Blind Date Chapter Eight

In order to accommodate all the people who are asking me about when the next chapter comes out, I've created a Yahoo Group (Gods, Yahoo is like the Borg!): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mark_writings

This is the page of the group, If you would like to be notified when a new chapter gets posted please go join my group. {smile} I'll try and make sure there's fun stuff along with this.

Since everyone else is doing it. Here are a few stories I liked and would recommend in no particular order.

"After you left that morning, I told the guys everything. There was yelling and screaming, most of it from Justin about what this would do to the group if it ever got out. But after all that they all seemed pretty cool with it, except for Justin. He didn't seem to be taking it as well as the others. Chris was the most supportive actually. In fact it was him that suggested that I do something special for you to make up for what happened that morning." I chuckled when he said that and he seemed to do the same. "Yea, who knew Chris was such a softie? Anyway, last night was the most wonderful night of my life, the happiness and love I felt inside me was so powerful, unlike anything I had ever felt before. Even more so when you woke me up this morning. When we walked out into the main room and Chris made that remark, I don't know what happened. Just something inside of me realized that all of a sudden, the people closest to me knew I was gay, they were even teasing me about it. It just felt really weird to me, one day I'm hiding it from them, fearing that they'll find out and the very next day they're teasing and joking about it with me. I can't explain it but it just freaked me out. And that’s why I ran into the other room. Why I couldn't even say anything to you. I'm so sorry Mark, I didn't me to push you away like that." He was still crying and I pulled him towards me into a tight hug.

"Lance, it's ok, I understand. It must be really hard for you, I mean harder than it was for me when I came out to my friends and family. If you want me to back off and give you some space, some time to get used to all this, just say so."

Lance quickly pulled back from the hug and looked at me. "NO!" He almost shouted. "I'm not about to lose you, not when I just found you. It'll take some time. JC talked to me, explained to me that all the guys were behind me, how they all liked you and thought you were a good person for me. He even told me that they all agreed that if management ever found out and tried to get rid of me they would walk out with me. I guess I just need to hear that from one of them, to hear how supportive they were and how they weren't upset. You know I wanted to tell you all this when you came after me earlier, I mean I felt so safe in your arms when you put them around me. But I just couldn't tell you this while JC was there. I felt so bad, I don't want to hide anything from you." He leaned back into my arms and started crying again. I just sat there holding him, rocking the two of us gently back and forth.

"I love you Lance and nothing will ever change that." I whispered into his ear.

And now on to Chapter Eight!

Lance was in my arms still crying from his telling me what happened earlier and how he was feeling having to deal with just coming out to the group. I could feel his tears as they wetted my shoulder. I didn't know what to say, what I could do to make him feel better, to let him know that I was and would always be with him. As I held him and softly rocked back and forth, I started to gently sing to him.

By the time I was done singing Lance had stopped crying and just kept hugging me. He waited till I as done and then he pulled away so he could look at me.

"Wow, I didn't know you could sing."

"I don't." He looked at me with a smirk. "Honest, this is the first time I've sung outside the shower. It just felt like the right thing to do, to make you feel better."

Lance rubbed his eyes and flashed me the biggest grin I'd ever seen on his face. "You are the best. How come it always seems like you're making me feel better?"

"Cause that's what boyfriends do, right? Hey, when I'm alone with you I feel so right, like there's nothing wrong with the world. So you're having a little rough spot, you'll get over it and I'll be here to help ya. Besides, I'm sure there'll be a time where I'll be crying on your shoulder, you'll get your chance. But for now…" All of a sudden I started to tickle him, he started to squirm and we got into a massive tickle fight. We rolled around the floor trying to pin each other down, the whole time we kept tickling one another and laughing. I managed to push him on his back and climb on top of him, still tickling. Finally we stopped laying next to each other, panting for air. We laid there resting, laying on our sides facing each other. I just found my self gazing into his eyes. We must have laid there for a while, cause a knocking sound caused us to jolt from our gaze. I looked up and saw JC standing at the doorway with a smirk on his face.

"Well I see things are alright with the two of you."

We both sat up. Lance pulled up behind me, wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder. "We are so alright it's wonderful!"

I chuckled at Lance's remark and turned my head to give him a kiss.

"Aww, that's sweet." JC said as he made some gagging sounds. He managed to duck in time to miss the barrage of pillows that had been launched at him. "I just wanted to let you know we're ready for our morning meeting Lance."

We both stood up. "Thanks JC." Lance said as he started to walk out towards the front of the bus. As I followed Lance and walked past JC, I stopped, pulled JC into a tight bear hug.

"Thanks." I whispered in his ear.

"What for?" JC seemed confused.

"For what ever it was you told Lance this morning in his room." I gave him a little squeeze in the hug and then let go.

"So everything is ok?"

"Yeap, Lance and I chatted, he told me everything about what had been bothering him."

"Well as long as things are ok with you two, I'm glad I could help."

"Hey you guys, you coming?" Lance yelled from the door of the bus.

We walked back out of the bus and headed back to Lance and Joey's. I sat down on the couch and Lance plopped right down on my lap. Chris and Joey were still playing the Ninentdo and Justin was sitting on a chair. JC grabbed another chair and pulled it next to Justin.

"So what are you guys up to today?" I asked no one in particular as I wrapped my arms around Lance making him lean back and lay on my chest.

"Well, we have to be loaded up on the bus by 5pm, we're heading out to Oakland for our concerts this weekend. At least we get today and tomorrow off from having to do anything." JC explained. "What about you? What are you going to do once we leave?"

I looked up at the clock on the wall, saw that it was a little after 11am. "Well I have to be at work in about two hours and I won't get off till after you guys have left. So I guess Lance and I will just do the phone thing till we figure out when we can see each other again."

"I'm not going tonight." Lance blurted out.

"WHAT?" Came a unified scream from the four boyband members.

"Hun, you have to go, you've got your concerts. You are not going to give up your career for me." I explained as I turned him around to face me.

"I'm not leaving the group. Jeez, you guys can be so dense. I spoke with Johnny and he didn't have a problem with me staying behind for our two days off and then just flying up early Saturday morning." He looked right into my eyes. "That is, if you want to be stuck with me for another two days."

I looked around at the others. "I don't have one single problem with that, though I'm a little biased," as I flashed him a smile, "but I'm not the one you should be asking."

"Guys?" You could hear a waiver in Lance's voice as he opened up the question to the rest of the group. He kept whipping his hear around the room to see the reaction on the other four faces.

"You mean two whole days without 'daddy lance' around us? Sweet!" Joey bellowed.

"Hey!" Lance threw a pillow at Joey while the others started laughing. Lance then turned and hugged me. "Sounds like a yes to me."

I stuck my head around Lance's so I could see the others. "It cool?" They all smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I think you and Poofu could use a couple days alone, I just hope you sound proof the room!" This time it was Chris that got a few pillows thrown at him.

"So you going to be staying here then?" I asked Lance.

"Naw, I don't think that would be a good idea, the fans will see that I didn't get on the bus and will figure I'm still here."

"Well then were?"

"Well, I was kinda thinking that maybe I could stay with you. You don't have to say yes, I can get a hotel." Lance gave me a puppy dog look. Ugh, he looks so damn cute when he does that.

"Damn Lance, I'm never going to be able to resist you when you look like that. Besides, I can't think of any place I would want to spend time with my man."

JC stood up and walked over to us. "Um, guys, and touching as this is, what about Lonnie, you know management won't let you stay here without protection."

Lance frowned. "He's right. Maybe I can find a hotel close to your apartment?"

All of a sudden a light bulb went off in my head. "Hey, would it be necessary that he was directly next door or does he just have to be close by?"

"Well it depends on what you mean by close by."

"Well my complex had a fully furnished apartment for rent by the night for when residents have guests coming and they don't want to be in a hotel. I don't remember how much it costs, but I could call them and see. Would that work? He'd just be a few apartments away."

"I guess that could work. I'd have to check with Lonnie. Is the place available?"

"Well lemme get my cell phone and I'll call and find out." I got up went into Lance's bedroom to retrive my cell phone and called my apartment office. After I got the info I walked back out and joined Lance who was on his cell phone chatting with what sounded to be management so I waited till he hung up. "Well the apartment is free, and its fifty bucks a night and the cool thing is that it's only a few apartments away, at most its just a 2 minute walk away from mine."

"That's good, but management is going to let Lonnie deciede. If he feels its safe then I can stay with you, if not then it’s a hotel." Lance sounded dissapointed but he wouldn't let his face show the emotion.

I looked up at the clock, it read 11:47am. "If we're going to go do this, we need to leave soon, cause I have to be at work in just over an hour."

"Shit! Damn! Just lemme pack my stuff up. Joey, can you tell Lonnie what the plan is?" Lance ran into his room while Joey walked outside to talk to Lonnie. Chris padded over to me and sat down next to me.

"Can I borrow your cell phone Mark?"

"Sure." I handed it over to him and he started punching in numbers and I could see that he was programming some numbers into it.

"I'm putting in all of our cell numbers along with Lonnie's and the number to Johnny's. If there are any, and I mean any problems you call one of us, ok?"

"Sure, I promise. I don't want anything to happen to him any more than you do."

"Oh I'm certain of that, but we've learned that you can never be too careful." When he was done putting the numbers into my cell phone he tossed it back to me and I checked them out.

A few minutes later Joey walked back in with Lonnie following behind him. Lonnie walked over to me and started asking me questions about my apartment complex and I couldn't tell if he was pleased or not with what I was telling him, except he seemed pleased when I told him my apartment was on the second story. Lance eventually wandered back out with a small duffel bag and backpack.

"Ok, I'm ready." He announced. Lonnie grabbed the bags and headed out to the parking lot. The rest of the guys walked over to him and said their goodbyes. After they had said their goodbyes to Lance, they walked over to me one by one, they each wished me luck and told me how they were happy to me me and then gave me a hug - even Justin hugged me which by the looks on the others I wasn't the only one surprised at this.

When we got out into the parking lot, Lonnie was standing between my Jeep and a Ford Explorer that was parked next to it. He informed me that he would follow us in the Explorer and I offered to give him my cell # in case he lost us, but he said he already had it. The drive to my place was uneventful, and once we got there, Lonnie seemed to approve of it so we got the rental unit and Lonnie set up camp there as Lance and I walked over to mine.

"Oh, you're not allergic to dogs or afraid of them or anything?" I asked.

"Nope, why, you have a dog?"

"Yea, he's really friendly so I'm sure he'll like you."

As I opened the door and walked in, my dog Kiwi came running out to greet us.

"Aww, he's so cute!" Lance reached down to pet him and then followed me into the apartment. I showed him around the place, my apartment isn't that big, just over 900 square feet with one bedroom, a bath, great room and then the kitchen. We made ourselves comfortable and relaxed a little bit before it was time for me to get ready to head into the office. As I got changed and ready, I fished out some keys out of one of the drawers and walked over to Lance and placed them in his hand.

"This one is for the front door, and this one is to the pool. Just in case you wanna go out while I'm at work. The complex is mostly adults, not many kids live here so you should be safe." I leaned in a gave him a kiss.

"What time should you be home?"

"About 9:30, I get off at 9 but it takes a while to lock up and drive home."

"Ok, I'll miss you!" Lance grabbed me and pulled me down on the couch with him and we proceeded into a long and passionate kiss. After a couple minutes he pushed me off him. "Now go to work!" I pouted as I headed out. He gave me a pat on the ass as I walked out the door.

Several hours later…

I walked into the apartment. Lance was laying on the couch watching something on the tv. He got up when he heard me walk in.

"Hey! What are you doing here? It's not even 5:30 yet."

I didn't reply, I just walked over to the other couch and sat down dazed. Lance got up, walked over and sat down next to me.

"What's wrong? Mark, please, remember, no secrets?"

I looked up at him.

"I got fired."

To be continued…

Well there it is! Chapter Eight! Hope you enjoyed it. Remember I love to get feedback, so tell me what you think!

† Candle on the Water ©1977 Disney; Music & Lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn