Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 20:23:01 EST
From: ARTNYC4@aol.com
Subject: joey and lucas-2

Warning: This story contains homosexual themes, and will in the future
contain scenes of homosexual sex.  If this bothers you then don't read
this.  If you are not old enough in the community that you live in to read
erotic material, than go away, and shame on you for being here.

Disclaimer: I have no associations with either the Backstreet Boys or
NSYNC.  I do not know the sexual orientations of any of the band
members. This is FICTION, meaning that it is not real and should not be
considered real.

Personal Note: I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to respond.
The responses really made me want to make me work harder to get the next
part out.  Don't hesitate to e-mail me at ARTNYC4@aol.com.


Joey and Lucas (chapter 2) by Aran

FLASHBACK (Joey's Point of View)

"Hey guys, before we go out tonight can we have a meeting in my room"

	We're here in New York for two weeks to do some touch-up recording
for No Strings Attached.  Jive wants this to be perfect; they didn't pay
big money to RCA for a flop.  Now the pressure is on, as the release date
gets closer.  We got to New York on Monday, and so far none of the fans
know that we are here.

	But that isn't what I want to talk to the guys about.  On Tuesday
morning I was up earlier than the rest of the guys.  To pass the time I
ended up listening to one of the local morning shows.  I had just turned on
Z100 when I got the shock of my life.

"Um... Can I use a lifeline?  (lol) Seriously though, that's an easy one,
because it's nearly impossible for me to have a girlfriend because I'm
gay."

	That voice sounded really familiar, but I couldn't place it.  I
didn't know who this person was, but already I knew that I envied him.  He
had just been able to say something to the whole world that I couldn't
bring myself to say to my four best friends.  I guess I'm luck.  Nobody
ever thinks I'm gay.  Not even the people who know me the most have any
idea.  I've been able to get my "release" from guy groupies who were after
Justin or JC.  I've only ever had one real relationship, but that failed
because I had to be away from home too much.

	Now it's Wednesday.  We have just finished a light day at the
studio, mostly listening to everything and seeing what work needs to be
done.  Since Tuesday I've been thinking about that guy I heard on the
radio.  I've since found out that his name is Lucas Raymond; his voice was
familiar because I'd heard his song before.  I had already heard some
reviews of his album, and the critics were actually being nice to it.
Unlike what they write about us, they praised his work, they like that he
wrote most of his lyrics himself and that he had songs on things other than
love.  I don't envy him anymore though.  No matter what the critics say all
the buzz is that his career isn't going to survive him being gay.

	I know now that I can't come out of the closet, at least not to the
public.  But after hearing Lucas saying those words on the radio, sharing
that part of him with the entire world, I've wanted to share that part of
me with my friends.  I've always felt that I was deceiving my friends, and
I've felt bad for doing it.  So tonight, after we have dinner here at the
hotel, and before we go out clubbing I'm going to tell them.

"So Joey, you wanted to talk to us?"

	They all got to my room first, but Justin was the first person to
say something.

"Yeah.  Guys, there's something I need to tell you.  I'm not sure if you
guys are going to like it"

"What is it?  Is everything ok?"

	Chris looked at me with concern written all over his face as he
spoke to me.

"Everything is ok, it's just... Well... I'm gay."

"WHAT!!!!!"

	The look of concern that Chris had before had disappeared.  It was
replaced with a look of complete disgust.  Lance was the next person to
respond.

"Um... I need to go.  I have to think."

	Before I, or anyone else, could say anything he was out the door.

"Your gay?  How could you do that to us?  Don't you realize what this could
do to our careers?"

"Chris, I don't think he's gay on purpose"

	JC put his hand on Chris' shoulder as he spoke those words.

"Justin, you go and find Lance, then we'll all go out tonight as we
planned.  Maybe things will look clearer after we have some time to think."

	Justin got up and left the room without even looking at me.  I just
sighed as I wondered whether I had done the right thing by telling them.

"JC, are you sure it's a good idea to go out drinking after what just
happened?"

"Don't worry Joey.  Everything will be normal, you'll be normal, and it'll
be fun."

"What?"

"Just be straight tonight Joey, and everything will be fine."

"I don't think I'm going to go.  I'm feeling kinda drained tonight.  You
guys have fun though."

I headed out of the living room of the 3-bedroom suite we had at The Plaza
hotel for out stay in New York.  That had gone worse than I imagined it
would.  Lance and Justin didn't even speak to me, hell Lance bolted as soon
as soon as the words left my mouth.  Chris, my best friend, looked like the
very sight of me disgusted him.  JC, I'm not sure about his reaction, he
seemed ok maybe even supportive at first, but I know now that he thinks
that I'm a freak and that the solution to the problem with the guys is that
I act "normal".  As I head towards the room me and Chris are sharing (I
wonder how long that is going to last) I could hear them making plans for
tonight.  They want to go out and have fun and forget what I just told
them.  I just want to get some sleep, there rejection wore me out and I
need to think about what to do, I always think better in the morning.

I woke up when I heard the door to the outside of our suite slam shut.  The
guys were loud, and very obviously drunk.  The first voice I heard was
Chris',

"Hey Scoop, can I sleep in your room tonight, I'm afraid to fall asleep on
the same room as that faggot.  I don't know what that pervert will try to
do, and I don't want to find out."

"Sure thing Chris, your safe with me."

	There was something off about the way Lance said that.  I don't
think any of the other guys caught it; hell I don't even think Lance
realized it.  Justin spoke up next.

"Guys?  What are we supposed to do?  I mean, we're in the same group and
we're goanna have to be around him a lot."

"I say we give his queer ass an ultimatum.  Either get straight, or get out
of NSYNC."

"Come on Chris, don't you think that too harsh?"

"Not really Justin, do you want him trying to shove his cock up your ass on
the tour bus?  Or do you want to see him grabbing his ankles every time a
guy fan is around?"

"Of course not."

"Well then it has to be done, now I'm going to bed."

	With that all of the guys went to sleep.  As soon as I there wasn't
any more noise I slipped out of my room, grabbed my coat and left the
hotel.  I glanced at a clock in the lobby and noticed that it was about
3:30am.  I walked out of the hotel and looked around.  Something about
Central Park seemed to be calling me.  Against every shred of sense that
said that Central Park at 3:30 in the morning was not the safest place to
be I went in.  I walked for a few minutes, not really knowing where I was
going.  Then I saw somebody.  A man.  He was sitting on a bench that was
facing the hotel.  I couldn't see much, all I could see was that he seemed
to be wearing pajama bottoms, and that his face was staring at the pavement
in front of him.  I slowly approached him.

"Do you need any help?"

	He looked up at me, and for some reason he started staring at my
hair.  While he was watching me I took the opportunity to look at him.  He
had light brown wavy hair, brown eyes, and skin the color of coffee after
too much milk was added.

PRESENT (Lucas' Point of View)

"Um... I'm fine, thanks"

	I may be stupid enough to be in Central Park after 3am, but I
wasn't stupid enough to start talking to strangers with weird hair.

"If you were fine you wouldn't be here crying in your pajamas."

	I tensed at the thought that I wasn't properly dressed.  One of the
few things my mother taught me is that people judge you first by your
appearance.  I couldn't stand the thought that people on the street thought
I was some kind of weirdo.  I looked at the man standing over me, trying to
figure him out.  His face looked fine, he looked concerned.  His eyes were
a different story.  There was a lot of pain in those eyes.

"I'll tell you my problem if you tell me yours."

"What makes you think I have a problem?"

"Your eyes."

"What about them?"

There is a lot of pain in your eyes.  What happened to cause it?"

"I don't think I can tell you that."

"Why?  Wait... Let me guess...  You're a spy, and Russia is planning a
nuclear strike, and there's nothing you can do about it."

	He laughed.  He laughed for much longer than I thought was
appropriate for the how lame the joke was.

"You have no idea who I am, do you?"

"Well, if it makes you feel better I recognize your voice.  Why, are you
famous?"

"You could say that."

"I'm going to kick myself when you tell me right?  I have an excuse though.
I've been recording for the past few months.  I haven't caught much TV."

"Recording?  Who are you?"

"I don't think so.  I asked you first."

"Fine, my name is Joey."

"Nice to meet you Joey."  I shook his hand.  "But that doesn't help me."

"Jeez, where were you recording, Mars?"

"South of France actually.  OH, I'm sorry, my name is Lucas."

	His eyes widened as I think he finally figured out who I was.

"Lucas Raymond?"

"Yeah, well this is a first.  I've never been recognized before."

"You'll get used to it, I am."

"Ah, getting back to that.  Where do I know you from?"

"I guess it's safe to tell you now that I know your not some reporter.  I'm
Joey Fatone, from NSYNC."

	I smacked my forehead.  How could I have been so stupid?  I used to
have a huge crush on this guy.  Looking at him I realized I still did, I
just forgot while I was overwhelmed with making the album and setting up
for the tour.  It took me a second to realize that he was shivering a bit.

"Are you cold?"

"A bit.  I've forgotten how cold it got in February in New York."

"I have an idea.  There's a 24-hour diner by my place.  They make a
kick-ass hot chocolate."

"Sounds good to me, but are you properly attired?"

	I had forgotten that I was only in my pajamas.  I thought for a
second, and then responded.

"For this place, yeah"

"Great, let's go."


TO BE CONTINUED