| "Lance!" The echo of JC's voice rocked the empty stage, and Lance cringed at the sound assaulting his ears. "What?" he yelled back, sick and tired of JC treating him like a second rate citizen. "Wanna hold those ranges down?" Joey whimpered, collapsing into one of the dozen shool desks set up around the immense stage. He held his head in his hands, swearing to God, and the good Lord that he would not touch another drop of liquor, ever, if He would just make the throbbing in his temples go away, and the rolling of his stomach. And the hollering, oh man, it was making it so much worse. Justin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Jace, he was only a second behind jumping down. It won't matter that much." He glanced sympathetically at Lance, who's face was red, from anger or embarrassment, he wasn't sure. JC rolled his eyes, wiping his sweaty forehead. "Look, the dancers are coming first thing in the morning, and we only have the stage for one hour." His gaze met Lance's. "ONE HOUR" he stressed carefully."Then, Brit's coming with her dancers, and we get another 45 minutes." Lance collapsed to the stage, swigging from a bottled water. "I'm well aware of the scedule, thankyouverymuch." Christ, did he think he was a moron? All the crap JC had tossed at him all day was overwhelming, and he longed for Olivia, and the saftey of her arms. He craved her, and could not wait to get this damn rehersal done so he could call her. "Then act like you know what you're doing!" JC snapped, motioning for the funky re-mix of Tearin Up My Heart to begin again. "Let's go. Joey, up!" Joey squinted into the bright floodlights lighting up the stage and looked at Chris, who wasn't faring much better. "Off the bottle?" he asked, chuckling bitterly. Chris nodded solemly. "Yup. And if JC doesn't stop his screetching, I'll crack the bottle over his pretty little head." Chris stood up and yawned as the music blared through the sound system once again. Justin extended his hand to help Lance up. "Don't worry about it," he offered, smiling. "We can always work on it back at the hotel." "Am I that bad?" Lance groaned. Maybe it wasn't in JC's head, maybe he did suck, and maybe it was his preoccupation with Olivia. Her voice rang in his head, and he knew when she did arrive, there would be fireworks between her and JC, fireworks of the worst kind. "Nah, you're fine," Justin assured him. "And I'm guessing Brit's gonna get most of the attention anyway." Lance laughed. "Why's that?" He took his place on one of the desks. "Cuz she's purtier than all of us put together." Justin smiled, using his best southern hick twang, "And has a better body," he added. "Hey!" They looked up to see JC staring. "Shut up and listen for your cue!" "No fucking sense of humor," Justin hissed, making Lance grin. ***************************************************************************************************************************** Back at the hotel, Lance collapsed on his bed, anxious to call Olivia. Justin trailed him in, immediately grabbing for the remote, and clicking the tv on. "Lance?" he asked, sitting on the floor, back against the bed. "Hmm?" Lance was tired and had his arm draped over his eyes. It had been a long day, and fighting with JC was wearing him down to nothing. Why couldn't he understand that he could handle the responsibility of both a girlfriend, and a job. "Do you really love her? I mean that much to fight with JC so much?" Lance bolted upright. "What does that mean?" If he lost Justin's support, he didn't think he could hack that. Sometimes he swore Justin was the only thing holding this together. Justin turned around slowly, not meaning to anger Lance. Lance was his best friend, more like a brother, and he meant him no harm. "I just meant, damn, I don't know." HIs eyes grew wide, and what did he mean? He searched for the right words to express what was on his mind. "Lance, I have no idea what love is. That's no secret, and I don't care right now. But I can't imagine feeling so strongly about anyone that it would tear me away from this group." "I'm not being torn away from the group, Justin!" Lance's green eyes burned intently, and he bit on his lip. "Why should I choose between my career and love? Why?" He frowned, his lower lip beginning to tremble. No, he wasn't going to cry. Not now, not ever. Just as he was about to expand on his comment, the phone jingled next to him, and he glanced at the clock, knowing it was her. Justin would just have to wait. "Baby?" Olivia gasped over the line. "Hi," Lance said, his heart soaring at the sound of her voice. "How are you tonight?" "Missing you, and I have a huge surprise. Open your door." Lance blinked, standing up. "What? Why?" He grinned, wondering if she sent him flowers, or what. He stepped over Justin, who stared at him curiously, and headed out to the front door. "Livvy? What are you up to now?" He flung open the door and dropped his phone as he saw her standing there, chatting on her phone, wearing a smile and carrying her luggage. "Surprise!" she exclaimed, jumping into his arms, sending them both sprawling to the floor. Justin heard the commotion, and headed out there, shocked to see Olivia. He bit on his thumb. Oh, JC was not going to be happy, not at all. |
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