Part 4

After the party…it’s the…


Justin slammed the door of the hotel room. His face flushed with anger. He couldn’t believe it! He’d kept his temper in check in front of everyone at the club. Something anyone who knew him knew was near impossible once he got pissed off, but he did. Now he needed to vent. He reached over to his suitcase and grabbed a pair of sweats and changed clothes, switching his shoes as well. Grabbing a t-shirt and his backpack he stuffed a towel, bottle of water, and his CD player into it grabbing his room key on his way out the door.

Walkin into the deserted gym he let out a breath of air and walked over to a machine, spying the sound system in one corner he slipped in two CD’s for the changer and lowered the sound so he could listen without disturbing anyone. He saw the punching bag to one side of the gym and walked over grabbing some gloves from the storage bin.

Ten minutes later sweat poured off him in waves, his body bouncing as he pounded the bag. Thinking.

Damn. Why the hell would he say something like that…stupid shit…man! And everyone was looking at me to, I know they woulda said some kinda comment…damn! And Josh…he was right there…fuck! His thoughts continued their path, eventually winding into thoughts of embarrassment when he realized how much of a fool he had to look to them. Sure they seemed nice but what did he know, he wasn’t their friend, he wasn’t one of them, so they coulda been putting on fronts for the ‘Fan’.

Tiring of the punching bag he moved to the mats, slipping off his shoes. Taking a few gulps of water he wiped his body with the towel and set into his martial arts routine.

That’s how they found him, silently watching through the glass of the gym doors. Trace shaking his head slightly knowing now he’d royally screwed up, if Justin didn’t beat his ass, he knew once his mom found out she’d do it for him, and let’s not get started on Britney. Damn!

JC stood behind Trace and Gabrielle. He’d left almost right after them after sitting listening to everyone else talk for 10 minutes. He’d called Gabrielle’s cell phone and found out what hotel they were going to. When he walked in the lobby he’d started to the elevators but caught sight of the two down a the hall.

Justin was beautiful. Dressed in the low riding sweatpants, no shirt, his body moving through the moves of the techniques easily. They watched as he spun, kicked and punched through the air. His body seemed to relax into the moves ingrained into his brain.

He’d been doing martial arts almost as long as he’d been playing basketball. It had paid off. He knew he had a temper, and when things got to the point they had tonight and playing basketball was not an option, Martial arts calmed him just as quickly.

“He’s really pissed if he’s doing this” Trace spoke softly.

Gabrielle nodded knowing that just by watching the pent up anger in the moves.

“He’s beautiful.” JC breathed.

The two beside him stared at him. The watched quietly as Justin’s moves slowed until he finally bowed to the unseen opponant (I have no clue why they bow in martial arts but they do!). Moving to stretch out he finally sensed the eyes on him from behind.

“Trace I don’t want to talk to you right now man…just leave me alone aiight?” he spoke without turning.

“I know…I’m sorry Justin, really…”

“Just don’t Trace man…”

“Justin.” JC spoke up.

Justin’s head whirled around. His breath stopped in his chest at the sight of Trace, Gabrielle, and JC standing in the doorway.

“W-What are ya’ll doing here!” he asked standing quickly.

“Justin we wanted to make sure you were ok…” Gabrielle said.

“And to make sure you knew that no one was judging you back there.” JC said softly.

Justin just stood watching them.

“Yea sure, don’t worry about it, no need to make excuses, I know a gay ball player is a big joke, not like I expected to really have ya’ll be friends with me anyway.” He spoke eyes darting anywhere away from them.

“Justin- No…we do like you…you’re a great person!” Gabrielle insisted.

“Everyone wanted you to know that if you needed friends in ball, they’re gonna back you up…Zo, Iverson, all of them.” Trace said.

Justin looked at his long time friend and frowned.

“Why the hell did you do this to me?” he asked tightly.

“I dunno man…. it just slipped out.”

“Shit like this does Not just slip the fuck out Trace! Man I trusted you and now look!” Justin exploded.

“I Know J! Man I know…I’m sorry you have no idea how bad I feel now…you’re my best friend and I’d never do something to hurt you on purpose man…”

Justin sighed. He knew that. Shaking his head he looked to his friends distraught face. “It’s aiight man…damn…just don’t…never again ok?” he chocked out.

Trace moved forward and hugged his friend tightly.

“Yea man…I promise” he said.

Gabrielle spoke up then. “Hey Juppy, I gotta get going, Mike’s outside, give me a call ok, I’d like to keep in touch!” she smiled. Justin smiled brightly at that.

“Thanks Gabby,” he took the piece of paper she handed him with her cell and home phone numbers on it.

“No prob Juppy, I’d be dumb not to try and keep tabs on a hottie like you anyways” she joked. He laughed watching her walk away.

“J I’m gonna head up to the room…” Trace said wanting to give the two men time alone.

“Uh- yea ok…I’ll be up when I’m done here” Justin spoke up.

Once he was gone JC moved and sat on a bench. Justin sitting back on the mat stretching a little more. They sat in silence for a few minutes.

“Justin…”

“JC…I know ok….I’m just some dumb kid…I got embarrassed it’s over now…no problem” he said.

“No- Josh remember, and Jus…you’re not a dumb kid…you’re a man who was pissed off about something important his friend shouldn’t have let slip out…I understand”

“Yea well, you didn’t have to come here anyway, I’m fine” Justin spoke softly.

“I know that, I came because I wanted to, I needed to make sure you were ok” JC said.

“Well I’m fine”

“Yea well I guess I’ve bothered you enough for one day huh, I’m sorry bout that, embarrassing you at the game.”

“You’re not a bother to me Josh, and I didn’t mind the attention really.” ”Well you are cute when you blush” JC said.

Justin blushed. “Yea well, you’re good at making that happen aren’t you?”

JC smiled. “So when are you leaving here to go back to campus?”

“Well I have to be back for summer classes, and I’ve got conditioning to, all the starters have off season training starting up. So in like a day or so.” Justin replied.

“Well then, will I get to see you before you leave?”

“I-I thought someone said you were going back to California tomorrow…” Justin asked.

“I was. But I changed my mind” JC smirked.

Justin breathed a deep breath his mind racing at the possibilities of that statement.

“Well if you want to hang out then that’s cool, I mean you don’t have to or anything, Trace and me will probably find something to do anyways.

JC shook his head his curls bouncing slightly.

“Nope just me and you all day tomorrow…sound good?”

“Uh-yea…that sounds fine” Justin blushed.

“Well then I’ll walk you to your room so you can get some sleep then.”

The two set off to the elevators riding up the floors in silence.

Once standing outside the door JC smiled.

“I’ll call your room tomorrow morning at…say 9:30, be ready by 10, I’ll take you to breakfast?” he asked.

“Yea, that sounds good, I’ll be ready” Justin moved to put the key card in the slot. A hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“Goodnight Justin.” JC breathed against his lips before brushing his mouth against Justin’s. The kiss was soft and sweet. JC pulled away looking into Justin’s eyes. Justin’s eyes opened staring into mesmerizing glacier blue eyes. He leaned in again and captured JC’s lips again. This time JC’s tongue slipping out to touch Justin’s lips, silently asking for entrance. Justin’s lips parted slightly and the kiss deepened.

They pulled away breathless a minute later. A soft peck on the cheek and Justin was inside the room. JC stood outside a moment before heading back down the elevator and to his hotel to sleep, to dream about Justin.



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