| JC paced the hotel anxiously wondering why Lance was late. Checking his watch, he shook his head. He knew why Lance was late. It was her, the same her who since arriving in his life had caused nothing but unrest and trouble. "Justin, did you call his cell?" Justin sat in the corner, sneakers kicked off, signing piles of posters for promotional giveaways. "Yes, I called. There's no answer. I left a voice message, and how the hell many times are you going to ask me?" He paused from his task, shaking out the cramp in his hand. "Joey! Get out here and start signing these!" Justin was growing crankier by the minute, and with JC barking at him, he honestly didn't know how he was going to get through this week of rehersals without commiting homicide. "JOEEEEEY!" Joey popped his head out from the living room of the suite, a huge grin on his face. "Yeah?" he asked, brown eyes full of mischief. Chris poked his head out as well, sharing that same smile. "Oh, you guys suck!" Justin pouted, throwing his pen down. "You're in there getting drunk aren't you? I'm sitting in here doing what I was told, and you all are having a damn party." He leaned back in his chair, annoyed. He wished Lance would get there already. At least he would have someone to talk to him. He was getting ignored more and more lately, and with Lance spending less and less time outside of work related obligations, he was feeling the strain fall upon him. JC snapped his head up at the word 'drunk'. "Oh, please, tell me you two didn't raid the mini bar!" The stunned and sloppy grins of his two friends said it all, causing JC's patience to fly away, like a bird leaving it's mama, cascading down in sheets. Fury replaced his patience, and he opened his mouth for a full on battle when Lance's knock saved them. Joey burped, and opened the door. "Lancey! Oh, it's Lance! Hey, man. Welcome to hell, man." He hugged him, tighter than necessary. "Geez, Joe, you stink!" Lance laughed as Chris caught him in a playful headlock, rubbing the top of his head. "You too. Damn, did you drink all that?" He stared at the two empy bottles of Jack Daniels sitting on the coffee table. "Yup," Joey smirked. He leaned in close to Lance, putting his arm around him, and whispered into his ear. "We were going to spike JC's drink, but we figured he catch on and waste it all." Chris doubled over at the thought of it. "Can you imagine?" Lance shook his head, smiling. It was good to be back with his friends. The morning had been rought, leaving Olivia in the doorway of his home, her pretty lips formed into a desperate pout, her eyes begging to come with him. He'd hated leaving her like that, especially after the early morning romp in bed she'd allowed him, along with a full breakfast that she cooked herself. But work was work, and he had to go. "Where the fuck have you been?" JC screamed, storming in from the bedroom. "You were supposed to be here hours ago." Lance dropped his bag at his feet, and frowned. "Nice to see you to, JC." He glanced past him to Justin, who was still sitting in the middle of a mess. "Hey, J. Need some help?" He ignored JC's outburst and headed over to help sign some posters. "Lance? I asked where you were? Did you miss your flight?" "I'm sure you checked, so you tell me," Lance bit back, sarcastically. "You're not my mother, JC. Lay off." JC gritted his teeth, aggrivated beyond control. He swiped at Lance's shoulder to get his attention, and glared at him with angry blue eyes. "Lay off?" he seethed. "Oh, don't fuck with me, Lance, cuz you'll loose. You know you're screwing up here and that's what pisses me off. " Lance's 'i dont' care' look infuriated him even more. "It's her. It's all her, and you have until the end of the week to make a choice. It's us or her. That's it." Lance jumped up, letting the merchandise fall to the floor. "What? You have no right...." "Oh, I do," JC hissed, grabbing his coat as Joey and Chris hurried in. "I'm telling you Lance. End of the week. I sincerely hope you choose wisely." He pushed past Joey and slammed the door, needing some space and time to think about the downhill slide N Sync was taking. He held Lance soley responsible, as things had gone quite well before Olivia's appearance. "Damn, what'd you do to him?" Chris asked, falling back on the bed, letting his head swim, and his stomach roll with drunkeness. "Asshole," Lance said, frustration filling his heart. How could he be asked to choose? JC was being difficult, he reasoned, and would calm down and come back. He sat back down, trying to calm his racing heart. The doctors still worried about his heart murmer, and told him to keep his emotions even when possible. The ache in his chest grew, and he leaned back in his chair, taking deep breaths. "Lance?" Justin laid his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Lance? You okay?" He worried when Lance lost all color in his face, and held his hand over his heart. "God, no. Lance, talk to me, please." All Justin could think of was JC was gone, and Joey and Chris were wasted, and he was alone with Lance and Lance was sick again. A few agonizing minutes passed before Lance nodded. "It passed. I'm fine." He wasn't really sure if he was fine, but the terrified look on Justin's young face allowed him to say the words hoping to bring him some comfort. "Justin, I'm fine." Joey belched again, from the bathroom, and when he came out, Lance and Justin stared hard at him. "What? Got my fly down?" He checked before Chris broke out into another fit of hysterics on the bed. Joey laughed too, and soon, it was contagious, making Lance and Justin join in. JC returned to the four of them laughing, clutching their sides, tears rolling down their faces. "Did I miss something?" he asked, looking around. N Sync seemed to be falling right apart, and he was miffed that they were all taking it so light hearted. "Hello?" Lance waved his hand in the air, gasping for air. "No," he chuckled. "No, JC. It was nothing." He wiped his eyes and struggled to sit back up. "Okay, guys, what's the plan?" Justin sighed, getting over his fit, and shook his head. "JC, why don't you fill him in on what we want to do. I gotta pee." He climbed over Joey, who was on the floor, still recovering from the giggles. "Okay, give me the run down." Lance signed more items as JC talked on and on about the performance. He couldn't help it, but his thoughts wandered to Olivia, and her sad face when he left her in the morning. He had missed his original flight due to her, ahem, seductive ways, and was lucky to catch the next on into NYC. "Lance! Are you even listening?" JC asked, grabbing the pen out of his hands. "Jesus, Lance. Gimme a fucking break." The relationship between them had been growing increasingly difficult, putting wild strains on the entire group. He groaned, throwing his hands up. "I can't do anything with you screaming at me all the time. I'm here, I'm ready to rehearse. What else do you want?" Lance's voice raised, causing the other occupants of the room to stare. "If you want me to dump my girlfriend, forget it. I'm not doing it, and you shouldn't ask me to." He covered his face with his hand and growled loudly in conflicting emotions. As he did, his cell rang, and he knew it was her. Daring to answer it, he shook his head and got up, moving to the front of the suite. He knew JC was staring at him with a venomous gaze, but what could he do? He missed her, he wanted to talk to her. "Livvy?" he asked, dying to hear her soothing voice. "Hey, baby. You were supposed to call and let me know you got in okay." In the background, he heard her partner talking, and knew she was at work. "Sorry. It's been nuts. Look, I can't really talk now, but later on I'll call you." "Lance, you okay? Is JC giving you shit?" Her tone was icy at JC's name. She'd had enough of JC putting restrictions on their relationship, and just could not wait to get to NYC to lay into him about it. "Lance? Is he?" "No, no. He's cool. I just have a bunch to do to get ready. There's wardrobe, and rehersals, and, oh hell, a bunch of stuff." He paused, hearing JC ranting inside to the rest of them about him. His heart throbbed again, and he gulped down the lump in his throat. Guilt consumed him, and he ran his fingers through his blonde hair. "Look, I gotta run. I'll call you later okay?" Olivia frowned on the other end. "Fine." She paused briefly, wanting to hold him, kiss all this away. She was well aware of the personal demons he was wrestling with. "Lance, I love you." "You too," he replied, hanging up. He inhaled sharpley and groaned as he heard Justin coming to his defense. This was insane, and he had to make some serious choices, and quickly, before he single handedly destroyed N Sync on their rise to the top. |
| FATES 13 |