No one would really miss the boy. It would be a quiet operation.

He would make it look like an accident.

And in the end, no one could blame him. It was completely justified in his mind.

These were the thoughts going through Lance�s mind as he stood on the �stage� the hotel staffers and his band mates had hastily put together. It consisted of two tables and a few cardboard boxes sort of pushed together in one spot. They had also somehow found a microphone and a makeshift stand to put it in. There was even a spotlight that one of the bellhops had figured out how to work.

So, here he was.

Lance Bass.

In the middle of a hotel ballroom, on a bunch of teetering tables and boxes, with a microphone in his hand, about to sing �Sugar, Sugar� by the Archies.

I�m going to kill him.

That one thought was going through his mind on repeat.

He didn�t care if he was his band mate.

His best friend.

His boyfriend.

He was going to suffer for this. He would make sure of it.

Of all the stupid things to agree to, engaging in a music trivia contest with Chris had to take the cake. He didn�t know why he thought he could beat Chris. The man was a walking, talking music encyclopedia. Lance had just wanted to wipe that perpetual smirk off his face just once. That had been the reason behind accepting the challenge and subsequent bet.

Could he help it that most of the questions had been about the Beatles and eighties music? They were the two areas that Chris excelled at above all else.

He never should have trusted Joey and JC to come up with the questions.

Partial my ass, he thought.

They should have found one of their bodyguards or someone in the hotel to do it. But no, Lance had trusted them. He never should have done that. Otherwise he wouldn�t be in the predicament he was in at the moment.

He was a healthy, virile male.

He had his pride, dammit.

But as the music started for the Archies song, he looked down at his Strawberry Shortcake pajamas and knew that he would never be living this down.

He hated Chris.

Damn little elf man with bad facial hair.

He squashed down any loving feelings he had about the short man and decided to make Chris squirm. He hesitantly started the song.

�Sugar�ah honey, honey. You are my candy girl. And you�ve got me wantin� you.�

Lance looked out over the audience. Chris was sitting in the �front row�, tapping his foot to the music and exultantly smirking. JC and Justin were talking, whispering back and forth, while looking at Lance every few seconds and laughing. Joey was standing next to the hotel concierge, whom he had struck up a friendship with, and passed the cigar he was smoking to the man. He smiled at Lance and gave him a thumbs up.

Why, oh why, am I friends with these people? he thought to himself. Focusing all his attention on Chris, he proceeded with his �Make Chris Squirm� operation.

�I just can�t believe the loveliness of loving you. I just can�t believe the wonder of this feeling too��

He deliberately made his voice lower than usual. He started shimmying his hips; those same hips that he knew drove Chris nuts.

�When I kissed you girl, I knew how sweet a kiss could be�like the summer sunshine, pour your sweetness over me��

He ran his fingers up and down the microphone.

�I�m going to make your life so sweet��

He unbuttoned the first, then the second, buttons on his pajama top. He only looked at one person during his performance. The same person, whose foot had stopped tapping and was now looking at him with great interest. All resemblance of a smirk was now gone from Chris�s face. In fact, he was starting to look a little turned on.

Perfect, Lance thought. Just perfect.

�Pour a little sugar on me baby��

He emphasized the �baby� and looked right into Chris�s eyes.

�Sugar, sugar�you are my candy girl and you�ve got me wantin� you��

The song ended with Lance drawing out the �wantin� you� with his deep Southern drawl. Chris was clutching the chair now, his knuckles turning bright white. Lance could see part desire, part irritation in his eyes. He knew that Chris was trying to decide whether he should strangle Lance or jump him the first chance he got.

Lance tried not to laugh out loud.

He took a deep bow, to great applause from the seven people in the room, and proceeded to thank them for coming out tonight. He then put the microphone back in the stand and hopped off the �stage�. As he passed by Chris he whispered, �How was that? Did that work for you?�

All he got in response was a glare from Chris, as he stomped off in the opposite direction. Lance noticed Joey was giving him a speculative look and JC had given up all pretenses and just began to laugh outright. Justin�s only comment was, �Nice show Lance. Really nice show.� Lance just smiled, the corners of his mouth turning up ever so slightly.

�Thanks J. I�m going to go back to my room now. I�ll see you guys later, k?�

Then he left the ballroom and went to go meet his fate.

*-------

He had only been in his room for five minutes when there was a knock on the door. He had been about to change and was a little irritated by whoever was interrupting him. He went to the door and opened it. He wasn�t expecting Chris so soon. But there he was, his arms crossed and a glare on his elfin face.

He finally uncrossed his arms and moved into the room. He shut the door behind him and locked it.

�Do you know how hot you are in pink, Lance?�

Lance just stared at Chris.

No, actually, he didn�t know how hot he looked in pink.

Chris moved towards him. He unbuttoned the third and fourth buttons on the pajama top. He planted a kiss right in the center of Lance�s chest. Lance was trying to remember why he was so mad at Chris in the first place.

�What was the name of Strawberry�s cat? Kitty? I could never remember. Of course, I was never a female of the 80�s.�

Lance was wondering why Chris was still talking, when they could be doing so many other interesting things. Pulling Chris up from where he was slowly kissing his way down his chest, Lance kissed Chris on the mouth.

Oh God, he had worn it. The mint chapstick Lance loved.

His tongue snaked out and he tasted the mint on Chris�s bottom lip.

Jellyfish.

That�s what his knees, his spine; hell his whole body had turned into. A damn jellyfish. He just melted into Chris.

Lord, he loved this man.

As Chris began to suck on his bottom lip, Lance forgot all about the bet and his anger towards Chris. In fact, for the next hour or so, he forgot about most everything. And in the morning, when he woke up, entangled in Chris�s arms, he decided he needed to make a trip to the store.

He needed to buy a lifetime supply of mint chapstick for Chris.