"You wanna have dinner? Why? No, I didn't mean for it to sound rude, Brit. I'm just asking. We haven't exactly seen-seen each other since last year. This isn't for promotion or anything is it? You truly just want to see me? Fine. But I'm not staying any later than 9 o'clock. Why? Because I'm in a relationship, remember? I can't just leave him here, I'm not like you. Fine. Sorry. I'll see you in twenty." Justin hung up the phone, feeling his eyebrow twitch in annoyance. He had broken things off with Britney around mid-2002, and hadn't really gotten together with her for any reason since then. For many reasons besides the obvious. His solo album came out, he went on tour with Christina for a good three to four months, there was the CFTC V event, he got back together with *NSYNC to work on their fifth album, JC's solo album came out in this time period as well, he fell in love, he was engaged, his wedding was in a week. Actually it happened during the last leg of the Justified/Stripped Tour in St. Paul, Minnesota. *** Justin ended with "Like I Love You", and then he went backstage. Both he and Christina came back out and bowed, thanking the audience and their fans before going backstage again. This was pretty much where it all started, after that. Justin had to admit, Christina was a little more bouncy and giggly that day than she had been throughout the whole tour, and it was beginning to scare him. But it all made sense once they turned a corner leading to the buses to reveal Joey, JC, Chris and Lance standing there, applauding with bright smiles on their faces. Justin could swear to this day, he'd never been so happy that he cried for hours in his life. He held onto them tightly, mumbling things like "I missed you guys," and things of the sort. Of course, their replies were pretty much the same, along with Chris', "Man. You just saw us in July!" string of comments. They weren't taken for granted. Christina planted a kiss on Justin's temple, and told him to be at the club by 12:30. They were all going to celebrate another tour well-done, and it was plain to see that Christina had been the mastermind behind getting the rest of *NSYNC to come along. Justin didn't mind it one bit. And instead of going on the bus, the five scattered into the limo that they came in, minus Justin, and were off. The radio was blasting on some station playing "today's greatest hits!" while Joey and Chris began to fight over who should make the toast, and Lance was trying to pull the expensive bottle of wine away from them when it happened. Justin and JC were sitting beside each other, watching the disaster unfold when JC suddenly nudged his friend's shoulder, gently. Justin turned his head to face him, perplexed. "Wha?" "Oh that's nice," JC chuckled, "I wanted to say congrats. You kicked major ass lately, Justin. You proved everybody wrong, including me." "Huh?" Justin wasn't sure he understood this right. "What do you mean, including you?" JC leaned back against the leather seat. "I didn't think I'd make it to this moment to finally be reunited with you. I thought I would have gone stir-crazy by then. It's been lonely without you, Just." "I know. I felt -- I FEEL the same," Justin mumbled, leaning over to rest his head on JC's shoulder as he had affectionatly done so repeatedly in the past. "Everytime I'd turn around, expecting to see you singing with that powerful voice of yours, you weren't there. You weren't there. I was alone. And I didn't like it." "Neither did I." Their conversation took a short pause before Justin's eyes suddenly narrowed in determination. He heard a familiar beat coming from the speakers, and prayed no one else heard it yet. He had to move fast. He moved his head and then his body so he was sitting indian style on the seat. He then instructed JC to do the same, which he did. Justin then reached out, placing his hands on JC's shoulders, and leaned in, eyes twinkling with mischief. He had no idea that Joey and Chris stopped fighting, and that they, along with Lance, were watching intently. "Saaaay sweet thang.. You know I couldn't help but notice you lookin' all good over here.. I was wonderin', do you wanna--" As Justin said this, JC felt his face go bright red, and his eyes went wide. But, two could play at this game. Before Justin could continue, he leaned in and pressed his lips over Justin's rapidly, not expecting such a rapid reaction. Justin wrapped his arms around JC's waist, immediatly kissing back with all the force and passion he could, either ignoring or just not hearing his three friends screaming "Ooooh I feel love, I feel love!" in the background, along with the music. Justin pulled away for a moment, opening his baby blue eyes for a moment. "You know this isn't just for tonight, right?" "It's cool," JC replied, a bright smile appearing as his face before the kissing resumed. That was three months ago. *** Justin sighed as he grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled on it, tacking it to the fridge. he felt his eyebrow twitch again as he put on his jacket and headed outside after having locked the door. "He'll be home by 7:30.. That's.. not too bad?" he tried reasoning with himself, but shrugged, figuring he could make it up to him later. About fifteen minutes later, both he and Britney were seated at a private table in a five-star restaurant, drinking champagne. "I first off wanted to say I was sorry for not trying to talk to you much." Britney fumbled around with her words. "I missed you. Friend-wise. I know we can never go back to what we had, and maybe it's for the best because the media was making more out of it than it really was, you know? Plus you're... you're just.." "Engaged, Brit. Go ahead. Say you can't handle it." Justin took a large sip of his champagne. "No, no, it's just so unbelieveable. This has been a terrific year for you.. It's just.. It's just so damn easy being Justin Timberlake. Snap of the fingers and what he wants, when he wants, how he wants it. You're just the new pop king waiting to be served by the thousands that will go under your command, huh?" Justin nearly choked on his drink. He looked up, a look mixed of anger and confusion on his face. "What the hell? What the shit is that, Brit?" "I'm being serious! I'm not trying to degrade you or anything." "If this isn't supposed to offend me, I'm scared of what it is you say when you DO want to offend me," he scoffed. The waiter returned with another bottle of champagne, and began to fill the glasses. he raised an eyebrow as he overheard the conversation. Britney sighed. "What I mean is.. You're just so talented. So gifted. You have everything, Justin. Good family, good friends, good lover, good home.." "Your point? You've got all that shit too." "You just don't get it." "You just think that being me is like a walk through a park, huh? Why? Jealous?" "Damnit! Fine. i'm jealous. Are you happy?" "There's nothing to be jealous of. I've got what any other person can get, it's not rocket science. And it's not all 'easy' to be me, either, mind you. You wouldn't last a day." "Then what are you saying?" "I saw that Fabulous Life shit they had over the summer. $30,000 on a dog, Brit? I swear, Chris got Busta for free and he was happier than you are! You're just picky and money-driven." "That's such a lie." The waiter, pulled a small, plastic bag out of his pocket, and poured some of its contents into the glasses, unnoticed. Justin just laughed, taking a large gulp of the champagne to calm himself down. "Is this why you brought me here? To bitch me out at how I'm spoiled or whatever?" "No." Britney did the same with her glass. "Yes. I don't know." "Brit. You're Britney Spears. Britney Spears. Now shut the hell up and eat your food." "I miss you sometimes, Just. Sometimes I wonder what'd it be like through your eyes." "You wouldn't wanna see through my eyes," Justin smirked wickedly then. "What's being seen is for my eyes only." "Oh God, I don't want to know. Maybe I AM happy being me." "Damn, it's about time." The waiter walked away, placing the small bag back into his pocket. "The truth always lies on the reverse of what is said." *** 7:31am. JC rolled over in his bed, still rather sleepy. Enough not to want to wake up for another five hours. he stretched his arms out a bit, and was surprised to feel a body beside him. He didn't remember Justin coming home. Well, that's because he zonked out at 8 when he got home. He sighed, forcing his eyes to open halfway to double check that he wasn't losing his mind. Yup. It was Justin. He looked a little weird though. Seemingly uncomfortable. 'Well,' he thought, 'there's one way to fix that.' He inched closer to the sleeping body, placing a trail of sweet kisses from Justin's collarbone, up his neck and across his face before finally reaching his lips. After a moment, JC pulled away and moved his head back to the pillow, closing his eyes. Justin's eyes fluttered open and closed, smiling a little even though he was still rather drowsy. He rolled over, and placed a hand on the body beside him, pulling it closer. "I love it when you wake me up like that, Wade.." JC's eyes flew open. 'No way.' Justin squirmed around, pulling JC closer to him. "You seem skinner though, Wade.. Are you on a diet?" "Justin Randall Timberlake get the hell out of this bed," JC spat, unable to believe what he was hearing. Justin's eyes flew open as well, at that moment. 'That wasn't Wade. That sounded like--' "OH GOD!" The sudden outburst caused JC to fall over, off of the bed in complete and utter shock. Justin sat up, touching his body randomly, and his eyes widened even more, even if they couldn't. "OH GOD. OH GOD. I HAVE A PENIS. OH GOD, I CHEATED ON WADE WITH JC! JC!! Oh my God, Justin's gonna-- OH MY GOD I AM JUSTIN." JC blinked. His eyebrow raised in confusion. His sleepy eyes moved toward the alarm clock, squinting as he tried to read it. "7:45am. I have OFFICIALLY lost my mind."