CHAPTER 10

"So what happened last night? Did you and Justin do anything *interesting*?"

JC groaned to himself. He had been hoping that Lance has forgotten about the big plans he had been talking about the previous day. But then again this was Lance.

He considered not telling Lance what had happened. At least then he could pretend that 'Oh! Guess what! 5 minutes after Lance left with Chris, he just happened to lose all interest in Justin'. At least then he would not seem like a great big loser. However, again, this was Lance. The walking polygraph machine.

"Hello? JC, so? Did you guys have a good time or what?"

"Justin did but I didn't."

Lance just looked and waited for the coming explanation.

JC sighed wearily and slumped in his chair.
"I got it wrong, Lance. He's not interested."

"What do you mean he's not interested?"

"He went on a date with Alex yesterday. I saw them kissing in the lobby," JC stated matter-of-factly, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Are you sure? I mean...but I thought he..."

"Yeah, so did I. But I guess I misunderstood the whole thing. No big deal."

Lance kept his unwavering gaze on JC.
"JC, maybe you should clarify this with Justin first. You could be wrong."

"Lance, it's not like we were even dating and he cheated on me. The way I see it, there was nothing between us at all. He was just being friendly with me, so there's nothing to clarify."

"But..."

"Besides," JC interuppted. "I've decided that it's too soon for me to get into a relationship right now. I mean it might just be rebound or some shit like that right? It would be better for me to be alone for a while, won't it?"

Lance was silent for a long while.
"Is that a rhetorical question or do you actually want me to convince you?"

JC frowned.
"It's a rhetorical question. Ok, I'm making a move. I've got to go pick some models for my book."

"JC, you can't just..."

"So I will be back around 6."

"JC, you're being a..."

"Ok, bye Lance!" JC yelled over Lance's voice and stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind him.

He was just putting on his jacket which he had managed to grab before leaving, when Justin's door opened behind him. JC closed his eyes in dread but did not look up.

"Hi JC."

JC sighed quietly and then opened his eyes and turned around.
"Hi Justin."

Justin was in loose pyjama pants and a wife-beater, looking like he had just woken up. JC for a moment had the urge to see if Alex was behind Justin in his apartment, but checked himself.

"So, going out so early?"

"Yeah. So, see you around," JC said, with mock cheer and started to move.

"Wait!"

JC stopped and looked at Justin blankly.

"About last night..."

"So how did your date with Alex go?"

JC was surprised by his own question. Why did he ask that? Did he really want to know?

Justin looked down for a second before meeting JC's eyes.
"Yes, about that..."

"He is a cute guy. I'm glad things worked out in the end. I mean it's like if you're meant to be together, you will be together. Fate, you know? Accidents can happen but if you are supposed to be with a guy, you will end up with him, you know. So I'm glad you and Alex are dating now. Yeah, so...ok, I've got to go. See you around."

With that, JC hurried down the stairs; practically running. It was only when he reached the bus stop that he stopped and slammed his palm again his forehead.

"Idiot. Idiot. Idiot!"

**

JC returned to the apartment late in the evening after having spent hours with Johnny looking through model portfolios. By the time they had finished, the time and date of the shoots were also settled.

JC opened the door to the sound of music and chatter. He recognised one voice especially and groaned inwardly.

"Hey, you're back! Just in time for dinner," Lance's voice greeted him with a tad too much smugness in it.

"Yeah? What's for dinner?" JC asked, closing the door behind him and removing his jacket. He kept his gaze away from Justin as he moved further into the apartment.

"Pizza, what else?" Chris mumbled though a mouthful of pizza.

JC nodded and moved to sit at the coffee table where Lance, Chris and Justin were attacking three boxes of pizza. JC picked up a slice and bit into the warm cheese.

"How did the model picking go today?" Lance asked.

"Good. Dates are all fixed. Everything should be done by next week. And that reminds me," JC wiped his hand on a napkin and reached for the only unopened Coke can. "I've got good news for Chris and you both!"

"Yeah?"

"I'll be moving out next week. I found an apartment for myself."

There was silence instead of sounds of joy.

"Did you hear me?" JC asked, looking up.

"Yeah, we did. Um...what's the rush?" Lance asked, casually looking over at Justin who was looking intently at JC.

"Rush?" JC scoffed."Lance, I've been here a month! It's about time I gave you guys your place back."

"Then where are you going?"

"Not far. Just downtown. Johnny has a friend who had this place to rent out. It's a two bedroom and it overlooks the beach. It's really all kinds of wonderful," JC gushed.

"Well...it sounds great. But we're still gonna miss you," Lance said, grudgingly.

"Are you kidding?" Chris exclaimed. "I'm gonna be over there all the time. Overlooking the beach, did you say, C? The view must be great huh? Swim-suit clad hunks and all?"

"Excuse me?"

Chris looked at his boyfriend and grinned.
"For JC of course."

"Of course."

JC smiled at the couple and then looked at Justin who had remained silent all the while. His head was down, which only served to draw JC's attention to those eyelashes which lay on his cheeks. God! At least now that he was moving, he would not have to look at Justin Timberlake everyday.

"So, Justin. I heard you had a hot date yesterday. How did it go?"

JC's head flew up as he looked at Lance. JC knew that the question was not a harmless one. Lance's gleaming green eyes told him that his friend was up to something. Shit!

"How did you know?" Justin asked, although he knew the answer as he was looking intently at JC. JC quickly looked down as if trying to pick out the perfect pizza slice to eat.

"JC told me. Said you guys were getting hot and heavy in the lobby."

"I did NOT say that!" JC exclaimed, dropping the pretense of looking for a pizza.

"Well something to that extent," Lance smirked. "So?"

"He was nice. He called and asked me out saying he wanted to make up for that other time when he got into an accident. The guy was being sweet so I thought why not. It's just a dinner."

JC caught the emphasis on 'just a dinner' as well as the look Justin sent his way. His heart jumped at both.

"So what's the final verdict? I mean, with the kiss and all, it must be going somewhere huh?" Lance prompted, as if in an interview.

"It was supposed to be a simple goodnight kiss but he pressed on and that was when JC came down."

"Ahh, so you are not into him huh?"

"He's nice but there is nothing there."

JC felt hope stir in him again but he squashed it brutally. Just because Justin was not interested in Alex did not mean he was interested in JC.

"You see, I think that for relationship to work, there has to be chemistry. Chemistry is so important," Justin emphasised, looking at JC. JC swallowed hard.

"Besides, right now I've got my eye on this guy. I don't know if it will work out though. The guy's kind of iffy.

"Iffy?" Lance prompted. JC could see from his grin that he was clearly enjoying what was going on.

Justin nodded, tilting his head as he contemplated JC.
"Yeah, he's a wild card. He blows hot and cold. One moment he's the sweetest thing, laughing and giggling and making me wanna hear that laugh all day long. He has the most beautiful laugh I've ever heard."

JC blushed harder.

"The next moment, he's barely looking at me or giving me the time of the day. It's really confusing actually."

JC was not stupid by any means. He knew what Justin was saying. He felt his face heat up as he fought a smile.

"Maybe the guy doesn't know you like him," Lance prompted, grinning so wide that JC feared for his jaws.

"Then how can I tell him?"

And probably just as he had rehearsed it, Lance piped in. "Maybe you should show him, instead of telling him."

"Good idea." Justin said, wiping his hand and mouth on a napkin, before crumbling it up and throwing it on a table.

Then the next thing JC knew, Justin was kneeling beside him, holding his face between his palms and kissing him.

JC didn't hear Chris' whoops or Lance's laugh. All he heard was his mind chanting to him, "YES YES YES!" as he felt Justin tangy-sweet tongue explore his mouth. He didn't even realise he was holding his breath until Justin let go of him and his oxygen-starved lungs gasped for air. Panting, all JC could do was stare at Justin.

"So?" Justin asked, breathing heavily himself.

JC blinked once and then twice. Then he pushed Justin to the floor and followed closely after.


 

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