Disclaimer: N Sync not mine. Plot's mine though. This does not imply anything about the true sexual preferences of the guys. Note: This takes place after * the * lawsuit and before the NSA came out. I'm assuming that the guys have their own apartment in Orlando. Justin lives with his mom.** the voice*** and [character thoughts].
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The Masks That We Wear
Previously in Chapter 6...
Lance burst through the door, all flushed and a worried expression evident on his face. He made a beeline for Joey who was still huddled in one corner of the couch. Chris barely got out of the way when the blond took over his place, hugging him as though he was never ever going to let go.
JC followed behind, dragging two suitcases through the opened door. "Great, now that everything is back to normal and Lance and Joey are involved in a passionate embrace, can someone help me out here?"
"Shh..." Justin and Chris hushed him while the pair on the couch simply basked in each other's comfort.
Chapter 7
"How's Joey doing?" JC asked Lance as he tiptoed out of Joey's room. The four of them congregated in the kitchen.
"He's asleep now. But he was badly shaken up by that thing." Lance sighed as he poured himself a glass of water. He took a drink and went on. "I'm beginning to think he's possessed or something."
"Hey, maybe good, old Lou placed a curse on him." Justin got a glare from Lance to shut up while both JC and Chris exchanged uncertain looks.
"You got to admit, Justin could be valid." JC shrugged. "It's the best bet we've got so far. Chris has no idea what's going on either and he's the psychology guy here."
"I wouldn't say I have no idea. I do have my theories but it's pretty far-fetched." Chris replied. " You guys want to hear it?"
"Anything goes right now. Let's hear your theory." JC nodded his head.
"Okay, so assuming that the voice is a manifesto of Joey's insecurities and fears. You see there's a thin line between letting your fears take over you and you taking control of your fears. In his case, he probably let the fear take over him. Slowly, bit by bit and it, from eating at his fears and insecurities, it was strong enough to become the voice. But ultimately, it is still a mask for the real problem. So now the question remains. Just what is his real problem?" Chris finished his little theory, looking very proud of himself.
"Wow. I knew you were nuts but I didn't think it was this bad." Justin said in a sarcastic tone.
"Justin, can we stop acting like kids for a minute. Joey is on his way to a mental breakdown and you think it's funny?" JC finally took charge of the whole situation. "Behave and keep quiet unless you have something productive to contribute to the discussion. Lance, what do you think?"
"I think that Chris made sense. But I'm a little confused. You think you can put it in layman terms for me?" Lance asked Chris.
"Sure. I'm saying that the voice is Joey's fears and insecurities speaking to him. I mean we all have our insecurities and fears but in Joey's case, they are really bad. He hears voices telling him that he's not good and wanting to kill you." Chris elaborated.
"So you are saying that Joey wants Lance dead." Justin couldn't help but interrupt.
"No, not literally but perhaps Scoop is part of his problem." Chris looked at Lance in worry. Lance was trying to come to terms with the idea that he might be part of the problem.
"So what does he do now? Stay away from him?" JC asked for Lance. Chris shrugged.
"He said that he was lonely at night." Lance spoke up. "But I get the feeling that's not all of the problem. And I still want to make sure that he's not possessed or something. I have this place where we can go to make sure. One of my aunt's best friend can help us."
"Well, if you still insist on it. We'll all go." Chris relented. " But I'm not going to believe in it."
"Hey, we have recording tomorrow. How?" Justin raised an interesting question. Everyone looked at him, expecting him to do something. [Uh oh...]
JC threw Justin his cell phone and smiled sweetly. "Since you brought it up, you'll call Johnny and tell him we all caught chicken pox and will be MIA for a week. And if he doesn't buy it, you will rack your pretty, curly head for some excuse, okay?"
"Now excuse us but we're going to check on Joey." Chris smirked as the trio left the kitchen, Lance throwing him a sympathetic look but not volunteering to help. He didn't want to be anywhere in the 100 feet radius of their manager when he blew up.
"Shit, why the hell did I open my mouth for?" Justin lamented before he made the dreaded phone call.
"Scoop, are you sure you have the right address?" Chris couldn't help but stare at the old-looking shop with shrunken heads lining the display window. "Are those real shrunken heads? Ewww..."
"Err...Lance, as much as I appreciate the sentiment, I don't think I want to go in. Let's go grab some pizza instead. I feel hungry again." Joey made a move to leave but JC grabbed his arm.
"Come on, Joey, Just go for the sake of finding out if you're under some influences or something. Stuff like bad karma or a planetary thing could throw you off balance." JC attempted to pull Joey into the shady-looking shop.
"Joey, you better go. Johnny shouted my ears off and if you don't go, I will pout." Justin started on the pout that got him anything he wanted.
"I'm immune to that pout, Curly. I have a better one than you anyway." Joey did his little pout and said in a little boy voice. " I don't wanna go in. I feel fine already. Please?"
Lance didn't say anything but he didn't budge either.
"Poofu, please? Pretty please?" Joey continued the pout. He knew that Lance was worried about him but a psychic was taking things too far.
Lance still didn't say anything. He just cocked his head to his side and waited.
"Fine, I'm only doing this because you want me to." Joey stuck out his tongue at the blond who rolled his eyes. Lance pulled the door open to a tinkling of the bells. The shop seemed right out of the set of " The Craft ". There were all sorts of old books and giant bottles all around. There was the usual candles and the damp smell of plants.
"How may I help you?" A soft, female voice came from behind the five of them. They all turned to see a petite, middle-aged woman wearing a white, flowing dress and a serene smile on her fine features.
"Um...I'm looking for a friend of my aunt. My aunt is Doris..." Lance stopped as the lady held her hand up to signal him to be quiet.
"You must be here to see Andrea. She's behind the curtain. Just go on in." The lady pointed to the black, heavy curtain at the back of the shop and drifted away. Lance led the way and pulled back the curtain. It was a small room with some cushions on the floor and a large wooden screen at the back of the room. The whole place smelled of lavender.
"Just sit down on the cushions. I'll be out in a moment." A voice croaked out. Lance was beginning to wonder if this was such a bright idea after all when a young girl of not more than twenty appeared from behind the screen.
"So Aunt Doris recommended you here. Oh well. Hi, I'm Andrea De Cruz and I'm the resident psychic. So what can I do for you?" The girl breathed out as she saw the five of them shifting uncomfortably. "I mean you guys have nice auras except for him." She pointed at Joey.
"I have a problem." Joey spoke up. [Heck, since I'm here, may as well give it a shot.]
"Well, I can tell you happily that it's not a demonic possession but it's still quite serious. Your aura's like really dark. What have you been doing?" Andrea probed gently. "Is it okay if I hold your hand for a while?" Joey shrugged. Andrea walked over and took Joey's hand. Her eyes widened and she hastily dropped his hand.
"Lots of inner turmoil and confusion. There's this voice that's bothering you. You have to control it and not let it control you. Remember that the evil within you feeds on your fears. Everything has its weaknesses, even this voice. But what can stop the voice may hurt you here the most. You have to let go to move on." Andrea pointed to Joey's heart before directing a meaningful look to Lance. "That's all I have to say. You may go now."
"Thanks, I think." Joey replied as the guys scrambled up from the cushion and entered the shop again.
"How much do we need to pay?" Lance asked while Chris rolled his eyes.
"This is free of charge on one condition. Could you guys sign my album for me?" Andrea took out her copy of N Sync album from under the counter and passed it shyly to Lance who cracked an awkward smile. The guys shrugged in unison.
"Sure."
Throughout the whole car trip back to Joey's place, Lance held on to Joey's hand. "I need to think about what she said. Alone." Joey managed to speak out before going into his room and closing the door.
"Is he going to be alright?" Justin asked worriedly. " What happened just now was plain weird."
"I'm going to check on him." Lance said, his worry for Joey evident in his voice.
"Okay, is it just me or is little, shy Poofu acting way out of character?" Justin brought up the question the minute Lance left to check on Joey.
"Uh...shouldn't we be more concerned about Joey's mental health then Lance's weird behavior?" Chris tried to get Justin to stop but the young man went right on talking.
" I mean we all know why Joey's acting weird but he's affecting Lance as well. I've never seen him like this. It's like he's turning into JC!" Justin ignored Chris.
"I resent that statement. But I do agree with Curly. He's been so protective of Joey after the cruise. And did you guys see them holding hands? " JC kept his voice down.
"Now, you're not acting like yourself, JC. You're gossiping behind Lance's back." Justin pointed out.
" Let's just concentrate on the Joey's problems than strange vibes from Joey and Lance." Chris tried to get them back to the original question. No one listened to him.
"I think Joey's bi. My gaydar goes beep instead of ping." JC admitted.
"Huh? Then what about Lance?" Justin started to look a bit uncomfortable. It was sort of weird to discuss a friend's sexuality behind his back.
"Nothing on my gaydar yet." JC replied.
"Wait a sec, you have a gaydar? For what?" The curly hair boy squeaked out in surprise.
"Well...don't you have one?" JC looked around uncertainly while Justin and Chris stared at him.
"JC, is there something you are not telling us?" Justin probed gently.
"Hey! I'm not gay. I like girls. Really!" Now JC was squeaking.
"Guys! Can we get back to the topic? Good. Now JC, you work on Joey. I'll take Lance. Justin, you just keep quiet and act normal. And no questions about their sexuality. This is about Joey's problems." Chris assigned the tasks. Justin pouted while JC seemed embarrassed over his revelation of his gaydar.
"Justin, you wanted to get some food right? I'm going to the supermarket now, you want to come along?" Lance suddenly appeared in the kitchen, scaring the three guys who jumped guiltily. Justin recovered first.
"Sure, Poofu." Justin agreed, winking at Chris.
"Great, just hang on a minute. Let me grab my wallet and cell phone." Lance disappeared out of the kitchen just as quietly.
" Now, old man. I'll work on Lance and you just keep quiet and act normal." Justin smirked.
"Arrogant little prick." Chris muttered under his breath.
"Yeah, but you still like me anyway." Justin retorted on his way out. There was the sounds of the front door clicking shut.
"I'll go have my little discussion with Joey now." JC left Chris sulking in the kitchen and made his way to Joey's bedroom.