The sunlight filtered through JC's closed eyelids, infiltrating his brain before he was even fully conscious. He stretch languidly, letting the sunny warmth wrap around him for a moment before relaxing back into the sheets. And it was only then that he noticed two things. Justin was still in bed with him. And he was wrapped all around JC.
His head was resting on JC's bare chest, curls brushing softly against his skin with each rise and fall of JC's chest and Justin's counter breath. His arm was wrapped tightly around JC's waist, fingers spread across JC's hip. His leg was pulled up over one of JC's thighs and resting between JC's own legs, foot pressed against JC's calf. JC shifted lightly, eyes finally opening and looking down at Justin. He was still fast asleep, eyes fluttering softly as he dreamed, mouth parted slightly, his breath floating across JC's skin, tingly-cool and surprisingly warm at the same time.
JC shifted again, trying to pull away without waking Justin. He assumed, was positive that it had happened accidentally. That Justin, in a deep sleep, had unconsciously curled into him in the middle of the night. And his plan was to pull away without Justin knowing it had ever happened. But Justin was lying on his arm, which was fully asleep and tingling harshly, and JC couldn't move it out from under him. Sighing, he tried again, pulling a little harder.
"Mmm." Justin's sleepy mumble made JC freeze for a moment before looking down at Justin's face again. Justin's eyes were cracked open slightly and a soft smile found his lips. He stretched, muscles tensing against JC's body before he relaxed again and curled back into JC, hand pressing tighter against JC's hip, holding JC in place. "Comfy. Don't go." With a sigh, JC stopped struggling.
"Justin, you're killing my arm." Justin shifted just enough so JC could move his arm from under the dead body weight but not enough that JC could get away. And as he smiled sleepily up at JC again, he noted that Justin didn't seem the least bit phased that he'd curled up against JC sometime during the night. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying using JC as a pillow.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, Justin's head still resting against JC's chest, JC's fingers drawing soft designs up and down Justin's back and across his neck before squeezing slightly. Justin scrunched his neck up, trying to dislodge JC's fingers.
"Tickles." He swatted playfully, lightly at JC's chest and JC chuckled softly, letting his hand fall so his fingers were spread against Justin's back again.
"I forgot that you only speak in one word phrases until you've had breakfast. It's actually very entertaining." Justin's turned his head, eyes finding JC's and sending a half glare, half smirk in his direction. "Wonder how long the one word responses would last if I withheld breakfast from you for a couple hours."
"Dead," Justin mumbled. He turned his head into JC's chest, his nose running softly over the skin in the middle of his chest before JC felt teeth, not sharp enough to hurt, but enough to get a reaction.
"Did you just bite me?" JC pulled back, incredulously. Justin moved with him, as if he own body could sense JC's movements and follow his lead without even trying. And he could feel the smirk against his chest. "You bit me." Justin blinked and pulled away, finally sitting up and rubbing at his eyes with the palm of his hands.
"That's what you get for trying to withhold breakfast from me. It's, like, a necessity in life." He untwisted the covers from around his legs and stood, stretching, arms reaching toward the ceiling, back arching. JC watched for a moment, noting that no fourteen year old should actually have a body like that. It wasn't fair to their older friends. And then Justin was grinning at him again, eyes still nearly shut with sleep. "I'm going for cereal. If you're still in bed by time I'm done, I'm pouncing. I don't care if Dale says I'm too big for it now or not." And he was gone from the room before JC had a chance to respond.
*****
Dale parked and glanced over at Justin. He was seconds away from bouncing around in his seat, the energy coursing through him barely under control as his eyes darted all around, trying to take in everything at once.
"Ready, kid?" Justin nodded, not even turning to look at Dale as he opened the car door and climbed out. Dale rounded the car and threw an arm around Justin's shoulder. "Welcome to Hollywood. Is it everything you thought it might be?" Dale got his answer just by the look on Justin's face. He smiled and smacked a hand to Justin's back. "Come on, kid. Let's get to it." He slipped into his best announcer voice, something he had a lot of practice with from all the times he'd had to do it on MMC, and turned in front of Justin, taking a few steps backwards. "And up here just a few blocks, on your left you'll see the world famous Mann's Chinese Theater." He trailed off as Justin grinned before turning back around and leading the way.
JC had to work, something he couldn't get out of, and Dale had decided to entertain Justin all afternoon, showing him the sights and sounds and hot spots of California. Starting with the famous Mann's Chinese Theater. Justin spent plenty of time wandering the sidewalk, looking at hand prints and autographs. And the wide grins he kept sending toward Dale made it well worth the fact that he was stuck smack-dab in the middle of a tourist trap.
When Justin was finally finished, they walked the few blocks to McDonald's for lunch. Dale tried to pay for Justin's food and Justin shot him a look that clearly said he was offended.
"Dude, I've got my own money," Justin said, glaring at Dale. Dale took a step back, shocked for a moment before a grin spread across Justin's face. "It's not like we're on a fucking date." Dale laughed and grabbed his food, leaving Justin's for him to carry by himself. "But," Justin continued as they made their way to a table. "If we were, you'd definitely have to put out." Dale's mouth dropped open and his tray slid to the table as he shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"It's a good thing that table was right there," he said once he'd regained his composure. "Otherwise you'd be using that money you have to buy me more food." Justin grinned and winked quickly at him. "It's easy to forget you're only fourteen, kid. You don't act like it."
"My mom says I've been grown up since I could talk." Justin shrugged as he unwrapped his burger. "Also probably helps that we did the exact same thing together day in and day out for two years. Doesn't make the age difference seem as extreme."
"Unless you're talking about JC who acted like he was thirty at fifteen," Dale said. "He's going to be celebrating his fiftieth birthday soon, did you know that?" Justin chuckled as he took a bite of his burger, rubbing at the ketchup that missed making it into his mouth and landed at the corner of it with a finger, licking the finger clean.
"He gets these crazy ideas into his head sometimes, like he's too old for me."
"He's said that?" Dale asks, eyes going wide. Justin shook his head quickly.
"Not about our friendship. That's never been an issue. But, well, let's just say I want more. And he's not comfortable with that fact yet."
"You want...you're interested in JC?"
"Dude, have you seen JC? I know you're straight and all, what with the girlfriend JC says you don't shut up about. But if you weren't, trust me, you'd want him too." Justin popped a fry into his mouth. "You got a problem with that?" And if he hadn't been so shocked, Dale would have laughed at the look on Justin's face. He was fully ready to challenge Dale if there was a problem with it.
"No, kid. Not a problem. I'm just a little shocked. I never guessed you were interested in guys." Justin shrugged again, popping another fry into his mouth.
"It's never really come up before. But it's always been there. I think at first, with JC, I just kind of admired him, looked up to him, wanted to be like him. But then we became friends and it's grown to this attraction to him, to all of him."
"Well, I can see why he might have a problem with that. No matter how old you act, you're still only fourteen. He's going to be ninteen soon. That's illegal in, like, most countries around the world. Except maybe in Ibiza."
"Hmm. Where is that exactly? I might want to consider taking JC and moving there." Dale laughed at Justin's wide grin and launched a fry across the table at him. "No, it's cool. He's not comfortable with the age thing yet. I can wait. Someday it will happen." And as Justin continued eating his burger and fries, Dale could only shake his head. He'd never imagined, three years ago when he first met Justin, that the kid would end up being this mature about life. It was kind of impressive.
*****
JC and Dale's girlfriend, Jess, were meeting up with Dale and Justin for dinner after JC got off work that night. When Dale pulled into the parking lot and shifted into park, they saw Jess and JC sitting at a table already. It was outside, under a canopy, and Justin smiled. He could really get use to this LA living. Climbing out, Dale walked around the car and threw his arm around Justin's shoulder.
"Our dates are waiting for us," Dale said, a smirk rising up on his lips. Justin grinned back at him.
"Don't say that to C, you'll freak him out or something and then he'll be weird all night. And I just don't wanna deal with that right now."
"It'll be our little secret," Dale said, winking quickly before they moved up to the table.
Dinner was relaxed and comfortable. The sun was shinning and there was just enough of a breeze to keep the temperature cool. Jess took to Justin immediately, especially after he informed her he had dirt on Dale from the MMC days. Much to Dale's annoyance, JC and Justin shared story after story with her about the things he'd done, and the things he'd been forced to do for the show. Until he turned it around and started sharing their embarrassing stories. Many of the stories had all four of them laughing loudly, drawing looks from other tables, but none of them cared very much.
And when JC told Justin he was paying for his dinner, since he'd just gotten paid that afternoon, Dale sent a quick grin across the table to Justin and Justin ducked his head, blushing slightly but grinning as well.
After dinner, they parted ways. Dale and Jess were going to see a movie or go to a club. They weren't sure and were bickering good-naturedly over it as they walked away from the table, hand in hand, fingers intertwined. JC smiled and shook his head.
"They're so cute together," Justin declared as he watched them walk away. "She seems good for him. Like she can keep him in line." JC nodded his consent, watching them for another moment, their laugher filling the air and filtering back to JC and Justin before he turned to Justin again.
"So you had a long day. Ready to head back home or are you up for more fun and excitement in LA?"
"I wanna see the ocean," Justin said, eyes crinkling up in a smile.
"Justin, you've seen the ocean before." But Justin shook his head, stopping JC.
"Not the Pacific."
"It looks just like the Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. Trust me, it's all the same." JC said, laughing lightly.
"No it's not. It's an experience, and I want to experience all of it." He looked up at JC with wide eyes and a slight frown. "Please?" And when JC sighed and ran a hand over his face, Justin smiled widely, knowing that was a yes.
"You do realize it's dark and you really won't see much, right?" At JC's words, Justin had a vision run through his mind. A vision of watching JC stand along the ocean's edge, wind blowing off the water and running through his wild hair, watching the moonlight reflect off the water and onto JC's face. Of watching the smile that would reach JC's face as he looked out over the waves. It was the same smile that always reached JC's face whenever he was around the ocean. It was soft, full of dreams. It was like every dream JC had came alive in his mind as he watched the waves lap at the shore and shimmered all across his face and through his eyes. It was a smile that made Justin's heart beat just a little faster.
"I'll see plenty, trust me." He reached up, running soft fingers along JC's arm for just a moment before pulling back and smiling softly. And as their eyes connected, Justin saw something soften in JC's eyes before they crinkled up into a smile. He simply nodded and started for his car, Justin following closely behind him.
*****
When they got back to the apartment, Tony was lounging on the couch, watching a movie. He looked up when JC and Justin entered and smiled quickly before looking back at the screen. Justin, normally so outgoing and social, sat down in the chair, pulling his knees to his chest and trying to make himself as small as possible, eyes trying to avoid Tony, but glancing back toward him every few moments. Tony, on the other hand, kept his eyes on the TV, completely ignoring Justin. JC sighed and sat down on the couch, facing the TV so he could see both Justin and Tony out of the corner of his eye.
"So how's the show going?" JC asked, turning his head toward Tony. Tony glanced at him and JC pleaded with just his eyes for him to at least talk to Justin.
"It's good," Tony shrugged. "It's been fun." But his eyes went from JC right back to the TV.
"What's it called?" Justin asked timidly, trying to get Tony to at least acknowledge him.
"Malibu Shores." He answered, but his eyes never left the TV and his voice was very matter of fact. Justin sighed and climbed to his feet and turned to look at JC.
"I'm gonna go to bed. See you later, Tony." Tony just nodded slightly. JC sighed again as Justin went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him, and he turned to Tony, anger flashing in his eyes.
"That wasn't necessary."
"What?" Tony asked, turning his head to JC with innocent eyes.
"You were a complete ass to him. He's a guest here, whether you like it or not. The least you could do is be polite."
"I answered him, didn't I?"
"Yeah, in a monotone voice and without looking at him once. That's not really considered polite." Tony rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.
"He's just a kid, C. Why the hell does it matter?"
"Because he happens to be my friend. This jealousy thing isn't very attractive on you. In case you forgot, you're the one who ended it with me. So stop acting like some scorned, jealous boyfriend and learn to accept the fact that Justin and I are friends." He stood before Tony could say anything. "Goodnight." He could feel Tony's eyes following him as he slipped into his bedroom.
When Justin stepped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom just a couple minutes later, the passive side was gone and he smiled softly at JC.
"I'm sorry about Tony."
"Don't worry about it, it's not your fault," Justin said, shrugging. "I'll live." He glanced down at the blankets still spread out on the floor from the night before and JC saw the scowl appear on his face as he regarded them. Signing, JC pulled the covers back again, inviting Justin into his bed. And seeing the grin that lit up his face made it worth having to share his bed again. Justin jumped onto the bed and slid under the covers, turning to face JC and curling immediately against him. His head was once again resting against JC's chest, his arm sliding around JC's waist, his hand finding JC's hip and pulling him closer. His leg slide against JC's for a minute before sliding over it, landing between both of JC's. JC grinned fondly at Justin, resting his hand against Justin's back.
"This is starting to become a habit." Justin turned his head, eyes meeting JC's and JC could see his grin even in the dark room.
"I didn't hear you complaining last night."
"That's because I had no idea it was happening last night until I woke up this morning with your drool all over my chest." JC chuckled slightly at the distraught look on Justin's face, the slight blush rising up his cheeks.
"I don't drool. Besides, it must have been pretty comfortable for you last night if you slept right through it without it waking you up." And after a few long moments, JC trying to figure out how to dispute that but coming up with nothing, Justin grinned and curled back into JC, head resting under JC's chin, knowing he'd won. JC felt soft lips press against his collarbone for a moment. "Night, C." And as Justin's whispered words slid across his skin, JC could only shake his head in amusement and pull Justin closer, situating both of them more comfortable for the night about to be spent curled against each other.