Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 10:28:47 -0800 (PST) From: Clive Subject: Grand Encounter 7 Comments:- Hey there y'all... yep that is right it that time again :) what can I say... thanks to all of you that wrote me after the last part I am sorry if I didn't write back str8 away but I was taken by supprise at the amount of you that remembered the story line LoL... I don't want to put much more here except that I wanted to say hi to a special friend of mine, that person being Kyle... he is a great author and way out does me, I bow down to you my lord. Ummm yep that about does it... hope this part is pleasing to your eyes and I look forward to speaking to y'all about it. Finally once again I would appreciate any comments (good or bad) to: bigc79_uk@yahoo.com Thanks and hope you enjoy the story :) [THAT MEANS MAIL ME :p] Don't Forget to check out my new website @ http://www.authorclive.co.uk Disclaimer:- This story is fiction and does not imply anything about the group * N'sync or any other person involved in full or in part. If you are under the legal age to read such material in your area please leave immediately. The author takes no responsibility for anyone's actions based upon this work of fiction. Previously:- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Justin was having an absolute ball out front. So far several female and males had suspected who he was but he could hear mummering from the crowd to the effect that it would be too much for a member of N'sync to be doing door duty at the club so in the most they put it off to just some great look alike. The odd person did come up to him on their entrance and ask him straight off if he was who they thought he was but he just brushed it off with a smile and a nod, that satisfied the fuel of the few that had the courage to ask. But then their was the one from behind him... he could make out the sound of a guy on speaking to him off his right shoulder and through the noise of the gathering in the queue he could just make out the person ask him if he was Justin... 'The Justin from that group'. and like the times before he just shrugged his shoulders and made an attempt to put the guy off with out making contact. But this man wasn't backing down and it was gradually getting on Justin's' nerves to the point that he turned around sharply so that he was facing the guy, needless to say that Justin was gobsmacked... "I knew it... you are that guy" "Shit you ass hole... your the second person that has freaked me out today like that... mind you I don't mind you doing it... in fact you can do it any time you like" and with that Justin leaped forward and hugged Pete in a life crushing move that left Pete searching for words himself. "Come with me... I need to talk to you. To apologize to you," with that Justin took Pet's hand and lead him back into the club but to the staff area that he had been to earlier. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AND NOW THE NEXT CHAPTER OF GRAND ENCOUNTER Chapter Seven The evening continued as it had started, Lance spent the whole evening trying to point out to JC and Clive all the 'hot' looking men in the club and Clive had to give Lance credit for a supposedly straight guy he knew how to pick them, and not only that Lance had an uncanny ability to pick out the not so straight men. How did Clive know this... well being the manager of a club that held a gay night once a week kinda gave him the insight into who was in the club and who wasn't. And as mentioned Lance had managed to pick most of the good looking guys out of the crowd, this though made Clive wonder if there was something that Lance wasn't telling him, but kept to himself on it. So the evening went off with JC, Clive and Lance up in the box steadily getting through the ever flowing champagne. Whilst Justin and Pete mingled down in the crowd on the floor, both parties having an evening to remember or not as it was in some cases. But the next day was another matter. Justin was awoken by a loud thumping roaring through his hotel room. Shifting slightly he felt a presence besides him hold, pulling and willing him not to move on out of the bed. It took several moments for him to take account of his surroundings and looking over to his right he saw Pete lying next to him in the same clothes that he had been wearing the night before. Justin continued to survey Pete from head to toe, and even though he was still dressed in the full get-up from the night before and his hair was disheveled Justin couldn't tear his eyes off him. Well not until the beating at the door began again. Justin rallied himself out of the bed and made his way shakily over to the door, obviously worse for wear because of the night before. "God damn it Justin open up in there already, this is serious." The voice of the unseen intruder filled the room through the solid doors. Justin continued to the door lethargically with his senses slowly coming to him. "Hang on... I'm comming" Justin attempted to shout back at the unwanted guest but all he could hear was a snide comment which didn't bond well with him "I think that's the problem don't you!" Justin's advances on the door were sped up and he reached forward at swung the door open in an urgency mainly out of annoyance but also out of burning curiosity. Chris stood aback against the far wall of the corridor with Joey standing prominent and front with an aggressive posture and an even more menacing playing face. "Can I help you?" Justin let out without showing the slightest bit of strain in his voice or his inwardly growing aggressive tendency. This question took Joey by surprise because he was expecting Justin to take a harder line mearly because of the manner in which he had flung the door open with such a fiery temper, but it had to be noted that Justin had been suppressing all of them recently by doing things that... well that he wouldn't normally have done. Chris stepped forward and in a restrained manner handed Justin the local papers whilst simply adding, "We need to talk." At that Justin's eyes fell to the papers and moved southwards till they met the folded tabloids that he was now clutching. A mixture of facial expressions were visible on his face as his eyes moved with increasing speed over the text before him. But it was the supporting picture that got him enraged and yet shocked more so as he saw from another perspective the scene that had unfolded the night before. The picture showed Pete being incased in a 'more than friendly' hug but it was the fact that both persons had the 'look of love' in their eyes, and that was exactly what the caption that accompanied the picture and article stated. Justin's mind eased off as he read the story, or more correct on this occasion the factual journalism. He knew that management within Jive would do their damndest to put the articles down and to shove it off as a scandalist reporting but the pictures surely went along way to proving their work. Not only was the article front page in one of the UK's leading local papers but as Justin riffled through the set that Chris had handed him he found more and more magazines and papers covering the same story with differing twists and headings. One even took the effort to find out who Pete was and that was something that scared Justin. See in all this time he hadn't been too overly concerned because it was himself that was involved but now it was becoming ever more apparent that Pete was going to be dragged into this ugly mess, and even though Justin had known Pete a small amount of time he had feelings for this man greater than he had had for any other individual (or at least in this term of love). Justin stepped backwards without looking where he was going still looking down at the papers and as he did so the door in front of him slowly closed by itself, but neither Joey nor Chris made any effort to stop it doing so, probably because they could both see the look in their friends eyes, he was hit hard by this and even though both of them had turned up ready to get some answers from him it was pretty evident that that wasn't going to happen and they knew deep down that it wasn't their place to sort this out. Just had to take the hard line but they would make it clear to him later on when they saw him that they would support him in any way that was needed, and so Joey and Chris made their way back to their rooms with out another word being shared. By this time Pete had made his way over to where all the noise was coming from and the concern in his voice was apparent as Justin backed into him and at that point just let the papers that were in his hands fall the floor. Now unlike Justin he couldn't control the emotions that were building up inside him and he knelt down and as he started to pick up the papers that lay strewn on the floor he began crying silently but with force. "Babe, what's the matter, let me help... please" was all Pete said as he descended to Justin's level and started to also pick up the papers, but on seeing his new lovers face and the way that the tears ran slowly but relentlessly down the side of his cheeks made Pete's heart break in two. He reached out and pulled Justin to his feet looking him deep in the eyes and with out a word being said led his lover to the sofa and sat down gingerly still looking deep into his eyes and never breaking contact. This was slowing easing Justin to the point that he was crying to himself anymore he was just sitting there staring into those dark brown pools that were Pete's eyes and almost in a transfixed state he leaned forward and held on to him with all his might. Several hours past with the two of them just holding each other and slowly Justin's hold relented and he eventually explained to Pete the new found news, but Pete didn't react in a manner that you would have expected from someone that had just been exposed to the whole nation and maybe even further afield as being a homosexual instead he just sat with Justin and his concern never shifted from Justin. All ways questioning what Justin was going to do now, how it would effect him, what there was that he could do to aid Justin. After all it wasn't like Pete was world famous like Justin, he was well known in certain circles like Clive was but no where near the level to which Justin and the others were, also on top of that Pete had been openly gay for some time and to him this posses no threat. But to Justin it was a completely different matter and this is what was worrying Pete and by this time more so than it was worrying Justin himself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hold me?" Clive looked up at JC who was slowly dressing himself whilst also looking down at the slightly younger man that lay down across the bed in a very 'inviting' manner. How much he wanted to be able to spend the rest of the day there by this mans side but as it was there were other 'issues' that had arisen (and not in that manner) that needed to be dealt with. And thus was the reason for JC's reluctant movement towards the door. "I'll be back, Chris just needs to sort out something with the guys... Will you be here in a few hours?" JC's question came out as if a child had asked it in a quiet and at an almost inaudible level. "I've got no where better to be, after all I got free room service." Clive smirked back at JC who simply grinned and raised his right eyebrow and rebutted "If you wait for me to get back, I will have some room service to give you of my own." To which a both Clive's and JC's corners of their mouths curled upwards in the formation of small but evident smiles. And at that JC left room with a simple backward look and a small wink before heading down the hallway to Chris' room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The members of N'sync minus Justin had spent nearly three hours talking and at some points sharing heated exchanges with each other over the incident that had occurred last night and had been picked up on by the reporters and at one point Lance had taken a fairly lengthy call from the mangers at Jive. Who appeared to be eager to talk to Justin but Lance had managed to used delaying tactics with them, but knew that soon probably later that day Justin would need to face the music and speak to the group in America and all the others knew that that would be a stain on the situation all on its own. So they decided right out at the for front that they would all talk it over and formulate some 'ideas' that they could propose to Justin after all it wasn't their place to control his life, but he did play a large part in their lives and so they needed to talk things over. So the time passed with several ideas being thrown away, several being accepted and others as maybes. Later on Justin made his appearance at the door to the suit, but not on his own instead he had in tow Pete, and his justification for this was that the whole thing involved him as much as any other, and no one could argue at that. So they talked some more and by now it was late mid day and all were getting slowly agitated and worn down but sitting in the same room and going over the same things over and over again. It was then that the phone rang again and this time Lance wasn't able to delay management any longer, and with a sympathetic look in his eyes handed the phone over to Justin whilst mouthing the words 'good luck' and then simply moving to the side lines where the others including Pete were all looking on. "Hi... this is he" Justin responded with a cold undertone and a harshness that wasn't mean to show that he was angry but more that he was ever increasingly getting nervous, and this was all Pete needed to hear to cause him to move over to Justin's side and take his hand in his and rub thumb over the top of Justin's fingers in a reassuring manner. "ummm sure... when... where... why so soon?" no one in the room was able to work out what was being said over the phone but it was obvious that Justin wasn't happy with the out come and he slowly started to clutch onto Pete's hand as if it were a life aid. "I think I need to do that... I will call," But at this response Justin's voice fell almost silent as if it was faltering him and he knew that he had to talk to him mother about this before anything further was done and at this point someone on the other end of the phone was giving him a number in the states to call and as the others made an attempt to see the number they (or those that knew) the number realized who Justin was referring about. "And yes it is true." but this response to the obvious question came out without any hesitation in his voice, in fact this was a stronger Justin than any of the others had seen and as he did this a small smile appeared on his face as if he had gained new life and second wind and it was ever increasingly evident that he wasn't taking any crap of the person at the other end of the phone. "Don't go preaching on me, I know that not every one will accept who I am or even what I am but that is just something that will need to be dealt with at a later date... yes... lets just get this over and done with." and with that Justin slammed the phone down with some force cause the other members in the room that were listening to the one sided conversation to attempt to move backwards in their seats which cause Justin to smile to himself knowing that the others had no idea about how he felt. To them it seemed as if he was pissed off but he really wasn't, he was worried yes, and concerned but just like Pete his concern didn't actually emanate because of his own predicament... but over the thought that he had involved Pete in something that could have been avoided. Justin didn't feel like explaining himself to any of them at that point so he just made his leave and apologized to the others simply letting them know that he was going to speak to his mother. And then he left... even leaving Pete behind who looked on a bit dumb stuck. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The others of the group had dispersed out leaving Pete pacing backwards and forwards in Chris room but after 20 mins of this Chris had had enough. "Look... just go... go and see him" Chris said as he stood in the path of Pete's motion bringing him to a sudden halt, and it was obvious that he was about to protect and make a case of the situation when Chris interjected "I am SURE he wouldn't mind you being there" and at this Pete started to make his way to the door but then turned to look back at Chris and simply smiled and nodded his head in a thanking gesture which was met with a warm hearted, "go." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Justin sat on the end of his bed after hanging up the phone with his mum and looked down at his feet dejectedly. Not that the conversation hadn't gone well, well was well as you can expect in a situation like the one he was facing but it was more to do with the knowledge that later on in the day Jive had set up a press conference and he had to some how break the news to the others, and he knew all to well that none of them were really into that press thing. Everyone thought that was what Lance thrived on, but in all honesty he just like the others like to sit back and let it all roll over him and just do the 'creative stuff' but that obviously wasn't in the grand design of life for him. As Justin sat there pondering all this and more he felt a pair of arms encompass him in a loving and warming embrace and he knew that Pete had come to join him in his time of dwelling. "So are you all sorted?" Pete whispered quietly into Justin's left ear eliciting a slight moan from the younger male. "Umm humm..." was all that was returned as he moved his head slightly backwards so that both their cheeks were touching, "Pete, I have to do something," and then Justin paused thinking of a way of explaining himself, "I have to do a press conference and I just want you to know that what ever the out come I want to get to know you better" "I see," and at that Pete seemed to be thinking or at least he kept quiet for some time until he asked, "So, when is this press thang?" "In about two hours, umm yeah it starts at 6" Justin said passively looking down at his watch. "Ok.. umm stupid question but who do you need there?" it was a simple question but one that Pete needed to be answered... he need to know if Justin wanted him to support him as he told countless amounts of people about his new life choice. "Ooh just the guys and Clive" was all Justin could say hesitantly. "Umm, ok... you don't want me to be there?" there was a slight hint of upset and depression coming into Pete's voice as he looked on. "No, god no it's not that at all Pete. It is just management and my mother think that having you there at the same time isn't a good thing for the image of the group." "Geeze thanks" "I don't mean like that and you know it. The only reason Clive has to be there is because he can verify what I was doing last night... I mean on the door being there, please don't take this the wrong way." "It's alright, I just want you to be kewl with it also Justin" and with that Pete slowly untangled this arms from around Justin's body and made his way towards the door... "Look, you got a lot to sort out and I am no use here," he paused thinking over what he had just said before continuing, "Call me when this is sorted and know that I am there in mind if... if not in body" and with that he left the room and left Justin who had again started to tear up and he knew all to well that the next five or so hours were going to be pure hell. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The five members of N'sync and Clive sat at the large rectangle table with a sea of cameras and crew in front of them, and to five of them this seemed to almost overwhelming but there bewilderment and confusing could be nothing compared to the turmoil and the shear terror that was building up inside one of them. Justin sat glued to his seat, he had a look of death on his face as more and more persons filed into the large, high ceiling room. The noise from all the cameras clicking and the reporters and such alike talking filled the room and Justin with more and more energy. Then it began the doors at the back of the room were pulled closed and the sound reverberated around the walls. A member of the management stood up and took the front of stage introducing himself as the PR manager and then gave the floor to one of the many journalists that had assembled. It was at this point that Justin came to his senses as the reporter re-asked his question that Justin had missed the first time because of being so 'out of it'. "I will say again Mr.Timberlake, the man that you were seen with in the photo is known to be gay, I ask you..." and then there was a dramatic pause as the tension in Justin's mussels pulled tight, "are... you... gay?" To Be Continued... (for sure!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hope y'all liked that last part... it is leading to something good... ooh yeah baby... you know it :) Once again thanks Yuli... you are a star Love ya VISIT MY NEW WEBSITE @ http://www.authorclive.co.uk Mail me or ICQ me with any comments to bigc79_uk@yahoo.com ICQ# 56762367 "REMEMBER BE GOOD AND IF YOU CAN'T BE GOOD... BE GOOD AT IT" CLIVE