Greetings everyone,
Well, to be perfectly honest I didn't wait to hear what your thoughts were on a chapter mostly devoted to supporting characters in the story. After I posted the last chapter I sat and just started writing. In less than a day I had written almost two-thirds of this. Of course there was some interest so I'm not disappointing anybody. And yes... it's a little on the short side... so sue me! LOL
My sincere thanks to anyone who has written me about this story or my other one. Seeing what you think and that you appreciate my effort is very rewarding.
As always, thoughts and suggestions are always welcome. If there is a song from any past chapter that you'd like to hear and haven't found a copy of somewhere, let me know and I'll post it in the briefcase if I can.
As usual: This story is purely fiction and is not intended to imply anything about the true sexuality of 'N Sync or anyone associated with their organization. It is meant for those over the age of 18 only and those who wish to read stories with sexual content.
Friends
"Friendship, friendship,
It's the perfect blend-ship
When other friendships will be forgot,
Ours will still be hot"
- Cole Porter
"Oh, you got to have friends, the feeling's oh so strong.
You got to have friends to make that day last long."
- Bette Midler
"With a friend at hand you will see the light
If your friends are there then everything's all right"
- Elton John
"All of the people around us they say
Can they be that close?
Just let me state for the record
We're giving love in a family dose
We are family!"
- Sister Sledge
"I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cause you're there for me, too"
- The Rembrandts
"So where is everyone? I feel like we've been deserted."
Justin looked over his menu at Jamie and smiled. "Oh, they're around. Joey and Lance are in Toronto. JC is still at the studio getting ready to go to Chicago. Chris is causing trouble, I just know it. He and Zack are up to something."
"That worries me. And somehow they've got Paul mixed up in it too."
There was a glint it Justin's eye. "So what do you think is up there?"
Jamie smiled back. "I think my bodyguard and best friend are about to hook up."
"You think?"
"Definitely. They've been giving each other these looks for the past week."
"Looks like this?" Justin batted his eyes at Jamie then winked.
"You're such a goober," Jamie laughed. They leaned close to each other and shared a kiss feeling free from the worry of being found out.
"I'm so tired of this, Joe. Don't get me wrong, I'm having the time of my life, but..."
"You miss, Josh," Joey finished sympathetically.
Lance nodded. "One or two days out of every eight or nine is not enough."
Joey put an arm around Lance's shoulder as they entered the rented studio that had been home for the last month. "Cheer up, we finish up here tomorrow then head to Chicago. He's meeting us there, remember?"
With a smile Lance put his free arm around Joey's waist. "Thanks for doing this with me, Joe. I don't think I would have had as much fun without you."
"I'm glad to help, Scoop. This is gonna be a nice movie, maybe somebody will actually come and see it!"
Lance laughed then poked Joey in the stomach. "I think it's a given that we'll do ok. All the NSync fans will flock to it... I hope."
"Don't worry there. Our fans have never let us down, I don't think they're planning on starting now."
They were interrupted by a loud voice from the building intercoms. "LANCE TO SET THREE, PLEASE."
"Well, here it goes. The end. I think I'm actually gonna miss this."
"Got the bug, huh, Lance? I know just how you feel."
Lance gave Joey a hug and went off. Joey went to craft services, got a sandwich and sat down in the lounge. He'd taken one bite when his cell phone went off.
"Hi, baby. How are you feeling," he greeted Kelly after checking the caller id.
"Feeling bloated and whale-like, but otherwise fine," Kelly answered with a sigh.
"Aw, you're beautiful. You know that. What did the doctor say?"
"Everything's fine and right on schedule. He said 'no' to flying for the wedding so close to my due date, though."
"Aw baby, I'm sorry to hear that. What are we gonna do?"
"Well, you're going to Maine. No ifs, ands or buts."
"I can't leave you, not when it's so close."
"Don't worry. Your Dad has come up with a unique solution and the doctor agreed that it would be fine."
"Ok, you've got this straight, right?"
Zack looked at Chris. "Um.. ya, if you choose to use that term."
Paul giggled. "Where did Jamie and Justin go?" he asked.
Chris looked at him funny. "They weren't invited to this meeting. They're downstairs at the restaurant eating dinner, remember?"
"Oh, ya," Paul said blushing.
Zack grinned at Paul and stuck his tongue out at Chris.
"Now, give it back to me."
Zack sighed. "According to McFayden, Carson will be hanging out at his favorite local bar like he does every Thursday. I'll go in and make myself comfortable and wait for him to make a move. If he doesn't then I'll be all suave and do it myself. Once we get better acquainted, I'll pull him over to a dark corner and see what he does."
Chris nodded and looked over to Paul. "And you?"
"I follow Zack into the bar and sit somewhere and try to blend in. When Zack makes his move I get closer to them and when it happens snap them." He waved the digital camera.
"Great! Now don't screw it up, we'll never get a second chance. I wish Joe was here, he`d be really good at this."
"That's a wrap. See everyone in Chicago tomorrow afternoon," the director called.
Everyone cheered then looked to Lance who had a wide smile on his face. "I want to thank everyone for all the help and patience you've shown me. We've got the ballroom at the hotel signed out for us... let's go party!"
"So are you on duty tonight?"
Paul shook his head. "Nope, since nobody really knows that they're in town we can get away with being a little lax. Lonnie takes the night shift. So you think Chris' plan will work?"
Zack nodded. "I think so. If not then no harm done."
They sat in silence for a minute. "I really feel sorry about how I treated you last week."
Zack waved it off. "You didn't hurt me and were only doing your job. Besides, you've already apologized for that three times." Zack laughed and clapped Paul on the back.
Paul nodded and looked at Zack shyly.
"Hi, it's me."
"I'm home, Chris. Can't it wait until morning? I'm beat."
"I can call tomorrow if you want, but it doesn't have anything to do with the office."
"Oh. What's on your mind?"
"Dani, can we sit and talk sometime?"
"We talk all the time."
"No, not like we used to. We talk about the clothing line, about retailers, about getting less expensive production. I just want to sit down, maybe over dinner or something and just talk."
"I... I guess we could do that."
"I miss you, Dani. I miss the friendship and closeness we had."
Dani sighed over the phone. "I've missed you, too."
"What would you say if I said I liked you?"
"I'd say I like you too. You`re a pretty neat guy."
Zack shook his head. "No, not like that."
"I know what you meant," Paul answered.
"Oh," Zack replied, a little surprised. "Um..." a grin spread across his face. "Cool."
"But Mom!" Phil whined.
"No buts, young man. You're grades are down a little, how do you explain that?"
Phil shrugged his shoulders with a pout. "There were a couple of really hard tests right near the end of the quarter."
Pat Campbell looked sharply her youngest son. "Phil, you promised me that you'd keep your grades up."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Ok, how about we ask him to come here instead. That way I know you will spend some of the time studying."
"But Mom!" Phil was panicked now. If Wade came to visit him at home they'd never have any alone, private time. He was really looking forward to sleeping in Wade's arms. "What if he can't come here?"
Pat sighed. She looked closely at Phil then smiled at his sad face. "You really have your heart set on this, don't you?" Phil nodded hopefully. "Well, it is only for the weekend. Ok, you can go, but only if you are completely caught up. That means papers... everything."
"Yes!" Phil said loudly. "Thanks Ma, I love you lots."
Pat took Phil's hand. "You really love him, don't you?"
"So much, you wouldn't know."
Pat smiled and shook her head. "Don't get hurt, Philly. Wade's a wonderful boy and you seem to be good together. I just want you to be happy."
"Don't worry. Wade won't hurt me, he promised me." Phil got up and kissed his mother's cheek then went to his bedroom to call Wade and tell him the good news.
Pat watched him go with a sad smile. Glancing over at the picture of the three brothers on the wall, she wiped at a tear. `They grow up too damn fast,' she thought. The phone interrupted her.
"Hi, honey. How are you and Justin doing?"
"Ok, this is it."
Zack and Paul snuck a peak through the window and spotted Carson sitting at the bar, talking to the bartender. "You nervous?"
Zack shook his head. "Nah, I'm looking at this like I'm doing a Mission Impossible."
Paul chuckled. "Ok, get to work then, Mr. Phelps." He watched as Zack entered the bar and sit near Carson. He nodded toward their target in a friendly manner and got a smile and a nod in return. `Like taking candy from a baby,' Paul thought and entered the bar himself.
"What else do we need to cover?"
"Seems like you pretty much have everything decided."
Lynn sighed. "Please, don't start, Randall."
"I'm not starting, I'm only making an observation." Randall paced in his kitchen while Lynn remained seated at the kitchen table.
"Listen, if you think I had any more input on this than you have then you really don't know your son all that well."
"What are you talking about?"
"Justin and Jamie have this all planned out. Believe me, Pat and I tried to change some things but they're running the show."
"And I'm supposed to believe that you had absolutely no influence on any of these decisions?"
Lynn sighed in exasperation. "Since when have any of us been successful at changing Justin's mind when he's decided something?"
Randall sat and started laughing. "I'm sorry, Lynn. You're right of course."
Lynn smiled warmly at her ex-husband. "He's got the Timberlake stubbornness, that's for sure."
"I prefer to call it a healthy conviction about your decisions."
Lynn laughed loudly. "That or good old fashioned orneriness."
"Ya, that too."
"Hi, Mama."
"Lance, honey. How's your movie coming?"
"It's great. We head to Chicago tomorrow. I'm having so much fun and learning alot."
Diane smiled at her son's enthusiasm. "That's good to hear. Now you're going to be a big movie star, too."
"Aw, Mama. Don't count on the movie being -that- big."
"I don't care how many tickets you sell. If I can go to our local theater and see you up on the screen, then you're a star to me."
"Thanks, Mama. How's Daddy?"
"He's doing alright. He finished all that paperwork you sent to us and Meredith is all set."
"Tell him thanks for doing all that extra work."
"Tut, sweetie. We didn't mind it at all. Meredith says hi, by the way. She stopped by the other day when she was visiting home."
"I haven't talked to her in several weeks. Thanks for reminding me to give her a call."
"Lance, how are the rest of the boys?"
"They are good. I want to thank you for what you said about Justin last week."
"I meant every word. He's a nice boy." Diane paused. "Lance, I know our relationship has been strange for a little while now. But both your father and I want you to know that we are very proud of you."
She heard a sniffle coming from Lance over the phone. "I... thanks, Mama."
"We love you, son," Jim Bass' voice broke out onto the line.
They both heard Lance crying openly. "I love you both too. Tell Stacey that I'll call her tomorrow about Meredith's appearance schedule."
"We'll talk to you later," Diane said, wrapping up the call. "Tell Joshua that we send our love as well."
"I will. Bye, Mama."
Diane hung up with a deep sigh. She smiled as her husband's hand gently squeezed her shoulder.
"I'm heading to the market, want anything special?"
"Surprise me," she said with a smile. Jim Bass waved as he went out the door and the phone rang again.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Diane, it's Karen Chasez."
"Oh, hello Karen. How are you and the family?"
"We're doing fine here. You guys?"
"Full steam ahead, as usual," Diane chuckled.
"I hear you. Diane, can we talk a minute about our sons?"
"Um... sure Karen. What's on your mind?"
"The whole thing with Justin has really got us shook up around here."
"I'd agree with that. So what are you asking?"
"Well, how prepared are you for when Lance and Josh come out themselves?"
"As much as we can be. I've talked for hours with Lynn and I guess you have, too."
Diane waited through Karen's pause. "I guess we're on the same page. Well, no more beating around the bush. How do you feel about us forcing the issue and getting them married, then urging them to come out?"
Diane's mouth was open in shock. "Um, Karen... I..." She swallowed and steadied her nerves. "I'm behind you 100 percent. What`s the plan?"
"Ok, so then he sorta tilts his head twice toward the back of the bar and Carson follows him like a puppy looking for a treat."
JC and Lance looked on in more than mild interest. Chris and Joey were on the edge of their seats. "So what happened?" Chris asked impatiently.
"Well, I found a dark corner, out of the way from everything, and sat down. The bar wasn't all that full so there was nobody near us," Zack continued to tell the story. "Carson sits down next to me and immediately his hand is on my thigh. We exchange a few words and before I know it he's kissing my neck and unbuttoning my shirt."
JC laughed. "Who would have thought that he was so brave? Right in the middle of a bar!"
"Well, they were pretty much out of sight," Paul explained. "It seems that those booths were set up for a little privacy."
"So what then?" Lance asked. His curiosity was truly peaked now.
"Once he had my shirt mostly undone he started kissing and licking down my shoulder and onto my chest," Zack's face momentarily twisted in disgust. "His tongue was a little clammy."
The others in the room chuckled a little and leaned forward to hear the end of the tale.
"I got as close as I could without alarming Carson and got ready," Paul supplied.
"Well, he started sucking on my nipple. It actually felt pretty good. So I was like, `Ya, suck it. I know you want it.' He started moaning slightly and that's when I gave the sign to Paul."
Paul finished. "So I snuck up and whammo! Started clipping off pictures. Zack was great, he grabbed Carson's head and stuck his tongue down his throat."
JC and Lance looked at Zack wide-eyed. "You didn't?" JC said incredulously.
Zack smiled and nodded. "I can't believe I did it either. What a tale to tell in my old age, huh?"
"What about the pictures?" Chris asked impatiently.
Paul pulled the disk out of his pocket. "Ta Da!" They spent the next hour laughing over them once they downloaded them onto Lance's laptop.
"So now that we have them what do we do with them?" JC asked.
"Send a set to Carson with a warning and make a nice collage as a wedding present," Chris said with a wide smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Fatone."
"Please, Kelly, call me Papa Joe. That's what all the kids call me." Joe Fatone, Sr. put the groceries on the counter. "So where is my no good son, anyway?" he asked good naturedly.
"In Chicago, they come home tomorrow."
"Oh, that's right. So, what did he think of our solution?"
"He was thrilled. Are you sure you and your wife are up to a long trip like that?"
He waved away her question. "It'll be fun. We haven't taken a train trip in a long time. Don't let on that I told you, but my wife's not all that fond of flying anyway."
Kelly nodded with a smile. She suspected if she had the same conversation with Joey's mother that she would say exactly the opposite. "Well, I guess it's all settled then."
"Hey, Zack. We wondered where you disappeared to."
"Oh, hey guys. Me and Paul were just hanging here in the game room playing some pool."
Chris nodded and looked around. "No new video games, I see."
"You poor deprived thing," Joey joked.
"Whatever," Chris said with a grin. "You enjoying the short vacation in Chicago, Zack?"
"It's great to get away," he smiled.
"Are the others still upstairs?" Paul asked.
"Oh, ya. I don't think you'll have to worry about Jamie going anywhere for awhile," Joey said knowingly with a wink. "Besides, he did give you the night off."
Paul shrugged. "I know, it's just habit."
"Hey, we were going to go catch some music at one of the clubs, you guys interested?"
Joey and Chris looked at each other for a second. "I think I'll pass," Joey said. "I just wanted to get something to eat then call Kelly."
"Same here," Chris said. "Um, but without the Kelly part. You guys have fun."
"Ya, and Zack, bring Paul back in one piece. We kinda like him."
"I'll be fine, guys. You two take it easy," Paul said, waving as they left the room. "So wanna get going?"
Zack nodded. "Yup, let's get a move on."
"So you gonna protect me?" Paul said with a smirk.
"Aw, don't listen to them. I haven't lost anybody yet. You'll get back in one piece."
"Well, thanks. I feel so much better now."
"No worries." Zack looked around then cleared his throat. "You in the mood for lots of sweaty bodies and close intimate contact?"
"Reading my mind if you're talking about me being pressed up against you."
"Let's go!"
"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?" Janine Fatone yelled at the mostly naked man in swim trunks standing in Justin and Jamie's kitchen. She had stopped in to drop off the mail and check on the cat. Steve was sitting in the car outside, waiting for her.
The man jumped a mile and held a hand to his chest. "Jesus, you nearly scared the crap out of me. I could ask you the same question. I'm Dan, Jamie's brother." Dan held his hand out and Janine shook it tentatively.
"Um, nice to meet you. I'm Janine, Joey's sister."
"I've met just about everyone. I guess you were out of town or something when I met your parents."
"So, you visiting? You know they're in Chicago or someplace right now?"
Dan nodded. "Jamie knew I'd be around but not the exact dates. I didn't know myself until the other day. My company likes to send me on surprise trips every so often."
"Janine, what the fuck is taking you so long? You know I have an appointment in an hour." Steve yelled as he came into the kitchen. He stopped short when he saw that Janine wasn't alone. "Oh, hey. You're Dan, right?"
Dan nodded. "That's right, Steve. Good to see you."
"Same here. Come on, lumpy. I gotta get moving."
"Shuddup!" Janine growled and punch Steve's arm. Her expression turned around completely when she faced Dan again. "Nice to meet you. I guess I won't have to check the house again since you're here."
Dan smiled and nodded. "Well, if you feel like coming over to hang out, my evenings are my own. Feel like some pool or something the next night or two, Steve?"
"Sure thing, man. Come on," he said pulling Janine's elbow.
"I like pool," she blurted out. "That is..."
"The more the merrier," Dan said and waved. He shook his head as he went up to take a shower. He stopped and looked in the mirror. You don't think?' he said to himself, remembering how Janine reacted to him. Nah. No way!' He stripped and got under the hot water.
"Well, except for recording, this has been a pretty dull week, huh?" Jamie curled up against Justin, glad to be finally home in Orlando.
"I'm glad it was quiet and uneventful." Justin yawned and snuggled his head on Jamie's chest.
"You tired, baby?"
Justin nodded. "I'm feeling a little run down."
Jamie felt Justin's forehead. "You are a little hot." Jamie pulled the sheet and blanket up over them and held Justin close. "Let's get some sleep and see how you feel in the morning."
"You're so good to me."
"Because I love you and care about you." Jamie rubbed Justin's back. "I wonder what everyone's been up to?" he asked.
Justin shrugged and wrapped himself around Jamie as they drifted off to sleep.
tbc...
There's the latest. Comments and suggestions are always welcome!
Jim bangoremail1@yahoo.com AIM: bangoremail http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bangoremail1