Chapter 3: Male Bonding
"I've got to talk to him. He'll understand," JC said as he looked at his
reflection in the mirror. He ran a hand through his dampened hair and
sighed. "This is really gonna change things."
JC called Justin earlier, convincing him to go to a club. He told
Justin that he wanted him to meet new people. After a few subtle pleas, Justin
agreed. But, JC's intentions were to muster up the courage to tell Justin
about his homosexuality and hopefully by the end of the night, everything would
be revealed.
JC stared at his reflection, eyeing the close-fitting muscle shirt and
the baggy cargo pants he wore. "Ok, here goes nothing."
JC walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, quickly grabbing
his keys to the hotel room as well as his cellular phone, pocketing both items,
and walked out of the suite, making sure to close the door behind him.
He walked across the hall and knocked gently upon Justin's door.
"Come in!" a voice beckoned from inside. JC smiled, recognizing the
voice as Justin's and slowly opened the door, quietly walking into the suite.
He shut the door behind himself as he took some time to see his environment. It
looked fairly plain. It was identical to his own. Only, something was
different. The suite was filled with an aroma that was so masculine, so
sexy, and so utterly Justin that he couldn't help but smile.
Justin walked out of the bathroom and to the dresser. He looked himself
over in the mirror seeing if he approved of his own attire. He wore a gray
turtleneck that seemed to hug his upper body and some baggy jeans. He
sprayed some cologne on and turned around to face JC. "Ok, I'm ready."
"Looking good, J. The ladies will be all over you tonight."
"Do I honestly have to go? I'm not really in the mood for meeting new
people."
"Yes, you have to go, so stop complaining and come on," JC said as he
walked out of the room.
Justin quickly grabbed his keys and cellular phone, and he walked out
after JC, shutting the door behind him.
The two men walked down the hall to the elevators. Justin pushed the
"down" button on the elevator and walked in with JC as the doors opened.
JC pushed the button to the lobby and leaned against the railing that
lined across the walls of the elevator. His crystal blue gaze was on Justin.
He couldn't help but look.
Justin could feel JC's eyes on him and he looked up to him. "What is
it?"
JC brought himself out of his daze and raised his eyes to meet
Justin's. He let out a somewhat nervous chuckle. "Oh, sorry, man. I kinda spaced."
"Oh, it's okay. I just thought that maybe there was something wrong
with what I'm wearing."
"No! I mean, no, not at all. You look fine. You look perfect."
"Thanks, Jace." That's all Justin needed to hear. He sometimes felt
unsure of himself, but JC was always there to reassure him that everything was
fine.
"No need to thank me for the truth, man. You look great."
Justin smiled. The compliment boosted his confidence a bit. He felt as
though he was ready to move on. That he could go out there and find the right
person for him. Justin walked out of the elevator as the doors opened. He was
radiating a sense of confidence that seemed to light up the lobby.
JC followed Justin out of the hotel and into an awaiting cab. They
decided against taking the limo to keep this outing low profile.
The ride to the club was painfully silent, but neither man was aware.
They each had so much on their minds. Justin focused his gaze out of the
dark-tinted window as he gathered up his thoughts, hoping to push them
to the back of his mind. JC looked anywhere in the cab except for at Justin.
He was trying to maintain his nerve. One look at Justin and he knew that the
immense wall of confidence that he had been slowly building for the day would
all crumble.
The cab pulled up at the club and both men climbed out of the vehicle.
They paid for the ride and after wards were easily ushered into the club,
but they didn't want to draw attention to themselves by going to V.I.P. They
walked over to the bar, each taking a seat.
"Two beers," JC said to the bartender who quickly served the drinks. JC
slid a beer over to Justin. "Drink up."
Justin obliged by taking a large gulp of his drink. JC watched Justin
as he drank, and he questioned to himself why he thought that everything
Justin did oozed the word sex. Everything Justin did, in JC's eyes, was sexy.
The way Justin's Adam's apple bobbed with each swallow. JC caught sight of a
droplet of beer and followed its path with his eyes. He followed it from
Justin's lips down to his jaw line before it slid down his neck and to the
cottony material of Justin's turtleneck.
Justin continued taking gulps of his drink until his glass was empty.
"Damn, J. We have all night, you know," JC said with a slight chuckle.
"I know," Justin said as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
They turned their backs to the bar and watched as the crowd danced to
the pulsating beats of the music. The club was hype tonight, but Justin had
no desire to get on the dance floor.
JC watched as a girl who was headed in their direction. A feeling of
jealousy traveled through him. He couldn't let that show, not now, not ever.
The girl approached Justin, trying to convince him to dance with her,
using her flirtatious form of persuasion.
"Go dance, J," JC urged.
Justin hesitated, but succumbed to the girl's request to dance. He
got up from the barstool and walked out to the dance floor with her. They
began to dance quite closely, but Justin's heart wasn't in it. 'Just one
dance.' he thought as he allowed the girl to lead.
JC turned back to the bar and motioned the bartender, "White rum." He
slid a crisp $20 bill on the counter. "Just give me the damn bottle."
The bartender took the money from the bar and replaced it quickly with
a bottle of white rum.
JC opened the bottle and took a gulp of the clear liquid. He made a
face as the alcohol burned a trail down his throat. JC wasn't much of a
drinker, but when he did drink it was only beer, champagne, or an occasional wine cooler. He never had a drink this strong, but assumed it would be strong since it looked so much like water. He couldn't bear to watch Justin with some girl, though it was worse with Britney. She happened to be a good friend of JC's, so it was hard on him to not seem jealous of her. But, indeed he
was...beyond jealousy. JC took another gulp as he tried to forget about Justin
dancing with that girl.
Justin excused himself from the girl and returned to the bar and
watched in total disbelief as JC took a large gulp of what he saw to be white rum from a seemingly half-empty bottle.
JC set the bottle upon the counter and turned after seeing Justin in
the corner of his eye. "Hey, J, having fun?"
"Loads," Justin said as he folded his arms across his chest. "JC, why
are you drinking white rum?"
"Come on, J. We're at a club. Live a little."
"I'm going to ask you this again, and I expect an honest answer. Why
are you drinking white rum?"
"I have a lot on my mind, Justin."
"What's wrong?" Justin asked as he took a seat in the stool beside
JC. "Talk to me."
"I..." JC took a deep breath. Even the alcohol that coursed through his
veins couldn't rid him of the nervousness he felt at that moment. "I
don't think I can tell you."
"JC, we're best friends, brothers even. You can tell me anything."
"I can't tell you this."
"Why not?"
"Because I..." JC paused as he caught sight of the strong concern that
showed in Justin's eyes. At that moment, he realized just how much Justin
cared for him. He knew then that Justin did love him, even if it wasn't the way he had hoped for. "Because I'm scared."
"JC, just tell me." Justin said in his usual, soothing tone.
"Okay." JC sighed, knowing that he had to confess. It was now or never.
"Justin I...I'm gay."
Justin took a moment to allow JC's words to soak in. He felt some anger due
to the fact that JC hadn't informed him of his revelation. At the same time,
he felt a bit torn because JC was his best friend and he should support
him. "How long have you known this?"
"For a few months now."
Justin remained silent, and the tension grew between them. JC took another gulp from the bottle of white rum, unable to take the massive amount of tension that engulfed them. Justin quickly took the bottle from him and brought it to his lips, taking a gulp of the clear liquid as well.
"Justin, what are you doing?"
"If you're gonna drink, then I am too."
JC snatched the bottle back from Justin and set it down on the bar. "No, you're not. Justin, I know something's bothering you, so out with it."
Justin cleared his throat, trying to rid himself of the burning feeling. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was scared, Justin. Your opinion means the world to me. I didn't want you to think the less of me."
"JC, my reaction shouldn't have mattered. You should've told me."
JC felt terrible. Justin looked genuinely hurt. JC knew he should've
told him, but it just so hard for him to do. It took a lot of effort for him
to say it just then. "I'm sorry, Justin. I know I should've told you,
but do you have any idea how had hard it was for me to come out to you?"
Justin sighed. "I know. I'm sorry for getting upset at you, but I just felt a little left in the dark. I mean, you're the only person, other than my mom, that knows everything about me. I just thought that it was mutual. I guess it is now, huh?"
"Yeah, it is."
Justin stared down at the glossed counter of the bar, shaking his head.
"Damn."
"What?"
Justin looked up at JC. "We live in a damn soap opera, Jace."
JC couldn't help but laugh at that. It was true. At least it seemed
that way. 'If you only knew, Justin. The plot has only begun.' He thought.
Chapter Index