You�re the one I need�
Lance stood in the lobby of the theater, his hands deep in the pockets of his jacket. The baseball hat he had picked up at the nearby store had �NY� emblazoned on it with white thread. The sunglasses were the most expensive item on his person at the moment and he almost laughed at the thought.
He didn�t know why he was here. Or rather he didn�t know why he was here and Joey didn�t know about it.
He hadn�t planned on keeping this a secret from Joey. His plan was to come back to the States, call Joe up, and see what was going on. Maybe plan to come see him in Rent after a few days.
But that was not how it happened.
Lance had finished his training, and even though he didn�t get to go to space in October, he had the certificate of completion. To show everyone that he had been working hard over there in Russia this entire time. The prospect of going in April was strong, but it wasn�t the most important thing on Lance�s mind at that moment.
That was why he had immediately flown to New York, checked into a hotel, and got a ticket to that night�s performance of Rent. He called his parents, just to let them know where he was, and they were a little confused. They thought he was coming home next week and that he would be going to Mississippi first. That had been the plan. But Joey�s phone message had changed things.
The way back home is always long�
Lance got back to his room, after one of the last parts of training, exhausted and spent. His answering machine was blinking and he pressed the button to play back the messages. Joey�s voice was the first thing he heard.
�Hey Lance. I�m just calling to see what�s going on. We keep playing phone tag, but I guess that�s to be expected. We�re both busy. I just want you to know I�m thinking of you. And I can�t wait to see you when you get back to the U.S. I didn�t realize it was going to be so weird not having you guys around. Don�t get me wrong; I love doing what I�m doing now. But it was kind of nice knowing I could call you guys up and we could get together and just hang out. I miss that. And I miss you. I just�I don�t know. I just miss you Lance. But I know I�ll see you soon. Try and call me back if you can. Bye.�
The beeping of the machine startled Lance out of his reverie, after the message was over. He sat down on the bed, with its worn out comforter, and tried to calm down the racing thoughts going around inside his head.
He remembered Joey�s speech, right before they had started the Celebrity tour. It had taken all of them by surprise because Joey wasn�t usually the one to point out things like that. But it had needed to be done. The tour had been one of their best and they had actually been relaxed throughout it. Lance remembered feeling especially close to the guys again and had reveled in the small everyday things they did. But what Lance really remembered about that time was the closeness that he and Joey were able to recapture. Their friendship had gotten even more solid and had even grown in a way. Lance treasured his friendship with Joey more than anything. That�s why when he had started to feel more than just friendship towards Joey; he had kept those feelings to himself.
He didn�t want to ruin what they had. But he couldn�t help the way he felt either. Lance had hoped that being in Russia, away from Joey and everything, would help to get rid of these feelings once and for all. It hadn�t. In fact, they had just increased in strength.
Now, here he was, stuck in Russia, and all he wanted to do was go to New York. Tomorrow was his last day. He had planned on sticking around for a few more days to take in all the sights he had missed. But as he reached for the phone to make his plane reservation, he knew that he had seen all of Russia that he wanted to see. He needed to go home. He needed to see Joey.
But if you�re close to me�
So, fifteen minutes before the show started, Lance was standing in the lobby of the Nederlander Theater, trying to not throw up.
But Lance knew what needed to be done.
Taking his ticket out of his pocket, he headed for the double doors leading to the inside of the theater. The stage. The place Joey was going to be performing on soon.
Handing the ticket to the usher, he waited patiently for it to be examined. Then he walked toward his seat. He was on the aisle, toward the back, in case he had to leave, due to being spotted.
He got comfortable and pulled his hat down further on his head. The sunglasses were still on his face and he took those off next. Suddenly he felt exposed and just a little nervous.
What the hell was he doing here?
He knew the reason that had been going around his head for the past two days should have been the real one. That Joey was his friend and he needed all the support he could get. And granted, that was partially true.
But it wasn�t the real reason if Lance was going to be completely honest with himself.
A mixture of confusion, fear, and longing suddenly lodged in his chest.
He knew why he was here.
And Lance was terrified if Joey ever found out.
I�m holding on�
Pressed up against the barricade, at the end, nearest the door, Lance waited for Joey to walk outside. He clutched his certificate in his hand, the proof that he completed training. The idea had come to him toward the end of the second act. This would be how he would let Joey know of his presence.
By getting an autograph from him.
Yah, he knew it was corny, but he also knew Joey would get a kick out of it.
So, he waited, with all the other girls, wanting to profess their love, respect and amazement, in regards to Joey.
And Lance believed Joey deserved all of that and more.
Finally Joey appeared, looking tired, but with a contented smile on his face.
Lance tried to contain the smile that was blossoming on his face, but was rather unsuccessful.
Because this was the first time he had seen Joey in five months. And he realized that he missed Joey�s smile, walk, laugh and basically everything else that made Joey who he was.
Joey walked down the line, starting in the middle, much to Lance�s dismay. He had instigated this whole stupid plan and it had better work. Otherwise, Lance knew he would end up feeling like an idiot. But, eventually, Joey got down to Lance�s part of the line.
He stopped in front of Lance and reached for the piece of paper in his hand. Then, he started to sign it, like every other piece of paper he had been handed before. But he stopped all of a sudden. Noticed what he was holding. And then looked up into the now sunglass free face of his best friend.
�Lance? What are you doing here?�
Lance smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
�Well, since I was in New York anyway, I thought I should check out your play. It was great by the way.�
He paused.
�You were great. Amazing really. I�m really proud of you Joe.�
Joey smiled a teeth-baring grin, grabbed Lance�s arm and squeezed it.
�I can�t believe you�re here. Look, meet me inside, in about ten minutes. I�ll finish up here and then we can talk. K?�
Lance nodded his head and tried to hold back the tears that had come to his eyes when he saw Joey�s looking suspiciously wet.
�No problem Joe. See ya in a few.�
Joey nodded and headed back toward the crowd waiting for him.
Lance turned around and headed back inside to the lobby.
You�re the one I need�
Lance toed the torn piece of carpet near his chair. He was so intent on this activity that he didn�t notice Joey�s approach. He jumped a little when Joey�s hand fell on his shoulder.
�Hey, didn�t mean to startle you,� Joey said with a smile on his face.
Lance grinned in return and shook his head.
�Nah, I�m good. Why don�t you sit down?�
Joey moved to the adjacent chair and sat down.
�So, Space Boy, why are you here? Last I heard, you weren�t supposed to be back until next week.�
Lance tried desperately to think of an answer to give Joey, some sort of excuse, but in the end, the truth spilled out of his mouth.
�I came home early, came to New York, to see you. I missed you. And hearing your message convinced me even more to make the trip. That�s all.�
Joey looked surprised, but then got an indecipherable look on his face. He didn�t say anything at first, but after a minute or two, he spoke up.
�Lance, is that the only reason you came to see me first, because you missed me or was there another reason?� Joey said, almost expectantly.
Lance paled and started fumbling for words.
�Look, Joe, I�you know�it�s just��
Joey sighed, reached out his hand and with his thumb silenced Lance�s runaway mouth.
�It�s okay Jimmy. I shouldn�t have asked. It�s great to see you, period. I don�t really need a reason why one way or the other.�
Lance couldn�t move or breathe, with the heat of Joey�s hand pressing against his face. He didn�t know what to think or do.
My real life has just begun�
�Stop thinking so much Lance. You�ll turn into JC, before you know it.�
With that, Joey removed his thumb, and replaced it with his mouth. He licked at Lance�s lips and finally was allowed access inside. A brief touch of tongue was all Lance got, before Joey pulled away.
Lance sat, shocked and confused. Joey looked worried and said,
�You�re not the only one Lance. I hope I�m not completely off about this whole thing. Am I?�
Lance looked into his best friend�s face, a face he had begun to love more than anything else.
�No, Joe. You�re not wrong. I promise.�
He took Joey�s hand in his and squeezed it.
And knew things would turn out just fine.
Cause there�s nothing like
Your smile made of sun
In a world full of strangers
You�re the one I know�
Lyrics by Shakira