Just Around the River Bend 11-12
Hola! Here I am with the next installment. For the time being I won't be able to have chapters out as often as before. I am aiming for once a week and we will see what happens. School is going to be starting and it's going to take up a lot of my time. Not to worry though. I really enjoy writing this story!
Thanks: Gotta thank Jill. I have missed you! Gabriella, your story is awesome. Go read My Surprise Romance! Mike, you rock, so does your car. I am probly forgetting someone, if I am please bitch me out for it so I will remember you next time!
Ok so this is the part where you all get to hear my desperate plea for e-mail. E-mail = :-)! Spifty214@aol.com. All e-mail is welcome!
Disclaimer: If you are not supposed to be reading this then don't. We don't know if N Sync people's are gay or not. However, I just don't see Lance as being straight. I don't know why. I think that's everything
Mosquito's suck...Squash `em!
**
Just Around The River Bend
Chapter Eleven
Ironic
**
"The first time I drank chardonnay was with my ex boyfriend Kyle on our six month anniversary, he got me to like wine." I said.
"Whoa, wait, you're gay?" He asked me, sounding a little shocked.
"As if it wasn't obvious." I said harshly.
"Why the hell didn't we know?" Lance asked beginning to sound pissed off.
"Because it isn't any of your business." I yelled at him.
"Yes it is, none of us need to be caught up in some kind of scandal making us look like a group of faggots. Asshole." Lance yelled back at me.
"Who are you calling an asshole, just because I am gay doesn't make me an asshole." I yelled back at Lance. This was not looking very good, two drunk guys in an argument.
"No, you're right, it just makes you a fucking faggot." Lance yelled at me. He stood up and I followed.
"Are you trying to start something you talent less prick?" I yelled at him. That was all it took. I remember seeing Lance's fist fly threw the air and towards the side of my head. There wasn't much I could do besides take the hit. I felt a sharp pain and everything going dark.
---Until further notice the story will be from Karen's point of view
At two am I got back to the hotel and went up to my room. I heard some screaming from Jeff's room and then a loud thud sounding like someone just dropped something really heavy on the floor. I had to investigate. I may have been a little buzzed from drinking at the club, but, it was my responsibility to make sure that the guys behaved. I knocked on the door.
"Jeff! What's going on in there." I said as I knocked. I heard someone crying through the door and as they walked towards the door the crying got louder. The door opened and Lance was standing in the doorway crying.
"Oh God Lance, What happened?" I asked as I walked into the room and saw Jeff laying on the floor.
I ran over to Jeff and checked his pulse. Lance was still standing in the doorway crying.
"Help me get him on the bed. He's alive." I said. Lance still stood there and I turned Jeff's head and there was a gash near his ear gushing blood.
"Lance, get the fuck over here, you have some explaining to do!" I yelled at Lance, who finally snapped out of his trance.
"Huh?" He said as he turned his head toward me.
"Get me a towel!" I yelled at Lance. He went into the bathroom and brought me out a towel and stood next to Jeff and I. I was kneeling putting pressure on his wound and Lance was still standing there crying.
"What the hell happened?" I angrily asked Lance after his tears started to subside. My buzz was now completely gone.
"We...We...We got in a...I am so sorry Karen." Lance said and started to cry again.
"Don't even start crying again, you aren't the one lying on the floor unconscious. Why did you do this to him?" I asked Lance, who was really trying my patience.
"He called me a talent less prick." Lance said, looking down at Jeff.
"Why did he call you that?" I asked, knowing that there was another reason for this.
"Because, uh." Lance said and then stopped.
"God Lance, what did you say to him?" I looked up at Lance and asked.
"I...I called him a fucking faggot. Happy?" Lance said to me. He was being a total smart ass.
"Why the fuck would you even say something like that. You are like the one person in this group that is ultimately opposed to anyone even saying the word fag. God Lance, You are a fag! Why did you say that to him?" I yelled at Lance.
"I don't know." Lance said to me very quietly.
"Whatever Lance, help me get him onto his bed." I said as I noticed he had stopped bleeding.
"Ok." Lance said. We picked Jeff up and set him on his bed. For being a skinny guy he was kind of heavy. As we set Jeff on his bed I saw a letter in Lance's handwriting sitting on the nightstand. I picked it up and read it.
"Lance, What the hell is this?" I asked Lance, holding up the letter. Lance just stood there and said nothing. He put his head down and covered his face with his hands.
"Is this how you feel?" I asked Lance. He nodded.
"Does he know this is from you?" I asked.
"No." Lance said.
"Does he know you are gay?" I asked Lance.
"No." Lance said.
"What have you done Lance? If you have feelings for someone you don't slug them in the face. That usually isn't the way to show someone you love them." I said to Lance. He just kneeled there and nodded.
"Lance, I am the only one that knows you are gay. You need to tell the guys if you want anything to work with Jeff." I said to Lance caringly.
"I know Karen, I know, but I am so scared." Lance said quietly.
"I Know Lance, but you see how they treat Josh, they are good to him, they won't be mean to you." I said trying to console Lance.
"They say stuff sometimes behind his back. I know they are just joking, but they say stuff. I don't want them to say stuff about me." Lance said and was about to begin crying.
"Lance, please don't cry." I said to him.
"I...I'm sorry." Lance said.
"Don't be sorry. Just don't cry, this is not what I planned on coming home to. I just wanted to go to bed and I end up dealing with more crap." I said to Lance. He didn't say anything. I got up and started walking to the door.
"Karen?" Lance said quietly.
"Yes Lance?" I said turning towards Lance.
"What should I do?" Lance asked me.
"Honestly I don't know, he and Josh had something goin on but it was short lived. I guess Lance, just follow your heart." I said to him.
"Is that why Josh was crying?" Lance asked.
"Yeah, he'll be ok." I said.
"Ok." Lance said, sounding as if I had let him down.
"Lance, romance isn't exactly my cup of tea, you can see that. Just follow your heart and do what comes naturally. That's all I can say." I said to Lance. He just sat there on the side of the bed and stared off into space. I walked to the door and opened it.
"Thank You." Lance said to me as I left the room. I closed the door and walked to my room. It had been a long day and I just needed to sleep.
-- Back to Jeff's POV
When I woke up it was raining. I could hear thunder and lightning. Looking around my room I saw that it was relatively dark out, probably sometime in the early morning. Something was weird though about when I woke up. I was being held, which is something that hadn't happened to me in a very long time. I turned my head and I immediately shouted with pain. Then I saw Lance jump up in shock. The events of earlier shot through my head.
"What the fuck are you doing in my bed?" I yelled at Lance. I got up out of my bed and ran to the door.
"Get out of my fucking room now!" I yelled at him as I opened the door.
"Wait! Let me explain, please." Lance said, still laying in my bed.
"There is nothing to explain, you punched me in the face, get out!" I yelled, I was furious. I don't usually get pissed, but when someone slugs me in the face, I tend to get slightly angry.
"Please, don't yell, just let me explain myself." Lance said, he had crossed the line. I ran over to my bed to drag him out of it. The phone rang right as I made it to the bed.
- "What?" I yelled into the phone as I picked it up.
- "Is this Jeff?" Jill asked through the phone.
- "Yeah. Is this Jill?" I asked.
- "Yeah, is everything ok?" She asked me, I could tell from her voice that she had been crying. I sat down on the bed, my back touching Lance's side. He just sat there, not moving or saying anything.
- "No, I got slugged in the face by an asshole. I passed out from it and here we are. I woke up next to him and I don't get it and right now I am confused but I don't care, he's an asshole. I don't want to talk to him, I just want him out of my room. What's wrong with you, why are you crying?" I asked her. I tried not to sound mean or anything.
- "Ian and I broke up. We had a big fight this morning before he went to work." She said, starting to cry harder.
- "Oh my God, I am so sorry. What time is it?" I asked her.
- "It's almost ten. I don't know what I am going to do. I can't believe this happened." Jill said to me. Right now I just wanted to pull my hair out. This day was becoming overwhelming already and it had just started.
- "Jill, I can see you called in to day for work right?" I asked Jill.
- "Yeah, I did." She said to me, still crying.
- "Call work and tell you them that you aren't coming in again till next Monday and then pack your stuff up, you're coming to New York." I said to her.
- "What?" She asked me, a little shocked.
- "I am gonna fly you up here." I said. Lance was just laying there. God, just go away!
- "Ok." She said.
- "Look, I am gonna call and get you tickets and then I will call you back ok?" I asked her.
- "Ok, thank you so much Jeff." Jill said, her tears starting to subside.
- "No problem. Ill talk to you in a few." I said to her and then hung up the phone quickly. I got off the bed and went to my briefcase and found my credit card. I called the airport and got her plane tickets. Lance was still laying in my bed.
"Can I talk to you please?" Lance asked me as I came back to sit on the bed.
"God Lance, you're annoying me. You hit me in the face. Get out, please." I said to him, trying to keep my cool.
"But, I am really sorry." Lance said to me as I dialed Jill's number.
"Look Lance, I really don't care if you are sorry or not. I see how you feel about things and that's fine. If I wanted to talk to an arrogant asshole I could call my father up." I said to Lance. The phone rang and then Jill picked up the phone.
- "Hello." Jill said, sounding not so depressed.
- "Hey, it's me. How did everything go with you work?" I asked her.
- "Good, they were a little disappointed but they will get over it." She said.
- "Good Good, do you got a pen and paper?" I asked, trying to get this conversation over with. I love Jill, but right now I needed some more sleep.
- "Yup" She said.
- "Ok, here goes, Northwest Airlines Flight 40 from Orlando to New York La Guardia. You depart at three and you land at 6:30. I will be at the airport waiting because I know you have never been to New York. Just pick up the tickets at the airport." I said to her.
- "Ok babe, sounds good, thank you so much." She said.
- "Alright, well listen, I am going to let you go so you can pack and I am gonna sleep some more. This is my day off and I plan to take advantage of it." I said to Jill.
- "Sounds good. See you tonight. Love ya!" Jill said happily to me.
- "Love you too!" I said and then hung up the phone. I loudly sighed and laid back on my bed, forgetting that Lance was behind me.
"God Dammit!" I yelled as I jumped out of my bed. "Do you understand what get out means? It's like eleven in the morning, don't you have some superstar things to get accomplished?" I said to him harshly.
"Why are you being such an asshole to me?" Lance asked me, as if he was oblivious to the fact that he slugged me a couple hours ago.
"That's why!" I yelled pointing at the gash on the side of my head.
"Oh." Was all that slipped out of his mouth.
"Look Lance, I am dead serious right now, leave." I said to him harshly, pointing to the door. There was a minute of silence.
"Please, don't be mad at me." Lance said.
"Lance, I am beyond mad at you, right now you are lucky I do not call the police. Now go!" I yelled.
"God Jeff, I am so sorry, the last thing I want you to do is hate me." Lance said, as his eyes started to water.
"Well sorry, but I do, now go." I said to Lance. I opened the door and he got up and walked out without a word. I didn't feel bad for what I did. I am usually a genuinely nice person, but he pushed me too far. I went back to my bed and tried to get some more sleep. I fell asleep and slept like a rock, which is probably why I didn't hear Karen knock at my door.
"Jeff, Jeff, Jeff are you ok?" Karen said to me as she shook my shoulder.
"Karen?" I blurted out.
"Yeah, it's me, how are you feeling?" She asked me.
"Like shit, how about yourself?" I said.
"I am doing ok, I have a hangover but other than that I am good." She said.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"It's a little before one." Karen said.
"Great." I said.
"Well, it's nice to see that you are alive." She said, trying to break the silence.
"Yeah, it's nice to be alive." I said.
"I heard what happened, he had to right to do this." She said.
"Yeah, I know he didn't. He's lucky I didn't call the police." I said.
"Well if you did, I think you would be out of a job." Karen said.
"Yeah, I know." I said.
"Well, getting knocked unconscious twice in a 24 hour period, that's gotta be a record or something." She said.
"These are the first times in my life that I have ever been knocked unconscious. I get it twice in the same day. Very ironic." I said.
"Oh you don't even know the half of it." She said. She covered her mouth after she said that, realizing that she had said too much.
"Spill it Karen, what am I missing." I said.
"I would love to tell you, but I can't." She said.
"Why not?" I asked, sounding somewhat annoyed.
"Jeff, you know I want to tell you, but I really can't." She said. I just gave her a look. "Jeff, I really can't tell you." She said. Right now, Lance was the last thing on my mind.
"Well you are gonna." I said to her. She sat there for a second and then she pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket.
"Here." She said. I took the paper and unfolded it. I read the note.
Karen,
We really need to stop writing notes like this. I feel like I am in the seventh grade again. Anyway, if you don't want the relationship with Will anymore then break up with him. It's not like you are forced to see him all the time. Just avoid the soundboard and you should be ok. :) Just follow your heart. Oh, BTW, that person we were talking about it incredibly adorable and charming. Well, breaks up babe, back to the stage. Love ya,
Lance.
"And what's the point of this?" I asked as I folded the note back up.
"Just go look on your night stand." She said.
"Ok." I said as I got up. I walked over to the nightstand and the only thing on it was the phone and the lamp and the letter.
"See it?" She asked.
"No, all that's here that isn't normal is the stalker letter I got." My voice dropped as I said got. I picked up the letter and opened it up. I also opened Karen's note and compared handwriting. My jaw dropped.
"Now you see it?" She asked, a smile appearing on her face. I was shocked, the boy that hit me in the face loves me? The boy that called me a fag is gay?
"This just isn't possible. I don't get it." I said as I sat down on the bed.
"He has a crush on you. Actually I think it's more than that. I talked to him before I came to talk to you. When you two were talking last night for that long while he fell for you, not just the appearance. He was so upset." Karen said.
"Karen, why does this have to happen?" I asked her.
"What do you mean?" She said.
"Ok, I can't find a guy that I have feelings for at home. I come here and in the matter of three days I date on guy and yeah it didn't work, but then I talked to Lance, and that boy is so sweet. God, what am I saying?" I said.
"No way!" Karen said. I just fell back.
"Ok, God why does this all have to happen. I wish I was a turtle, then I could just crawl into my shell and be left alone." I said as I looked up at the ceiling.
"Oh come on. Give Lance a chance. Ha, that rhymes. You and Josh just went on a date, no big deal, he will get over it. I don't see you two as being compatible. Josh is also Bi, so by now he has been laid from here till tomorrow." Karen said.
"What?" I asked, a little shocked.
"Josh is kinda slutty. I know that's a bad thing to say, but he is. He has issues but he just ignores them. He and Justin are pretty good friends and Justin tries to help." Karen said. My opinion of Josh totally changed. Slutty boys are a total turn off.
"Ok Karen, I will give Lance a chance." I said after a couple minutes of silence.
"Yes!" She said.
"But, I want to know some things." I said.
"Ok, ask away." She said, sounding excited that she was about to play match maker.
"Is he out?" I asked Karen.
"Kinda, to me and Stacey, but that's it." Karen said.
"Stacey is his sister right?" I asked
"Yup." Karen said.
"Has he had a relationship with a guy before?" I asked Karen.
"Yup, Rick, who was in his high school choir class and stage crew guy like six months ago." Karen said.
"Did he say he loved them?" I asked, I needed to know what love meant in Lance's book.
"Actually no, he doesn't use that word loosely. That's why I was very surprised when he said he was falling for you, and then I read the note and was just totally shocked." Karen said.
"Wow." I said.
"Yup, I said the same thing. So anyway, you should talk to him later." Karen said.
"I will, but I have a friend coming up here tonight from Florida. So I don't know when I am going to be able to talk to him." I said.
"He just left to go do something for his company. We are supposed to go to Fifth Avenue later. Oh, do you know what else is ironic?" Karen asked me.
"What?" I asked.
"Is that Lance didn't even know you were gay till last night. He gave you the note before he knew, and he was taking a huge chance." Karen said.
"This is just weird." I said.
"I know it is." Karen said. There was a couple minutes of silence.
"Well Karen, thank you. I am gonna get ready and stuff cause I have to be to the airport at six thirty and it's almost 3:30." I said to Karen as I got out of bed.
"Alright hun. What do you say we go do something tonight?" Karen asked me.
"Sounds good, I'll call your cell when I get back and settled with Jill." I said as we walked to the door.
"Ok. Bye Babe." Karen said as she opened the door and walked down to her room. I shut the door and leaned on it and just took a deep breath. A smile crept across my face. I felt kind of good right now. I decided to take a bath and listen to some music. I took my CD case and my little stereo into the bathroom with me. When I opened the CD case, Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill CD fell out. How ironic I thought. I got in the bath and listened to Ironic on repeat.
**
Chapter Twelve
Could I have this Kiss Forever
**
I finally crawled out of the relaxing bath at five. I think that's when it got a little too cold for comfort, and besides, my fingers were nicely pruned. I wrapped myself up in my robe and went to get my laptop. My e-mail hadn't been checked in a while so I figured I should check it now. I plugged it into the phone jack and turned that puppy on. The battery wasn't charged so I had to plug it in. When I signed onto AOL the familiar "Welcome, You've Got Mail." was announced. I had an e-mail from Karen, my sister. I opened that first.
Jeffy...
Hey bro! How are things in New York? I lost your phone number, that's why I am telling you this in an e-mail. Anyway, as you know, Friday is Scott's birthday. Mom and Dad are having a family get together for him and they want you to come. Well, I want you to come, they were just kinda impartial about the whole matter. Look Jeff, please come. There are some things that need to be talked about. I am tired of all the BS! Just come to try to make peace. Please Jeff. Give me a call.
Love ya,
Kar
Yeah, this is wonderful. I love my family, but this is not something that I want to deal with. Karen, I can deal with, Karen is awesome. Eva is miss bitch. Kevin is the spoiled jack ass. Scott is just kinda there. I really never had a relationship with him. Scott would be turning nineteen. I decided to wait for Jill's opinion. The rest of my e-mail was porn mail or junk. Then I saw one with the subject "hey jeff" from a address I didn't know.
Jeff,
Hi. This is Scott, you're brother. I haven't seen you in like a year. I was just wondering if you would come to my birthday party on Friday night. Karen said you are in New York and Maine isn't that far from New York. If you don't want to come I understand. Have a nice day.
Scott Cooper
Back your bags kiddies, it's time for a guilt trip. Soon to follow if I go on Friday would be my parents trying to convince me that I am actually confused. I shut my laptop and looked at the clock. 5:45. I got dressed and did my hair and it was time to go. I took a cab to the airport. It was nice to be able to leave the hotel without being mobbed. The security people at the airport were assholes as usual. Jill's flight landed on time and it was great to see her. I wasn't expecting her to bring a friend, but she did. It was Alli!
"Hey Honey!" Jill yelled as she ran up to me and pulled me into a hug.
"Easy there tiger." I said as I picked her up and spun her around.
"Watch the legs." Allis said as one of Jill's legs hit her in the side.
"Sorry." Jill and I said in unison.
"It's good to see ya." Alli said as her and I hugged.
"Yes it sure is." I said. We spent the rest of out trip out of the airport and back to the hotel in small talk and discussion of my job and stuff about the guys. Nothing about any of them being gay was brought up. On the way back to the hotel we stopped for dinner. We got McDonalds, how sad, you're in this huge city with so many awesome restaurants and you get McDonalds. We made it back to the hotel at nine. We decided that we would just share the room I had because it was too expensive to get another room. They unpacked and when we finally finished getting settled there was a knock on my door. We were all sitting around the living room area and Jill and Allison jumped up to answer the door. It was kinda funny.
"Oh My God!!!!!!!!" Alli and Jill screamed in unison. "It's Lance!!!! At YOUR door!!!" Like oh my god, I only work for them, no way!
"H...Hi, is uhm, is Jeff around by any chance." I heard Lance say to the two screaming maniacs in front of him.
"I am in here Lance." I said loudly so he would hear me. "Come in." Jill and Alli stepped out of the doorway so he could get through. They just stood there, star struck. Lance walked into the room and stood by me. I looked up at him, he was gorgeous right now.
"Hi." I said.
"Hi." He said.
"What's up?" I asked. Trying to hold my attitude to prevent him from knowing that I knew.
"Nothing really, just seeing if we could maybe talk." Lance quietly said, trying to make it so the girls couldn't hear him. They were having a private conversation near the door.
"Not right now Lance, I have company, fresh from Florida. Is it really important?" I asked.
"Well, kinda, but it can wait." Lance said. Our eyes met and we just stared into each others eyes for a few moments.
"Jeff, some chick is here." Alli yelled at me.
"Thanks Alli, Hey Karen." I said as Karen walked into the room.
"Hi guys, what are you doin here Lance?" Karen asked, noticing Lance's presence.
"Nothing." Lance said, avoiding Karen's suspicious gaze.
"So you ready to have some fun?" Karen asked. I noticed her attire, definitely ready for a night on the town.
"I have to get ready, and so do Jill and Alli." I said.
"I do too." Lance said.
"You people are no fun, how about we meet back at the elevators at ten?" Karen said.
"Sounds good." I said. Karen walked out of the room, having a brief hello and good bye with Alli and Jill. Lance walked out following Karen and then it was just the girls and I.
"It was Lance!" Jill screamed as Alli closed the door.
"Calm down, he's just a guy. No big deal." I said to them, trying to calm them down.
"Forget what I said earlier. You can't have him Jeffy, I want him for me." Jill said. We all laughed and then got ready for a night on the town. We were at the elevators at ten sharp. I formally introduced everyone and then we were off. We got to take a limo cause we had lance with us. Karen and the girls hit it off pretty good. They seemed to be having a blast at the club. I hung around them and Lance just kind of sat there. Lance and I weren't drinking, but the girls were, maybe a bit too much. We left the club at two and needed help getting the girls into the Limo. We made it home at three and were able to get them up to my room. I plopped Jill and Alli on my bed and then put Karen on the couch. They were passed out for the night.
"Thanks for helping with them." I said to Lance as I escorted him out of my hotel room.
"No Problem." Lance said as he started walking down the hall to his room.
"Do you still need to talk to me?" I asked Lance. He stopped and turned around.
"Yeah, sure, if you're not busy." Lance said. I closed my door and ran up to catch up with him. "Thanks" Lance said.
"No problem." I said as we walked to his room. He opened the door and turned on the light. The room was surprisingly clean.
"Can you give me a sec?" He asked as he walked into the bathroom.
"Sure." I said. He shut the door to the bathroom. I sat on the couch and waited for Lance to return. He came out and shut the lights in the bathroom off.
"Alright, I am better now." He said as he sat in the chair across from me.
"Alright, so what's up?" I asked him. I could see him start to get nervous. There was silence for a few minutes and then finally he broke it.
"I want to apologize for acting the way I did last night. It was totally uncalled for. I also would really like to apologize for the gash on the side of your head." He said, his face turning red from embarrassment.
"Well, it was extremely uncalled for, and I don't appreciate being called a fucking faggot. The punch in the face wasn't exactly that pleasant either." I said, with a blank look on my face. I could see Lance start to tear up.
"I am so sorry Jeff, I really am. I never meant to hurt you. That is the last thing I would ever want to do to you. I love you Je..." He stopped when he realized he was saying too much. He was now crying and got up out of his chair.
"I am sorry Lance, for calling you a talent less prick." I said as I got up and pulled Lance into my arms. "I...I...I think I love you too." I said. Lance became shocked. He stood there for a second. I let go of him and walked over to his stereo in the entertainment center. I turned on a soft station and right as I turned it on Could I Have This Kiss Forever by Enrique and Whitney was starting.
Over and over I look in your eyes
You are all I desire
You have captured me
I want to hold you I want to be close to you
I never want to let go
I wish that this night would never end
I need to know
Could I hold you for a lifetime
Could I look into your eyes
Could I have this night to share this night together
Could I hold you close beside me
Could I hold you for all time
Could I could I have this kiss forever
Could I could I have this kiss forever, forever
Over and over I`ve dreamed of this night
Now you`re here by my side
You are next to me
I want to hold you and touch you and taste you
And make you want no one but me
I wish that this kiss could never end
Oh baby please
Could I hold you for a lifetime
Could I look into your eyes
Could I have this night to share this night together
Could I hold you close beside me
Could I hold you for all time
Could I could I have this kiss forever
Could I could I have this kiss forever, forever
I don`t want any night to go by
Without you by my side
I just want all my days
Spent being next to you
Lived for just loving you
And baby, oh by the way
Could I hold you for a lifetime
Could I look into your eyes
Could I have this night to share this night together
Could I hold you close beside me
Could I hold you for all time
Could I could I have this kiss forever
Could I could I have this kiss forever, forever
I pulled Lance close to me and we danced for a moment. He looked me in the eyes and I looked him in the eyes. That was all it took. It was like magic. We slowly and passionately kissed...
TBC!
That's all for now. More soon. Have a great day! E-mail me PUHLEASE! Spifty214@aol.com
Laterz