Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 13:53:15 EST
From: SweetAngel472023@aol.com
Subject: A second chance - chapter 4

Chapter 4
'A Second Chance'

Disclaimer: The usual stuff applies. This is a work of fiction, the product
of my over active imagination. I am not implying anything about he sexuality
of the members of the two bands. And if you are underage or find the thought
of two men in love and/or having sex repulsive, please leave.

Hi everyone. First of all, thanx to all those cool people who e-mailed me,
namely Metra, Lee, Gabrielle, rob, and Casey. I really appreciate it!
Chapter four wasn't supposed to be out until tomorrow, but I had this really
cool idea this morning, and I just had to put it into my story.
Again, feedback is always welcome, so e-mail me and let me know what you
think of my story.
Oh, and Rachel, if you are reading this, Gabrielle told me about your website
yesterday, and 'October' is absolutely the best story ever!
Anyway... on with the story.


    Nick awoke with a start. It was dark in the room except for the luminous
red light that went out from his alarm clock. 3:30 am. He sat up in his bed
and tried to recall the fading images from the dream he had just had. There
were only pictures in his mind. Like still frames, of intertwined bodies, a
tangle of legs and arms, warm lips and hot flesh. Without having seen the
faces, he still knew who the two people were. Nick and Justin. Justin and
Nick. He sighed and turned around, ready to go back to sleep as he heard his
mom, calling his name. Suddenly he recalled the reason why he had woken up in
the first place.  It was the ringing of the phone that had interrupted his
delicious dream. It must've been for him. He got up and opened the door.
    "The phone. It's Brian for you." His mom stated and handed him the
cordless phone.
    "Why is he calling at 3:30 in the morning?" Nick grumbled as he took the
phone.
    "I asked him the same thing, but he just said that it was important. I'm
going back to bed." With those words Mrs. Carted turned around and vanished
in her bedroom. Nick closed his bedroom door behind him and sat down on his
bed.
    "Brian?  What do you want? Do you know that you interrupted the best
dream I ever had?" Nick asked.
    "No. What was it about? Wait...I don't think I want to know." Brian
answered.
    "Well, you're gonna find out anyway. Just as a punishment." Nick grinned
evily. "It involved me and Justin, no clothes, and lots of lube." Nick broke
down laughing as he heard his friend's groan.
    "Ok, now that you're done torturing me, I have something important to
tell you."
    "Well, let's hear." Nick said.
    "Justin and Britney broke up." Brian said slowly, emphasizing each word.
"Nick, are you still there?" he asked as he heard no reaction.
    "Uh...yes. Where did you hear that?" Nick managed to say.
    "I'm online and I just read the latest news. Apparently Britney announced
it on MTV late last night. Then her manager had her call in a press
conference because the rumors were flying high. She confirmed that they had
indeed broken up, and when they asked why, she said that their relationship
had turned into more of a friendship and they just wanted to make it
official." Brian paused his narration to take a deep breath, then continued.
    "Which leaves two questions. One, why did they have to 'make if official'
at eleven o'clock last night, and two, why did she do it alone and no one
knows Justin's side of this."
    "Wow. And of course you have the answers to those questions?" Nick said.
    "I don't. But it does leave room for speculations. Just think about it.
Justin must've told Britney about the kiss sometime yesterday. Maybe he
really is gay, and that's why they broke up. Which would also explain why
Britney did the talking. Either, he didn't trust himself to not blurt out the
real reason on TV, or she got so pissed she wanted to dump him right away.
Personally I can't imagine the latter one. I know Brit and she wouldn't do
that. So... maybe you do have a chance." Brian concluded.
    "I don't know what do think. You could be right... but I don't really
wanna start any false hopes. Ugh. When did my life get so screwed up?" Nick
asked, not really expecting an answer.
    "Well, that's all I really had to say. I'm gonna let you get back to your
beauty sleep now. See you tomorrow." Brian said.
    "Good night." Nick murmured and put the phone down. Exhausted he crawled
back under the warm blanket on his bed. He closed his eyes and was back
asleep almost immediately. His last conscious thought was of Justin.

    Justin had been in the shower for at least fifteen minutes, and he wasn't
planning on stopping anytime soon. The warm water did wonders to soothe his
aching muscles. He hadn't really gotten much sleep last night, and he wasn't
a morning person anyway. Especially not today. After everything that had
happened last night he was in no hurry to face his family.
After he had come home from Britney's, he had come out to his family.
They'd been in total shock. So he had to spend all night talking to them, and
he had felt like he was playing twenty questions. 'Why are you gay?' 'Is it
my fault?' 'Are you ok with it?' and, of course, 'How did you find out?'. The
last one was also the hardest one to answer without revealing his little
secret. He had told Britney because she deserved to know the whole truth, but
he didn't really feel like telling his parents that he had kissed Nick
Carter. That wasn't a piece of information they'd appreciate.
    With a sigh he tuned off the water and reached for a towel. His
stepparents had been more accepting than his real parents. Especially his mom
had a hard time adjusting. At lest she didn't hate him. Justin was positive
that she'd come around eventually. All in all, it had gone better than he had
feared. So far no one had really rejected him. He could just hope that the
same would go for his bandmates.
    "Just? I think I have some bad news." His mother welcomed him as he
entered the kitchen.
    "What happened?" he asked. As an answer she held up half a dozen
newspapers. His break-up with Britney had made headlines.
    "But, we announced it at eleven." He said, confused.
    "I know, and they print the papers at midnight. But I didn't really
expect them to add it that late. I'm sorry. They guys will probably be really
upset that you didn't tell them."
    Justin sighed. This didn't look like it was gonna be a good day. Not only
would he have to come out to the guys, he would have to explain why he let
Britney announce the break-up before he had told them. A new thought crossed
his mind. Nick would see the papers. Would he connect the break-up to the
kiss? Justin sincerely hoped so. He really needed to see Nick and work this
mess out. Without thinking he reached for the phone.
    "Justin?  I was just about to call you." Lance said. 'Oh great,' Justin
thought. 'now he's gonna chew me out.'
"I just talked to management. They want us to have a New Year's eve party
with the Backstreet Boys!" Lance announced. Justin gasped. A party...with the
Backstreet Boys? With Nick? He dropped the phone.
-------------------------------

That's it. Hope you liked it.
I have to ask a favor. I know that Nick has a sister who's like a year or two
younger than him. But I totally forgot her name. She's gonna appear in the
next chapter, so if you know her name, please e-mail me. Thanx!
Have a happy New Year!
j