Part 3


At Lou’s words, JC stopped breathing. His skin got cold and clammy, and his heart beat so hard, he thought it might burst from him chest.

“See how easy it would be?” Lou continued, smiling slightly. “Just two words, and you’re out.”

“I don’t…what…” The words stuck in JC’s throat, and he swallowed, trying to catch his breath and not throw up.

“If you don’t end it,” Lou said, leaning toward JC, his pudgy hands resting on his desk, “I’ll kick you out of the group. Boys like you are a dime a dozen, JC.”

“End what?” JC asked, though he knew what Lou was talking about.

“Do I look stupid?” Lou leaned back, cocking his head a bit as he looked at JC. “I’ll admit, I hoped it wasn’t true. But looking at you now, and at Justin, yes. I can see it.” Another sly smile. “He is a pretty one, isn’t he?”

JC’s heart beat faster. “Stay away from Justin.”

Lou waved a hand. “Oh, relax, I’m not going after him. But aren’t you protective. I wonder how protective.”

No, he wouldn’t, JC thought.

“Perhaps I’m taking the wrong path in dealing with this,” Lou pondered. “Okay. Here’s my new proposition. End it now, or Justin’s out of the group.”

He would, JC realized.

“You wouldn’t do that,” JC argued. “You need Justin.”

Lou shrugged. “He’s talented, but he’s not irreplaceable. None of them are.” He leaned back in his chair, the wood and leather squealing under protest. “Perhaps I should have you choose which one I should fire? How about Chris? Think he’d like to go back to Florida? Or Joey? Or Lance? I’m sure the Home Depot in Jackson is just dying to get him on their payroll.” He gave JC a hard stare. “So, it’s up to you. Either end it with Justin, or one of them gets fired.” Lou picked up his phone, indicating the meeting was over.

JC numbly left the office, walking blindly down the hall to his and Chris’ room. He twisted open the door, fumbling with the lock and once inside, rushing into the bathroom and retching uncontrollably.

***

“Hey, JC?” Justin’s voice sounded from the room. “You okay?”

JC slammed the bathroom door shut before Justin could see him. “I’m kind of sick, Justin. Go away.” He pressed his food against the door, knowing Justin would try to open it anyway. Sure enough, the knob jiggled and the door moved a bit.

“C?” Justin called, jiggling the door again. “Want me to get my mom?”

“No, Justin. Just…I’m okay. Just have a stomachache. Go on.”

“I’m getting my mom,” he said.

JC sighed, knowing that he really would. He pulled himself off the floor, holding onto the sink for support. Another wave of sickness went through him, but he fought it off. Turning on the taps, he splashed cold water on his face, then rinse his mouth out before looking in the mirror.

He had to do it. He had to break it off with Justin. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t be responsible for ending someone’s dream. And he knew Lou would do it, too. There had been absolute certainty in his eyes. Lou wouldn’t think twice about it.

JC swallowed down more nausea. Not to mention what he said about Justin.

A knock came on the door. “JC, honey, are you okay?” Lynn’s voice called through the wood.

JC knew what he had to do. And he’d start doing it now. He walked and slowly opened the door, spying a concerned Lynn and right behind her, as JC knew he would be, Justin. JC took a deep breath and prayed he could do this without hurling. “I’m fine,” he said, moving into the room and sitting on the bed. “I told you I was fine, Justin. No need to run for Mommy.” His voice was harsh and hard, making mother and son both look at him askance.

“I’m sorry,” Justin murmured, turning pink and leaving the room.

“You really must be ill,” Lynn said, placing a hand on JC forehead.

He shook off her touch. “No, just irritated by immaturity.” He laid down on the bed and closed his eyes. “Please keep him away from me for a while, okay? I can’t deal with pouting and whining right now.”

JC didn’t see that Justin had reentered the room and had heard that. He didn’t see Justin’s eyes widen with shock and pain. The boy turned redder and strode to the bed, his breathing fast and hard. “Don’t worry, JC. I’ll be sure and leave you alone all you want.”

“Good,” JC murmured loud enough for Justin to hear and pulling the covers over his head. That way, Justin couldn’t watch the tears stream down JC’s face, or his heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

***

“So, when are you going to pull your head out of your ass and get back together with Justin?”

JC continued to stare out the window, watching the blur of land and water pass below. They were on their way to Germany, to perform, to give interviews, to record more, to become, as everyone expected, a successful performing group. Everyone was excited by the plans they had lined out.

Everyone but JC and Justin. Both were miserable, and both for the same reason—because their relationship was over. But only JC knew why. Justin had tried to talk to JC. He’d yelled at JC. He’d sent each of the other boys to find out what had happened. And yes, he’d even asked Lynn to intervene.

So far, JC wasn’t talking. At least, not what anyone wanted to hear. All JC said was that he’d had a change of heart. Period. End of discussion. He’d explain no further, no matter what Justin did or said or how he cajoled or begged. And usually, each episode of Justin trying to find out ended in tears for Justin, for JC, despite his gentle exterior and kind disposition, could be cruel.

“Go away, Chris,” JC said dismissively.

Chris looked around the small airplane. “Exactly where am I supposed to go?” He held up a hand. “No, don’t answer that. But just answer this. How can you go from ‘he’s a part of me, Chris’ to ‘you’re way too young, get away from me, kid,’ in a matter of hours?”

“None of your business.”

Chris raised a brow. “Oh, I beg to differ, my friend,” he argued. “Anything that has to do with this group is my business. And the way you two are acting is affecting the group.” Chris grabbed JC’s chin, turning his face away from the window. “Look at him, JC. Look at him, and tell me what you did was the right thing.”

JC did look at Justin, and fought to hide the want in his eyes. He pulled his chin out of Chris’ hand and glared at the older man. “Maybe I just didn’t want to be tied down?” he suggested. “Maybe I want to be more like Joey?” He nodded toward their band mate, who was in deep discussion with a pretty flight attendant.

“Is that why you jerk off in the shower every night?” Chris asked. “Is that your idea of freedom?” Chris laughed at JC look of surprise. “We share a room, JC. I can hear you in there. I can hear everything.

JC once again looked out the window, dismissing Chris all together.

***

“I WANT YOU-----BACK!”

The applause was deafening. Somehow, their single, without any publicity or press or support, had become one of the biggest hits in Germany. The boys had been bombarded with requests for interviews from radio, television, and magazines. The next week in Germany was a whirlwind of activity, so much so that neither JC nor Justin had time to think about much of anything besides answering questions, performing their song, and traveling to the next location.

The five of them tumbled off the stage and into the van, heading back to their hotel. For the first time in a week, they actually got to spend more than one night in a city, and were looking forward to having a bit of down time.

“We’re going to hit the bright spots of this town, right?” Joey asked, looking at the other four Nsyncers hopefully. “Right?”

Lance looked out the window as they drove from the venue. “Are there any bright spots in this town?” he asked.

“Wherever they are,” Chris said, pulling Justin to him and giving him a noogie. “We’ll find them.”

“Even me?” Justin asked, wide eyed.

“Even you, infant,” Chris agreed. “Mom’s not here, so it’s time our little one discovered the delights of German hospitality.”

JC opened his mouth to protest, then shut it fast. Chris was looking at JC expectantly, waiting for JC to say something. “You guys have fun,” JC said simply. “I’m going to sleep early for a change.”

An hour later, Chris was ready to go out, and JC was still insisting he was staying in. “Go. Have a good time,” JC said, waving Chris goodbye. “Just, please. Don’t let Justin drink too much.”

“I thought you didn’t care?”

JC glared. “I never said I didn’t care, Chris,” he said. JC moved to his suitcase, pulling clean pajama bottoms out, along with his soap and shampoo. “Now, go.”

Chris’ eyes sparkled. “Have a good time!”

***

“Are we all ready?” Joey asked, fixing Lance’s collar.

“Yeah, but, uh, Justin?” Chris waited until the boy turned toward him. “I think I forgot my wallet in my room, would you go get it for me?” He held out his key to Justin.

“Why can’t you get it yourself?” Justin asked, puzzled.

Chris flopped on the bed. “Because I’m saving my self for a pretty girl. Go.”

Justin shrugged and left the room. As soon as the door shut, Chris laughed hysterically.

“Would you mind letting us in on the joke?” Joey asked.

“I’ll tell you on the way to the club,” Chris said, moving them all out of the room to the elevators.

“Aren’t we going to wait for Justin?” Lance asked.

“He won’t be joining us tonight,” Chris said as the elevator doors closed. “Trust me on this.”

***

Justin looked around the room, hoping to spy Chris’ wallet and leave before JC showed up. He didn’t know where JC was, and frankly, didn’t care. Okay, he did care, but he had to pretend he didn’t. Because JC was being stupid and obstinate and insane, and Justin couldn’t figure out a way to make him stop being those things.

He didn’t see the wallet right off, so he stepped further into the room, heading over to Chris’ bed, flipping through his suitcase. No wallet, he thought. He moved over to the dresser next to the bathroom, the sound of water running finally penetrating his senses. Well, the question of where was JC was answered, Justin thought, looking through the drawers for the wallet. He paused, straining his ears as a new sound reached him. A voice. JC’s voice.

JC’s voice, calling Justin’s name.

Justin’s hand shook as he turned the bathroom doorknob, the smell of soap and water and JC hitting him like a truck. The bathroom was steamy and hot, and Justin could just make out JC behind the translucent shower curtain. He watched as the outline of JC steadied himself against the wall, one long arm bracing and the other…the other was moving rapidly, up and down and up and down and oh, god, he was jerking off. Justin swallowed, his grip on the doorknob tightening as he watched a shadowy JC move his hand quickly on his body.

“I…love…you…Justin…I…love…you.”

Acting on impulse, Justin moved through the small bathroom and grasped the curtain, pulling it back and surprising JC in the hot shower. His arm was still braced on the wall, his hand was still grasping his cock, and as their eyes met, JC came.

They stood there for a long moment, JC’s body still under the shower, his cock still jerking and ejaculating. Justin watched in fascination, his eyes glued to JC’s body, two spots of red staining the boy’s cheeks. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said, letting go of the shower curtain and reaching for JC’s body.

Justin’s actions finally pulled JC out of his trance, and he twisted the water off, reaching for a towel and yelling at Justin. “Get the hell out of here,” he ordered, wrapping the towel around his waist and stepping out of the bath.

Justin shook his head, reaching again for JC, hands making contact with hot, wet boy. “No, you love me. You said so.” Justin’s hands slipped down and tried to take off the towel.

JC moved away quickly. “So what? I was fantasizing, Justin. That’s what people do.”

“About me?”

“Why not?” JC’s eyes flicked up and down Justin. “You’re still hot, even if you are a baby.” JC maneuvered around Justin and left the bathroom.

“It’s not going to work anymore, you know,” Justin said, trailing behind JC and sitting down on the nearest bed. “I know the truth now.”

“Believe me, Justin,” JC said, tightening the towel as his erection started to grow again at the sight of Justin on his bed. “You have no idea about the truth.”

“I know you love me.”

JC didn’t answer, merely walked to the door and opened it. “Get out,” he ordered.

Justin approached JC slowly, reaching up and slamming the door shut before attaching his mouth to JC’s. Caught off guard, JC melted into the kiss, opening up for Justin’s searching tongue, his own diving deep into Justin’s mouth. Justin pushed JC against the door, pressing his body against JC’s. Slowly, Justin’s hips moved into JC’s, rubbing JC’s renewed hardness with his own. Justin’s hand slid inside the towel, reaching and finding JC’s cock, making the older man groan.

Justin’s mouth separated from JC’s, moving along his jaw line to his ear. “I love you, too,” Justin said, biting down none-too-gently on JC’s earlobe.

JC shuddered at the action, hips moving involuntarily, breath becoming rapid. He hooked a leg around Justin’s hip and ground his cock into Justin’s hand, humping harder and harder until finally, he came again, moaning Justin’s name.

Justin held JC up as he slumped against him, smiling and kissing his hair. “I’m glad it’s over, whatever it was, and we can be together again,” Justin said softly.

JC’s head shot up, his eyes wide. “We can’t,” he said simply, tearing himself away from Justin and pulling the door open again. “Get out.”

“No, I need to know…”

“Get out. Now. Before it’s too late.”

Justin watched as JC looked out the door, scanning the hallway right, then left. His eyes were wild, his face a mask of fear. “What’s going on? Before what’s too late?” Justin insisted.

“Get out!” JC pushed Justin out the room. “Don’t come here again. He’ll see. Stay away.”

Before Justin could respond, JC slammed the door in his face, throwing the dead bolt home.

What did he say? Justin thought. He’ll see? Who’s ‘he?’ Justin pondered the question as he walked back to his own room. He was shutting the door when he heard voices coming from the elevator, and through a crack, watched as Lou and his assistant exited the elevator and walked down the hall to the office in one of the rooms. Justin saw Lou stop at JC’s room, lifted a hand, and knocked.

“What is it?” JC asked as he opened the door.

“Just wanted to check up on you,” he said, peering past JC into the room.

“I’m alone, Lou,” JC said simply before closing the door.

“Keep it that way,” Lou said loudly as he walked away.

Justin shut his door with a quiet click.



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