*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chris had a big plan for Justin's birthday, you knew that much for sure. Chris wasn't letting him drink at all from the first of January to the day of his birthday, because, according to Chris, "Justin's been drinking for years, but this makes it more authentic. And of course he's allowed to drink on New Year's Eve, what do you think I am, crazy?"
Which was some strange logic, but that was just Chris.
You grinned, and prodded Justin all the same, hinting that he was "never gonna be the same" or other times saying "you'll never know what hit you."
You loved it when he smiled and said things like "no matter what, I'm not gonna be surprised, y'all. I know you. I'm prepared for the worst" as much as the other guys did, because you knew he wasn't gonna expect what Chris was planning first thing in the morning on his birthday.
You couldn't help but wonder, though, if they had anything planned for you.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Yeah, I've got it planned out," you heard Lance saying to JC. "Don't worry about it. The balloons are gonna get there about five-ish, and then everything else at 5:30. Trust me, Jace."
"I trust you, dude," JC said, "I just don't want you to screw up."
"I won't sc--"
"Hey, guys," you said, "more plans for Justin's birthday?"
JC jumped, but you grinned because if JC was talking to someone, he made sure to put his entire focus into the conversation, or else he'd drift off somewhere. You all knew that made him easiest to sneak up on, because he'd always jump about three feet in the air. "Hey, Joe," he said, grinning widely.
"Hey, Joey," Lance said. "And, yeah, I'm getting balloons for Justin's party, dude. Roomful. And--"
"Joey!" Chris yelled. "Hey, Joey, c'mere!"
You shrugged at Lance and JC. "Have fun," you said, and walked away.
"He won't suspect a thing," you heard Lance saying.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey, Joey," Lance said, coming up behind you.
"Yeah?"
"You wanna come with me to pick out balloons for Justin's birthday? I want a second opinion."
"What's the difference?" you asked. "They're balloons."
"They have to be perfect," Lance stressed. "Please?"
"I don't--"
"Pretty please?" Lance asked, jutting out his lower lip. "C'mon. It'll be fun. We can go grab food, pick out J's balloons, and then pretend we're still doing that and do something else."
"Sure," you sighed, "why not."
The balloon thing turned out to be okay, Lance went all out and ordered about a million, and they weren't boring, they were cool, like music notes and Superman and basketballs. A bunch even said "Justin" on them. "That way," Lance said, "it'll be like, some from all of us, y'know?"
"Even though you're the one paying for the twelve thousand of them?" you asked.
"Yeah," Lance said, "and that's sixteen thousand, not twelve. Ass."
"Oh," you said, giving him a noogie. "My bad."
"Joey--Joe, my hair--"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey Justin," Chris said when he walked by. "You wouldn't object to a male stripper, would you? I could get him to do the--"
"Actually, Chris," Justin said, "I'll pass on that. I'm perfectly happy with Br--"
"It was her idea," Chris shrugged, then turned back to his phone. "Sorry, B," he said, "he said no."
You grinned. "It's okay, Justin. I've had strange girlfriends before."
Justin sighed. "I have strange friends," he said dramatically. "Maybe I should look into finding some new ones."
"Hey," you said, "we haven't had a chance to do a big twenty-one bash since Lance. And we were on tour. Let us live, man."
"You know, I'm not the only one with a birthday," he said. "Seems someone else...oh, that's right, you have a birthday soon. Like, you know, two days from now soon."
"Hey well," you said, "twenty-five's no big deal. We have to corrupt you, dude."
"Justin," Chris interrupted, "Britney says she thinks we should get a Hug-o-Gram, but I thought that'd be tacky, so do you want--"
"I want the fuckin' phone," Justin said, snatching it. "Britney? Brit, you're a lunatic."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
JC was the first one to call you on Monday.
Well, JC and Lance, on your machine, at about three in the afternoon.
JC was singing happy birthday, and Lance (at least, you hoped it was Lance) was in the background, squealing about how the wonderful JC Chasez was singing happy birthday to Joey Fatone "right in front of me!"
Well, he tried to squeal, you thought, wincing. You applauded his efforts in your kitchen, and reminded yourself that it was the thought that counted.
Then, Lance's normal voice appeared, saying "you better be home when I call you at four thirty, Fatone, that's all I have to say," with JC giggling in the background.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was 4:47 when Lance did call, but it wasn't like you had sat in front of your phone at 4:15 or anything.
"Sorry," Lance said, "had some technical difficulties."
"No problem," you said, "I was running around anyway."
"Mmm," Lance said, and you knew he knew you were lying. "So, what'd you do today?"
"Hung out with Kelly and Bri," you said. "Called the folks. How bout you?"
"Hung out with C," Lance said. "Tried to call you but you were at Kelly's, I suppose."
"Yeah," you said. "Must've been."
"So," Lance said, clearing his throat, "you wanna come over, or what? I have a present for you. And JC's here too."
"Sure," you said, not bothering to ask where Chris and Justin were. "I'll be--"
"Come over in like, an hour, okay?" Lance said. "I have to like, clean some stuff up, Jackson just decided to take a crap all over my--"
"I don't need to know, Lance," you said, laughing, and hung up.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
You left your house at 5:35, knowing you'd be about five minutes later than Lance had told you to be, but you didn't care because he'd made you wait fifteen (seventeen) minutes before he called.
You had a key to Lance's house but knocked anyway, and JC opened the door. "Hey, man!" he said gleefully, and pulled you into a hug. "Happy Birthday, dude. Join the twenty-five and older club."
You smiled weakly. "Yeah, thanks, man," you said. "Where's Lance?"
"He's around here somewhere," JC said, glancing around. "Hey! Lance!"
"What?" Lance sounded like he was upstairs.
"The guest of honor is here!"
"Dude, keep him occupied for like, five minutes, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," JC shouted back. "So, hey, want somethin' to drink?"
"Sure," you said, "why not. What's Lance doing?"
"Getting some junk ready," JC said, his eyes grinning as he handed you a soda. You popped the can loudly. "He'll be ready in a few, he'll come down." You nodded and promptly guzzled half the can.
As if on cue, Lance appeared in the kitchen. "Hey, Joey," he said, giving you a hug. "Come on upstairs." You drank the rest of your soda and burped loudly while Lance made a face. "Gross, man."
You shrugged. "When you grow up you'll do the same thing."
Lance wrinkled his nose, then shook his head and pulled you up the stairs with him, JC bouncing happily behind.
He led you to a door you knew opened up to a guest room, but Lance was cheesy and made you close your eyes before he'd let you go in. You walked in only to be promptly surrounded by...
Balloons. You opened your eyes and they were all the ones Lance had bought when he dragged you out that day, and the Justin's you'd expected were replaced with Joey's. "Wait a minute," you said, "these were for Jus--"
"No," Lance said, "they were for you all along, but you overheard my evil plot, and since I'm such a smart guy I made you come pick them out so you wouldn't suspect anything."
"Nice," you sighed, wading through the balloons.
You promptly fell to the floor underneath two flying balls of flesh that could only be described as Chris and Justin. "Hey, Joey," they said in unison. "Happy Birthday!"
"Oof," you said. "Way to surprise a guy."
When you finally stood up Lance had pushed about half the balloons into the hallway. "To avoid suffocation," he said, and you appreciated it.
"Oh, Jesus, who foiled the wall?" It was a little eerie, you realized, seeing your own reflection everywhere. Because, well...it was everywhere.
"Chris," Lance sighed, "and he'll be the one to clean it up. Trust me."
"Silver Anniversary-Birthday-Thing," Chris said defensively. "You know, 25? Come on."
"Right," Lance said, "but you're still cleaning it up."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later, when everything was getting cleaned up, you grabbed Lance and dragged him away from the other three.
"Thanks," you said. "I mean, all the guys contributed, but I'm betting it was your idea."
"You're my best friend, Joey," he said, "it was the least I could do. Besides, I like throwing parties."
You smiled at him. "I really appreciate it," you said. "You have no idea."
"I couldn't let Justin's birthday overshadow yours," he said. "It happens all the time, and this time I decided it wouldn't."
"Thanks," you said, hugging him. "Really, just. Thanks."
Lance grinned against your shoulder. "No problem, dude. Just sorry I couldn't get a hold of the male stripper."
