Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 21:36:23 -0400 From: Writer Boy Subject: jc's hitchhiker - part 7 Obligatory warnings and disclaimers: 1) If reading this is in any way illegal where you are or at your age, or you don't want to read about male/male relationships, go away. You shouldn't be here. 2) I don't know any of the celebrities in this story, and this story in no way is meant to imply anything about their sexualities, personalities, or anything else. This is a work of pure fiction. Questions and commentary can be sent to "writerboy69@hotmail.com". I've been happy to hear from everyone who wrote to ask questions or say how much they liked this so far. This is my first attempt at this sort of writing, so the feedback is appreciated. And now, back to our story in progress. JC's Hitchhiker - Part 7 I stared blankly at Chris, and mentally willed myself not to freak out. I was certain there must be a logical explanation. After all, I'd just talked to JC that morning, before I'd gotten on the plane. I'd talked to him during one of the layovers, and he hadn't mentioned anything about not coming. He had said that he loved me, he was excited, and he was even a little nervous about having me come out and meet his friends. Could that be it? Had he rethought things? Was he scared or something? "He's not coming?" I asked. "Well, no," Chris said, shrugging. "He asked if I could come get you, since we kind or already met, and he can't." "Oh, ok," I said. I still felt like things were a little off, somehow, though. "Where is he?" Chris was looking at me in a curious way, but that could be for any number of reasons. Maybe he was just curious to get to know me better. Maybe he was curious because I'd blanched and turned completely white when he said Josh wasn't coming, before I got myself under control. Or maybe I was just nervous, which really was unlike me. "He had to finish up some vocals. They were right in the middle, and he didn't want to break it up," Chris explained. "Oh, well, um, thanks for coming to get me," I said. "I think my luggage is this way." "No problem," he said. "I mean, if my friend was flying in, I'd want someone to meet him." He put kind of an emphasis on "friend", but not enough for me to know if Josh had told any of his bandmates exactly what sort of "friend" I might be. Damn it, I should have just asked him when I talked to him, but it had just kept slipping my mind. "Thanks," I said, as we strolled toward the baggage claim. "So, is this your first time in LA?" Chris asked. "Yeah," I answered. "I was at this conference in San Francisco last year, which is where I met you guys, but other than that I've never been on the west coast." "I'm sure JC'll drag you around and show you all the sights," Chris said. "I didn't realize you two had stayed in touch. I remember he invited you to the concert, but after that I don't really remember him talking about you all that much." "Actually, we didn't really stay in touch," I said. "We just touched base with each other again a few weeks ago." "Oh, was it you he went to visit?" Chris asked. "He took off for the weekend and didn't really say where he was going." "Yeah, that was me," I said, not really offering anything else. "Oh, look, there's my bag." Chris offered to help carry my bag, but it had wheels on the bottom, so we just kind of walked along toward the car. I was surprised again that he had driven to get me, and parked in regular parking. In my head, I always imagined that rich celebrity type people had drivers and stuff. I never really thought that they might drive around town like normal people, in Jeeps, no less. Granted, it was a Grand Cherokee, but still. Josh kept assuring me that I had funny ideas about famous people (they don't all know each other, either), but for some reason I kept being surprised. As we drove along Chris pointed out some of the sights we went past, and we made idle small talk. He didn't really know much about me, so I supplied a little, and I knew practically nothing about him. I don't think I've ever seen Chris do a solo interview anywhere, so I wasn't really sure about how he'd joined the group or anything like that, so I asked lots of questions and filled up the time pretty well between the airport and the studio. Chris was a pretty easygoing guy, or at least he seemed like it, and he drove really well in what I thought was horrendous traffic. We parked at the studio, and I picked up my pass. Josh had arranged for me to have a semi-permanent visitor pass to the studio, but I'd still have to sign in each time, for security. "JC is doing some vocals right now, but you can wait over here in the bubble if you want," Chris said, opening a door for me. "The bubble?" I asked. "Because of the windows," Chris explained. Stepping into the room, I saw that it was a lounge area, with couches and tables, but three walls were glass, and looked into sound rooms. In one of them I saw Josh, in headphones, but his back was to us. Still, I felt a rush of emotions. Josh was wearing track pants and a sleeveless t-shirt, and had his hands up on the earphones, so his biceps were bulging invitingly. The dropped from his shoulders down the narrow v-shape of his back, and the pants, while loose, still gave a hint as to what was underneath. His hair was pushed back and held down by the microphone, and even though I couldn't hear I could tell that he was signing full-out as he rocked back and forth to music that I also couldn't hear. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed him, really missed him in a palpable, physical sense, until I saw him on the other side of the glass. I realized Chris was watching me, watching Josh, and I quickly set my bag down by a couch. "I can wait here," I said. "This is fine." "OK," Chris said. "I'll go let JC know you're here, and then I have some stuff to do, but I'll be back to hang with you in a bit." "OK," I said, watching him leave. Left alone in the bubble, I started to walk around. I had a book in my bag, but I'd never been in a recording studio before, and was curious. I didn't want to disturb Josh, and I assumed that he wouldn't be able to hear me if I banged on the window anyway, so I looked into one of the empty rooms. On the other side of the sound room I could see a window into another room, which is where the technicians worked. I was curious as to what those rooms looked like, and what it would be like to work there, but was interrupted in my reverie by Josh's voice, coming from everywhere at once. "Hi, Jack!" I spun around and saw that Josh was now facing me in his recording room. He was grinning, and his eyes sparkled in the indirect lighting in there. I waved and mouthed a "Hi." "It's good to see you," he said, winking. "I want to finish up this part that I'm working on, and then we can go get some dinner or something." I gave him an ok sign, and went back to the couch. Josh began singing again, and I realized that they'd left the sound piped in. Aside from the concert, I'd never heard Josh actually sing before, not live, and I marveled again at what a beautiful voice he had. "He has a great voice," someone said from behind me. The sound of Josh singing must have covered her entrance. She was a pretty girl, maybe about twenty, dressed casually in jeans and a plain top. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, poking out the back of her baseball cap. I wondered if she might be an intern, but I also had this nagging feeling that I knew her, or should. There was more than a hint of southern twang in her voice, but it was pleasant, not grating. "I'm Jack," I said, extending my hand. "Oh, you're JC's friend!" she said. "I forgot it was today you were coming! I'm Brit." "Wait," I said, looking again. "You're not." She laughed. "Yes, I'm Britney Spears," she said, giggling. "But you look so different," I blurted. The word that almost came out, instead of "different", was "normal". "You think I wear my stage stuff all the time? And all that makeup?" she asked, giggling again. "Ick!" She led me over to the couch. "So you're JC's mystery friend that none of us knew about," she gushed. "I've been waiting forever to meet you! How long are you gonna stay? Do you guys have anything planned yet? You're coming to dinner with us tonight, right?" "Wow, that's a lot of questions," I stalled. "What are you doing here? Are you working on the new album, or did you just happen to be here?" "I'm here with Justin," she said. Of course. How I could work in a high school and have somehow forgotten that Britney and Justin were dating was completely beyond me. "Oh, right," I said. "Yeah, we went to get some lunch, and Justin had this interview thing, but he wanted to change before dinner, and a bunch of his clothes are here," she explained. At that moment Justin walked in. "Brit? Oh, there you are," he said. He noticed me, and walked over, holding his hand out. "I met you once," he said, his face scrunched as if he was trying to remember where. "I'm Jack," I said, shaking his hand. Like Josh, Justin had a stronger grip than I would have guessed. "JC's friend," Britney added. "Oh, yeah, your car caught on fire!" Justin said, his eyes lighting up. "Sorry I was asleep for that. It was probably really cool." "It kind of was," I said, shrugging. "Except, you know, that I could have been inside it." "Yeah, that would've sucked," he agreed. I had only seen Justin up close once before, for about a minute, and I hadn't really thought about how young he really was. He was only twenty, but it was a young twenty. A good looking twenty, but a very young twenty. Chris walked in with a magazine and sat down on one of the other couches and began thumbing through it. "I'm ready," Justin said, hugging Britney. "No, you're not," she said, stepping back. "Dinner's casual. Go change." Justin looked down at his sparkling silver shirt and shiny black vinyl pants. "This is casual," he said, shrugging. "Low key," Britney emphasized, her eyes were bulging. "I said casual, for a casual, low key dinner. Go change." "I'm sorry, baby," he said. "Show me you're sorry by changing your clothes," she said, crossing her arms over her ample bosom, causing her breasts to squeeze together in a cleavage enhancing way. "OK," he said, leaving the room. "So, back to you," Britney said, taking my hand and leading me back to the couch. "JC said you're a librarian. I'm an author. My mom and I wrote a book, you know." "I saw it at the bookstore, once," I said, nodding my head. "I didn't get a chance to read it." "I think I have an extra copy out in the car," she said. Behind us I heard Chris snicker. Britney turned to glare at him. "Sorry," he said. "Frog in my throat. Sorry." "Actually," I began, "A lot of our students requested a copy for the library's fiction section. Maybe you could donate a few." "I'd love to!" she said, taking my hand again. She was just an outgoing, touchy sort of person. "That would be so cool!" Justin walked in again, this time in a sleeveless yellow t-shirt and dark blue jeans with yellow stars all over them. Britney frowned. "No," she said. Justin left the room as Chris quickly covered his giggles with a coughing fit. "You ok?" I asked him, looking at him over Britney's shoulder. I rolled my eyes, sending him into further giggles. "Fine, just fine," Chris said, his smile tugging his beard out of shape. "I think I need a drink." "Could you get me a Diet Pepsi?" Britney asked sweetly, blinking. "Somethin' in your eye?" Chris asked, staring at her. "Jack, you thirsty?" "Kind of," I lied, eager to escape a further discussion of Britney's writing career. "I'll help you carry it." I jumped up and followed Chris from the room. Behind us I heard Britney say, "No, go change." Glancing back, I saw Justin sulking down the hall in track pants and a ripped t- shirt, held together with safety pins. Chris laughed again, and I glanced at him. "Hey, I love Justin, and Brit, too, but the two of them," he said, shaking his head. "It's like this all the time." "I'm used to it," I said, laughing as we walked into a small kitchenette. "I work in a high school." "That's right," he said, rummaging through the refrigerator. "They really do seem to love each other, though. It's not just puppy love." "Good for them," I said, taking a can and a bottle water from Chris. "JC will want that water when he's done. I think the one he has in there with him is empty." "Thanks," I said. I should have thought of that. "No problem," Chris said, standing. He had cans of soda for he and Britney both. "So, JC has really been looking forward to you coming out here." "Has he?" I asked, smiling. "I'm pretty excited about being here." "Yeah, it's all he's been talking about for the past couple days," Chris said. "Jack this, Jack that, you know." I wasn't sure what to say, so I didn't say anything. "It's nice to see JC happy," Chris said. "You guys are pretty close?" "Yeah, we're close," I answered. Ahead of us, I saw Justin slouching back down the hall in leopard print pants and a black beater. "Glad to hear it," Chris said. "I think he needed a friend like you." Leaving me to ponder that one, Chris delivered Britney her beverage, and the three of us returned to our seats. Just as we had settled back onto the couches Justin returned, this time looking rather normal in jeans and a Tommy Hilfiger rugby shirt. Britney jumped up and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, baby, you look so cute!" she squealed, pushing him back to stare at him and then hugging him again. "Not as cute as you," he said, kissing her cheek. "No, you're cuter," she said, pecking him quickly on the lips. "No, you're cuter," he said, pulling her close for a loud, slurping tongue-kiss. Britney's hands wandered over Justin's shoulders and down his back. Justin had his hands on her ass, and was lightly squeezing as he hummed into her mouth. The two of them giggled and continued kissing, Britney pushing Justin up against the wall, as their hands wandered all over each other. Chris and I looked at each other, and I had to put a hand over my mouth to smother my giggles as Chris sighed and went back to his magazine. In the recording room, Josh stopped singing, and began to collect his things. Justin and Britney wandered over to a couch and sat down. She was snuggled up against him, holding both of his hands with hers. "So, what did you do while I was gone?" he asked. "Talked to Jack," she answered, kissing his chin. "What else did you do?" he asked. Both of them were speaking in these really annoying yet somehow cute little kid voices. "Missed you," she answered, kissing his chin again. "That's good," he said, kissing her on the forehead. "Because I missed you, too." "Jack," Josh said softly from right behind me. I almost jumped off my couch, and turned to see him bent down, his face close to mine. I was looking right into his sparkling blue eyes. "Josh!" I said, jumping up. "You scared me." I ran around the couch and then stopped, unsure of what he wanted me to do. He answered my question by wrapping me in a quick hug. "It's good to see you!" he said, pressing me against him. I hugged him back, just as hard, feeling his firm torso beneath the t-shirt. "You, too," I said, pulling him even tighter. Josh pulled away, grinning, and I realized everyone else in the room was staring at us. Chris' expression was neutral, but Justin and Britney looked a little baffled by the enthusiasm of Josh's greeting. "Did you meet everyone?" he asked, stepping away from me a little. "Yeah, yeah I did," I answered. He hadn't told them. I wasn't disappointed, really, but I was surprised. It seemed unlike him to be secretive, but he knew the rest of them better than I did. Maybe he had his reasons. Whatever they were, I wasn't about to force anything on Josh. He could make his decisions about who he shared his personal life with in his own time, and until then I would follow his lead. "JC, why don't you run and go get changed, and we can all talk over dinner?" Britney suggested. "Yeah, ok," Josh said, grabbing my suitcase. "We can put your suitcase in my dressing room, and come back for it later. Come on, I'll show you around." "Sure," I said, following him. "We don't really have a home studio," Josh began, as we walked down the hall. "But we recorded most of our last album out here, and we were pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. Is this your first time in a studio?" "Yeah," I answered. "Chris showed me around a little. He seems nice. Actually, they all do." "Yeah, I hoped you'd like them," he said. "Where's everyone else?" I asked. "We're taking a few days off from recording," Josh answered. "Joey and Lance both flew home to visit their families, but they'll be back soon, and then you can meet them again, too. This is my dressing room." I followed Josh into the small room. There was a desk, with a mirror, and a couple chairs. As soon as the door was closed, Josh had me in his arms again. "Oh, God, Jack, I missed you so much," he said, his hands roaming up and down my back. "I missed you, too," I said, grabbing his ass. I squeezed, hard, and felt his hips jerk into mine. Josh pushed me across the room onto the desk, and, grabbing my hips, set me on top of it. I felt his lips brushing mine again, hard, almost bruising my mouth with the way he was kissing me. His little strip of beard scraped my chin, and then his mouth was sliding down as his head nuzzled under my neck. He nipped lightly at my jawbone, and I felt his soft hair brush my chin. I grabbed double-handfuls of his shirt and pulled it off of him, and he stepped back with his arms up, shrugging out of it. Pulling him closer, I attacked his mouth with equal fervor, pulling him into one of the long, deep kisses he liked. Not breaking our liplock, I slid off of the desk and turned, moving Josh along with me, so that he ended up leaning against the desk. His hands were still roving over my back and into my hair as I moved slowly down him, from his mouth to his chin to his adam's apple, sucking it into my mouth for a second before snaking my tongue over his collarbone. Dropping lower, I savored the warm smoothness of his chest, feeling his pecs jump as I painted my way across them, clamping my mouth over a nipple and twirling my tongue around it. "Oh, Jack," he moaned, his head thrown back and his eyes closed. Josh grabbed the edge of the desk with his hands, and began squeezing it hard as I worked my way lower. I outlined his abs with my tongue, and dipped it quickly into his navel, before sliding past the track pants. I could see his hard cock throbbing through them, and I lunged onto it, mouthing it through the fabric. "Oh, God, Jack," he moaned, his hands flexing on the edge of the desk as I pushed my tongue against him through the pants. I felt Josh's hands on the side of my head. "Jack," he moaned, pulling on me. Not realizing that he was pushing me away, I continued my oral assault on him. "Jack," he said, a little more forcefully. I looked up at him from my knees. His face, so handsome always, looked even more so when it was flushed. I could see track of my spit gleaming on his heaving, panting chest, and both of his nipples stuck straight out, hard and sensitive. "Yeah, baby?" I asked. "Jack, this isn't the time for this," he panted. "You sure?" I asked, lightly stroking his cock with my hand. A large wet spot was forming on the front of his pants. "Unfortunately, yes," he answered. His voice was a little husky, both from desire and from the singing he'd just completed. "Everyone's waiting for us for dinner. I need to get changed." "If you insist," I said, sighing. I stood, and Josh lifted my chin with his fingers, bringing my eyes level to his. He leaned in and kissed me softly and tenderly. "I missed you, Jack," he said again. "I'm glad you're here." "I'm glad to be here, Josh," I said, leaning with my hands on his smooth chest. I liked to feel his heart beating beneath my palm. "You know that." "I know, but I never get tired of hearing you say it," he said. "I love you," I said. "Ever get tired of hearing that?" "Nope," he said, laughing. He pulled away from me and stripped off the track pants. "Could you hand me those pants there? This room isn't really designed for two people." "Sure," I said, handing him a pair of cargo pants. I pointed at his crotch. "You might want to leave your shirt untucked. You know, until your little problem subsides." "Little?" he asked, looking down at his crotch. "I really haven't heard you complain." "Nor will you," I promised. "'Little' is definitely not the word I'd use for what you're packing." "The same goes for you," he said, laughing. "Geez, we sound as bad as Curly and Brit." I shook my head, laughing. We couldn't be that bad. "One last thing," he began. "After dinner, your ass is mine." "No objections to that," I said, smiling. "But I have one last thing to discuss, too. About us." *** That's it for now. Dinner (and sex) coming soon.