Joey didn't think he had ever been more uncomfortable during a meal in his life. The group was sitting at their table eating their lunch. Justin and JC were sitting as far away from each other as possible, Chris was sitting next to Justin, Joey had left the middle seat open for Lance, who hadn't shown up, and was sitting next to JC.
"So...nice day outside," Joey said trying to start a simple conversation, and JC was reminded of the night before when Lance had commented on the rain, babbling because he was so nervous. JC sighed. Why couldn't Justin just accept that he and Lance were meant to be together?
Everyone picked at their food, no one really in the mood to eat.
"Where's Lance?" Chris asked, breaking the tension-filled silence.
"I don't know," Justin and JC answered simultaneously, glaring at each other afterwards.
"I'm right here," Lance said as he approached the table and sat down next to Chris and Joey. "Sorry I'm late, I had to get the details of our schedule for the next couple of weeks," Lance explained.
"It's okay," Justin said, just as JC said, "It's fine."
"So, what is our schedule Lance?" Joey asked, hoping to avoid another argument.
"We have a couple interviews, MTV wants us to make an appearance on TRL, and they want Justin and JC to go be judges for Say What! Karaoke with Britney, to attract audiences or something, but I told them that might not work out because of some photo shoots and the tour, but it's up to Justin and JC. And tomorrow we have to..." JC looked over at Justin as Lance kept talking, and he saw that the young singer's eyes never left Lance.
"Stop groping him with your eyes," JC hissed at Justin.
"Oh my God JC, I'm not groping him with my eyes! I'm listening to what he's saying because as a group, it good that we *all* know where we're going and what we're doing," Justin said sarcastically.
"That's for that helpful tip, Justin. Next time I'm not sure whether the photo shoot is at 6:59 or 7:00, I'll be sure to give you a call," JC spit out.
"You're a real dick, did you know that?" Justin asked angrily.
"Yeah, it takes one to know one," JC said.
"Oh, real clever. Where'd you pick that one up, the first grade?" Justin retorted.
Lance sighed and left the table without saying anything.
"We have a real problem here, and you guys better settle this, because you're not only making your lives and mine and Joey's lives Hell, think about what you're doing to Lance. I'm sure he loves the position you've put him in," Chris said, getting up and leaving the table.
"Come on you guys. You two have been best friends since before any of the rest of us knew you. Do you think Lance will come between that? You know what he's going to do? He's going to tell himself that NSync needs you two because you sing lead and all the girls drool all over you, and he's going to say that he's expendable, that you can find another guy to "sing the chorus" with a low voice, because he's Lance. But it's not just the voices that make NSync. And if this doesn't get resolved, Lance is going to leave the group because he'll think it'll be for the best, that he'll be saving your friendship. And that's more important to Lance than his own feelings. So before he can start thinking like that, you need to fix this," Joey said, putting his napkin on the table, getting up, and leaving.
"He's right," Justin said. JC nodded.
"I'm not apologizing to you, because I meant the things I said, but I will act civil to you because you are one of my best friends, and I don't want to lose you as my friend. Although things are never going to be the same between us, because we love the same guy, and whatever happens, someone's going to get hurt. I'll be civil if you will, and I'll let Lance make up his own mind," Justin told JC.
"Okay. And since most of what you said is pretty much what I agree to, I wont fight with you anymore. And you're right, we let Lance choose."
"So now what?" Justin asked.
"We wait for his choice."
*
Lance had a bag open on his bed, and he was going through all the drawers of the dresser and the tables and nightstands and the bathroom, making sure he had all of his things.
The note he had left for the guys was sitting on one of the pillows of his bed. After checking once more to make sure he had all of his things, he zipped up his bag and was just about to walk out of the door when JC walked in.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm leaving," Lance said, hoping JC would just let him go, knowing he wouldn't.
"Look Lance, Justin and I have already agreed that we won't fight anymore, and we're still going to try and be friends. And we're not going to pressure you. It's your choice, and whatever you decide, we're going to accept it."
"Yeah, no pressure there," Lance said with a tired smile. JC laughed and then looked at Lance seriously. "You can't leave. Joey said it perfectly downstairs, it isn't just the voices that make NSync. We need you because you're so wonderful and we all love you. Besides, we'd be out one hell of a business guy if you left," JC said with a lopsided grin.
Lance laughed softly. "Okay, I'll stay, because I love you guys, and leaving would've killed me."
"And it means the world that you would've gone anyway to save my friendship with Justin, and spare everyone's feelings, but the truth is Lance, I think Justin and I would've just blamed each other and gotten even more angry if you left."
Lance nodded and threw away the note that was on his pillow. JC waited for Lance to say something, and when he didn't, JC turned and was almost at the door when Lance spoke up.
"Everything I said last night, I meant. And I still mean it now, I just need some time to get everything straightened out."
"I'll wait for you," JC said.
"It could be a long wait," Lance said with that tired smile.
"For you, I'll wait forever."
Lance watched JC turn and leave the room. As soon as he heard the click of the door, he fell down onto the bed and wondered how his life could go from happy to miserable in a matter of seconds?
And JC's words kept echoing in his head.
"For you, I'll wait forever..."
*
