overtired: experimenting
by Marg

	"Haven't you ever... just wondered?"
	Lance stared at Justin incredulously. He was slightly awed at what their late night conversation had evolved into. Long, late bus rides did tend to produce bizarre talks but this was out of the ordinary. He sighed and shook his head. "No, I can't say I have..." 
	"Oh, come on... You've had to," Justin insisted as his eyes flashed over to look into the other room on the bus. That's where the other three members of their group were watching a movie in dimmed lighting. Every now and then laughter would erupt from the room. Lance and Justin both had no interest in watching a movie. They resorted to talking instead, as they often did on tour. So sitting across from one another at a booth on the bus, they shared secrets in hushed voices. Particularly hushed now that their conversation had grown to a different topic. Justin glances to the other room indicated his desire to remain secretive.
	Lance couldn't even believe what topic they reached. He had to admit he was slightly uncomfortable with it, but he didn't want to push Justin away just yet. "Just, no, I haven't. That's... That's just kinda weird..."
	He immediately regretted his choice of words when his friend's thoughtful look morphed into a worried expression. He couldn't tell whether Justin looked offended or close to tears.
	"I don't mean you. You're not weird," Lance jumped back in quickly, trying to amend his words.
	"Yeah, you did. I don't blame you. Because I am..." Justin suddenly sniffled. "It's just... I've been thinking lately..." He reached up to brush his hand against his cheek to wipe away a couple stray tears. "And maybe it is weird, but--"
	"No, Curly... I see where you're coming from," Lance assured. "I've just never... never really thought about anything like that before... But you know..." He fought for something to say and licked his lips. "You're so much mature in that aspect."
	Lance had no clue what he meant by that, but he hoped it worked.
	A small smile spread across Justin's lips as he beamed from the compliment. It did little to hide his uncertainty however. "I... I was reading this magazine..." he began, glancing back towards the room behind him again. Lance had a clear view in front of him and knew Joey, Chris, and JC would be in there for a while. The movie had just started twenty minutes ago. Justin was not so at ease however. "And a couple articles made a lot of sense... You know?" 
	Justin was so young and impressionable-- What the hell had he been reading? Lance thought with a frown. He was young too; he knew a couple years didn't make him that much wiser. He had to admit he wasn't too much better himself. His own curiosity was piqued by the conversation, and he had to check his friends' behavior a little more from now on. 
	"What magazine?" Lance asked. "What the heck have you been reading, Curly?"
	"Nothing that bad!" Justin swore, blushing slightly crimson. "I didn't even buy it. Remember when we all went for the check-ups at the doctor's before we went on this tour overseas? Well... I was bored in the waiting room so I just was reading all these medical magazines. And this one was really interesting..."
	"So now you think JC, Joey, and Chris are gay?" 
	"Lance!" Justin snapped as he quickly turned in his seat and made sure none of the guys were in sight. "Lance, don't say it so loud. I didn't say they were."
	"But you think so..."
	"I... I..." Justin hesitated and his eyes showed his sensitivity to the subject. "I don't know. Not all of them obviously. I'm just curious. I shouldn't have mentioned it..."
	"No, it's interesting," Lance agreed. He set his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. "Nothing to freak out about..." But internally Lance was freaking out. He couldn't believe he was having this conversation. He'd thought about this kind of stuff before, even questioned himself, but never thought like this... 
	"I just wanna talk to only you about it," Justin replied softly. "I don't think it's a good family conversation to have, you know? So don't talk so loud."
	"Well, if you're curious... They have a lot more experience than either of us do, Just..."
	Justin's eyes widened. "But what if they are? And they don't want us to know?"
	"Justin, we all know each other quite well."
	"We think we do. They don't know we're having this conversation though, do they?" 
	"Well, then what do you want to do? I definitely can't tell you anything," Lance replied. He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Except for that I don't know."
	"I just wanted to... watch them more closely I guess..." Justin shrugged.
	"Well... Okay. But, Just, why? Why do you really think they are? And how would that change anything?"
	"Not all of them would be. Not according to statistics."
	"Still..." 
	Justin shifted, chewing on his lip anxiously. He looked so confused. "Well, this article said something like one out of every five guys is... so I figured... we're five random guys so one of us... so I was thinking..."
	"That would be twenty percent of the population."
	"I don't know. Maybe it was one out of ten?"
	"Maybe it's you, Justin," Lance teased.
	Justin's mouth dropped open. "You think?" he whispered. He was about to start up again when Lance made a cut off signal and nodded to behind him. Justin glanced back and saw JC walking through into where they were.
	"Hey, guys..." JC greeted, still chuckling over something from the movie. He smiled at them briefly as he went over to a bottle of soda on the counter and reached up to the cabinets to grab a few glasses. His hand paused and then grabbed a bag of goldfish crackers to. He turned around.
	"Justin, you guys, wanna finish these? They're gonna go bad if you don't eat them..." He walked over and set the bag in front of them. "Ya'll want something to drink too?" He grabbed a couple more cups.
	Justin sent Lance a look and mouthed something. Lance frowned and wondered how Justin expected him to read lips. He whispered, "Tell me later."
	JC set the glasses down in front of them and opened the bottle of soda. Before he poured, he put it down and reached over to run a hand across Justin's cheek. "What's the matter? You look upset."
	"Uh, no. I'm not." Justin shook his head quickly and glanced at Lance with widened eyes. 
	"You sure?" JC frowned and tilted the boy's chin up with his fingers. He scrutinized him closely and then looked at Lance. "What are you guys talking about?" His hands went back to the soda bottle. 
	"Basketball," Justin replied. 
	JC looked back at him with a skeptical look. "That's what's got you upset?"
	"I was making fun of his 'mad skills'," Lance added. "That's why. He's getting riled up just because I say he has a funny jump shot."
	"Meanwhile, he ain't got a clue what a jump shot even is," Justin persisted with a fake pout. 
	JC smiled at them and shook his head. "You two..." He poured two glasses of soda and pushed them towards him. Then he began to pour the remaining three.
	"Thanks, JC," Lance said.
	"No, prob," JC replied. "Justin, grab me some ice, will you?" 
	"K," Justin answered as he slid out of the booth and walked over to the mini fridge/freezer on the other side of the room. He grabbed two handfuls of ice and came back. "I touched them."
	"Obviously," JC replied with a laugh. "It doesn't matter. Joey and Chris don't know. Put it in."
	Justin dropped ice in each glass as he said, "I'll carry one in so you don't have to drop any..."
	"OK," JC agreed. "I'll take two, Curls. Thanks."
	As JC went to return the soda bottle to the counter, Justin leaned down to Lance to whisper. "I'm just gonna check out what they're doing..."
	Lance rolled his eyes. Justin was going to become a gay detective now? What did he expect to find them doing? Hm... Watching a movie?
	Damn magazine.
	This whole tour was now going to be this experiment of Justin's...
	But Lance was curious too....
	One of every five? Could that be for real? Even one out of every ten was interesting to consider.
	Justin took the one glass and walked with JC into the lounge area. He studied the darkened room and glanced briefly at the television. What really caught his attention was how Chris and Joey were seated. Joey was sitting lazily in the center of the couch, knees parted slightly as his legs stretched out in front of him. Chris was seated next to him, but at a ninety degree angle with his legs stretched across Joey's lap.
	Justin frowned and stared at them. He never would have though about that before, but...
	He was broken from his reverie when Joey put his hand out. "Here, Curly."
	Justin realized that JC had given Chris a drink and was sitting down with his own on the floor. Justin jerked himself out of his thoughts and stepped forward to hand Joey the soda.
	"Thanks, Just," Joey began.
	Justin felt the man's hand brush his own and faltered, nearly dropping the drink before Joey had a grip. The glass tipped and spilled slightly on the carpet.
	"Sorry..." Justin muttered as he watched JC lean over to feel the carpet. 
	"It'll dry and the carpet's dark, it's nothing..." JC replied. He smirked. "And you wanted to save me from dropping any." He swatted Justin's jean clad leg. "You're swift." 
	Justin felt himself getting faint. Joey's hand lingering on his... Chris's legs in his lap... JC touching his leg... Could it be? Were they? Three out of five?
	Wow...
	"Justin?" Chris frowned at him.
	Justin cleared his throat and took a step back. "Um, Lance is calling me... Have fun watching the movie..."
	The three watched him leave silently, ignoring the movie for a moment.
	"He seem a little skittish tonight?" Joey frowned.
	JC shrugged. "He wasn't before. Must be overtired. Lance seemed a little bit too."
	Justin had rushed back into the other room and slid back hastily into the booth, staring at Lance. "Oh. My. God. They are!"
	"What?" Lance's hand was mid-reach into the goldfish bag. He withdrew it and pushed several into his mouth, chewing for a few seconds. "Why do you say that?" 
	Justin was flushed, slightly nervous and scared, yet pure curiosity overrode this. "Well, did you see JC? This magazine said that a sign is when guys are more in tune with their emotions and take on some other responsibilities like how JC was taking care of the food and getting the stuff ready for the guys? And how he went like this to me." Justin reached out to brush Lance's cheek.
	Lance narrowed his eyes. "Big deal, Justin. He always babies you and he always takes care of everything. You shouldn't double think that because of a stupid magazine. He's babied you since you were fourteen." 
	"And Joey brushed his hand against mine for minute when he took his soda from me. And Chris had his legs in his lap and was nearly laying on top of him... I think we're all gay, Lance. Maybe it's true what they say about boybands."
	Lance began laughing, doubling over hysterically while Justin sat there speechless. He reached for a handful of goldfish as he watched the older boy's hysterics. 
	"Lance, it's kinda serious..." Justin objected. 
	"Five out of five now?"
	"Lance, I'm just thinking about stuff and... Well, I'm remembering you hugging Joey an awful lot and you know me and JC, and you know how Chris always tries to prove his masculinity and this magazine said—"
	"Oh, shut up about the magazine!" Lance exclaimed. "You're crazy! You really are... We're not all gay..." 
	Justin felt a burst of anger and suddenly felt courageous. Taking a quick sip of the soda JC had poured, he stood up and went over to grab Lance's arm, dragging him out of the booth.
	"Curly, what?" Lance demanded. He resisted but was forced to stand. He stumbled towards the other room.
	"Lance and I have a question!" Justin began as he reached the doorway and stared at the three men. 
	Chris reached for a controller and paused the movie.
	"What?" Joey asked.
	Lance stared at Justin. What was he doing? He felt his stomach flip-flop. He laughed a minute ago, but now confrontation? That was serious whether it was a valid suspicion or not. What was Justin doing?
	"Um..." Justin was turning red. He took his hand off Lance's arm and stuck his hands into his pockets sheepishly. Lance watched as he rocked back and forth on his heels. "We were talking and..." 
	"Uh-huh?" JC asked.
	"Well, do you guys have any big secrets that you've been keeping from us or the group?" Justin continued slowly.
	Joey chuckled. "What?" 
	"We won't hold it against you," Justin persisted. "I just think we figured something out and—"
	"You figured it out," Lance corrected. "Stop saying we."
	"No, you helped!" Justin objected. He glanced towards the TV. "What are you guys watching?"
	"The Birdcage," Chris answered. "You know, Robin Williams."
	Justin's mouth dropped open and he felt his voice disappear. 
	"What is it?" JC asked. "Just say it so we can press play. We're halfway through" 
	Lance elbowed Justin. "Ask them. You're so curious." He wasn't embarrassed anymore. It was mostly Justin looking like a complete fool.
	Justin's mouth was still open.
	Lance pushed Justin. "Curly wants to know if you're all..." he began. "Come on, Curly. Ask them."
	"If we're what?" Chris crossed his arms. 
	Justin scratched his head.
	Lance rolled his eyes and leaned against the doorway. "Basically, Justin read a trashy magazine and he wanted to know if you're all--"
	"Lance!" Justin hissed and elbowed him in the gut, successfully cutting him off. Lance groaned.
	JC grew concerned. "Justin... What'd you read? Where?" He glared over at Chris.
	"What?" Chris exclaimed as he held up his hands in a surrendering gesture. "Why you looking at me? Why does that make you look at me?" 
	The four stared at him. 
	"What?" Lance asked.
	Chris colored. "Whatever."
	"What'd you read, Justin?" Joey demanded.
	"The Bible," Justin answered. "It was long but I liked it." He started to walk away. "So nevermind."
	"Justin, come here..." JC leaned forward and grabbed his leg. "Get down. Tell me now what Lance is talking about."
	Justin sighed and crouched down where JC pulled him. "JC... Lance is exaggerating." 
	JC studied him and then looked up. "Lance, what is it?"
	"He just had a question." Lance shrugged. "You dragged me in here, Justin. Tell them what you've decided they are. You've been dramatizing over it."
	Joey frowned. "What does this have to do with?"
	"Sexu—"
	"Stop!" Justin yelled.
	"Sex?" JC exclaimed. His eyes demanded. "What?"
	Joey began laughing. "JC, tell them about the birds and the bees, man…"
	"Or the bees and the bees," Lance muttered. 
	"What?" Chris asked, hearing. "What do you mean? You think we're…" He slid his legs off Joey and sat up abruptly.
	"We're what?" Joey asked. He glanced over at Chris. "What?"
	"They think we're gay," Chris answered. "Is that it? Oh come on."
	"Who's gay?" Joey asked.
	Justin scrambled up off the floor and grabbed Lance. The both of them nearly tripped over each other as they darted from the room and ran toward the bunk area. 
	There was a moment of silence in the lounge.
	"Okay…" Joey looked for a moment at JC, then Chris. "Weird?"
	JC just shrugged. "What can I say…? They're overtired."
	Chris pressed play and put his legs back up on Joey's lap. "Whatever."
	"Maybe one of them is gay," Joey replied.
	Chris paused the movie again and looked thoughtful. "Hm..."
	JC laughed. "Here we go..."
	Chris shook his head and turned the movie back on. "That's for another time."

Finis