Author: Elizabeth
Category: Joey/JC, Lance/JC
Disclaimer: Don�t own them, don�t know them
Rating: PG-PG-13
Summary: AU. JC and Lance are best friends. Lance is in love with JC but JC has a boyfriend, who treats him like dirt. Lance is getting sick and tired of watching the one he loves get hurt.
Hosted: sure
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Lance rang up the price of the popcorn, candy, and large Pepsi and smiled. �That will be 10:83 cents. Thank you and enjoy your movie.� He watched the customers leave and sighed, turning to Justin. �Remind me why I took this job.�
�Because you need money for your part of the rent, Josh�s job at the deli doesn�t pay enough and I need my brother to keep me company.�
�Aw I knew you were using me for something! I just couldn�t put my finger to it.� Lance shook his head.
Justin chuckled. �Hey, Chris and I are going to go out to dinner Saturday. You and JC want to come?�
�Nah. He has a date with Joey.� He grimaced as he said the name.
Justin sighed. �He�s still with him?�
�He won�t believe me when I say he�s wrong for him, Justin.�
�Yeah, the only one who is right for him is blond with bright green eyes and knows that JC can only sleep on his right side and needs to sleep in a bed that is lukewarm.�
Lance blushed. �Shut up Justin!�
Justin laughed. �Hey, get back to work! I need to go to the bathroom.�
�Okay.� Lance watched him before turning back to the cash register.
JC and Lance had been best friends since grade school and knew each other inside and out. They grew up together and lived together in an apartment near college. JC worked in a deli and Lance at a movie theater with his little brother, Justin.
Two months earlier, JC had met a guy named Joey. Lance hated him immediately. Lance had been in love with JC for three years and Lance didn�t want anyone to be with JC but him. But Lance hated him for another reason. Joey was a player. He never showed it but Lance knew it. Every time they would go out somewhere, Joey wouldn�t pay attention to JC and would be looking at the other guys that passed him. Whenever he went out, Lance would sit by JC waiting for Joey to call and tell JC when he�d meet him.
I see the things he does to you
All the pain that he puts you through
And I see what's really going on
Staying out at night while you're by the phone
Take it from me
It's a lesson to be learned
Even the good guys get burned
Take it from me
See I would give you love
The kind of love that you've only dreamed of
Baby you're not the only one
You don't have to be afraid to fall in love
And I know that you've hurt in the past
But if you want it, here's my heart
No strings attached
That Saturday, Lance was in his room studying when he heard JC on the phone. He got up and went out to the living room. JC was on the phone and he was in tears.
�But you said we�d be able to go tonight. No, forget it. I�ll be fine. Yeah, Lance is here. Okay. Bye.� He hung up and looked at Lance. He scoffed. �He broke the date. Again. Damn it Lance this is the fifth one!�
�Sh, Josh, come here.� Lance sat him down. �Josh, I know you don�t want to hear it but I think you need to break up with him.�
�No. I can�t do that Lance.�
�You deserve so much better!�
�Yeah like who?�
Me, Lance thought. But he didn�t say anything.
�Someone who calls you every hour of the night to let you know when he�ll be home. Someone who knows when you need them. Someone who doesn�t break a date unless it�s for a very good reason. Someone who knows more about you than you know yourself.�
JC just started at him then looked away. �I better call off those reservations.� He grabbed the phone.
Lance sighed and rubbed his arm.
He doesn't give you the kind of attention
That a girl like you needs (that a girl like you needs)
Cause he always looks around
His eyes wander 'round
He doesn't see you like I see
Take it from me
It's a lesson to be learned
Even the good guys get burned
Take it from me
Baby I would give you love
The kind of love that you've only dreamed of yeah
Baby you're not the only one (baby you're not the only one)
You don't have to be afraid to fall in love (to fall in love)
And I know that you've hurt in the past (hurt in the past)
But if you want it, here's my heart (here's my heart)
No strings attached
On Sunday, Lance didn�t have to work at the theater so he took a walk to the deli where JC was. Justin and Chris met him halfway and they all went in. JC was working behind the counter.
�Hey guys. The usual?� he asked with a slight smile.
�Always. Put it on my tab.� Lance said.
�Okay.�
They started eating their food when it came when a local girl, Britney, ran in.
�Oh my God. Joshua Chasez, what the hell do you see in that asshole?� she hissed.
JC jumped. �What happened?�
Britney sighed. �If I tell you, you�ll hate me. But I hate seeing him act like you�re a piece of garbage. If you don�t dump him, I�ll do it for you.�
�Britney, what did you see?� Lance asked.
Britney looked at him and sighed. Lance saw the question in her eyes.
�I saw Joey with someone. They were kissing.�
Lance looked at JC and could see his heart visibly break. He knew Britney never lied. She could never tell a lie to these guys.
�Josh��
�Drive me home, Lance.�
Lance nodded and rushed to get JC clocked out.
Later that day, Lance walked into JC�s room and put down the bowl of soup he had made. He stroked JC�s wet cheek and sighed.
�Josh.�
JC opened his red rimmed eyes.
�I made you some soup.�
�I�m not hungry.�
�Please eat. For me?�
JC looked into his eyes then nodded. He sat up, his hands shaking.
�Lance, I can�t�can you do it for me?�
Lance nodded and held the bowl in his hands. �Of course.� He blew on the hot liquid then put it to JC�s lips. JC opened up and swallowed. �Thank you.�
�I�m going to dump him. Tomorrow.�
Lance sighed in relief. �I�ve been waiting for you to say that for two months.�
JC chuckled a bit but didn�t smile. Lance continued to feed him.
If you (baby) take a chance with me
I'll be everything you need (everything you need)
Because it's our destiny
Baby you're not the only one (baby you're not the only one)
You don't have to be afraid to fall in love (you don't have to be afraid)
And I know that you've hurt in the past (know that you're hurting)
But if you want it, here's my heart (if you want here's my heart)
No strings attached
After JC got rid of Joey, his friends could see his heart trying to mend. But JC had been in love with Joey. It would take time. One day, Lance couldn�t take it anymore.
�Josh?� He asked one night as they ate dinner.
�Hmm?�
�I need to tell you something.�
�What is it?�
�I�m in love with you.�
JC stared at him for a moment. �I�I need to think about this.�
�Okay.� Lance tried not to show that he was loosing hope and wishing he never said anything.
JC got up and went into his room. Lance wiped his eyes and put the dishes away. After he was finished, he headed off to bed.
The next morning, Lance woke up to someone touching his arm. He turned and saw JC.
�Josh��
�Sh. Lance, I�ve been thinking of all those times you�ve taken care of me and how you watched me with my boyfriends. How could you stand that?�
�I pretended the feelings weren�t there.�
�Lance, if I learn to fall in love you and I give you my heart, please, I beg you, don�t break it.� The emotion in his voice broke Lance�s heart.
He sat up quickly. �Never. Josh, you are everything. Every time Joey turned a different direction or when he was mean to you, I only wished you could see that I loved you and that I could treat you the way you deserve to be treated.�
JC smiled through tears and Lance kissed them away. He rubbed JC�s cheeks before putting his mouth to JC�s. Needless to say, they went on that double date with Chris and Justin.