Justin entered JC’s house and called out for the older man, but got no response. Searching the first floor with no luck, he took the stairs two at a time and checked the rooms upstairs. Once he concluded JC wasn’t up there as well, he made his way back down the steps and into the basement where JC’s studio was located. Opening the door quietly, he saw JC leaning over the soundboard, messing with the beat of a song. Justin leaned against the doorframe and took a moment to enjoy the view before him. JC was tall and lean, skinny, but muscular. Dressed in a pair of jeans that road low on his hips and a simple white tee shirt that clung tightly to his shoulders and back. He wore no shoes and his hair was devilish from running his fingers thorough it, a habit Justin knew well. He looked completely beautiful.
Crossing the room quietly, Justin leaned in and wrapped an arm around his waist, laying a soft kiss on the back of his neck. JC jumped and turned around quickly. A grin replaced the shock quickly.
“You scared the shit out of me.”
“If you didn’t get so into everything, you’d have heard me. It’s not like I was sneaking around. And I called to you at least twenty times before I found you.” Justin leaned in and captured JC’s lips with his own, sliding his tongue gently between JC’s lips until he touched the older man’s tongue. “What ya working on?”
“I found a backbeat for that song we were working on the other day. What do you think?” Justin sat down in the chair in front of the soundboard, pulling JC onto his lap.
It had been two months since they got together, and as much as things had changed between then, many more things had stayed the same. It was new and exciting, but at the same time, familiar and comfortable. They still joked around and teased each other, they still washed their cars and worked on songs together. In the evenings, they still lounged around and watched movies and still went out to places in the afternoon. But now the teasing and joking had a flirtatious edge to it. They each had new inspiration for writing, and most of their sessions in the studio ended up with the two of them kissing. There was cuddling involved in the familiar evening movies and quick teasing touches: a light squeeze of a hand, a quick swipe down a back, a soft touch to an arm, when that was all they were allowed out in public.
Justin listened intently to the work JC had done on the song and nodded his approval, confirming it with a kiss to JC’s clothed shoulder. Once the song was over, JC leaned back into Justin, contently.
“So, next week’s the big day.” JC felt, more than heard, Justin sigh behind him.
“I am so nervous,” Justin admitted. “I mean, this is so completely different than any time we’ve all released an album together. I’m all on my own here.” JC climbed off Justin’s lap and knelt on the ground, between his spread legs, letting his hands rest on Justin’s thighs. Their eyes met and JC saw the slight fear lying in Justin’s. JC knew his solo album meant a lot to him. He had put all of himself into it, and that fact alone was scary enough when releasing an album. You were putting yourself out there, musically, for the world to judge. They had always all had each other to rely on. Now, Justin was doing it by himself. Any criticism, good or bad, was completely his own.
“I know it’s not exactly the same, but you’ll never be all on your own, J. It’s all your music, but I’m right there with you. All four of us are. You know we’re all behind you 110 percent.” JC’s reassuring words made Justin smiled and he reached a hand out to stroke JC’s cheek.
“Thanks. It means a lot, baby.” JC leaned forward, letting his lips fall against Justin’s stomach. “What time is everyone coming over today?”
“In about an hour,” JC said, glancing at his watch. “You think we’re going to pull it off?” Chris, Joey, and Lance were all in town and they were all coming over to JC’s house for a cookout. It had been quite a long time since all five of them had been in the same city and even longer since they’d all gotten together to just hang out. This was going to be the first time JC and Justin would be around them all to just hang out since they got together. Sure, there had been the VMA’s in August, but with the fans around, and Justin worrying about his performance, they hadn’t really had much time to worry about being together. It had been easier to hide in the public eye. This, though, was just going to be the five of them. And hiding things from each other wasn’t an easy task. They had been working and living together for so long. And it was hard to hide things from people that knew you almost as well as you knew yourself.
But neither of them were ready to tell anyone else about them, so they had vowed they would keep their distance, that they would just be friends for today. They both realized it was going to be harder than either of them had originally thought.
“Jace, what if. What if we can’t hide it? What if they figure it out? What does that mean for us?” Justin asked. JC could hear the nervousness in his voice, see the questions in his eyes. He reached for Justin’s hand, letting his thumb run softly over Justin’s palm.
“Justin, I don’t regret this, any of this. I know we’re not ready for them to know, but if they find out, they find out. It’s not going to change anything. It’s not going to change the things I’m feeling for you.”
“What if they’re not ok with it though?”
“Truthfully, I think they will be. These are our best friends, our family here, J. But if they’re not, we’ll cross that road when we get to it. But it’s not going to make me regret or resent any of this. I promise.”
*****
Joey was the first to arrive. Instead of knocking, he opened the door wildly, letting it bang against the wall inside as he quickly moved in off the porch, a case of beer in one hand, a bag with some munchies in the other.
“The party can officially begin!” He shouted through the house. Justin walked out of the kitchen where he had been helping JC get everything ready, and stealing a few kisses in between.
“The party began almost an hour ago when I got here. Your ass is late, Fatone.” A grin spread across his face at the sight of his friend standing in front of him. It had been quite a while since Justin had seen him. They had gone to see him in Rent when they had been in New York for the VMA’s and then Joey had come to the VMA’s, but that had been two months ago and even then had been a whirlwind few days of press, publicity, and nervousness for Justin. Joey set the beer and bag of snacks by his feet and pulled Justin into a huge bear hug.
“It’s good to see you, Lake.”
“You too, Joe. It’s been way too long.”
“Am I interrupting a private moment here, fellas?” Justin turned to the still open door and saw Chris standing in the doorway, a grin matching both of theirs on his face.
“Just cause Joey missed me more than he missed you doesn’t mean you need to get all jealous,” Justin joked, moving so Chris could step into the hallway.
“Where’s my hug, infant? I feel left out.”
“Please, I just saw your ass two days ago. You don’t get a hug.” Chris stuck his bottom lip out in a bad attempt at a pout until Joey laughed.
“Chris, as much as you probably want to, you’ll never be able to do the Justin Timberlake Pout. It’s a sad sight really, so please, for the sake of all of us, just stop trying.” Joey pulled him into a hug very similar to the one he had given Justin until Chris moaned in protest.
“Old bones here, Joe. Watch the squeezing.” Joey let him go and turned back to Justin.
“Where’s C?” Justin was about to answer but was interrupted.
“You called?” JC asked, coming down the short hallway from the kitchen. A round of hugs was issued once again and they all stood their talking, catching up, when they suddenly heard a deep voice from the porch behind them.
“Looks like I’m a little late.” They all turned to at the sound of the voice to see Lance standing in the doorway, grinning at all of them. None of them had seen him in quite awhile. He’d been in Russia and then in Texas doing the training for the space mission he was trying to do and hadn’t been around in a long time. Joey was closest to him and moved quickly to embrace him.
“Group hug!” Chris yelled, jumping on Joey’s back and wrapping his arms around both Joey and Lance at an awkward angle. Justin quickly joined them, wrapping his arms around Lance from behind. He caught JC’s eyes over Lance’s shoulder and shared a secret smile with him before removing one of his arms and motioning JC over to join them all. JC moved quickly into the hug for a moment until Chris jumped down and the group moved apart.
Joey picked up his beer and bag of snacks and started moving toward the kitchen, Lance following him.
“Damn, Bass. What the hell kind of training have those Russians been subjecting you to?” Chris asked. Lance turned to look at him curiously. “Whatever it is, it worked wonders on your ass.” Lance laughed and turned, continuing toward JC’s kitchen, wiggling his ass for effect, causing Chris to whistle loudly as he followed the two of them. The comment was typical Chris and would have normally passed right over Justin’s head without notice. But now, with his fears and questions still intact, it give him a small glimmer of hope. Sure it didn’t mean anything, but it was still nice to know Chris was ok saying things like that and Lance was comfortable enough to accept it laughingly. Sure, they were all just friends, but knowing comments like that didn’t bother any of them gave Justin hope that maybe the real thing wouldn’t bother them either.
*****
“Ready?” Chris asked. JC nodded. “Alright, on my count. One...two...three.” The two of them took off running.
“Cannonball!” JC yelled as he and Chris jumped into the pool, soaking Justin and Lance as they sat on the side, their feet in the water. Justin jumped back in shock and glared at the two of them as they emerged from beneath the water, laughing.
“That wasn’t cool. What the hell did we ever do to you guys?” Justin asked, still glaring, but the mock glare quickly turned to a smile when he regarded JC, giggling helplessly, his hair slicked back against his scalp.
“You simply exist,” Chris said easily. “That, and the fact that you’re damn good at everything you attempt to do, making the rest of us look bad.” He winked to show Justin he was joking before turning and diving under the water, grabbing JC’s legs and pulling him under the surface. JC, who had still been giggling, came back up sputtering water. He had been caught off guard and had swallowed a mouthful of the pool water in the process. He retaliated by jumping on Chris, promptly causing him to sink below the surface. Justin watched him, a soft smile on his face. He loved when JC got all cute and playful. It was probably his favorite side of JC. Not that he didn’t like all the sides of JC’s personality, but playful JC had to be his favorite. Although, sexy, in bed JC was catching up fast. Combined the two, and Justin would be in heaven. He shook his head, trying to get that though out before it caused more problems for him than he needed at the moment. JC turned to him, catching his eye, his own eyes shimmering with a playful sparkle.
“You guys planning on coming in? The water’s great.” He relaxed on his back, kicking lightly to stay afloat, his eyes closing slightly. Justin couldn’t resist. In a flash, he had jumped into the pool, coming up mere inches short of landing on top of JC, but causing the water to rise up over his face, shocking him.
Justin came up a safe distance away from JC and smiled broadly at him. What he didn’t count on, however, was Chris. Chris moved in swiftly, grabbing Justin under his arms and pinning them over his head.
“You sure are a fast little fucker when you want to be,” Justin said, squirming to get away.
“Not expecting me, ey?” Chris tightened his hold, not allowing Justin room to get away. “That’s what you get when you attack my partner in crime. Free shots, Jace.” JC moved swiftly through the water to the shallow end where Chris was holding Justin captive. He was struggling with all his might, but Chris wouldn’t let go.
“Lance, how bout a little help here, man?” Justin yelled to the blond still sitting on the side of the pool laughing.
“I think you’re on your own on this one, Shot.”
“Aww, come on man! How many times have I saved your ass when Chris and Joey try ganging up on you?” Justin asked, eyeing JC warily as he moved closer, while still struggling to get out of Chris’s tight grasp.
“He’s got a point there, Bass,” Joey yelled from by the grill where he was watching the events before him while cooking burgers and sipping on a beer.
“Hmm, maybe, but I really want to see how this transpires. It’s not often we get to see JC torture Justin. Normally he’s the first one sticking up for him. This might be interesting.” JC flashed Lance a grin before turning back to Justin. Justin caught the mischievous gleam in his eyes and knew he was in trouble.
“Let’s see how ticklish he is in water, what do you say, Chris?” Chris nodded enthusiastically, moving to keep a tight hold on Justin. JC moved in close and let his fingers slide to Justin’s sides below the water, squeezing slightly. Justin laughed and squirmed even more.
“No! Come on, Jace! This is not fair. Bass, get your ass in here and help me. I swear to god I’ll let Joey and Chris torture you forever next time they try and gang up on you,” Justin yelled, squirming wildly as JC’s fingers moved mercilessly against his skin.
“Fine, fine. I’m coming.” Lance dove smoothly into the pool and emerged behind JC, wrapping his arms around JC’s waist and flipping him backwards, sending him flying into the deep end again. Chris, caught off guard by Lance’s maneuver on JC, lost his leverage over Justin when Justin wrapped a leg around both of Chris’s and pulled, knocking him off balance. His hold on Justin’s arms loosened and Justin jumped, landing smoothly on Chris’s back, his arms wrapped tightly around Chris’s shoulders.
“You suck, Bass.” Chris yelled before he was knocked underwater. Chris emerged, swimming swiftly towards Lance. He caught him before Lance had a chance to react and tackled him hard, both of them sliding below the surface.
Justin saw JC, his back turned toward Justin, laughing at Lance and Chris. Justin moved in swiftly and wrapped his arms around JC.
“Hey baby.” It was whispered low against JC’s ear and for a moment, JC moaned at the feel of Justin’s breath on his skin. But the moment was short lived as Justin found his legs and lifted him easily. Taking a deep breath, he let himself fall below the surface, taking JC with him. JC kicked away from him and came up a few feet away, a wide grin spread across his face.
“I want it noted that Timberlake doesn’t play fair,” JC yelled out.
“I don’t play fair?” Justin said, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyebrows raising slowly, playfully. “I seem to remember someone tickling me while I wasn’t able to fully defend myself. Now tell me, Jace. Is that fair?” He winked quickly and JC had to duck his head so the rest of the guys wouldn’t see the blush reach his face.
They were interrupted by Joey yelling that the burgers were ready. Justin watched as JC moved to the side of the pool and hoisted himself out. His arm and back muscles flexed tightly as he lifted the rest of his body weight. Justin groaned to himself and shook his head, clearing it of the thoughts about to invade and he too climbed out, heading toward the grill.
*****
Justin was laying on the couch when JC came in from the kitchen. Moving to him, JC laid down, half on top of Justin, resting his head on Justin’s chest. Justin’s let his hand run lightly up JC’s back, holding him close.
“You tired?” JC asked, kissing his bicep. Justin nodded in response.
“Today went well. It was hard keeping my eyes off you though,” Justin admitted. “I just wanted to grab you and kiss you senseless more than once.”
“Hmm. I don’t think I would have minded,” JC said sleepily, his face buried in Justin’s chest. “I’m so tired.”
“You were really cute out there today. All playful and shit. I love that side of you.” Justin let his fingers trail through JC’s soft chocolate curls. He felt JC smile against his chest.
“You staying here tonight?” JC asked, his voice muffled against Justin’s skin.
“If you want me to.”
“Of course I want you to. I’ve gotten really use to having you in my arms at night, to waking up with you beside me in the morning. I’m afraid I’m becoming addicted.” He turned his head until their eyes met, a wide grin spreading across JC’s lips.
“I’ve become addicted too. There’s nothing better than your warmth next to me when I wake up. It’s comforting,” Justin said, nudging JC off the couch. JC reluctantly climbed to his feet and pulled Justin with him. The two made their way up to JC’s bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, arms and legs intertwined. They were both asleep in minutes, the events of the day having worn them out, the warm and comfort of the other lulling them into a peaceful slumber.