'N SYNC: LANCE 'N' JC CHAPTER 16 ----------
Usual disclaimer applies: This is a work of fiction. It is not meant to imply anything about the orientation, beliefs or anything else about the real members of 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, or anyone else depicted here. If you are under 18, or are offended by graphic depictions of homosexual relationships, please go back now.
Story content copyright Copyright 1999 T. Kevin.
Author's note:
I've included the last dialogue from part 15 here partly cause I had a formatting screw-up -- the paragraphs all ran together. :( That's what I get for using Word98, thanks Bill Gates, and congrats on that antitrust suit!
So here it is again, a little review...
Kevin
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Terry stared at the beautiful, perfect red roses, his vision blurring with tears. He angrily dried his eyes, torn with indecision. What harm would it do to call Justin? He owed him that at least, after his cowardly departure without even saying good-bye. A part of him hoped he could just leave a message as he winced and dialed Justin's cell phone number from memory. It rang once, twice...
In Orlando, Justin Timberlake was still at home, lying on his bed and waiting for the others to get ready so they could head off to practice. His cell phone rang and he snatched it up, looking at the Caller ID display. Cybermedia... he flipped it open.
"Terry!" Justin's voice rang with joy.
Terry winced. "Hi, Justin. Um, thank you for the flowers, they're beautiful."
"Happy Valentine's Day! I'm sorry they're a day late. I hope you weren't embarrassed to get them at work; I couldn't get your home address."
"No, not at all. People are jealous actually. Who else gets three dozen roses, much less from a handsome pop idol?"
Justin felt himself smiling. "I'm glad you like them." He sat slowly on the edge of his bed.
"So, um, how are you? I know you're busy." Terry fiddled nervously with the phone cord.
"I've got time. And to answer your first question, I could be better, to tell the truth."
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry don't cut it, Terry." Justin wasn't known for pulling punches, and it was time to cut to the chase. "I can't believe you left like that."
"I told you in my note, I didn't understand the whole Britney thing... I don't understand 'us'..."
"I would have explained it to you! She's just a friend... less than that really. She's changed." He frowned. "I know it didn't look good and I went after you, but you were gone already. Britney likes to pretend we're dating, but we never were, and we never will be. It's one of those Mickey Mouse Club things. And our management wanted to have me seen with her, sort of like they are doing with Lance and Danielle now, trying to cover him being gay."
"That's part of it too." Terry said quietly. "You guys live in a different world; an artificial one. Yeah, I got your message, and I understand about her now I guess. But she's just part of the whole thing. You can't be open about your life."
"I know it's different, but it's not that bad, you'll get used to it!"
"Justin..."
"Listen! I'm really sorry, Terry. I appreciated all the things you said in your letter, and I forgive you for the comment the other morning. I was being too sensitive. But at the time it was a lot for me to take, and I was confused."
"I was confused too, Justin. I was scared."
The silence grew uncomfortable, then Justin blurted, "Come to Orlando. Please."
"I can't Justin, I have a job here. And this is my home."
"Don' gimme that! Home is where there's someone who loves you, man!" The singer leapt off the bed. "I love you!" He nearly shouted into the phone, holding his hand to his chest.
"Justin, you don't know what you're saying. You don't know me... you don't want to." Terry was finding it hard to talk. Why was he doing this to himself? To Justin?
"Why are you trying to push me away!?"
"I... I don't even know. I just..."
"Terry, listen to me. My mom told me the one thing she learned after she and dad divorced was you can't just keep things bottled up inside -- you gotta talk out your feelings. Why can't you talk to me? Don't you think I'll understand?"
"No! It's not that at all. You... you overwhelm me." Terry said quietly.
Justin couldn't hold back a bitter laugh. "You're kidding, right?"
"You know I'm not, and you know the effect you have on people."
Justin banged his fist on his dresser angrily. "Man that's just wrong. You know me better than that by now. You know how I respect you!"
"Yeah, and that scares me more. I'm afraid I won't live up to your expectations."
"It's not 'bout what I expect! I just want the 'you' I knew when we were together!"
"It's not that simple."
"Yes it is! Tell me you don't miss me!"
"Justin, I..."
"Tell me! Tell me you don't miss me, tell me you don't want to see me and I'll leave you alone!!"
"Dammit Justin of course I miss you." Terry closed his eyes tiredly. "But don't you see how crazy this is? What happens if we have a fight, there we are living on that bus together..."
"Jeez, you so want to look for trouble, don't you?" Justin stormed around the room. You don't think the five of us fight!? Oh my god I could tell you stories! But we're not stupid. We work it out and make up. There ain't no room for grudges and crap like that."
"I don't know." Terry began to think he never should have called. Justin's voice, his arguments, were weakening his resolve. And it didn't help that he was picturing the singer, remembering being with him... "I need to think about it."
"Don't think too long. You know the tour starts March 3."
"I know. I do miss you."
"I miss you too." Justin sighed.
"Well, thanks again. I gotta go."
"Bye."
"Good-bye Justin."
When he heard the connection end, Justin slowly closed his phone and flopped on the bed.
Terry put the receiver on the cradle. He sat staring, unseeing, at the computer monitor.
"Want to talk about it?"
The designer nearly jumped out of his chair. Leaning in the entry to his cubicle was Jeremy, languidly twirling the end of his headset cord around his finger.
"You scared the shit out of me! Were you listening?" Terry glared at him.
"Only the last bit, sorry, but you know me. So which one is it?" He nodded over towards the picture of 'N Sync. "Wait, let me guess..." He leaned in. "I don't know the boy bands like you do; give me Madonna any day. But I bet I can guess..." After looking at them for a moment, he pointed to Lance. "Him."
Terry had to smile at Jeremy's insight. "Well, to tell you the truth going into it, I had kind of a crush on him. How did you know?"
"Cause he looks like the sweet, innocent one. You always seem to go for the guy who at least looks like he's sensitive. And besides, he looks the most gay."
Well... I probably shouldn't tell you."
Jeremy rolled his eyes melodramatically. "Oh god, I swear not to tell a living soul! Feel better?"
"Not much, but it will have to do. Actually, Lance -- the one you picked -- is gay, but he's involved with this one, JC."
"Hmm, that IS juicy!" Jeremy smirked. "JC is pretty sexy, too. Nice eyes. Hmm, that leaves the one with the strange hair, the jail bait, and the one with goatee. He's not bad, but I would have said he was straight."
"He is straight." Terry said quietly.
"Oh please! not the one with the hair from hell!"
"No, this one, Justin."
"Ohmygawd Terry! He's a pretty thing all right, but how old is he? HE sent you the flowers?"
"He just turned 18 a month or so ago. But he's very mature!"
"Oh, that's what they all say!"
Terry frowned and looked away.
"I'm kidding, sister, lighten up! If he took the initiative to send you flowers, he must be all right. So what happened? You have a fight? Looks like he wants to make up! My god, honey, want me to book your flight!?"
Terry smiled and shook his head.
"You sure? I'd run to that boy's arms in no time flat!! Or is he a little prima donna, or a total airhead or something?"
"No, he's actually not at all conceited, and he's pretty damn smart. It's more complicated than that."
"Oh there you go. I know you Terry McLaren, it's only more complicated in that computer-brain of yours. Quit over-analyzing! Honey, I'd give anything to wake up every morning to that vision. I bet he has a hot little body too."
"You're terrible. But yeah, he... he's beautiful."
"I knew it!" Jeremy gloated, then he turned serious again. "Terry, I've known you a few years now, and I think I've got a pretty good take on you. Let go, just a little. Open up. This guy must really like you, and I have a sneaking suspicion you really like him. What is the worst that can happen?"
"He breaks my heart?" Terry looked up sadly. "Or worse, I disappoint him?"
Trust me sweetheart, anyone who wants you bad enough to send you these when he didn't do anything wrong in the first place is not going to break your heart -- at least not on purpose. And as for disappointing him, apparently you haven't yet. You need to have a little more faith in yourself, bud. And if you don't do this, you will regret it for the rest of your life." He shook his finger at Terry like a lecturing schoolmarm.
"Thank you, mother." Terry smirked. "But I don't know if I could stand touring with them on a bus for months at a time."
"I dunno man, sounds like fun to me, touring around the country with a bus full of teen idols. But I'm not 27 pushing 40 like you are." And he bolted down the hall before Terry could smack him.
In Orlando, the guys settled into a daily routine. Lance stayed with JC at Justin's house, while Joey moved back in with his older brother Steve. Steve was going on the tour with them, running one of the cameras that fed to the big monitor at the back of the stage. The plan was that he would ride on the same bus with his brother and the other guys, so one of the first things Joey did when he got back was to explain the new 'living situation' to his brother. They were in Steve's living room, watching basketball and having a few beers when he broke the news.
Steve was a little surprised, to say the least. "JC is a fag? And Justin? I mean, I figured Lance was, but as long as he didn't like, hit on me, I was cool with it. But all three of them?"
Joey shrugged. Yeah, well, I had my suspicions. And don't call them 'fags'. It's insulting."
Steve rolled his eyes. "C'mon man, doesn't it bother you, just a little? I mean, JC and Lance, butt-buddies! It's unnatural! Gives me the heebie-jeebies just to think about it." He made an exaggerated shuddering motion.
Joey frowned. "Hey, man they are my best friends; I don't care what they do in bed. And don't get all high-and-righteous! I'm sure you've done some unnatural acts in your time."
"Yeah, but only with chicks!" Steve countered with a laugh. "So... who's the girl? Lance? Isn't one of them always the girl?"
"No! Man, that is another one of those preconceptions. And I thought you didn't want to know what they did?!"
"I don't! So, are they gonna, like, do it on the bus? Am I gonna have to watch them kiss and make out and shit?"
"Well, it's a secret of course, so they don't do anything in public. But they do stuff any other couple does when it's just us."
"Gross!"
"Get used to it buddy, or you can ride in the other bus." Joey looked away, disappointed in his brother.
"That's an option." Steve sulked. "Hey, what about Justin?"
"What about him?"
"How did you find out he is a fag -- I mean, uh, gay? He always seemed like a cool guy to me."
"Jeez man he is still a cool guy! As for how he came out, that's a long story. But he hooked up with a guy who was doing some internet stuff for us. He was gonna roll with us on the tour too, but that's kind of up in the air right now."
"God! So there might be two pairs of 'em kissing and stuff? I dunno, man..." Steve shook his head.
"Well, you can always find yourself another job, bro."
Steve looked over at Joey in surprise. "You telling me I'm fired?" He asked coldly.
"No, I'm tellin' you that you need to learn to be more tolerant."
"Shit." Steve took a swig of his beer.
Every day the guys met at the converted airplane hangar that was the Trans Continental offices and studios and practiced their hearts out. On their choreography, they worked with Darren and of course Fatima, and a new guy Bobby who helped them with some more retro moves for the 70's and 80's dances. And of course they had singing rehearsals, and fittings for costumes and photo shoots and interviews... by the time they got home every night and cleaned up, they were usually too tired to do much more than lie about and watch TV.
But one Sunday afternoon, while they were all lounging around Justin's living room, JC decided he wanted to go out. "Hey guys, who wants to see this new sci-fi movie, the 'Matrix'?" He gestured to the ad on the TV, which no one else had been paying much attention to.
Lance was sprawled on the couch reading a paperback thriller and using JC's lap as a pillow. He raised his head to peer at the trailer. "That's the one with Keanu Reeves. I know why you want to see it." He frowned.
JC playfully smacked him on the back of the head. "You are so jealous! Actually, Keanu does look mighty hot in that long black coat and those sunglasses..."
Yeah, you know, he looks kinda like Terry, all in black, with that short hair kinda spiky in front..." His voice trailed off and he looked away. It wasn't the first person in the last couple of weeks that had reminded Justin of Terry.
With some more pushing, JC managed to get them motivated to go, more or less.
Justin elbowed Joey as they milled around towards the door. "Hey man, you wanna see if Steve wants to go? I haven't seen him since we got back from LA."
"Nah, he's doing stuff today." Joey said kind of quickly.
"Whatever."
They all donned their unoriginal -- if usually effective -- disguises: caps and sunglasses. Instead of the usual baseball cap, Justin was sporting a ratty fisherman's hat he got at Abercrombie & Fitch.
"Hey Curly, I think they sold you a used hat! It's all frayed at the edges." Chris observed.
"It's supposed to be that way! Broken in!" Justin said defiantly.
"I think you got ripped off!" Chris teased.
The guys made it in and got to their seats without being recognized. They had all learned long ago that it was usually better to go to guys rather than girls at ticket counters and places like that because guys were less likely to realize who they were (or care much if they did).
To JC's delight, they showed a preview of the new Star Wars movie before 'Matrix'. Lance could feel JC tense in excitement next to him as the music started. Nobody was a bigger Star Wars fan than JC Chasez, though at least he didn't dress up as Luke Skywalker or anything over-the-top like that.
Driving back home afterwards, they all agreed that 'Matrix' was pretty good.
"Damn, that chick in the plastic outfit was hot!" Chris said breathlessly.
"I though Keanu was pretty hot." Lance said with a sidelong smile at JC. He got a smack on the thigh in response.
"Keep that up and you'll be sleeping on the sofa." JC snapped, then he let a little smirk show on his face. "Keanu did look good. What did you think, Curly?" He looked up towards Justin in the driver's seat.
"Huh? Oh, yeah he was cool." He sounded distracted, like he did so often recently.
After dinner, JC and Lance went up to JC's room early.
JC laid back on his bed, his fingers laced behind his head as he relaxed and watched Lance sorting his clean clothes. "It was really nice of you to help Lynn with the laundry. I know she appreciates it"
"Well, I'd rather do this than the dishes, which you seem to enjoy so much." Lance carefully folded a t-shirt.
"It's not bad, though they never seem to end, especially with Justin around. That guy eats constantly!"
"You know, Lynn has been really cool about us." Lance said thoughtfully as he tried to sort through a mound of socks.
"You mean about you and me being together? I knew she would be. She seems to have taken Justin's coming out really well, too. It's gotta be hard for a parent to learn that their son is gay... that he's never gonna get married, have kids..." JC stopped as Lance looked up and their eyes met. "I know, we are going to have to tell our parents too. It's been on my mind a lot." JC pressed his lips together.
"How do you think yours will take it?" Lance went back to his socks, but he wasn't accomplishing much more than moving them around.
"Dad will be okay, I think. He won't be thrilled, but he'll deal. I'm more worried about mom. What about yours?"
"Dad will be angry; he won't accept it. That's the way he deals with things he doesn't like. And mom... I'm afraid this is going to break her heart." His voice trailed off.
JC sat up and leaned over, placing his hand on Lance's. "They love you, James. They might have trouble with it at first, but they'll come around."
"I hope so, Josh. It would kill me if they... turned away from me. You know how religious they are; we're Southern Baptists, not known for being very accepting of gays. I know I need to tell them, but I don't know when, or even how to say it. They might want me to go into one of those programs where they try turn you straight." There was a faint tremor in Lance's voice.
"You and I know that's ridiculous; you can't be 'turned' straight any more than you can be turned gay!"
"You and I know that." Lance looked up at him with a rueful smile. "But a lot of other people believe otherwise. And in these 'meetings', I think they brainwash you or something. They keep telling you how evil homosexuality is."
JC got a look -- something between fear and anger -- on his face, and he squeezed Lance's hand so tight it hurt. "I would never let them put you in something like that!"
"And they couldn't drag me into something where they say that what you and I have together is wrong. Fortunately they can't very well try to keep us apart either." He smiled. "And it's sweet of you to hold my hand, JC, but maybe a little less death-grip."
"Oh, sorry man." JC relaxed his hold. "The thought of them messing with your head or trying to separate us just scared me so much."
"Don't worry, you're stuck with me."
"Cool." JC grinned back. "Now do you want some help with those socks? I don't want to wait all night to go to bed."
In answer, Lance grabbed a handful and threw them in his unsuspecting lover's face.
Back in LA, the Backstreet Boys had finished filming their video for "I want it That Way" and were in their hotel rooms. Nick was in Kevin's room, both guys wearing sweatpants and t-shirts, lying on the bed together watching TV. Kevin had his arm wrapped protectively around Nick. When the movie -- which neither one of them had really been paying attention to -- ended, Kevin turned off the TV with the remote.
"Nicky..." Kevin stared at the blond's eyes, and Nick felt like the tall brunet was looking right into his damaged soul. "Nick, I know about you and Brian. I've known for a long time." He said in his flat monotone that still managed to convey his pain... and maybe forgiveness.
Nick couldn't breathe. He felt his heart hammering in his chest. "Kev, I... I..." He tried to talk but couldn't manage another word before he broke down in sobs.
Kevin took the boy into his arms and pressed Nick's head to his chest. "It's okay Nicky, it's okay. I forgive you."
"I'm so sorry!" Nick finally choked out. "I didn't want to hurt you but I couldn't stop!"
"Brian can have that effect on people." Kevin said with a raised eyebrow. "But now, Nick, I want that to change. Look at me." He pulled the blond back and lifted his chin.
Nick blinked back tears, sniveled loudly, and managed a half- smile. "Hey." He said shyly, meeting Kevin's hypnotic gaze.
"Nicholas Carter, I love you. I want you to stop messing with Brian and be with me. I want us to be a couple." Then Kevin cracked one of his rare and precious smiles. "Now tell me what you want."
"Man... I want that too. But, are you sure? We're always fightin, and you know I'm bad news."
"No, you're not bad news, Nick." Kevin said sternly "We fight because we care about things. And... the best thing about fighting with you is we always make up afterwards." He ran his hands over Nick's chest and shoulders and the blond looked away in embarrassment. "Do you want some time to think about it?" Kevin asked softly.
"Naw." Nick shook his head; his hair falling across his eyes. "Even I know a good thing when it comes up and hugs me. But I'm scared to tell Brian."
"He'll live. He doesn't love you like I do, Nicky, you know that deep down."
"Yah, I do."
"I don't think he has meant to be cruel, but he needs to face the truth about himself, and what he's doing to you isn't helping either of you."
Nick nodded, staring out the window at the lights of LA.
"There's something else you're not telling me, isn't there?" Kevin said finally.
"Yah." Nick said very quietly.
"Something to do with Brian?"
Nick shook his head, his hair flopping back and forth.
"Tell me, Nicky."
"Lou... Lou has been doing stuff with me..."
"Lou!" Kevin bellowed. "Doing what 'stuff!?"
"Messin' with me. Almost since the beginning." Nick's voice was barely audible.
"Oh my God, Nick! You mean like, touching you?"
"Yeah, you know. And he calls me and says things..."
"Oh man. Why didn't you tell me?"
"'Cause he said that he would take away our contract if I didn't do what he wanted. He made me feel like I made him do it."
"I can't believe this!" Kevin moaned, tears welling in his eyes. 'That pig hurt Nicky, molested him all these years and I never knew!' He pulled Nick against him. "Soon we'll be far away from him and he'll never hurt you again, I promise! I won't let him." Kevin's jaw tensed at the thought of what Lou had gotten away with. He wanted to kill him.
But Nick just snuggled closer to Kevin. "I love you." He whispered.
Late in the evening in JC's bed, Lance laid his head on his lover's lean chest. "Thank you." He whispered in his deep voice, then lightly kissed JC's nipple.
"Thank you, handsome." JC tenderly ran his fingers through Lance's thick hair and sighed contentedly. "Every minute with you is special. Sometimes I feel like, when we make love, I feel so close to you." He shrugged. "I'm not expressing it very well, sorry."
"I understand, Josh. I think I feel it too. I can finally let down all my barriers and trust you. And I look in your eyes and..." His voice caught.
JC hugged him close. "Yes! It's corny maybe, but it's like our souls... touch."
"It's not corny." Lance smiled and kissed his chest again.
They lay together in comfortable silence for a while longer, then Lance said, "I'm a little worried about Justin."
"Me too. The last few days he's been down again. I think he was really hoping Terry was going to come back to him."
"I actually thought Terry might too. I believe he cares for Justin."
"This is how he shows it? By hurting him?" A tinge of anger crept into JC's voice.
"I think he sincerely believes that leaving was the best thing for Justin, that he's not right for him."
"Well, I'd be tempted to agree with him."
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have mixed feelings about them, true. But look at Justin!" He was so happy back in LA, and when Terry was gone he fell apart. Then for a few days after just talking to him on the phone he was his old self."
"And now he's sliding down into a depression again? Sounds like a crush or co-dependence or something to me." JC frowned.
"It's just possible that he's in love." Lance said quietly. "You're familiar with that emotion I think."
JC furrowed his brows. "But we've known each other for years! They just met! I think Curly just needs to have some time and he'll get over this guy."
"And I think that's something Justin is old enough to decide for himself." Lance hesitated, then added, "Maybe Chris isn't the only one who missed his friend and is glad that Terry is no longer taking up all his time."
JC's body tensed. "Lance, I... do you think I'm being selfish?!"
The blond cringed. "Maybe that wasn't fair, I'm sorry."
JC's expression softened. "I'm sorry babe, but that hurts, you know?"
Lance shrugged and closed his eyes. "Maybe I am the jealous one, I don't know."
"James!" JC said softly, pulling Lance against him again. "God, man you have got to know that you don't need to ever worry. And after what we were just talking about!"
Lance scooted up a little and rested his head in the crook of JC's neck. "I know I shouldn't be, but I guess I'm insecure sometimes."
JC softly kissed his temple. "James Lance Bass, I love you so much. Sure I care about Justin, but he's like my little brother, you know that. I never laid in my bunk on the bus at night and dreamed of being with him."
Lance smiled a little. "And you dreamed of me? Don't tease me."
"I did, James. I'm surprised you never heard me."
"Heard you?" Lance turned his head to look up at JC.
"It's kind of embarrassing. Did you ever feel... lonely... on that bus? At night in that little bunk all by yourself?"
"Sometimes, yeah, I guess so."
"Well, I would lie in there late at night and think of you so near but so far away and I would..." JC's voice cracked, "I would hug a pillow and wish it was you, and I would cry sometimes."
"Oh, Josh..." Lance whispered. "Why couldn't you tell me?"
"You know why, the same reason you were scared to tell me you loved me! The thought of losing your friendship was so terrifying. I thought you would hate me or be disgusted. Back then I would have been so happy just to sleep with you and not even do anything sexual. I never dared hope that we would actually be together like this, where I could kiss you and touch you and not worry..." He nuzzled against the top of Lance's head, enjoying the faint aroma of his shampoo. "I love you so much. Don't ever doubt that."
"Thank you. I love you too." Lance smiled against JC's neck.
JC drifted off to sleep, His arm around Lance and their bodies tangled together....
He was walking down a shadowy, deserted corridor... skulking was actually more like it. He pulled his long robe closer to his body and glanced over his shoulder. He was reassured to see another hooded figure close behind him. They arrived at the doorway and he made a small gesture. His companion swept past him to crouch at the other side of the sealed door. Another look around and Joshua stood, examining the access panel. "Keep an eye out for patrols." He whispered.
"Yes, master." His companion pulled his deep hood back onto his shoulders, revealing a shock of short blond hair which spiked up, undeterred by the hood. In the usual style of a Padewan apprentice, he also wore a little braid which trailed down over his shoulder.
Confident that his apprentice could handle any interference, Joshua was able to turn his full attention to the panel. Within a few seconds he had defeated the simple locking mechanisms, but as he was about to open the door, he sensed a disturbance...
"Lansten!" He shouted. As one they drew their lightsabres. Joshua's burned blue while his apprentice's weapon glowed with a cool green light. Not a moment too soon: the door slid open with a hiss, and a squad of battle droids swarmed into the hall.
Lansten spun, his robe swirling around him. He sliced two droids in half while parrying back the blaster shots of three others. "It would appear that we were expected, Master Joshua!" He said matter-of-factly, even as he extended a hand and summoned the Force, causing another pair of droids to tumble backwards in a heap of parts
"Indeed." The Jedi Knight disabled two other droids but most of his attention was on analyzing how they had miscalculated. Then he sensed something... a tremor in the Force. What was it?
Lansten felt it as well: he glanced at Joshua questioningly, still holding off incoming droid fighters.
Joshua looked into the hall beyond the threshold and saw his answer. Two figures, clad in black robes, stood in another doorway. One was heavy-set, the other tall and athletic. "Sith Lords." He whispered.
"Kill them, Darth Maul." The heavy one ordered, his voice carrying into Joshua's mind. The tall one strode forward, drawing his lightsabre and pulling his hood back. His face was covered in angular black and red tattoos, giving him a particularly fierce visage. It also made his features difficult to make out, but he looked familiar somehow. And instead of a ring of horns on a bald head that Joshua had somehow expected, he had thick, short black hair which rose up in a forest of spikes.
As he neared them, Darth Maul activated his weapon and a crimson blade sprang from either end of the hilt: a dual lightsabre; a rare and particularly dangerous device. It took a skilled -- and brazen -- warrior of the force to master such a weapon.
"What is it, master?" Whispered Lansten. There was a hint of fear in his voice as he stared at their approaching foe.
"Something we had best avoid... at least for now." The Jedi muttered. He slashed at the control panel and the heavy blast doors slid shut, separating them from the approaching visage. "Come, Lansten, we need to get to the planet." They started down the hall, but seemed to be moving in slow motion. Meanwhile, Joshua glanced back to see a red glow on the doors, followed by a ruby blade penetrating the alloy. Their enemy was cutting through. They would not evade him after all. Joshua worried about Lansten. Was he ready to face a Sith Lord? Were the two of them together even strong enough to defeat this menace? He felt a growing dread... and fear for his young apprentice...
"Josh! Josh, wake up!"
JC fought his way back to consciousness, his sleep-filled eyes meeting Lance's concerned gaze.
"You were having a bad dream! And talking in your sleep; it was kind of scary."
Propping himself up, JC realized that he was sweating and trembling. It had been a terrible dream. He still felt a strange sense of dread. Without thinking, he hugged Lance tight.
"What's that for?" Lance laughed, returning the hug.
"Just because. Because you feel nice, and because I need a hug." JC let out a shuddering sigh. "I feel a little better now." He released Lance and leaned back on his elbows.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Hm. Not right now, maybe in the morning. But... would you mind just holding me though?" He looked up at Lance plaintively.
"Of course not!" Lance grinned and pulled him close again. "I'll hold you forever, Josh."
'Forever is a long time,' JC thought sadly. 'I hope we have that together.'
Another week of grueling practices flew by. They had Sunday off, then final rehearsals before their opening night on Wednesday, March third in Clearwater, Florida.
Fatima let them out early Saturday, and JC announced that they needed to go out and celebrate. "Where shall we go?" He asked the group as they rode back to Justin's.
"I know, we haven't been to Pleasure Island in ages!" Joey suggested.
"And we have free passes!" Chris added.
"Sounds cool to me." Lance shrugged. "What about you, Jus?"
"Doesn't matter. I'm kinda tired, maybe I'll just stay in."
"No you won't!" Everyone shouted more or less in unison.
"Okay." Justin managed a smile in the rear-view mirror. "I wouldn't mind dancing to something besides our stuff for a change, and we haven't gone to Mannequin's in a while."
After the usual agonizing over what to wear, followed by primping and preening, they piled into Justin's M-Class and took off for Disney World.
Pleasure Island was the nightspot of the Disney complex, with several different types of clubs and an outdoor stage. The favorite club for younger types was Mannequin, which had a huge revolving dance floor with two levels overlooking it, and an incredible light and sound system. The DJs usually played fairly recent club music.
Once inside they fanned out, knowing that staying together meant getting recognized all that much sooner. No one wanted to hang with poor Joey because his flaming red hair was like a beacon, but he didn't mind the recognition.
Justin went to the bar and got a drink, figuring he'd scope things out for awhile first.
"Well, look who's here."
Justin spun around in surprise, almost spilling his Coke. Right behind him at the bar was... Nick Carter. "Uh, hey Nick, I didn't know you guys were back from L.A."
"Yeah we got in yesterday. Putting finishing touches on the new album then a little vay-kay." Nick accepted his drink from the bartender and paid him, then turned back to Justin. "Hey, I wanted to thank you for putting up with my shit back there. I talked to Kevin and I'm gonna try to get my act together, just with him."
"That's great news, Man!" Justin gave him a friendly punch in the shoulder.
Nick smiled, sniffled a little and looked away shyly. "Hey!" He said, looking up, "I love this song, it's Cher's new one."
"Oh yeah..." Justin listened as the extended remix intro pounded on...
"...After love... after love... after love..."
"Hey, wanna dance?" Nick winked at him.
Justin smirked. "With you? Where's Kevin?"
"You know what I mean, man! There will be plenty of girls on the floor who will be happy to dance with us when we get out there. And Kevin said he wanted to hang with Howie and AJ for awhile."
"Okay, let's go!" Justin drained his glass and slammed it down on the bar.
Nick did the same, grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
It was true: they were quickly mobbed by eager young women on the floor. The fans had so many guys to choose from tonight, so they were somewhat spread out. It also helped that no one under eighteen was allowed in this club so there were no teenies. Justin spotted Lance and JC more-or-less dancing together a little ways off, and there were Howie and AJ and Kevin all together on the second level, overlooking the floor. Joey was dancing rather close with a pretty young woman who he'd met earlier, and Chris stood at the edge of the floor, bobbing his head to the music and watching everything.
"No matter how hard I try
You keep pushing me aside
And I can't break through
There's no talking to you
It's so sad that you're leavin'
It takes time to believe it
But after all is said and done
You're gonna be the lonely one..."
The crush of people got heavier, and Justin decided that he needed more space. Seeing an opening, he dashed across the floor and onto a recently vacated dance platform. Four feet above the mob he was free to move at last.
"Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough now
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough now"
Justin whirled like a dervish, eyes half closed and hips rotating as he threw himself into his dancing. The singer ran his fingers through his sweaty blond curls and rolled his head back as if basking in the thousand strobing suns above. The throbbing beat and the flashing lights seemed to send him into a delirium as he danced in a hyperactive frenzy. Crashing against his lean frame in wave after wave, Cher's lyrics were a message that finally began to register on his conscious mind...
"Well I know that I'll get through this
'Cos I know that I am strong
I don't need you anymore
No I don't need you anymore
I don't need you anymore..."
Then song blended seamlessly into Marky Mark's hit from a few years earlier "Good Vibrations" and the blond boy eased his frenetic pace somewhat. A moment later he was joined on the platform by Nick, followed soon by Joey and his friend.
"Hey man! You put on quite a performance!" Joey smacked him on the shoulder. "You know, half the club was watching you."
"Oh great!" Justin grinned sheepishly. "Who's your friend?" He smiled at the young lady, trying to change the subject.
"This Is Gray. She's down here on vacation -- and she's gonna see our opening show in Jacksonville! Gray meet Justin. And this is Nick Carter. He's in some other group, I fergit the name." He smiled at Nick.
Gray shook their hands, showing remarkable composure. "Nice to meet you both!" She smiled. "Don't worry, Nick, I know what group you're in, though I know Joey would prefer I didn't." She winked at the crimson-haired singer.
"Enough talkin!" Nick shouted. "Let's DANCE!" He threw his hands over his head.
The platform was a little more crowded with four people but there was still room to maneuver. Justin spun around and started a sexy hip-thrust maneuver with every beat. Suddenly a pair of hands clamped on his waist from behind and he felt someone grinding against him.
"Uhhh, Nick!"
"Yeah buddy?"
"Ain't this a little bit steamy for Disney World?"
People all over the dance floor were beginning to stare at them. Joey looked over and raised his eyebrows as if to say 'What the hell are you guys doing?'
'Good Vibrations' segued into 2Unlimited's 'Tribal Dance', and Nick's moves got even more provocative.
"Wassa matter, don'tcha think I'm sexy?" Nick slid his hands up over Justin's flat stomach and roamed across his chest. He roughly pulled the slender boy back against him. "I think you're verrry sexy." Nick sniffled again.
Justin wrinkled his nose; Nick's breath reeked of alcohol. "Man, you gotta ease off here." He tried to pull away but Nick just tightened his grasp.
The Backstreet Boy began to grind against Justin even more forcibly and the lanky 'N Sync member could feel Nick's hardness against his butt. "Justin, man, you are turning me on!" Nick slid a hand down and partway into Justin's pants.
At the far end of the huge room on the second level balcony, Kevin was standing at the bar with Howie when he had a strange feeling. The oldest Backstreet Boy often had 'feelings' when something was about to happen, almost like a premonition. But this time he knew that there was something going down right now that shouldn't be. He glanced at Howie and moved along the railing, peering through the smoke and flashing lights. There, on one of the platforms, two guys were dancing, very obviously together: front to back, with the back one holding tight to the front one. It wasn't unheard-of in Mannequins, the wildest dance club on Pleasure Island, but these guys were really flaunting it. Then as the smoke swirled around he saw them more clearly. The front one, with his head thrown back, arms waving in the air and narrow hips gyrating sexily... was Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync! The guy with him... god he was groping Justin's body so flagrantly... He was bigger-boned than the other boy and had a mop of blond hair that hid his face as he seemed to rest his head on Justin's shoulder. Kevin recognized the moves even before the dancer raised his head. "Oh, Nicky." He whispered.
Howie followed his gaze. "Jeez! Look at those two gay guys go at it man! What a show! That beefy one sure has the hots..." He trailed off. "Oh my god!"
Just then AJ appeared next to Kevin on the other side. "Woah lookit our little Nicky work it!" He grinned foolishly up at the tallest Backstreet Boy.
Kevin returned his look with a glare. "Did you get him drunk again?" He shouted.
"Well.." AJ smirked. He's had a few, and I gave him some candy too." AJ wrinkled his nose up and snorted emphatically with one nostril.
"God I can't believe you! Look at him, he's a mess!" Kevin gestured angrily across the writhing sea of people to the young men spotlighted on the platform.
"Looks like he's taken a shine to a young 'N Stinker to me!" AJ said with a laugh. "Chill out, Kev! The contract with Jive is signed; we're free of Lou and everything is cool. Let Nick blow off some steam." AJ took a swig of his drink.
"But our image is going down the tubes. People are taking pictures! This will be all over the internet by tomorrow!"
"You are so paranoid! We dance together all the time."
"Not like that!" Kevin pointed again.
AJ peered over his granny glasses in time to see Nick slide one hand inside the front of Justin's pants while groping his chest with the other. "Ohh, that is pretty graphic, huh? It's kinda turning me on..." He rubbed against Kevin suggestively.
"Get off!" Kevin shouted and jumped back.
"God I was just teasing man, you ARE tense!" AJ sulked.
"Well somebody better go get him before he starts tearing Justin's clothes off or kisses him or something..." Howie ventured.
It was a strange, erotic spectacle indeed. Nick Carter and Justin Timberlake, blond heartthrobs of the two most famous boy-groups in the world, were dirty dancing together in the heart of Disney World. Nick roughly caressed Justin's muscled abs and chest, pulling up his shirt, while thrusting his hips against the slender boy's ass. Justin seemed oblivious, smiling to himself and dancing in his own world... but certainly he wasn't resisting Nick's more-than-friendly embrace.
Justin hesitated as Nick's fingers eased under his belt, allowing himself one more moment to enjoy the fact that a hot young man was attracted to him. Then he came to his senses and tore himself away from Nick. "What the hell are you doin' man? Hittin' on me in front of half of Orlando, not to mention Kevin!"
Nick staggered back against the railing, caught off-balance when Justin pulled away. His expression turned to one of shock and embarrassment as he realized just how shameless he had been. "Oh god! I'm sorry!" He looked around in panic and saw how many people below had been watching them. Then, as he looked higher up, his fearful gaze connected with Kevin's hurt and angry stare. He leapt off the pedestal, pushing through the crowd.
Gray watched him go. "Wow, he's got issues." She shook her head sadly.
"Yeah." Joey shrugged. "Nick is a troubled soul. You okay, Curly?" He stepped over to Justin, but still had to shout over the music.
"Yeah, I guess so." Justin frowned. "I guess we kind of put on a show, huh?"
"You're gonna have to MARRY Britney to get out of that one, man! It looked like you and Nick were about to do the nasty right here!"
"Yeah, whatever! Turned you on at least!" Justin yelled back with a smirk, hoping to God that Joey was just joking with him. "Hey, I'm about ready to go, what about you?"
Joey looked at Gray, who just raised her eyebrows. "I think we'll hang a while longer. If you want to head out, though, I bet you could get Lance to go; he said he was gettin sleepy a while ago."
"Okey!" He nodded to Gray, slapped Joey on the shoulder and jumped down. He made his way through the mob -- many of whom stared at him with knowing smiles -- over to Lance and JC, who were surrounded by women. When the females saw Justin coming they parted like the Red Sea, only to close in again around him. He reached out and managed to catch Lance's arm and pull them together. "Hey man!" He hollered, "I'm over this! Wanna roll?"
Lance looked over at JC, who was flailing about like a marionette on crack. JC called it 'dancing'. After waving several times, he got JC's attention and signaled that he was leaving with Justin. Josh mouthed 'See you later!' and waved, then spun around.
It took them a few minutes, but finally Lance and Justin made it outside onto the main street of Pleasure Island.
"Finally, fresh air!" Lance took a deep breath.
"Yah, kinda hot in there." Justin agreed. "You don't mind leavin?"
"No, man I'm exhausted! I'm glad you wanted to go. JC will be in there for hours."
They made it back to Justin's Mercedes without incident and were soon speeding home. "What have you got in the CD deck? Lance asked, fiddling with the controls.
"After that club, just silence would be nice if yah don' mind." Justin glanced at him with a smile.
"Fine with me." Lance settled into the leather seat. "You feeling all right?" He asked after a few minutes.
"Yah. You're not gonna school me about that biz with Nick?"
"Nope. Though it will be interesting to hear what those people who keep saying 'N Sync and backstreet Boys hate each other make out of that. And... if since you brought it up, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"Do you like Nick? I mean, you know, 'like' him?"
Justn worked his mouth around like he was swishing mouthwash for a few seconds before answering. "I like Nick okay, though certainly not 'that way', and I'm not sure I'd even really trust him as a tight friend. He's got a lot of issues. I feel kinda sorry for him I guess. And that dancing scam, well, I guess I let him cause I was feelin in need of some 'fection, and it got crazy. But he's got issues, man; he needs to work his life out."
"Okay, just wondering." Lance smiled in relief.
Then, after a pause, Justin said quietly "I've made a decision about something else though."
"What's that?" Lance looked over at his friend.
Justin's face was expressionless as the glow of the passing streetlights flowed over it's youthful contours. "I'm through with sitting around waiting for Terry."
To be continued...
End of Part SIXTEEN
Email me and tell me what you think -- or just to say 'hey'! lictor (at) aol (dot) com