Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 17:22:23 -0700 From: Terrie P Stentz Subject: Justin's Secrets chapter 8 See, I told you I'd have it out soon! I know this is short. The next chapter will be longer. I'll try and have the next part out by this weekend, hopefully sooner. We are nearing the good part. *grins widely* Disclaimer: This story is in no way meant to portray the lives of *NSYNC. I do not know them personally, nor do I know anything about their sexual preferences (personally, I hope they're not gay, that'd totally ruin my chances). If you are offended by homosexuality or anything of the sort . . . you may leave by clicking the little black X at the top right hand corner of your web browser. If you are too young to be reading this type of material, you may also leave, or if you feel like breaking the law, stay, just don't get caught. Thank you and please enjoy. Send questions and comments to DivaKitT@juno.com. * * * "Justin, are you ready yet?!" JC hollered up the stairs. "Just a minute," came Justin's muffled reply. JC sighed and turned to Chris. "That boy takes forever to get ready," he sighed trying to sound agitated. "You wouldn't want me to let myself go, now would you," Justin laughed from the top of the stairs. JC turned around to face his friend with an impatient look but immediately broke down into laughter. "Justin, you're nuts," JC laughed. "No, I'm cute,"Justin corrected. "And I'm smart. We look great," Justin defended himself and Josh. JC could only laugh. Justin and Josh were dressed identically right down to their shiny black Dockers. They were wearing loose blue jeans, which Justin had rolled up at the bottom, paired with white tee shirts and grey-tinted, silver-framed sunglasses. Justin absently toyed with Josh's curls, which he had also fixed to look just like his. "I think we look good," Justin muttered, walking down the stairs with Josh sitting on his hip. "You do look good, Justin," JC laughed. "You both look good." Justin gave JC a glare which quickly turned into a wide playful grin. "I know," he chirped. He turned and walked into the kitchen, JC chuckled and followed behind. "Oh, Lord," Lynn said as the three of them entered the kitchen. "Justin, we do not need two of you in this house." "Ha ha, mom," Justin feigned amusement. He began toying with Josh's curls again, trying to get them to hang just right. "You have to admit though, Lynn, they do look good," JC spoke up from behind Justin, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Yes, that they do," she replied with a smile. Justin gave her a cheesy grin as thanks. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek before turning and walking out to the living room. "Let's go," he said to everyone. Angelique stood up and took Josh from Justin, placing him on her waist. "Don't corrupt our son, Justin," she scolded playfully. "Now, how would I go about something like that?" he asked sounding offended that she would even suggest something like that. "Don't worry, Angel, it would take years for him to get as bad as Justin," Chris laughed as he grabbed his keys and walked out of the room. "Hey . . . Hey! Enough of this Justin bashing!" Justin shouted indignantly as everyone walked out of the room snickering. Justin crossed his arms and stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. JC walked back into the room, putting his arm around Justin's shoulders. "As cute as this pouting thing is, Justin, if you don't cut it, we're going to miss Britney's show, and you know how that woman can be if she doesn't get her way. She is worse than you," JC persuaded his best friend. Justin silently took this into consideration before nodding his head in agreement. Justin threw his arm around JC's waist and laughed as they ran out to the car. * * * The group arrived at the concert with only a few minutes to spare. JC hopped out and turned back to unbuckle Josh from his car seat as the others rushed up to the backstage gate. He pulled the little boy out of the car, holding him on his hip as he locked and closed the car door. He ran to catch up with Chris, Justin, and Angel, so he could get in with them, not that he would have had much trouble getting in on his own. Josh giggled as JC jogged up to the gate. "What's so funny, you?" JC asked the little boy, giving him a playful poke in the side. Josh shook his head, still laughing. JC smiled at the little boy. "Hey, Joshua?" "Huh?" the little boy replied his eyes wide behind the grey sunglasses. "Do you know how cute you are?" JC asked poking the little boy in his stomach again, tickling him lightly. Josh just shook his head and laughed some more. JC chuckled, slowing down as he reached the gate. "Josh Chasez," he told the guard, then pointed at Josh. "and um, Joshua Timberlake." The guard nodded and let him pass. JC walked backstage and looked around, trying to find anyone he knew. He shrugged and walked towards the wings, figuring that he'd eventually see someone there. He passed by people on head sets and dancers still warming up. Multiple people stopped him to look at and fawn over Josh. Being stopped by a particular set of familiar dancers, JC stood there and let them admire Josh. "Hey, JC," one of the dancers named Damien said. "Hey Dame. What's up? You ready for the show?" JC replied. "Always am. Who's this? He's a cute kid," Damien smiled. He reached out to Josh, but the little boy shied away, hiding his face in JC's shirt. JC placed his free hand on Josh's back, rubbing it lightly. "This is Joshua," JC informed Damien, still rubbing Josh's back. "You want to say hi, Josh?" JC asked the little boy. Josh shook his head, not looking away from JC's shirt. "Very cute," Damien cooed. "Is he yours?" "No, he's Justin's," JC said resting his cheek on Josh's soft curly hair and toying gently with the curls. "Justin's?" Damien asked sounding surprised. "How old is he?" "How old are you Joshy?" JC asked the little boy. Josh held out four fingers proudly, but still refusing to show his face to the unfamiliar people. He hid his face in JC's blue muscle shirt. JC looked up and smiled. "Four," he affirmed still smiling. Before Damien could respond, his cue came over the intercom. "Sorry, I can't chat more," he said quickly, already rushing off towards his place. "Maybe I'll see you after the show." JC waved, and continued on towards the wings. He let his fingers linger in Josh's curly hair, playing gently with the golden ringlets, as he looked around for everyone else. Josh continued to rest his head on JC's shoulder, his eyes drooping tiredly. After about five minutes of looking around, JC spotted Justin standing just offstage watching the show with a bright smile on his face. JC walked up and stood next to his friend silently. Britney was a good performer. By the time JC began watching she had just finished "...Baby One More Time" and "What You See". She was great on those upbeat songs. It was hard to perform to songs like that, trying to sing and dance like they all did and still sound good. He admired her for that. After a few minutes, Justin looked over and saw JC with Josh. JC was caught up in watching the performance, as was Josh. The little boy had sat up in JC's arms, no longer tired with all the stimulation. He had a thumb wedged in his mouth, as he looked around the stage and crowd. Finally, deciding that it was too much work to sit up, he dropped his head back down to JC's shoulder, sighing softly, and closing his eyes. The sudden breath on his neck caught JC's attention. Turning his focus from the stage and the performance, JC looked at the little boy, smiling lovingly. He reached a hand up, stroking Josh's back gently, calming the little boy to sleep. Justin smiled softly at the picture. He looked at his best friend, holding his little boy, and it just seemed right to him. A movement just past JC, caught Justin's attention. Looking up, he found Lance watching him with a curious smile on his face. Lance made eye contact with him and smile widely. "Cute," he mouthed pointing at JC and Josh. Justin smiled and nodded in reply. He took a step closer to JC, tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention. JC looked over and smiled. "He's falling asleep," JC said as quietly as possible. Justin smiled, nodding in reply. He held out his arms to take Josh from JC. He could tell JC was a little disappointed, but he handed the little boy over gently, without much argument. Josh pulled his thumb out of his mouth, reaching out and hooking his arms around Justin's neck, until he felt he was secure. Then, he put his little thumb back into his mouth. Justin stepped back a bit, making sure he was out of the way, and sat down on the floor, setting Joshua on his lap, so the little boy could fall asleep with ease. JC watched as Justin held his son, feeling strangely alone for the moment. He felt bad having to give the little boy up. He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked over to see Lance standing next to him. "Hey, Scoop," JC said. "I just wanted to tell you that I love this song," Lance confided with a sly smile. He stepped back and walked away. JC gave him a funny look as he walked away, but soon turned his attention back to Britney's performance. He listened to the funky, asian intro, and watched as Britney began to sing. My friends say you're so into me And that you need me desperately They say you say we're so complete But I need to hear it straight from you. If you want me to believe it's true JC looked over to where Lance had been standing, his mouth agape, but Lance wasn't there. JC looked around, trying to find his friend, but Lance was nowhere to be found. JC turned back to the stage, then looked down at Justin. Justin was listening to the song with his eyes closed. A smile toyed at the edges of his mouth, turning it up into tender half-smile. JC continued to watch his friend as the song continued. I've been waiting for so long it hurts I wanna hear you say the words Without thinking, Justin quietly began to sing the words of the chorus, almost so quiet that he wasn't singing them. The smile that toyed at his lips turned sad. Please . . . Don't, don't let me be the last to know Don't hold back, just let it go I need to hear you say, You need me all the way Oh, if you love me so, Don't let me be the last to know . . . Your body language says so much Yeah I feel it in the way you touch But 'til you say the words it's not enough C'mon and tell me you're in love JC watched as Justin sang the lyrics softly. The way his lips moved around the words as if he were singing them just for JC himself. Which had he known the truth, would have known that they were being sung for him. Please . . . Don't, don't let me be the last to know Don't hold back, just let it go I need to hear you say You need me all the way Oh, if you love me so Don't let me be the last to know C'mon baby, c'mon darling C'mon let me be the one C'mon now I need to hear you say You love me all the way And I don't wanna wait another day I wanna feel the way you feel Oh, c'mon . . . Don't let me be the last to know *Just let me be the one* Don't hold back *Don't hold back* Just let it go *Just let it go* I need to hear you say *I need to hear you say* You need me all the way *You need me all the way* Oh, if you love me so So, baby, if you love me . . . Don't let me be the last to know . . . Justin opened his eyes slowly as the song ended and found himself staring directly into JC's crystal blue eyes. He felt a blush begin to rise in his cheeks. Had Josh been watching him the whole time? Justin looked back out to the stage, focusing on Britney's performance, and not on the thoughts running wildly through his head. JC continued staring at Justin long after he had looked away. He was now more confused than ever. Why was Justin singing? Was it for him? Why had Lance even mentioned the song? This was getting way too confusing. JC sighed. He turned and walked off towards the green room. He needed an aspirin. Justin watched JC walk away. Was Josh mad at him? He hadn't meant to sing the words out loud. And he hadn't meant for JC to be watching him. Justin wanted to cry. He covered his face with his hands. This was getting too hard, keeping this secret all the time, worrying about if people had figured it out. What was he going to do? * * * TBC . . . Please send questions and comments to DivaKitT@juno.com