| The arena where the charity event was being held was the largest one yet. Lance lifted his sunglasses and peered at it. “Damn!” he whispered. Justin was hopping around with excitement. “I can’t believe we sold this out!” Lance took a deep breath, feeling a bit lightheaded. He paused and closed his eyes. “Please, please. Not now.” He muttered to himself as Joey pushed past him, oblivious. “Gotta use the john,” he hollered, nearly knocking Lance to the ground. Lance chewed on his lip and inhaled deeply. He felt JC’s hand on his shoulder. “You okay?” He nodded, not daring to speak. One more deep breath and he attempted to walk into the arena, sure a cool drink and comfortable seat would do him a world of good. His vision grew fuzzy, and he could feel his pulse pound inside his head. Trying to focus on walking straight, he felt almost drunk. Without thinking, he grabbed onto JC’s shoulder to steady himself. Immediately, he knew it was the wrong thing to do. JC’s face washed over with panic. “Lance! God, not again! Guys!” Lance tried in vain to shush him. The last thing he wanted was to be sent to the hospital again, or back to the hotel to sit by himself. “It’ll pass. I promise. It’ s just the heat,” he said weakly, letting go of JC. Suddenly Chris and Justin, along with Mike and their bodyguards, flocked around him. “Shit. I’m fine!” he protested, his deep voice becoming shill. “Justin, run inside and see if the medics are here yet!” Mike directed, placing one hand on Lance’s shoulder. Justin nodded and sprinted off into the arena. “JC, let’s get him inside.” Lance rolled his eyes in annoyance as Mike and JC each put a supportive arm around his shoulders. He struggled to escape them. “Come on,” He cr4ied. “Stop it. There are fans waiting. I don’t need this.” He tugged himself away as hard as he could, demanding some respect. Straightening his shirt, his green eyes burned into the two men. “You have to stop treating me like I’m a baby!” JC shook his head, his blue eyes clouded over with worry. “But ...” “No buts, JC! I’m not kidding!” With that, he snatched his duffle bag and stormed into the building, crossing Justin on the way with a medic team trailing him. “Lance! I thought you were sick,” he stammered, searching his friend’s face for signs of illness. The last thing he wanted was for Lance to collapse again, not again. He didn’t think he was strong enough to see that. Lance’s nostrils flared angrily, and he grabbed Justin’s arm. “Come with me,” he demanded, brushing past the medics and hurrying down the hall. Justin had to break into a small jog to catch up. “Slow the hell down!” Justin shouted. “What’s going on?” Confused, he reached out and took hold of his friend’s shirt. “Stop!” Lance spun around, his eyes scowling. “In here,” he motioned, seeing a door marked TALENT. He pulled Justin in roughly, slamming the door shut, and pushing the deadbolt over. Justin stared at him, a bit taken back by his erratic actions. Once inside, Lance collapsed on the small couch, kicking his feet up and covering his eyes with his forearm. “I swear to God, J, I can’t take much more of this. I mean, JC taking over as my mother, and Mike right there with him. It’s fucking insane!” Justin sat quietly in the metal folding chair opposite the couch and studied Lance. He was more than perplexed and a bit apprehensive. Anxiously, he began to bit his nails. “They’re just worried, that’s all.” Lance sprang up, feeling crazed. “I know, but I’m an adult. I can fend for myself. I’m sick and tired of being pitied. I already paid my dues with that shit when I first joined this group. You’re the only one who doesn’t treat me like that.” “That’s because you’re older than me,” Justin pointed out. “Arghh!” Lance growled and laid back down in frustration. He was feeling completely out of control and wondered silently if he did have a fever, if maybe he was pushing himself, if maybe he should let the medics check him out. The very thought of more poking and prodding gave him the chills and he decided against it. Soon, there was a loud bang at the door. Instinctively, Justin rose to get it. “No!” Lance barked. “No way! No one gets in.” Justin’s eyes opened wide and he was really beginning to fear for his friend’s sanity. “Lance! Justin! We know you’re in there. Open this door!” JC’s voice boomed. Justin looked at Lance, who had his ears covered like a petulant child, and his eyes clamped shut. He crept toward the door slowly. “I said NO!” Lance shouted, jumping up and grabbing Justin’s arm, pushing him away. “I just need some quiet. I need to be left alone. No medics, please!” Justin stared at him for a moment. “Dude, you’re scaring me.” “I’m sorry,” Lance’s voice softened. “I just can’t take anymore medical attention. Please, Justin, keep them out.” His eyes closed once again. Justin sighed heavily. His heart was thumping wildly inside his chest and he didn’t want to have to make such a tough choice. He knew if he opened the door, the medical staff would be there and take Lance. The option was to stay locked up here, with his best friend and pray he returned to normal, returned to his senses and would leave the room on his own. “Shit!” Justin cursed. “Justin! You have one minute to open this door and let us in!” Mike was taking his turn now, trying to use his best authoritative voice to intimidate the two singers. Wearily, Justin went to the door. “I can’t let you guys in right now,” he called out. He glanced over at Lance, who with eyes still closed, gave him a slight smile and a thumbs up. He knew Lance was trusting him to carry out his wishes, but it didn’t make him feel any better. “What the hell are you talking about?” JC screamed. “Fucking open this door now!” Justin paced nervously. “Man, I gotta let them in!” he exclaimed to Lance. “Let me open the door. Maybe they’ll let you stay.” One jade eye opened and peered back at him. “Dude, if you open that door, don’t ever talk to me again, ever.” Justin sighed and walked back over to the door. “Guys, I can’t open it. Lance wants everyone to leave him alone for a little while.” “Justin, you need to get your ass out here for the game. So open up now. Please. You’re scaring us out here!” Chris was taking a shot now. Outside standing with them was a three person medical staff, two men and a woman. Joey threw his head back. “I’m sorry about all this,” he said to the woman. “Lance isn’t usually like this. He’s real sick and we’re all pretty worried about him.” The woman nodded, her heart racing. She felt her palms grow clammy and her breath was coming in shallow spurts. “Olivia, you okay?” her partner asked. “Olivia?” Joey and JC asked at once. The young woman rubbed her hands together in an attempt to dry them. “Yes?” Joey’s eyes grew wide at the name. “You weren’t by chance at Club, oh shit, what was the name of that club we went to JC?” “Club X,” Olivia answered quietly. She placed it now. The memories flooded back. The blonde with the green eyes, grabbing for him, being dragged away. “Oh my God,” she whispered. After the incident at the club, she had been shaken. It had been pushed out of her mind, though, until now, until this very instant. Suddenly, it all flooded back to her, the intense stares, the nagging feeling she knew the blonde guy who looked at her with eyes so pale, so familiar. Working this charity even was a way to get her mind off what happened that night. It clung to her subconscious like a wet shirt, making her feel a bit like Lance felt. “Is he in there? Is that who’s sick?” Her body slumped against the concrete wall and she slid down a little, placing her hands on her knees to brace herself. JC stared at her. “You! You were the girl at the club! You were the one he freaked out over. Who are you? Do you know him?” JC narrowed his gaze with accusation in his eyes. Olivia felt a lump form in her throat. Her partner leaned over to her. “Livvy? You okay?” He reached for her wrist and took her pulse. JC glanced at Joey. “She may be the answer we need.” Mike looked at both of them. “What are you talking about/ What the fuck is going on?” He slammed his fist at the door once more, not liking the turn this situation was taking. “Justin! Open this door now!” Inside, Lance sat up slowly, and got a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. His anger and frustration faded a bit, and he nodded toward Justin. “Let them in.” Justin dove for the door and swung it open. He was shoved aside as JC and Mike hurried in, followed closely by Chris and Joey. Lance stared at them in defeat. “Well, okay, so examine me already.” He pushed the sleeve of his shirt up, ready for the blood pressure arm band. Joey nudged JC. “Watch carefully,” he whispered. The medics made their way in. “Olivia, I need that bag here!” Joey and JC watched Lance’s face for reaction. Nothing. “Hmm, maybe it’s not here,” JC commented, scratching his head. Lance observed the door with little interest as Matt traipsed in, Olivia right behind. His face fell when he saw her and he sprang up. “It’s you!” he cried. Olivia felt her knees wobble and promptly collapsed to the floor. Lance dashed over to her. “What’s wrong?” he asked, grasping her hand. “What’s wrong with her?” JC felt a chill creep up his spine. Joey tugged Lance back, forcing him to sit back down on the couch. “Justin, what the hell happened in here? he demanded. Justin shook his head in shock. He stared at the panicked look on Lance’s face, and tried to understand and digest exactly what was happening. At this very moment in time, nothing seemed right. Nothing seemed sane. The entire world was spinning, and he couldn’t stop any of it. last menu next |