Boys17

JC grumbled to himself as he buttoned up his jeans. Joey was still asleep, and while JC loved waking up in his arms, he knew they had to get ready and act like nothing had happened. Since he had spent the night in Joey's room, he planned on borrowing some of Joey's clothes. Rummaging through the suitcase, he realized that they were all too big for him. So, he settled on wearing the same clothes he had yesterday and prayed that no one else would notice.

The TV was on MTV playing random videos, so JC didn't hear the sheets ruffle behind him. Instead, he felt a pair of strong arms slip around his waist and someone start kissing up his neck. JC grinned and decided to have a little fun.

"Oh yes ... yes, more," he moaned, "oh, yes baby ... oh Lance!"

The lips stopped abruptly and the arms were gone from his waist in a flash. JC started giggling as he turned to explain.

"Hey, babe, I was just ... Joey?" JC turned and saw Joey running for the bathroom. "Hey, Joey!" He ran after him but was met with the bathroom door slamming in his face.

Joey turned on the shower, making the water as hot as he could stand it, stripped, and got inside before he let the tears fall.

'I knew it,' he thought. 'Why did I ever think he loved me? *Why*? God, I am such a dumbass.' He sighed and let the pelting water wash away his tears. 'If Lance is who he wants, then they can have each other.'

~*~
"What letter?" asked Lance. "Baby, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but I didn't get a letter."

Justin was torn. He wasn't sure if he should be happy or sad that Lance didn't get his letter. 'On one hand, it means that Lance wasn't ignoring me and he really *does* love me,' thought Justin. 'Then again, if he had gotten the letter right away, we would've gotten together a long time ago. And where the *hell* did my letter go?'

Lance could see the conflict all over Justin's face, emotions ranging from happy to sad to panic showing in his eyes. "Justin? What's wrong? What now?"

Justin wasn't sure if he should tell Lance about the letter or not, but after a few minutes he decided honesty was the best policy.

"Well," he said, not sure what to say, "I've had ... *feelings* for you, for a while now. And, you know, after all we've done and been through, I figured you felt the same way."

Lance smiled and laced their fingers together. "I did," he whispered.
Justin smiled and continued, leaning back against Lance's chest as he spoke. "Well, I was too chicken to just come out and ask you about it ... so I wrote you a letter."

Lance was running his hands through Justin's curls, and he smiled when Justin's eyes fluttered shut. "What did the letter say?" he asked. "Exactly? I mean, if you remember it."

Justin sighed. "Of course I remember it. I *memorized* it!" Justin cleared his throat and started reciting with more passion than Lance ever heard. "I've been wanting you forever, but I've never had the nerve to speak. I've watched you dance, I've watched you laugh, I've even watched you sleep." Lance froze, his eyes growing wide and his fingers stilled in Justin's hair. Justin didn't notice and continued. "I love everything about you. Your laugh, your smile, the way your hair sticks to your forehead when you first wake up in the morning. I love you. And I don't want to hide it any longer." Justin bit his lip nervously and looked up at Lance. "So, uh, what do you think?"

Lance looked down at Justin with wide eyes. "Uh, I-I don't know," he said truthfully. "To be honest I'm confused as hell. That letter was for *me*?"

Justin nodded, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Yeah. What are you confused about?"

Lance was silent for a second, his fingers still running through Justin's
curls. "Hmm," he said, thinking out loud. "About a week ago, Joey came into my hotel room to talk about something. He was really nervous and told me that JC was in love with him."

Justin's mouth fell open. "Really? JC and Joey? I had no idea!"

Lance chuckled. "I don't think *Joey* knew! I asked him where he got the idea that JC loved him and he read me a letter JC supposedly sent him -- *that* letter."

Justin nodded his head. "Okay, so JC found the letter and gave it to Joey?"

"That's just it," said Lance. "I don't think JC meant to give Joey that
letter at all!"

"What do you mean?"

Lance got up and started pacing in front of Justin. "Maybe I'm completely off here, but ... what if JC found your letter by accident, and then *Joey* found it again? Do you follow me?"

Justin nodded. "Yeah, but how did JC get the letter? Unless he..." Justin's eyes widened and he paled.

Lance stopped pacing and looked at him. "What? Unless he what?"

Justin swallowed and met Lance's eyes. "Unless he found the letter and
thought *I* sent it to him," he whispered.

Lance nodded vigorously. "Yeah, maybe! Then Joey found it *again* and thought it was from JC!" He sat down on the bed next to Justin. "Holy shit," he said.

Justin nodded. "Double shit!" he said, starting to panic again. "JC thinks I'm in *love* with him!"

"Hey now," Lance said, putting a comforting arm around Justin and kissing the top of his head, "it's okay. We'll figure this whole thing out, I promise."

Justin sighed. "Do you think JC will ever forgive me? I mean, I *don't* love him. Not like that!"

Lance rubbed Justin's back and rested his chin on top of Justin's curls. "Of course he'll forgive you, baby," he assured. "JC's your best friend. Besides, with the way he and Joey have been acting lately, I wouldn't be surprised if something was going on between *them*."