There was something there. Thinking back on it now, he was pretty sure there always had been. They were closer, more affectionate, than ‘normal’ friends. Of course, all five of them were that way to an extent. It was almost impossible not to be, with as much time as they spent in each other’s personal space. But there was something different, something more, between the two of them. It had just taken him forever to actually see it.

Hindsight always has twenty-twenty vision.

There hadn’t been a specific event that caused this great revelation in Justin’s mind. JC hadn’t done anything different. There hadn’t been an extra touch, an extra hug, an extra look, nothing like that. And it hadn’t even been that Justin woke up one day and suddenly realized he was looking at JC in a new light. Hadn’t suddenly realized he was in love with his best friend.

The truth was, it was like he woke up one day and simply saw what had been there all along. He finally opened his eyes and saw that JC was everything he had ever wanted in the person he imagined spending the rest of his life with. His eyes were open and he finally took notice of the love that had been there all along.

At first, it scared him. This was his best friend, this was a guy. But then again, this was JC. JC wasn’t just any guy. Slowly, he watched JC, to see if it were possible Justin was just imagining all of this. But no, JC seemed to feel the same. Except he hadn’t opened his eyes yet. And it was up to Justin to open them for him. After all, what were best friends for?

*****

JC was reading as Justin walked into the back lounge of the bus, the book laying open on his lap. His glasses, that Justin thought he didn’t wear quiet enough, were perched on the end of his nose. Leaning against the door frame, Justin watched him intently. JC absently reached a hand up, running it through his long brown curls before pushing the glasses higher on his face, then licked one finger lightly before turning the page in his book.

Justin wasn’t sure how long he stood there, watching JC read, watching him turn the page every so often, watching him slide his glasses up on his face when they started to slip. He was lost in the world of the book and had no idea Justin was standing there. Finally, Justin pushed off from the door frame and walked to the couch. Justin ran a hand lightly through JC’s hair, causing him to look up, startled. But then a smile replaced the startled look.

“I didn’t hear you come in.”

“So I noticed,” Justin smiled back, taking a seat next to JC. JC searched his face for a moment, trying to gauge if Justin wanted anything or not. Once he was satisfied there wasn’t an actual point to this visit, he returned to his book. After a moment’s hesitation, Justin laid down, stretching his long legs over the armrest of the couch, his head lying gently on JC’s thigh. JC’s bright blue eyes met his own for a moment, smiling down at him. Then he turned back to his book, his free hand absently resting on Justin’s head, fingers running softly through his short curls.

*****

JC was on the phone when Justin opened his hotel room door, swept into the room, and collapsed onto the empty bed with a flourish. He caught the smirk JC was sending him as he paced the room, the phone attached to his ear.

“I know, I know. Look, can we talk about this later? I really have to go.” Without waiting for an answer, JC pulled the phone away from his ear and pressed the end button.

“Nice Jace. I’ve never known you to hang up on anyone before,” Justin grinned. JC simply shrugged. Climbing to his feet, Justin crossed the room and grabbed JC’s flip flops, tossing them to the older man. JC caught them gracefully, glanced at them for a moment, then looked back up at Justin. Justin didn’t miss the curious look in his eyes.

“I have a surprise for you, come on.” Without waiting for a response, he made his way to the door again and pulled it open, then turned to look pointedly at JC. “You coming or not?”

JC waited until they were in the van, both seated in the back, Lonnie and Dre up front, until he turned to Justin.

“So where is it we’re going exactly?”

“I told you, it’s a surprise. You’ll like it, I promise.” And that was all he would say. JC could beg and plead as much as he wanted, but Justin was keeping his mouth shut. A secret smile grazed his lips as JC sat back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest, his bottom lip sticking out in a pout.

“And they say I’m the one who tries to pout to get my way,” he mumbled, just loud enough for JC to hear him, shaking his head.

Realization dawned on JC’s face as they pulled up in front of the large brick building and he glanced at Justin in wonder before turning his attention back to the building in front of them.

“The Met?” His eyes met Justin’s again, looking for some sort of explanation. Justin shrugged.

“They have a new Van Gogh exhibit that I thought you might be interested in seeing. There was an advertisement for it on TV last night. So I figured we’d come see what it was all about.” He couldn’t stop the blush that crept up his neck to his cheeks and he turned away from JC slightly until he felt JC take his hand in his own and squeeze it gently before letting go. The smile that lit up his face was the most priceless thing Justin had ever seen.

Justin wasn’t really into art, and on any given day, he could make a list of about a hundred other things he would rather be doing, but seeing the joy on JC’s face as they moved from exhibit to exhibit, hearing the sounds of awe that escaped his lips, listening to his murmured words of respect for the artist, Justin knew there wasn’t any place he’d rather be today. JC’s enthusiasm rubbed off on him, and although he didn’t completely understand art, didn’t get it like JC did, he could understand the appreciation JC had for it, and it made the entire trip worth it.

In the van, heading back to the hotel, JC turned to him, almost shyly.

“I know you’re not into that. You have no idea how much it means to me that you did this for me today.” He squeezed Justin’s hand again. “Thank you, Justin.” And those words of thanks, the gently, almost intimate look, JC gave him, made it worth spending a thousand lifetimes wandering through art museums, as long as JC was by his side.

*****

Justin leaned over the sleeping figure, running a hand through his long curls.

“Jace,” he whispered gently, shaking his shoulder lightly. JC’s eyes opened slowly and a smile crept up on his lips as he saw Justin standing before him. “Come on, get up.” JC tired suppressing a yawn, but it got the better of him.

“How come, we don’t have anything to do until later.” His voice was still thick with sleep. He stretched gracefully and Justin took a moment to appreciate the gracefulness that was JC.

“It’s a surprise,” Justin whispered, taking JC’s hand and pulling gently, trying to get him out of bed.

“Justin, the sun’s not even up yet,” he protested, but still tossed the blankets aside and climbed to his feet. As he went into the bathroom, Justin grabbed a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt out of JC’s luggage and tossed them on the bed for him.

Once JC was dressed, and slightly more awake, Justin led him out of the room and to the stairwell. They climbed until they reached the roof. Justin had a blanket spread out and two large Starbucks cappuccino’s sitting in the middle.

“I figured we could watch the sunrise. There’s a really nice view of it from up here. Plus we have all of Chicago laid out before us.” He handed JC one of the Starbucks cups and took the other for himself. JC took a drink and turned, smiling to Justin.

“Vanilla Latte, my favorite.”

“I know.”

They sat in silence as the sun peaked over the horizon, changing the darkness to light. They sat in silence as it rose, creating a shimmering effect across the city. They sat in silence until Justin looked over at JC. The morning light sifted through his hair and across his features, giving him a surreal appearance. He looked like an angel.

“You’re beautiful.” Those two words broke the comfortable silence that had settled between them, but it also broke something else, something deeper. It broke the wall that had been between them, the last of the barrier that had kept their relationship as simply friendship. JC’s smile told Justin all he needed to know.

*****

Awakening from a fitful sleep was the best time of day. His brain started first. Slowly, it became aware of the small things around him. The softness of the pillow, the warm blankets rubbing lightly over his half naked body. Then, ever so subtly, his mind distinguished the fact that he was, in fact, awake. The light from the window hit his closed eyelids, and he savored the feeling of pulling the covers just a bit higher, blocking out the morning sun for a moment before releasing the covers and opening his eyes.

His senses were always on overdrive first thing in the morning, just the way he liked it. He loved to sleep. There was no doubt about that. The other guys made fun of him often for it. For his ability to sleep whenever and wherever. But once he woke up, he liked to be up. He didn’t procrastinate, trying to cram a few more minutes of sleep into his day.

Stretching, he climbed out of bed and padded across the room. Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, something on the floor, just this side of the door from the hall, caught his eye. Bending, he retrieved the red envelope, turning it gently in his fingers for a few moments, lost in the concentration of wondering who had slipped it under his door. There was no marking on the outside of the envelope. It was completely blank.

Sliding a finger slowly under the flap, it was torn away and a square card was pulled out. The front was blank except for a small, clear envelope with what looked to be a folded up heart inside. Slipping the small cardboard heart out, he gently opened it.

Curiosity got the better of him and he quickly opened up the card. His breath caught in his chest as he immediately recognized the familiar handwriting inside. Justin.

Josh,
	In truth, you’ve already been keeping it for years. And I want you to keep it for longer than just a while. I don’t want it back. Although I would like yours in return, if you can give it to me.
		All my love, Justin

JC smiled and slid the card back into the envelope and headed into the bathroom.

*****

A sharp knock on his door interrupted Justin’s thoughts. Climbing to his feet, he took a deep breath before opening the door. JC stood there, smiling at him. Without a word, Justin opened the door wider and allowed him to enter, closing the door behind him. Justin turned and saw JC had taken a seat on the couch and was looking at him. Walking back across the room, Justin sat down on the table in front of the couch, right in front of JC. They were close enough to be touching, but weren’t. Justin ran a hand across his head and then looked up to meet JC’s eyes. He had the envelope with the card in it in his hands and he waved it slowly in front of Justin’s face. Justin could tell he was waiting for some sort of explanation.

“I feel something for you Josh, something deep. I have for quite a long time, but only opened my eyes to it recently. Once I figured it out, I thought it might be about time to let you in on it as well. And, I mean, it’s not about the fact that you’re a guy, because you’re just JC. And really, who would have thought, you know. But I think there could be something between us. I think there is something between us. I’m pretty sure it’s not just me here. But really, if you’re going to turn me down, please do it gently because well, I’ve really put myself out there right now.” Justin realized he was rambling and suddenly stopped talking, glancing up to meet JC’s eyes.

“I was aware of it Justin. I am aware of it,” JC said, smiling at him fondly. He reached out and laid a gentle hand on Justin’s knee.

“You were? You are?” The shock was apparent in Justin’s voice. JC merely nodded. “How?”

“It’s been going on for years. I may be oblivious to some things, but never this.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying I love you, that I always have.”

“I love you too.”

“I know. I’ve known for years.”

“How?”

“It’s the little things. Remembering my favorite movie, letting me win at basketball once in a while, even though everyone knows you’re better than me, stopping by just because. And especially lately. The cuddling, taking me to museum exhibit, even though that’s probably the last place in the world you wanted to be. Showing up with my favorite kind of cappuccino and a sunrise, just because. The card, especially the card.”

“It took me a long time to figure it out. How come you never told me?” Justin asked, resting his hand on top of JC’s.

“You needed to open your eyes and see it for yourself. If I had just come up to you and told you I loved you, it wouldn’t have been on your terms. You wouldn’t have been comfortable with it.”

“You know me so well.”

“And I can love you even better.” Justin smiled as he reached his free hand up, letting it rest on the back of JC’s neck. Slowly, he applied just enough pressure to bring JC’s head forward, lips meeting lips somewhere in the middle.

“I’m glad I finally opened my eyes,” he whispered against JC’s lips before diving back in.