"Whenever You Call" Chapters 26 - 30

(~) Part 26 (~)

“Ames...what’s the matter? What’s wrong?” Lance had a sense of urgency in his voice.

“Well, Hun...here goes. You know how you left for a few days to go to the funeral? Well, the day after you left, me, Justin, Megan and Chris went to a party at one of Meg’s friend’s house.” She paused, and looked at him with pleading eyes.

“Yeah...go on...” He said, dreading the worst.

“Well, Justin and I were obviously on our own ‘cause Megan and Chris are inseparable, so we spent the whole night dancing together...we didn’t know anyone else, so we just kinda stuck together...”

“No harm so far...what’s going on?!?” Lance looked both of them squarely in the eyes.

Justin took over the hardest part to save the last shocker for her. “Lance, man...I’m so sorry. I guess we had a little to much to drink or something, but I only remember having one...and so does Amy. But, uh...we woke up the following morning laying next to each other. Neither one of us remembers anything at all, so it obviously meant nothing, but it just looks a lot like we, you know...”

Lance cut him off. “Yeah, yeah, I’m not dumb, J. I know what you’re getting at. You slept with my girl. And YOU slept with HIM, Amy. How could you...?” He started off with anger in his voice, but then that anger just turned to sadness. He searched her eyes, trying to understand WHY...

“I’m so sorry, Lance. I don’t remember ANY of it...I really don’t. I would never cheat on you consciously, NEVER! If I DID remember it, I would admit to it. I don’t lie...especially to you...to someone I love so much. I would never want to hurt you, Baby. I couldn’t do that...” She touched his leg gently. He didn’t shy away, but she definitely sensed a tensing of his quad muscle under her touch.

“Too late...” he mumbled miserably.

“And...” She continued.

“And?!? There’s an ‘and’?!? What else could be wrong?!?” His head flew up and his eyes were ablaze.

“Oh, lots...LOTS. I...I’m, uh...pregnant, Lance. I’m due in July...”

“W-wh...what?!? You’re...PREGNANT...With a BABY?!? No, NO, NO! You can’t be!” His face turned red and his eyes searched hers again. “Is, is it mine or Justin’s?!?”

“See, that’s the thing...I don’t know exactly - I have no way of knowing. WE used a condom, but that STILL doesn’t mean anything. A friend of mine was on the pill AND used a condom, and STILL got pregnant. You take that risk every time you do it...”

“Yeah...I know. But...awww, not NOW, Ames! Not after all this. I can’t handle this. One of my best friend sleeps with my girl and then possibly gets her pregnant? Well, either THAT, or I’m gonna be a FATHER in eight months! I could have handled that to a degree, but now I don’t even know if the damn thing is mine!”

Amy’s sadness temporarily cleared and her head shot up. “DON’T you talk about my baby like that, LANCE BASS! It could be YOUR son or daughter, for God’s sake, but undoubtedly, it’s MINE. There is another life growing inside of me...and I can’t do this alone. Please...” She was up on her feet, screaming, at first...but then, she dropped to her knees and was practically pleading with him.

She continued slowly. “Justin already said he’d be here for me. But I need your support, too. I’m begging - at LEAST until the baby is born and we see who’s it is. Until the little thing is born we can’t know the real father.”

He looked at her with a pained expression. “I...I have to think, Ames. This is a LOT you just threw at me. I’m not going to lie...I am HURT. I’m hurt more than you will ever know - I can’t just bounce back from that at the drop of a hat. I know you need support...I know. But...I’m gonna have to get back to you on how I’m going to handle this. How’s management gonna take this for God’s sake? One of the members of ‘NSync is going to be a father...”

“Bass, Man...there IS no ‘NSync...at least for now. We gotta just help her through this. We’re both responsible for the most part, even though I’m the one who’s WRONG, too. I’m sorry, Lance. I really AM. But this is on both of us...at least until we get the DNA test.” He reached out his hand for Lance to shake it.

“I...I’m sorry, too,” he closed his eyes as a wave of pain shot through his young heart. “I’ll be back later tonight.” He got up without returning Justin’s gesture and just left through the front door without another word.

Amy broke down as she heard the door slam shut and crumpled into Justin’s open arms. “We’ll get through this, Ames. He’ll come around. We’ll all be just fine...all FOUR of us.” He said, rocking her gently as she sobbed into his chest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(~) Part 27 (~)

“Shell? Wait...I need to talk to you still. Come back, please.” JC stood on Michelle’s front porch and knocked on her door. He had just dropped her off, but he turned around soon after - he felt he owed her an explanation for being so hesitant and icy with her. She appeared back in the doorway and opened it for him slowly.

She looked so sad - he couldn’t stand to break her heart, but he HAD to. Michelle took a deep breath. “I think I know where this is going. You’re kinda predictable, Mr. Chasez,” she said with a nervous giggle. “I knew it from the time you said Chris that one night at my house. I knew you meant K-R-I-S, not C-H-R-I-S...”

“You...you did?” He stuttered, remembering that evening so clearly.

“Yeah, I did. I just hoped you’d shake out of it. I’m not dumb, JC...”

He shook his head to break his stare into an oblivion. “NO! I never thought you were dumb. Did I seem to?” He asked, feeling a tremendous sense of guilt come over him.

“No, no you didn’t. You’re QUITE obvious, though. But I always just dismissed it because I liked you so much. I just figured you were blind to it as well. I can’t tell you how many times you called me Kristin...and you probably never even realized it...”

“I called you Kristin? Aw, geez, Michelle. I’m so sorry. I had no idea! I feel terribly now. I’m so...”

“JC, Hun...shhhh. It’s OK. I’ve basically prepared myself for this already. I was just hanging on for the ride at this point. Trust me, I’m all cried out already - I just wondered when you were finally going to come forward. Don’t shoot yourself over this. I don’t want you to come away from this all hurt. I’ve kinda moved on myself already, actually...‘cause it’s for DARN sure that you have. I don’t think you ever WEREN’T over her, though...”

“Michelle, you’re incredible - I’m so sorry I hurt you. Thanks so much just for being so understanding...you’ve made this so easy for me - I really can’t thank you enough. Whoever the guy is, I’m sure you’re going to make him very happy. You’re such a wonderful girl...and you deserve only the best.” He was never more relieved in his entire life. “Thank you...” He murmured again, slightly distracted.

“You’re welcome. Thank YOU. You actually helped me - you really renewed my faith in the male species. I was really starting to think that they had no feelings whatsoever...” She started with a giggle. “And then you came along, and you showed such unconditional love for this girl...albeit subconsciously. I know the two of you still belong together. Go get her, JC - I’m sure she’ll take you back with open arms. No one in their right mind would give you up first of all...but more so, then not want to take you back with such passionate feelings still there on your part. You deserve to be happy.” She looked up at him and smiled shyly. A few tears spilled over. “All right, well maybe I’m not ALL cried out...” She said with a laugh.

“I’m gonna miss you, still. I love Kristin with all my heart - but I wish I could have given more of it to you. You should’ve had all my attention. Again, I’m sorry. But I can’t thank you enough for bearing with me. It means a lot. I’m not all cried out either - and these are genuine...for you, not Kristin.” He wiped his eyes brashly and put out his arms. She walked slowly into his embrace, but then felt herself being lost in it. After memorizing the warmth of his body, she finally pulled away.

“Good luck getting her back. If you need me, I’ll be here for you...” She wiped away a few more tears. “I’ll be seeing you again, I know it.”

“That sounded confidant of you!” He said with a giggle as he wiped his own eyes.

“Yeah, well...I’m sure, so...” She flashed a slightly pained smile.

“Whatever, Shell. I’m not gonna ask - I’ll just take your word on it! I’m sure whatever guy you’re with is great.” He turned to go. “Bye, Michelle. Stay wonderful...”

“You too, JC. Go make yourself happy. Go get her back...”

As he hopped down her stairs and bounded to his awaiting Jeep, a smile crept over her face. ‘Yeah, it was great while it lasted, and I’m gonna miss him, but this is a sure thing. He’s so much like JC it’s scary, but he’s not lusting over a lost girlfriend the whole time. I LOVE this boy...I KNOW this one is gonna work.’ She flew back around inside and called her new love interest immediately. She spent that hour - and the next six or so - chatting away, and inadvertently gaining a new boyfriend almost before JC even had a chance to open his hotel room door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(~) Part 28 (~)

Lance walked to a pay phone and sat down on the seat in the booth. He searched his pockets and realized he didn’t have enough change. After thinking a minute, he remembered a calling card he had, picked up the receiver, and made a long distance call. “Please pick up, please...”

Finally, after a good six rings or so, a female voice picked up. “Hello?”

“Kylie-Bug...it’s Lance. I have to talk to you.” He was so relieved that she was there.

“What s’matter, little bro? You sound upset...”

“Yeah, well, I AM...QUITE upset. Sad, hurt, confused, scared...you name it, I’m feeling it. I don’t even know where to begin,” he said, fighting tears.

“Well, you know I’m here for you...just take a deep breath and start. You know you won’t confuse me. I can always keep up with your ramblings...”

“You’re too good to me, Kylie - thank you.” He sighed before beginning. “Well, here goes...remember that girl I told you about, Amy?”

“Oh, Lordie...girl problems! Yeah, I remember...”

“Well, she told me that she went to this party with Justin and two other friends and she, uh, she woke up next to him the next morning...”

Kylie sucked in; she sadly knew what that kind of betrayal felt like. “I’m so sorry, Hun. Did...did she seem, you know, sorry about it?”

“Yeah, she seemed REALLY sorry about it...and it seemed so genuine. I mean, she said she didn’t even remember doing it. The two danced the whole night, but that’s just because there was no one else there that they knew. And they claim that they only had one drink each, so it’s not like they could have been THAT drunk...but they STILL - both of them! - say that they have no recollection of doing anything together but dancing. I believe her AND him...I have no reason not to. I mean...”

“Shh...Lance...Hun - you really ARE rambling now. Listen to yourself - you seem like you’ve made up you mind already. You’ve forgiven her for this, haven’t you?” She interrupted softly.

“I...I think I have. Yeah, I think I have, I guess...” He didn’t seem finished.

“But...?” She prodded.

“But...that’s not all. There’s even more great news...”

“Oh, no...don’t say it...”

“Yeah, Kylie. I may be a father soon. Either that or Justin may be a father...”

“Aww, Lance. I’m so sorry...that’s a...whew, that’s a lot to handle. Is she sure?”

“Yep, she’s sure, unfortunately.”

“But it must be yours...you said you believe her that she didn’t sleep with Justin, didn’t you?”

“No...see, I believe her that it didn’t mean anything. I’ve thought about it, and...that’s just not like her. I’ve gotten by that for the most part. Yeah, it hurts, but...well, that’s not the real issue here. The kid might not even be mine - that’s what is killing me, Kylie. I’d...I think I’d even be almost happy to have a child with this wonderful girl. But now, I’ve got a girlfriend who’s pregnant and I don’t even KNOW if it’s mine.”

“Well, Lance...if what you say is true - that you’d be happy to have a child with her, then...well, you have to be there for her no matter what. I know you love her...and she needs you SO much right now. You can’t know until after the baby is born who that father is...but that’s a long way away. Until then, she’s gonna need so much - someone to be a Lamaze partner, someone to get her pickles at 3:00 in the morning, someone who will massage her swollen ankles...and most importantly, someone who’s gonna be there to hold her hand during the delivery. This is no laughing matter, Lance. It’s not just picking out names and buying little booties before the big day, you know...”

Lance took a deep breath. “Yeah, I know. It’s a LOT. But...God, I’m so scared. I don’t know if I can do it, Kylie!” He soon reached a point of desperation in his usually calm voice.

“Lance...listen to me. You are a STRONG person. GO TALK TO HER. It’s between you and her, not me and you, or even you and you. You have to be in this together - one hundred percent, little bro. Go back to her house, and have a nice long talk. THEN, decided what your deal is. I think my job here is done. I love talking to you and giving you advice - and you know that...but on something like this, YOU have to be the one making the decisions. I’ll be here if you need me after you talk to her, kay?”

There were a few moments of silence.

“Lance, Hun? You there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. I...I’m...thank you, Kylie. You just remind me so much of Amy for some reason...and how much I love her. I’m gonna go talk to her now...thanks again.”

“You are so welcome. It’s my job. GOOD luck - I KNOW you can do this.”

“OK...thanks. Bye...” He said hesitantly.

“Bye, Lance...” She hung up the phone before he could even get in another word.

He slowly got out of the phone booth and started back towards Amy’s. ‘I can do this. I just gotta talk to her. I just gotta be strong. I can’t loose her. Lance, man, find your balls and take some responsibility. You CAN do this...’

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(~) Part 29 (~)

Lance arrived back at Amy’s about an hour after he had left. He was about to knock when he looked up and saw a note on the door at eye level:

~ Don’t knock...just let yourself in. - A ~

He figured it would be a bad thing to upset the pregnant lady (‘Omigod, that’s weird...’ he thought to himself with a shudder) so he just opened the door and walked in slowly. He was about to call her name when another big note caught his eye. It was taped to Amy’s DiscMan, which was sitting on top of the kitchen peninsula - right where he always laid his jacket. He walked over to it cautiously:

~ Please...just play Track 5. Don’t ask any questions, just carefully listen to the words. I can’t think of a better way to put it than this. - A ~

‘What the...?’ He thought to open the CD player to see what CD rested inside, but he decided to just take her word for it. He slipped the headphones over his ears and pressed the skip button until he reached Track 5. A beautiful melody began. He soon recognized the voice of Nick Carter coming through the headphones.

“Oh, my Little Rosebud. Don’t cry...” He got up slowly and walked up to her. She thought he was going to just stand there forever, though, about a foot away. He was close but yet so far. Abruptly, he made a move - but instead of hugging her, like she thought, he dropped to his knees and pressed his cheek up to her belly. He touched her still flat stomach as he began sobbing gently. After picking up her shirt, he gently kissed her navel - he just pressed his forehead up against it and cried. He cried because he didn’t know what else to do with all these bottled up emotions. Amy held onto his head as she attempted to calm herself.

“Lance...I’m so sorry. I know you don’t want this, but...” She began.

He let go of her waist and slowly got to his feet. “Shhh, Ames. I need to just let this all out. Please...just listen.”

She nodded slightly to show her understanding.

“I will be honest with you. I never would have wanted this for us now. I know I love you, but we’re way too young. I’m 21 and you’re only 20. I’m TRYING to continue with a music career, if ‘NSync ever gets back together, and you’re still in school. It’s not exactly the best timing, and it’s not the best situation, either, with us not even knowing who the father is. BUT, I’ve gotten past that part. Yes, it hurts like HELL, but I know you’re being truthful when you say that it didn’t mean anything...and I trust Justin, too.”

She continued searching his eyes, which looked almost eerily yellow in the moonlight. “So...” She prompted softly.

“So...the bottom line is...oh, Lord, Ames - I am SO scared. I am terrified; scared SHITLESS. I don’t know how to be a father! And I didn’t think I’d HAVE to know for a really LONG time. But I DO have to figure it out...I have eight months to take a crash course in parenting.”

“So...that means...?” She asked hopefully.

He sighed deeply, but then nodded slowly. “It means I’m gonna be there one hundred and fifty percent. I know I’M scared...I can’t imagine what YOU must be going through right now - so we might as well go through this together. I’ll be here for you no matter what you need or want. THAT you can count on. AND, even if the baby IS Justin’s, I will STILL be there for you...” He sighed once again. “I WANT to take responsibility for this child. I’ll love it like my own, even if it isn’t. My own blood practically runs through Justin’s veins anyway. If you’re a part of it, which you are...so shall I. I love you SO much, and if loving you means being a father, than I WILL be a father. Again, NO, I didn’t want this NOW...but NOW that it is on us, I will LEARN to want it. The more I think about it, the more excited I get, actually. I can’t think of another person I would want to go through this with. I’m gonna be a daddy, Ames, in one way or another...and you’re gonna be the best mother there ever was. I have NO doubt of that at all...”

She looked at him and smiled genuinely for the first time in weeks. “You really mean that, Angel?” She put her arms around his neck.

“With all my heart, Amy...with EVERYthing I have in me.”

Her smile froze for a minute. “But what about management? They’re gonna kill you! A member of ‘NSync is having a child out of wed-lock!! What about the contract...?” She started off, a scared edge to her voice.

“FUCK the contract...” He said with a satisfied smile - the first time she’d ever heard him use that word. He wasn’t a cusser - she KNEW he meant business. “I don’t care WHAT they say. We’re gonna do this parent thing...and we’re gonna whoop some old-fashioned booty at it! They’re not gonna kick me out...for God’s sake, there isn’t even an ‘NSync at this point! We worry about US and this little thing first - OUR baby. Management comes last...” He smiled again and touched her stomach. The two spent the rest of the night in each other arms, finally feeling a sense of peace and relief come over them both. Now that they were in it TOGETHER, nothing could ever stop them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(~) Part 30 (~)

Joey found himself staying home more and more as the weeks slowly passed - which is NOT like Joey at all. He was either griping with Kristin over their lost loves or sitting in the hotel alone feeling sorry for himself. He didn’t know what to do with himself - all this free time was so odd. It was nice...in the beginning. Now, he was just plain bored. Sadly, his life was becoming a viscous circle; the more he sat and vegetated at the hotel; the more he contemplated his confusion over Caroline; the more he contemplated his confusion over Caroline, the more dejected he became; the more dejected he became, the more he sat and vegetated, and so on and so forth. At least Kristin could SEE JC. Caroline was a good six hours away, probably having the time of her life. Then, she would return to Somerville and go flying back to that Aaron idiot. She was due home in a few more weeks, and he decided that, even if she STILL was with Aaron, he’d have to talk to her - this pretending crap wasn’t working for him any more. ‘DAG, my life sucks...But it doesn’t HAVE to...’ He would say to himself periodically throughout the day.

Even worse, he then began thinking about how much he missed being a part of ‘NSync. He wasn’t really sure if he was ready to ‘make it all better’ with Lance, Justin, and Chris, but he DID know that he desperately craved performing five nights a week, getting his picture taken everywhere he went, going to photo shoots, interviews, and appearances, and most importantly, meeting the band’s loyal fans. He loved seeing the joy on their faces and the excitement in their eyes when he would sing a ballad RIGHT to them, or when they would nearly pass out after a simple shake of their hands. He couldn’t believe how much he wanted to be back in the limelight once again; and he often wondered if the other four guys felt the same. He headed towards the stocked refrigerator to get something to drink.

As he slipped his arm inside the fridge to grab a Coke, his elbow brushed a small bottle of Jamaican Rum and knocked it over. He muttered a slew of frustrated choice four-letter words as he picked up the flask. ‘Wait a sec...this could definitely brighten my Coke - and my LIFE - a little. Hmm...’ He pulled out the two containers and started to mix himself up a wicked strong brew.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Justin had rented himself his own hotel room after leaving Amy’s that night. He hated being so alone, and it gave him WAY too much time to think, but it was the best situation for all involved. Even if the baby WAS his, he knew that Amy needed Lance, and not him. Only Lance could offer that genuinely gentle compassion and support that she needed. Right before leaving, though, he asked Amy for Jen’s diary. He didn’t want to snoop, but...well, it must not be THAT important if she hadn’t come back looking for it yet.

After putting a mellow Boyz II Men CD in his player and dressing down in a comfortable wifebeater and his drawers, he took a seat on his bed. He laid back as he propped the delicate book on his chest. Maybe he’d be able to get some clues as to WHAT the heck was going on in her head and her life. He opened it slowly and began reading. The earlier entries were rather dull - she spoke often of her longing for him (which was QUITE the compliment, but not what he was looking for). As he got into the heart of the diary, though, his disinterest slowly turned to horror as a certain fellow named Aaron came into the picture.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kristin decided to drop by Joey and JC’s hotel for a little visit. She was feeling just as confused over JC as ever, but, for once, she hoped he wasn’t there. All she felt like doing was talking. She had her own key, compliments of her new best friend, so she let herself in quietly. Looking at the dresser, she found that JC’s wallet was missing. ‘Good,’ she thought, ‘It’s just me and Joey.’

She was about to call his name when she heard some rather ODD sounds coming from the sitting room around the corner from the entryway. ‘What the...’ she thought as a sound like a rabid bear being castrated filled her ears followed by some interesting singing.

“You’re alllllllllllllllll I ever wanteeeeeeeee-DUH...you’re alllllllllllllllll I ever needeeeeeeeee-DUH...so tellllllllllllll me what to dooooooooooooooo now, when I wannnnnnnnnnn-TUH youuuuuu-UH baaaaaaaaaaa-KUH...”

Kristin raised her eyebrows in disbelief. She knew the voice was Joey’s but what in CREATION is wrong with him?!?

She peeked her head around the corner and had to stick her fist in her mouth to keep from bursting out in giggles. There, in front of her, was Joey, wearing NOTHING but a blanket draped over her shoulders, a set of bright pink bunny slippers (God knows WHERE he got them from!), and a pair of tightie-whities on his, uh, his head. He was sitting in a chair, facing the wall, with his cheek pressed up against it and his lips flared out like a fish, and he was holding a glass with some kind of dark liquid in his hand. A clear line of drool had made its way down his goatee and was dribbling onto his naked thigh. He looked like something out of the ‘I Drive Myself Crazy’ video...except this time, he wasn’t acting! She knew he was drunk beyond belief, which was NOT a good thing - now she wanted to find out why.

“Joe? Wh-what’s going on...?” She asked timidly.

His eyes fluttered open and it took what looked like every ounce of energy he had in his body to pull his head away from the wall.

“Krissssssss! Want so...” He started to hand her his glass of something OBVIOUSLY alcoholic, but just passed out cold on the floor with a loud thud.

“Um, Joey? You OK?” She walked up to him and checked his breathing. He was fine, just a little ‘tipsy’ to say the least. Already snoring loudly, Joey was slumped in a somewhat uncomfortable looking position. Being WAY too heavy to carry, Kristin just attempted to get him into the always comfortable fetal position. She took the underwear off of his head and slipped it on where it belonged, covered him with the blanket from his shoulders, put a pillow under his head, and turned off the lights. She walked over to the couch and laid down for a little nap herself. A little sleep is always good to clear the mind, especially when it is confused to the point of poor Kristin’s.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Onto the next five chapters...
Back to "Whenever You Call" homepage...
Back to 'NSync Fanfiction Connection homepage..