Timberella4

Justin grinned as Josh hugged him. They walked into Josh's store together, and Justin sat his basket down and hung up his jacket. Josh handed Justin a drink and motioned for him to sit down.

"So J, what brings you around here?" he asked, taking a large gulp of water from his cup.

Justin leaned back in his chair, stretching his long body and yawning. "Kevin wanted fruit, Nick want crap and a new hat, and Lou just wanted me gone."

Josh nodded, knowing what Justin lived with everyday. "I'm trying my best to get you out of there," he said, his face turning serious. "I have room here for you to stay if you want, but there's no money."

Justin smiled and patted Josh's knee. "I know Josh," he said, "but really, I swear I'm fine. Yeah, my family's not the greatest, but they don't mistreat me so much as they just don't like me. They don't hit or starve me, so please don't worry. Okay?"

Josh nodded, both of them knowing that he was going to worry anyway. "You just need to get out of that place," he said. "You deserve so much better than them, J. Hell, *you're* the real prince, not them! You to find someone who'll be good to you and move far away from here." Justin watched JC's eyes light up and a sly grin appear on his face. "Soooo, tell me Justin, who was that guy you were talking to out there?"

Justin blushed and ducked his head. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled.

"Oh, come on!" Josh laughed, bouncing in his seat. "I *know* what I saw out there! Who was he? What's his name? Where's he from? What's he look like? Is he gay? Do you want his body? Does he want yours?"

Justin laughed, his head spinning from all of the questions Josh was throwing at him. "Calm down Josh," he smiled. "His name is Lance and that's pretty much all I know about him. I have no idea where he's from or whatever, but he was ... damn, he was beautiful." Justin sighed dreamily, a goofy smile on his face. "I mean, I couldn't see much because he was wearing a robe, but my God ... those eyes. He had the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen, and a great smile."

Josh grinned at his best friend's hazy state of mind. "Oh, you are so far
gone," he chuckled.

Justin's head snapped up. "What? I am not! I just met the guy!"

Josh shrugged. "So what? You don't believe in love at first sight?"

"No," Justin shook his head, but he knew he wasn't even convincing himself. Josh just grinned and got up, patting his back as he walked by.

"Whatever, man," he said with a smile. "Tell yourself whatever you need to believe it."

Justin sighed and closed his eyes, images of haunting green eyes and a
perfect smile invading his dreams.

~*~
Chris and Joey were getting to know each other some more when Lance came back in, a goofy smile across his face. He handed Joey the flour and went to sit by the window.

"Lance?" asked Joey. "You okay?"

Lance nodded, a happy sigh falling from his lips. "Uh huh. I'm great."

Joey and Chris exchanged worried glances before going over to sit by Lance. Joey lifted up the younger man's chin, taking in his goofy smile and sparkling eyes.

"Lance, where are you?"

Lance sighed. "Mars."

Chris laughed and Joey shook his head with a grin. "Just as I suspected," he said. "Lance here has been bitten, and bitten hard, by the love bug."

Chris went "ooh" and "ahh" as Lance blushed. "I'm not..."

"Save the excuses for your mother, Lance," laughed Joey. "Who's the guy?"

Chris did a double-take, his mouth falling open. "*Guy*? You're gay?"

Joey sighed and Lance snapped out of his reverie, giving Chris a shy and
frightened look. "Yeah, I am," he said. "Are-are you okay with that?"

Chris nodded, sitting down by Lance and throwing a friendly arm over his shoulders. "Yeah man, don't worry about me," he said with a smile. "I'm just surprised, I guess. I mean, you're a prince..."

Lance laughed humorlessly. "I wish I wasn't," he said. "My parents would shit bricks if they found out I was gay."

"Sorry," said Chris, rubbing Lance's back. "So, who's this guy you're all
ga-ga over?"

Joey grinned as Lance laughed and blushed again, thankful Chris knew how to get Lance out of his funk.

"His name's Justin," whispered Lance. "That's all I know. I don't know where he's from or anything else."

"Is he hot?" asked Joey.

Lance laughed. He loved how Joey was straight as an arrow, but felt perfectly comfortable talking to him about anyone he was interested in.

"Yeah, he is," answered Lance. "He's beautiful. He has bright blue eyes, a
perfect smile, and a mass of golden curls on his head that make him look like an angel."

Chris and Joey sighed dramatically, batting their eyelashes at Lance. "Sounds dreamy," said Chris in a girly voice.

The three of them dissolved into laughter, and Lance was thankful he had
found two great friends.