| Chapter 20 |
| Lance blinked. Once. Twice. "Excuse me?" he asked. Justin stepped forward, closing the space between them greatly, and took Lance's hand in his, rubbing the skin with his thumb. "I want you back Lance," he said. "Can we give it another shot? Give *us* another shot?" Lance closed his eyes. This was it. Who did he want? Justin, the man who had been his first real love, or JC, the man who could possibly be his new love? Sighing, flashes of his and Justin's relationship passed through his mind. Good times and bad ones, hard times that made them stronger, and the many firsts that they had experienced with each other. They had had the perfect love; at least, that's the way it seemed when they had first gotten together. Still, as Lance opened his eyes and looked at Justin, he couldn't help but wish that he was looking into a different pair of blue eyes. Brighter ones that smiled when he smiled, and shone or clouded over with every emotion he was feeling. Smiling, Lance knew that he could never really forget his love for Justin. However, like his memories, he knew it was all in the past. "I'm sorry Justin," he said. "I'm sorry, I am. But I... I don't love you anymore." He spoke softly and quietly, letting Justin soak the information into his brain and see that he was serious. Taking a deep breath, Lance smiled slightly. "I love someone else." Justin let his head fall in defeat, not wanting Lance to see the tears in his eyes. After composing himself, he sighed deeply and looked up at him. Lance could see he had a question in his eyes, but didn't voice it. "I'm sorry too Lance," he said instead. "I didn't mean for things to turn out like this. I really didn't." Lance nodded sadly. "I know Justin. I know." ~*~ As the front door closed behind Justin, Lance sighed and slumped against the hard wood. Letting go was never an easy thing, but he knew it was for the best. "JC," he whispered, "I need to talk to JC." "Why?" The voice startled Lance, and he whirled around to see JC standing in the doorway looking at him. JC watched Lance for a few seconds, before closing the space between them. Reaching out a hand, he ran it over Lance's cheek softly before meeting his eyes. "Why say anything when you said it all?" he whispered, their lips meeting softly. "Aww," said Joey, leaning against the door frame and grinning widely. "Aren't you two just precious?" His eyes widened when JC pushed Lance up against the wall, and he coughed loudly. "Okay you two, enough. I may puke." Ignoring Joey, JC pulled back from Lance's lips just far enough to whisper "I love you too" against his lips. "Thank you." Joey was still babbling on behind them. "Seriously, you two are worse than HBO. Hey, hey, hey! Watch those hands! Don't make get the hose!" Lance grinned into JC's lips. "Thank you for what?" JC pulled back from his lips and smiled. "Thank you for showing me what love really is." ~*~ A FEW MONTHS LATER... Lance growled and slammed the phone down. "Fucking radio DJs," he grumbled, checking the clock. "They better play it, or else there's going to be hell to pay." Walking into the living room of his apartment, he smiled as he spotted his lover sitting on the coffee table with a small radio in one hand and a screwdriver in the other. Sitting down next to him, Lance wrapped his arms around JC's slim waist and pulled him close, letting his chin rest on JC's shoulder. "It's almost time," he said, grinning when JC cursed under his breath. "Just give it up JC, please. We can just listen to the stereo in the kitchen." "But I can *fix* this one!" exclaimed JC, a whine evident in his voice. "Dammit, I can and I will. Even if it kills me." "Or if I kill you," joked Lance, kissing JC's cheek and standing up. "I'll be in the kitchen." Two minutes later, as Lance leaned against the counter and turned on his stereo, he heard loud swearing coming from the living room and grinned. Moments later, he felt JC move behind him and kiss up his neck. "I'll just buy a new one," said JC, and Lance rolled his eyes. Before he could make a wise crack, the radio DJ's voice came through the speakers. "And now, by several requests, here is the new single from newcomer Justin Timberlake. This is 'Gone' on 105.9, KISS FM." Lance leaned back into JC's arms and closed his eyes, listening carefully as Justin's smooth and mellow voice filled the small kitchen. "There's a thousand words that I could say, to make you come home. Seems so long ago you walked away; left me alone. And I remember what you said to me. You were acting so strange, mmm. Maybe I was too blind to see, that you needed a change..." Lance sighed. "I'm glad somebody's finally recognizing him," he said. "He used to always be so busy with producing *other* people's music that he forgot how much he loved it himself. I think it's great that he got a deal." "Yeah, it's great." JC sighed. "Do you..." he started, and Lance opened his eyes, turning in JC's arms. They made eye contact, and JC sighed. "Do you ever regret choosing me over Justin? I mean, besides your whole history with him, I haven't even found another record deal yet and he's all ready on the radio." Lance sighed, turning off the radio and hugging JC tightly to his chest. "No," he answered honestly. "I don't regret it. Not leaving, not you, and certainly not us." He smiled at JC. "I love you." JC smiled as their lips met. "I love you too." Lance sighed happily and rested his head on JC's shoulder. "And as for the record deal, I have no doubt that you'll find something great. Like love, it's a sure thing." JC chuckled. "What's love got to do with it?" Lance grinned and kissed JC's long neck. "Everything baby," he whispered, "everything." THE END |