And here's number 2!!!!! :) First off - a big thank you to my archivers David and Dennis, and all the brilliant people who seem to be enjoying this series thus far.
This series, the "Interludes" series, is comprised of short stories that take place between "Any Path" and "No Painless Way". You need not have read either of those to read these, but doing so would probably help you to understand and appreciate them more. Both these stories are here at Nifty.
This is a J.C./Justin-ish story, as most of (or maybe all) the Interludes will be, though they're kinda minor characters in this one. You'll see what I mean. I've insidiously disguised this as a Joey story. :)
DISCLAIMER: I don't know, own or mean to imply anything about the members of 'Nsync. This is fiction. Will is an original character, so I don't have to disclaim him. You can't make me! Neener neener! :)
DEDICATION: This one's for Dayse, who wrote the real Joey story. ("Superman Can't Fly", for the whole two of you who haven't read it. :))
~INTERLUDE: WAITING~ by DaraLynn
"'Love is all very well in its way, but friendship is much higher. Indeed, I know nothing in the world that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship.'"
- Oscar Wilde, "The Devoted Friend"
"What do you think? A cow, or maybe a really fat horse?"
"Are we looking at the same cloud? It's clearly a turtle sitting on a bridge," Joey insisted.
"Whatever." His friend smiled.
Well...more than 'friend', really. Joey and Will had been buddies since their sophomore year of high school, during which time they had dated on and off. Since Will now lived in Orlando, they got together whenever Joey was home, like now. It wasn't a monogamous realtionship, and both were always free to date other people.
Which suited Joey, affectionately referred to as 'the group wencher', just fine. He was too busy with 'Nsync to offer any one person his whole heart. And Will was the perfect companion for Joey under these conditions. He wasn't looking for commitment, laughed at most of Joey's jokes and would never dream of repeating any of the group's secrets.
Will spoke, pushing back a few strands of light brown hair. "Isn't it weird for you? I mean, one minute you're out there on stage in front of thousands of people, and the next you're here, sitting in a lawn chair, watching clouds in your backyard?"
Joey sipped his Dr. Pepper as he considered the question. "It's weird out there, being Mr. Celebrity. I don't think that'll ever change. But doin' stuff like this is, ya know, normal. It's a nice contrast. The air, the sun...you."
Will rolled his eyes. "I bet next you're gonna say how much you appreciate how you can just be yourself around me, 'cause I like you for you, not as Joey Fatone of 'Nsync."
"Well, don't you?"
"Hell no. I'm a gold-digger. I'm just waitin' for you to make an honest woman of me." Will wiggled his ring finger suggestively, and both men burst out laughing.
"Seriously, Joe, what's it like up there?"
"On stage? Strange. On one hand, you're in the same room with thousands of people whose lives are happier for what you do. You look out at the little faces and know each has a heart that you have a place in. Sometimes when I'm up there I look down at them and I know I'm grinnin' like a moron, 'cause of what they don't know - that we get as much joy from them as they do from us.
"On the other hand, you have before you so many different minds, each with their own expectations of how you should be, what you should say and do and wear. And as much as you don't wanna disappoint them, you wanna live your own life and make your own mistakes. You wish they could know you as well as they think they already do, but under that you're afraid that if they did, you might lose that place in their hearts."
Will patted Joey's arm. "How'd you pick up this image of being the brainless one?"
Joey smiled. "Things are not always as the public perceives them to be."
"So true. And speaking of which, what about them?"
"Who?"
Will pointed across the large lawn to where Joey's bandmates, J.C. and Justin, were tossing a frisbee around.
"Them. Anything I could get hard about, hmmm?"
Joey pushed his friend playfully. "You pervert. They're just best friends."
"Always have to rain on my parade, don't you? It would be interesting though, wouldn't it? Not to mention how it would upset the female gender." Will chuckled wickedly.
"You're terrible. Women aren't evil, you came from one. Oh wait, then maybe they are..."
Joey sneezed as a handful of grass was tossed in his face.
"Okay, one - don't be pulling up my yard there. And two - what's your sudden interest in J.C. and Justin? Hopin' one's free for you?" Joey smirked.
"Hmmm, tough choice - the spaz or the jailbait. I don't often go for blonds, but Justin is a hot little thing, isn't he?"
"You did not just ask me that. He's like my little brother! And keep your hands off him or Big Daddy'll break your fingers. You know how he is with Justin."
"Who wouldn't be?" Will playfully licked his lips as he watched Justin.
"Heh heh, I'll be his Big Daddy."
Joey pouted. "How come I'm not special anymore?" he whined.
Will leaned over to kiss him. "You are! I'm just playin' around."
"Damn straight."
"I'm not straight. I'm gay."
"Me too."
"No, Joey, you're bi. You have the pink flag, you just only wave it about half the time. You always were so indecisive."
Joey thwacked him on the head. "Bitch. So anyway, what's got you so fascinated with Big Daddy and the Baby?"
"Is J.C. seeing anybody?"
Will quickly spoke again, answering Joey's next question. "I'm not interviewing for the position! I just wondered."
"No, he's not. His heart belongs to Justin, J.C. told me, and he doesn't want it to be with anyone else. Kinda sweet, isn't it?"
"Sugary to be sure. But that sucks for J.C. What, he's gonna live his whole life like that, never letting anyone else really know him? He'll never find Mr. Right that way."
Joey sighed as he watched his friends. "Chris says that he already has, but something went wrong."
Will took a swallow of iced tea. "A flaw in God's plan, you mean? Like Justin was supposed to be gay?"
"I know it sounds weird. But it sorta makes sense. I mean, those two are so perfect together. Both are mature, but have great senses of humor. Justin's emotional, Josh is logical. Justin needs a lot of attention, J.C. is incredibly patient. They know eachother like no one else ever could. They finish eachother's sentences and can make eachother laugh with just a look. When together, they're in their own little world where it's okay to be themselves, where Josh doesn't have to concentrate on not touching Curly like he has to in public, and Justin doesn't have to smile if he's sad. Not to mention they'd each be lost without the other."
The moment was so thoughtful and intense that Will was both eager and reluctant to break it.
"I think Justin would probably be the bottom."
"Aaah! I have a philosophical moment for the second time today and you interrupt me with that?! Now I'm gonna have really perverted nightmares tonight!"
Will shrugged. "One man's nightmare is another's fantasy, I guess."
Joey put his hands over his ears, still smiling. "Can we change the subject, please?"
"Hmm, maybe. But first you have to answer me honestly - don't you think Justin's good-looking?"
Joey sighed with defeat. "Of course I do, he's adorable. Both of 'em are cute."
Will grinned triumphantly. "Mmmm...and what about Lance? If he ever wants to do some experimenting, send him my way!"
Joey threw an ice cube at him. "Keep your hands and your eyes off Poo-Fu! We're not really sure which way he bends, but you know how reserved and innocent he is." Joey smiled softly.
"Heh heh, just the way I like 'em. Maybe I'll show him my sketch pad...he's cute when he blushes."
"You show him all your drawings of naked guys and you'll probably traumatize him."
"Hey, it's art! Besides, I'm good. Do you think you could get Lance to pose for me?"
Joey rolled his eyes. "Not likely. But I'll do it! You can draw me wearing just a Superman cape!"
"Hmm, not a bad idea." Will smiled.
Joey stood up. "Be back. Gotta take a leak."
"Go out here. I won't look, I promise." Will grinned mischievously.
"And have Josh kick my ass for defiling Justin's virgin eyes? Hell no," Joey said as he went into the house.
Will laughed softly as he watched the two 'Nsyncers throw the frisbee back and forth, giggling and obviously enjoying every moment together. He smiled as J.C. hugged the younger boy, holding him protectively.
Will nodded appreciatively at how Justin didn't cringe or seem at all uncomfortable in the older man's arms, despite how his friend felt about him. Rather the opposite, he seemed to cling to J.C. tighter, closing his eyes against the older man's chest.
//Good thing they don't do that so much in public...sheesh, anyone who saw this would think they were a couple.//
Just for the heck of it, Will studied the two friends and let his gay-dar do its work. His eyes widened with surprise.
Surprise that he heard two definite 'bleeps'.
Sitting back, Will smiled with wonder.
//Wow. If I'm right, if Justin's gay and he realizes it, if he comes to reason, that is going to be one special couple. This makes a bit more sense, doesn't it? God or whoever doesn't make mistakes when it comes to love. He just...asks us to be patient.//
Laughter continued to break the silence of a golden afternoon. A blond teenager ran across the lawn, his sneakers beating softly against the summer grass. A plastic circle left his hand, and his brown-haired partner caught it, bouncing with victory. His eyes glowed as they observed his curly-haired best friend, who smiled back with real feeling.
The sun began to slip into the west. The day faded slowly, as if reluctant to leave this happy scene. New sounds began to replace the daytime noises, and dusk crept in like a fine, beautiful mist in the air.
The world trudged on...and waited.
~FIN~
Feedback (no flames), questions, whatever welcome to me at DaraLynn_writings@hotmail.com