(AN: This is a story that I wrote for Willow L.M’s first fiction 
challenge. She never put it up on her site. Oh well! Enjoy!!)


SECRETS REVEALED by Lancina


"...I felt the treacherous bubble of anger leave my body as the wave of 
sadness overcame me", I finished reading. "See, I always knew you had a 
poetic side in there somewhere, buddy". 


"That story was bullshit and you know it". 


"It was pretty bullshit". I sighed and then smiled. I was glad that 
Justin thought it was pretty, even if he didn't deny that it was 
bullshit. 


"Thanks, J". He reached over and squeezed my knee. It was a friendly 
gesture, but I wished that hand would travel to other places on my 
body. Then my mind went into a happy place, in which Justin was... 


*Snap!* 


I jumped. "Woah, Chris! Are you okay?", Justin asked me. 


"Yeah, just don't do that again". 


"I only snapped my fingers". 


"I know". Justin sighed. 


"I should go. You just keep writing that story and you just might end 
up being a world renowned author someday". I walked Justin to the door. 
We said our goodbye's and he was gone. I wish I could've told him to 
stay, but I didn't have a good reason except that I needed his company. 


The next morning I awoke with a strange feeling in my gut. Something 
was seriously wrong. My first thought was to go check on Justin. When I 
got to his hotel door I pounded it and screamed out his name. Yet, no 
one answered. Then with a strength I didn't know I possessed, I knocked 
the door down. Then, I frantically searched his room. JC, Lance, and 
Joey came into the room the second I found the note. They were followed 
by two body guards. 


"What the hell is going on in here?", someone yelled. I’m not sure who. 
I was completely tuned into the note. I read it over several times 
before I allowed it to slip from my fingers and fall to the ground. 
Somebody then picked it up and read it out loud. 


"Are you missing something, Chris? Is it tall, blonde, and handsome? Do 
you want it back? Good. Meet me at the Sunshine cafe tomorrow at noon. 
Come alone. Things might get messy if the cops are involved". 


"Oh, god...Justin". Everybody turned to me. I could sense the 
confusion. People wanted to know why the kidnaper's note was addressed 
to me. I wanted to know too. It's not like the kidnaper could know 
about my feelings for Justin, right? Nobody knew, but me, right? It was 
then I curled into a ball and began to sob. Strong arms--probably 
Joey's--held me tight and comforted me. Why did this have to happen to 
Justin? And to me? 


I don't know how long I cried. It must have been hours. When I was 
done, the guys questioned me. "What happened, Chris?". The question 
came from JC. 


"I woke up and had this feeling that I had to check on Justin. When I 
got there he was gone and I found the note". 


"Why do you think it was addressed to you?". 


"I...uh...um...well...I guess...". 


"It was probably random. Leave Chris alone, okay?", Lance said giving 
JC a stern look. I could see a secret glint in Lance's eyes. It was 
love and it was directed at JC. Lance knew a thing or two about 
unrequited love. In that instant, I knew that Lance knew that I was in 
love with Justin. Maybe I was a bit more obvious then I thought I was. 
After all, the kidnaper must have known.


Shortly after my talk with the guys, I went to sleep. I knew that 
management was working out what they were going to do. The main thing, 
in their opinions, was to keep this low key. The media was not to know. 
I woke up about an hour later and ran into the bathroom. Luckily I was 
able to throw up in the toilet without missing. When I was done, I laid 
down on the cool tiles of the floor. I was startled by the sounds of 
two of my band mates arguing in the room adjacent to mine. 


"I need to talk to someone, Josh". I could tell the conversation was 
serious because Lance called JC Josh. "And you know I can't talk to 
Chris. We all saw how he reacted earlier. And Joey's not much better 
off. Please talk to me". 


"Look, Lance, I told you already, we can't talk like this anymore". 


"You said we could still be friends". Lance's tone was both accusatory 
and betrayed. 


"I lied! Okay?! I can't deal with this, Lance. It's too weird. I don't 
need any grief about this on top of Justin's disappearance". 


"Grief?". 


"Yes, grief. I just want you to leave me alone. I can't trust you 
anymore, Lance. I'm sorry". 


"You're sorry? You're fucking sorry?! And you don't trust me?! What do 
you think, JC?! Do you think I'm going to try to jump your bones every 
chance I get?! Christ almighty!". 


"You know what, Lance? That's exactly what I think. Who knows what 
sick, homosexual fantasies about me you whip on in that demented head 
of yours". 


"Oh, that's right, JC. In fact, I'm whipping up a sick, homosexual 
fantasy about you right now. Oh, baby. Yeah, that's the right spot". 
The sarcasm in Lance's words was really thick, but not as thick as JC’s 
next words were angry. 


"Get the hell out of my room! I don't want to see or hear from you 
again unless we're working. Do you understand that?!". JC's question 
was answered by a sharp slam of the door. A few minutes later, I could 
hear Lance crying in the other room next to mine. My heart went out to 
him. It was group knowledge that Lance was in love with JC. Lance had 
been up front with his feelings, and everyone was supportive. That is, 
except for JC, the object of Lance's affections. Even after JC rejected 
him, Lance still wanted to be JC's friend, but it was made clear by 
their argument that JC didn't want the same thing. It was because of 
their not-relationship that I had never told Justin my feelings. Now, I 
might never have that chance. That thought made the tears come to me 
again. That annoying, but insistent flow. 


Later, I woke up on the bathroom floor. I quickly showered and changed. 
Then, I checked on Lance. When he opened the door, I noticed that he 
had been crying recently. "Hey, Lance, can I come in?". Lance simply 
nodded. We then both sat down on his bed. "I heard your fight with JC 
last night". Lance started to cry and I pulled him near to me. 


"What the hell is happening to our group, Chris? Poor Justin. Oh 
god...he's gone. And JC. I love him so much. If only he could love me 
with the same passion he hates me with". 


"He doesn't hate you". 


"You heard him last night, Chris. He can't look past me loving him. Is 
that why you haven't told Justin?". 


"Yeah". A sob strangled my throat. My thoughts were once again back to 
Justin. I looked at the clock. 11:00. "I better talk to management". 


"Are you going to meet the kidnapper?". 


"I have to, Lance. I'll do anything he asks. As long as Justin's okay. 
I can't lose him". 


"I understand". Lance pulled away. "Go talk to Johnny, Chris". 


The first thing management told me was that I was not allowed to meet 
the kidnapper. I told them to go fuck themselves and stormed out. I was 

at the Sunshine cafe at noon. Soon after I arrived, a person slid into 

the other side of the booth. "Hello, Chris", he greeted. 


"Where's Justin?". 


"Come now, Chris. Did you really think it would be that easy?". 


"No, I was just checking". 


"Fine, but from now on you will not speak unless you've been spoken to. 
Got that?". 


"Yes". 


"Good. As I'm sure you know, I know about your feelings for Justin. 
Personally, it disgusts me, but I am a fan of your music. I'm not 
trying to ruin you, Chris. Just your relationship with Justin. You will 
come with me and tell him you love him. Then when I'm sure he's 
thoroughly embarrassed, and nauseated, I'll let the both of you go". 


"And if I don't tell him...?". 


"I will kill him slowly while you watch. Is that clear?". 


"Crystal". 


"Come with me". I followed the kidnapper to his car, then to an 
abandoned factory. We walked inside and I saw Justin tied to a chair. 
"Don't do anything stupid", the kidnapper said as he pointed to a gun. 
I knelt in front of Justin. I then removed the piece of duct tape from 
his mouth, as delicately as I could. 


"Ow", Justin said pitifully. "Are you getting me out of here?". A tear 
slipped down his cheek, which in turn made one slip down mine. 


"I'm trying, buddy. Look, this man knows something about me...and you. 
It's something he thinks I should profess to you and if I do, he'll let 
you go". 


"Is it bad?". 


"Depends on your stand point". My heart was beating so fast I thought I 
might have a heart attack. This wasn't the way I wanted to tell him I 
loved him. This just wasn't fair. 


"Tell me, Chris". I tentatively touched his hand. 


"Well, I'm bisexual". 


"I know". 


"You are the reason I'm not straight. I'm in love with you, Justin". I 
watched as Justin turned white and seemed to shrink down in the chair. 
His face held no emotions until his features were clouded with anger. 


"How could you?!". 


"I...I'm sorry". 


"This...this is...I can't even look at you". I released Justin's hand. 


"I'm sorry", I repeated sadly. I turned away briefly before turning 
back, hoping for a change of heart. I got nothing. The kidnapper came 
behind Justin and untied him. 


"Y'all are free to go now. Don't worry about me. I think I'm gonna flee 
the country now. Tah-tah". With that, he was gone. I found a phone and 
called a cab. Justin didn't speak to me while we waited, or while we 
sat in the cab. When we got to our floor in the hotel we still hadn't 
spoken. Justin went into his room, and I went into mine. The rest of 
the guys didn't even know we had returned. 


I sat on my bed for fifteen minutes, emotionless. I decided I needed to 
see Justin. So, I went and knocked on his door (the door had been 
replaced already. I, of course, had to pay for it). Justin answered the 
door a moment later. He was wearing a towel and was dripping wet. He 
must have just come from the shower. He opened the door wider, allowing 
me entrance. We sat down on his bed. 


"Justin...I...".I didn't know what to say. 


"I'm sorry I reacted that way, Chris. I was just giving the guy what he 
wanted". 


"Then why wouldn't you talk to me?", I heard my pain filled voice ask. 


"I was in shock". 


"What do you think about this?". His slightly wet hand grasped mine. 


"I think we're gonna make one helluva great couple". I smiled and so 
did Justin. We stared at each other. We knew we should be kissing, but 
neither one of us knew how to initiate it. 


"Lance, is Chris back yet?", I heard Joey ask from the hallway. Justin 
and I giggled. 


"We should surprise them", Justin whispered. 


"Are you okay?". 


"Shockingly, I've never been better". Justin threw some clothes on and 
we surprised our band mates. 


THE END