~*~
Lance and JC worked on their little project every night. Chris, Justin and Joey kept bugging them to go out or do something, but they always turned it down. Lance was adamant that this be done by the time they reached Columbus, Ohio and that was two shows away. They'd covered a lot of ground on it, but the next part was crucial.
When they got on the bus the next morning, Lance was exhausted. He and JC had worked pretty much all night and he was ready to crash. Gratefully, he climbed into his bunk and pulled the curtain shut. He laid his head down and shut his eyes, sighing heavily. Unfortunately, his thoughts turned to Whip. Her face flashed in his mind, hurt and angry. Then it flashed again, smiling, eyes darkened with passion, sleeping peacefully in his arms. They kept coming and no matter what he did, Lance couldn't turn them off. Irritated, he snapped on the small light above his head and reached under the mattress for the envelope he'd put there. Lance held it, turning it over and over in his hands before finally opening it and taking out the pictures. They were all the same shot, just taken from different angles. Lance slowly looked through them, wanting nothing more than to turn back the clock and be there, holding her again. He knew he couldn't keep the pictures and he knew exactly what to do with them. Stuffing them back in the envelope, he slid them back underneath the mattress and hopped down from the bunk.
Everyone else was asleep, so Lance made his way quietly to the table towards the front. He reached into the cubby above it and pulled out a notebook and pen. Sitting down at the table, his thoughts raced through his mind, not unlike the land whizzing by outside the darkened window. Taking the pen in his hand, he began to write. It was a couple of hours before he was finished and he reread it, happy with what he'd written. Lance put the notebook and pen back in the cubby and walked back to the bunk. He pulled out the envelope again, stuck the letter inside and returned it to it's hiding place. Again, he climbed in his bunk and shut out the light. His mind at ease, he finally drifted off, the rocking of the bus lulling him to sleep.
~*~
The next night, Whip returned to her room after having drinks with some of the other crew members. They'd asked her about Lance, but she'd just told them it didn't work out. She knew they were curious, but it wasn't their business. She shut the door, making sure it was locked and flipped on the light. On the bed was a small envelope and she looked at it curiously. It looked like one of those sleeves that pictures came in. Whip picked it up and opened the flap. When she pulled out the pictures, she gasped. It was her and Lance. She was apparently asleep and so was he in the first few. She couldn't imagine when these had been taken. She knew he'd never spent the night and this totally puzzled her. In the last three, Lance was awake and looked like he was angry. Still wondering, she felt in the envelope again and pulled out the negatives with a folded piece of paper. Whip put the negatives back and unfolded the letter. She realized immediately that it was from Lance and sat down on the edge of the bed to read it.
My Dear Whitney,
The night you opened your heart to me and showed me a piece of your soul, you fell asleep in my arms. I didn't want to leave you so I slept beside you, relishing the feeling of holding you in my arms. Chris and Joey took the pictures. You looked so peaceful that I didn't have the heart to wake you up. I left without you ever knowing that I stayed. I know that I don't deserve to keep any of these pictures and they are all there. You can check the negatives and count them if you like. I apologize for their rudeness. Don't hold it against them. They just can't seem to help themselves at times. For myself, I want to say that I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you felt you couldn't trust me and I'm sorry that I hurt you. Please believe that I would do anything to make it right again. I intend to prove that to you tomorrow night. I'm hoping that someday you'll find it in yourself to forgive me and realize that I'm just as scared as you are. I've been miserable these last few days and I miss your smile. Your voice haunts my every thought and I can feel your lips beneath mine, even though it's been almost a week since you last graced me with their touch. Always know that I still love you and that I think of you.
Hopefully Yours,
Lance
Tears streamed down Whip's face as she read the letter again. Folding it, she placed it back in the envelope and tossed it on the table. She turned and lay down on her stomach across the bed, pulling herself into a ball. Whip cried until she was spent and asleep.
~*~
Lance entered the hotel room and four heads turned to watch him. He put down his bag and grabbing the stack of papers, started handing them out to the guys. In a firm voice, he explained what he wanted done.
"Are you sure about this," Justin asked tentatively, "Cause, I mean......you've never done anything like this before."
"Well, I'm going to tomorrow night," Lance replied, "With your help." Lance paced back and forth, telling them, in detail what he wanted to happen. When he finished, they just stared at him in shock. JC stood up and walked over to Lance, laying an arm over his shoulder.
"Look guys," he said, "We can pull this off. It's something that Lance feels very strongly about and wants to do. I know he can, but we have to back him up. C'mon guys, you know damn well he'd do the same for you."
"You wanna do this tomorrow night right," Joey asked, looking at the papers in his hand again. Lance nodded and Joey blew out a deep breath.
"Well, we'd better get started then," Chris said, standing up, "This is probably gonna take all night." Lance looked at Justin and Joey, waiting for them to respond.
"Aww hell....I guess I can miss one night at the club," Joey said, grinning. Now there was only one left. Justin looked at the papers again and back up at Lance.
"I always knew you had it in ya," he said, "I'm behind ya man." Lance smiled, his gratitude at them doing this showing plainly on his face. JC rubbed his hands together and they settled in for a long night.