Did You Ever Love Somebody?

A 13 year old Justin watched his best friend practice his next performance. JC had finally gotten his solo. Bryan Adams’ “Now and Forever” had nothing on JC Chasez’s rendition. Justin watched with wide eyes as Josh sang the words smoothly and confidently. Tony sat beside him playing his guitar for musical accompaniment. His voice was beautiful. Justin loved that about him.

JC smiled stumbling over a note when Christina made a goofy face at him. He laughed swatting at her playfully. JC shook his head grinning as the blonde scampered away. Justin’s laughter stopped abruptly when Britney entered the room. Her smile widened at the sight of Justin sitting alone. Justin whipped his stare to JC, frantic worry claiming his features. Josh shrugged nodding his head. Justin jumped from the table where he sat, he ran quickly to the other side of the room. Josh helped him up onto the top of the speaker he sat on talking to Tony. His arm wrapped around the younger boy, in an protective grip.

“Come on Curly, lets go have some lunch...” Josh said sneaking a glance at Britney as she made her way across the crowded room. He smiled at Justin before rushing him out of the room through an alternate entrance. Justin’s smile tightened.

Did you ever love somebody...

so much that the Earth moved?

Did you ever love somebody...

even though it hurt to?

Justin watched Karen Chasez guide her son toward the car. JC walked backwards, trying to make Justin laugh with funny faces, and bad jokes. Justin stood beside his mother on their Florida front porch.

“Stop trying to make me laugh Josh.. What happens if I never see you again?” he asked. JC smiled sadly.

“I’ll miss you Justin, but it isn’t over... I’ll see you again... soon I promise...” he seemed so sure of it that Justin almost believed him. “Have faith Justin... see-ya around...” Justin smiled half-heartedly. His face fell as the car drove out of sight.

“-It’s okay Baby... you’ll see him again soon...” Lynn assured him, hugging Justin to her side. Justin sighed.

“I hope so Mama... I miss him already..” Justin whispered.

Did you ever love somebody...

nothin’ else your heart could do?

Did you ever love somebody...

who never knew?

Lunn watched her son in the backyard. He stood bouncing a basketball up against the side of their two car garage. The show had been canceled for nearly two years, and Justin was still having adjustment problems. He was quiet and slightly withdrawn. She’d swear she had heard him up late at night crying to himself.

The ringing of the telephone broke her concentration. She picked up the phone.

“Hello. Harliss residence. Lynn speaking...”

“Umm... Mrs. Harliss... my name is Chris Kirkpatrick... I’m trying to reach Justin Timberlake...”

“Oh... of course.. I’m Justin’s mother... What is it you needed Chris?”

Did you ever lay your head down

on the shoulder of a good friend

and then have her look away somehow?

Had to hide the way you felt from them?

Have you ever prayed the day would come

you’d hear them say they feel it too?

Now 17, Justin sat in a hotel room watching Joey and Chris fight over game controllers, the play-sation sitting neatly between them. Lance sat in the corner, his lap-top nestled in his lap, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard. He shifted his gaze to the window seat. Josh sat there listening to a Cd in his disc man, and staring up at the barely visible stars in the sky. His head bounced in a familiar rhythm, his hands tapping out the beat on his thighs. Britney shifted uncomfortably on the couch beside Justin. He moved to look at her. Her face wore a sad smile of sympathy. A single tear traced down his cheek and she pulled him gently down, his head resting in her lap as he silently cried.

“Shhh it’s okay J.... it’s okay....” she whispered swiping at his tears. He looked up at her with pain filled eyes. She knew. She understood. She simply wished it was her he longed for at night. “It’ll be okay” she whispered. Looking at Josh again, fighting her own tears.

Did you ever love someone...

who never knew?

I did, you did!

Well you know I’d understand.

I could, I would more than anybody can.

At 21, Justin rocked a crumbling JC. He held him tightly, rubbing his back and whispering soothing words in his friends ear. He didn’t care how close the others body was, how warm skin was on skin, or how thick the scent of shampoo was in his hair. He hurt because JC hurt. He hated Bobbie. The woman was a demon... he’d always despised her, but this, turning JC Chasez in a pile of crying mush, was crossing the line.

Did you ever love somebody...

so much that the Earth moved?

Did you ever love somebody...

even though it hurt to?

Josh was drunk. ‘Drunk Josh’ was ‘Flirty Josh’. ‘Flirty Josh’ was ‘Sensitive Josh’. Which inevitably moved on to ‘Angry Insensitive Josh’. Justin still loved him, even when he was the direction said anger was usually focused.

“Why?” JC whined struggling out of his jacket while laying down on his bed. Justin shook his head, pulling his friends socks and shoes off.

“I don’t know Josh... She was a Bitch...” Justin said softly.

“You didn’t like her?” JC asked his head wavering against the pillow.

“No Josh... she didn’t deserve you...”

“Well I liked her.... but, if my best friend didn’t like her then it must not have been love...” he slurred. He turned to look at Justin again. “But I loved her Juju... I really really really did...I did.... I swear it....” he whispered. Justin sighed.

“If you say so Josh...” he whispered, pulling JC’s jeans down his long legs.

“She was mean though... Justin c’mere... shhh...” he whispered. Justin moved closer. “She didn’t like you very much Justin....” he ‘whispered’ loudly. Justin rolled his eyes that hadn’t been real hard to pick up on.

“I know Jace...”

“Wanna know what she though of you?” Josh asked, his expression souring with each word. Justin sighed.

“No.. Not really..” he stood to leave. JC’s hand shot out clasping around Justin’s wrist in an iron grip. Justin looked at him, shocked.

“I’m gonna tell you... She thought that you were Gay! That you... my bestest best friend in the whole gigantic wide big world were a Fag!” JC giggled, releasing Justin’s wrist. “And that you.. haha.. were in love with me... Isn’t that funny? It’s hysterical... hugh Justin?” he sat up just in time to see Justin the door slam the bedroom door. “Hey!” he shouted.

Justin burst into the main room of the larger suite the five shared. He was pissed off, but his friends could see the pain and tears in his eyes. He stopped in front of them.

“Will one of the Non-Fags please go take care of the Jack-Ass... I’ve got better things to do!” he said coldly, slamming the suite door on his way out. The three sat in a shocked silence.

“Hey!! Justin? Anybody? I think I’m gonna puke!” came a hollered warning from JC’s room.

Justin slumped against the door of the single suite. He drew his knees to his chest and cried into his folded arms.

Did you ever love somebody...

nothin’ else your heart could do?

Justin sorted sadly through a box of old photos. They were mostly memories of JC and himself. Usually happy, always together. He had to do this. It hurt too much right not, everyday the heartache dug a little deeper. He had to get out now, while he still could.

There was a soft knock on Justin’s bedroom door. He looked up to see JC standing there. His hands were in his pockets, a frown stretched across his face. Justin closed the box, sliding it back under the bed. Josh came in, moving to sit beside Justin on the bed. They sat in silence.

“Why Justin?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you quitting? Why are you leaving? What happened to make you run away like this?” Josh asked quietly.

“You wouldn’t understand...” Justin sighed.

“Then help me too...” Justin sniffled shaking his head no. “Please Justin!” he grimaced at the plea before turning to look at his friend. He reached out grasping his friends neck. He pulled him closer, pressing his lips to JC’s in a deep kiss. JC’s mouth opened in shock. Justin took the opportunity to take a taste. He pulled back way-to-soon for his own liking. His forehead pressed to JC’s. Their eyes locked together. Justin licked his lips, savoring the sweetness.

“Do you love me?” he whispered, eyes tearing up. Josh was flabbergasted for a moment more before speaking.

“Of... Of course I do...” he stuttered.

“No...” he pressed his lips to JC’s in a small chaste kiss. “Do you *love* me?” he whispered, tears springing from his eyes. Josh’s forehead creased. Justin pulled away standing up. He wiped at his eyes. “Goodbye JC...” he sniffled walking from the room.

Did you ever love somebody...

like I love you?

Justin drove through the streets of Orlando with the top down on his car. The wind blew his hair, the sun heated his face, and he felt free. He loved Josh, he always had, with a tireless devotion. He would miss the feeling, he’d felt it so long. For right now, he was happy. He was light as a feather, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He smiled up at the blue sky.

like I love you?

JC curled up into a ball, where he lay in Justin’s bed, he held a stuffed animal pressed to his chest. His face showed a look of wonder as one hand traced the curve of his lips. He smiled.

like I love you?

The End