Returning to the hotel, JC and Justin spied Chris sitting in the small bar off the lobby. Braving the haze of smoke and the eagle eyes bartender, they entered the bar and approached their band mate. “What ‘ya drinking?” Justin asked, trying to snag Chris’ drink from him. Chris gave him a withering look. “Your mom was looking for you earlier, and I lied for you, saying you were asleep.” He took a sip of his drink, turning to JC. “I hate lying.” JC caught Justin’s eye, shaking his head. “Go to bed, Just,” he told the boy. Justin gave him a puzzled look, but obeyed, leaving the bar and Chris and JC alone. “What’s up?” JC asked when they were alone. Chris signaled to the bartender for another drink and ignored JC. “This is really good booze,” he said, sipping his vodka slowly. “Did you know Sweden produced vodka? I didn’t. Until tonight.” “And you’re what…trying to drink it all tonight?” JC asked, sitting on the stool next to Chris. “I don’t think there’s enough vodka in the world to make me forget what I saw tonight,” he said simply. “Nope. Not enough vodka in the world.” JC chuckled. “Did Joey drag you to some weird sex show? An S&M whorehouse, perhaps?” He signaled for his own drink, taking a sip of the cool fluid. Chris lifted his drink, looking at the lights of the bar through the clear liquid. “How long have you and Justin been fucking?” JC choked on his drink, spewing coke and Jack all over the bar. He felt all the other bar patrons staring at him as he picked up a napkin, holding it against his mouth as he continued to cough. Chris leaned over and slapped him hard on the back…a bit too hard, he thought, glaring at the older man though teary eyes. He was still choking as Chris left his stool, picking up both his and JC’s drink and walking over to an empty booth. JC followed slowly. He slid into the booth, took a sip of his drink, and stared Chris down. “We’re not fucking,” he said simply. “Not fucking?” Chris said. “Okay…if not, what is it? Dating? Going steady?” JC ran a hand around his neck, trying to relieve the sudden tension he felt there. “It’s… complicated,” JC finally said. “No, no,” Chris said, shaking his head. “You don’t get to answer with ‘it’s complicated,’ you have to explain. How long has this gone on? Does his mom know? When were you planning on telling us? Does Lou know?” “For about a long time. No. Soon. And hell no.” “Jesus, JC…he’s fifteen!” Chris downed the rest of his drink. “I mean, he’s an old fifteen, but still.” “Don’t you think I know that?” JC’s voice was tense with emotion. “Don’t you think I feel like a freak for loving him? But I can’t help it. I can’t. I’ve loved him since I was seventeen, Chris. He’s…he’s a part of me.” “Dude, you know what this could do to us, right?” Chris shook his head. “The two heartthrobs of our group not only gay but involved?” “Which is why we’re not going public,” JC told him. “You know what this group means to me, man,” Chris continued, not hearing JC’s words. “I need this group. I need the money. My mom works at fucking Wal-Mart man. She’s supporting four people on her salary. I have to have this.” “Chris, we’re not going public,” JC told him again. “And the others…Joey was fucking Wolfman, dude.” He signaled for another drink. “I mean, he can’t go back to that. And Lance! Lance got out of Mississippi due to the group. He can’t lose it, either.” “Chris!” JC grabbed Chris hand to get his attention. “We’re not going public.” “Then I’d suggest you stop making out on boats, man,” Chris told him. *** “Wow.” Justin eyed JC across the table. “Yeah, it was quite the night,” JC said. It was the next morning, and JC had woken Justin up early so they could talk about Chris and what had happened last night. “I’m sorry you had to do that alone, JC,” Justin said, grasping JC’s fingers for a quick squeeze. “No, I understand why Chris did it that way,” JC said. “And I’m sorry they found out that way. I’m the adult, I should know better than to kiss you in public.” Justin tensed at JC’s words. He hated…he fucking HATED when JC did that. “I was on that boat, too,” he reminded JC softly. “I know you were,” JC said. “But--” “But nothing.” Justin’s voice was tight. “Don’t beat yourself up over this. This is not your fault. I’m a part of this relationship, too.” “I should know better,” JC repeated. “No. It’s no one’s fault.” Justin paused as the waitress refilled JC’s coffee cup. “We’re in this together, JC. There is no blame to be had. We’re in love, and if they can’t deal with it, well, then they can’t." “And how is the happy couple this morning?” Joey’s voice boomed as he slid into the booth next to Justin. Lance and Chris were there as well, pulling up chairs to make the rest of the table. Justin felt Joey’s arm pull him toward the other man. “Give us a kiss, sweet thing,” he teased, making kissing noises and aiming for Justin’s mouth. Justin shoved Joey away. “Get off me, you retard,” he said, laughing. “Just let me say,” Joey continued, grabbing JC’s uneaten breakfast and stuffing scrambled eggs into his mouth. “You two are really cute together, but if you fuck this up for all of us, I will make you pay.” Despite himself, JC laughed. “Don’t worry, Joe,” he said, grabbing his food back. “We’ll be careful from now on.” “Good,” Lance said quietly. Lance was still somewhat of an unknown factor in the group, having come in late. JC and Justin exchanged a look. “Does it bother any of you?” JC asked. “Besides the group ramifications, I mean. Does the gay part bother you?” Three head shook in denial. “No, not at all,” Chris said. “We talked about it this morning, and though this one is a bit young--” “Jailbait,” Joey coughed. “We figure who you love is your business.” Chris looked over their heads, eyes narrowing. “But what I said last night is the truth. I hate lying. So you’d better tell Lynn, and tell her soon.” “Tell me what?” Lynn asked, coming to join their table. Joey rose and let Lynn take his place next to Justin, snagging another chair and sitting across with Chris and Lance. “Gee, Mom, how are you feeling?” Justin hedged, eyes wide with fright. “I’m fine, and don’t change the subject.” She looked at all the boys individually, her gaze lingering so long on JC that he blushed a bright pink. “Oh, you’re finally going to tell me about you and JC, is that it?” Five pairs of eyes widened in shock. “Mom,” Justin whispered. “What, you think I didn’t know?” She smiled at them. “Justin, remember when JC came to us from LA? Remember what I said then?” Justin searched his memory. “You said to watch my heart,” he recalled. Lynn nodded. “I knew then, sweetie. It was actually hard not to see it. The way you looked at JC, and followed him, and the long distance phone calls to Maryland then Nashville. I thought I’d go broke!” “Lynn, if you knew--” JC started. “Why didn’t I say anything?” JC nodded. “Because it wasn’t up to me to say anything. Believe it or not, JC, I trusted you. I still trust you. I know you won’t take advantage of Justin, or hurt him, or even, well, sleep with him,” now it was Justin’s turn to blush, “until he’s legal, right?” JC nodded again. “But…how did you know?” She smiled. “The way you looked at Justin was the same as he looked at you. Your love for him was pretty evident, JC. Hard to miss.” “We missed it,” Chris said, grumpily. “Well, you’re just not smart,” Lynn teased. Chris raised a haughty brow. “I’m a Community College Graduate, I’ll have you know.” Chris ducked as they all threw toast at him. *** “So, Dennis said we didn’t need to come back,” JC said, “until it was time to record the album.” Lou nodded his head. “Okay, that’s fine.” The boys started to file out of the hotel room cum office, when Lou’s voice halted them. “JC, could you stay a minute?” JC nodded, walking back and sitting in front of the desk Lou was seated behind. “What’s up?” he asked. Lou took a deep breath that shook his many chins. “You’re fired