Part 15


Justin wrung his hands nervously throughout the ride to the restaurant. Despite Lance’s comforting hand on his knee, Justin was ready to leap out of his skin. He stared out the window, watching as the world flew by.

“Justin,” Lance said quietly, patting Justin’s leg. Justin jumped, startled out of his thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“We’re here, babe.”

Lance had yet to tell Justin that JC would be joining them for lunch; he didn’t want to make the younger man any more nervous that he already was.

When Lance saw JC stepping out of his car, he figured he’d better fill Justin in on their dining companion.

”I invited JC.”

Justin frowned, looking at Lance with confusion. “To lunch?”

Lance nodded.

“But…why, Lance?” Justin asked softly, cupping Lance’s cheek in his hand. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes I did,” Lance whispered, almost unable to find his voice. “Yes I did.”

“Hey,” came JC’s voice, and Justin’s heart jumped. He looked at Lance appreciatively before turning around to face his former love.

“Hey,” he said, smiling shyly. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Well, Lance was nice enough to invite me,” JC stated, reaching out to shake Lance’s hand. “Nice to see you again, Lance.”

“Same here,” Lance said, looking at the ground.

The three stood there in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, JC finally breaking the quiet. “Well I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”

Lance nodded and Justin followed along, not sure who to stand closer to.

“Table for three please. Non-smoking,” JC told the hostess, and she smiled nervously when she realized who they were.

“JC Chasez and Lance Bass,” she said, still grinning. JC smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, you got us.”

Lance chuckled at the blush that colored JC’s cheeks. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she gushed. “If it’s not too much trouble, do you think…I mean, I’m a really big fan of both of your work…”

“An autograph?” Lance offered.

She nodded, blushing at him.

“No problem.” He reached out for the nearest menu and scribbled his name under the heart he had drawn. JC smiled when Lance handed him the menu, following suit and signing his name for the girl.

“There ya go,” he said, handing her the menu. “Now can we eat?”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, looking terribly embarrassed.

“It’s no problem, hun,” JC laughed. “I’m just teasing you.”

Justin smiled, remembering how appreciative JC had always been of his fans.

His smile faded when he realized that the hostess was leading the straight for a booth, holding out her hand in offering. "Your server will be right with you," she said. "And thank you so much!"

JC smiled and nodded, laughing as the girl scurried away. He slid into the booth, opening his menu and scanning it quickly.

Lance sighed as he sat down across from JC, his eyes wandering to Justin, who was standing nervously at the head of the table, eyes darting between JC and Lance.

"Justin?" JC said softly. "Are you ok?"

"Um...I..."

Lance sighed, slipping out of his side of the booth and moving over to sit next to JC, who's eyes widened.

"There, Justin. Now you don't have to choose, OK?" Lance said quietly, reaching out to squeeze Justin's hand.

Relief flooded over Justin's face as he sat down, smiling gratefully at Lance. "Thank you," he mouthed, and Lance forced a smile.

He decided not to mention that the only reason he'd moved is because he was afraid Justin wasn't going to choose him. And he simply couldn't deal with that right now.

Justin laughed, his eyes dancing, as JC reminded him of the time he fell, fully clothed, into their backyard pool.

"Justin, the look on your face was priceless!" JC laughed, holding his stomach.

"Hey, it's not my fault you gave me so much to drink! I was only eighteen, and here you were handing me alcoholic drinks like they were water!"

"You had ONE BEER!" JC screeched, now in complete hysterics.

Justin spit the water in his mouth, laughing right along with JC.

"Shut up!"

Their laughing finally died down, and the sat there comfortably, not able to tear their eyes away from one another.

Justin was only made aware that he was ignoring Lance when he heard Lance sigh loudly.

"Yeah, so hey Lance, when does that movie come out now?"

Lance eyed Justin carefully. "What movie?"

"That one you're directing."

"Oh, that one," Lance said, trying not to roll his eyes. "We haven't finished shooting yet. Probably not for another year."

"That's so great, Lance," JC chimed in. "I don't think I'd have the patience to be a director."

"No kidding," Justin said, rolling his eyes. "Once, JC screamed at one of the artists he was producing because it wasn't exactly how JC wanted it. He told the poor girl that she followed directions horribly and didn't deserve to be in his studio."

"That's not true and you know it!" JC giggled, throwing a french fry at Justin.

"Well, pretty close!"

"I can't help it that I'm a perfectionist!"

Lance grabbed their waitress as she walked by. "Can we get the check please?"

"I don't think I can do this," Justin whispered, clutching Lance's hand as they pulled up to the police station.

"It's ok, Justin," Lance said, pulling Justin close. "They just want you to answer a couple of questions, that's all."

"I don't want to relive it."

"You won't, baby. I promise."

"You ok, Justin?" JC called as he stepped out of his car. Justin nodded, not missing the way JC's eyes saddened as he saw Justin's hand linked with Lance's.

They were silent in the elevator, none of them looking at one another, questions hovering thickly in the air.

When they knocked on the door of Kirkpatrick's office, Justin's face paled. JC put a comforting hand on the younger man's shoulder. "It's gonna be ok, Justin," he whispered. "I'm here for you, ok?"

Justin nodded, turning to Lance. "I'm scared," he said.

"JC and I will be right outside, baby. If you need us, you just yell, ok?"

"Are you Justin Timberlake," Officer Kirkpatrick said, poking his head out the door.

Justin just nodded.

"Come on in, young man. We have a few questions for you."

When Justin disappeared behind the door, JC's shoulders sagged and he found the nearest chair, collapsing into it.

Lance frowned, following JC's lead.

"I'm sorry this is happening," Lance said.

"So am I."

"I just want you to know that I'm not trying to keep Justin from you. That's not it all all. I'm not like that. It's up to him what he wants to do, and he knows that."

"And I just want you to know that I'm not giving up on him. He's my life, Bass. I love him more than anything, and he belongs with me. So you can have fun playing house or whatever it is you're doing, but it's only a matter of time before Justin realizes who he really belongs with."

Lance's eyes stung at JC's words, and he looked away from the older man. "Fuck you, JC," he said bitingly. "Just...fuck you. Why do you think I invited you to lunch today, huh? Or why I made Justin call you that day?"

JC just looked at him.

"Because, JC. I see how much you love him. And I know what you two had before he...well, before this whole thing happened. And I'm not about to ruin it for you, or for him, or for myself for that matter. I can't fall in love with a man who's in love with someone else. And so I'm trying to help Justin decide what he wants. Believe what you want, JC, but I am not trying to take Justin away from you."

JC's eyes softened, and he reached out to pat Lance's knee. "I'm sorry, man," he said. "I just...this is really hard on me, ya know? Because when this," he waved his hand in the air in indication,"is over, he's going home with you."

Lance was about to reply, but the door to Kirkpatrick's office opened, and a teary-eyed Justin's head poked out.

"Chris said I could have someone in here with me," Justin said, choking back tears.

Lance's heart started beating a mile a minute.

JC's heart stopped beating all together.



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