| Great Outdoors [two] by Destiny By morning, five separate limos pulled up to WEG's offices. Johnny watched as each one arrived exactly ten minutes after the another. Instructions were left for each N Sync member to be placed in a the waiting room outside his offices until they were assembled. Johnny sighed as he rubbed his temples and guzzled yet another gulp of pepto bismol. Jennifer stood at the door, ushering JC in first. Next came Chris, then Justin. Lance and Joey were the last to arrive and she shoved them all together. "Johnny will call for you in a few minutes," she explained. Justin stared at his group mates. "Anyone know what's up?" he asked vaguely. He thought he knew what was up what with the solo record and slapping Brit a few times. Lance shrugged as he blew his nose into a kleenex. "Fuck if I know." JC plucked Chris' headphones off his head "I know you're very busy listening to whatever CD that may be, but you wanna join us here?" Chris scrunched up his face in disgust. "What? What are talking about? Why we're here? I have no clue either, man so leave me be." Joey kicked his feet up on the table and sighed loudly. He twisted his ring around and around thinking about his wife, his pregnant wife who wanted to leave him. "How's the Mrs.?" Justin spat sarcastically. "How's your face?" Joey growled back. "Need some rearranging?" "Fuck you, Fatone," Justin laughed. "You touch me and I'll kick your baby making balls." "Oh no you didn't..." Joey hissed, jumping to his feet. Jennifer walked in just in time. "Guys!" she yelled over the commotion. "Hey!" Joey and Justin stopped and looked up. "Johnny's ready for you babies!" Lance snorted and elbowed JC. "Who's she calling babies?" he asked with a frown. "Us I think." JC replied sourly. The five of them walked in stony silence to their manager's office. Johnny sat behind his desk holding court with a burn in his gut from all the stress these boys were causing him. He stared hard at each of them as they sat, noticing how they chose seats distancing themselves from each other. He sighed regretfully realizing this is what these five best friends had come to. When they were all settled he cleared his throat. "I suppose you all think you know why you're here," he began, waiting for Jennifer to shut his door behind her. "Actually, I think I do know," Justin said. "Well, you don't," Johnny snapped. "None of you know exactly why so I'm here to break it to y'all." Lance sneezed and when no one said "God Bless You," he scowled. "Rude, just fucking rude assholes," he barked. "Fuck you," Chris laughed. "Stop it!" Johnny barked, jumping to his feet. He paused to recompose himself and rubbed his aching temples. "What happened to you? Hmm? When did the five of you become such bitter strangers?" He walked out from behind his desk and sat on the edge staring down at them. "I remember the times you'd go on vacation with each other even when you didn't have to. I remember the five of you always being within a few feet of the others because you wanted to be. Because you liked each other and enjoyed each other's company." He looked at Lance. "And you!" Johnny said pointedly. "You used to return calls. You don't anymore, Lance. You ignore them. Then I get some doctor report shit about illegal drugs in your system!" Lance opened his mouth but was silenced with one hard look. "And Justin here thinks he'd like to quit N Sync." Four gasps floated about the room as Johnny held up his hand. "No talking until we've heard the rest. Justin is also accused of battery by Britney, JC's girlfriend has some very lewd photos circulating and he takes off without a forwarding number, and Joey! Joey you got married without a word. Chris is blackmailing me for money and I swear to Christ, the five of you need to shape up!" Johnny took a moment to pause and regroup his thoughts. "So it's been decided by the N Sync management team, namely me, that you five will be sequestered for one week together, alone. "No fucking way," Justin sputtered with fire in his eyes. "What? This is crazy. What are you talking about?" Chris questioned hotly. Lance let out another sneeze and rolled his eyes. "Wonderful." Johnny smiled and returned to his chair behind his desk. "You're itineraries gentlemen." He handed five folders to Joey who passed them on. Each singer opened the folder with caution and deep frowns. JC laughed out loud. "Joke right?" he snickered. "Big ass, candid camera joke on us right?" "Jace, I don't think it's a joke," Lance bit back, raising his eyebrows as he read. "You're sending us to bumfuck to camp for the week?" Justin cried. "Fuck no. I'm not going. What're you gonna do if I refuse? Fire me?" Johnny bit his tongue, curious as to when Justin got such a bad attitude. "I'm asking you all for one week of bonding, one lousy week to see if you all really want this to end, or continue or whatever!" He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "One week, guys. One rotten week out of your lives to find yourselves again." He pointed to that picture on the wall, the one he stared at with fond memories. "This is who you were. See if that's who you still are." Five sets of eyes followed his hand to the framed picture. Five sets of eyes filled with some form of shame and regret, lost innocence and forgotten memories. "Fine," Lance conceded as he stood up. "I'll meet y'all in the morning." He shook his head and walked out. JC followed him with a small grin. "Maybe it won't be so bad," he reasoned looking at Justin's unsure face. "It's just seven days and if you still hate N Sync, or us, then you're out. We'll let you go without problem." Chris and Joey nodded in agreement. "So, we meet here in the morning," Justin said crisply. "Until then." He swept out followed by the other two and Johnny let out a sigh of relief. |