Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 17:30:37 +0100 (BST) From: Jezebel Subject: Star Encounter 6 Star Encounter 6 Author: Jezebel Feedback: eh_oh_po@yahoo.com Disclaimers: I do not know any of the celebrities mentioned herein, this has no element of truth to it. This is no reflection on their true sexualities or personalities of any people mentioned. Brandon Taylor is a fictional character, any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental. If you are underage for your area or if it is illegal for you to look at this why not go somewhere else, if you don't like the thought of two men together in a loving, sexual way this isn't for you either. Part 6. When Justin left the Paradiso and returned to his own more modest hotel it was like a reminder of everything that was different between himself and Brandon. Not only was his lover older but he was also at the top of the charts. Nsync were doing well but Justin realised he would never be in Brandon's league while he was with the group. The thoughts made Justin feel guilty because he was doing what he had always dreamed and got to do it with his best friends at his side. Why did it matter if he was not as famous as Brandon, he was famous enough. Justin hoped that he would be able to break the melancholy thought for dinner with the boys or else they would know that something was up. JC was waiting for him in the corridor when he hit their floor. Justin knew that he must be concerned because his best friend was only half way ready for dinner and JC always cared about what he looked like. Justin wondered why his friend was worried until he realised that he had been gone all day and that he had not reported to anyone where he would be. "Hey C." Justin said with a full smile. "Everything okay?" "I'm great." JC replied. "Caught a nap this afternoon and went for a swim. What about you?" He kept the question casual but Justin knew that he wanted to know where he had been. "I caught up with Maya." Justin said, it wasn't exactly a lie because he had seen some of Brandon's little sister, it just meant he had left out the bit about Brandon. "Played a few slots, you know how it is." "You still coming to dinner?" JC asked. Obviously wanting to know if Justin had had a better offer. "I wouldn't miss an Nsync outing." Justin answered, heading to his room to get ready. "I'll meet you out here in five minutes." JC nodded and headed back to his own room to finish getting ready. Josh knew that there was something that Justin was not telling him because there was no way that Justin would only spend 5 minutes getting ready on a normal day out. The only question left was how JC found out what was wrong. *** Over dinner that night Justin found that his heart was not in it as much as it usually would be. He enjoyed going out with the boys but there was a part of him that wished he had gone with Brandon instead. The same part of him was desperate for the dinner to end so that he could head back to the hotel and see Brandon again. He was half hard just thinking about what they might get up to. "Justin?" Chris asked, throwing a piece of his bread roll across the table. "Are you okay? You're miles away..." "He saw Maya today." JC replied, as if this was some explanation. "Ah." Chris said knowingly. "I should have known that the glazed over expression was one of someone that just got laid." "Hey." Justin responded, pulling himself away from thoughts of Brandon. "You ought to be nicer to me considering I might have scored us tickets to see Brandon Taylor tomorrow night." Chris' whole face lit up at that news. "You did?" Chris asked. "How did you manage that, I thought you said that the thing had been sold out for months." "I know some people." Justin replied. "Or rather Maya does." He corrected. Justin realised that he ought to have thought up a better excuse than this before telling them because Josh was already frowning at that and would no doubt have more questions. "She has all kinds of contacts in the business and is trying to organise some seats for us." "Don't pay too much." Josh replied. "There were rumours tickets are changing hands for as much as $2,000 a piece." "Brandon would be worth it." Chris replied. Justin smiled at that and wondered what Chris would think if he knew just how worth it Brandon was. A part of him wanted to tell his friends but another part of him wondered what they would say when they realised that he was dating someone so much bigger than them. Would the boys judge Brandon for dating someone younger than him, or worse, would they think that he was using Brandon for his money and fame? Justin realised that he was not quite ready to reveal the truth. "You remind me of some of our fans when you get like this." Joey said, cuffing the now daydreaming Chris upside the head. "He's just a guy. He probably sits around with his band talking about the same stuff we do, in the same way that we do." "No way man." Chris answered. "This is Brandon Taylor we're talking about. I bet he has groupies backstage after every show and parties with them all night." Justin thought that on second thoughts Chris would probably be disappointed if he met Brandon and realised that Joey was right, that he was just as normal as they were. He wondered what Brandon would think of the guys. "Jup, you okay?" Josh asked. "We lost you again." "Sorry." Justin replied. "I was just thinking about later." He said, Josh raised an eyebrow and Justin realised he had said too much. "I'm heading over to Maya's hotel again." "Okay." Josh said. "Just make sure that you don't get caught doing anything compromising. We may be on vacation but we're still recognisable." Josh lectured. Justin rolled his eyes, wondering how stupid JC thought he was. The older man had always treated him like his naïve younger brother that needed looking after. Justin was just glad that Brandon didn't treat him like that. *** After dinner was over Justin headed back upstairs with the boys long enough to throw a few things in a bag and then headed out again. He had already told them that he was going to Maya's hotel and because they thought that he and Maya were seeing each other Justin didn't bother telling them that he would not be back. Josh had other ideas however and followed Justin out of the hotel, he watched Justin get into a cab and then asked a member of staff where his friend was going. "Mr. Timberlake asked for a cab over to the Paradiso." The doorman said helpfully. "Did you want me to get you a cab there so that you can meet up with him?" Josh shook his head, distracted by what he had been told and wondered what Justin was doing heading over to one of the most exclusive hotels on the strip. The Paradiso also boasted one of the largest casinos with the highest stakes. They said that it was where the high rollers went to spend some serious money. He hoped that Justin was not getting in over his head. Josh thanked the doorman and then headed back into the lobby, hitting a number on his speed dial and then waiting for it to connect. "Johnny, it's Josh." He said as soon as he was connected to their manager. "I need you to do me a favour. I want you to run a background check on someone for me. Her name is Maya Mattherson, she's about 19, dark hair, dark eyes. Lonnie'll be able to help you out with a better description." "You dating again Jayce?" Johnny joked. "She sounds a little different from your usual type." "She's sniffing around Justin." Josh replied. "And he seems to be getting drawn in by her but there is something about the girl that I'm not too sure about." "You think she might be a gold digger?" Johnny asked, always concerned for his boys. "Actually, I think that she might be a journalist or something." Josh replied. "Justin said that she had connections in the business and she seems to be well informed about certain aspects of our lives." "I'll look into it." Johnny promised. "You boys doing okay?" He asked, glad that one of them had decided to check in. "Lance told me that you were heading out to Vegas." "We're doing okay." Josh replied. "Joey has a date with a couple of showgirls tonight and Lance has been working on some business out here. I think I finally caught up with my sleep too." "Sounds like a fun vacation." Johnny said seriously, glad that the boys were making the most of their time off. He knew that they didn't get enough of it and hoped that in a year or so, when they were finally at the very top of their game he might be able to give them a little more freedom. "I'll look into this girl for you C, and don't worry, Justin isn't as stupid as he seems." "I know." Josh replied. He just hoped that Justin wasn't too blindly falling for this girl in an attempt to get over Britney. *** Justin felt his palms sweating as he made his way up to the Penthouse suite at the Paradiso Hotel. He hadn't felt this way since his first date with Britney and even then he was sure that he was not this nervous. It was silly really, it was not like this would be his first time with Brandon, they had slept together before but this was the first time that Justin was sleeping with a man that he loved. That alone was enough to scare him back to his own hotel. Of course there was no promise that they would sleep together that night but they would still be spending the longest amount of time in the same room that they had for a long time and if Justin had his way there would definitely be something going on. When the doors to the private elevator pinged open Justin almost pressed the button to return to the lobby, but then he spotted Maya in the corridor and realised that if he ran away now then he would be turning his back on the chance of a relationship forever. They were too early on in their relationship to deal with anymore stress. "Hey." Maya called with a slight nod in Justin's direction. "Brandon will be by later. He's got an interview after the show for the DVD that they are doing, but he said to let yourself in." "Thanks." Justin said, swallowing the lump in his throat and wiping his palms off on his jeans. "Unless you want to come and hang out." Maya added, she could see that Justin was nervous and wanted to ease that tension. "I'm not doing anything." Justin thought about it for a moment. He could go with Maya and do something safe, he could pretend that he hadn't come here to see her brother, to have sex with her brother. Justin thought that maybe he could even pretend that he was there to see Maya instead. He shook his head at the thoughts and to Maya's suggestion. He was sick of pretending and it was time to face up to the truth he had wanted to live for years. "Thanks." Justin said. "But I want to be here when Brandon gets back." Maya smiled, as if she agreed with his decision, and headed off into her own room. Justin was alone again. Taking a deep breath he slid his key card into the door and went into the room to wait. *** Brandon swore as he checked his watch. It was a lot later than he had thought it would be and he was disappointed that he had booked the DVD recording for after the show. Of course when they had done the schedule he had not know that Justin would be coming out to visit him but he thought he should have pre-empted some kind of scheme from Maya. Now he was running late for his first real date with Justin and he knew that the younger man had better things to do than sit around a hotel room and wait for him. The elevator took longer than Brandon thought and he was impatiently tapping the glass when it reached his private floor. He could not get to his room quickly enough. As Brandon got to his room his hands shook slightly as he tried to open the door. He only hoped that Justin was still waiting there for him. If he were Justin he might not have decided to stick around. The door opened as Brandon's key slid out of his hand for a second time and he looked up to see Justin smiling at him. He took his hand and pulled Brandon inside, shutting the door and locking it behind him. Brandon felt even more nervous as he entered the room and threw off the jacket that he had worn onstage. He had already divested himself of his microphone and ear pieces but he had wanted to get back to Justin quickly and was still in his stage gear. He was sweaty and tired but wasn't really sure if he could strip in front of Justin. "Good show?" Justin asked as he came up behind Brandon and wrapped his arms around him. "I guess." Brandon replied. "Although I have to admit that it wasn't my first choice of places to be tonight." "You'd rather be down in the casinos?" Justin asked. "No." Brandon replied. "I'd rather be with you." It was a corny response and coming from anyone else Justin probably would have laughed aloud but it seemed right when the words were coming from Brandon's mouth. It sounded right that Brandon wanted to be with him because despite the fact that he had been with his boys that evening it was the last place that Justin had wanted to be. "You need a shower." Justin said against Brandon's neck as he reached up and began to unbutton his shirt. "You're all sweaty from being onstage." "Justin..." Brandon breathed as he felt the cool air hit his now exposed chest as Justin continued to undress him. "I..." "You want some company?" Justin asked as he gave Brandon a gentle push towards the bathroom. Brandon couldn't find his tongue in order to say yes but Justin was already starting to rid himself of his own clothes and heading to the bathroom. Brandon was glad that he hadn't had to answer the question because he was speechless. The sight of Justin's muscular back was enough to take his breath away as well. If anything Justin had gotten even more handsome over the last few years, filling out and growing into the man that he had promised to be at 18. Brandon looked down at his own spreading waistline and felt a little in awe. He took a deep breath and entered the bathroom. Justin wanted him and that would be enough, it didn't matter that he was getting a little older or spreading out in the middle because Justin wanted him for who he was not what he looked like. That was something that Brandon was sure of. The good thing about staying in the Penthouse was a that it was built for luxury. In addition to a bed that would sleep fifteen people there was a sinful shower that had various different shower heads. Justin had already adjusted the temperature when Brandon stepped into the shower stream and he had to admit that it was nice to be in the shower. As he relaxed he felt Justin's soap slicked hands run up his chest and then settle him against the wall. Justin leaned in for a kiss and Brandon allowed himself to be led. "Let me look after you." Justin whispered as he pulled out of the kiss and started to wash Brandon. Brandon nodded, not wanting Justin to stop what he was doing. It was a fantasy that he had always had to take a shower with someone else and the fact that it was Justin only added to the experience. Justin soaped him all over, paying particular attention to his nipples and chest, and finally moved his hand down to Brandon's cock. The soap slick hand gave the right amount of friction and Justin jerked them both off together. When the water sluiced away the rest of their juices Justin turned off the stream and reached for the towels that were folded neatly at one side of the bathroom. He handed one to Brandon and trusted the other man to dry himself. They retired to the bedroom afterwards and Brandon slumped onto the bed. He had hoped that he and Justin would do more than have sex that night. He had promised a DVD or something but was too tired to do much more than sleep. He hoped that Justin would not hold it against him. "It's okay." Justin said, as if he could read Brandon's mind. "I know what it is like to come offstage bone tired and wanting nothing more than to sleep for a week. To be honest I could do with some extra sleep myself, might as well store it up for the upcoming tour." Brandon smiled, kissing Justin softly and then pulling him down to lay on the bed. "Stay." Brandon said as he cuddled close to Justin. Justin nodded his response and turned out the lights. *** Brandon woke the next morning to a great sense of relief. It was his thirtieth birthday and he should have been depressed about getting older but waking up beside Justin it was hard not to smile. Justin snuffled in his sleep and Brandon carefully slid from the bed. He gathered the wet towels that they had discarded the night before and sorted out a fresh one, taking a brief shower before dressing for the day. When he stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed ten minutes later he was faced with a disoriented Justin. "You got up." Justin complained. "I thought we would have breakfast in bed." "Justin, you might be on holiday, but I'm not." Brandon replied with a smile. "Much as I would love to spend the day with you in bed I know that we both have plans." Justin nodded, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and pulling on his jeans from the night before. Justin looked a little upset and Brandon wondered if he had been too hasty in dismissing Justin. He did not want a replay of their first encounter where he did not see Justin for three years afterwards. "That doesn't mean that you have to rush off." Brandon continued. "I'm meeting Maya for breakfast but you are welcome to join us." Justin smiled. "What about the press?" Justin asked naively. "We're not going out. We've rented out the whole floor, Maya's suite is bigger than this one and has an attached dining room." "You haven't got the Master Suite?" Justin asked. Brandon laughed. "I thought you knew Maya." Brandon replied jokingly. "If you knew anything you would know that she is firmly in charge." Justin laughed too. It was true, she did seem to dictate a lot of what Brandon did. *** Justin wasn't sure how he had managed it but he ended up spending the whole day with Maya. After a leisurely breakfast with Brandon and his sister he had been ready to go back to his hotel and Maya had followed him. They ended up walking around the sights of Vegas, taking in a few rides and shops along the way. Justin knew that Maya was going to be busy that day because of the party that she was organising that night but he got a taste of her life as she wandered around with him and wondered why they had joked about her controlling Brandon. Maya took three separate phone calls in one hour due to problems with the caterer and also had to deal with the tour manager's position because the regular tour manager was out with flu. Justin had a new respect for her by the time the day was over and they were heading back to his hotel. "I hope that you don't mind." Maya said as they entered. "I had the hotel send over some of my clothes so that I could change here for tonight. I thought it would be easier and we can all go from here." "To the party?" Justin asked. "No, to the concert." Maya said. "Brandon mentioned that you wanted tickets." "Oh." Justin replied. "Yeah." He had forgotten that he was supposed to see Brandon play that night, he bet that Chris would not have so readily forgotten and was glad that Maya had tickets. Chris was waiting for them as they hit their floor and was bouncing on the balls of his feet like tigger on crack. "Did you get them?" He asked. Maya smiled and reached into her purse, extracting the six tickets that looked in almost mint condition. Chris' smile erupted into a grin and he reached out and hugged her closely, almost forgetting that she was supposed to be Justin's girlfriend. "I swear, if you ever get sick of this idiot..." Chris said gleefully as he spun her around and then set her back down again a little dizzier than before. "Thanks Chris." Maya said. "But I think that you're a little old for me." Chris didn't reply to the insult, mainly because he was already halfway down the corridor telling anyone that would listen (and some that didn't look as if they wanted to) that he was going to see Brandon Taylor that night. "I see that you haven't told them." Maya said knowingly as they entered Justin's room. "They still think that we're dating?" "Yeah." Justin said. "I guess, because I spend so much time over at your hotel and you're coming out with us tonight..." "Will you ever tell them about B?" She asked softly as Justin sorted through his suitcase to find something clean enough to wear that night. "I don't know." Justin replied. It was true, he wasn't really sure where he and Brandon stood at the moment and he didn't want to tell the rest of the band anything too soon in case it didn't work out. "Okay, I'm going to use the bathroom while you finish up in here." Maya said, taking the suit hanger that had arrived at Justin's room and heading towards the bathroom. Justin finally chose a pair of grey pants and a light blue shirt that looked smart enough to wear. He was just finishing changing when Maya came out of the bathroom. Despite the fact that he was dating her brother Justin did a double take when he saw her. Maya was wearing a Chinese style black dress with red flowers that was obviously made of silk and very expensive. Justin wasn't sure how much it would have cost but it was worth it, making Maya look like a million dollars. The diamond drop necklace that adorned her throat just added to the effect. "Wow." Justin said as he saw her. Maya blushed. "Thanks." She replied. She wanted to tell him that she wasn't making an effort but that would be a lie. There was a certain member of Nsync that she had always had a crush on and Maya knew that this was her chance to make an impression. She hoped that Brandon was not going to be the only one that got lucky that night. *** The concert hall at the Paradiso Casino where Brandon would be playing that night was decked out in the finery one would expect for the $200 starting price for tickets. It was an intimate venue, much smaller than the Staples Centre that Brandon could easily have sold out, but that was part of the atmosphere that they were going for. Brandon Taylor played small, personal concerts and that was why he could command up to $5000 per ticket for some of his shows. He had played larger crowds in the past but recently it had been much smaller, much more private concerts. Nsync were lucky to even have tickets to the event but they were even luckier to have a table on the floor with a great view of the stage. "These are great seats." Joey said as they were shown to their table by an usher. "Justin, I don't know how you managed this but you ought to keep a hold of this girl." Josh frowned as he sat down and wondered how Johnny was doing with his investigation into Maya. How she had managed to get the best seats in the house at such short notice was just another in the long line of mysteries that made him question if what she had told Justin was true. "The show's about to start." Chris warned as the lights went down, and for the next hour there was a magical stillness around the room as they all listened to Brandon's new album and the amazing simplicity of one man and his guitar. *** Brandon was glad that he had asked Maya not to get a table in the front row. He had used the excuse that Justin's bandmates would be suspicious if they were on one of the reserved tables at the front but really he had not wanted to play in the eyeline of Justin. He knew that Justin was watching and that was bad enough but to have been able to meet his eye would have been harder still. There were so many of his songs that had a personal tone to them and Brandon was the first one to admit that Justin was something of a muse when it came to his writing. For two years Justin had represented a plethora of emotions from guilt to lust and just about everything in between and Brandon had put all of those feelings down on paper and into his songs. As many of the songs were written about Maya, his father and even a few about Chrissie, his ex-wife, but the ones that meant the most to him now were about Justin. Maybe it was because he had the deepest feelings for the young man. It felt strange to sing songs about the missed opportunities of life and love when he had everything that he had ever wanted, but Brandon knew that it could all change in a heartbeat. As he sang the last words on one song and prepared to move into another he decided that he would change the pace a little. He stood and rested his guitar to one side and went off stage, there was a commotion from the audience who wondered what he was doing until he came back onstage a moment later. "Usually around this time I would play a song called 'More than Just a Simple Thank you' but tonight I felt like playing something a little different. So, With my apologies to Mr. Rose, this is my attempt at a classic." Brandon said and then began to sing to the toned down version of a well loved song. "When I look into your eyes I can see a love restrained But darling when I hold you, don't you know I feel the same Nothing lasts forever And we both know hearts can change And it's hard to hold a candle in the cold November Rain We've been through this such a long long time Just trying to heal the pain..." And as Brandon continued playing the song, Justin knew that this was aimed at him. "...I just need some time, on my own... Everybody needs some time, on their own." Brandon continued to sing and Justin could see exactly why he had chosen this song, it was a song filled with the treachery and trials of love but that ended on a note of hope. "Never mind the darkness, We still can still find the way. Nothing lasts forever, Even Cold November Rain." And as the song closed everyone in the crowd let out a sigh. "Wow." Chris said as there was silence and half the room stood to clap and cheer. "That was amazing. I don't think that I've ever heard a cover version that good." "That's probably the only time that you'll hear it too." Maya said knowingly. Once the record company knew that Brandon had strayed from the agreed play list they would probably have someone sitting backstage for the rest of the tour ready to pull the plug if he pulled the stunt again. But it only made the song more special because this was a once in a life time deal that only the people in the theatre had seen. Maya knew that was half the magic of her brother's appeal, that people could say they had seen him the time when... and about a dozen stories would follow. "I'd like to thank you all for coming out here tonight and helping me celebrate my birthday." Brandon said as the applause died down. "I'm off in a moment but before I go I would like to play you one last song." Justin waited as he wondered what it was going to be. He was surprised that this time it was not for him. "It must have been cold there in my shadow, To never have sunlight on your face. You were content to let me shine, that's your way You always walked a step behind. While I was the one with all the glory, you were the one with all the strain A beautiful face without a name for so long, a beautiful smile to hide the pain... Did you ever know that you're my hero? And everything I would like to be? And I can fly higher than an eagle... For you are the wind beneath my wings...." Maya had tears in her eyes as Brandon finished the last bar of the song and as he bowed and stepped off stage she continued to cry as the band played the all too familiar refrain. Justin knew that the song had been for Maya by her own reaction and he wondered what the story behind it was. He knew a little about Maya's history, he knew that the pair of them shared a painful past but he did not know the details of it. Judging by her reaction it was something that he should probably have asked more about. Justin reached over and wrapped an arm around Maya as she cried softly, waiting for the lights to come up before he handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes. Josh frowned slightly at her reaction and wondered what part of her plan this was. Was she just trying to get Justin to feel sorry for her so that he would fall for her more easily? Or was this some act to make him think that she was a weak and feeble female that needed looking after? The house lights came up and the audience began to move away, talking in a long hum about the show that they had just seen. The buzz around them seemed to be that it was one of the best concerts that anyone had seen Brandon play. "Wow." Chris said as they too began to gather their things and get ready to leave. "That was awesome." "Yeah." Justin replied. "I'm so hyped up now. We should go out." Chris said unexpectedly. "It's not like we have to get up early in the morning to go anywhere and we don't have an interview or photo shoot that we have to be rested for." "We'd love to, but Justin and I have plans." Maya said as she pulled away from Justin's embrace. Josh raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "You could both come." Chris said, not wanting to break up the group. "Or we could come with you." "Sorry, it's a private party." Justin said. This earned him a few laughs and back slaps from his brothers as he blushed at the unintended meaning behind his words. "Well, don't let us stand in the way of young love." Chris replied with a smile. "What about the rest of you guys? Any of you heading off for a little private party of your own?" Justin opened his mouth to correct them but Maya stopped them. If they already thought that they were together then it would not seem suspicious if Justin didn't return to his own hotel later that night. If they started asking questions then it would be time for Justin to reconsider what he was going to tell them. For now they had a party to get to and Maya did not want to be late. It was not often that she got to surprise her brother with something rather than the other way around and although he did not want any fuss she wanted him to have a good birthday. It had been a tough couple of years and he deserved a break. Thirty was going to be a good year and Maya wanted to start it off with a bang. Justin followed her out of the venue and up to the ballroom where she had planned the party. The idea was that Justin would invite Brandon there for a private dinner and that when he arrived all of the guests would surprise him. Most of the guests knew that Brandon knew of the surprise party, a lot of them had told him themselves, but Maya did not know this. In fact, it was really a surprise party for Maya because she was the only one that was not aware that Brandon knew. Still, she had wanted to gift him with this and Brandon was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Justin was not about to tell her either. Justin called Brandon on his cell to confirm the plans and agreed to meet him in ten minutes, then they went up to the room to check that everyone was in place. Justin had to admit that Maya had done a good job in organising this and that the hotel had really helped out with decorations and ornaments that befitted the occasion. When Brandon arrived he looked startled, but Justin thought it was probably by the décor and not the fact that he had a party. Brandon smiled and shook hands with all of the guests who approached him, thanking them for being there and accepting their well wishes, as he headed towards Justin. When he finally reached him he reached out a hand and Justin took it. Instead of pulling him in for a hug Brandon shook his hand and then threw a brotherly arm around Justin and pulled him close. "I know that you are not comfortable with being out, but if I don't acknowledge your presence people will question it." Brandon said. "I'd love to introduce you to some of my friends, I'd like to tell them that you're a talented young artist that I met and respected because that is true. Is that okay?" Justin was speechless. He didn't know how to take such praise and wondered what people would think if they knew the real truth. "Yeah, I guess." Justin said. "I have some friends that will want to meet you." Brandon said as he headed for a table in the corner where a group of older men sat. Justin knew one of them as 'tank' who had been with Brandon all those years ago in Chicago. The others were a similar age but were varying shapes and sizes. "Boys, this is Justin. Justin, this group of miscreants are my band. You probably saw a few of them out on stage tonight." Justin realised that the faces were familiar. He didn't like to admit that most of his focus had been on Brandon though and he had not given much more than a passing thought to the other people on stage. "So, is this Maya's latest?" One of them asked. "Do you want us to help bury the body." "Actually, Justin is a fellow musician." Brandon said. "So, you're finally replacing one of us." Someone joked. "You only want the young and the beautiful now that you're a big star." "Justin is an artist." Tank pointed out. "In one of those bands that Maya pretends she doesn't like anymore." There was a general laugh and Justin realised that these men knew each other as well as he and the boys did. Brandon may be the lone star on his stage but he was not alone out there. The thought warmed Justin a little because before that night he had thought of Brandon getting lonely on tour. "I want you boys to make Justin feel welcome." Brandon said. "Justin and I are working closely and you'll probably see more of him around here." The band nodded and all said their hello's to Justin. They were just starting to open up when Brandon pulled Justin aside and mentioned that there were other people for him to meet. Maya may have meant that night to be a celebration for Brandon but more than that the birthday boy saw it as a chance to help Justin further his career. There were a large number of producers and record executives there and he wanted to give Justin a chance to meet them. Brandon circulated amongst everyone that night and in his wake he left everyone knowing that Justin Timberlake was a new talent to watch out for in the months and years to come. When they returned to Brandon's room that night both were exhausted from the evening's events. "I want you to know that I appreciate what you did tonight, but I don't expect it." Justin said as he undressed. "Just because we are together it does not mean that I expect you to talk me up to people." "I know." Brandon replied with an indulgent smile. "I don't have to do it, but I want to do it. I guess I should have asked if you were comfortable with it but it just seemed like a perfect opportunity..." "It was a good night." Justin replied with a slight yawn. "I had so many plans for tonight..." He said, trailing off as another yawn silenced his apology. "Don't worry." Brandon said. "I'm too tired too. Just you here is enough." The pair fell asleep moments after their heads hit the pillow. *** Justin was woken the next morning by the familiar trill of his cell phone. Usually when he was on tour the ringing meant that he had overslept for an appointment or that his mother was trying to speak with him before he headed out for the day. It took a moment for him to realise that he was not on tour at present and that he was not even in his own hotel room. When Justin finally comprehended where he was he answered before causing further worry. "Hello?" Justin asked as he tried to stifle a yawn. "It's Josh." His friend replied, less than sympathetically. "You need to come back to the hotel now." There was a tone to Josh's voice that promised bodily harm for anyone that argued with him. "What's up, C?" Justin asked as he threw off the blankets and tried not to wake Brandon. "You knew that I was staying out last night; we're on a break so it shouldn't matter what time I get back." "Don't argue with me on this Justin." Josh warned. "I'm calling a group meeting for 10 and I expect you to be there." The phone went dead before Justin could respond. Justin put his cell back on the bedside table and crawled back into the warmth of the shared bed. He didn't want to leave because this could be the last chance he got to see Brandon that trip but something about Josh's tone worried him enough to wake Brandon to say his goodbyes. "Brandon?" Justin called, not liking the waiver of his voice as he said it. "Brandon, wake up." "What?" Brandon grumbled softly as he tried to rouse himself from sleep. "What time is it?" "A little after nine." Justin replied. "What's wrong?" Brandon asked, sitting up in bed as he heard the concern in Justin's voice. "Is Maya okay?" Justin smiled slightly at the thought that Brandon's first thought was of his sister. He wished that he were that close with his own siblings. "I've got to go back to my hotel. Josh has called a group meeting and it sounded urgent." Justin replied. "Do you think he knows?" Brandon asked as the possible reasons for such a meeting went through his mind. "I can come with you if you want me to." "No." Justin replied. "I don't think he knows, and anyway you have a full schedule of interviews today." "I can cancel them." Brandon replied smoothly as if it were no big deal to rearrange interviews and photo shoots. "You're much more important." "Thanks." Justin said. "But I should be okay. I've got to go though." "I'll keep my cell on. Call me later to let me know how you get on." Brandon answered as he watched Justin begin to gather his things. Brandon too exited the bed and moved into Justin's path before the younger man could leave. "I've got to go." Justin said, stalling any deep conversation that he was not ready to have. "I know." Brandon replied, his words saying much more than they were meant to. "I just..." Justin waited, wanting to see what Brandon was going to say. "I love you." Brandon said, knowing that if he didn't say the words then this may be his last chance. If Justin's bandmates decided that they didn't want him to see Justin then they could probably keep them apart. Brandon wanted Justin to know the truth. "You don't have to say anything back to me, I just wanted to say something before you left." Justin nodded. He could not say more because of the lump in his throat but he was touched by the words. Brandon was saying this because he thought this would be their last time together and he wanted Justin to walk away with more than he had last time. Brandon had said that Justin deserved more than a simple thank you and this time he was getting it. "I love you too." Justin replied. He knew that he didn't have to say anything but he wanted to give something back to Brandon and this was his way of doing it. "And I will call you, maybe I can come out next time we get time off." "We'll see." Brandon said as he showed Justin to the door. Neither of them knew when they would see each other again, but both made a promise to themselves that it would happen. *** *** Justin entered his hotel without really taking in the scenery. He knew that it was not as impressive as the Paradiso and there were more important things on his mind. Justin hadn't lied to Brandon when he said that he didn't think Josh knew about them but on the cab ride back to his hotel he had begun to think the worst. If JC had discovered his secret was he ready to share it? Justin wasn't sure that he could break the news but that made him feel guilty after what he and Brandon had just shared. Justin hoped that the meeting would just be about a change in the schedule or something and it was just his mind making him feel guilty for keeping a secret from his brothers. Justin wasn't sure why he wanted it to be a secret but there was something special about keeping his relationship with Brandon to themselves. He didn't want to have to share him just yet and once the boys knew he was certain that things would change. It was just before ten as Justin arrived at the floor he was staying on and he knew something was up when he was met by security. They had not brought anyone with them because they felt safe on their own but Johnny had sent Tiny out and that probably meant that Lonnie was around too. "Justin." Tiny said with a nod of acknowledgement. "They're waiting in Josh's suite for you." "I was going to change first." Justin said, indicating the clothes that he had worn the night before. They smelled faintly of smoke, as clothes do after a party, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to sit in them for one of the most important conversations of his life. "Best get in there. Josh is fuming and I wouldn't like to see how much worse it will be if you keep him waiting." Justin sighed. He would have to go as he was. Taking a deep breathe he made his way to Josh's room and entered, surprised to see all of his bandmates and Johnny sitting around waiting for him as if they were preparing for some kind of intervention. "Justin, come in." Johnny said with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "We've been waiting for you." "What is this?" Justin asked, already suspicious because Johnny was there with them. He took a seat anyway because he wanted to see where this was going, but he made sure that he was close enough to the door in case he needed to escape. Justin's apprehension was obvious and Johnny indicated to Josh that he should start. "We just want to have a talk with you, Justin." Johnny said, unnerving Justin by using his name. Usually he called him "son" or something equally as demeaning. "Josh is a little worried about you and after talking to him I have to admit I am too." "Why?" Justin asked, his mind wandering through the last conversations that he had with Josh and trying to think of some reason that his best friend had to be worried about him. There were a few questions about Maya but nothing that Justin wouldn't expect where Josh was concerned. JC always grilled him about potential dates because he had once made a promise to Lynn to look out for her son and he was still keeping his word. "It's about Maya Mattherson." Josh said as he lifted a folder that Justin hadn't noticed before. "I asked Johnny to investigate her and..." "What?" Justin asked as he comprehended the words. "Why?" "Justin, Lonnie was already looking into her background when I started to look." Johnny placated. "It's standard procedure where girlfriends are concerned." "She's not my girlfriend." Justin said. Chris coughed to hide his snicker and Johnny turned to give him a look which spoke of death if he were to laugh again. "Justin, whether she is or not is not our concern." Johnny said. "What worries me is how close the pair of you have become in a short amount of time." "Maya is like that." Justin replied, his mind thinking back to their first meeting and then again when she had come out to see him. They had built a firm friendship quickly because she understood a lot about his life that others could not begin to comprehend. "How well do you really know her?" Josh asked, as he flipped through the pages of his report. "Did you know that there is no record of her having finished high school, or that she hasn't worked since then? Do you know that she has been spotted with half a dozen high profile stars and that the only reason her name isn't in the papers is that there is not enough information on her to publish? She's a gold digger, Justin, and I don't want to see you get hurt again." Justin knew that he could answer all of JC's points, he knew that Maya had dropped out of school to tour with Brandon but she had achieved her diploma on the road. He supposed that Brandon had paid to keep her name out of the paper when she was spotted, and that it was probably doing work for him that had gotten her noticed. Justin also knew that with Brandon's money she did not need to work a day in her life, or tie herself to a husband for profit. Maya worked *for* Brandon but didn't get paid for it. Justin knew all of this but he couldn't tell them without exposing her relationship with Brandon. "Maya is a model." Justin answered, it was a start and he knew she had done some work. "And has worked with a few famous people in the past in an advisory role, but isn't a gold digger by any standards. I know her better than you or your investigators do and most importantly I trust her." Justin said. "Maya is a close friend and, unlike you, if she wanted anything from me she knows that she only has to ask for it." "Justin, I don't think that it is a good idea for you to see this girl." Johnny said, trying to be the voice of reason. "And I don't think that it is a good idea for you to try and stop me." Justin replied. He was glad that he had sat near the door because it made walking out so much easier. Justin was halfway back to the elevator before he realised that he had nowhere to go. They were due back on tour in a few hours and he had to leave with the band. As much as he wanted to make a big exit it was not worth risking his career over. He hoped that no more would come of his confrontation with the others but it was wishful thinking. Once JC had a bee in his bonnet he was like a dog with a bone. He wouldn't let go until he had his way. Justin hoped that he had the strength to hold out. *** *** Brandon was relieved to hear that Justin was not forced to reveal their relationship when heard about the encounter later that day. Brandon eased Justin's concerns about revealing Maya's identity by confirming that he had ensured her past was well buried but Justin was still bothered that Josh had her investigated. Brandon had come to expect people trying to find out about his private life, but had fought hard to keep it private, he was not too worried about what Josh's investigator might find. It was hard for the pair of them to try and work it out though because Justin was going back out on tour and Brandon had commitments to his own career. Justin had always thought that he would not get involved with anyone else in the business after Britney but he supposed that his fate had been sealed back when he had first met and fallen in love with Brandon. There would never be anyone else, in the industry or not, that would meet that standard. Justin wished that he could get out of his own obligations and go to Brandon, to be with the man that he loved and do all of the things that he had planned to do to celebrate Brandon's birthday but he had to move on and one fuck, no matter how good it would be, was not worth losing his entire career over. They would just have to find a way to balance their work and their private lives. Justin could not help but wonder if keeping their relationship a secret was not just adding more pressure on them. After all there would not have been a problem with him spending time with Maya if they knew she was his boyfriend's sister. Josh would have to understand their friendship then but of course it brought its own difficulties. Justin was almost certain that the boys would accept his sexuality but the world at large was not ready to hear that he was gay, or that Brandon Taylor was either. It was not a problem that he could solve overnight and not one that he wanted to solve alone but it was certainly something to think over. Maybe he could just tell the boys that he and Brandon were friends. Would that be enough to get them off his back or would it bring more questions than answers? Justin fell asleep that night with the troubling questions in his head. He hoped that tomorrow would bring the answers that he needed. *** To be continued