Disclaimer: Don't read this if you're not supposed to. (Good enough? I think so...)
Notes: 1) Let me know what you think! Writermurf@hotmail.com
- Thanks to those of you who have taken time out to e-mail me.
Specifically:
Tom: I almost made all the incidental characters named Tom, just to see your reaction (but I didn't).
Henry: I guess if I have to chat online, your not such a bad fellow to do it with :) Everybody, check out Henry's stories: Heartless, Henry's Short Stories (for those of you who like what my story is missing so far, namely sex, check Henry's story out) and another that I'm forgetting at this moment (I'll correct that next time).
Melissa: I felt that if I didn't get this out soon for you, you might track me down and cause me bodily harm - so here you go.
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My REALLY, REALLY Big Break (Damn, I'm a Lucky Bastard) Part 5 - Kiss and Makeup?
+++++++++++++ The end of the last chapter...
"James?" I asked coming out onto the balcony.
"What do you want?" He asked coldly.
"James, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said - it came out wrong. Please, I... I'm just sorry."
"Leave me alone."
"If that is what you really want, okay. I'll spend the night in JC's room."
"Fine."
"I'm sorry, ple-"
"Get out." I turned and walked back into the room. Maybe trying to talk to him wasn't such a good idea after all. I grabbed a change of clothes and left the suite. I walked a few doors down and knocked. JC opened the door a few seconds later, and let me in without a word.
"I talked to Lance." I said after a few moments of silence.
"I take it, it didn't go so well..."
I laughed dryly. "You could say that. He told me to leave him alone. Josh, I don't want to lose him over some stupid television appearance," I said hugging JC.
"It's going to be okay. Lance will come to his senses. He'll be better in the morning."
"I hope so..."
"Come on," he said letting go, "Let's get to bed, it'll be okay in the morning."
"Do you want me to sleep on the couch?"
"Nah, I don't bite, unless you want me to," he said, trying to lighten the mood (it didn't work), "and it's a big bed."
"Okay."
"Does Lance know where you are?"
"Yeah, I told him where I was going."
With that we both stripped to our boxers and got into bed.
"Goodnight JC, and thanks."
"'Night Nick, and don't worry, everything will work out."
++++++++++++++++++ Part 5 Starts Now... ++++++++++++++++++
Sleep wasn't my friend that night. I was tossing and turning all night long - and I think I was beginning to piss JC off.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" he finally asked.
"I don't know what to say."
"Then would you stop jumpin' all around and go to sleep!" He laughed.
"Sorry." I said sheepishly.
"I'm just playin'. But I would like to get to some sleep tonight."
"Hey, I told you I'd take the couch."
"And you have no idea how much I'm regretting just letting you have it."
"Fine! I know when I'm not wanted." I laughed as I smacked him upside the head. "God, you know I'm gonna develop a complex about being kicked out of places where boy band members are."
"Come on, I was just kidding, you can stay in the bed, could you just not move around quite as much?"
"I think I can handle that."
"Thanks."
He rolled over onto his back and I away from him onto my side. After what seemed like an eternity, I feel asleep.
I awoke to a familiar, yet unfamiliar sensation. I snuggled closer to the familiar warmth that I had become accustomed to, but something wasn't right. In my sleep-hazed mind I couldn't figure it out. I felt someone shaking me.
"Just five more minutes, James?" I mumbled.
Then I heard a laugh that even in my sleep-hazed mind I knew wasn't Lance. I woke myself up a little and remembered what had happened last night. Soon after I figured out why the warmth I was cuddled up with didn't seem right. I quickly released my grip, and said, "JC, I'm sorry, I thought you were Lance."
"I know. And don't worry about it," he said while getting up. "Come on and get up, we need to get to breakfast soon. You want to shower here?"
"If you don't mind?"
"Nah, you wanna go first?"
"No, go ahead."
"Kay, be out in a few."
While JC was showering I decided to get up and walk around and just think about things. I know I had already thought enough last night, but this was a new day, and everything always seemed brighter in the morning - didn't it?
So I considered my options:
One, I could just leave Lance be, and wait until he's ready to talk to me - which I doubt I'd be able to do, I just had too big of a mouth.
Two, I could go in there and try to talk to him and see how that went - which is probably what I'd do. I just hoped that he wouldn't say something like he had last night, then I'm not sure how I'd react.
Three, I could go in there and just ask him what the fuck his problem was, but that didn't seem like too bright an idea. Plus, I knew what his problem was, I just couldn't understand why he was making such a big deal out of it. I've been teased before, and aside from a little playful sulking, I hadn't gone near as far as he had last night.
Or four, hmmm, there had to be a four...
I was still trying to figure out option number four when JC came and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to him.
"You okay?" he asked me.
"Yeah, why?"
"Cause I've been trying to get your attention for about a minute now."
"Oh, I was just thinking."
"Is that what I smell burning?"
"You guys suck! You can't even be happy for me! You're just jealous!" I looked at him seriously for a few seconds then I couldn't hold it in any more and fell down laughing.
He laughed, then said, "I can not believe you just said that."
"Neither can I," I laughed.
"Anyway, showers free..."
"Really? Wow, I'm so glad that you're here to inform me of that cause I'd never have figured that out on my own."
"Just get in the shower, funny boy."
"Eye eye, cap'n!"
While I took my shower, I came up with a really lame fourth option - total avoidance. If I just avoided him, making him go out of his way to talk to me, that could, well, that's the part I couldn't figure out. What would that do? Nothing good - not that I could think of anyway.
I came out of the bathroom in a towel, went to the dresser where I laid my change of clothes the night before, and grabbed the pair of boxers I had brought. I slid them on under the towel, then took the towel off.
"You're bruises are almost gone." JC noted from the bed.
"I know, but remember, the doctor said the ones I could see would heal quicker than the ones I couldn't." I pulled on a pair of cargos, then pulled a orange t-shirt over my head. I ran my hand through my hair, and decided that I didn't feel like putting gel in it today.
"Ready?" I asked JC.
"Yup, you?"
"I guess..."
So, JC and I went to meet everyone for breakfast in Lance's and my suite. By the time we got there, everyone else was already there. I was hoping that Lance was talking to me - and everyone else as well. From the moment we walked in, I could tell that he probably wasn't. But, I decided I would see for myself.
JC and I got in line to get some food, and Lance got behind me.
"Hi," I said to Lance.
"So, you slept in JC's room last night," he said.
I picked up my plate, and said, "Yes, just like I said I was going to."
"So, did you enjoy yourselves?"
"What?" I said confused.
"Did you fuck each other?" he asked coldly.
That was it. I slammed my plate down on the cart and said angrily, "Like Bunnies - All fucking night. He was the best lay I've ever fucking had." I stormed into my and Lance's room, to get my CD player and a couple of CDs. There was no way I was sticking around for breakfast.
I decided I had had enough of his shit, so to rub a little salt into the wound, I popped in my Jo Dee Messina, "I'm Alright" CD, skipped to track 4 - "No Time For Tears" -, and waited for the chorus to come up before walking back through the common area of the suite. I knew it was childish - and I'd have done it again in a heartbeat. I walked through suite singing along with Jo Dee:
I've cried enough to know that it's killing me to stay,
I'd rather be alone than hurt this way,
Gonna take a cab, take a train, maybe a limousine,
Anything to get me out of here!
Ain't no way a-round it, oh, no doubt about it,
One thing is clear - oh, there's no time for tears...
I made out to the hall, and almost fell over laughing - as bad I felt right then, that had to be just about the most childish things I had ever done - and it felt great. I made my way down to the elevator and waited for the next car - I needed some time alone.
Apparently, my friends had other plans. As the doors to the elevators opened, I was joined by Alex and JC.
Great. I decide that maybe if I ignored them they'd go away. It's not that I didn't like that they were going to try and make everything alright, I just needed to be alone. And that's just not something you can do with other people around. So I got into the car, followed by them, and pushed the button for the lobby. I didn't even acknowledge their existence. I know the courteous thing to do in an elevator was to ask what floor they wanted, but I knew what floor they wanted - whichever I went to - and I didn't like it.
When the doors opened to the lobby, I made a quick exit. Only to be followed three steps behind by the happy patrol. Yippee. I moved faster, they moved faster. I went left, they went left. Right - right. I stopped - they almost ran me over. I had to chuckle at that. Okay, this was quickly becoming just about as childish as when I left the suite. So I decided on what would get rid of them.
I walked up to the restaurant in the lobby of the hotel. When the hostess saw us coming, she asked, "Three?"
"No, just one, they aren't eating with me," I said.
"Oh, yes we are," Alex said, "Three, preferably somewhere out of sight."
The hostess turned to me and said, "Are they bothering you?"
"Yes, but there's nothing you or I can do about it, thanks anyway."
"Are you sure?" She asked concerned.
"Yeah, they're friends who just can take a hint to leave someone alone."
"That's right, we're thick that way," JC responded.
"Just give us the table for three," I sighed.
"If you're sure," she paused and I nodded slightly, "Follow me."
We were shown to a table and I sat down, JC took the seat to my right, and Alex to my left.
I looked over the menu - it was the most interesting menu I had ever seen, or at least I tried to make it appear that way by taking forever and a day to look it over. I decided what I wanted, and put the menu down. They both looked at me. I was just waiting for them to say something so I could yell at them. JC was first.
"Nick, l -" He started.
"Don't. Just don't. I don't want to hear it right now."
"But Nick-" Alex stepped in.
"I said don't. I'm here to have some breakfast because I didn't feel too welcome in my room. I certainly don't want to bring that same shit down here." They stopped. I don't think they were happy about it, but they stopped. I guess this was as close to being alone as I was going to get.
The waitress came by and looked like she had been briefed on the situation at our table. She looked at me, I guess to see if I needed help, but I just waved the look off and ordered some breakfast. She took the guy's orders and was on her way.
Silence ensued. Not a word was spoken until she came back with our orders. I thanked her and she went away.
We ate in complete silence. I finished and just sat there. They finished and also showed no signs of getting up.
"How long are you guys going to follow me around?" I asked, not looking at either of them.
"As long as it takes." JC answered.
"As long as what takes?"
"Until you hear us out," Alex answered. Out of the two of them, I was more pissed at Alex right now. JC hadn't known me that long, he didn't know how I operated. Alex did. He knew that when I was faced with a big problem, I walked away from it, figured it out in my head, then went back to it and solved it. It's just how I did things - and I hated being forced back to the problem by anyone.
"And then you'll leave?"
"Then, if you still want us to, yes, we'll leave," JC answered.
"Make it quick."
"When Lance heard what you were singing, and then you left, he started crying and asked if he was being that big of an ass," JC began.
"Yes, he was, and, you know what? I've heard plenty for now, so why don't you guys go back upstairs now."
"Would you let me finish?" JC said annoyed.
"No. 'Cause I don't wanna hear it from you. If he's so apologetic all of the sudden, why the hell isn't he here?" I got up laid some cash on the table to pay for the meal and left the restaurant - again, followed by them.
I headed to the store that was in the lobby to look around. I found what I was looking for - a pair of swim trunks. I hadn't brought any with me, and I felt like going swimming. I figured that Alex and JC couldn't be near as annoying as they were right now while I was under water - could they? So I bought them. They were hideously ugly, not-to-mention outrageously over-priced, but they'd do in a pinch.
I had read the pool hours sign last night and I knew it wasn't yet open technically, but maybe the nice manager would be kind enough to open it a little early for me. So, I went up to the front desk and asked to speak to a manager.
After a little explanation, he let me and the happy patrol into the pool area, for which I was grateful.
I got changed in the locker room, for which the happy patrol gave me a little alone time. I contemplated just staying in there for a while, but I figured they'd come in and disturb me eventually, plus it wasn't too comfortable in there, so I went out to the pool area after changing.
They were on a couple of lounge chairs waiting for me - God, I hated them at the moment. I just wanted to yell, "leave me the fuck alone," but I knew I'd regret it later, so I bit my tongue. But I did decide to see if I could get them wet.
A cannonball off the side of the pool closest to them did the trick. I came up laughing, then started swimming laps. They didn't find it so funny. I didn't care.
I swam for a while. I don't know how long, just a while. I wasn't tired, so I kept swimming. At some point I noticed that one of the happy patrol had left - JC. I guess they thought that one was enough to watch me swim.
A little while later there was a large splash all around me. The next time I came up for air and I noticed that it wasn't one large splash, but eleven smaller ones. Even Lance made an appearance. Oh joy. I just kept swimming laps.
Soon after, there were two swimmers next to me. It appeared through the bubbles to be Justin and Mark. They were really crowding me - so I picked up the pace and pulled ahead of them. I used to be a swimmer, let's see if they were. They caught up within a couple of laps, so I went faster. It took them a little longer this time, but they caught up. So faster I went again. I knew I couldn't keep this pace for all that long - maybe a ten laps if I were lucky and really pushed it. They didn't seem to be catching up, but they were accomplishing what they wanted to anyway. They were forcing me to tire, and eventually stop, even though they weren't keeping up. So I slowed. I figured if they wanted to swim with me I would accommodate them for as long as my arms and legs would allow. We swam a bunch more laps, before I just decided to stop. This wasn't getting anyone anywhere.
So I hit the wall at the deep end and stopped. Justin saw me stop and stopped as well, panting heavily. Mark made the turn then noticed he was the only one still going, so he stopped as well and came over to the wall to join us.
"Finished already?" Justin said trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah, and lucky we are, you'd probably be dead after a few more laps." I said.
"Nah, I could go on for a while more."
"I doubt it, but whatever."
Everyone was just watching me. I really didn't want to be there. Then Lance started swimming towards me. I decided to meet him about half way.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi."
"Look, I was way out of line upstairs about what I said. I know neither you nor JC would do something like that to me and well, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"I sort of understand it - I mean I still don't think you should have said it - but you were still upset about last night. And, even though I've already said this, I'm sorry. I was a little too harsh, and I didn't mean to be. I thought you knew we were only joking."
"I did know, and I don't know why I acted the way I did. I should be the one apologizing to you about that. I took some things the wrong way and I acted like a complete and total asshole last night and again this morning. Can you forgive me?"
"Only if you forgive me."
"Done," he said.
"Wanna kiss and makeup?" I asked grinning.
He didn't answer, he just took a quick glance around the room, to make sure there wasn't anyone there we didn't know, then leaned in and kissed me. At first it started out as a light makeup kiss, but then it started getting heavier. And we started sinking. But neither of us broke the kiss or made any attempt to stop us from submerging. So we kept on kissing until we needed air, and had to resurface.
When we came up everyone was laughing at us. I pulled away from Lance a little and said,
"There's only one other thing..."
"What?"
"This!" I said as I dunked him under the water.
He came up a few seconds later and I was off.
"Bastard!" he yelled as he tried to catch up to me, but I had too much of a lead on him. I got to the wall and thought I was safe. That was until Joey appeared to my right, Chris to my left, and Lance in front of me. Despite my vice-like grip on the wall, they managed to pull me off of it and dunked me. That just started a big dunking war as everyone was dunking everyone else. At first it started as an 'N Sync -vs- Nick Mason and crew thing, but it didn't take too long to turn into a free-for-all. I made it a point to get JC and Alex a few times, to make up for earlier.
After a while, we decided to call it a truce and get out of the pool. We had a concert tonight, and we had to get to the arena to finish up some stuff.
The concert when well as they usually do, and afterwards we were off to another city again. This was getting old. But at least the tour was about to go on break for a little while.
++++++++++++++++++
To be continued...
Well that's it. You didn't really think they'd break up did you?
Well, I guess, since my thing to do at the end of each part is to make an apology for something, I'll say I'm sorry for the shortness of this part. But I weighed the shortness against waiting longer for a longer section after the cliffhanger(?). And decided to just put out what I had. Besides 7 pages isn't that bad.
The next section will be out sometime. (That's as specific as I'm willing to get...)
E-mail me if you liked it or didn't or whatever! Writermurf@hotmail.com Till next time...