That was the only thing JC could think of to describe it. Etched in stone, set in one expression.
Anger.
JC didn't think it was directed at him. He figured it was more towards the other three, who were responsible for this predicament in the first place.
There were candles scattered throughout the room, having been the only thing JC could find when searching for light bulbs. The original ones in the sockets had been taken, probably by Chris, and any extras that might have existed had been swiped as well. Chris was a psycho, but he could be pretty efficient when he needed to be. He even replaced the light bulbs with vanilla-scented candles. JC couldn't help but be impressed, even if he was mad at the little fucker.
Lance hadn't said anything directly to him for an hour. An hour was how long they'd been stuck in the room. An hour was how long it had been since dinner, when Chris had suggested they all go downstairs to have a good old-fashioned battle on the Playstation.
Justin, under the facade of being the nice, sweet, southern boy his mother had raised him to be, had opened the door to his game room of a basement to let JC and Lance go first, and promptly shut and locked the door behind them. Lance had started yelling at them soon after, while JC -- figuring if the others had their minds made up there was no changing it -- instead tripped his way down the stairs only to realize that there wasn't any light. Anywhere.
There was, in fact, a flashlight on the couch, but JC wasn't sure how fresh the batteries were. One never knew with those sorts of things in Justin's basement. The dying sunlight shone through the windows around the top of Justin�s basement walls, and JC sighed, assessing the situation as best he could with Lance barking about kidnapping charges at the top of the stairs. That was when he went looking for light bulbs, and instead discovered the seemingly endless supply of candles. At least they were vanilla. Conveniently next to the candles was a basket of matchbooks.
Coincidentally, JC thought, rolling his eyes, they looked exactly like the ones Chris was always collecting. JC hated matches and they all knew it, so he'd had to scamper back up the stairs with a book of them to Lance, who lit the first candle for him almost mechanically, still bitching at the other guys.
So that was how they'd gotten there. Lance had finally given up at about 6:30, and JC had set up the candles around the room as it began to get dark. Now it had been a full hour and they were sitting in silence; Lance at the bottom of the stairs and JC on the couch. Every once in a while JC glanced over in Lance's direction and saw his stony expression flickering in the soft glow of the candle JC had placed next to him.
"So, um," JC started. If they were locked in a basement together, he figured he may as well make conversation. "What do you think they--"
"I don't know, JC," Lance snapped.
JC blinked. "Okay," he said.
Never mind, then.
8:00
"So, sorry for snapping at you," Lance said a while later. "I just. You know. Pissed at them, and."
"Yeah," JC said, "that's okay." He shrugged. It didn't really bother him, anyway.
"No, seriously," Lance said, "I'm going to assume you didn't have anything to do with this."
"I didn't!" JC said. "What, you think if I had I would've been so stupid as to take out all the light bulbs?"
"Fucking Chris," Lance sighed.
"Yeah," JC agreed.
Lance continued. "So really, there's no reason to be mean to you."
"Glad you realized it," JC said. He stood up. "You think they left anything interesting for us to do?"
"Probably not," Lance said, gesturing to the bare sport on the wall that used to be the home of Justin's TV. "They apparently went through a lot of trouble to make sure we'd be bored shitless." He glanced up to the top of the stairs. "And WITHOUT PROPER LIGHTING," he said loudly.
"Oh, fuck off," Chris' voice floated through the door, and JC grinned.
"Yeah, you know," he said, "we could accidentally knock over the candles and set Justin's basement on FIRE."
"I heard that, JC, you dick," Justin shouted, "and if you do that I will kill you and make you pay every penny, you fucking tightwad."
Lance grinned. "Well, this could be a source of entertainment, I suppose."
"For a little while," JC agreed.
9:00
JC kicked his feet against the couch. "You think they're going to feed us?" he asked, rubbing a hand over his stomach. It had started growling at him a half hour ago. The other hand bounced a tennis ball on the floor.
Lance stared at him from the chair on the other end of the room. "We had dinner ten minutes ago. A very large dinner, I might add, and in retrospect, I wonder why I wasn't suspicious in the first place."
JC rolled his eyes. "Three hours ago," he corrected, ignoring the second part of the sentence.
Lance quirked his eyebrow. "Yet you're hungry again."
"Well," JC said, "yeah."
Lance shook his head and looked to the ground. "I will never understand you," he said.
JC grinned at him. "Jealous," he said.
Lance glanced at him with a shrug. "Well," he said.
JC frowned instantly. "Hey," he said, "I was just kidding, you know. I didn't mean--"
Lance smiled at him. "I know," he said. He looked towards the stairs. "Hey, assholes!" he called out, "The skinny man's hungry again!"
JC tossed his tennis ball at Lance. "Stop that," he said. Lance flashed him a grin.
"You trying to eat all my food, Chasez?" Justin asked.
"Yeah," JC called, "it's my plan to get you guys to let us the hell out of your shitty basement, Timberlake."
"My basement isn't shitty," Justin called back, "it's fully furnished and everything. With a bathroom so you don't piss on my floor. Top of the line."
"Way to go for pulling out the point of that statement," JC retorted.
"Hey," Justin said. "Fuck you."
"Witty as always," JC muttered.
"I could let you starve," Justin said.
JC sighed. "How did you hear me?"
"Hey, Chris," Justin said, "JC just told me he didn't want his midnight snack."
JC rolled his eyes over at Lance, who grinned. "Okay, okay. But you wouldn't want to do that, because let's say I starve and die, who would sing the other lead? Also, you know, it's 9:00, not midnight."
"I could do it!" Chris said.
"Hey, me too," Joey added.
JC sighed and looked at Lance. "I'm not that hungry, I guess," he shrugged. Lance grinned.
"No, fine," Justin said, "the whole plan doesn't really involve killing you two, though now that I think about it--"
"Oh, yay," Lance said.
"Really, J, are you gonna feed us or not?" JC asked. "Because, really."
"I'm sending something down with Chris," Justin said. JC could picture him rolling his eyes. "Think you can manage to wait a few minutes?"
JC sighed loudly. "Maybe."
10:00
"So, okay," Lance said, "apparently a few minutes means like, an hour."
"Shut your trap," Chris' voice said from the door.
"Are you guys going to be listening to us the entire night?" JC said. "Because, really. That's a bit much."
"No," Chris said, opening the door, "I'm on my way down to feed you, actually. But if you'd like I could skip that."
"No, that's okay," JC said quickly. "What'd you bring us?"
"Pizza," Chris said as he made his way down the stairs. "We got hungry too."
Lance snorted. "Pigs," he said.
"Well, okay," Chris said, "Joey was still hungry..." he started going back up the stairs again.
JC's eyes pleaded with Lance. "I'm hungry," he said, and Lance sighed.
"No, Chris, I'm sorry," Lance said. "Come on. Bring it back down."
Chris grinned. "I wasn't gonna go up there," he said.
"Yeah you were," JC said.
"Yeah, maybe." Chris shrugged. "Hey, so when I get over there you can't jump me and run to the door, all right? That wouldn't be playing fair."
"And locking us in a basement is," Lance said flatly.
"You know, I think Justin said he was hungry too," Chris said lightly.
"No, no," Lance said, glancing at JC again. "Sorry. Come on."
Chris grinned. "Man," he said, "this is so fun. Okay, fine. You can have it." He came closer and put the box on a table.
"Thanks," JC said gratefully, going over and grabbing a piece. "Happen to bring down anything to drink?" He tore at his pizza and ended up with half of it in his mouth.
Chris watched him chew. "That's amazing," he said.
JC shrugged. "M'hungry," he said around his pizza. He quickly swallowed and went after the rest. "Drinks?" he asked again.
"Oh, yeah," Chris said, pulling a couple cans of Mountain Dew out of his pockets. "Here you go."
JC took the offered can and took a second piece of pizza. "Thanks," he said, opening the can.
Lance eyed the cans with disdain. "Mountain Dew?"
"Sorry," Chris shrugged distractedly, watching JC guzzle half the can. He shook his head and turned back to Lance. "One of the rules is that you can't get drunk."
"Are you joking?" Lance asked.
"Nope," Chris said. "Take it or leave it."
Lance sighed and took a can. "I hate drinking caffeine after 9," he complained.
Chris grinned. "We know. That's why you get it. Jesus, JC, you're going to puke." JC swallowed the first half of his second piece and grinned brightly.
Lance sighed again.
"Cheer up, Lance," Chris said. "Have some pizza. Be like him," he gestured at JC, who was finishing off his drink. "By the way," he added, "this is a lovely ambiance you've got going on down here. The candles and everything."
"Fuck you," Lance said.
Chris winked at JC. "A bit touchy, isn't he?" JC grinned at him.
"Why are we down here?" Lance asked, ignoring them.
"We held a group meeting--"
"Obviously I wasn't invited," Lance said dryly.
"Okay, so we held a group meeting minus you, Lance--"
"I don't remember being there either," JC added, going for his third piece of pizza.
"Okay, so Joey, Justin, and I held a group meeting without the two of you," Chris amended. "And we decided. Joey and Justin are fed up with the two of you whining--"
Lance's eyes widened and JC froze mid-bite. "Um," Lance said. "Whining about what?"
"Separately, of course," Chris continued, undeterred. "Whining your little butts off about..." he glanced at each of them significantly. "Well, I'm sure you both know what I'm talking about." He paused. "And they decided that something had to be done."
"So," JC said, "pretty much, we're being shoved down here. Together. Until we solve whatever little internal problems you guys think we have?"
"Well," Chris said, "from what Justin and Joey have told me, I don't really think it's internal."
"Okay," Lance said, "that's really lovely. But where do you fit in?"
Chris rolled his eyes. "Bass, you're pretty smart some of the time, but the rest of the time you're just a moron. I'm just pissed because neither of you jerkoffs found it necessary to tell me any of this."
Lance sighed. "Retribution," he said. "Excellent."
Chris grinned. "Ain't it, though?"
Lance rolled his eyes. "Sometimes you three need to mind your own damn business, ever thought of that? Or did you miss the memo? We're big boys now. We can handle our own problems."
"Oh, well," Chris said, winking, "I never doubted you were a big boy, Lance, but--"
Lance groaned and covered his eyes. "Chris."
"I mean, you know, not that I've--"
"Chris."
Chris grinned, though Lance couldn't see him. "All right, all right, relax. Don't get your panties all in a wad, big b--"
"CHRIS!"
"Sorry," he shrugged, "but you walked into it."
Lance sighed. "I hate you all," he said dryly.
Chris grinned at him. "You love us," he said. "You have 24 hours starting from when we locked you down here to get your shit together."
"And if we don't?" JC asked.
Chris grinned again. "Don't worry," he said. "We have a plan B. Just to warn you, though. This, this no lights, being locked in a basement thing we have going on now? You'll wish for this." He winked at them and went back up the stairs.
"Hey, wait," JC said, "from now, or from when you assholes first stuck us in this hellhole?"
"From when we masterminding geniuses first led you down to that paradise," Chris shouted from the top.
"Fucker," Lance said, "I'm the only one in this group allowed to be a mastermind!"
JC couldn't help himself and let out a giggle.
Lance looked at him. "What?"
JC covered his mouth with a hand. "Nothing," he said, shaking his head.
Lance let out a huff and sat on the couch. "I'll get them back," he said.
JC grinned at him. "I'm sure you will," he said.
Lance crossed his arms and ignored him.
11:00
"So," Lance sighed, looking at his watch. "Five hours down, nineteen to go." He looked miserable.
JC frowned. "You know," he said, "you could at least pretend this wasn't like some horrible punishment, being stuck down here with me for a day."
Lance looked at him. "That's not what I meant," he said.
"Really?" JC said, "because those are the vibes I'm getting."
Lance glanced at his hands. "I'm not mad at you," he said, "I'm just annoyed. At them."
"Don't forget that I am too, you know," JC said. He stood up and paced in front of the couch. He couldn't sit still and wondered if it was annoyance or just the caffeine. "It's not like I'm happy about being stuck down here, but at least I'm not taking it out on you."
"I'm not taking it out on you," Lance said.
JC rolled his eyes. "You've barely been civil," he said. He shrugged. "Whatever," he said. "At least we know why they put us here."
Lance looked uncomfortable. "Yeah," he said.
JC sighed to himself and let it drop, finding the tennis ball again. "So," he said, hitting it against the wall where the TV used to be. "I think I'll think twice about confiding in Justin again."
Lance laughed shortly. "Right," he agreed. "Same for Joey." He paused. "They got us, though."
JC shrugged. "Yeah," he said. "This seems a little drastic though." He stretched his arms above his head with a yawn.
"That's Chris for you," Lance said, "vindictive little bastard."
"That's my name, don't wear it out," Chris called down the stairs.
His voice startled JC and he jumped a little. "There's something very suspicious about them hearing everything we say," he said. There was a thump and what sounded like muffled laughter from upstairs.
"They're probably sitting there with cups against the door," Lance said with a grin. "And if someone were to open the door they'd all come falling down the stairs."
JC smiled. "I would love to have a video camera for that."
"Yeah," Lance said, "me too."
"So," JC said after a few minutes of silence, "are you going to sit there, or are you going to play this exciting game of hit the wall with the tennis ball with me?"
Lance stood up. "I bet I can kick your ass," he said.
JC grinned. "We'll see about that," he said.
12:00
They'd found a few pieces of chalk in one of Justin's closets -- no doubt left over from the last time his brothers had come to visit (and if not them, Chris) -- and drawn crude goals on the walls and played that way for a while, each trying to hit the ball into the other's goal. Neither of them felt guilty about disfiguring Justin's pristine white walls.
After tiring of that game, they moved on to drawing on the walls until the chalk was just dust in their hands. By the time 12:30 rolled around, drawings -- including a few rather unflattering depictions of the other three guys -- decorated the walls.
JC yawned and dusted his hands on his pants. "Hey," he said, "I'm beat."
"Me too," Lance said with a yawn of his own. "Hey, cover your mouth next time," he said, "yawning's contagious."
JC grinned and yawned again, his grin broadening when Lance yawned a second time as well.
"Jerk," Lance said.
JC smiled sleepily. "Wanna help me pull out the couch so neither of us are stuck on the floor?"
The corners of Lance's mouth turned down slightly. "What about the chair?"
JC shrugged. "I've fallen asleep in that before," he said, "and I think it's worse than the floor. But if you'd rather sleep there, go for it. I claim the couch, man."
Lance sighed and plodded over to the couch. "Okay," he said.
JC sighed. "If you'd rather not sleep with me, I understand," he said, turning around so Lance wouldn't see his frown.
"No, no," Lance said, "it's not that. It's just..." he trailed off.
JC looked at him curiously. "Just what?"
Lance sighed again. "Nothing," he said. "C'mon, let's get this couch set."
JC nodded and started picking up the couch cushions, placing them in neat piles of three on the floor. "I'm gonna go get the extra sheets out of the closet," he said, and Lance nodded, getting a grip on the handle and pulling the couch out.
"Hey," Lance said, "are there pillows over there?"
"Two," JC said, voice muffled.
Lance frowned and picked up one of the smaller couch cushions, placing it on one side of the makeshift bed. "You want an extra?"
"Nah," JC said, "I should be fine with one. It depends on the pillow."
"Okay," Lance said. "You don't care which side, right?" He started taking off his shoes.
"Doesn't matter to me," JC shrugged from behind the armful of sheets he was carrying.
"There are some on there already," Lance said.
"I know," JC said, "but they're probably musty and crap."
Lance grinned. "Like the ones from the closet are any better, Jayce."
JC shrugged, putting one of the sheets on the bed. "Can't hurt trying."
Lance stood up to blow out some of the candles. "True," he said.
JC paused. "Hey," he said, "it won't weird you out or anything if I take my jeans off, will it? Because, um, I can't sleep with jeans on, and I don't have any other--"
"Calm down," Lance said, his voice muffled on the other side of the room. "Just keep your underwear on and we'll be cool."
JC's cheeks tinged red. "Um, right," he said. "So--"
"Hey," Justin's voice floated down, interrupting them. "Lights out for you guys already? Wusses."
"Shut up," JC said, though grateful for the change in topic. "There's nothing to do but sleep."
"And redecorate," Lance added cheerfully, returning to the makeshift bed.
JC grinned. "And that," he said.
"Redecorate? What do you mean, redecorate?" Justin's voice sounded frantic.
"Don't think you'll have much time to sleep," Chris warned.
"What does he mean, redecorate?" Justin's voice rose in pitch, and Lance and JC grinned to hear Joey trying to soothe him.
JC started to laugh. "Don't worry, J," he said. "You'll love it."
"Let me go see," Justin pleaded.
"No, not now," Chris said, "later."
"Chris, I don't like the way they're laughing."
"Later, Justin," Chris said. "Sweet dreams, boys," he said.
Lance and JC gave each other high fives before climbing into the bed and blowing out the last candle.
"Chris, I swear to God, if they ruined something, you're paying--"
"Shut up, Justin."
1:00
It was taking JC longer than he wanted to fall asleep. Despite being the one that suggested it, he couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that Lance was in the bed -- couch -- next to him. When after what felt like an eternity but was really only ten minutes he still wasn't close to being tired anymore, he propped himself up on an elbow and studied Lance's sleeping form.
He figured he knew why they'd stuck him in the basement. The only real thing he'd been babbling about to Justin recently was Lance. Justin had mentioned that he was getting annoying and to just talk to Lance about the whole thing, but JC was worried. Worried that Lance wouldn't feel the same way. JC figured that being friends with Lance was better than having Lance reject him or something, or make things weird between them. He figured he could live with just being friends, because just being around Lance made a happy feeling bubble up inside him, made him want to sing. Sometimes he did, but everyone just passed it off as him being wacky. He didn't mind that, so much. He still felt like a dork if people were around, especially Lance, but he'd stopped worrying about what other people made him feel like a while ago. Eventually, he'd had to tell someone about it, because he felt like he was going to explode. Justin had seemed like a good idea at the time. JC sighed to himself. Hindsight was always 20/20.
He wasn't sure about why Lance was being stuck down in the basement, but he didn't let himself think that it was for the same reason he was. And if the way he'd acted when JC suggested sharing the couch was any indication, then he wasn't. JC knew that the second he let himself believe that Lance was down there because he liked JC too, then that would be the second he was disappointed because there wasn't any way that was what was happening.
But a part of him still hoped. He dropped down from his elbow and stared at the ceiling.
He was about to drift off to sleep when he heard muffled voices from the top of the stairs.
"No, no," it sounded like Chris was saying, and then he added, "another half hour or so."
JC sighed. So maybe he'd have a half hour to sleep.
2:00
"Hey, boys, rise and shine, come on."
JC groaned and rubbed at his eyes. "'Ssholes," he slurred sleepily.
Lance let out a short laugh into the dark. "Yeah," he said, not as sleepily. Lance always woke up faster than he did.
"Come on, get up." That was Chris.
JC sighed and turned over, settling his head back into the pillow.
The door creaked open and shut, and then a sudden clanging noise invaded JC's sleepy head. He jumped up with a start. "Whassat?" He groped blindly in the dark until Lance put a soothing hand on his shoulder.
"I think they threw something down the stairs. Hold on." Lance's hand slid down his arm a little bit as he leaned over and lit a match. JC backed away from the flame a little and sighed when Lance had relit a candle and blown out the match. "It's all right," Lance said. The candle flickered over his face and danced as he breathed.
"I hate being waken up like that," JC said.
"I know," Lance said. "Hey, assholes," he called out, "what the hell's your problem?"
"We warned you," Joey shouted down.
"You didn't have to throw down a fucking stampede," Lance said.
"No, we didn't do that," Justin said. He sounded kind of sleepy.
Lance sighed and stood up, lighting another candle with the one in his hand and handing it to JC. "I'll be right back," he said. JC nodded and tucked his knees under his chin, staring at the candle. "Pots and pans," Lance said. "Jerks."
"We warned you," Chris echoed Joey's earlier words.
"Yeah, yeah. Assholes," Lance said. He kicked at one of the pots and sighed.
"There's stuff for you at the top of the stairs," Justin said. His voice was muffled and JC couldn't help but wonder if he'd been sleeping the same way he and Lance had been. He put the candle on the table next to the couch and wrapped both arms around his legs while Lance plodded slowly up the stairs. JC heard him cuss under his breath.
"More Mountain Dew. Thanks for nothing, assholes. Oh, gee, candy too. What the hell, guys." Lance didn't sound amused.
"No more naps until 5:00," Chris said. "You guys have ground to cover. Sleeping isn't an option."
"You better give us something else, then. JC's not going to eat this crap, and I'm not going to either."
JC could detect a hint of a grin in Joey's voice when he answered Lance. JC sighed and rested his head on his knees. "Hey," Joey said, "fine. We'll toss down some fruit in an hour or so, okay?"
"Fine," Lance said flatly.
JC didn't see Lance coming down the stairs, because he'd left the candle at the top to pick everything up, but he heard him swearing when he tripped over a pan. He dropped the stuff on the bed next to JC and lifted another candle to the one already on the desk. "Hi," JC said, raising his head a little.
Lance smiled. "Hi," he said. "I hope one of them steps on that candle. It's out, you know, but accidents with hot wax can happen."
JC grinned weakly. "Me too," he said.
Lance frowned a little and put a hand on JC's back. JC shivered a little. "You okay?" Lance said. "You seem kind of...skittish."
"They freaked me out," JC muttered. "And...you know. The matches."
"Sorry," Lance said, "I'll try not to light it in your face again."
"No, it's okay," JC said. He laughed weakly. "It wasn't even that. Just...even a lighter would've been better, you know? Jerks."
"Yeah," Lance said. He frowned a little and sat down next to JC. "So," he said. "We're stuck here, still. They won't let us sleep."
"I know," JC said. He inhaled deeply and reached for candy and came up with a pack of Starbursts. "Want some?"
"Yeah, sure," Lance said. "Give me a yellow one."
JC obliged and took a strawberry one. After he'd unwrapped it and put it in his mouth, he rewrapped his arms around his legs. "So," he said, sliding the candy around in his mouth.
"So," Lance echoed. "What do you think their next plan is?"
"Hey, you guys are quiet down there, you're not sleeping again, are you?" Justin asked.
"Some people can sit in silence and still be awake, moron," Lance shouted to him.
"Nah," Justin said dismissively.� "You're just weird."
Lance rolled his eyes. "We don't all have to endlessly talk about mundane topics, Justin. JC and I don't need to fill the air with mindless chatter to feel intelligent."
"Hey," Justin squawked in protest, "I'm intelligent."
"Thus implying that you're mindless," JC muttered.
"Bus school," Lance said, winking at JC, who grinned.
"I'll have you know, you graduated from bus school too," Justin said.
"Yes," Lance said, "but I also had Higher Bus Education. Bus college, dude."
"A year's worth," Justin snorted.
Lance rolled his eyes and ignored him, turning back to JC. "I hate caffeine this late," he said, eyeing the cans. "But I'm thirsty."
JC grinned at him. "Dilemma," he said.� He'd already opened a can.
"It is!" Lance sighed.� He picked one up and opened it, taking a sip. JC grinned again. "What?"
"Like just taking a sip at a time will lessen the effect," he said. "It's all going to the same place. I doubt they're going to give us anything else to drink."
Lance sighed. "True." He took a gulp.
"That's more like it," JC said.
"I hate them," Lance said.
JC pat him on the back. "I know, honey," he said. "I know."
4:00
"Hey," JC said stretching as he stood up, "I'll be right back. I gotta pee."
Lance looked up at him with a wry smile. "Thanks for sharing," he said.
JC grinned brightly at him. "No problem," he said, "I'm just glad there's a bathroom."
"Nah," Lance said, "this way's less fun. Fewer ways for us to ruin Justin's stuff."
"I heard that!"
Lance rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Why am I not surprised you did, J?"
JC smiled at him. "Just ignore him, dude. We'll find more ways to screw up his basement."
"I heard that too, C!"
"He doesn't sound quite as tired, this time," JC commented. "Maybe Joey stopped letting him use his shoulder as a pillow."
"Hey, JC, fuck you."
JC shook his head with a grin. "I'm going to the bathroom now," he said.
Lance winked at him. "Have a good time," he said.
"JC!" Justin yelped. "If you so much as think about--"
"This is so much fun," Lance said.
JC grinned as he shut the door to the bathroom. "You're great when you have caffeine, you know that?"
"They know who to blame," Lance called after him. "Hear that, guys? If Justin has a panic attack over his shit, it's your own faults!"
JC figured he missed part of the conversation while he was in the bathroom, because when he came out Lance was shouting angrily at the top of the stairs.� He sighed. "Flashback to eight hours ago," he muttered.
"You better be thankful there's a fucking door in between us right now, Justin," Lance was saying, "because you'd be sayin' your prayers pretty quick."
JC flopped down on the bed and covered his eyes with his arm.� "Things were going so well," he said.
"Don't be such a tightass, Lance," Justin said. "It was just a joke, lighten up."
"Fuck you," Lance said. "Just like the damn matches were a joke, too?� We know who they belong to, don't think I don't recognize all the bars and restaurants you swiped them from, Chris, by the way--"
"Oh, come on," Chris said, "leave me out of this."
"--a fucking joke," Lance continued like he hadn't heard Chris, "the hell kind of joke is matches? You know he hates them.� At least give us a fucking lighter."
JC sat up, because oh, shit, the fight was about him.� "Lance?" he said quietly.
"Lighten up, Lance!" Justin said again.
"You weren't down here when--"
"Oh for crying out loud," Justin interrupted.� "I'm sorry for pissing you off and whatever, okay? Jesus, just shut up."
JC sprinted up the stairs and put a hand on Lance's shoulder. It was tense under his fingers. "Lance," he said again. "Come on. Just ignore them." He couldn't remember Lance being this angry in recent memory.
"Fuckers," Lance muttered, but turned to follow JC. "For the record, Justin," Lance said, "that was the shittiest apology I've ever heard from you. And I've heard some shitty ones."
"Lance," JC repeated.
Lance sighed. "All right, all right," he said, letting JC lead him down the stairs.
"Thank God for JC," JC heard Chris say quietly to Joey.� "I thought he was going to break the door down."
"You don't have to get angry on my behalf," JC said quietly, nudging Lance over to the bed.� It was way too early for this crap.
Lance sat down obligingly and shrugged. "They were pissing me off," he said.
JC gave him a small smile. "So I heard," he said.
"Did you hear the whole thing?" Lance asked quickly.
"No," JC said, shaking his head. "You were telling Justin to be thankful that there was a door separating you two when I came back."
"He better have been," Lance said gruffly.
JC grinned to himself. "I think we all were," he said gently.
"You're laughing at me," Lance said.
"No, no," JC said, "it's just that, you know. You and Justin have some of the...I'm sorry, but you two have some of the dumbest fights ever.� I mean, yeah, I hate matches, but. You didn't have to scream at him for it."
"It was more than that," Lance said, miffed.
"Oh?" JC asked, "what?"
"Nothing," Lance said, crossing his arms.
JC rolled his eyes. "I think," he said slowly, "you maybe need to not have caffeine anymore."
"It wasn't by choice," Lance pointed out.
"Lance," JC said, "you were fighting with Justin. About me. And matches."
"You said it was fun, before," Lance protested. "The caffeine."
"Lance," JC repeated slowly, "matches."
Lance smiled slowly. "That was pretty dumb, huh?"
JC grinned again, glad to see Lance's smile. "Yeah, but I forgive you. You were defending my honor."� He fluttered his lashes.
Lance threw a piece of candy at him. "Bite me," he said.
5:00
They'd been throwing candy back and forth at each other for a while -- something that was passing the time much better than JC figured it should -- before Lance stopped.� "Hey," he said. "I have a question."
JC ate a piece of a Hershey bar. "Shoot," he said.
"Tell me if you don't want to talk about it," Lance said cautiously, and JC nodded. "What is it about matches? I mean, you're fine with the candles."
"Not really fine," JC corrected, smiling wryly. "I tolerate them when I have to. Like now. I don't really mind them too much. As long as they don't fall over, and they're not near anything flammable, I'm okay with them."
Lance nodded. Whenever there was a candle lit, JC always made sure it wasn't near anything that had a remote possibility of catching fire.� "But the matches?" Lance asked.
"That," JC said. He inhaled deeply and shrugged.� "I don't...there's no control over them, you know?" he said. Lance furrowed his brow so he continued. "Well I mean," he said, "with a candle, it's not moving anywhere. If it's doing something you don't like you can blow it out, and it dies, right away. I mean, you know, you can do that with a match, too, but it's different. I mean." He sighed. Lance had raised an eyebrow.� "Okay," he said, "take a lighter, for example."
"Uh huh," Lance said. He looked almost amused.
"Okay. You press a button, it lights. I mean, it might take a few tries, but it lights. The cigarette ones and the bigger ones, I mean."
"Yeah," Lance said.
"So," JC said, "if you want the flame to go away, all you have to do is let go of the button, and it's gone. With a candle, you blow it out. But with a match, it's so much more unpredictable. I mean, it'll go out, but it can also burn your hand if you don't get rid of the flame quick enough" He shrugged. "It's just. No control."
"You burn yourself on a match when you were a kid?" Lance asked.
"Well, yeah," JC said, "but that's not. It was." He sighed. "Remember how I told you guys that we had a fire when I was younger?"
"Yeah," Lance said, furrowing his brow again. "But...Oh. It was started by a match?"
JC nodded and pressed his chin to his knees.� He'd never told them this part before.� "I don't even know what was going on, because I was upstairs in my room. It might've just been to light a candle, just to have one lit, you know?"
Lance nodded. "Jayce," he said, "if you don't want to--"
"No, it's okay," he said.� "But, anyway, it got dropped and one of the curtains caught on fire.� Then the couch.� Then everything else in that room. And the downstairs. And..."
"You were caught," Lance said.
JC nodded. "It spread so fast, you know? It was an old house, and it just spread so fast." He looked toward the candle on the table. "I was doing pretty well, for a kid. I smelled smoke and the smoke detector was going off and everything.� I remembered what they said about checking to see if the door was hot and everything, stuffed a blanket under the door to keep the smoke out. And it wasn't hot...but I was too scared to leave my room.� I was stupid, I couldn't get out. I noticed too late what was going on, you know? I was busy playing or something."
"You were five, Jayce," Lance said gently.
"Yeah," JC said.� He sighed and continued. "All I really remember is being so afraid of fire coming through the floor that I was standing on top of my bed, and all I could think about was how much trouble I'd be in if someone saw me standing on top of it.� And then I realized that it didn't really matter, because, hey, you know, there was a fire." He looked at Lance, eyes unfocused as he remembered.
"You don't have to," Lance said.
"No, it's okay," JC said. "But then...I looked for the window...I guess I thought maybe I'd be able to jump out, or something.� So I got it open...I don't know, I was on five year old auto-pilot, or something, and then I saw the most beautiful sight, there was a firefighter on a ladder coming to get me."� He sighed. "That's why I always loved firefighters. And, everyone was okay. I mean, the house was gutted before they got the fire out, but it started on the other side so I was actually in the best place, but."
"No one went to get you," Lance said softly.
JC shrugged.� "I don't think they realized I hadn't been in the room with them until they were outside. I was a quiet kid.� And I had literally gone upstairs like, five minutes before. They felt really bad about it afterwards.� They wouldn't stop apologizing."� He laughed a little. "Sorry about that," he said, "I mean, I just wanted to tell you why I don't like matches."
"No, it's okay," Lance said, "I'm glad you told me that, JC." He smiled a little. "I can't believe none of us made that connection."
JC shrugged again. "Yeah, well," he said. "It's okay. I didn't expect you guys to. I just wish they'd respected the whole matches thing."
Lance glanced at the stairs with a frown, but leaned over and wrapped his arms around JC in a hug. "Yeah," he said, "me too."
6:00
They had been sitting for a while when Lance thought of something. "Hey," he said, "you think they'll let us sleep a little? Chris said 5:00, and it's 6:05 now."
"I'm kinda wired on caffeine," JC said. "But if you wanna, go ahead." He looked sorrowfully at the pillow and then at the leg that had started to twitch. "I feel like I'm Chris," he said mournfully.
"Hey, hey, hey," Chris shouted, "there is nothing wrong with that."
JC twitched again. "That's really annoying," he said, gesturing with his hands to the stairs. "It'd be nice to have a private conversation without them bothering us every thirty seconds."
Lance nodded his agreement before stretching out on the bed. "I'm kind of awake too, now that I think about it."
"See," JC said, "this was their plan the whole time. They don't want us to sleep."
"Yeah," Lance said. "I don't understand why, though. I mean, I can't think clearly if I don't get a few hours of sleep. And you're worse than I am." He winked and JC grinned.
"Yeah, well," JC said.
"Hey! Stop complaining and start bonding, you morons!� There are revelations to be had!"
JC sighed. "Once we get out of here, I am never speaking to Chris again."
Lance nodded firmly. "Ditto," he said.
"I heard that!"
"You know what?" JC said, raising his voice a little, "I'm going to try and sleep right now. And if I should be waken up by random pots and pans falling down the stairs, someone will be singing higher than he ever thought possible."
"Yes," Lance said, "perhaps, maybe, a 'wake up, guys,' would be sufficient next time, yes?"
"Yes," JC agreed, "excellent suggestion." He coughed loudly.
"Um," Chris' voice floated down the stairs. "Suggestion duly noted."
"Thank you," JC said.� He looked at Lance as he blew out his candle. "I've slept through caffeine highs before," he said, shrugging as he lay down.
"You've slept through earthquakes before," Lance muttered, blowing out his own candle.
7:00
JC woke up slowly with the feeling of someone's eyes on him.� He smiled sleepily. "Hey," he said, rubbing at an eye.
Lance was propped up on his elbow, much the same way JC had been the first time they tried sleeping.� "Hi," he said, smiling softly.
"Couldn't sleep?" JC asked, stretching his arms above his head. He was still so tired.
"Nope," Lance said. "That's really cute," he pointed out when JC rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. The flush on his cheeks was immediate. "I mean."
JC just smiled, not really registering the comment. "Thanks," he said. He pushed his hands against the back of the couch to stretch his back.
"Long process?" Lance asked.
"Hmm?" JC glanced at his watch just as it changed to 7:45.� He sighed and stretched again.
"Waking up."
"Oh," JC said, swiping his hand across his eyes one more time. "Yeah," he said. "I hate doing it."
"Waking up?" Lance asked. He sounded amused.
"Mmhmm," JC said. "Sleeping is so nice.� I have to wake myself up slowly or I'll fall back asleep. Or my body will get mad at me."
Lance was definitely amused. "I see."
"Mmhmm," JC said. "And my thoughts get scattered."
"I believe it," Lance grinned.
JC stretched one more time. "I had the strangest dream."
"Oh yeah?"
JC nodded before he sat up. "Yeah.� We were camping and you were a monkey."
"All five of us?"
"We were all camping, yeah. That would suck."
"Camping?"
"No," JC said, "you being a monkey." He moved over and rested his head on Lance's shoulder.
"Yes," Lance said, "I suppose it would."
"Mmhmm," JC said, "especially since you were a bitchy monkey."
"I was? That does suck." He wrapped an arm around JC without a second thought.
"Yeah. In my dream Justin said it was because you didn't have your Palm. Or a laptop." JC's eyes fluttered closed.
"So does that mean you think I'm a bitchy monkey when I don't have my laptop?"
JC shook his head. "No," he said seriously. "But Justin does."
"I don't have my laptop now," Lance said, feeling surprisingly comfortable in their position.� "Does that make me a bitchy monkey?"
"Not to me," JC yawned. "Maybe to Justin."
"This is such a bizarre conversation," Lance pointed out.
JC didn't answer. He'd fallen back asleep on Lance's shoulder.
8:00
When JC woke up again a little while later, Lance was carefully arranging M&M's into little color coded piles with the hand that wasn't around JC's waist.� When JC shifted he looked over and smiled. "Hey," he said, "you're awake."
"Yeah," JC said drowsily, "what're you doing?"
Lance shrugged. "Not much else to do," he said.
"Liar," JC said, "you do this for fun when you think no one's paying attention."
Lance blushed a little. "Shut up," he said.
"And then you complain about the lack of equality for different colored M&M's."
"I think the green ones get shafted," Lance said indignantly.
JC grinned widely. "He doesn't deny it!" he said delightedly.
"Shut up," Lance said again. He squeezed JC's waist a little.� "I could toss you across the room," he said.
"You could," JC agreed, "but then you'd disrupt your M&M piles."
"What was that?" Lance asked, dancing his fingers up and down JC's side. "I didn't catch that last part."
"Nothing," JC said, twisting away from Lance's hand, "I didn't say anything!"
"Really?" Lance asked. "I coulda sworn I heard something."
JC was simultaneously doubled over laughing and trying to scoot away. "Stop," he said, "I didn't say anything, I swear!"
"Mmhmm," Lance said.� "Next time watch what you say."
JC grasped for Lance's wrist with his hand. "Okay, okay," he said breathlessly, "just quit it!"
Lance grinned and let go. "That's better," he said.
JC flopped down onto the bed, breathing heavily. "That's not fair," he said.
"What?" Lance asked, amused. "You're ticklish. I used that to my advantage."
JC huffed.� "Still not fair," he said.
"I let you sleep on me," Lance pointed out.
JC smiled a little. "True," he said. "Thanks, by the way. I'm sure it couldn't have been comfortable. Or fun, for that matter. You didn't have to--"
"It was fine," Lance said dismissively. "You're so light I could barely feel--aw, man."
"What?"
"My piles are all messed up," he said, his tone disappointed.
JC stifled a giggle.
Lance looked at him sharply. "What was that?"
JC sat up and scooted over. "Nothing."
Lance leaned over. "You sure?"
JC backed up a little. "Positive," he said.
Lance leaned again. "Really?"
"Really," JC said, backing up so much he fell off the couch. "Ow," he said. "Hi, carpet."
"Oh, God, JC, are you okay? I'm so sorry, I--"
"Nah," JC said, "I'm fine. My butt kinda hurts."
"Well it's so bony," Lance teased.
"Shut up," JC huffed. "I'm just gonna stay down here." He stretched out on the ground, and that's when he noticed the little light. "Wait a minute," he said.
There was a thud from upstairs. Lance glanced towards the staircase before looking at JC. "What?" he asked.
JC peered through the crack under the couch with a frown. He stood up quickly and grabbed Lance by the wrist.� "Nothing," he said, "I, uh, felt a little twist in my ankle, but it's gone." He placed a finger over his lips and dragged Lance to the bathroom.
Lance looked at him suspiciously. "You okay?"
"Yeah," JC said loudly, "I'm fine."� He hit Lance in the shoulder and covered his lips again as he shut the door behind them.
9:00
Lance had been watching JC open up every drawer in the bathroom before speaking up. "What's--"
"Shut up," JC hissed, closing the last of the drawers.� Lance rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as JC bent over to check all the cabinets under the sink.�
When he stood up, looking satisfied, Lance raised an eyebrow. "Can I talk now?"
"Yes," JC whispered, "but quietly."
Lance humored him and lowered his voice. "What's going on? And do you realize that you're still not wearing any pants?"
JC looked down at himself and blushed. "Shut up, and listen," he said. Lance nodded at him. "Under the couch," JC said, "there was a little light."
Lance blinked. "Okay," he said.
JC rolled his eyes. "Don't you get it? That's how they've been listening to us! They must have walkie talkies or something all over the place!"
"How could we not have noticed little lights in the dark?"
"They hid them," JC said matter-of-factly.
Lance rolled his eyes. "I think being locked up in a room with me has started to make you go crazy." He went to open the bathroom door.
JC grabbed his wrist. "Wait," he said, "I can prove it."
Lance shook his head. "If you say you're going to show me little red lights I'm leaving."
JC sighed. "Come on," he said. "I have another idea.� I swear, I can prove it."
Lance lifted his eyebrow. "Okay," he said.� "How?"
JC opened the door. "Follow me," he said, leading Lance over to the couch. He knelt down and gestured for Lance to do the same.
Lance sighed heavily but complained. "JC," he said. "Could you at least put some pants on? You're very distracting."
JC grinned. "Really?"
Lance rolled his eyes. "Pants."
"Fine, fine," JC said, sliding his jeans from the day before over his hips. "Happy?"
"Thank you," Lance said.
"Okay," JC said.� "Follow my lead." He coughed. "So," he said louder, "we should probably talk about why they put us down here."
"JC," Lance said again.
JC hit him on the shoulder.� "Well, first of all," he said, louder, "I think I know why I'm here. Do you?"
Lance rolled his eyes. "No, JC, I don't know why you're down here. Why don't you tell me?"
JC leaned closer to the couch and spoke a little lower. "No, doofus, I meant do you know why you're here?"
Lance's weight shifted. "I suppose I do," he said.
"Great," JC said with mock cheerfulness. "I'll go first."
"Um," Lance said, "JC."
"I'm here because I've been telling Justin that I think..." JC leaned even closer to the couch.� "I think Chris is hot," he said lowly. "I think, given the opportunity, there are a million different ways I can think of to do him."
Lance's wide-eyed reply was lost in the sudden clatter from upstairs.
JC grinned widely. "Believe me?" he said, choking back laughter.� "Hey, guys," he shouted, "you okay up there?"
"Uh, yeah," Joey said, and both of them could hear amusement in his voice. "Chris just fell off the chair, that's all."
"I did not," Chris snapped crossly.
JC winked at Lance. "Why's that, Chris?" he asked.� "Something freak you out?"
"No," Chris said loudly. "Carry on. Nothing happened."
"See?" JC asked.
Lance smiled a little. "Lemme try," he said.
"Where were we?" JC asked a little louder, "oh, yeah. Talking about why we're here.� Well, now you know why I'm here. How about you?"
"Actually," Lance said, "the same reason you are."
There was a loud slam from upstairs.
Lance glanced over curiously before continuing.� He mimed what JC had done earlier and leaned in. "Actually, you know, I've been going to a bunch of bars and clubs and stuff lately, and sex with hyperactive elfin guys is all the range. I was hoping to try it out soon, but I don't know if--"
Both recognized the goofy sounds of Justin when he was laughing at someone else.� JC grinned at Lance. "Well," he said, leaning in closer. "I don't see why we couldn't share him."
There was a loud squawk from above them and JC started giggling. Lance grinned. "Okay," he said, "I believe you."
JC grinned. "Thank you," he said.� "Hey," he called out, "what are you guys doing up there?"
"Making fun of Chris," Joey shouted. Justin was still laughing.� "Don't worry about it.� Justin's tackling him."
"Sure," JC said to himself, still grinning.� He stuck his hand under the couch and maneuvered his fingers around until he managed to grasp the walkie talkie under there.� It had a rubber band around it to keep the line open from their side.� JC looked at it. "Should I tell them we know?" he asked.
"I think you should surprise them with it," Lance said.
JC nodded. "Good idea," he said. "Sneaky little fuckers. I can't believe they were monitoring us. We should find the other ones. There have got to be more."
Lance nodded and took the walkie talkie from JC and leaned it up against the side of the couch. "They should still be able to hear us a little," he said.
"Good point," JC said. "Okay. You take that side, and I'll take this side."
"Got it," Lance said.
JC grinned. "Leave no corner untouched.� Just don't move them."
Lance grinned back at him. "They're going to wish they never thought of this, aren't they?"
JC nodded slowly, still grinning. "They will be sorry for weeks, dude."
10:00
After a while of searching, JC and Lance found, in addition to the walkie talkie they'd originally discovered, one other walkie talkie -- this one with tape covering the light -- and four lightless baby monitors.
"We have them all?" JC asked, once they'd moved into the bathroom.
"I think so," Lance replied. "I triple checked."
"Okay," JC said. "Act normal for a little bit."
Lance rolled his eyes. "You can't just tell someone to act normal and then have them do it, JC," he said.
"Okay, okay," JC said, opening the door and going back into the room. "Just sit there and be your boring self, then." He winked. "Just don't be too loud near the monitors.� We have to leave them in place. I'm afraid if we piss them off before breakfast they won't feed us."
Lance nodded. "Good point," he said.
JC grinned. "I know." He grabbed a tennis ball, bouncing it against the wall. "There any candy left?"
"Too much," Lance groaned, going over to grab some.� "What kind did you want?"
"Not sure," JC said. "Surprise me."
"You can't say that," Lance said, "because then I'll get worried that you won't want what I get you."
"Don't eat candy, then," Justin shouted down.� "We have breakfast."
"Great," JC said, "but the question is when."
"Soon," Justin said, "keep your panties on."
"Speaking of that," JC said, winking at Lance, "I could use some new underwear. I don't know about your hygiene, but I kind of like to not be wearing the same underwear two days in a row. Clothes I guess I can live with, but--"
"Where do you expect me to get your underwear from?" Justin asked.
JC rolled his eyes.� "You mean to tell me that none of you had the foresight to realize that you'd be locking us down here for a day? And that maybe, just maybe, it would be nice to give us some underwear?"
"Well, sorry, Princess," Justin said, "I suppose I didn't realize you would become a pissy little bitch over not having clean underwear."
"Don't worry, C," Chris called out, "I am a master genius. I swiped some last time I was at your house."
"Oh, good," JC said, "nice to know that I'm best friends with thieves."
"Wow," Lance said, "you're still calling them your friends? I stopped with that at least six hours ago."
"Shut up, ass, or we won't feed you," Chris said.� "C, we'll bring your breakfast down with a side of shorts, okay?"
JC smiled. "Okay," he said.
"Lance, how bout you? Are you going to be a diva about clean underwear?"
"I wouldn't mind some clean underwear, if that's what you're asking," Lance said.
"You know," Chris muttered, "it's so high maintenance locking your friends up in a basement these days."
"Oh," JC said, "so you've done this before."
Chris laughed. "Once or twice," he said.� "Breakfast in ten, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," JC said.
True to his word, Chris delivered pancakes ten minutes later and handed each of them a clean pair of boxers. "Wait," Lance said, "who made these?"
"What," Chris said, "your shorts?"
"No," Lance rolled his eyes, "the food, you ass."
"Oh," Chris said, "don't worry, it was Joey."
"Okay, good," Lance said, "because I really don't trust you guys with my food."
"Nah, don't worry," Chris said, "we told you before, this isn't about killing you guys. Although, if I ever get conned into going through your drawers and stealing your shorts again..." he raised his voice and tilted his head back towards the stairs. "There will be two more people hanging with you."
"That's a really comforting thought," JC told him.
11:00
"So, hey," Lance said, once they'd eaten and changed.� "When do you think we should pay them back for the monitors thing?"
"Oh, yeah, they've fed us, haven't they?" JC asked.� "All right, then." He took a last sip of his drink -- still a Mountain Dew, of course -- and stood up.� He extended a hand to Lance with a grin. "Shall we?"
Lance grinned and took his hand. "We shall," he said.
"Okay, here's the deal," JC said softly once Lance had stood up, "we're going to have that same conversation as before, only without the Chris thing this time.� And then when I tell you, cover your ears. Okay?"
"Okay," Lance said, puzzled. "Why am I going to have to cover my ears?"
JC grinned slyly. "If I know the three stooges up there, they'll be leaning in to hear what's going on. Especially if we're quiet."
Lance grinned. "You know, maybe you can share the title of mastermind."
"How magnanimous of you," JC said. Impulsively, he reached forward and hugged Lance. "Hey," he said quietly, "once we get rid of these stupid things, we should probably talk about some stuff."
Lance swallowed but returned the hug. "Yeah, sure," he said.
JC grinned so his eyes squinched. "Great," he said. "Now why don't you get the monitors on your side of the room? I'll keep talking, you can talk back and everything, just be careful. And when we get 'em all in one place, on the bed, we'll be able to get rid of them. But be quiet when you're moving them." He moved over to the couch and picked up the first one they'd found, dropping it on the top. "And I'll point you out to the others."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Lance said.
JC watched him leave for a second and then shook his head, taking a deep breath.� "Hey," he said, "it doesn't sound like the guys are paying attention to us; we should try talking about why we're here again, you think?"
"Um," Lance said, "yeah, sure."� He plucked one of the baby monitors out of its hiding spot.
"Because, I mean, it's not because I want to sleep with Chris." JC watched Lance pick up another one and pointed him to a couple more.
Lance waited until he'd put the two in his hands down before speaking again. "No, I know," he said, "me neither." One more monitor and the other walkie talkie.
"Well," JC said, crossing the room to where all the monitors were, "the real reason I'm here is..." he spoke softly so his voice wouldn't seem too magnified to the guys, and waited for Lance to put the last baby monitor on the chair before speaking again.� He spoke almost inaudibly. "It's because..." he placed his hands over his ears and waited for Lance to do the same, grinning madly. "I..." he cut himself off with a piercing scream.� When he ran out of breath, he just inhaled deeply and kept going.
By the time he'd stopped, Lance was doubled over with laughter and there was crashing and shouting from the floor above them.� "That was absolutely incredible, JC," Lance said, barely able to speak. "That second one was a good ten, fifteen seconds."
JC caught his breath. "Thank you," he said, and started to laugh.
"GUYS! What the fuck is going on down there? Are you both okay?"
Lance laughed some more but picked up all the monitors from the couch.� "We're fine," he said.� "Just, you know." He walked up the stairs. "JC just had a little pent up energy."
JC snorted.� "Yeah," he managed to get out.
Lance knocked on the door. "I think you guys left these downstairs," he said, handing them to Chris when he opened the door.
"Aw, fuck," Justin's voice said, "I told you guys they'd find them. But did anyone listen to me? No, of course not."
Lance laughed coming down the stairs. "Did you guys really think we were stupid?"
"And then," Justin continued, undeterred, "they said that shit about Chris, and I told you they'd found them then, but no, why believe Justin? He never knows what he's talking about!� Fuckers."
"Oh," JC shouted, "you got yours. Shut up."
"Fuck you, JC," Justin said, "don't think I'm not noticing the fact that you didn't pull this shit until after you ate."
JC giggled. "Very astute, Justin," he said.
"Fuck off," Justin said irritably.� "I think you split my damn eardrums with your screeching."
"Fuck off," JC mimicked, laughing.
"Y'all deserve it," Lance called out. "It's really the least we could do."
"We will get you back for this," Justin promised. "No, fuck you, Kirkpatrick, don't touch me."
JC collapsed against Lance. "This is so fun," he said.
"Dude, calm down a little," Joey's voice said.
"I will not calm down," Justin said, "you could've ruined my hearing! You could've--"
Lance rolled his eyes at JC. "Primadonna," he said.
JC grinned and nodded his agreement. "Yeah," he said.
"I said don't touch me, Chris!"
"Don't pinch me, then, you little asshole!"
Lance grinned. "They sound like they're having fun, don't they?"
"Get your fucking tongue out of my ear!"
JC actually fell over laughing.
12:00
They had to sit for a while before they could actually speak without laughing again, Justin's yelping still echoing in their ears.
"I love that kid," JC said, shaking his head. He was sitting cross legged and leaned back against the side of the bed. "He's so funny sometimes."
"When he's not trying," Lance grinned. "I wonder if they're going to feed us lunch."
"We're supposed to get out of here at six," JC said, "so even if they don't, maybe we'll be okay til then."
"You know," Lance said, glancing at the stairs, "it's so nice to be able to have a conversation without them breathing down our necks."
"That it is," JC said. "I'm glad we figured out the monitor thing, though. The way they could hear everything was freaking me out."
"Yeah, really," Lance agreed. "So," he said.
JC nodded. "So," he said, and smiled at Lance.
"Yeah," Lance said. He laughed. "We should talk, you think? I mean, you know, not to say this conversation isn't thrilling, but--"
JC yawned in response and laughed when Lance elbowed him. "Yeah," he said. "Okay, so. You first?" He grabbed a pillow off the couch and put it in his lap.
Lance shrugged. "Sure," he said. "So, I guess I should probably start off by apologizing for the way I was acting when they first stuck us down here..."
"Don't worry about it," JC said, "it's perfectly understandable."
"Well," Lance said, "it didn't warrant me being a dick to you, no matter how pissed I was at them."
JC glanced down to the pillow in his lap before looking back up. "Was?" he asked softly.
Lance smiled. "Well, yeah," he said, "because as stupid an idea as this was, it's been kind of fun. We don't really hang out much anymore."
"We don't," JC agreed.
"So," Lance said, "I'm not as mad at them. But don't tell," he winked.
"I wouldn't dream of it," JC said, smiling. "I'm kind of having fun too," he confessed.
Lance grinned. "Well," he said, "now that that's out of the way, maybe I should get to what I was telling Joey."
"Sure," JC said, smiling again. "Take your time, we still have a few hours." He winked.
Lance smiled. "So," he said. "I've been talking to Joey for a while about this one. thing."
"Uh huh," JC said.
"And, okay, well, I'm gay."
"Um," JC said. A grin crossed his face. "Yeah," he said. "You told us that a long time ago."
"Yeah," Lance said, nodding. "So, there's this guy."
JC felt a little pang of disappointment. Lance probably wouldn't be mentioning it if it was him. "Okay," he said.
"Well," Lance said, "there's this guy I kinda like, and I guess I've been talking about him too much for Joey's enjoyment."
"Gotcha," JC said. "Do I get a name?"
Lance flushed. "Not yet," he said.
JC shrugged. "Fair enough," he said.
"Okay," Lance said, "your turn."
"Well," JC said, "I'm gay too."
"Yes," Lance said, "we were all informed of that, also." He winked.
JC grinned. "So, I also have this guy I like. And, you know. I guess Justin doesn't like me talking about him so much either. And no," he said, seeing Lance's mouth open, "you don't get a name either. Not until I get one from you. Man, we're in the same boat, aren't we?"
Lance let out a short laugh. "So, because they don't feel like dealing with this, they stuck us down in the basement so that we could talk each other through our little unrequited crushes. At least, I'm assuming unrequited?"
JC shrugged. "As far as I know. We have some shitty friends, though, don't we?"
1:00
"So," Lance said, "have you talked to your guy about how you feel?"
"Nope," JC said. "I'm afraid of making it too weird. You?"
Lance shook his head. "Nope," he said, "same thing."
"Great," JC said, "we've made progress."
Lance grinned at him. "So how are you so sure it's unrequited?"
"Well," JC said, "he hasn't really given me any indication that he feels the same. I mean, sometimes I think so, and then sometimes he does something totally out there and I think 'no way in hell he likes me,' you know?"
Lance nodded. "I know," he said. "You do realize, we sound like a couple of girls."
"Sure," JC shrugged, "this is like a slumber party. The guys are acting like twelve year olds. It all works out okay."
"If you say so," Lance said.
"So," JC said, "this guy, do I know him?"
"Sure," Lance said, "we all know the same people."
JC rolled his eyes. "Do I know him well?"
Lance shrugged. "You could say that, yeah."
JC felt another pang and sighed. "I don't know what the guys were trying to do. This is kind of depressing."
"I know what you mean," Lance agreed.
"So," JC said, "I think you should tell me who it is. Because maybe I could help you get him." He winked. He figured to himself, even if it wasn't him, he'd be happy if Lance was happy.
Lance shook his head. "Maybe later," he said.
JC shrugged. "Okay," he said. He didn't really want to hear Lance waxing poetic about some other guy, anyway. He stood up. "I think I'm going to take a nap," he said, "hasn't been much sleep around here. Hey, if you get bored or something, just wake me up."
Lance nodded. "Okay," he said. He waited until JC was lying down before he spoke again. "Hey," he said, just as JC felt himself drifting off. "He has brown hair," Lance offered.
A little spark of hope flared in JC's chest but he tried to ignore it. "Okay," he muttered, turning his head into the pillow. "G'night."
The last thing JC heard before drifting off to sleep was a soft chuckle. "Night, JC," Lance said.
2:00
When JC woke up later, Lance was asleep next to him. He sighed softly and stood up, stretching. "I wish it was me," he whispered to himself, glancing at Lance before walking to the bathroom.
When he came back out, Lance was sitting up in the bed, a pensive look on his face. "Hey," JC said.
"Oh, hey," Lance said, looking at him.
"Did I wake you up when I got up?" JC asked, concerned. "Sorry."
"No," Lance said, glancing back down at the pillow. "I was already awake."
"Oh," JC said. He paused, and his eyes flew open, startled. "Oh!"
"Oh," Lance agreed, nodding his head.
"Listen," JC said, at the same time Lance said
"It is."
"You," JC stopped. "What?"
"Um," Lance said, "it is. You. If I heard right. I mean, if not, just ignore me, I'm."
JC smiled broadly and crossed the room. "Hey," he said, "I think you heard right."
"Yes," JC said, "so I'm going to figure you know that, um. My guy was you?"
"I'd kind of deduced that, yes," Lance said, a half smile crossing his lips.
"So, in that case," JC said, "if you like me, and I like you, then maybe--"
"Hey, JC?"
JC stopped. "What?"
"Shut up," Lance said, and kissed him.
JC was too shocked to respond. "Wow," he said, pulling away. "That was. Kind of surprising. Yes. But, nice. But we were kind of acting like a couple teenage girls again."
"Mmhmm," Lance said, grinning. "You don't kiss like one."
JC flushed but smiled back. "You've kissed teenage girls?"
"When I was a closeted teenage boy, yes, the kissing of teenage girls may have happened a few times."
"Oh," JC said, "I wasn't thinking of it that way. I meant like--"
"Yeah," Lance said. "I know. But if the best way you can think of to describe my kissing is 'nice,' I think maybe I should try again."
JC smiled slowly. "Okay," he said. He paused with a slight frown. "I think it's worth mentioning," he said, "that, um, I wasn't entirely clear before?"
"What do you mean?" Lance asked, pulling back slightly.
"Well, maybe," JC said, closing his eyes, "maybe it wasn't just like. Maybe something close to love?"
"Oh, that," Lance said. "Yeah. Me too."
JC opened an eye. "Really?"
Lance smiled at him. "Really."
The other eye opened. "Okay, then," JC said, relieved. Then he frowned again. "But wait," he said, "what about when--"
Lance kissed the frown away. "Let's talk later."
JC smiled again. "Okay," he said.
3:00
"Hey, guys, you were getting kind of quiet, so we decided to feed--Woah."
JC groaned and pulled away from Lance. "Damn them."
"Yeah," Lance said, "that seems about right."
"No, hey," Chris said, going down the rest of the stairs, "don't let me stop you. I'll just leave this stuff here and be on my way..."
"No," JC said, standing up. "You killed it." He held out a hand to Lance to help him up and smiled when Lance didn't let go.
"So I'm going to assume that our plan worked?"
Lance sighed heavily. "I guess so," he said.
JC grinned sideways at him. "You guess?"
Lance grinned back. "I suppose I know," he said.
"Yeah, okay, no," Chris said. "None of that crap while I'm here, okay? There's only so much a guy can take."
JC grinned. "Fine, fine," he said. "What'd you bring us?"
"Subs," Chris said. "And Doritos. And Mountain Dew."
"Wow," Lance said, "what a surprise."
"Well it is," Chris said, "we got Code Red this time, just for you, Lance. Catch you off your feet."
"Oh, wow," Lance said. "That's a shock. Whew. I wonder if I'll recover." He rolled his eyes and dropped JC's hand to reach out for the food.
JC grinned again. "That's Chris for you," he said, "keep you on your toes."
Chris glanced at him. "Oh, come on, man," he said, "look at what you did to Spazz Boy over here."
JC frowned instantly. "What?" he asked. "What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing's wrong," Lance said, glaring at Chris.
"You're fucking glowing," Chris said.
"Not anymore," Lance said, still glaring. He took JC's hand.
Chris rolled his eyes and put his hands in the air. "Okay, okay, sorry. It's a good look on you, C."
"That's better," Lance said, pulling JC over to the bed with the food.
Chris' eyes rolled again. "You know, if I knew we'd be getting him a personal bodyguard I would never have agreed to this."
"Yeah, well, too late," Lance said.
"Um," JC said, raising a hand, "I'm still here. And, you know, my hearing? Despite being subject to Chris' caterwauling for the past few years, it's still fine."
Lance grinned and kissed him on the nose. "I know," he said. JC smiled.
"See, he's all better," Chris said. "Now, less talking, more kissing. Chop chop."
"I thought you didn't like that stuff," JC reminded him.
"Nah, go for it," Chris said, "I'm on my way outta here. By the way, I just love what you've done with Justin's walls." He started up the stairs. "I didn't notice it before, but it's really quite lovely."
"Hey, hold on," JC said, "since we're together and everything," he glanced at Lance quickly and waited for his nod, "can we leave yet?"
"Nope," Chris said cheerfully from the middle of the stairs. "Gotta wait for seven o'clock," he said. "That's 24 hours."
"No, that's 25," JC protested, "we've been down here since six last night!"
Chris shrugged. "We decided that the first hour didn't count because Lance spent the whole time bitching at us."
"Hey, come on," Lance said.
"Okay," Chris said, "you spent half the time bitching at us. But it may as well have been an hour and half, man. God. Have you ever listened to yourself yell at someone? Not fun. So, we figure, one more hour won't hurt you. It's not like you spoke to each other for the first four, anyway."
"It wasn't that long," JC said. "It was maybe, two."
"Excuse me?" Lance asked.
"You were pretty silent," Chris said. "When you weren't screaming at us, that is." He walked up the rest of the way. "Have fun, boys," he called from the top stairs.1
"No," they heard Justin say, "don't have fun, not on my couch."
They could hear the grin in Chris' voice when he spoke. "Please, I reiterate," he said. "Have all the fun you want."
"Chris, do you have a death wish? Seriously, guys, no fun. Not until you're home."
"There's no one here to stop us," Lance called up, winking at JC.
JC bit into a sub and chewed before he spoke. "Don't worry, Justin," he said, "we'll take care of your couch."
"Why did I agree to this?" Justin moaned.
4:00
Once they'd finished eating, JC spoke up. "So," he said, "what I was going to ask before was. Um. Why...before. You were so angry when they put us down here. If. I mean. I didn't like it, but I was kind of glad to get to spend some time alone with you. I mean, because, you know, it doesn't happen so often, the other guys are always around, and..."
"Well," Lance said, a little sheepishly, "a couple things. They took away my control, like. I didn't get to plan this."
"Well," JC said seriously, "when one is kidnapped and thrown in a basement by one's best friends, one does not usually get the chance to plan it out."
Lance thwapped his shoulder good-naturedly. "Shut up," he said.
JC grinned and made a grand gesture. "Continue, then, sir."
Lance rolled his eyes. "Fine. Well, the other reason is..." he paused and glanced sheepishly at the pillow. "Well, I was worried."
JC furrowed his brow. "About what?"
"Um," Lance said, "you."
JC's eyes widened. "Me? Why were you worried about me?"
"Well...I wasn't sure what would happen if I was left alone with you for too long, you know...like. It would be too much. I've liked you for a while."
JC nodded his head. "Likewise," he said.
"So I was trying to avoid you for a while, you know. And maybe make you mad, but that didn't work either."
JC grinned at him. "I have trouble staying mad at you," he said.
"How did the three stooges figure it out?" Lance wondered.
JC shrugged. "I'm sure they talked to each other. I'm willing to bed they little meetings where they discuss our lives, because they have nothing better to do. And this probably came up one night because they're like gossiping little girls and can't keep their mouths shut."
"Hmm," Lance nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right." He shook his head. "They can be jerks, sometimes."
"But hey," JC offered, "sometimes they have good ideas."
Lance smiled wryly. "Like this one? Locking us in a basement for a day and only giving us Mountain Dew to drink? This one?"
"Well, okay," JC conceded, "maybe this wasn't such a good idea. But I'm sure they meant well."
"I'm sure making us drink caffeine all night isn't meaning well."
JC grinned at him. "You're awful bitter about that, aren't you?"
Lance sniffed theatrically. "I would have preferred a different selection of drinks."
"Shut up, you just wanted to get drunk," JC accused.
"Yeah, okay," Lance said. "I could've used a couple drinks, especially in the beginning."
"I hear you there," JC said. "But we had fun, didn't we?"
Lance smiled at him. "Yeah," he said, "we did. We just can't let them know."
5:00
Sometime after their conversation, JC had managed to fall asleep again. He really hoped it hadn't been during, because he hated when that happened. He always felt so bad. It wasn't that he'd been bored with people conversations, just that sometimes he got so tired he just fell right asleep.
When he woke up this time, Lance's arms were around him and his head was resting on Lance's chest. He smiled contentedly. Now that, he figured, was the way to wake up. He soon realized why he woke up when the vibrations under his head registered as Lance talking to someone.
"Hey," Lance said, feeling his head shift, "you're awake."
"You're cute when you sleep," Joey's voice teased. JC turned his head slowly to look at him.
"How long have you been down here?" he asked, rubbing his eyes blearily.
Joey shrugged. "Not too long, ten minutes, maybe. Figured I'd keep Lance company."
"Nice of you," JC commented, and turned to look at Lance. "Did I drop off on you? Sorry." He started his stretching routine.
Lance shook his head with a smile. "Nah," he said, "I was about done."
JC smiled back at him. "Okay," he said, reluctantly lifting his head and stretching again.
"You're like a cat," Joey said.
"Shut up," JC rolled his eyes. "Like I haven't heard that one before."
Joey shrugged. "You're too cute for me to make fun of. Besides, you can be a bitchy cat if you need to be."
JC sighed at Lance. "Sometimes I wonder why everyone always thinks of him as the straight one."
"I'm just really smart and got them all to think so," Joey said, winking. "So now I can do stuff like flirt with you guys on TV and no one gives it a second thought. I mean, really, Lance? If you were to do that?"
"Yeah, I know," Lance said, rolling his eyes. "I couldn't get away with it, blah blah blah."
"Exactly," Joey said, grinning widely.
"You know," Lance whispered loudly to JC, "I think it's just the fact that he has a kid. Genius my ass."
"Bite me, Lance," Joey said.
"No thanks," Lance said. "I would never bite anything that smells as raunchy as you."
"You sure?" Joey asked. "I've heard I taste like chicken."
Lance made a face. "That's disgusting, Fatone. I really didn't need to know that."
"Wow," JC said, "sometimes I think it would be nice to have friends that weren't four."
"Point taken," Joey said, grinning at him. "Grow up, Lance."
"Me?" Lance sputtered indignantly. "Excuse me?"
JC rolled his eyes and stood up. "What time is it?"
"5:40," Joey said. "You've been out for a little more than an hour."
"Wow," JC said, "sorry, Lance."
"Nah, that's okay," Lance said, "I don't really mind."
"I found him organizing Skittles," Joey whispered behind his hand to JC.
"He was doing that with M&M's earlier," JC whispered back.
JC mimicked his nod. "I really feel for the green M&M's," he said.
"Hey, come on, what was I supposed to do?" Lance exclaimed. "You were sleeping on top of everything else!"
"I told you that you could wake me up," JC said, sitting back down next to Lance.
"Yeah, well," Lance said, "I didn't want to."
"Awwww, a moment," Joey said. He grinned and walked towards the stairs. "20 minutes, lovebirds, then we'll let you out."
"I thought Chris said we'd have another hour?" JC asked.
"Well, yeah," Joey said, "but we changed our minds. Justin is getting real antsy about his basement and it's starting to piss us off. Which, by the way," he said, "I think is beautiful."
JC beamed. "Yeah," he said. "We really tried to make more, but there just wasn't enough chalk."
Joey laughed. "Hey, though, I was wondering, in that one over there," he pointed to a picture across the room, "is that Chris or Justin I'm sitting on?"
"Oh, both," JC told him, "see, how there are four arms?"
"Oh, I see now," Joey said. "See, I only saw one head."
"Yeah, that was Lance's idea," JC said, "we figure, they share a brain, why not a head?"
Joey nodded. "Good logic," he said. "I'm impressed." He started walking up the stairs. "All right," he said. "See you guys in a few minutes."
"Seeya, Joey," Lance said.
"Hey, wait a second," JC said. Joey waited. "What would you guys have done if we didn't get together or whatever?"
Joey laughed loudly. "Let's just say...those outfits Lou used to make us wear in public? Think of those, plus the worst pranks Chris can think of, and then multiply that thought by about sixty-seven thousand. That is what we would do next."
JC blinked. "Sorry I asked."
Joey laughed again. "Later, guys."
"Hey," JC said once he'd left, banishing the thought of what the guys might've had in mind away, "I have one more question. Why were you so nervous about the bed?"
Lance grinned at him. "You mean you weren't nervous?"
"Well, okay," JC said, "a little. But I was too tired to care, at that point."
"Yeah," Lance said. "And then you took off your pants and I almost died."
JC grinned. "Good," he said. He waited a second. "I lied, one more."
"Okay," Lance said.
"What were you so mad at Justin about? Before the matches."
Lance shrugged uncomfortably. "Nothing, really," he said, "he was just making fun of you, and it was pissing me off, so." He shrugged again.
JC grinned at him. "That's so cute," he said. Lance flushed. JC grinned again but changed the topic for him. "So what happens after this?" he asked.
"I don't know," Lance said. "We stay together, I hope."
"Well, that's a given," JC said, smiling. "Tell the parents?"
"Yeah," Lance said, "they won't care. My mom loves you already."
"Likewise," JC nodded. "We'll have to take our mothers out to dinner or something, though."
Lance nodded. "That'll be cool," he said. "Then we can ditch 'em and make out in the bathroom." He blushed immediately and JC started laughing.
"Why, Lance," he said, fluttering his eyelashes, "I didn't know you had it in you!"
"Yeah, well," Lance said. "I learned it from the three stooges."
JC grinned. "I wouldn't expect anywhere else," he said. They were quiet for a minute and JC lifted Lance's hand, lining up their palms before folding his fingers with Lance's. "I'm glad this happened," he said softly.
Lance glanced at their joined hands. "Yeah," he said, "me too."
"I mean, not the whole getting stuck down here forever thing, but, yes."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Lance said. "It came out all right, in the end."
JC smiled at him. "I'm going to kiss you now," he said.
"Okay," Lance said. "I won't stop you."
Not five seconds later, Chris' voice boomed down the stairs. "We're coming down! All parties occupying themselves in the basement by means of making out, having sex, or otherwise nasty things must cease and desist immediately so as not to cause any permanent scarring on three heterosexual bandmates. Said bandmates would ask that these parties stop immediately for everyone's safety."
"Talk about horrible timing," JC said, pulling away.
Lance pulled him back. "Let 'em look," he said.
"Excuse me, I believe I said stop the making out, you stupid morons."
Lance pulled away this time. "You guys suck."
"Nah," Justin said from the top step, "that's you guys." Joey gave him a verbal rim shot. "Thank you, thank you."
"Why are we friends with them?" Lance asked.
"Because we got your stupid clueless asses to wake up and smell the pansies," Chris said. "Oh, that was another one." Joey obliged with another rim shot.
JC rolled his eyes. "Are you letting us out now?"
"Well, that's the idea, yeah," Chris said, "Justin would like his basement back."
"Speaking of basement," Justin said, starting to come down the stairs and look around.
JC and Lance looked at each other. "Oh, man," JC said.
"Run for it," Lance advised. He grabbed JC's hand and they pushed past Justin on their way up the stairs.
"Wait for it," JC said, laughing once they'd reached the top, "he's gonna flip."
"I don't doubt it," Lance said grinning. "Hey," he added softly. "Love you."
JC gave him a big smile. "Love you too," he said, hugging him. "Wait til we get our revenge."
"Oh, you fuckers! What the fuck did you do to my basement?"
