The "Interludes" are short, J.C./Justin-ish stories that take place in my "Any Path" universe, between the events of "Any Path" and "No Painless Way".
If you're interested, you can find the "Interludes" and the "Any Path" trilogy at nifty.org.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know or own 'Nsync. This is all fiction. None of this is real. Heck, maybe nothing is real. Maybe Lance is a computer-generated hologram. In which case it'll be much harder for me to stick my hand down his pants, huh Casey? :)
DEDICATION: Usually these things are dedicated to the authors of my favorite J.C./Justin stuff (with the exception of "Waiting") , but I'm making an exception once more. This one is definitely for Casey, my favorite mental patient in angel robes. Mrs. Smythe-Browne is his creation, but I don't think he'll mind me borrowing her - he's kewl like that. :) And if you wanna know what the &%*# I'm talking about, check out "Angel" at Nifty's boy-band directory, I highly recommend it!!!! :)
~INTERLUDE : TRUTH~ "Interlude" # 9
"Nothing's so loud As hearing when we lie The truth is not kind And you said neither am I..."
- "All I Want", Toad the Wet Sprocket
Joey Fatone fell onto his bed with such force that he nearly bounced off the mattress onto the floor. "Man, I'm bored!"
Chris, sitting on the hotel room's other bed, looked up. "Go out on the balcony and flash the crowd."
"Yeah, and have Lonnie crush my head like an egg. No thanks."
"So watch TV."
"I don't feel like it. I wanna do something."
Chris rolled his eyes, shut his book and tossed it onto his suitcase. "You're not gonna leave me alone, are you?"
Joey began to pace the room frantically. "Dammit, Chris! You're the 'Crazy One', so do something! Break this maddening monotony before I get cabin-fever and go psycho like Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining'!"
"Um...don't hurt me?" Chris carefully stepped back, trying not to laugh at the insane glint in his group-mate's eyes. "Dude, calm down. We only checked in half an hour ago."
"True. But I'm bored!"
Chris grinned. "Hey, how 'bout we tie Justin to a bungee cord and dangle him over the mob out there?"
"Interesting. Do you think J.C. and Lonnie would kill us or just mutilate us for that one?"
"Okay, how 'bout Lance?"
Worry seemed to cross Joey's face before he smiled. "Nah, Poo-Fu's way too delicate. Hey, I got it! Let's play Truth or Dare! All of us!"
The eldest 'Nsyncer groaned. "Last time I played that game I had to bring a peanut butter sandwich to my next-door neighbor while wearing a bra."
Joey gave him a strange look. "Um...well, no fear of that now - we're the only ones on this floor. Come on, please? I have these Truth or Dare game cards that I've never used and I wanna try 'em. If someone can't think of a dare or question, he can use one of them. C'mon..."
Chris sighed. "If the others'll play, I will."
"Great, you get Lance, I'll get Justin and J.C." -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joey rapped gently on the door, too softly for the room's occupants to hear. Instead of knocking louder, he quietly opened the door and peeked in.
Justin, the youngest 'Nsyncer at seventeen, was sitting on the carpeted floor in front of his bed with several books scattered around him. He was alternating his glances between two of the open ones and scribbling in a notebook, biting his lower lip as he often did when concentrating.
J.C. was stretched out on his own bed, sitting up against the headboard. A thick book, probably about philosophy or history, was open on his lap, but he wasn't looking at it. Instead his gaze rested on Justin, whose back faced him, a loving smile shaping his mouth. That was the reason Joey had entered the room so quietly - he had wanted to see that content, peaceful expression that J.C. wore whenever his eyes were on Justin. Seeing that always gave Joey a warm feeling inside. He of all the 'Nsync members perhaps understood J.C.'s dilemma best, as he faced something similar, unrequited love for a close friend...but he didn't want to think about that just then. There was warmth there too, but pain as well.
"Hey guys."
Justin, still writing, smiled and waved with his left hand.
J.C. looked up. "Hey Joe. What's up?"
"A game of Truth or Dare, if you guys are in."
"Justin's not done his homework."
The curly-haired blond began scribbling faster. "I'm almost done, Josh. Can we play, please?"
J.C. looked reluctant; he considered it his responsibility to make sure Justin kept up with his school work. "Maybe later, sweetie. You have exams coming up."
"C, you know the kid'll ace 'em, he always does," Joey protested. "And you heard him, he's almost done his homework."
"Joey, we'll be here all night and we have off tomorrow. There will be time for games later," J.C. said, patiently but firmly. That said, he went back to his neglected book and resumed reading.
Justin looked up at Joey and shrugged apologetically. The older 'Nsyncer plopped down next to him, a sly look on his perpetually-cheerful face.
"Sorry, Joe," Justin said softly. "You heard Josh."
"We've not yet begun to fight," Joey whispered. "Go over there and pout at him."
Justin leaned back against his bed. "I don't like doing that to Josh."
"Why, 'cause it always works? 'Cause he's got no defense for it?"
"Well, yeah."
"Please, Curly?" Joey pleaded. "I really wanna play, I'm bored out of my mind."
Justin sighed with defeat, rose and sank down onto J.C.'s bed. 'Nsync's group-dad looked up and smiled.
"Yeah, hon? You need help with something?"
"Josh, can we play with them? Please?"
"Angel..."
Joey couldn't see Justin's face from where he was, but he could see J.C.'s, and from the look of beaten acceptance on it and the smile J.C. was trying to hide, Joey figured that Justin's cute little pout had once again broken through J.C.'s defenses.
//'The look' never fails. C's such a sap when it comes to the Baby. But sometimes that sure works in my favor.//
J.C. shook his head, put his book aside and stood up. Taking Justin's hand, he headed for the door. As he passed Joey he mouthed "I'll get you for this, Fatone", but Joey simply replied with an innocent smile. -------------------------------------------------------------------------
The five members of 'Nsync sat in a circle on the floor of Joey and Chris's room, Justin in between J.C. and Lance, and Joey in between Chris and J.C. Joey neatly placed a stack of shuffled Truth Or Dare cards in the center of the circle and cleared his throat.
"Okay, remember, you only use one of these if you can't think of a question or dare. Who's first? Whoever it is, ask me! I want truth."
"I'll go," Lance offered. "Joey, honestly, how many girls have you slept with?"
"At a time? Only two."
"Um...okay. Your turn."
Joey looked slightly relieved for some reason. "'Kay...Justin? Truth or dare?"
The teenager, who tended to space out when not being spoken to, looked up and smiled. "Truth, I guess."
"Does it bother you that almost every gay male I know has wacked off using pictures of you at least once?"
Justin's eyes widened, as did everyone else's.
"Joey!" exploded J.C. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Why did you ask that?!"
The Italian seemed guilty, as though he'd just then realized what he'd said, but answered quickly. "Because I honestly wanna know."
"How could you -"
"Josh, it's okay," Justin interrupted. "I'll answer, I don't mind. No, Joey, it doesn't."
"I'm sorry, C," Joey said. "I didn't mean to upset you."
J.C. nodded, though he still looked angry. Justin smiled at him before speaking, which seemed to soften his mood.
"Chris, truth or dare?"
"Need you ask? Dare!"
Justin giggled. "'Kay. Um...I dare you to prank-call the front desk."
"And I thought you'd give me something challenging," Chris replied airily. He strolled over to the phone, picked it up and dialed.
"Hello, front desk?" Chris began, using a shrill, old-woman voice. "This is Mrs. Eloise Smythe-Brown ein room 320, my good man, and I wish to register a complaint!"
The other members of 'Nsync clapped hands over their mouths to stifle their laughter. Justin pressed his face against J.C.'s shoulder and giggled helplessly into his best friend's shirt.
Chris continued. "Well, I went into the bathroom - you see, I've been having trouble with my bowels for several years now, ever since my third husband Delbert died, God rest his soul..."
Lance by this time had crawled under one of the beds, and Joey had stuffed his entire hand into his mouth in an effort to keep quiet.
"...and I tell you, there was an alligator coming out of the toilet! I don't know what kind of place you're running here, young man, what with reptiles in the plumbing and that delinquent musical group, Kitchen Sink or whatever, a few floors up...and what is with this leaving mints on the pillows? In my day a hotel would give you a blanket, a bit of straw to sleep on and a complimentary chunk of moldy cheese! And I don't recall anyone complaining!"
A curly blond head fell into J.C.'s lap, and Justin looked up at J.C. pleadingly, shaking with controlled laughter. As tears of mirth dampened the flawless face, he begged, "Josh, please make him stop or I'm gonna pee my pants!"
Letting his fingers waft through the golden hair, J.C. fought his own laughter as he addressed his older friend. "Chris, wrap it up, okay?"
The eldest 'Nsyncer nodded. Continuing to be 'Mrs. Smythe-Browne', he said into the phone, "Oh, would you look at that! The scaly beast has retreated back to the hellish depths where it was spawned. Never mind then, thank you anyway, sonny!"
Chris hung up the phone and returned to his place in the circle, his face completely serious. "The poor man seemed a bit flustered. I think perhaps his stress level is interfering with his work. Shall we get on with the game? Joseph, kindly retrieve our bass singer, please."
Lance was still half-under Chtis's bed, his laughter muffled but audible. Joey pulled him out, and after taking a minute to calm down, they continued the game.
"Hmm, who shall my victim be? Mmm...J.C. Truth or dare, bro?"
"Dare," J.C. answered after a brief pause.
Chris opened his mouth, then closed it again. A puzzled expression crossed his face.
"Whoa, I think Chris actually has nothing to say for once! Someone write down the date!" Lance joked.
Chris stuck his tongue out. "Poo-Fu, you're not the 'Funny One', you're the 'Inbred One'."
Joey scowled at Chris and shoved him. "Hey."
"Thank you, Joe."
"Any time, Scoop."
Chris shrugged. "I can't think of anything."
Joey smiled triumphantly, and gestured to the cards in the center of the circle. Rolling his eyes, Chris grabbed the top one and read the dare aloud.
"'Kiss the person sitting on your right for at least twenty seconds'..." Chris trailed off as he realized what he'd said.
Justin, seated on J.C.'s right, bit his lower lip and looked down, shifting uncomfortably. J.C. turned his head and closed his eyes, clearly not willing to do this.
Chris mentally cursed himself for not reading the card silently first...if he had he could've made up some excuse. Had this dare involved any other two people it might've even been done, or otherwise simply laughed off. But Justin and J.C....
Chris had never seen two people as loving and comfortable together as Justin and J.C. Most people around them would've been surprised to know that there were ever any awkward moments like this, when the two who could smile at eachother for hours could hardly bear eye contact. Usually the best friends' situation was handled well, spoken of gently and even joked about. 'Nsync felt bad for both of them, pitied the hopelessness J.C.'s heart held and the guilt that Justin's hid. But most of the time, as Justin sat nonchalantly on J.C.'s lap or the two sat close together holding hands, everything was okay. When Big Daddy and the Baby were blissfully happy just being with one another, as the usually were, it seemed like nothing could ever be wrong between them.
Chris watched J.C. and Justin sadly. //I guess sometimes it just kinda hits them,// he thought. His gaze travelled over to Joey and Lance, who both looked anxious and worried, and Chris realized how concerned and apologetic his own face must look. //I guess sometimes it hits all of us.//
"Chris, give him the truth question," Lance finally said.
The tension momentarily broken, Chris quickly obliged. "'If you could change one thing about the person you love, what would it be?'...dammit."
But J.C. didn't seem disturbed, nor did he hesitate. "Nothing."
Justin looked at him incredulously, disbelief evident in the soulful blue eyes.
"What?" J.C. asked.
The seventeen-year-old got to his feet and hurriedly left the room without saying a word.
Chris threw the card down. "C, I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry," Joey interjected. "I made us all play the game."
"Guys, it's not your fault," J.C. said, sighing heavily. "Neither Justin nor I want you guys or anyone else to have to tip-toe around us. It's just...an awkward situation sometimes. I can fix this."
J.C. stood and headed for the door. "And he's not mad at any of you guys either. He's upset with me."
"Because you lied just now?" Joey asked.
J.C. paused in the doorway, looking back to reply before he exited. "What makes you think I was lying, Joe?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Baby?"
Justin was seated Indian-style on his bed, writing in a notebook open over his lap. "Yeah?" he asked softly, without looking up.
"I'm sorry about before. Please don't be mad at me."
"I'm not."
"Then why won't you look at me?" J.C. asked as he sat down in front of the boy.
The angelic face lifted, and scowling blue eyes settled on J.C.'s. "I'm upset because you obviously think you have to lie to me."
"What?"
"Before, your truth question, about what you would change about the person you love. You said 'Nothing'," Justin reminded.
"And that's the truth. I wouldn't change anything about you if I had the power to."
"Josh, come on. I know how you feel about me. Can you sit there and honestly tell me that you never wish I felt the same about you?" Justin's eyes glistened, holding back tears.
J.C. took Justin's hands into his own. "No, I can't. If you want the truth, I do wish it all the time. But it's not the same thing."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I wish you could love me back the way I love you. But you don't, and because of that I figure you aren't meant to. You being in love with me naturally is one thing. Me using whatever means to make you want me is quite another, not much different from rape. We are who and how we're supposed to be, angel, and I wouldn't dare force fate's hand. Especially not with you."
J.C. fingers caressed Justin's face, lovingly playing over the flawless, tear-damp skin. "You mean too much to me. And part of loving you is wanting you to be who you were born to be."
"So, what, you're just meant to be unhappy?" Justin whispered, pouting sadly.
"I'm not unhappy, sweetie. There are a lot of ways to care for someone, all of which bring their own joy. Love doesn't have to be returned in every way to be special, or valuable. And anyway..." The older singer slipped his arms around Justin's waist, pulling him close. "I love you exactly the way you are."
"I love you too," Justin murmured as his head came to rest on J.C.'s shoulder. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"It's okay."
After a few moments, Justin gently pulled back. "Josh? About the dare Chris read you..."
"Yeah?"
"Well...you can, if you want to. I mean, I'd let you," the teenager said nervously.
J.C. stared at him, an unreadable expression on his handsome face. Justin felt J.C.'s hands cup his face and lift it slowly, and closed his eyes. Soft, warm breath tickled the boy's eyelids before a pair of lips gently pressed against his forehead. J.C. lovingly kissed the smooth skin for nearly half a minute, inhaling the clean scent of Justin's blond curls, before sitting back.
Justin laughed a little as J.C.'s arms embraced him again. "That's not what I meant."
"I know what you meant, angel." J.C. sighed as Justin snuggled against him. "But I don't want you to ever let yourself be made uncomfortable for my sake, or anyone else's."
"Never uncomfortable with you," Justin mumbled sleepily. Like a young child, Justin often got tired very suddenly. He smiled as J.C held him tighter, one hand rubbing his back and the other fingering his hair. "Mmm...that feels nice."
"Good." J.C. shifted and lay down on the bed, bringing Justin to rest beside him. "Are you tired, Just?"
"Mmm-hmm." The seventeen-year-old buried his face in J.C.'s shirt, breathing evenly with contentment as he surrendered to sleep. "Josh, I'm sorry I pouted at you."
J.C. laughed. "It's okay, I don't mind it nearly as much as I pretend to. Now get some sleep, baby."
A few minutes later, when J.C.'s own eyelids had begun to feel heavy, Joey poked his head in the door. "Everything okay, C?"
"Yeah, we're cool now."
"C, man, I'm sorry about before, about my question for Justin. I did really wanna know."
"It's okay," J.C. said softly. "I think it affected me a lot more than him, and him a lot less than I'd expected. I just hate to see him upset about things he can't control. I guess everyone in love feels that way about someone."
Joey suddenly seemed morose, a thoughtful frown forming where his smile usually was. "Yeah. I mean...I guess so."
The Italian singer's eyes seemed to clear, and he smiled at Justin, adorably curled up in J.C.'s arms. "Does he always sleep like that?"
"With me, you mean? Pretty often. We both sleep better if we're together," J.C. explained.
"Wow. I don't know many straight guys who are cool with sleeping cuddled up to their gay best friend." Joey shook his head. "You guys are weird. But good weird."
The twenty-one-year-old quietly opened the door and was about to step out of the room when J.C.'s voice stopped him.
"Hey, Joey. Truth or dare?"
Joey laughed softly. "I'm too tired for a dare, so I'll have to take truth."
"Are you in love?"
Joey suddenly looked uncharacteristically solemn. "Yeah, I think," he answered simply, sadness audible in his low voice.
"You wanna talk about it?"
"Thanks, but no. Suffice it to say, I kinda know how you feel. 'Night, C."
"Good night, Joe."
As the door clicked shut and the room was still and dim once more, J.C. thought about what Joey'd said as he watched Justin and felt the boy's steady breathing underneath his hand. He pushed a few stray curls back into place and kissed Justin's forehead again. Finally, with a skill born of long practice, J.C. pushed all pains and worries to the back of his mind, and slept.
~FIN~
ENDNOTE: BTW, I'm really sorry that so many "Interludes" end with everyone falling asleep. It's wishful thinking on the part of an insomniac with writer's block - bad combo. :) Future stories will hopefully be better - I do have ideas, and if necessary caffeine pills for these guys. :) Casey, give me those back, more caffeine is the last thing you need...oh, hell. Any more and he won't even need wings to fly. :)
And if you like dark, angsty 'Nsync slash fic, be sure to join the NSAngst Yahoo! group!
Questions, comments to DaraLynn_writings@hotmail.com