Disclaimer: You know it, I know it... I wish I knew them, but I don't. This is complete fiction.
Notes: < ... > marks Justin's or JC's thoughts. You'll figure it out:)!!
Chapter 10 by Dannii
It was already 8 o'clock, but still bright and very warm when Justin and JC arrived back at Lake Eola Park to meet with JC's friends. JC had shown him around in Orlando, to the places where he often went, and they had even been at the Rollins College, the college JC was attending and Justin would be too, soon. There were several evening classes during the summer break, so the doors had been open and JC had shown him around in the building for a while before they decided that it was time to head back to the park.
The day had been one of the best days Justin had ever had in his life. Him and JC had spent the whole time together, laughing a lot and getting to know each other better. Both discovered that they felt really comfortable around each other and that they were much alike, for example when it came to their taste of music. After the scene in the car, when they had kind of 'confessed' to each other that they found each other cute - cute on occasion, of course - they had been even more relaxed than before. Each one was glad that the other liked him, the only question that was still open was how much.
JC opened the trunk of his car and brought out the basketball he'd put in earlier. He tucked it under his arm and led the way to the basketball court, where four guys that looked about the age of JC were already waiting for them. Justin nervously tugged at the waistband of his sweatpants; they had dropped in at their house for a minute to change into sports clothes before driving to the park. JC noticed his discomfort and smiled at him reassuring.
"There's no need to be nervous, Curly. I can assure you that they will like you. How can they not?" he tried to lighten the younger boy's mood. It worked, Justin gave him a small smile.
The first thing Justin noticed when he watched JC greeting his friends was the way they treated each other. There were no 'I am so cool' - handshakes or claps on shoulders; they just said hi and smiled at each other, but in a special way that showed their deep friendship. When JC put his hand on Justin's shoulder and pulled him over to the other boys, Justin was already a lot more relaxed.
"Guys, this is Justin, my soon-to-be stepbrother and also a very good friend already. Lynn and him moved here two days ago, and I just showed him around a bit today. He'll go to college with me, he's a great graphic artist." Justin blushed when he heard JC's words. JC grinned. "Oh yeah, and he's very modest, too. - Okay. This is Joey and his twin brother Steve." He pointed to two Italian looking guys that looked absolutely identically with nearly black hair and dark brown eyes. "They're from New York City originally and moved here about 5 years ago. I know, they totally look the same when you see them the first time, but you'll be able to keep them apart very soon. Today it may help you to know that Joey is the one with the white shirt. Joey is the flirt of the two, always surrounded by women." Joey and Steve grinned identically at Justin and shook his hand.
"Hi Justin" they said unison. Justin smiled back at them.
"Hi."
"The both work at a garage here in town. They're like the best mechanics I know." JC continued. The next boy he was pointing at had dark brown hair and blue eyeslike JC - in fact, he looked a lot like him. One second later Justin knew why.
"This is my cousin Tyler. Our fathers are siblings. People often think that we're brothers because we look so much alike. He's a year younger than me and willstart college with you this year. Oh, by the way, Steve and Joey are 21."
Justin shook Tyler's hand as well and was rewarded with a warm smile.
"And last but not least, this is Jamie." Jamie was a rather small boy, about 5'6'', with reddish- brown hair that fell him deep in the big gray eyes. He grinned cheerfully at Justin.
"Hey Justin. Nice to meet you. And before Big Daddy here can go on, I'm 18 and currently I'm working at my dad's studio, he owns a music company here in Orlando.I don't really know what I want to study, so I decided to take a break for a year and work for my dad. But I think I might join you in college next year." Justin couldn't help but smile back at Jamie, he liked him immediately. All for guys seemed to be very nice, and he instantly felt at ease with them all. He looked at JC who was looking back at him, smiling, his mouth forming the words "told you so". Justin grinned and snatched the ball out from under JC's arm and began to dribble it.
"So, what about the game? Didn't somebody say we're here to play basketball?"
Two hours later, they were still playing three on three, the screeches of car breaks could be heard, and Justin looked up to see a bright read Mercedes Cabriolet speed onto the parking lot near the court. The other boys groaned in unison, and Justin looked at JC who had a sick look on his face.
"Here comes trouble!" Joey sang quietly, and JC shot him glance before he cursed loudly.
"Shit! I totally forgot to call Bobbee and tell her that we're here."
Justin watched as the car door opened and a girl got out. His stomach felt like it clenched into a ball. So this was JC's girlfriend Bobbee. She was tall, nearly as tall as JC, and slender, with long, light brown hair, dressed in a skirt and a top that left nothing to the imagination. She charged towards the six boys and JC swallowed visibly. The other boys looked at him compassionately and stepped aside.
"Joshua Scott Chasez!!! Who do you think you are? Do you know that I waited whole 30 minutes for you at the club? Do you know how stupid I felt? How everybody looked at me? How dare you letting me wait?" JC sighed.
"I'm sorry, Bobbee. I didn't do it on purpose, I just forgot to call you..."
"You 'forgot' me?" she interrupted him. "I can't believe you. I'm your fucking girlfriend! What is it with you? Don't you love me anymore, or what?" JC hesitated.
"Bobbee, I... I just forgot it..."
"Answer my question, Joshua", she fumed. "Do you still love me?"
"Of... of course I still love you..." It sounded lame, and JC knew it. So he wasn't astonished when Bobbee looked at him stunned. Then she shook her head.
"I knew it. - So, who is the lucky girl? Is it the one you were flirting with the last time we where at the club? Or is it that slut from your music class? Tell me, JC." He looked at her sadly.
"There is nobody else, Bobbee. I promise. It's just... I don't know... my feelings changed...", he broke up, not knowing what else to say. Bobbee looked at him hurt.
"So you want to break up? You want to throw this all away? Everything that we had? - You know what? I think it's better this way. I don't want to be with a guy who doesn't love me and who constantly flirts with other girls and cheats on me and..."
"Enough!" JC shouted suddenly, and Bobbee closed her mouth. "I've had enough of that, Bobbee. All the time you accused me of cheating on you and what else. I never cheated on you! And I never flirted with other girls! I just can't stand it anymore, your jealousy, your distrust... Yes, I want to break up. It doesn't work anymore. WE don't work anymore."
They looked at each other for a few seconds, before Bobbee collected herself and said "Fine. So that's it. - I wish you a nice life, JC. Hopefully I'll never see you again!" With that she turned and stormed away, and the boys gazed after her until she sped off with her car and couldn't be seen anymore. No one dared to make a move or say something, until they heard a quiet sob coming from JC. Justin turned towards him and saw a few tears running down his beautiful face. Immediately he was at JC's side and lightly touched his arm.
"I didn't want to end it like this", JC said miserable. "I don't love her anymore, but... I didn't want to end it like this. I didn't want us to fight. I wanted us to remain friends."
Justin's heart reached out to JC, and he rubbed his arm comfortingly.
"I know Josh", he whispered. "I know."
The other four guys watched as the two boys just stood there and looked at each other, each one lost in his own thoughts and each one knowing that this was the beginning of something really special.
TBC... ****************************************************************** Feedback is very appreciated: Megan: jujuissecksi@hotmail.com
Dannii: raindrops79@hotmail.com