![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
[Het] [N'sync] [PG-13]
Steal My Heart
(Meanwhile, At the park.)
The moment their lips had come into contact, Lance had wanted to pull back. There was something wrong with it. But he wasn’t sure if Naomi felt the same. And he wasn’t out to hurt her feelings.
They remained with their eyes closed and their hands around each other. But their stances were frozen and rigid. It was as though they were forcing themselves not to pull apart. Naomi kept her mouth shut tightly. She wasn’t about to take the kiss to the next level... especially when it felt wrong from the start.
Just as Naomi felt like clawing her eyes out, her cell phone rang. The two quickly released each other, both sighing audibly. They gave each other a funny look before Naomi seized her cell and held it up to her ear. “Um... h-hello?”
When she heard Alyssa’s voice, Naomi wanted to sink into the ground. She felt embarrassed, dirty and plain mean.
For the few minutes they spoke on the phone, Lance had paced the ground, chewed on his fingernails, ruffled and combed his hair and hopped around nervously. When Naomi finally put down the phone, he sighed.
They walked up to look each other in the face. They exchanged very guilty looks before rocking on their heels and looking at anything besides each other.
“Lance...”
“Naomi...”
They spoke at the same time and they again looked at each other guiltily. “I... you go first,” Naomi offered.
Lance licked his lips. It wasn’t going to be easy spilling his thoughts out to Naomi... especially since she wasn’t part of them. He bit his lip, wondering how to explain it to her. For a moment, Naomi thought he wasn’t going to say anything. She almost stamped her foot in impatience. Then she sighed when she saw the look on his face. She knew then that there was going to be a long talk between the two of them.
Lance took a deep breath, “It wasn’t... didn’t... there was nothing.”
Naomi nodded. She could still picture their kiss in her mind’s eye - when their lips had touched... in all honesty, Naomi had expected fireworks, confetti and explosions to go off in her world but... there was nothing. No feeling, no nothing. She felt like she had kissed her brother... on the lips. And damn, she felt bad.
Naomi looked down. A wave of guilt and shame washed over her and her cheeks burned so brightly that light could have been reflected off of them. She took a deep breath and sighed. She licked her lips and mentally cursed herself when she saw Lance’s eyes follow the movement of her tongue involuntarily.
“No!” she yelped out. “Don’t take that the wrong way! I just... it’s just an unconscious gesture and-”
Lance held up a hand, “I understand.”
They stared at each other for a few moments. Both of them felt totally guilty. They rocked on their heels and tried to collect themselves. But it was no use. Naomi chewed on her bottom lip nervously and Lance stared at his feet. “Lance... when we... you know, when we, um, kissed. I... it didn’t feel right, did it?”
Lance’s head shot up and he looked at her for a second before he shook his head. “No,” he admitted slowly. “It didn’t.”
Naomi hung her head, “What have we done?”
“I... it’s...” Lance exhaled loudly and ran a hand through his hair. Naomi tapped her foot against the ground and it seemed as though the sound echoed through the park. It was quiet, eerily so, and Naomi started jiggling nervously.
“Um... Naomi, don’t take this the wrong way but... can you just stand still for one second?” Lance stuck his hands in his pocket and smiled when Naomi stopped rocking to and fro. “Um, thanks.”
Naomi shrugged, “Uh, no problem.” She took a deep breath and forced a small smile. They stayed in an awkward silence for a few minutes before Naomi finally burst out, “All right. This is just eating at me! Lance, can we please talk?”
Lance nodded reluctantly and sat down on the grass. Naomi plopped down beside him but both of them carefully put some distance between themselves. “All right,” Lance said softly. “But what do you want to say? Do we come clean about everything? Or do we just, I don’t know, say the necessary?”
“Everything. I’m tired of this I-don’t-know-who-the-hell-I-like thing that’s been going on lately. It just... I need to confide in someone Lance... and this time... this time Chase isn’t here to hear it.” Naomi’s eyes began to burn but she blinked back the tears. Has Chase realized it yet? Or am I just imagining it all? Is it a one-sided love?
Lance saw the torn expression on Naomi’s face and he covered her hand with his. He rubbed the back of her hand gently with his thumb, soothing her. Naomi smiled sadly at him, “Thank you.”
Lance patted her on the back, “Forever friends, remember? Why don’t you just get it off of your chest? Tell me everything.”
Naomi shook her head, “I’m not ready yet,” she confessed. “Can you go first? I need some time to relax and... work up the courage.”
Lance nodded, “All right. Well... how do I say this? I didn’t expect things to move so quickly and I’m sorry about... about what happened just now.” He stood up and walked away from Naomi. He bit the inside of his cheek and tried to think of something else to say. “But at least now... I’m clear about my feelings.”
Naomi looked up at him and nodded slowly. “What are they?” she asked softly. Her voice was so soft that Lance had to lean forward to hear her.
“I... well, let’s just say that hopefully, a certain Miss. Carter will be swept off her feet if I get my way.”
Naomi giggled, “Oh, I’m sure you’ll get your way. You always do.”
Lance had to smile, “Well, when we kissed, I guess... it just hit me that something didn’t feel right. I didn’t feel... um...”
“Tingly all over?”
Lance laughed, “That’s a way to put it, I suppose. Yeah...” he paused and an unreadable look crossed his face before he said in a soft tone, “The girl who flashed in my mind when we kissed was... it was Alyssa. And I felt something inside me screaming to pull back. But I couldn’t. I... I didn’t know how you would react and... well...”
Naomi looked down at the grass. “I know.”
“Well, anyway, I guess that in my heart it was Alyssa all along. I have absolutely no idea why... why I thought I liked you. There was a time I even wondered if I was in love, for goodness’ sake!” Lance laughed without humor. “Sometimes I think I’m blind. She was there... always there for me... and I couldn’t see it... not until she... we...”
Naomi stood up and squeezed Lance’s shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t be that way, Lance. We all screw up now and then. Besides, I know something that would cheer you up. You’ll probably scream for joy when you’ve heard it.”
Lance stopped shuffling his feet and gave Naomi a ‘get real’ look. She laughed, “Ally liked you all along. The only reason she didn’t try to go after you was because you seemed totally wrapped up in me and she didn’t think she’d even stand a chance if she tried. So she went after Chase instead.”
Lance’s eyes widened. He resisted the urge to shake Naomi but he managed to calm down enough to squeak, “Seriously?”
“Dead serious.”
“She likes me? As in me, Lance Bass? Of N’sync?”
Naomi couldn’t help giggling at Lance’s flabbergasted expression, “Yep. Alyssa Carter likes the one and only Lance Bass of N’sync.”
Lance’s jaw dropped. Naomi grinned, “You might want to close that,” she told him as she lifted his jaw to meet his mouth.
Lance’s lips were trembling when he finally said, “But... but then...”
Naomi sighed, “Mmmhmm... that kinda makes me the odd one out here.” She shrugged and forced a nonchalant expression onto her face, which wasn’t very difficult. She coached herself and managed to chuckle. “But that’s me all the way. I’m always at the wrong place at the wrong time. Looks like I was with the wrong person this time too.”
Lance shook his head and placed his hands on Naomi’s shoulder, “I’m sure you’re not the odd one out.”
“Things like this don’t always end with a happy ending, Lance. I just have to face reality for once,” Naomi closed her eyes and Lance wasn’t sure what to do. She wasn’t asking for comfort, but she wasn’t shaking his hands off either.
“Maybe they don’t always end happily, Naomi,” Lance put a finger under her chin and lifted her head and looked into her eyes, “but this just has to have a fairytale ending. I can feel it. Please Naomi, trust me.”
Naomi almost laughed again. “Trust you, Lance? I can’t... you’re asking me to give up the only form of defense I know. The only way I could protect myself from being hurt all these years... the only thing I could do was push away anyone who tried to get too close. Sometimes that aloof girl you all think you know... sometimes she isn’t me. And I feel like I’m screaming and struggling to get out of this never ending hell I’m putting myself through. I just... I want to be able to trust people too. Yes, I know I’m gullible and stupid... but putting my trust in someone is the most difficult thing I can do. I can’t force myself to... to break down and have faith in you... Yes, I trust you to a certain extent, but until I’m sure of you, until I get to know you... that trust can never fully be there.”
Lance breathed in deeply. The sweet scent of the night air lingered for a few seconds before he said, “I understand.” Naomi gave him surprised look as he continued, “And I’m more than willing to give you that time. Because I want to know you too, Naomi. I want to know you for more than the aloof front you have put up, and that blank expression you’ve mastered. I want to be a friend to you. A true friend. Someone you can trust and love. I want to be someone you can lean on... and hopefully we can become close friends one day.”
Naomi smiled at Lance and wiped the tears that had come to her eyes. “Thank you Lance,” she whispered, before wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head on his chest. Lance put his cheek on her head and hugged her tightly. In a way, they were both looking for some kind of comfort and they were consoled by the warmth they found in each others’ arms... and in the friendship they were slowly building.
Naomi took a deep breath and stepped back when Lance gently released her. “I still mean it, though, about butting in where I’m not wanted. If all this works out then... then I think I’m going to get another job.”
Lance’s eyes widened, “NAOMI! You... you can’t just...”
Naomi smiled sadly, “Oh yes I can. I know it’s running from the problem again but... I don’t want to stay around while Chase gets someone else. Maybe if he and Ally were really together, I might be able to stand it. But now that you and Ally are going to end up together then...”
Lance shook his head, “Look, we don’t have to jump to conclusions, all right? There is a chance that JC likes you too.” Lance covered Naomi’s mouth when she started to protest. “Just take it a step at a time. I like Alyssa and I honestly hope she still feels the same way about me. But we don’t know for sure that JC and her won’t... you know, end up together. I know JC said to go after her no matter what, but I can’t do that. He... we’re as close as blood brothers, maybe closer, and there’s no way I’m gonna screw up on this one. When we confess everything tomorrow,” Lance nodded when he saw Naomi’s eyes widening. “Oh yes, tomorrow, and if they don’t show reaction...”
Lance’s voice trailed off and Naomi pulled his hand off of her mouth, “If they don’t show the reaction we’re hoping for, you mean.” Naomi continued when Lance nodded numbly, “Then we’re going to give up, right? Don’t look so surprised Lance! You don’t honestly think I would fight over Chase with Ally, do you? They’re both my best friends and if they’re happy together then good for them. It’s always been James and I all along... and I can get used to that again.” Naomi’s tears were threatening to flow again but she blinked them away.
“But if we get our feelings out and they feel the same way then...” Naomi stopped herself in mid-sentence. She smiled wanly, “But I’m not going to get my hopes up.”
Lance wrapped his arm around Naomi’s shoulders and grinned, “Oh yes you are. You already have.”
Naomi shrugged, “Whatever, Lance.”
“Naomi... do you think that... what if... I mean...”
Naomi bit her lip. Somehow she managed to read Lance’s mind. She pulled him down on the grass next to her and sighed. She knew exactly what he was thinking and hopefully, she would be able to divert his thoughts for a while. JC and Alyssa sleeping in the same room were not exactly the best subjects for conversation at that moment. But if he asked about the phone call... she would be obligated to tell him. He didn’t know nuts about it just yet, and she hoped she’d be able to keep it that way. “Lance, thank you.”
Lance looked surprised but smiled, “What have I done to deserve the honor of those two words?”
“More than you’ll ever know. Thank you for comforting me and everything. I know I can be a total drag sometimes but that’s how I am, I guess. Always stuck in some fantasy world.” Naomi smiled and sighed in relief when Lance grinned and nodded. “Do you think... maybe... can we talk, Lance? I... there’s so much I need to get off of my chest and... oh, forget it.”
Lance smiled tenderly at Naomi’s unease. “We’ll talk, Naomi. You know, when we kissed, Alyssa was the only thing that filled my mind. I felt her lips on mine, not yours. And something inside me screamed that we were doing the wrong thing. I felt like the lowest guy on earth at that moment, I swear. I’d separated you and JC and in the end I figure it’s his girl I like. I mean, what kind of jerk would do stuff like that? Right now, you and him both have every reason in the world to be mad at me. I mean, I was acting really stupid.”
Lance smiled penitently at Naomi and batted his eyelashes at her. Naomi giggled, “Oh no, don’t use that ‘good boy’ look on me, Lansten Bass.”
Lance laughed then held out his hand and smiled when Naomi shook it, “Friends. Forever.”
“Just like you promised.”
“Just like I promised.”
They grinned at each other. Then Lance spoke up again, “I’m glad you’re not mad at me. Thank you for understanding, Naomi.”
Naomi rubbed her hands together and leaned her head on Lance’s shoulder, “Hey, we’re all entitled to lose it once in a while. Besides, it wasn’t very serious. I mean, Chase and I made up like, later that night. But...”
“But these past few days, you...”
“Yeah,” Naomi admitted. “I’ve been, well, brushing him aside, I guess. Like I said, the only way I could make sure I wouldn’t get hurt was by putting up walls... and Chase didn’t think he would spend as much time with me as we wanted to... because of Alyssa and everything. So I did the only thing I could at that time.”
Lance nodded and squeezed her hand reassuringly, “I know. You don’t have to worry, all right? We’ll sort everything out.”
Naomi plucked at the grass restlessly. She closed her eyes and for a moment, Lance thought she had gone to sleep. Then she smiled and said, “Thank you for tonight, Lance. I... I had fun.”
Lance smiled back and stroked her hair, “Hey, no problem.”
“Do you think, you know... if you were me, would you have done the same thing? Would you have... you know, blocked Chase out the way I did?”
Lance shrugged and considered Naomi’s question carefully, “Well... I don’t know. If it was me in your shoes, I guess... I think I’d do the same. Or... or maybe I’d talk it out. I really don’t know.”
Naomi bit her lip, “I really regret it. But... but it was the only thing I thought of at the time. And now... where do I start building it up again? How do I get back the same trust and love and bond we’ve always shared? And... how do we take it a deeper level?”
Lance smiled as he regarded Naomi’s thoughtful expression. “The answers will come to you, Naomi. But until they do, I’ll always be here for you. And so will Justin and Chris and Joey and Alyssa.”
Naomi looked into Lance’s eyes, “And Chase?”
Lance smiled and looked her straight in the eye when he said, “He’ll be there all the way. I can vouch for it.”
Naomi smiled and her head rested on Lance’s broad shoulder. His arm went around her shoulders by instinct and they snuggled closer together for the few peaceful moments they had, seeking and finding comfort in each other’s friendship. They were silent as they drifted, lost in their own thoughts.
“Do you want me to send you home?” Lance asked, turning to Naomi after a few minutes of companionable silence. He got up and brushed the grass off of his clothes before offering his hand to her.
Naomi’s head jerked up almost nodded, her hand reaching for his outstretched one, the ghost of a smile on her face. Then, her smile disappeared as quickly as they it come when she remembered Alyssa’s words. “No, but could you take me to Justin’s? I haven’t asked but I know he’ll take me in for the night. I mean, Alyssa and Chase are...”
Naomi’s voice trailed off when the idea finally sank in. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been shocked from the start, but the thought just hadn’t registered in her brain. But now it had. And it had hit her... hard.
Lance stared at Naomi, finally catching on. His face fell visibly and he plopped back down onto the grass beside Naomi. “You mean... JC... he’s staying at your place tonight? With... with Alyssa?”
Naomi nodded numbly, her mind reeling. Her plan to keep it from Lance had backfired BIG time. But as she felt a mixture of unfamiliar feelings course through her, Naomi couldn’t care less. He had a right to know, and he would have found out sooner or later. After all, what other explanation could there be if JC walked into Justin’s house the next morning, with Alyssa right by him?
Then Naomi shook herself. Enough selfish thoughts! Sure, it’s a big shock. But you don’t have to think that way. Positive thinking, remember? And besides, Lance is troubled enough as it is. At least TRY to comfort him. Damn Naomi, you are SO stupid sometimes. Don’t you ever know when NOT to accept a ride home?
With a resigned sigh, Naomi tried to find the words to soothe Lance and, she was sure, his raging jealousy. “They may be sleeping together-” Naomi flinched at her own words. “I mean,” she quickly corrected, seeing the contempt on Lance’s face. “But they won’t... I mean... they’re not that into each other... are they? Besides, they’ve only seen each other for like, - what? - a month?”
“Less.”
“Exactly!” Naomi gushed, trying to calm not only Lance, but herself as well. Her heart was racing and blood was pounding in her ears. Adrenaline coursed through her body and it was all she could do not to force Lance to take her home straight away. Needless to say, comforting Lance, or anyone else for that matter, was not a big thing on her ‘to-do’ list. She took a deep breath, praying for the strength to stop imagining the worst - but it was impossible. Images of Alyssa and JC on the same bed kept flashing through her head.
Lance’s face was already drained of colour. But he sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face tiredly. He pushed himself up off the ground and pulled Naomi to her feet. “Well, it’s no use worrying,” he shrugged, trying to act unaffected, and failing miserably. “We’ll just have to talk to out tomorrow. And pray they feel the same way.”
Naomi nodded, slipping her arm into Lance’s, seeking warmth and comfort. They headed toward the car Lance had rented and drove to Justin’s house, the journey seemingly long and silent.
Justin couldn’t wipe the huge grin off of his face when he saw Lance and Naomi enter the house, arm-in-arm. He winked at Britney, who giggled and gave him a thumbs-up sign, before sauntering over to them, smiling sweetly at Naomi. She groaned when she recognized the danger signs, almost screaming in frustration when she saw an identical grin on Britney’s face as she sat on the couch, surveying the scene.
“Will you wipe that smirk off of your puny face or am I going to have to get a rag and do it for you?” Lance threatened, as Justin drew closer.
Justin smiled smoothly at Lance, “You gonna wipe that lipstick off of your handsome face or am I going to have to get Naomi to use her tongue and do it for you?”
Lance’s cheeks burned but Naomi just rolled her eyes. She ran her fingers lightly over Lance’s lips before showing her fingertips to Justin, her free hand resting on her hip. “No lipstick. Now shut up or I’m gonna get Britney to do that for you.”
Justin batted his eyelashes and grinned, “I could use some tongue,” he admitted, as Naomi glared at him. Britney giggled from her seat and Lance just shook his head, but he couldn’t help smiling at Justin’s playfulness.
“Well, anyway, what have you two naughty kids been up to tonight?” Britney asked, as she made her way towards them.
Naomi raised her eyebrows. “And here I thought you were going to teach him a thing or two. Teenagers!”
Britney smiled a sugar sweet smile and shrugged, “Hey, I can’t help myself. The boy just drives me crazy.”
Justin grinned, showing off his pearly white teeth. “I do seem to have that kind of effect on people.”
“Oh yeah,” Naomi agreed. “You definitely drive me crazy. About enough to want to pull every one of those curls out. Slowly... and painfully.”
Lance laughed at Justin’s miserable pout. “She’s got you man.”
Lance’s laughter stopped short when Justin turned to him, a bright smile on his face. “Lance, you wouldn’t want your best buddy to-”
“Just shut up, Justin!” Lance yelled, knowing the questions that were going to come. “No! Shut up!”
Naomi grinned. She had been about to say the same thing. But Lance had beaten her to it. She dropped a kiss on Justin’s forehead and patted his hair, as though she was comforting a three-year-old. Britney giggled when Justin’s pout remained. “I am not three years old anymore, Naomi!” he wailed.
Naomi shrugged, hiding a smile. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Justin bottom lip jutted out as he cursed Naomi’s sarcasm silently. Britney shook her head and turned to Naomi, “Let me show you how the pros do it,” she offered.
Naomi smirked, “Be my guest.”
Britney’s fingers went into Justin’s hair as Lance coughed, hiding a snigger. Justin’s eyebrows shot up in amusement as he turned round and caught Britney in his arms. He swung her around in the air, chuckling at her giddy laughter. She rested her arms on his shoulders and planted a light kiss on his lips.
“Oh please you two, get a room!” Chris’ voice sounded from the kitchen. He smiled widely when he saw Naomi. “Hey Naomi!” he yelled, as if she was thirty miles away instead of three feet. Naomi rubbed her aching ear and giggled, “Hey Chris.”
Britney smiled and waved to Chris, “I was just showing Naomi how to calm Wonderboy over here.”
Naomi laughed, “It worked all right.”
Lance laughed and nodded.
Naomi suddenly remembered her purpose in coming to Justin’s house just as Joey entered the room. “I need to put up here for the night, J.”
Joey broke into a huge grin, sweeping Naomi into his arms and planted a big sloppy kiss on her cheek. “I just knew you’d come through one day. You’ve finally fallen for me, haven’t you? Oh bliss!” Then he became more thoughtful. “I’ll share my bed if you share yours.”
Naomi laughed at Joey’s outrageous comments. “Shut up Joey,” Lance snapped, beating Naomi to it for the second time that night.
Chris howled with laughter when he saw Joey’s disappointed look. “Aww... did the big UGLY dog get dumped?”
Joey poked his tongue out at Chris like a kid throwing a tantrum. “I am NOT an ugly dog! I’m a very cute one.”
Chris hugged his stomach as the doorbell rang, suddenly ignoring Joey’s very existence. He ran over and grabbed Naomi’s arm, dragging her to the front door. Naomi was a little startled by his sudden motion, but she soon understood and burst out laughing. At the door was the pizza guy. “Pizza!” Chris yelled, shaking the house.
Naomi’s hands quickly covered her ears as she winced. “Ouch. You sure are loud Chris.”
Chris shrugged sheepishly.
Justin ran to the front door, stuffed the cash into the delivery man’s hands and pulled the pizza indoors. The two made a wild dash for the table, as though their lives depended on it. “Whoa... if that’s how they react over pizza, I’d hate to see them over something really important.” Naomi chuckled.
Britney shrugged as Joey and Lance dived towards Chris and Justin, snatching at the pizza. Justin and Chris expertly pulled away from the table, with the pizza safely in their hands. Lance and Joey knocked their heads against the table and Naomi winced. “Ow... that’s just gotta hurt.”
“Apparently not,” Britney commented, as Lance and Joey dove again for the pizza. Naomi rolled her eyes as both she and Britney looked at each other. “Men.”
There was a scuffle over the food as arms, legs and the occasional blond curly hair stuck out at awkward angles as the four continued their wrestling; the pizza left, for the moment, forgotten on the floor. Naomi grinned at Britney, who nodded slyly. The two girls inched forward and picked up the box of pizza, giggling softly. Then they ran into Britney’s temporary room and slammed the door shut.
Chris’ head finally emerged from the tangled web of bodies and stared around the floor, a confused expression on his face. He extracted himself carefully from the heap of Justin, Lance and Joey and crawled towards the spot he KNEW the pizza had been a few seconds ago. “That’s funny,” he said thoughtfully.
Lance bopped him on the head. “What is?”
Justin’s eyes were bulging, almost ready to pop out of their sockets. Before Chris could say another word, Justin bellowed, “WHERE’S MY PIZZA?”
Joey rolled his eyes and pounced onto Justin, forcing him to the floor. Lynn had gone out for the night and Lance suddenly felt glad for that. She would go ballistic if she saw them fighting. Even if it was just a playful squabble.
“Your pizza?” Chris laughed. “Justin, you paid for it but I ordered it. It’s MINE!”
Joey whined, “I, uh, I said I’d stay only if I got half the pizza!”
Justin rolled his eyes as Joey hung him upside down. His head spun dizzily when the blood rushed to his head. “Whatever, Joey. The door is that way.”
Joey dropped Justin onto the floor and Justin yelped with pain. Chris giggled but Lance just shook his head. The three began bickering over who had eaten the pizza when suddenly, Lance’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Guys,” he nudged Justin, who pushed him away and continued quarrelling with Chris and Joey. “Guys!” Lance tried again, louder this time. “GUYS!” Lance finally yelled, when no one paid him any attention. Three menacing faces turned to him and Lance pointed at Britney’s closed door. “Guess who?”
Chris’ eyes narrowed when he got Lance’s meaning. Justin was laughing. “They can mess with me, my hair, hell they can even mess with my buddies! But no one smart ever, ever messes with Chris Kirkpatrick’s PIZZA!”
The four of them charged at the door, just as Naomi and Britney walked out. The two girls watched in astonishment as the four guys dashed into the room they had just exited. They turned to look at each other slowly, then they laughed.
Joey picked himself out of the mess and stood up slowly, turning around to see Naomi and Britney laughing so hard that tears were rolling down their cheeks. He growled and pounced on them, smiling widely when they screamed.
“Beg for mercy,” Chris commanded. “And give me back my pizza.”
“NEVER!”
“Then prepare to suffer!” Justin looked into Britney’s eyes as she gave him a sugar sweet smile. “That award-winning smile isn’t getting you anywhere this time, Brit,” Justin grinned when her face fell. “You have been warned.”
Lance laughed at Naomi’s indignation when Chris gently tugged on her hair. “Lemme go!” she demanded. “LET ME GO!”
Even Joey laughed when Chris began howling. “She bit me! She bit me! Crap Naomi, that hurt!” Chris held his sore finger gingerly, as if afraid it was broken.
Naomi pouted, “I said let go.”
Chris bounced off of her immediately. “I hear ya, I hear ya!” he said quickly, taking a few steps backwards when Naomi advanced menacingly on him.
Lance laughed and shook his head. Then he yawned. Naomi shot him a concerned glance, “Are you tired, Lance?”
“Aww...” Joey giggled, “Is Naomi getting all mushy over our Poofu?”
Naomi and Lance rolled their eyes and Chris giggled, pointing and whispering to Joey, “Lovers’ telepathy!”
Justin and Britney laughed as Justin finally helped Britney to her feet. Chris rolled his eyes and punched Joey in the stomach, “Why does it seem like everyone’s getting hooked up all of a sudden?”
Joey groaned and rubbed his stomach, “I don’t know. Dammit Chris, that hurt! And I’m not hooked up with anyone, so why are you taking this out on me?”
Chris shrugged and grinned evilly, “I just like bullying you.”
Joey rolled his eyes as Naomi giggled, “I thought that was Justin.”
“Well, yeah, it used to be. I guess he’s lost his sex appeal.”
Justin stared at Chris, his jaw dropping. “What the...?”
Naomi’s body was shaking with laughter as she leaned against Lance’s body for support. Lance looked down at her curiously and smiled when he saw that Naomi was finally laughing again. He was glad. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine, he thought to himself, as the corners of his mouth began to twitch.
Britney marched in front of Chris and slapped him only half playfully on the shoulder. Chris yelped - the pain in his arm made Britney’s point clear. “You were saying, Chris...?” Britney threatened.
“Uh... was I saying anything?” Chris asked out loud. “Nope. Not me. I was just being quiet, sweet little Chris. Uh huh. That’s me all right.”
Justin grinned obnoxiously and then cleared his throat. “I king Tarzan,” he said in a very un-Justin manner, pointing to Britney as he next spoke, “She Queen Jane of forest. Save me from him - bad tiger of jungle.”
Joey’s eyebrows were raised in amusement when he suddenly choked and had a violent coughing fit. His face was a deep red when he finally looked up at Justin and pointed to Justin’s jeans.
Justin looked down questioningly and his face burned up. Naomi couldn’t even begin guessing what was wrong. Justin swallowed painfully, “Um, maybe playing Tarzan wasn’t such a good idea.”
Chris’ face was scrunched up as Justin practically ran into the toilet when he finally understood what Joey meant. “Oh my god!” Chris laughed, falling onto the floor and rolling around, his legs still kicking in the air. “Oh my god!”
“What?” Lance asked, totally lost.
Naomi shrugged. She didn’t have the faintest idea either.
Joey was still red in the face but slowly recovering. Britney was just standing there, looking first from the rolling, laughing Chris, to the red-faced, breathless Joey. “Um, this may make me sound stupid, but... WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?”
Joey finally got over his choking and turned to grin at the three rather innocent young people in the room. He shook his head and smiled, pointing to the toilet door from which Justin was emerging. “Ask Tarzan.”
Justin’s face flushed at the nickname, but he shrugged his shoulders and kicked Chris’ ass, “Shut up,” he snapped. “It’s not that funny. We all screw up once in a while. Jesus!”
Chris wiped the tears from his eyes, “Justin, when I said you had lost all sex appeal, you didn’t have to take such drastic measures, you know.” Chris’ eyes traveled downwards to Justin’s jeans as Justin’s cheeks began to burn again.
“Shut up Chris!”
Chris shrugged and got up off of the floor, still trying not to giggle. “By the way,” Chris nodded to Justin as he narrowly missed a bop on the head from Justin’s fist, “You still don’t have any sex appeal. Not to me, baby.”
Justin’s jaw dropped, for the second time that night. “Sex appeal, Chris? SEX APPEAL? Since when have you learnt such BIG words? Are you sure that puny brain of yours can take such huge vocabulary?”
Chris wagged a warning finger in Justin’s face. “Hey, hey, hey... I wasn’t the one who left my fly unzipped and acted as Tar-”
Naomi’s hand covered her mouth as she began giggling. Lance had to bite his lip to stop his laughter. Joey was grinning away and Britney just looked shocked.
Naomi shook her head when Chris and Justin began quarrelling again. “Guys!” she interrupted, “Is there a POINT to this argument?”
Chris turned to her for a second before shrugging, “He’s the youngest and I’m the oldest. That’s all there is to it.”
“Uh huh...” Naomi still wasn’t fully convinced. “Do you guys have a personal vendetta or something? Because I swear I have NEVER seen two guys who fight as much as you two do. Honestly!”
Justin shrugged, “I can’t help it if the oldest brother in the band wants to act MY age, can I? No, scratch that, he doesn’t even act HALF as matured as I do.”
Chris grinned, “Which is exactly why I beat you down, boy. Cos I can act like a child and still be called a man, but you are forever a boy, no matter WHAT you do.”
Naomi shook her head, still grinning. Then she remembered the reason she had come in the first place. “Um, J? I said just now, but I think you didn’t hear; I need to put up at your place tonight.”
Justin bounced up and down, placing his hand over Chris’ face and pushing it away from him. “Go away, Chris. You’re spoiling my view of my house.”
Chris rolled his eyes before grinning and beginning to wrestle with Joey. “View of your house... riiiiiggggghhhht.”
Justin continued to bounce as Britney kissed his cheek tenderly, waved to Naomi and headed to her room for a good night’s rest. “Why?”
“I, um... just can I stay or not?”
“Sure!” Justin agreed happily. “We can have more pizza and root beer and-”
Naomi shook her head, “I want to go to bed, now.”
“Me too,” Lance finally spoke up.
Justin shrugged, his eyebrows raised. Then an evil grin spread slowly across his face. He stared from Lance, to Naomi, to Lance and back to Naomi. “Ahh...” he giggled, winking conspiratorially at Chris, who grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
Joey pouted, “Man, she doesn’t even take a second glance at me.”
Chris rolled his eyes and punched Joey’s stomach again, “Dude, the ladies don’t like guys who are pushovers.”
“I’m not a pushover!” Joey insisted and Justin sighed as the two continued their argument about Joey’s manliness.
Justin turned back slowly to Naomi, the same naughty grin on his face. He grinned at Lance, showing his pearly white teeth.
“Oh no,” Naomi said quickly, reading Justin’s dirty thoughts. “SEPARATE rooms, please, J.”
“Aww man,” Justin pouted. “You guys are no fun.”
Lance smiled tiredly at Naomi, pecking her on the cheek with warm brotherly affection.
“Good night,” Naomi smiled, hugging Lance’s sturdy frame. “Sweet dreams.”
“Okay,” Justin said, as he sprawled across Naomi’s bed later that night, watching her grab her pajamas. “Spill!”
TBC
Steal My Heart
(Meanwhile, At the park.)
The moment their lips had come into contact, Lance had wanted to pull back. There was something wrong with it. But he wasn’t sure if Naomi felt the same. And he wasn’t out to hurt her feelings.
They remained with their eyes closed and their hands around each other. But their stances were frozen and rigid. It was as though they were forcing themselves not to pull apart. Naomi kept her mouth shut tightly. She wasn’t about to take the kiss to the next level... especially when it felt wrong from the start.
Just as Naomi felt like clawing her eyes out, her cell phone rang. The two quickly released each other, both sighing audibly. They gave each other a funny look before Naomi seized her cell and held it up to her ear. “Um... h-hello?”
When she heard Alyssa’s voice, Naomi wanted to sink into the ground. She felt embarrassed, dirty and plain mean.
For the few minutes they spoke on the phone, Lance had paced the ground, chewed on his fingernails, ruffled and combed his hair and hopped around nervously. When Naomi finally put down the phone, he sighed.
They walked up to look each other in the face. They exchanged very guilty looks before rocking on their heels and looking at anything besides each other.
“Lance...”
“Naomi...”
They spoke at the same time and they again looked at each other guiltily. “I... you go first,” Naomi offered.
Lance licked his lips. It wasn’t going to be easy spilling his thoughts out to Naomi... especially since she wasn’t part of them. He bit his lip, wondering how to explain it to her. For a moment, Naomi thought he wasn’t going to say anything. She almost stamped her foot in impatience. Then she sighed when she saw the look on his face. She knew then that there was going to be a long talk between the two of them.
Lance took a deep breath, “It wasn’t... didn’t... there was nothing.”
Naomi nodded. She could still picture their kiss in her mind’s eye - when their lips had touched... in all honesty, Naomi had expected fireworks, confetti and explosions to go off in her world but... there was nothing. No feeling, no nothing. She felt like she had kissed her brother... on the lips. And damn, she felt bad.
Naomi looked down. A wave of guilt and shame washed over her and her cheeks burned so brightly that light could have been reflected off of them. She took a deep breath and sighed. She licked her lips and mentally cursed herself when she saw Lance’s eyes follow the movement of her tongue involuntarily.
“No!” she yelped out. “Don’t take that the wrong way! I just... it’s just an unconscious gesture and-”
Lance held up a hand, “I understand.”
They stared at each other for a few moments. Both of them felt totally guilty. They rocked on their heels and tried to collect themselves. But it was no use. Naomi chewed on her bottom lip nervously and Lance stared at his feet. “Lance... when we... you know, when we, um, kissed. I... it didn’t feel right, did it?”
Lance’s head shot up and he looked at her for a second before he shook his head. “No,” he admitted slowly. “It didn’t.”
Naomi hung her head, “What have we done?”
“I... it’s...” Lance exhaled loudly and ran a hand through his hair. Naomi tapped her foot against the ground and it seemed as though the sound echoed through the park. It was quiet, eerily so, and Naomi started jiggling nervously.
“Um... Naomi, don’t take this the wrong way but... can you just stand still for one second?” Lance stuck his hands in his pocket and smiled when Naomi stopped rocking to and fro. “Um, thanks.”
Naomi shrugged, “Uh, no problem.” She took a deep breath and forced a small smile. They stayed in an awkward silence for a few minutes before Naomi finally burst out, “All right. This is just eating at me! Lance, can we please talk?”
Lance nodded reluctantly and sat down on the grass. Naomi plopped down beside him but both of them carefully put some distance between themselves. “All right,” Lance said softly. “But what do you want to say? Do we come clean about everything? Or do we just, I don’t know, say the necessary?”
“Everything. I’m tired of this I-don’t-know-who-the-hell-I-like thing that’s been going on lately. It just... I need to confide in someone Lance... and this time... this time Chase isn’t here to hear it.” Naomi’s eyes began to burn but she blinked back the tears. Has Chase realized it yet? Or am I just imagining it all? Is it a one-sided love?
Lance saw the torn expression on Naomi’s face and he covered her hand with his. He rubbed the back of her hand gently with his thumb, soothing her. Naomi smiled sadly at him, “Thank you.”
Lance patted her on the back, “Forever friends, remember? Why don’t you just get it off of your chest? Tell me everything.”
Naomi shook her head, “I’m not ready yet,” she confessed. “Can you go first? I need some time to relax and... work up the courage.”
Lance nodded, “All right. Well... how do I say this? I didn’t expect things to move so quickly and I’m sorry about... about what happened just now.” He stood up and walked away from Naomi. He bit the inside of his cheek and tried to think of something else to say. “But at least now... I’m clear about my feelings.”
Naomi looked up at him and nodded slowly. “What are they?” she asked softly. Her voice was so soft that Lance had to lean forward to hear her.
“I... well, let’s just say that hopefully, a certain Miss. Carter will be swept off her feet if I get my way.”
Naomi giggled, “Oh, I’m sure you’ll get your way. You always do.”
Lance had to smile, “Well, when we kissed, I guess... it just hit me that something didn’t feel right. I didn’t feel... um...”
“Tingly all over?”
Lance laughed, “That’s a way to put it, I suppose. Yeah...” he paused and an unreadable look crossed his face before he said in a soft tone, “The girl who flashed in my mind when we kissed was... it was Alyssa. And I felt something inside me screaming to pull back. But I couldn’t. I... I didn’t know how you would react and... well...”
Naomi looked down at the grass. “I know.”
“Well, anyway, I guess that in my heart it was Alyssa all along. I have absolutely no idea why... why I thought I liked you. There was a time I even wondered if I was in love, for goodness’ sake!” Lance laughed without humor. “Sometimes I think I’m blind. She was there... always there for me... and I couldn’t see it... not until she... we...”
Naomi stood up and squeezed Lance’s shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t be that way, Lance. We all screw up now and then. Besides, I know something that would cheer you up. You’ll probably scream for joy when you’ve heard it.”
Lance stopped shuffling his feet and gave Naomi a ‘get real’ look. She laughed, “Ally liked you all along. The only reason she didn’t try to go after you was because you seemed totally wrapped up in me and she didn’t think she’d even stand a chance if she tried. So she went after Chase instead.”
Lance’s eyes widened. He resisted the urge to shake Naomi but he managed to calm down enough to squeak, “Seriously?”
“Dead serious.”
“She likes me? As in me, Lance Bass? Of N’sync?”
Naomi couldn’t help giggling at Lance’s flabbergasted expression, “Yep. Alyssa Carter likes the one and only Lance Bass of N’sync.”
Lance’s jaw dropped. Naomi grinned, “You might want to close that,” she told him as she lifted his jaw to meet his mouth.
Lance’s lips were trembling when he finally said, “But... but then...”
Naomi sighed, “Mmmhmm... that kinda makes me the odd one out here.” She shrugged and forced a nonchalant expression onto her face, which wasn’t very difficult. She coached herself and managed to chuckle. “But that’s me all the way. I’m always at the wrong place at the wrong time. Looks like I was with the wrong person this time too.”
Lance shook his head and placed his hands on Naomi’s shoulder, “I’m sure you’re not the odd one out.”
“Things like this don’t always end with a happy ending, Lance. I just have to face reality for once,” Naomi closed her eyes and Lance wasn’t sure what to do. She wasn’t asking for comfort, but she wasn’t shaking his hands off either.
“Maybe they don’t always end happily, Naomi,” Lance put a finger under her chin and lifted her head and looked into her eyes, “but this just has to have a fairytale ending. I can feel it. Please Naomi, trust me.”
Naomi almost laughed again. “Trust you, Lance? I can’t... you’re asking me to give up the only form of defense I know. The only way I could protect myself from being hurt all these years... the only thing I could do was push away anyone who tried to get too close. Sometimes that aloof girl you all think you know... sometimes she isn’t me. And I feel like I’m screaming and struggling to get out of this never ending hell I’m putting myself through. I just... I want to be able to trust people too. Yes, I know I’m gullible and stupid... but putting my trust in someone is the most difficult thing I can do. I can’t force myself to... to break down and have faith in you... Yes, I trust you to a certain extent, but until I’m sure of you, until I get to know you... that trust can never fully be there.”
Lance breathed in deeply. The sweet scent of the night air lingered for a few seconds before he said, “I understand.” Naomi gave him surprised look as he continued, “And I’m more than willing to give you that time. Because I want to know you too, Naomi. I want to know you for more than the aloof front you have put up, and that blank expression you’ve mastered. I want to be a friend to you. A true friend. Someone you can trust and love. I want to be someone you can lean on... and hopefully we can become close friends one day.”
Naomi smiled at Lance and wiped the tears that had come to her eyes. “Thank you Lance,” she whispered, before wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head on his chest. Lance put his cheek on her head and hugged her tightly. In a way, they were both looking for some kind of comfort and they were consoled by the warmth they found in each others’ arms... and in the friendship they were slowly building.
Naomi took a deep breath and stepped back when Lance gently released her. “I still mean it, though, about butting in where I’m not wanted. If all this works out then... then I think I’m going to get another job.”
Lance’s eyes widened, “NAOMI! You... you can’t just...”
Naomi smiled sadly, “Oh yes I can. I know it’s running from the problem again but... I don’t want to stay around while Chase gets someone else. Maybe if he and Ally were really together, I might be able to stand it. But now that you and Ally are going to end up together then...”
Lance shook his head, “Look, we don’t have to jump to conclusions, all right? There is a chance that JC likes you too.” Lance covered Naomi’s mouth when she started to protest. “Just take it a step at a time. I like Alyssa and I honestly hope she still feels the same way about me. But we don’t know for sure that JC and her won’t... you know, end up together. I know JC said to go after her no matter what, but I can’t do that. He... we’re as close as blood brothers, maybe closer, and there’s no way I’m gonna screw up on this one. When we confess everything tomorrow,” Lance nodded when he saw Naomi’s eyes widening. “Oh yes, tomorrow, and if they don’t show reaction...”
Lance’s voice trailed off and Naomi pulled his hand off of her mouth, “If they don’t show the reaction we’re hoping for, you mean.” Naomi continued when Lance nodded numbly, “Then we’re going to give up, right? Don’t look so surprised Lance! You don’t honestly think I would fight over Chase with Ally, do you? They’re both my best friends and if they’re happy together then good for them. It’s always been James and I all along... and I can get used to that again.” Naomi’s tears were threatening to flow again but she blinked them away.
“But if we get our feelings out and they feel the same way then...” Naomi stopped herself in mid-sentence. She smiled wanly, “But I’m not going to get my hopes up.”
Lance wrapped his arm around Naomi’s shoulders and grinned, “Oh yes you are. You already have.”
Naomi shrugged, “Whatever, Lance.”
“Naomi... do you think that... what if... I mean...”
Naomi bit her lip. Somehow she managed to read Lance’s mind. She pulled him down on the grass next to her and sighed. She knew exactly what he was thinking and hopefully, she would be able to divert his thoughts for a while. JC and Alyssa sleeping in the same room were not exactly the best subjects for conversation at that moment. But if he asked about the phone call... she would be obligated to tell him. He didn’t know nuts about it just yet, and she hoped she’d be able to keep it that way. “Lance, thank you.”
Lance looked surprised but smiled, “What have I done to deserve the honor of those two words?”
“More than you’ll ever know. Thank you for comforting me and everything. I know I can be a total drag sometimes but that’s how I am, I guess. Always stuck in some fantasy world.” Naomi smiled and sighed in relief when Lance grinned and nodded. “Do you think... maybe... can we talk, Lance? I... there’s so much I need to get off of my chest and... oh, forget it.”
Lance smiled tenderly at Naomi’s unease. “We’ll talk, Naomi. You know, when we kissed, Alyssa was the only thing that filled my mind. I felt her lips on mine, not yours. And something inside me screamed that we were doing the wrong thing. I felt like the lowest guy on earth at that moment, I swear. I’d separated you and JC and in the end I figure it’s his girl I like. I mean, what kind of jerk would do stuff like that? Right now, you and him both have every reason in the world to be mad at me. I mean, I was acting really stupid.”
Lance smiled penitently at Naomi and batted his eyelashes at her. Naomi giggled, “Oh no, don’t use that ‘good boy’ look on me, Lansten Bass.”
Lance laughed then held out his hand and smiled when Naomi shook it, “Friends. Forever.”
“Just like you promised.”
“Just like I promised.”
They grinned at each other. Then Lance spoke up again, “I’m glad you’re not mad at me. Thank you for understanding, Naomi.”
Naomi rubbed her hands together and leaned her head on Lance’s shoulder, “Hey, we’re all entitled to lose it once in a while. Besides, it wasn’t very serious. I mean, Chase and I made up like, later that night. But...”
“But these past few days, you...”
“Yeah,” Naomi admitted. “I’ve been, well, brushing him aside, I guess. Like I said, the only way I could make sure I wouldn’t get hurt was by putting up walls... and Chase didn’t think he would spend as much time with me as we wanted to... because of Alyssa and everything. So I did the only thing I could at that time.”
Lance nodded and squeezed her hand reassuringly, “I know. You don’t have to worry, all right? We’ll sort everything out.”
Naomi plucked at the grass restlessly. She closed her eyes and for a moment, Lance thought she had gone to sleep. Then she smiled and said, “Thank you for tonight, Lance. I... I had fun.”
Lance smiled back and stroked her hair, “Hey, no problem.”
“Do you think, you know... if you were me, would you have done the same thing? Would you have... you know, blocked Chase out the way I did?”
Lance shrugged and considered Naomi’s question carefully, “Well... I don’t know. If it was me in your shoes, I guess... I think I’d do the same. Or... or maybe I’d talk it out. I really don’t know.”
Naomi bit her lip, “I really regret it. But... but it was the only thing I thought of at the time. And now... where do I start building it up again? How do I get back the same trust and love and bond we’ve always shared? And... how do we take it a deeper level?”
Lance smiled as he regarded Naomi’s thoughtful expression. “The answers will come to you, Naomi. But until they do, I’ll always be here for you. And so will Justin and Chris and Joey and Alyssa.”
Naomi looked into Lance’s eyes, “And Chase?”
Lance smiled and looked her straight in the eye when he said, “He’ll be there all the way. I can vouch for it.”
Naomi smiled and her head rested on Lance’s broad shoulder. His arm went around her shoulders by instinct and they snuggled closer together for the few peaceful moments they had, seeking and finding comfort in each other’s friendship. They were silent as they drifted, lost in their own thoughts.
“Do you want me to send you home?” Lance asked, turning to Naomi after a few minutes of companionable silence. He got up and brushed the grass off of his clothes before offering his hand to her.
Naomi’s head jerked up almost nodded, her hand reaching for his outstretched one, the ghost of a smile on her face. Then, her smile disappeared as quickly as they it come when she remembered Alyssa’s words. “No, but could you take me to Justin’s? I haven’t asked but I know he’ll take me in for the night. I mean, Alyssa and Chase are...”
Naomi’s voice trailed off when the idea finally sank in. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been shocked from the start, but the thought just hadn’t registered in her brain. But now it had. And it had hit her... hard.
Lance stared at Naomi, finally catching on. His face fell visibly and he plopped back down onto the grass beside Naomi. “You mean... JC... he’s staying at your place tonight? With... with Alyssa?”
Naomi nodded numbly, her mind reeling. Her plan to keep it from Lance had backfired BIG time. But as she felt a mixture of unfamiliar feelings course through her, Naomi couldn’t care less. He had a right to know, and he would have found out sooner or later. After all, what other explanation could there be if JC walked into Justin’s house the next morning, with Alyssa right by him?
Then Naomi shook herself. Enough selfish thoughts! Sure, it’s a big shock. But you don’t have to think that way. Positive thinking, remember? And besides, Lance is troubled enough as it is. At least TRY to comfort him. Damn Naomi, you are SO stupid sometimes. Don’t you ever know when NOT to accept a ride home?
With a resigned sigh, Naomi tried to find the words to soothe Lance and, she was sure, his raging jealousy. “They may be sleeping together-” Naomi flinched at her own words. “I mean,” she quickly corrected, seeing the contempt on Lance’s face. “But they won’t... I mean... they’re not that into each other... are they? Besides, they’ve only seen each other for like, - what? - a month?”
“Less.”
“Exactly!” Naomi gushed, trying to calm not only Lance, but herself as well. Her heart was racing and blood was pounding in her ears. Adrenaline coursed through her body and it was all she could do not to force Lance to take her home straight away. Needless to say, comforting Lance, or anyone else for that matter, was not a big thing on her ‘to-do’ list. She took a deep breath, praying for the strength to stop imagining the worst - but it was impossible. Images of Alyssa and JC on the same bed kept flashing through her head.
Lance’s face was already drained of colour. But he sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face tiredly. He pushed himself up off the ground and pulled Naomi to her feet. “Well, it’s no use worrying,” he shrugged, trying to act unaffected, and failing miserably. “We’ll just have to talk to out tomorrow. And pray they feel the same way.”
Naomi nodded, slipping her arm into Lance’s, seeking warmth and comfort. They headed toward the car Lance had rented and drove to Justin’s house, the journey seemingly long and silent.
Justin couldn’t wipe the huge grin off of his face when he saw Lance and Naomi enter the house, arm-in-arm. He winked at Britney, who giggled and gave him a thumbs-up sign, before sauntering over to them, smiling sweetly at Naomi. She groaned when she recognized the danger signs, almost screaming in frustration when she saw an identical grin on Britney’s face as she sat on the couch, surveying the scene.
“Will you wipe that smirk off of your puny face or am I going to have to get a rag and do it for you?” Lance threatened, as Justin drew closer.
Justin smiled smoothly at Lance, “You gonna wipe that lipstick off of your handsome face or am I going to have to get Naomi to use her tongue and do it for you?”
Lance’s cheeks burned but Naomi just rolled her eyes. She ran her fingers lightly over Lance’s lips before showing her fingertips to Justin, her free hand resting on her hip. “No lipstick. Now shut up or I’m gonna get Britney to do that for you.”
Justin batted his eyelashes and grinned, “I could use some tongue,” he admitted, as Naomi glared at him. Britney giggled from her seat and Lance just shook his head, but he couldn’t help smiling at Justin’s playfulness.
“Well, anyway, what have you two naughty kids been up to tonight?” Britney asked, as she made her way towards them.
Naomi raised her eyebrows. “And here I thought you were going to teach him a thing or two. Teenagers!”
Britney smiled a sugar sweet smile and shrugged, “Hey, I can’t help myself. The boy just drives me crazy.”
Justin grinned, showing off his pearly white teeth. “I do seem to have that kind of effect on people.”
“Oh yeah,” Naomi agreed. “You definitely drive me crazy. About enough to want to pull every one of those curls out. Slowly... and painfully.”
Lance laughed at Justin’s miserable pout. “She’s got you man.”
Lance’s laughter stopped short when Justin turned to him, a bright smile on his face. “Lance, you wouldn’t want your best buddy to-”
“Just shut up, Justin!” Lance yelled, knowing the questions that were going to come. “No! Shut up!”
Naomi grinned. She had been about to say the same thing. But Lance had beaten her to it. She dropped a kiss on Justin’s forehead and patted his hair, as though she was comforting a three-year-old. Britney giggled when Justin’s pout remained. “I am not three years old anymore, Naomi!” he wailed.
Naomi shrugged, hiding a smile. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Justin bottom lip jutted out as he cursed Naomi’s sarcasm silently. Britney shook her head and turned to Naomi, “Let me show you how the pros do it,” she offered.
Naomi smirked, “Be my guest.”
Britney’s fingers went into Justin’s hair as Lance coughed, hiding a snigger. Justin’s eyebrows shot up in amusement as he turned round and caught Britney in his arms. He swung her around in the air, chuckling at her giddy laughter. She rested her arms on his shoulders and planted a light kiss on his lips.
“Oh please you two, get a room!” Chris’ voice sounded from the kitchen. He smiled widely when he saw Naomi. “Hey Naomi!” he yelled, as if she was thirty miles away instead of three feet. Naomi rubbed her aching ear and giggled, “Hey Chris.”
Britney smiled and waved to Chris, “I was just showing Naomi how to calm Wonderboy over here.”
Naomi laughed, “It worked all right.”
Lance laughed and nodded.
Naomi suddenly remembered her purpose in coming to Justin’s house just as Joey entered the room. “I need to put up here for the night, J.”
Joey broke into a huge grin, sweeping Naomi into his arms and planted a big sloppy kiss on her cheek. “I just knew you’d come through one day. You’ve finally fallen for me, haven’t you? Oh bliss!” Then he became more thoughtful. “I’ll share my bed if you share yours.”
Naomi laughed at Joey’s outrageous comments. “Shut up Joey,” Lance snapped, beating Naomi to it for the second time that night.
Chris howled with laughter when he saw Joey’s disappointed look. “Aww... did the big UGLY dog get dumped?”
Joey poked his tongue out at Chris like a kid throwing a tantrum. “I am NOT an ugly dog! I’m a very cute one.”
Chris hugged his stomach as the doorbell rang, suddenly ignoring Joey’s very existence. He ran over and grabbed Naomi’s arm, dragging her to the front door. Naomi was a little startled by his sudden motion, but she soon understood and burst out laughing. At the door was the pizza guy. “Pizza!” Chris yelled, shaking the house.
Naomi’s hands quickly covered her ears as she winced. “Ouch. You sure are loud Chris.”
Chris shrugged sheepishly.
Justin ran to the front door, stuffed the cash into the delivery man’s hands and pulled the pizza indoors. The two made a wild dash for the table, as though their lives depended on it. “Whoa... if that’s how they react over pizza, I’d hate to see them over something really important.” Naomi chuckled.
Britney shrugged as Joey and Lance dived towards Chris and Justin, snatching at the pizza. Justin and Chris expertly pulled away from the table, with the pizza safely in their hands. Lance and Joey knocked their heads against the table and Naomi winced. “Ow... that’s just gotta hurt.”
“Apparently not,” Britney commented, as Lance and Joey dove again for the pizza. Naomi rolled her eyes as both she and Britney looked at each other. “Men.”
There was a scuffle over the food as arms, legs and the occasional blond curly hair stuck out at awkward angles as the four continued their wrestling; the pizza left, for the moment, forgotten on the floor. Naomi grinned at Britney, who nodded slyly. The two girls inched forward and picked up the box of pizza, giggling softly. Then they ran into Britney’s temporary room and slammed the door shut.
Chris’ head finally emerged from the tangled web of bodies and stared around the floor, a confused expression on his face. He extracted himself carefully from the heap of Justin, Lance and Joey and crawled towards the spot he KNEW the pizza had been a few seconds ago. “That’s funny,” he said thoughtfully.
Lance bopped him on the head. “What is?”
Justin’s eyes were bulging, almost ready to pop out of their sockets. Before Chris could say another word, Justin bellowed, “WHERE’S MY PIZZA?”
Joey rolled his eyes and pounced onto Justin, forcing him to the floor. Lynn had gone out for the night and Lance suddenly felt glad for that. She would go ballistic if she saw them fighting. Even if it was just a playful squabble.
“Your pizza?” Chris laughed. “Justin, you paid for it but I ordered it. It’s MINE!”
Joey whined, “I, uh, I said I’d stay only if I got half the pizza!”
Justin rolled his eyes as Joey hung him upside down. His head spun dizzily when the blood rushed to his head. “Whatever, Joey. The door is that way.”
Joey dropped Justin onto the floor and Justin yelped with pain. Chris giggled but Lance just shook his head. The three began bickering over who had eaten the pizza when suddenly, Lance’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Guys,” he nudged Justin, who pushed him away and continued quarrelling with Chris and Joey. “Guys!” Lance tried again, louder this time. “GUYS!” Lance finally yelled, when no one paid him any attention. Three menacing faces turned to him and Lance pointed at Britney’s closed door. “Guess who?”
Chris’ eyes narrowed when he got Lance’s meaning. Justin was laughing. “They can mess with me, my hair, hell they can even mess with my buddies! But no one smart ever, ever messes with Chris Kirkpatrick’s PIZZA!”
The four of them charged at the door, just as Naomi and Britney walked out. The two girls watched in astonishment as the four guys dashed into the room they had just exited. They turned to look at each other slowly, then they laughed.
Joey picked himself out of the mess and stood up slowly, turning around to see Naomi and Britney laughing so hard that tears were rolling down their cheeks. He growled and pounced on them, smiling widely when they screamed.
“Beg for mercy,” Chris commanded. “And give me back my pizza.”
“NEVER!”
“Then prepare to suffer!” Justin looked into Britney’s eyes as she gave him a sugar sweet smile. “That award-winning smile isn’t getting you anywhere this time, Brit,” Justin grinned when her face fell. “You have been warned.”
Lance laughed at Naomi’s indignation when Chris gently tugged on her hair. “Lemme go!” she demanded. “LET ME GO!”
Even Joey laughed when Chris began howling. “She bit me! She bit me! Crap Naomi, that hurt!” Chris held his sore finger gingerly, as if afraid it was broken.
Naomi pouted, “I said let go.”
Chris bounced off of her immediately. “I hear ya, I hear ya!” he said quickly, taking a few steps backwards when Naomi advanced menacingly on him.
Lance laughed and shook his head. Then he yawned. Naomi shot him a concerned glance, “Are you tired, Lance?”
“Aww...” Joey giggled, “Is Naomi getting all mushy over our Poofu?”
Naomi and Lance rolled their eyes and Chris giggled, pointing and whispering to Joey, “Lovers’ telepathy!”
Justin and Britney laughed as Justin finally helped Britney to her feet. Chris rolled his eyes and punched Joey in the stomach, “Why does it seem like everyone’s getting hooked up all of a sudden?”
Joey groaned and rubbed his stomach, “I don’t know. Dammit Chris, that hurt! And I’m not hooked up with anyone, so why are you taking this out on me?”
Chris shrugged and grinned evilly, “I just like bullying you.”
Joey rolled his eyes as Naomi giggled, “I thought that was Justin.”
“Well, yeah, it used to be. I guess he’s lost his sex appeal.”
Justin stared at Chris, his jaw dropping. “What the...?”
Naomi’s body was shaking with laughter as she leaned against Lance’s body for support. Lance looked down at her curiously and smiled when he saw that Naomi was finally laughing again. He was glad. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine, he thought to himself, as the corners of his mouth began to twitch.
Britney marched in front of Chris and slapped him only half playfully on the shoulder. Chris yelped - the pain in his arm made Britney’s point clear. “You were saying, Chris...?” Britney threatened.
“Uh... was I saying anything?” Chris asked out loud. “Nope. Not me. I was just being quiet, sweet little Chris. Uh huh. That’s me all right.”
Justin grinned obnoxiously and then cleared his throat. “I king Tarzan,” he said in a very un-Justin manner, pointing to Britney as he next spoke, “She Queen Jane of forest. Save me from him - bad tiger of jungle.”
Joey’s eyebrows were raised in amusement when he suddenly choked and had a violent coughing fit. His face was a deep red when he finally looked up at Justin and pointed to Justin’s jeans.
Justin looked down questioningly and his face burned up. Naomi couldn’t even begin guessing what was wrong. Justin swallowed painfully, “Um, maybe playing Tarzan wasn’t such a good idea.”
Chris’ face was scrunched up as Justin practically ran into the toilet when he finally understood what Joey meant. “Oh my god!” Chris laughed, falling onto the floor and rolling around, his legs still kicking in the air. “Oh my god!”
“What?” Lance asked, totally lost.
Naomi shrugged. She didn’t have the faintest idea either.
Joey was still red in the face but slowly recovering. Britney was just standing there, looking first from the rolling, laughing Chris, to the red-faced, breathless Joey. “Um, this may make me sound stupid, but... WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?”
Joey finally got over his choking and turned to grin at the three rather innocent young people in the room. He shook his head and smiled, pointing to the toilet door from which Justin was emerging. “Ask Tarzan.”
Justin’s face flushed at the nickname, but he shrugged his shoulders and kicked Chris’ ass, “Shut up,” he snapped. “It’s not that funny. We all screw up once in a while. Jesus!”
Chris wiped the tears from his eyes, “Justin, when I said you had lost all sex appeal, you didn’t have to take such drastic measures, you know.” Chris’ eyes traveled downwards to Justin’s jeans as Justin’s cheeks began to burn again.
“Shut up Chris!”
Chris shrugged and got up off of the floor, still trying not to giggle. “By the way,” Chris nodded to Justin as he narrowly missed a bop on the head from Justin’s fist, “You still don’t have any sex appeal. Not to me, baby.”
Justin’s jaw dropped, for the second time that night. “Sex appeal, Chris? SEX APPEAL? Since when have you learnt such BIG words? Are you sure that puny brain of yours can take such huge vocabulary?”
Chris wagged a warning finger in Justin’s face. “Hey, hey, hey... I wasn’t the one who left my fly unzipped and acted as Tar-”
Naomi’s hand covered her mouth as she began giggling. Lance had to bite his lip to stop his laughter. Joey was grinning away and Britney just looked shocked.
Naomi shook her head when Chris and Justin began quarrelling again. “Guys!” she interrupted, “Is there a POINT to this argument?”
Chris turned to her for a second before shrugging, “He’s the youngest and I’m the oldest. That’s all there is to it.”
“Uh huh...” Naomi still wasn’t fully convinced. “Do you guys have a personal vendetta or something? Because I swear I have NEVER seen two guys who fight as much as you two do. Honestly!”
Justin shrugged, “I can’t help it if the oldest brother in the band wants to act MY age, can I? No, scratch that, he doesn’t even act HALF as matured as I do.”
Chris grinned, “Which is exactly why I beat you down, boy. Cos I can act like a child and still be called a man, but you are forever a boy, no matter WHAT you do.”
Naomi shook her head, still grinning. Then she remembered the reason she had come in the first place. “Um, J? I said just now, but I think you didn’t hear; I need to put up at your place tonight.”
Justin bounced up and down, placing his hand over Chris’ face and pushing it away from him. “Go away, Chris. You’re spoiling my view of my house.”
Chris rolled his eyes before grinning and beginning to wrestle with Joey. “View of your house... riiiiiggggghhhht.”
Justin continued to bounce as Britney kissed his cheek tenderly, waved to Naomi and headed to her room for a good night’s rest. “Why?”
“I, um... just can I stay or not?”
“Sure!” Justin agreed happily. “We can have more pizza and root beer and-”
Naomi shook her head, “I want to go to bed, now.”
“Me too,” Lance finally spoke up.
Justin shrugged, his eyebrows raised. Then an evil grin spread slowly across his face. He stared from Lance, to Naomi, to Lance and back to Naomi. “Ahh...” he giggled, winking conspiratorially at Chris, who grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
Joey pouted, “Man, she doesn’t even take a second glance at me.”
Chris rolled his eyes and punched Joey’s stomach again, “Dude, the ladies don’t like guys who are pushovers.”
“I’m not a pushover!” Joey insisted and Justin sighed as the two continued their argument about Joey’s manliness.
Justin turned back slowly to Naomi, the same naughty grin on his face. He grinned at Lance, showing his pearly white teeth.
“Oh no,” Naomi said quickly, reading Justin’s dirty thoughts. “SEPARATE rooms, please, J.”
“Aww man,” Justin pouted. “You guys are no fun.”
Lance smiled tiredly at Naomi, pecking her on the cheek with warm brotherly affection.
“Good night,” Naomi smiled, hugging Lance’s sturdy frame. “Sweet dreams.”
“Okay,” Justin said, as he sprawled across Naomi’s bed later that night, watching her grab her pajamas. “Spill!”
TBC