'N SYNC: LANCE 'N' JC
CHAPTER TWELVE
Usual disclaimer applies: This is a work of fiction. It is not meant to offend anyone, nor to imply anything about the orientation, beliefs or anything else about the real members of 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, or anyone else (but we can dream). If you are under 18, or are offended by graphic depictions of homosexual relationships, please go back now.
Story content copyright 1999 T. Kevin.
Another BIG Chapter! Let me know what you think!! lictor (at) aol (dot) com
CHAPTER TWELVE
It was dark outside when Nick, Justin and Lance climbed into the limo, with hardly a word spoken between them. Justin was dying to ask Lance what happened with Alex Sommers, Johnny Wright's assistant manager. But Justin didn't trust Nick Carter and his big mouth -- despite the fact that he now knew the Backstreet Boy's dirty little secret.
Nick, meanwhile, was watching the 'N Sync guys and wondering how long it would be before Justin told Lance and the others about his two-timing affairs with Kevin and Brian. His head was hurting. God, he had to do something about this -- but he didn't want to give up either of them! Brian was cruel to him, made him feel like dirt, and convinced Nick that he had seduced the supposedly straight and religious Brian in the first place. But for some reason Nick could never say no when Brian wanted to do it. Sex with Brian Littrell was always rushed and impersonal, and usually rough. He couldn't remember Brian ever caressing him or even kissing him. When they were alone Brian was nothing like the sweet, polite, religious young man he pretended to be around others.
And Kevin... Nick felt himself getting a little choked up... Kevin kissed him and held him all night and made him feel good, even though Nick didn't deserve it. Kevin made love to him. Nick had to turn away and look out the window so they didn't see him as his eyes brimmed with tears. He tried to think about something else... like these 'N Sync guys. He was surprised that Lance, Justin and JC were all gay. They were all pretty hot guys too, and from the looks of it, Lance might be as hung as Kevin. 'Maybe they'd be up for a three-way in the limo -- we got a hour or so ride...' his mind drifted.
Meanwhile, Justin finally turned to Lance. "Well? Did you tell Alex where to take that nasty bitch?"
Lance cast a wary glance over at Nick, but the Backstreet Boy looked to be off in his own world. "I have to act like I'm dating her. They've arranged for her to show up all over the tour!"
Justin's jaw dropped. "They can't make you!"
"Yeah, they can. Alex sort of threatened me."
"No freakin way. With what?"
"I... I can't say. But it's in our contract that we have to do what they say for publicity reasons, apparently." Lance would not -- could not -- tell his friend that the 'club' Alex was using was in fact Justin's boyfriend's job. If Lance didn't play along, Terry would be fired and shipped home to DC, and Justin would probably never see him again.
"Man I am so sorry. How are you gonna tell JC?
"I don't know. He's going to be pissed."
Justin put his hand on Lance's shoulder in a friendly gesture. "He'll be okay, dude. He really loves you, and he knows what an ass Alex is. It's only for a couple months, right? And it's not like you have to sleep with her!" He smirked. "At the end of the day, you still get to be with JC."
Lance managed a little smile. "Yeah, I hope so, unless he kicks me out."
Justin's mobile phone rang. He flipped it open. "Yah, hey Terry." He smiled.
"Hey handsome, I'm sorry to bother you, but are you going to be done with your Teen Idol thing anytime soon?'
"No prob. We're on the way back now, wassup?"
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner, just you and me -- if I can tear you away from your brothers for a few hours."
"Just a sec." Justin thumbed the 'hold' button on the handset. "Hey Lance, we got any big plans for dinner tonight?"
"Nope. But we do have studio time tomorrow starting at Nine AM sharp." Lance tried to make a stern parental face, but he was smiling.
Justin took the phone off hold. "Scoop says I'm free for the evening."
"Great! There's this Italian place I know about, and then maybe we could go dancing..."
"Okay, we just have to be careful with the fan problem, especially at clubs. And we'll need to keep it low-key, if you know what I mean." Justin was acutely aware of the need to play it cool knowing what Lance was now going through.
"How could I forget? I promise no making out in public. And I'll protect you from the twelve-year-old girls."
"Terry, man, you haven't known fear until you are mobbed by a crowd of screaming teenies who start tearing at your clothes. It really is scary!"
"I'll take your word for it. Can I pick you up at Eight?"
"You got it!"
Nick cast an appraising glance over at the 'N Sync boys again. Justin looked asleep, so he decided to make his move. He'd already closed the divider between them and the chauffeur, and between it being night outside and the tinted windows it was almost pitch dark in the car. He tossed a coin onto the floor right at Lance's feet.
"Dropped something, sorry." He muttered, already on his hands and knees between Lance's legs.
"I'll turn on a light." Lance reached up.
"Naw, I got it." Nick said as his hand fell on Lance's considerable bulge.
"Oh..." Lance made a quiet, surprised sound, and froze.
Nick began to rub Lance's penis through his baggy jeans, feeling it grow. Lance spread his legs and slid lower on the leather seat. Emboldened, Nick Carter undid Lance's belt and the buttons of his fly. The huge mushroom head of Lance's cock was already poking above the waistband of his boxer-briefs. Nick licked his lips then dove on it. He hungrily sucked on the head as he and Lance worked to pull the 'N Sync boy's pants down to his ankles. Nick deep-throated as much as he could, but it was incredibly thick, larger even than Kevin's. Lance pushed on the back of Nick's head, forcing it down on his monster dick, while the Backstreet Boy hurriedly undid his own pants.
Lance just laid back and made little guttural groaning sounds. Nick sucked him and pumped his shaft while jerking his own aching penis.
Then Justin stirred. He peered sleepily over in the dim light. "What the --"
Nick let Lance's cock fall out of his mouth. "Hey baby, wanna play?" He shamelessly groped Justin through his jeans.
"Ohhhh, man!" Justin whimpered.
In a moment Nick had his pants down as well and was taking all of Justin's long cock into his eager throat. Then to Nick's guilty delight, he felt Lance move around behind him. Spit-slick fingers roughly probed his tender anus while he continued to suck hungrily on Justin's throbbing teen meat. Then Nick gasped in pain as Lance's plum-sized cock head forced its way into his ass. "Ohhh, jeez man you're tearin' me apart!"
"You like it 'that way', don't you?" Lance laughed, grabbing Nick by the hips.
The twisted irony of them quoting each other's song lyrics in this situation was not lost on Nick, and he smiled to himself -- then shuddered as Lance forced his cock halfway into his abused fuck chute.
"Yeah take that big cock, you little Backstreet slut." Lance groaned in his deep sexy voice. "Am I bigger than your buddy Kevin?"
"Oh yeah, you are Lance, I never had a cock so big! Fuck me hard!"
"Shaddup and suck me!" Justin savagely grabbed Nick by the hair and yanked him back down on his dick.
Taking the 'N Sync blond studs at both ends! Nick reveled in his own depraved accomplishment even as Lance sent the rest of his giant-sized dick into his already stretched hole. He pumped his own dick harder while sucking Justin and slamming his ass back to meet Lance's thrusts full-force. He wanted to be filled with 'N Sync cum!
"Nick! We're there! Snap out of it!" Justin gave the Backstreet Boy a nudge on the shoulder. Nick was grateful that the dark hid his flushed face and the hardon in his pants. 'Damn that was a hot fantasy! Now I need to get off. I wonder if Kevin's around?'
They climbed out of the limo, and Nick hurried away with hardly a word.
Lance shook his head. "That Nick is an odd guy. I think he's got some 'issues' to resolve."
"Yah don' know the HALF of it!" Justin rolled his eyes.
Inside the hotel, they paused in front of Justin's room. "Have a nice dinner with Terry." Lance said with a gentle smile.
But as Lance was turning to go, Justin gently took his arm. "Uh, can I ask you somethin... kinda personal?"
"Sure."
"You wanna come in for a minute?" Justin unlocked his door. "Sorry, my room's a wreck, what else is new?"
Lance didn't say anything, but carefully removed some clothes from a chair and sat. "So what's up?"
"Well..." Justin paced around the room nervously, picking up a few items of clothing and moving them around but not really accomplishing anything. "This is kind of embarrassin', but you're the one I'm least afraid to ask. It's about uh... sex."
Lance looked skeptically at the curly-headed singer. "Don't tell me that I have to tell YOU about the birds and the bees!"
"Well, more like da bees and the bees, if you get my drift."
Lance just looked at him for a minute. "So you and Terry haven't, uh..."
"Nah, we're just kinda messin around. But I think I'm ready to go further... whatever that means." He shrugged with a little smile.
Lance had to admit that Justin could turn on the charm when he wanted. He was a really cute guy, and genuinely a sweet person. He felt a little pang of self-doubt, wondering once more how JC could possibly prefer him over this handsome, kind, talented young man. "And I was worried about you practicing safe sex! Have you even talked about what guys do together? I guess I just assumed that he had done it all before." Lance felt a little awkward discussing this, even with his close friend.
"Well, we talked about it a little, but I'm still kinda nervous. I guess he has done it all before, but WE haven't done it yet, and I don't want to look like a fool, yah know. I mean, obviously I know what guys and chicks do, and I got a pretty good idea what two guys can do, but that's all just talk."
"Well, JC and I didn't really know what we were doing; we just had to figure it out. I'm sure Terry understands that you're new to the whole thing. It's not like he's going to expect you to be an expert off the bat." Lance shrugged. "It'll be okay, really."
But Justin wasn't satisfied. "But, y'know, what's it like when... I mean, you guys have like done the 'big thing' right?"
Lance blushed. "Well, yeah, if I know what you mean by that."
"So what's it like?"
Lance threw up his hands. "Justin, I'm not going to tell you the details of JC's and my sex life!"
"I guess I'm scared, okay!" Justin half shouted. Then he continued more softly, "I'm sorry man. I jus' was hoping you could help me out. Like, um, does it hurt?"
Lance half smiled, and felt himself getting redder. "Well, I guess it depends on how uhh, big he is and how careful he is. It does hurt at first, but then it starts to feel really good. It... it's hard to explain, cause it's not just a physical thing. You're joined together and it's the most wonderful feeling when you know you're making him feel good at the same time..." He trailed off.
Justin was looking at him with a curious expression. He saw how happy Lance was being with JC, and it hurt him deeply that HE wasn't the one to be with his long-time friend and first love Joshua Chasez, but he managed to find it in himself to be glad for them, and to hope that he and Terry could strive for that same relationship the other boys shared. He sat next to Lance and put a hand on his arm. "You guys are so good for each other. If it's anyone that's gonna be with JC, I'm glad it's you, Scoop. You're the kindest, most..." he struggled for the word, "...compassionate guy I know. I'm really happy for you." He said quietly, then suddenly pulled Lance into a hug.
"Thanks Jus', I appreciate that." Lance returned the hug. "But I want to ask you, Terry isn't rushing you or anything is he?"
Justin sat back and looked earnestly at Lance. "No! He is bein' so patient, not rushing me at all!"
"That's good. Everything will go fine with you guys, I'm sure. Just be safe. Now, if that's all you need, I have to face the music with JC." He frowned.
"He'll be cool with it." Justin said, hoping he was right.
After Lance had gone he looked at his watch: just after Seven PM. He had an hour to get ready -- and to call his mother. He decided to get changed first, and started peeling off his clothes.
"WHAT!? You have to date some WOMAN?!? What the FUCK is that about!?!?" Joshua Chasez flung the magazine he had been reading across the room.
Lance had not seen JC so upset in ages. He never swore in anger like that. "I have to, she's just a... a beard. For a few months."
"So will she be sleeping with us too?" JC's voice dripped sarcasm.
"Please, Josh! No of course not,. But apparently I have to, like, eat dinner with her when she's around, and go out and dance with her some when we go out -- basically appear in public a lot like we're dating. But we can all still go out together to clubs.
"And will she be on the tour with us?" JC was still glaring.
"No, at least I don't think so." Lance trailed off. "They're going to fax me a schedule in a day or so."
JC slumped on the bed and put his face in his hands. "Can't you just tell them 'no'?" His voice was muffled but Lance could hear the pleading in it.
"I can't, they're... they're holding something over my head." Lance wanted to tell JC about the threat, but he didn't know how his lover would react. 'He's just getting to accept Terry, and this might make JC resent him all over again. And Josh might think I'm doing it for selfish reasons, because it they did get rid of Terry, Justin wouldn't have a boyfriend and he'd be pining for JC again. Maybe that's why I AM doing it, at least partly. I don't want to see Justin get hurt, but it is a relief that he's found someone besides JC that he likes. I'd like to think that JC will always feel this way about me, but he and Justin...' Lance was having trouble shaking off his irrational insecurity.
"What? How bad can it be?" JC looked up.
"I can't tell you." Lance stood and stared out the sliding door to the balcony.
JC came over to stand behind him and put his arms around the blond. "You know you can tell me anything." He rested his chin on Lance's shoulder.
"It concerns someone else; it's not fair for me to tell."
"You and someone else?"
"No!" Lance said forcefully, turning to face JC. "You know I've never been with anyone but you -- and I don't WANT to be!" He looked pleadingly at JC, his green eyes filled with hurt.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. But I can't help if you don't talk to me."
"There's nothing you can do." Lance's voice broke.
JC took Lance in his arms and held him tight. "I can share the pain with you, maybe make it less." He whispered.
'God I want to tell him.' Lance thought. 'Trust him, trust him. He's your friend... he loves you.' He let out a long sigh. "Maybe later, okay? I just need to think for awhile."
Lance felt JC tense, then he stepped away. "If that's what you want, okay." There was a chill in Josh's voice that made Lance's heart ache.
"I'm sorry, JC, please, it's just so confusing right now." He turned to face JC, but the taller youth was already moving toward the door.
"Well, I'll leave you alone to think for awhile then. I've got some calls to make; I'll just be in my room." And he walked out the door.
'What have I done? Why didn't I just tell him?' Lance thought angrily. 'I've let this stupid trick of Alex's come between us.' He wanted to run after JC and apologize and tell him everything, but still he hesitated. 'I'll tell him tonight.' He assured himself. He went out on the balcony and looked out across Los Angeles, thinking about what a huge, cold place this city was. He missed his home, his parents. But what would they think about their son now? He would have to tell them soon about himself. Lance put his head down, feeling the cool balcony railing against his skin. He longed for JC's arms around him... he already felt so empty inside without him.
Justin sat on the bed, the phone next to him. This was the moment of truth; he couldn't put it off any longer. He dialed his home number in Orlando.
"Hello?"
"Hey mom!" At least he didn't have to fake being cheerful. It always made him smile just to hear his mother's voice.
"Justin honey! I was just thinking about you! Are you back from Hawaii?"
"Yup! And we filmed the Teen People Awards show today. Guess who's the number one heartthrob!"
"I bet it's that cute Nick Carter from Backstreet Boys. I voted for him." She teased.
"Mom! How could you?" Justin laughed. "It's ME, can you believe it?"
"Well, I'm not surprised, my boy is every girl's dream. Just don't get an even bigger head than you already do, mister."
"Aw, mom, you know I won't. It's an honor though, I guess."
"Of course it is. So how are things going otherwise?"
"Great! We're getting a lot of stuff done here, and we'll be back in Orlando in a couple days I think. But there's something I need to talk to you about."
"I'm hearing the serious voice, son. Nothing bad is it?" Lynn began to worry that maybe something was wrong.
"Well, I think it's good news. Mom, I've met someone really special."
Lynn's breath caught. Justin had dated before of course, but it was obviously just a casual going-out kind of thing, like with his friend Britney Spears. This sounded more serious. Was her son ready for a real relationship? "That's wonderful, honey! Tell me all about her!" She managed to say with enthusiasm.
"Well, I have to explain something. I need you to be understanding." Justin paused.
Now Lynn was worried. What kind of girl was it? Someone older? Someone he met in Hawaii...? Her mind raced. "Okay, honey, you know I trust you. Go ahead."
"This special person isn't a girl. It's a guy. I think I'm in love with a guy. I'm... I'm gay, mom."
Lynn Harliss was stunned into silence. Her handsome, strapping son, her oldest child, just told her he was gay. Her baby Justin, worshipped and dreamt about by hundreds of thousands of girls around the world, just told her that he liked boys. He would never get married, never have children, never... Lynn slumped into a chair. She was having trouble breathing. Maybe... maybe he just thought he was in love with another boy, maybe it was just a phase. But her heart told her that that was probably wishful thinking; in fact, there was a part of her that wasn't really all that surprised; a part that already knew -- or at least suspected -- that her son was homosexual. And besides, Justin was not given to making rash pronouncements. 'Okay, Lynn, deep breath, be supportive. He's still your son; he'll always be your son.' She told herself.
"Mom? You there?" Justin's voice trembled. This was what he was afraid of, the awful silence.
"Y-yes, honey, I'm here, it's okay sweetie. It's a lot to absorb, that's all. You sound very sure about... about being gay."
"Yeah. I think I've known deep down for a long time, but either I was afraid to admit it to myself, or just didn't really understand it. I guess that explains why I've never been much into dating, huh!" He laughed nervously at the way the words just came tumbling out.
"I guess it does. Well, won't all those girls with your picture on their wall be disappointed!" Lynn tried to be lighthearted back at him.
"They don't need to find out, at least not for a long time. Johnny Wright already had a talk with Lance and JC about keeping things under wraps."
"Why did he talk to Lance and JC?" But Lynn knew the answer to that before she finished the question. She'd always thought Lance might be gay, and JC... She found herself wishing that if Justin was going to be with a boy it would be Joshua Chasez. He had always looked after Justin in MMC, and they were such good friends. But apparently...
"Oh, oops. I guess you're gonna find out about that too. When they were marooned out in that cove, they kinda had a waddaya call it..."
"Revelation?"
"Yah, mebbe. Anyway, turns out both of them's been holding a secret thing for the other! It's really so cool, mom, they are so in love with each other. You should see them together now."
"I have a feeling I will, since JC has been living here." Lynn said blithely. 'What's he going to tell me next?' She wondered, her mind still in a whirl of confusion. "Will Lance be moving in, or will JC move out? Lance is welcome, of course." She added.
"We haven't talked about it, everything has kinda happened really fast. But I'll tell them what you said. I'm sure Lance will be relieved, you know how polite he is and he wouldn't want to impose."
"So, um, who is this boy you like? I guess it's not someone else in the group, since you said you just met him recently."
"He is so cool, mom! He came to Hawaii with us to help with the video production and he's also like this computer genius and he knows martial arts and he skydives, and he's really nice - -" Justin started talking faster and faster until Lynn had to stop him.
"Okay, hold on, sweetheart! So, what's his name?"
"Terry, Terry McLaren."
"And he works for Trans-Con? That's convenient."
"Yeah, he's gonna be touring with us, doing this internet-web thing that he'll update all the time."
"So, have you been seeing a lot of each other?"
"Well, kinda." Justin felt himself blushing. He knew what his mother was REALLY asking. "But we're taking it slow, if you know what I mean. He's a little older but he's very cool about going one step at a time."
Lynn sighed with relief. So at least it sounded like this guy wasn't just using her son as some kind of conquest to be cast aside when he was done. "That's good to know, honey. And of course, you know to be careful..."
"Of course mom. And I know he would want to. He really is so nice to me. He's taking me out to dinner tonight." Justin smiled again just thinking about Terry. "But now I need to ask you. Can he stay with us, until the tour starts I mean? He's from DC, and they have all this work for him in Orlando, and I hate for him to have to be in a hotel."
"You know there's plenty of room here, honey, and any... friend... of yours is welcome. I'd be lyin' if I said that I didn't have any reservations about all this, but you're an adult now, and I trust you. I'll make up a room for him. Where he actually sleeps is your own business. I'm just asking that you be careful until we can explain this to your little brother, okay?"
"Sure mom, I understand. Thanks."
"Well, I just want you to be happy, dear. I can't wait to meet this nice young man."
"He's really great, mom, he treats me special."
"He'd better be good to my boy!"
"Thanks mom, for understanding. I love you!"
"I love you too sweetheart."
Justin hung up the phone and sighed. 'That went about as good as I could have hoped!'
"Man that was great!" Justin grinned as the waiter took away his plate.
Terry had managed to finagle a booth back in a corner. There had been a few glances at Justin, but so far he hadn't been recognized. Besides, there weren't many kids in here, and it was LA after all; there were celebrities everywhere.
The evening couldn't have been more perfect. Justin told him about talking to his mother and how well it had gone. Terry was deeply relieved, but the idea of meeting Justin's mother was still frankly terrifying.
Justin was still raving about dinner. "The ziti was the best! And that dessert! I feel like I'm gonna explode."
"Well, maybe you can dance it off." Terry said as he signed the credit card slip. "Ready?"
"Yeah." As they slipped out of the booth, Justin caught Terry's hand and snuck a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you."
Terry felt himself blush. "You're welcome, babe."
They took a cab to a place called the Paramount; Justin had been there before and said it was mixed gay and straight, and at 18 at least he could get in, unlike some clubs which were 21 and over only.
At first Terry was a little self-conscious because Justin was an incredible dancer, but the teenager eventually got him to relax a little.
"You know..." Justin said, gently grabbing the designer by the shoulders and shaking him, while he had to almost shout in his ear over the music, "You dance like Lance does at clubs: you never move your feet!" Then he sensuously rubbed his body against Terry's.
"I guess I don't have your natural talent." Terry smirked. "And so much for being low- key!"
"Oops!" Justin smirked. "But as for dancin, hey, this is years of teaching myself while watching MTV. Oh yeah, and a few years of lessons on MMC and with 'N Sync."
"Lance has had years of lessons too, and he still can't dance." Terry put his hands on Justin's narrow hips.
"Hey, don' be dissin mah peep!"
"I'm sorry. You know I like Lance a lot, but he's just not a natural dancer like you and JC."
"I know what you mean. But he tries so hard. He's not into performing as much as us, but he still gives it everything he has, every show."
"So are you feeling more comfortable with him and JC together?" Terry asked tentatively.
The curly-headed blond paused for a moment before answering. "Lance is a good friend, and I couldn't really be mad at him. I'll always have some feelings for JC -- don' be gettin' jealous! -- but I see how happy they are together, and I feel glad for them. And of course I have someone of my own I like a whole lot." He grinned.
The dance floor was getting crowded, people pressing together. Terry noticed a group of young women at the bar watching them and talking. One pointed to Justin.
"I think you're busted." He said to the blond over the pounding music.
"We may have to go soon." Justin said seriously, glancing around like a trapped animal. "Keep an eye out for a back door."
"Can it really be that bad?"
Just then the DJ came on as the song faded to a beat. "I've just been told we have a very special guest in the Paramount tonight..."
The new song picked up, and Terry thought he recognized a fractured melody through the heavy remix.
"...Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync!" And then the melody kicked in with JC's opening line scratched: "It's Tear-tear-tear-tearin' up my heart when I'm with you..."
And an eardrum-piercing shriek went up through the room.
Justin put his head down like he was dodging bullets and grabbed Terry's hand. "We gots ta GO!"
Amidst the pounding of the song, the flashing lights and fog, Terry started towards the door. But Justin had been right: there was already a crowd of girls (and a few guys) near the entrance, obviously searching. He had noticed what looked like a kitchen door and pulled the blond after him. They ran into the service area, startling a few waiters before bursting out into an alley.
"That was close! Do you think they'll follow us out here?" Terry asked, looking around at the dumpsters and trash in the dim streetlight. The steel door slammed shut behind them.
"Naw, they'll look around inside for awhile first. Nice smell!" Justin wrinkled his nose. He still held Terry's hand.
"Okay, we just need to get back to the main road and get a cab. This way I think."
But they only ended up on another service road behind another club. They turned around to go back, and found the way blocked by four young men, all with buzzed hair. They did not look friendly. Terry got a sinking feeling in his stomach. Justin squeezed his hand hard then let go.
"Look what we got here." The closest boy said.
"Looks like what we got is a couple of fags." Sneered another youth. Terry noticed that he had a baseball bat he'd been holding behind him.
"Goddamn cocksucking faggots." Said another, pulling something out of his pocket.
"Wanna suck my cock, pretty boy?" The lead one grabbed his crotch and leered at Justin.
"In your dreams." The singer said with surprising confidence.
"He's a spunky one!" Laughed the leader. "We can have some fun with him after we take care of this one."
"We don't want any trouble." Terry held his hands up. 'God please get us out of this. I can't bear the thought of them hurting Justin...' He took deep, even breaths and prepared himself.
"That's too bad, cause trouble is what you got." One of the guys said and they all laughed. The lead one pulled out a switchblade and took a step forward. SNICK The gleaming blade appeared. The others began to spread out to encircle them.
Terry, without taking his eyes off the boys, whispered to Justin, "Stay behind me. I'll handle this." He backed up so he had a dumpster on his right, narrowing the alley and preventing them for getting past him to Justin.
'Watch the eyes, not the hands...' Terry anticipated the leader's lunge and with a blinding fast kick sent the knife skittering across the alley. The leader grabbed his hand just as the black-belt whirled again and caught him across the head with his foot. The punk went staggering against a wall. The next two charged: Terry blocked one and caught the other with a hand to the ear. His following roundhouse kick was meant to get them both but only connected with one. Terry managed to get him coming around again but he could only partially block the baseball bat coming towards him from the fourth. Pain raced from his right forearm to his shoulder. Was it broken? No time to think about that. A high kick took the bat boy out, his head meeting the brick wall with a sickening sound, and the bat clattering away. The leader was getting up, and he had his knife again.
"Had enough?" Terry said, his chest heaving from exertion. Where was Justin? Was he all right?"
The leader said nothing, but Terry saw the flick of his eyes and a trace of smile. Someone had gotten behind him. He had to turn and face the opponent for a moment and leave himself open to the leader. He spun to his left, barely blocked the knife -- it slashed his shirt -- and grabbed the youth's arm, with the intent of throwing him into the leader. But his injured right arm betrayed him. As he turned back his strength failed and the throw went right. He braced himself for the knife as the other boy flopped onto his back, but instead he heard a sickening CRACK and watched as the leader collapsed to the oily street. Behind him Justin clutched the baseball bat, his face a mask of rage. The other youth stirred and Justin raised the bat again...
"No!" Terry grabbed the bat. "Justin, let's go!"
The teenager seemed to snap out of it and let go of the bat in disgust. Terry quickly wiped the handle with his sleeve to remove Justin's fingerprints then dropped the bloody weapon.
They ran down the alley and found their way to a main street. But just before they reached it, Justin doubled over.
"Oh, god...!" He started heaving and a moment later up came the remains of his dinner.
Terry fought to keep is own stomach under control while he tried to comfort the teenager. "It's okay Jus, it's all right, let it go." He wiped Justin's mouth with his shirt tail, worried by the look of fear and horror on his face -- and the fact that he hadn't spoken since the incident. They stumbled out onto the main street, bustling with people. 'Two different worlds just a few dozen yards from each other.' Terry thought bitterly. There was still no sign of their attackers. Terry flagged a cab and in just a moment they were safe inside, headed back to the hotel.
Justin curled up against him, resting his head on Terry's shoulder, and remained very still... except the designer could feel him trembling. He didn't made a sound until they were almost at the hotel, just kept his eyes closed. The experience had frankly terrified Terry and he hated to think of how it must have affected Justin. Suddenly the teenager whispered "So, those were gay-bashers. They wanted to beat us up because we are gay."
"Yes."
"I guess I've had a sheltered life. I read about this sort of thing, but I didn't really believe there were people like that. People who hate you for being gay, or black..."
"I'm really, really sorry Justin. I never should have taken you someplace like that, away from your bodyguards. You could have been hurt, or worse."
"If you didn't know how to fight, they might have killed us. You protected me."
"It was my fault you were there in the first place. I... I don't think I could live with myself if anything had happened to you."
Justin shuddered, and Terry pulled him tighter with his uninjured arm. "But I'm not hurt, thanks to you. And... one of them hit you didn't he? Are you alright?". He gently touched Terry's right forearm.
The designer winced. "I think it's just bruised. I'll need some ice."
"Are you sure? Maybe we should go to the emergency room."
"No, I'm sure, and I don't want to have to spend half the night in a hospital."
"Well, I guess I'll just have to nursemaid you then." Justin managed a smile just as the cab arrived at the hotel. "My hero."
Justin was as good as his word, making Terry lie on the bed while he got ice, put it in a bag inside a towel and helped hold it to his arm. A huge bruise was forming, but the arm didn't seem to be broken. The blond laid on the bed next to Terry and gently stroked his hair. "I guess our big night will have to be delayed again." He sighed.
"I'm just grateful you're okay, buddy." Terry leaned over and kissed the beautiful singer on the cheek. He wrapped his good arm around Justin and pulled him close.
The obnoxiously loud hotel phone woke Lance from a disturbing, incoherent dream. "Hello?" He said blearily. He didn't even remember crawling into bed for a nap.
"Scoop! It's Joe, remember me?"
"Hey Joey," Lance smiled. "What's going on?"
"Since Justy is out on his hot date I thought the rest of us losers might go to the Hard Rock for dinner -- give JC a little thrill."
Lance's smile widened. "Good idea, man, have you talked to JC yet?"
"He's not with you?" Joey's voice took on a note of concern.
"No, he's in his room I think; he said he had to make some phone calls. And I needed a nap."
"Okay. Just so everything is cool with my two lovebirds." Joey teased.
"I'll ask JC about Hard Rock, okay?" Lance asked.
"Sure, just let me know. Chris is here in my room; we're trying to hook up the Nintendo, so we'll be here awhile."
"Hey!" Chris yelled from the background.
Lance hung up and dialed JC's room.
"Yah-ah?" He picked up after the first ring.
"I love you." Lance blurted out. It wasn't what he had planned to say.
"I... I love you too, you know that Lance."
"I know. I'm sorry. Can you come over, please?"
"Be right there."
As good as his word, JC was at Lance's door in under a minute. Lance threw the door open and both boys broke into a smile, though each noticed how haggard the other looked.
JC barely got in the door before Lance threw his arms around him. "I missed you, how pathetic is that?" He sighed.
JC hugged him back. "Not pathetic at all, unless I am just as bad." He regretted walking out on Lance before, and promised himself he wouldn't pressure his lover about the issue.
"I... I want to tell you about what Alex said, if you still want to hear it. But there's nothing you can do." Lance sighed.
"If you want to tell me, I'm here to listen. If you don't want to, I understand."
"Well, here goes." Lance pulled back a bit to look into JC's eyes. "If I don't date Danielle, they are going to fire Terry and send him away; they'll break up Justin and him."
"Oh my god." JC tightened his hold on Lance a bit -- protectively, almost instinctively. "Those bastards; they would hurt Justin to preserve their precious bottom line. They are more sleazy than I could have thought!"
"It's pretty sick." Lance agreed.
"I understand why you didn't want to tell me, but I'm glad you did. You're a good man, James; that's why I love you. They won't take Terry from Justin. We'll deal with this girlfriend thing. It'll be all right."
The four guys had a pretty relaxed dinner at Hard Rock with a minimum of fan craziness. Lance and JC decided not to tell Joey and Chris about the Alex issue just yet.
After dinner JC followed Lance back to his room like a puppy. "Can I come in?" He grinned.
The blond felt relieved; when JC had walked out that afternoon it had frightened him even more than he wanted to admit. Once they were inside, he came up behind JC and wrapped his arms around him. "I love you." He said quietly, resting his head JC's shoulder. "I seem to keep repeating myself."
Joshua put his hands on top of Lance's and sighed. "I love you too baby, so much."
"What's the matter, Josh?"
"I should be excited about this tour but now I'm starting to dread it. All the media, the lack of privacy, this crap with your 'girlfriend' -- I know it's not your fault." He added quickly as he felt Lance's grip tighten. "I'm just scared, that's all. I would rather you and I could just go somewhere and be alone."
"Nothing will come between us, I swear. Not Danielle, not our managers, not anything." Lance said, his voice gathering strength. He turned the compliant JC around so they were facing. "Okay?" He smiled and gave Josh a squeeze.
JC couldn't help but feel warmed by Lance's words. "Thanks, babe." He hugged Lance back, leaned down and brushed his lips against the blond's.
Lance closed his eyes and moaned, leaning into the embrace. They rubbed their lips together lightly as their hands roamed over each other's backs. At first their caresses were gentle and light, each just enjoying the other's nearness. But soon their kisses grew more forceful, their fingers digging into the firm flesh of their backs and gluteals. Lance's tongue snaked into JC's mouth, earning a low groan from the taller boy.
"Ohhh god..." Lance dragged his mouth off JC's, his lips leaving a wet trail across the other boy's cheek. "Josh you are so hot, I could never get tired of this." He groaned between breaths.
"Back at you Scoop." JC said with a playful growl. "You feel so right, so natural in my arms. Only you, only my Lance."
"You make me feel so good when you say that." Lance murmured, his voice tightening. "God I am so lucky. I... ohhhh."
Lance lost his train of thought when JC cupped his firm ass and ground their already-hard dicks together. Both shuddered with the intensity of their passion, their deep, consuming love for each other.
"James... my sweet, kind, sexy, gentle, cute James." JC whispered in his ear, then hugged him with all his strength, taking the blond's breath away and almost lifting him off his feet. Then he half carried Lance to the bed and gently lowered him onto the covers.
Lance laid there, looking up at JC with a dreamy smile on his face. "I... I just can't believe it. You are too... too... incredible."
Josh settled himself onto his lover. "You'd better believe it baby, cause you're stuck with me for as long as you can stand me." He smiled sexily.
They lay together, just kissing and holding each other for a long time, and looking into each others' eyes in the dim light.
Finally Lance sighed contentedly and said, "Joshua Chasez, I love you with all my heart. No one will come before you. If we could do it, I would ask you to..." He stopped, suddenly unable to say the words.
JC's eyebrows went up, his gaze becoming even more intense than normal. "To what?" He hoped he knew what the blond would say.
Lance took a deep breath. "No, you'll think it's silly."
"You know me far better than that, James Lance Bass" JC said earnestly.
But Lance only smiled. "Someday, maybe I'll tell you. It can wait." He ran his hands over JC's shoulders, down his arms, his fingers lingering over the bracelet, his gift to JC. Then he wrapped his arms around Josh and hugged him tight. "But for now, just let me hold you."
JC leaned down and nuzzled Lance's neck, his mind in a turmoil of love and desire and hope and questions. 'Would he? Would he... marry me? Can two guys even do that?' He wondered. The idea of them pledging their love to each other in a ceremony... it appealed to him on a deep, spiritual level. But for now, to be with Lance, just the two of them together... that was enough. He allowed himself to relax and surrender finally in Lance's arms, to be held by him and feel his lover's strength and protection.
As they lay contentedly together, a paper slid under the door. It was a fax addressed to Lance Bass, from Alex Sommers, associate talent manager of Trans Con. It contained a listing of the 'N Sync tour dates, with many of them highlighted to indicate the ones where Danielle Fischel would be scheduled to meet Lance. At the bottom was a handwritten note...
'Lance,
Danielle sends her love! She is looking forward to spending some time alone with you on the tour and is thrilled that I was able to get you two together at so many stops. I think you two make a great couple! Hope you don't mind but I think some of the teen magazines may have gotten wind of this.
Johnny and Lou thank you in advance for your cooperation on the matter we discussed; you know it is for the best. Regards to JC, Chris, Joey, Justin -- and Terry.
-- Alex'
End of Part TWELVE!
Trouble ahead for the perfect couple?
To be continued -- Course!!!
Email me and tell me what you think about where things are going, the characters who have appeared recently, and how you think things are going with Justin and Terry, and of course Lance and JC!!! I really appreciate the mails I get regularly from those certain people --thank you! But I know there are lots of others out there and I want to hear from you too! lictor (at) aol (dot) com