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amfiguree[N'sync] [Basez and Justin, with Chris and Joey in very minor parts] [G]
Trust Me
Author's Note: I want to give a big thanks to Rekha for giving me the inspiration and idea for this story. *Muak* Thank you sooo much. : ) Anyway, I don’t really like this angsty piece. It started out as one thing and ended up… well, kinda screwy. I’m so sorry, Rekha. I tried to stick to the main gist as much as possible, I honestly tried, but it’s not exactly what you asked for. Forgive me? I hope you enjoy it anyhow.
As Justin watched JC and Lance cuddling together on the couch, he sighed. He KNEW there was something up with the two of them, he just couldn’t figure out what. Lately they were always so… affectionate. It was weirding him out. And he missed Lance.
There had been a time when Lance was closer to Justin than JC. But it seemed as though things had changed over the past few weeks. Lance was growing more and more attached to JC. And Justin didn’t like it.
Justin growled, startling JC. “Justin? What’s wrong?”
YOU’RE what’s wrong, Justin wanted to scream. But he simply shook his head and motioned for them to continue whatever they had been talking about. JC shrugged before turning back to Lance.
Lance raised an eyebrow at Justin, who waved him off. Then, finally deciding that he couldn’t take any more of their closeness, Justin stormed out of the room, leaving a bewildered Lance behind.
“What’s wrong with Justin?” Lance asked JC.
JC gave Lance a playful kiss on the nose before replying, “I think the boy’s going through what we like to call jealousy.”
Lance snorted, “Jealous of what?”
“I think, Lance, that it’s a matter of WHO.”
“He’s jealous of US?” Lance looked shocked as he motioned at JC then back at himself. JC hid a smile at his boyfriend’s obvious confusion and nodded. “But… but why?” Lance stuttered. “He… I… I don’t get it.”
“Lance,” JC said gently, rubbing his hands over Lance’s silky white ones. “You used to spend a lot more time with Justin than you are now. Remember? You would always hang out with him, every chance you’ve got. But now, I’m the lucky person with all your attention, and Justin doesn’t like it.”
Lance shook his head, “I still don’t understand.”
“Lance, hon, don’t you see? Justin misses you. He misses spending time with you. He wants to be your best friend. He wants time ALONE with you. Just to talk with you or joke with you instead of seeing ME draped over you all the time. He’s jealous of ME, Lance. Of US.”
“Oh shit,” Lance cursed, slapping his forehead and moaning against JC’s shoulder. “Why didn’t I realize that?”
“Lance,” JC stroked the blonde’s hair tenderly and brushed his lips against Lance’s cheek. “You have to talk to him. Let him know that you still are best friends.”
“Yeah, yeah, I should do that,” Lance nodded slowly, getting off of the couch, a frown plastered on his forehead.
“Stop that frowning,” JC said sternly, before Lance broke into a smile. “That’s better. I’m gonna go talk to my dad, okay? I think it’s time he should know about… about us. You go talk to Justin. Make sure he knows you still care about being his friend. Just… don’t tell him about us. Yet. I’m… I’m not ready to let them know. I should at least tell my dad first.”
Lance nodded, and he squeezed his boyfriend’s hand reassuringly, signaling that he understood. And that, yes, he would wait and not rush into telling Justin or the other guys. “Do you want me to be there? When you call your dad, I mean. I could talk to Justin later.”
“Nah, I’ll manage. I need to do this alone, you know?” JC managed a small smile as he released Lance’s hand and went to their shared bedroom, preparing to call his mom.
Lance sighed and shook his head as he turned to the door, ready to look for Justin. He found the young man exactly where he thought Justin would be. On the playstation.
“Justin!”
Justin looked up, his face breaking into the first genuine smile in days when he saw it was Lance. “Lance!” Justin yelled, grinning widely as the blond made his way towards him.
“What the hell do you think you are DOING, playing THIS in today’s beautiful weather?” Lance groaned as he jogged up to Justin.
“No weather is bad weather enough for you to play playstation, Lance,” Justin smirked, enjoying the playful banter he had missed for so long.
“That’s true,” Lance smirked back, “I guess I’m just too responsible. Unlike SOME people.”
“Hey!” Justin pouted, “I AM responsible. It just… it just doesn’t show much, that’s all.”
Lance laughed, “Whatever you say, Justin.”
Justin rolled his eyes. Lance suddenly remembered why he was there in the first place. He plopped down next to Justin and said slowly, “Justin, there’s something we need to talk about.”
“What?”
“Our… our friendship.”
Justin looked up at Lance incredulously. “I know that I haven’t been the best friend lately, but I wanted you to know that we’re best friends. No matter what happens. Okay?”
Justin simply nodded. Lance sighed and bit his lip, wondering how he was going to get Justin to believe him. “You have to trust me on this, Justin. I can’t explain right now, but one day you’ll know. Just trust me.”
Justin looked hesitant for a moment before he nodded, “I trust you.”
Lance was about to say something when he saw a familiar tall, lanky figure run past Justin’s door. Lance shot to his feet and ran out the door, leaving Justin speechless.
“Josh! JC! Wait!”
JC didn’t stop. He wouldn’t. He didn’t even turn back to see his blond boyfriend who was trying desperately to keep up with him. His head was filled with cold words that he couldn’t shake, no matter how fast or how far he ran. He pushed himself forward, willing himself to run faster.
“Josh! Wait! WAIT!” Lance’s breathing was labored and heavy. JC wished he could stop – he didn’t want to treat Lance like this – but the voices in his head wouldn’t go away.
They taunted him, replaying over and over in his mind until he thought he would go crazy. “No, I won’t stop!” he whispered to himself as he forced himself to keep running, hoping Lance would stop.
The elevator was in JC’s sight and his pace quickened. Lance wasn’t far behind him and JC was surprised that Lance, who was usually weak in sports – had managed to keep up with him.
JC knew Lance wanted to talk to him, wanted to make sense of what was going on. He couldn’t understand why he was pushing Lance away either, he just knew one thing – he had to get away. Away from the hotel, from Lance, from the thoughts that were clouding his brain. He didn’t know where he was going to go, but he HAD to get away.
JC skidded to a stop when he saw a security guard standing just outside the elevator. He groaned inwardly, there was no way he could leave now. He wouldn’t be able to reach the emergency staircase without attracting the guard’s attention and even then, if he managed to pull that off by some miracle, Lance would yell for security to stop him.
JC sighed, coming to a halt. Lance stopped behind him and bent over. He rested his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. His cheeks were red when he looked up but JC averted his eyes, suddenly finding the carpet pattern fascinating.
“What’s wrong, Josh?” Lance asked softly, walking up to JC and placing his hand gently on his shoulder.
JC felt his defenses shatter at Lance’s touch. The tears rose to his eyes but he blinked violently, trying to keep them at bay. He wouldn’t cry here. Not in the middle of the corridor. He REFUSED to start bawling on Lance’s shoulder, no matter how bad the situation seemed to be.
“Josh?”
JC couldn’t help it. The tears spilt over his eyelashes and poured down his cheeks. He wiped them away quickly, oblivious to Lance’s shock. “It’s nothing,” JC insisted lowly. “I’m okay.”
“Like hell you are,” Lance shook his head. “That’s not going to work this time, Josh. You were crying. Why? Tell me.”
“I… I can’t.” JC’s voice broke and Lance winced at the pain on his boyfriend’s face. “I… don’t want to talk about this. Please Lance.”
Lance’s heart shattered at JC’s pleading tone. But he refused to drop the matter. There was no way he was going to allow JC to push him away. He needed to know what happened to make JC so upset. Lance thought back slowly, wondering what it was that could have hurt JC so badly.
Lance looked at JC. The brunette was practically cowering. His shoulders were hunched and he was trembling. Lance cupped JC’s face in both his hands and said softly, “What happened, Josh?”
JC looked up at Lance as tears began trekking down his cheeks. “My dad… he said…” JC shook his head, finding himself unable to continue. “I can’t do this here, Lance. Can we… can we go back to our room? Please?”
Lance prayed for his anxiety to dissipate as he nodded and guided JC back to their bedroom. “But you have to tell me everything once we’re there. Okay?”
JC bit his lip.
“Trust me, Josh.”
JC finally nodded, “I trust you.”
“What happened Josh?”
“My dad… Lance… he said… he said I wasn’t his son. That… that his son wasn’t a sinner. He said… he said his son died.”
Lance’s eyes widened. “Son of a bitch,” he whispered, letting his breath out in a rush. His sea green eyes took in JC’s shaking figure, hunched over on the floor and Lance knew that he would KILL JC’s father at the soonest chance he got. “Josh,” Lance whispered as he knelt down in front of his lover. “Don’t cry. Please, hon. Look at me.”
JC looked up reluctantly. Lance almost closed his eyes to block out the pools of tears that had collected in JC’s steel-blue eyes. “We’ll get through this, Josh. We’ll get through this together.”
JC’s reserve shattered and his tears streamed down his face as Lance held him close, whispering words of comfort. “Come on, let’s get you in bed, you need your rest.” Lance lifted the frail brunette onto the bed and kissed him softly on the forehead before climbing in beside him.
A solitary tear trickled down JC’s cheek and Lance gently wiped it away. “I love you, Josh. Do you trust me?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, JC answered, sniffling, “I trust you, Lance. And I love you too.”
“Then that’s all we need to know.”
Justin sighed in frustration. His renewed friendship with Lance was still becoming strained. Lance and JC were constantly together, hugging, talking in hushed tones, or just joking. JC was more reserved then usual but Justin brushed it off as a mood. It had been two weeks since Lance had told Justin to trust him, but Justin found his patience wearing thin.
When JC and Lance laughed softly over a private joke, it was the last straw. Chris and Joey watched in amazement as the youngest member of N’sync stalked up to them and glared at JC. “Lance, if this goes on, we can’t be friends anymore.”
Lance’s head shot up at Justin’s words, “WHAT? What are you talking about, Justin?”
“You don’t spend time with me anymore. You’re always with JC. I deserve a better best friend, Lance. You just don’t cut it.”
Lance looked at JC and saw the answer he needed in the brunette’s eyes. “Well, Justin, if you had trusted me, you should have known that I would explain myself soon enough. Josh and I are gay and we’re dating – do you have a problem with that?” Lance looked over at Chris and Joey who just looked up from their breakfast and shook their heads before resuming whatever they were doing before that. “And Josh’s dad didn’t take the news very well. We’ve been spending more time together, getting to know each other all over again, and I’m sorry I haven’t met your expectations of what a best friend should be, but it wasn’t by choice!”
Justin’s eyes were bulging as he processed the information he had just been fed with. JC, looking almost fearful, stood up and grabbed Lance’s hand, lending his boyfriend the silent support Lance needed.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Lance?” Justin asked lowly, once his brain had digested the information. “You tell me to trust you and then you hide this from me! What does that say about our friendship?”
“I couldn’t tell you, Justin. Josh needed time. I should at least give him that.”
“But… but…” Justin shook his head, dumbfounded. Then he hung his head, “I’m sorry Lance. I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry won’t cut it this time, Justin,” Lance said coldly and Justin looked up into Lance’s sea green eyes in surprise.
“But I said I trusted you!” Justin argued.
“So did Josh.” Lance retorted, giving JC’s hand a squeeze. “The only difference is he DOES trust me. You don’t.”
Justin watched, flabbergasted, as Lance left the room with JC, while somewhere in Maryland, JC’s dad was ranting on and on about having a gay son, while Justin’s mom was showing her friends how proud her son had made her, while Lance’s sister and mother were gushing over the cute couple that JC and Lance made while Chris and Joey just continued eating their breakfast.
While JC continued to trust Lance.
While Justin continued to stare at the empty hallway.
-fin-
Trust Me
Author's Note: I want to give a big thanks to Rekha for giving me the inspiration and idea for this story. *Muak* Thank you sooo much. : ) Anyway, I don’t really like this angsty piece. It started out as one thing and ended up… well, kinda screwy. I’m so sorry, Rekha. I tried to stick to the main gist as much as possible, I honestly tried, but it’s not exactly what you asked for. Forgive me? I hope you enjoy it anyhow.
As Justin watched JC and Lance cuddling together on the couch, he sighed. He KNEW there was something up with the two of them, he just couldn’t figure out what. Lately they were always so… affectionate. It was weirding him out. And he missed Lance.
There had been a time when Lance was closer to Justin than JC. But it seemed as though things had changed over the past few weeks. Lance was growing more and more attached to JC. And Justin didn’t like it.
Justin growled, startling JC. “Justin? What’s wrong?”
YOU’RE what’s wrong, Justin wanted to scream. But he simply shook his head and motioned for them to continue whatever they had been talking about. JC shrugged before turning back to Lance.
Lance raised an eyebrow at Justin, who waved him off. Then, finally deciding that he couldn’t take any more of their closeness, Justin stormed out of the room, leaving a bewildered Lance behind.
“What’s wrong with Justin?” Lance asked JC.
JC gave Lance a playful kiss on the nose before replying, “I think the boy’s going through what we like to call jealousy.”
Lance snorted, “Jealous of what?”
“I think, Lance, that it’s a matter of WHO.”
“He’s jealous of US?” Lance looked shocked as he motioned at JC then back at himself. JC hid a smile at his boyfriend’s obvious confusion and nodded. “But… but why?” Lance stuttered. “He… I… I don’t get it.”
“Lance,” JC said gently, rubbing his hands over Lance’s silky white ones. “You used to spend a lot more time with Justin than you are now. Remember? You would always hang out with him, every chance you’ve got. But now, I’m the lucky person with all your attention, and Justin doesn’t like it.”
Lance shook his head, “I still don’t understand.”
“Lance, hon, don’t you see? Justin misses you. He misses spending time with you. He wants to be your best friend. He wants time ALONE with you. Just to talk with you or joke with you instead of seeing ME draped over you all the time. He’s jealous of ME, Lance. Of US.”
“Oh shit,” Lance cursed, slapping his forehead and moaning against JC’s shoulder. “Why didn’t I realize that?”
“Lance,” JC stroked the blonde’s hair tenderly and brushed his lips against Lance’s cheek. “You have to talk to him. Let him know that you still are best friends.”
“Yeah, yeah, I should do that,” Lance nodded slowly, getting off of the couch, a frown plastered on his forehead.
“Stop that frowning,” JC said sternly, before Lance broke into a smile. “That’s better. I’m gonna go talk to my dad, okay? I think it’s time he should know about… about us. You go talk to Justin. Make sure he knows you still care about being his friend. Just… don’t tell him about us. Yet. I’m… I’m not ready to let them know. I should at least tell my dad first.”
Lance nodded, and he squeezed his boyfriend’s hand reassuringly, signaling that he understood. And that, yes, he would wait and not rush into telling Justin or the other guys. “Do you want me to be there? When you call your dad, I mean. I could talk to Justin later.”
“Nah, I’ll manage. I need to do this alone, you know?” JC managed a small smile as he released Lance’s hand and went to their shared bedroom, preparing to call his mom.
Lance sighed and shook his head as he turned to the door, ready to look for Justin. He found the young man exactly where he thought Justin would be. On the playstation.
“Justin!”
Justin looked up, his face breaking into the first genuine smile in days when he saw it was Lance. “Lance!” Justin yelled, grinning widely as the blond made his way towards him.
“What the hell do you think you are DOING, playing THIS in today’s beautiful weather?” Lance groaned as he jogged up to Justin.
“No weather is bad weather enough for you to play playstation, Lance,” Justin smirked, enjoying the playful banter he had missed for so long.
“That’s true,” Lance smirked back, “I guess I’m just too responsible. Unlike SOME people.”
“Hey!” Justin pouted, “I AM responsible. It just… it just doesn’t show much, that’s all.”
Lance laughed, “Whatever you say, Justin.”
Justin rolled his eyes. Lance suddenly remembered why he was there in the first place. He plopped down next to Justin and said slowly, “Justin, there’s something we need to talk about.”
“What?”
“Our… our friendship.”
Justin looked up at Lance incredulously. “I know that I haven’t been the best friend lately, but I wanted you to know that we’re best friends. No matter what happens. Okay?”
Justin simply nodded. Lance sighed and bit his lip, wondering how he was going to get Justin to believe him. “You have to trust me on this, Justin. I can’t explain right now, but one day you’ll know. Just trust me.”
Justin looked hesitant for a moment before he nodded, “I trust you.”
Lance was about to say something when he saw a familiar tall, lanky figure run past Justin’s door. Lance shot to his feet and ran out the door, leaving Justin speechless.
“Josh! JC! Wait!”
JC didn’t stop. He wouldn’t. He didn’t even turn back to see his blond boyfriend who was trying desperately to keep up with him. His head was filled with cold words that he couldn’t shake, no matter how fast or how far he ran. He pushed himself forward, willing himself to run faster.
“Josh! Wait! WAIT!” Lance’s breathing was labored and heavy. JC wished he could stop – he didn’t want to treat Lance like this – but the voices in his head wouldn’t go away.
They taunted him, replaying over and over in his mind until he thought he would go crazy. “No, I won’t stop!” he whispered to himself as he forced himself to keep running, hoping Lance would stop.
The elevator was in JC’s sight and his pace quickened. Lance wasn’t far behind him and JC was surprised that Lance, who was usually weak in sports – had managed to keep up with him.
JC knew Lance wanted to talk to him, wanted to make sense of what was going on. He couldn’t understand why he was pushing Lance away either, he just knew one thing – he had to get away. Away from the hotel, from Lance, from the thoughts that were clouding his brain. He didn’t know where he was going to go, but he HAD to get away.
JC skidded to a stop when he saw a security guard standing just outside the elevator. He groaned inwardly, there was no way he could leave now. He wouldn’t be able to reach the emergency staircase without attracting the guard’s attention and even then, if he managed to pull that off by some miracle, Lance would yell for security to stop him.
JC sighed, coming to a halt. Lance stopped behind him and bent over. He rested his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. His cheeks were red when he looked up but JC averted his eyes, suddenly finding the carpet pattern fascinating.
“What’s wrong, Josh?” Lance asked softly, walking up to JC and placing his hand gently on his shoulder.
JC felt his defenses shatter at Lance’s touch. The tears rose to his eyes but he blinked violently, trying to keep them at bay. He wouldn’t cry here. Not in the middle of the corridor. He REFUSED to start bawling on Lance’s shoulder, no matter how bad the situation seemed to be.
“Josh?”
JC couldn’t help it. The tears spilt over his eyelashes and poured down his cheeks. He wiped them away quickly, oblivious to Lance’s shock. “It’s nothing,” JC insisted lowly. “I’m okay.”
“Like hell you are,” Lance shook his head. “That’s not going to work this time, Josh. You were crying. Why? Tell me.”
“I… I can’t.” JC’s voice broke and Lance winced at the pain on his boyfriend’s face. “I… don’t want to talk about this. Please Lance.”
Lance’s heart shattered at JC’s pleading tone. But he refused to drop the matter. There was no way he was going to allow JC to push him away. He needed to know what happened to make JC so upset. Lance thought back slowly, wondering what it was that could have hurt JC so badly.
Lance looked at JC. The brunette was practically cowering. His shoulders were hunched and he was trembling. Lance cupped JC’s face in both his hands and said softly, “What happened, Josh?”
JC looked up at Lance as tears began trekking down his cheeks. “My dad… he said…” JC shook his head, finding himself unable to continue. “I can’t do this here, Lance. Can we… can we go back to our room? Please?”
Lance prayed for his anxiety to dissipate as he nodded and guided JC back to their bedroom. “But you have to tell me everything once we’re there. Okay?”
JC bit his lip.
“Trust me, Josh.”
JC finally nodded, “I trust you.”
“What happened Josh?”
“My dad… Lance… he said… he said I wasn’t his son. That… that his son wasn’t a sinner. He said… he said his son died.”
Lance’s eyes widened. “Son of a bitch,” he whispered, letting his breath out in a rush. His sea green eyes took in JC’s shaking figure, hunched over on the floor and Lance knew that he would KILL JC’s father at the soonest chance he got. “Josh,” Lance whispered as he knelt down in front of his lover. “Don’t cry. Please, hon. Look at me.”
JC looked up reluctantly. Lance almost closed his eyes to block out the pools of tears that had collected in JC’s steel-blue eyes. “We’ll get through this, Josh. We’ll get through this together.”
JC’s reserve shattered and his tears streamed down his face as Lance held him close, whispering words of comfort. “Come on, let’s get you in bed, you need your rest.” Lance lifted the frail brunette onto the bed and kissed him softly on the forehead before climbing in beside him.
A solitary tear trickled down JC’s cheek and Lance gently wiped it away. “I love you, Josh. Do you trust me?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, JC answered, sniffling, “I trust you, Lance. And I love you too.”
“Then that’s all we need to know.”
Justin sighed in frustration. His renewed friendship with Lance was still becoming strained. Lance and JC were constantly together, hugging, talking in hushed tones, or just joking. JC was more reserved then usual but Justin brushed it off as a mood. It had been two weeks since Lance had told Justin to trust him, but Justin found his patience wearing thin.
When JC and Lance laughed softly over a private joke, it was the last straw. Chris and Joey watched in amazement as the youngest member of N’sync stalked up to them and glared at JC. “Lance, if this goes on, we can’t be friends anymore.”
Lance’s head shot up at Justin’s words, “WHAT? What are you talking about, Justin?”
“You don’t spend time with me anymore. You’re always with JC. I deserve a better best friend, Lance. You just don’t cut it.”
Lance looked at JC and saw the answer he needed in the brunette’s eyes. “Well, Justin, if you had trusted me, you should have known that I would explain myself soon enough. Josh and I are gay and we’re dating – do you have a problem with that?” Lance looked over at Chris and Joey who just looked up from their breakfast and shook their heads before resuming whatever they were doing before that. “And Josh’s dad didn’t take the news very well. We’ve been spending more time together, getting to know each other all over again, and I’m sorry I haven’t met your expectations of what a best friend should be, but it wasn’t by choice!”
Justin’s eyes were bulging as he processed the information he had just been fed with. JC, looking almost fearful, stood up and grabbed Lance’s hand, lending his boyfriend the silent support Lance needed.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Lance?” Justin asked lowly, once his brain had digested the information. “You tell me to trust you and then you hide this from me! What does that say about our friendship?”
“I couldn’t tell you, Justin. Josh needed time. I should at least give him that.”
“But… but…” Justin shook his head, dumbfounded. Then he hung his head, “I’m sorry Lance. I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry won’t cut it this time, Justin,” Lance said coldly and Justin looked up into Lance’s sea green eyes in surprise.
“But I said I trusted you!” Justin argued.
“So did Josh.” Lance retorted, giving JC’s hand a squeeze. “The only difference is he DOES trust me. You don’t.”
Justin watched, flabbergasted, as Lance left the room with JC, while somewhere in Maryland, JC’s dad was ranting on and on about having a gay son, while Justin’s mom was showing her friends how proud her son had made her, while Lance’s sister and mother were gushing over the cute couple that JC and Lance made while Chris and Joey just continued eating their breakfast.
While JC continued to trust Lance.
While Justin continued to stare at the empty hallway.
-fin-
