Yeah, Right...
Chapter 2: Spice Girls
Lance was cleaning his room, under strict orders from his mother. The Chasez’ were going to be arriving within the next three hours and she wanted the house to be spotless when they got here. Lance sighed as he went through his desk and underneath his mattress, removing all evidence of his sexuality that was hidden to an occasional visitor, but might be easily stumbled upon by someone who was going to be living in the room. He had found copies of “XY” and “The Advocate” and placed them in the bottom of a cardboard box, along with videos of Get Real, Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss, Trick, and The Broken Hearts Club and also packed them in the box. He decided he didn't want to take any chances, so he also packed his Divine M and Spice Girls CDs away, not to mention magazine clippings of Jude Law and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. He really had no idea how his parents didn't know he was gay. I guess that's the power of denial. Lance thought, as he shrugged, placing the box on a shelf in the back of his closet. How appropriate.
Lance heard a soft knocking on his door.
“Come in.” Lance called.
Diane entered. “Wow, its looks good in here, Lance. I had forgotten what your floor looked like.”
“Very funny..” Lance laughed. Then they were both quiet.
“Sooo...” Diane began, “Lance, I know that you're not happy about this whole situation. And you're a teenager, so I can understand why you don't want to share your private space, but sometimes we all have to make sacrifices for other people. You never know, you and Josh...JC, could become real good friends.”
“I’m sure.” Lance retorted.
“ Well, whatever happens, Lance, remember that his parents just went through a divorce and he’s leaving his father behind in Maryland, and that's hard on anybody.”
“I guess..” Lance sighed and pretended to be busy straightening out the crumpled clothes in his dresser.
“OK, good, now don't take too much longer cleaning, you could use a shower before they get here.”
“Mom, I’m 18 not 8.” Lance rolled his eyes.
“I know, I know.” Diane strolled out of his room, leaving Lance to his thoughts.
Yes, I'm sure JC and I will become great friends. Especially since he’s the kind of guy that I usually avoid like the plague.
He finished cleaning his room, making one last grand sweep to make sure all ‘evidence’ was secure in his box. Now, all he could hope was that nobody at school squealed. He didn't think that would be too much of a problem. Nobody really ever talked about it, except Lynn and Bethany and he’d already given them a warning. Of course, who knew what people said behind his back. This is useless. He thought. I might as well start preparing myself for some serious ass kicking now.
Two and a half hours later he was showered and dressed in a pair of loose studded jeans, and a tight orange shirt, his blonde hair spiked. The doorbell rang. He heard his mom welcome them and procrastinated coming out of his room until he heard Diane holler his name. He sucked in a deep breath. This is it. He half walked, half jogged down the hallway and to the front door.
Oh. My. God. Lance was completely frozen, but managed to stick out his hand to JC to greet him. OhmygodOhmygodOhmygod. Why must the gods be sooo cruel. He couldn't be remotely ugly. That would be too perfect. Nope, he’s drop-dead fucking gorgeous. He realized everyone was staring at him, and he took it as his cue to speak.
“Oh..ahem..hi, I’m Lance.” he smiled.
JC smiled back, this amazing, huge grin that spread across his entire face, making his blue eyes sparkle. Now Lance wanted to die.
“Yeah, that's what your mom said.” JC chuckled lightly.
“Right, what she said.” Lance laughed along with him.
The two families worked their way into the living room.
“Soo...” Lance fished for something, anything to say, “Um, I read about you in that letter your mom sent us at Christmas.” DumbDumbDumb.
“Oh, you did? I don't even know what she puts in those things. She likes to brag though, its drives me nuts.” JC groaned.
Lance understood why his mother liked to brag. He was perfect. JC was wearing somewhat loose, worn down jeans, and a black and grey baseball t-shirt, that stretched perfectly across his pecks, and these cute red and blue power beads dangled on his wrist.
“Yeah, moms tend to do that. I like your beads?”
“Oh, thanks, I guess they’re pretty cool. Yeah, my girlfriend, Bobbie, got them for me, like, 3 years ago, I haven't taken them off since, and we’re still dating so I figure they’re good luck.”
“Wow..three years? Sounds like it.” Lance groaned inwardly, “So, what's Bobbie like?”
“Aw, man, she’s great. She is so hot, head cheerleader for the basketball team. She’s smart too, she’s going to Stanford with me in the fall.”
“Wow. Sure sounds great.” He hated Bobbie already.
“So you got a girl?” JC inquired.
Shit. I don't want to sound like a loser. Think fast. “Yup, her names Bethany, she’s great.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah..cool” They’re conversation came to an awkward hault, leave it to Diane to fix that.
“Ohhh, boys, look at what I found!” She exclaimed, pulled out an old photo-album from the bookshelf in the living room. “Look, Karen its Lance and JC, when they were babies!”
“Oh, weren't they adorable!” Karen squealed, straining her neck to get a closer look.
“Oh, you boys always liked to take baths together!” Diane cooed, flipping through the photos.
Lance’s mouth dropped and a blush spread through his cheeks. He looked over at JC, relieved to see that his expression matched his own.
“Jesus, mom, put that away!” Lance whined.
“Oh, but its too much fun”, Diane winked.
“Not for everyone.” Lance retorted, but his mother ignored him, narrating the pictures to Karen as she turned the old pages.
“Come, on, JC, I’ll show you my room, that's where you're gonna be stayin’ with me.”
“Good idea.” JC picked up his suitcases and followed Lance down the hallway and into the spacious room.
“Nice room.” JC admired.
“Thanks, well, there are some benefits to being an only child. More space being one of them. Um, you can have whichever bunk you like, I don't really care, also, you can put your suitcases there.” Lance pointed to an empty space in his closet.
“Thanks. Hey, mind if I borrow your phone for a minute.”
“Go right ahead, this is your home now, so feel free to do whatever.”
“Yeah, ok cool.” JC picked up Lance’s phone and punched in the digits, and waited for Bobbie to pick up on the other line.
“Bobbie?”
“Hey, babe! So you made it there ok?”
“Yeah, everything's great. Except for the fact that you're not here.”
“I know, baby, but after this semester and this summer, we’ll be together again for four years.”
“I know, I can’t wait”
Lance fidgeted with his fingers, but then decided he felt nosy and nauseous and left the room.
Heterosexuals. Weird. Lance shivered as he walked up stairs to his parents room to use their separate line to call Bethany.
“Hello? Is Bethany there?”
“Right here, babe, howya doing, Lancey-poo.”
“Yeah, so he’s here. And wait, could he be ugly? Nope, no such luck, lets try absolutely fucking gorgeous, instead.”
“So the guys hot, big deal. Did you really expect less?”
“Bethany, you're not getting it. Hot, would be Brad Pitt, the man is a god. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do..”
“There's nothing you can do. He's a jock. He's straight. However the question is, now, what can I do?”
“Bethany, you already have a boyfriend.”
“Rrrrrright. Well, there goes that.”
Lance remembered what he had told JC and winced. “I take that back. You already have two boyfriends.”
“Lance, dear, make sense when you speak.” Beth groaned.
“OK, well, he was telling me about his girlfriend, Bobbie, and I didn't want to sound gay-”
“-good luck-”
“-so I, kinda said you were my girlfriend.”
“What the fuck? Collin is going to be pissed. And what makes you think I would date your ugly ass?”
“Just pretend for a little while. We can break up later. But for now, your mine.”
“Possessive. You could use to be pussy-whipped.” Beth snipped.
“Yeah, right. Listen, I better go attend to Prince Charming, I’ll call you later.”
“Sure you will. And, hey, maybe if your lucky, he’ll kiss you and you’ll transform from an ugly toad into a beautiful princess.”
“And maybe you’ll stop being a smart-ass.”
“Ha! Never!” Beth giggled.
“Exactly. I’ll talk to you later. Bye, Beth.”
“Bye, Babe!”
Lance hung up the phone and jogged back to his room, where JC was sitting at Lance’s iMac checking his email.
“Hope you don't mind” JC said, once he saw Lance appear in the doorway.
“Not at all, man.”
“Cool” JC responded, he was busy reading something and not really listening.
Lance decided it was far too quiet and he went through his CDs trying to find the most butch CD he owned. Tori Amos-No, Ani DiFranco-No, Patty Griffin-No, Dixie Chicks-No,no,no..Finally he decided on the Beastie Boys. Once he put it on, JC began to bob his head up and down in rhythm to the music.
“I love this CD” he informed Lance from his place in front of the computer.
“Really? Me too.” Whew. Good choice.
Just then, Lance heard he mother calling his name. He turned down the music to answer her.
“What, mom?” he called.
“We’re all going to Trudy’s for dinner, Get on out here.”
“OK!” Lance loved Trudy’s, well his whole family did, it was they’re favorite restaurant.
JC took that as his cue to sign off line. Lance went over to the closet and pulled out his leather jacket. JC was behind him, once Lance had gotten his jacket, JC put his hand on Lance’s back and said ‘excuse me’ as he bent down to fetch his own out of his suitcase.
Lance felt like he might pass out from the thrill of the contact JC’s hand had made with his back, but when he bent over and Lance got a clear view of his perfect ass he knew for sure he was goner. JC straightened up, leather jacket in hand. He laughed as he looked at the jacket Lance had put on, it was practically identical to his own. Lance realized what JC was laughing at and joined him.
“Ya, know, I’ll through my jean one on instead. A little less embarrassing.” Lance slipped off the leather jacket and reached back into his closet to retrieve the other.
They both continued to laugh as they walked out to the living room, to their waiting parents.
“So, is Lance’s room going to be ok, JC?” Diane inquired.
“Yup, its going to be perfect.” JC smiled that fantastic, heart-warmingly friendly but oh-so-sexy smile again at Lance before patting him for the second time on the back. Lance could feel his heart melt. Death would be kind.