| Chapter 3 |
| JC set the picture down, embarrassed at having been caught looking through Justin's personal pictures. He stared down at the desk, moving a paper clip around with his finger. "Sorry," he said, looking up at Justin. He shuffled towards the chair where his backpack was, and shoved his hands in his pockets. "If you want me to go..." Justin unclenched his jaw, but he still looked a little on edge. "Don't be silly," he said, waving his hand in the air and moving to his desk. He looked at the picture JC had been staring at, and then up at JC. He smiled tightly and motioned to a chair in front of him. "Have a seat." JC hesitated for a moment, and then sat down in the chair. He and Justin sat in awkward silence for a while, occasionally making nervous eye contact. After a few minutes, Justin sighed. This was not the way he was used to being. He was never the nervous type, so why should he start now? Clearing his throat, he waited until JC made eye contact with him before he spoke. "So," he began, "I guess you want to know who that is?" JC shook his head, holding up his hands. "You don't have to," he said. "I'm sorry I snooped. It's none of my business." Justin grinned. "You're right, it's not," he said, "but I have a rule. I think that bosses and clients should get along, don't you agree?" JC nodded. "Good. So, how can we really get along and be comfortable around each other if we keep things from each other? Honesty, that's my policy." He chuckled. "Corny, I know, but it usually works. Up for it?" JC bit his lip nervously. He honestly wasn't sure how much he was ready to tell Justin just yet, but so far they had gotten along well and he didn't want that to change. He needed a friend right now. So, with a deep breath, JC nodded. "Sure," he smiled, "sounds great." Justin grinned. "Great," he said. His smile disappeared quickly though, and JC saw in his eyes how nervous he was, despite how calm he seemed. Grabbing a framed photo, Justin skirted around his desk and sat in a chair next to JC. He held out the picture, pointing to the man with red hair. "That's Joey," he grinned. "One of my best friends. You'll have to meet him sometime. I think you two would be good friends." He pointed to the man with the devil horns. He shook his head, laughing. "This is Chris. Enough said right there. He's fucking crazy, but he's a cool guy. You'd like him too." Taking a deep breath, Justin pointed to the blonde man, and JC felt himself growing nervous as well. "And this," he whispered, "is Lance..." 'Lance,' JC thought, repeating the man's name over and over again in his head. 'Lance. I like that. Lance...' "...my boyfriend," Justin finished. ~*~ Lance gulped down the rest of his juice when he heard Joey honking his car horn outside. Grabbing his leather jacket and slipping it on, he headed out of the house, locking the door behind him. Joey was in the driver's seat of his Jeep Wrangler, and Chris was in the passenger side, hanging out the window. Seeing Lance heading for them, he cupped his hands around his mouth, whistling and catcalling at the younger man. "Woo woo, Poofu!" he yelled. "Looking GOOD boy! Oh oh, that's right ... shake whatcha mama gave ya!" Lance blushed bright red, hurrying quickly to the car and climbing in. "Drive, Joey," he said, "QUICKLY." Joey laughed, slipping on his shades and hitting the gas. Lance sighed as he buckled his seat belt extra tightly, and glared at Chris. "MUST you do that every time you see me?" he asked. Chris turned in his seat to face Lance, giving him a grin and thumbs up. "Of course, man!" he said, smacking Lance's knee. "We gotta let everybody know that the Bass Ass is on the prowl! Rarrrrr!" Lance laughed, pushing Chris's hand away. "I am *not* on the prowl," he grinned. "What about Justin?" Chris snorted, rolling his eyes. "That kid doesn't count," he said. "If he did, HE would be having lunch with you instead of us. Right Joe?" Joey nodded. "That's right. Even though we are LOADS of fun, he's your boyfriend. Supposedly, that is." Lance's smile faltered, and even though he wanted to be angry at them, that hint of truth in the back of his mind stopped him. "You guys are so full of it," he laughed weakly. "You're just ... no, you're wrong. Justin, he loves me. So just lay off of him you guys. For me." Joey sighed, not liking the sad look on Lance's face. "All right buddy, we'll cut Timberlake a break," he said. "For you." Lance smiled. "Thanks." ~*~ JC's face fell and his heart plummeted in his chest. He should have seen this coming, but the truth still stung. The blonde man, this beautiful stranger he couldn't take his eyes off of, was Justin's boyfriend. "Boyfriend?" he asked, faking surprise. He looked at Justin's nervous face. "You're gay?" Justin shrugged, playing with his tie. "Sorta," he said. "I mean, I've been with Lance for two years, so I know I'm sure as hell not straight. But I had a girlfriend before him, Britney, and we were pretty close. Not nearly as close or as personal as me and Lance, but still... ya know, close." He laughed nervously. "So I guess I'm bi." JC nodded, having to move his hand over the picture to keep from staring at Lance's face anymore. Justin looked at him. "Are you okay with that?" he asked slowly. "Me being bi and having a boyfriend?" JC knew he didn't have a problem with it. In fact, he was very relieved. Except for the fact that now he had no shot whatsoever at Lance. He sighed. So what else was new? "Yeah man, it's cool," he smiled. Justin looked him over, searching for any sign that he was lying. Finding none, he grinned and clapped JC on the back. "Great," he said. "So why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself. Friends? Family? Origin? Something juicy." JC laughed, feeling like he was at an eighth grade slumber party instead of in his boss's office. "Well," he began, "I'm 25 years old." Justin nodded. "Cool, I'm 22. Lance is 23, Joey is 24, and Chris is 27. Not bad." JC chuckled, resisting the urge he had to ask more about Lance. "So, yeah, I'm 25. I'm from Maryland, but I just moved to Orlando about a year ago to sing. I have a few friends over at the bars and coffee shops, and my family is all back in Maryland." 'Which suits me just fine,' he thought, but didn't say out loud. "And," he took a deep breath, meeting Justin's curious gaze, "I'm gay.� |