Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 09:21:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Mighty Aphrodite Subject: small sacrifices II Small Sacrifices Disclaimer: Completely fictitious. Rating: NC-17 for content. Website: First time reading this story, visit my website at http://www.friendsnlovers.cjb.net for the previous chapter as well as future chapters. And as a bonus, you can get to know me better. Woo-hoo!!! Some treat, huh? Author's Notes: Hi, everyone. Aphrodite's back with a new chapter. Please, leave me some feedback. I cherish author/reader interactions. I thrive on them. Like before, the future of this story is pending. I have the entire story completed. However due to the content of the story, I will probably not post all the chapters here. For all the chapters, please join NSAngst at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NSAngst/ or visit http://www.friendsnlovers.cjb.net at a later date and time. Feedback: nsaphrodite@yahoo.com Small Sacrifices Small Sacrifices II Leaning against the bathroom door, he watched intensely as his boyfriend prepped himself for tonight's gala. As usual, JC sang loudly as he fixed his hair. That voice. Justin remembered how that voice would sing him to sleep night after night. That heavenly voice was music to his ears. How the musical world would disregard JC's God given talent, Justin would never understand. JC had just finished putting on the tie and was now in the process of spraying himself with mists of cologne. How Justin loved the way JC smelled. He was so tempting to leave his post and kissed JC, savoring the sexy musk he was emitting, but the doorbell suddenly rang. "Justin, baby, can you get that for me?" JC asked. Justin nodded meekly. He slipped out of the bathroom and made his way across the hotel suite to open the door. It was Johnny and from the look on his face and the sound of his voice, he hadn't expected to see Justin opening the door for him. "Justin. I didn't expect to see you here." Johnny said as he invited himself in. "I know since this is only my boyfriend's hotel room." Justin commented. An unnerving silence fell between the two as they stared grimly into each other's eyes before JC entered the picture, breaking the silence. "Hey, Johnny. Have a seat." JC greeted his manager with a ludicrous smile. "Thanks, JC." Johnny said, taking a seat on the small sofa. Justin, not wishing to spend a moment longer with Johnny, walked to the closet to retrieve a suit he had bought earlier today specifically for tonight's event. He strolled past Johnny when Johnny suddenly sprang up, intercepting Justin's path. "I don't think you should come tonight." Johnny said. "And why not?" Justin challenged his former manager's ridiculous request. "JC is my boyfriend. Tonight's his big night. I want to support him. Lance is going. Why aren't you so adamant about him going?" "Because Justin, Lance wasn't the one caught walking out of a hotel holding JC's hands." Johnny explained so casually. "We didn't do anything, Johnny." Justin responded. His voice affected by his emotions. "I don't care." Johnny replied. "You did enough." "But-" "Justin, listen to me. You need to stay away from JC. He's a pop star. And pop stars have young screaming female fans. You of all people should know. He can't have a boyfriend. It will ruin his career." "But JC isn't a pop star. He's a musician." "Until he wins the Grammy and gain respect from the media, he'll be a pop star. Once a boy band member, always a boy band member." Johnny said. Justin sank to his seat, devastating that he couldn't attend the gala. He held onto his gray Prada suit, relishing the scent of the brand new suit. The door creaked open and he carelessly tossed the suit behind the small couch. Wiping his eyes, he got up from the couch to meet JC's embrace with a kiss on his cheek. "Baby, what's wrong?" JC asked, peering through Justin's misty blue eyes. "He's okay." Johnny spoke on Justin's behalf. "We were reminiscing over old times and Justin got a little emotional." "Is that true, baby?" "Yes." Justin nodded. "Silly. There's no need to shed tears over the past." JC laughed a little, getting his jacket on. He walked towards the door with Johnny following close behind when he noticed that Justin hadn't moved an inch. He was standing still in the middle of the hotel room. His hands fidgeting as he stared gloomily down at the floor beneath his feet. "Baby, are you coming? You didn't keep me up all last night whining about not being able to attend the gala and now bailing out on me? I already asked Lance to save you a seat at the table next to mine." Justin opened his mouth to speak, but hesitantly closed his mouth shut when Johnny tossed him a disapproving glare. He remained silent for a brief moment, pondering over his lists of excuses he would often use when he didn't want to go somewhere. "Nah." Avoiding JC's eyes, he continued. "I really wanted to check out that new restaurant we booked downtown. Plus, TNT is having another marathon of 'White Men Can't Jump'." "Okay, then. I'll have Lance check up on you." JC smiled, kissing Justin softly on the lips. "Good night, sweetheart. Don't wait up. If all goes well, I'll probably have a drink or two with potential record dealers." Justin nodded. He watched as JC slowly left his arms to meet up with Johnny. Johnny stepped outside the room, leaving JC trailing behind him. He was trailing behind him. He was stalling a few precious seconds before leaving. Not wanting the moment to end, Justin leapt forward, capturing JC's arms. He spun him around to face him. He leaned forward and kissed JC passionately on JC's lips before releasing him. "Good luck, Josh." Justin said upon release. "Thank you. All I need is you. You are my lucky charm. Good bye, Justin." "Good bye, Josh." Justin said, still clinging onto his boyfriend desperately. "I love you." "I love you, too, Justin." "I really do love you. More than my favorite ice cream and all the cereal combined." "Okay. I'm not going to say anymore." JC smiled at his young boyfriend. "If I tell you I love you, you'll give me that pout of yours and I'll never leave in time to actually perform at the gala. So, I won't. Bye, baby." "Bye." Justin whispered softly as JC slipped out of his grasp. He watched poignantly as JC's figure dissipated to a mere speck down the hall. With the sound of the elevators closing on him, he stepped back inside and slumped down onto the floor. What was happening to their love? Where was the passion? Did Josh still love him unconditionally? He wept as he crawled to their bedroom. He turned on the television in a futile attempt to get his mind off of Josh. He stopped at TNT. They were indeed playing "White Men Can't Jump". Justin turned off the television and tossed it aside. He buried his face in the pillow and sobbed quietly. The day of their first year anniversary and his boyfriend wasn't here to share in the celebrations. Instead of moping around the hotel, doing nothing productive, Justin walked back into the master suite. His eyes landed on the folded suit on the floor beside the couch. He bent over and picked up the suit. He was going to wear it tonight. He was going to Le Bristo tonight. With or without Josh, he was going to celebrate the happiest day of his young life. He called a cab to take him to the restaurant. He gave the cab driver a generous toll and approached the restaurant. He entered and was overwhelmed by the weight of everyone's eyes on him as he made his way toward a table assigned by the host. The food critic was right about the place. The food was exquisite, yet, everything was bland. And the fact that he was denied alcohol to take his troubles away didn't help him feel any better either. Not quite an hour later, he left the restaurant. Instead of calling for another cab, he opted to stroll along the brilliantly lit downtown streets, lamenting in his current despair. The night of their anniversary and he couldn't spend it with JC. Rather JC wouldn't spend it with him. His legs kept walking, taking him down several blocks when his face lit up. It was a small jewelry shop. Justin entered the shop. He waved his hand, acknowledging the shopkeeper. He browsed through the many cases of jewelry. Each shone so brightly, it was blinding him. The only thought that crossed his mind was that this necklace, this bracelet, this ring would look beautiful on JC. He selected a small gold band and walked up to the counter. "For your special lady?" The accented man spoke. "Yes. It's our anniversary gift." Justin explained. "She's one lucky lady." "Yes." Justin said. "And I am, too." "But you don't look so lucky." The man noticed the single teardrop slipping past his lids. "I don't know if the one I love still loves me." Justin cried. "Shh...What if I tell you that you there's a way you can tell if he loves you?" "And what way might that be?" "In the little things he does for you." "Thanks." Justin thanked the man behind the counter, oblivious to what had just passed between him and the man behind the counter. Justin paid for the ring, leaving without getting his change. He wanted to leave now. It was getting late. And he wanted to get to the hotel to get some rest. Maybe tomorrow, JC would make it up to him and take him to another basketball game. He had to save his energy for that. Still gazing at the ring he had just bought, he failed to notice someone honking at him. He looked up to find a van driving slowly along the street in the wrong direction. "Hey!" The man hollered, again, as he continued to ignore him. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" "What is it?" Justin stopped to ask, after the man repeatedly called out for him. "Where is Parkway Avenue from here?" "Down past the water fountain." Justin answered. "Where, again?" The man asked, getting out of the van to approach Justin. "I'm not from this town. Maybe you can show me?" The man said, pushing a gun into Justin's stomach. Justin's eyes widened with fear as the ring he held tightly slipped out his hand. "Get in the car." Justin shook his head. He wanted to move. He wanted to run, to scream out the top of his lungs. He wanted to do so much, but he remained stagnant as a few more hands grabbed him from behind. The four men shoved him into the van, where he was met with three more men. The ring left behind- a faded memory of their once perfect love. Copyright Aphrodite for Friends & Lovers Site nsaphrodite@yahoo.com