motive? Is he trying to break up the Backstreet Boys? Is Justin just using Nick for his own gain? Is Justin really Justin? Who's the man in the limo? Is there going to be an Nsync in the next chapter? What the hell is JC's problem? Does all he need is a good fuck? Can Lance provide that with his big booty? Did Christina Aguilera deserve to win the Grammy? Was Britney dissed by NARAS? Do we even care? Are you even still reading? The chapter ended like a paragraph ago so stop reading now...I said now didn't I?...stop reading...now I say...okay, I'm just being goofy...laterz...Bear