Author: Elizabeth
Category: JC/Lance, Joey/Justin but totally later in the story.
Summary: This is AU but they become a band later. Lance�s home caught on fire when he was 12 and his family died. He packed up what little he had left and ran away before social services could get him. On the streets, he meets 10 year old Justin, then 20 year old Chris, 14 year old Joey and 15 year old JC. Soon, these five guys depend on each other and later discover love and a bond that will last forever.
AN: For the person who askedJ Yes, Lance and Justin are Preteens. Justin is 10 and Lance is 12. Joey and JC are teens and Chris is an adult. And it�ll be slash when Lance is 19 and Justin is 17 because they�ll be wondering about their sexuality.
~*~
�Justin and Joey have a birthday the same week! This means something.� Lance said as he and JC walked across the street from Times Square.
�That we have to celebrate two birthdays in an alley way?� JC raised an eyebrow.
�Well, yes and no.�
�Explain yourself.�
�Well, yes we have to have their birthdays in an alley where it�s dark and cold, and the only light we have is a fire and no, because and no, because we can take them somewhere they�ve never been to before.�
�Lance, they�ve been in the states of Maryland, Tennessee, Nebraska, well Joey, but yeah. Where else could they go?�
�California.�
�Lance, are you suggesting we hop a train to California? We can�t go there at this time of weather!�
�It was a good idea at the time.� Lance shrugged.
�Maybe we can. But we have to be discreet about it. Come on, let�s go ask Chris.�
They went back to the alley. When Chris heard the idea, he smiled.
�Well, it seems like a cool idea. Want to surprise them?�
�Sure, where are the two crazy ones?�
�Justin got the urge to go to the bathroom in a nice, safe area. He made Joey take him somewhere.�
�Ah.� JC said.
A while later, Chris, Lance and JC had the plans laid out. They�d hop the train the next day when Justin was still sleeping then they�d get to California and walk the rest of the way to Los Angeles. They would wake Joey up and they would all go.
The next day, Chris woke up first and he got Lance and JC up. They got dressed and then Chris picked Justin up and held him carefully while JC got Joey up.
�What? Where are we going?�
�Surprise.� JC smiled and they all headed towards the train. As soon as they got to one, JC got in first then helped Lance up. Joey got in then Chris handed Justin to him before getting in the boxcar himself. They hid behind some stacks of food and hay while the car was checked. Pretty soon, they heard the whistle blow then the train started moving. Justin groaned and rolled over in Joey�s arms. Joey looked down but Justin kept sleeping. Joey looked up at the others and shrugged.
�Tired, I guess.�
Lance smiled. For two whole days, the guys sat in the boxcar, telling stories and making sure they didn�t get caught. They were having so much fun. They never wanted it to end.
~*~*~*
Lance looked over as a pack of newspapers were put against the wall. He waited until things were clear before getting up and getting one. He went back to sit next to his sleeping friends and he read the paper. There were still articles on them but police had given up on searching. But there was one more. He turned the paper around and his eyes widened. There was a security photo of Joey and JC standing close to each other and giggling at a picture. Nobody could pinpoint what the boys were looking at. They said it was in a record store in New York. Lance sighed.
�Joey! JC!�
�Huh? What Lance?� JC asked tiredly, snuggling up to Joey.
�There�s a photo of you and Joey!�
�What?� They all burst awake and looked at the paper.
�Oh my God. I didn�t think we�d get caught.� JC said.
�Well, we could have.�
�What were you two looking at?� Chris asked.
�Stuff two boys shouldn�t be looking at.� Joey winced.
�Oh, well that doesn�t�� Chris stopped and looked at them. �You were looking at that!�
�Sh!�
�Looking at what?� Justin asked.
�Nothing your little eyes need to see!�
�Oh, okay.�
Chris sighed and just shook his head at the two boys.
~*~*~*~*
�Happy Birthday Joey.� Justin said with a smile as Joey opened his eyes.
Joey smiled. �Hey buddy. Thank you. How long have you been up?�
�Um�� he looked at his watch. �Since 8:00.�
�Oh.� He looked around the warehouse they were hiding in. Lance was sprawled out underneath a blanket and JC was next to him. Chris was on the other side, sleeping.
�Come on, let�s get some breakfast.� Joey grabbed the little money he had and held Justin�s hand as they headed for a little breakfast place.
They went inside and Joey saw a police officer. Justin froze beside him.
�It�s okay, just don�t look at him.� They walked to the counter and the young woman smiled at them.
�Good morning, how may I help you?�
�Yes, um, could I get two orders of chocolate pancakes with whipped cream and some blueberry waffles. Two orders of ham and eggs, one with hash browns, and another with sausage please. To go.�
�All right.� She rang up the price and they waited for about fifteen minutes. Justin kept wanting to look at the police officer but Joey told him not to.
�Why not?�
�Because he might get suspicious and we don�t want that.� Joey whispered.
Justin nodded. �What about drinks?�
�We�ll get some at the grocery store. I still have some cups.�
Justin nodded and when they got the food, they went to the grocery store and got a bottle of chocolate milk and orange juice. They bought it and headed back to the warehouse.
When they came back, Lance was sitting up and rubbing his eyes, while JC stretched. Chris was looking out the window.
�Hey, we got breakfast.�
�Awesome!�
The guys rushed over and rummaged around. Lance took the chocolate pancakes and JC got the waffles, while Chris and Joey took their ham and eggs. Justin had the other pancakes. Joey poured drinks into the cups and they all ate happily.
�Thank you so much, Joey, this is awesome. My parents never let me have blueberry waffles!� JC said, smiling and chewing.
�Well, with me, you get as much as you want.�
JC grinned and looked over at Lance. Lance looked at him and smiled.
�Mama always made chocolate pancakes. Although I really love French toast.�
�Oh, Lance, I�m sorry, I didn�t know, I would have gotten some for you.�
�Hey, it�s okay. I like these just the same!�
Joey chuckled.
�Oh and Joey?�
Joey looked at Chris.
�You know what this means for your birthday?�
�Oh no.�
In two minutes, Joey had gotten fifteen punches on the shoulders. He was afraid it would scare JC but JC joined in. They agreed silently when JC wasn�t around that they would just pinch his cheeks.
�Justin�s birthday is in three days. You�ll be eleven!�
�Yeah.� Justin grinned at Chris.
Chris ruffled his hair.
~*~*~*
Justin looked out into the night sky and smiled. The moon was shining brightly and the stars twinkled. He sighed softly and looked back at his four friends. Lance was huddled up next to JC and Chris was across from them. Joey was looking up at the ceiling. Justin looked back at the sky and sighed. Suddenly, a shooting star shot overhead. Justin looked at it in concentration.
~*~Flashback~*~
�Justin, look! A shooting star.� Eight-year-old Britney said excitedly.
�What are those?�
�Sh. Close your eyes and make a wish. If you keep it secret, it�ll come true.�
Justin smiled and took her hand. She gave his hand a squeeze. He shut his eyes and so did she.
�I wish I could get out of here.�
�I wish I could find my parents.�
~*~End Flashback*~
A tear trickled down Justin�s soft cheek. He sniffled and closed his eyes. �I wish I could be safe with Joey, JC, Lance, and Chris.� He opened his eyes and the stars continued to twinkle. He got up and went to bed. �Happy birthday to me.� He said softly staring at the numbers on his watch two hours later.
~*~*~*
A week later, Joey sat against the train car, watching the world pass by him. He was heading back to New York. But really, he didn�t want to be in New York anymore. He wanted to go somewhere else. The train went through the tracks to NY so Joey got up and went to get his friends. As soon as they were awake, they jumped off the train and went towards their home.