This story in no way intends to imply that the members of NYSNC are actually gay. If you are offended then leave now please, if you're not then read on. This story is under copyright please seek the authors permission before posting this elsewhere. Thank you.
Just so, everyone knows I really appreciate all the mail thank you for writing it makes me work harder on the installments. BlakeNick will be taking a sabbatical soon so this may be where mostly I will write the story. Blake will still be listening to me ramble on to get the ideas flushed out. If you were wondering the next installment will be the set up of the BSB entrance.
Well, here it is you know I really hate cliffhangers and some of you got it right some of you got it wrong I hope you like what I have done. And here it is part3 oh and BTW if you want to drop me a line to writergray@aol.com
NSYNC & Delwyn part 3 By Grayson S. Vellar
No sound or light could be seen or heard as I felt myself being pulled across the floor. I lay helpless, as so it seemed. The shadows had rushed over me spewing hatred not knowing I was still alive. Another shot had been fired but again he missed as I just froze in fear. My father was here I could feel him somewhere in the room. He was waiting for his chance to save me; I had to believe that. Lance was with my mother I knew he was safe I could die knowing he was safe and be happy that we met. My thoughts became morbid as I mistook deaths offering for a chance at self-redemption. Why had I been so scarred to tell them the truth about my music? They loved it so much I thought. They loved me. My assailant now breathed heavily into my face. I could smell the alcohol. It was a rancid smell, as if he had wanted nothing more than to crawl into the bottle himself. He apparently wanted to die. I could smell the vomit still on his breath as he moved closer to me.
"It's your fault you little punk. If it had not been for you I would be here," he said with an all too familiar voice. I was scarred with my eyes shut as his hand felt my face and I did not move. I made myself dead to him and everyone else.
"I can see why they like you so much Beautiful to the touch beautiful to the eyes," He slurred out as he rubbed his hand on my faces. "To bad your dead I would only love you with a pulse."
I could feel his weight pressing against me. His body now lay on top of me, as I was helpless. I could not resist. I could not fight for if I did he would kill me for sure. He began to sob as he lay there until the sounds outside began again. I felt him rise off my body as another figure slowly crawled across the floor. I waved them away they stopped and grinned. Chris was the one still here in my own nightmarish state of being. He made his way across the room to the piano.
`We protect our own.' My mind attempted to make me forget my own demise as Justin's earlier words crept into my soul.
Chris was here there had to be more. I was not sure how many people had made it I out, it was dark and there was no way for me to know exactly. But, where were they I thought as I gently turned my head to see if there was anyone else. The shadows became enraged as the lights came on. Matt my father's security head stood above me flailing around in the light. Searching out his target as he stabbed out into the air with his gun.
He stood directly above me like a towering inferno as his eyes shot around the room. He was pointing his gun straight out from his body towards Chris and my father. They had taken up refuge behind the baby grand, he was no longer staggering, and he knew what his goal was. They cowered trying to take cover but it was no use, as the piano truly was not going to be a good shield.
"Come out here and I will go easy on you!" Matt shouted. I stayed motionless on the floor behind him, I did not wish to give up my secret. Out of the no where a chair had been thrown from Matt's left hand side of the room. A shot was fired at the piano. Matt turned towards the chair's originator as Chris and my father made a run for it. I quickly swept Matt off his feet as he fired another shot with its target ending up being the ceiling.
"You little Son of a whore!!!!!" Matt screamed as he turned the gun on me again. The lights again went out and began flashing back on and off as I saw Joey running up. He was grinning as he stamped Matt's head into the floor. I immediately rolled out of the way, as Matt began to flail his arms out in my direction pulling the trigger repeatedly. There were no shots fired, as the gun remained silent. My mind spun the words, 'We protect our own' as it repeated in my mind spinning me to the safety of my own thoughts.
My father ran over and opened up the side door as I saw Lance for the first time standing at the light switch. He was saddened as he had tears in his eyes. But in his heart, I knew he was ecstatic as he ran up to my side. His hands immediately found mine as Lyle came running in the side entrance. He had been shot in his shoulder. I was astonished to see him as the blood still rushed out of his wound. He was in pain as he made his way over to Joey and Matt on the floor and kicked the gun from his hand.
"You stupid son of a bitch! When are you going to learn to stop messing with my guys!" Lyle shouted as he fell to the floor. He grabbed hold of his shoulder trying to stop the pain. He was gritting his teeth in pain as the wound stopped bleeding suddenly.
Matt continued to groan and fight bellow Joey's weight. As my mother came back into the room, she ran over to where Lyle lay now silenced as she approached. She had a look of anger I had never seen before written on her face. It was one of hate and rage as she sized up the man lying on the floor.
"So this is the puppy that will be put in a cage now," she said, as she looked down at him. His face contorted to say something as she just wagged her finger at him. "I would suggest you say nothing or I will have you thrown away for good," she said, as she turned and walked away.
"Mother it was not him it was Matt who did this," I said, as my father grabbed her into his arms and held her as she cried into his shoulder. She was crying out hatred in his shoulder muffled from our ears of understanding.
As I lay there contemplating my own remorse over this, all I could feel was sadness. I found myself pulled from my thoughts with a shooting pain in my side. As I reached for the pain, I felt something poking at my skin. I reached for it and came to the realization that no one else had. I looked to Matt's gun he had lost the clip before he fell. Here it was lyign in my hand, I had apparently knocked more than Matt loose when I dropped him to the floor. But, he had fired another shot after he fell; the one in the ceiling.
`How had it gone off if.' Then it hit me the way the automatic loads is through a bullet being pushed up one after another it must have reloaded before the clip fell. My thought began to ramble on, as Lance pulled me close to him.
`We protect our own. We protect our own.' I had not said a word to him. I showed him the clip in my hand with a firm look of confused happiness.
"That's where that went," Lance said as he took the clip from my hand.
I looked at him for a moment and then realized they had been waiting to make a move. They had been trying to rescue me. The words rang clear in my mind again. 'We protect our own.'
"Delwyn we need to get you out of this room hun," It was my mothers voice that broke my trance of thought. As she now stood above me trying to help me up from my resting-place.
"Ok," was all I said as I began to stand. I noticed that I ached from my waist down there was no way I could do this on my own. Lance reached out to me and pulled me to my feet. Soon enough the police barged into the room.
"Well, take it form here," I heard one of them say to Joey as they cuffed Matt and pulled him to his feet.
There was silence as Lyle stood facing me now. I was frozen in my tracks as my father stepped in between us. Lance drug me to the bench at the piano. As I was sitting there I began to play my song again. My mother broke down in tears as I finished the song. No one said a word as I sat and worked it out in my mind that all was going to be all right. Lance looked deep into my eyes searching for me inside the real me he already knew so well. I was there and he knew it that was all he needed, as he grinned.
"So what is the name of that song again?" He whispered as I sat there staring off thinking of the events and how much closer we all would be after this.
"It's called Don't Close Your Eyes." I said, standing up from the bench.
As we passed Lyle he reached out and tapped me on the shoulder. As he held out his hand to me, I took it with little hesitation. I now knew why he was there with them protecting them and now he had in some way tried to protect me as well. As I looked into his eyes, I knew I was right as he hugged me apologizing for his actions earlier.
Lance and I made our way out of the room through the side door and back through the Kitchen area. I reached out and grabbed a hand full of some Corn Chips as we passed a table, as Lance began to laugh at me loudly.
"Ok, so I am still hungry. You get drug around and room and act like that its hard work," I said, as he returned to his quiet state. "Lance I am sorry for saying that. I didn't mean it that way."
"I know you didn't, but it is too soon to joke around me I guess," he said with a sadness I have never seen before in my life. His eyes were still Lance, but his heart was broken and changed somehow. "I love you Delwyn and I do not want to loss you," He said as he began to cry.
"You wont ever loss me. I am right here with you always," I said as we now headed into my mother's office. I closed the door and held him in my arms hidden away from prying eyes and in my heart, I knew he believed me. "I love you so much." I whispered as a knock at the door stopped our world of trust.
When I turned to the door, I was surprised to see Lyle standing guard and not letting anyone in. He grinned at us as we separated. He stepped just inside and half closed the door as he began to speak.
"Mr. Catz, your mother would like to come in if you two would not mind," his asking seemed rather odd but I took it as him trying to give us some space as I just nodded at him.
"We have to give a report to the officers and we thought you had a good idea by coming in here." My mother said as everyone except Paul and Jonathan followed her in. "Ok, after we are all through telling them what happened we are heading to the house and all of you are coming with us," she said, as she sat down behind her desk.
Just as I was beginning to get comfortable Lynn walked up to Lance and I and began to whisper. "Could you two stop holding each other they will be here momentarily and I think it would not go over well." I could see her point but it was going to be hard to ever let go completely tonight. My mother leaned forwards and began to whisper back.
"That's why we are heading back to our house to eat and rest. I think it would be best for us all to clear our thoughts together." Lynn grinned at my mother, as I knew from then on that they would be friends.
"By the way you two I have something for you," Lynn said as she got closer to us again.
As her arms wrapped around us both I felt her accepting me finally and my tears began to fall again. Several minutes passed and more arms wrapped around then more. I felt a tug at my pants leg. Jonathan stood next to me hugging me and grinning. Again, my mind spun the words. I saw Lyle standing off to the side off the room grinning at me as the words began again 'We protect our own.'
"Delwyn your one of us now and so are you too Mr. And Mrs. Catz." Justin said, as I began to laugh. "What's so funny," he asked.
"I just have not been able to get something out of my mind," I said as they all looked at me questioningly.
"It's just that Justin told me you guys protect your own and then when Joey stood on Matt's neck I kept repeating it over and over again. It saved me somehow all of you did. Not one shot was in that gun as he pulled the trigger, and I kept repeating it over and over again." I began to cry as Lynn hugged me tighter. Then they all followed suit each hugging me again. Lance being the last one and the longest as Jonathan let go only seconds before Lance. Finally Lyle walked over to Lance and I am pulled us both into a hug.
"Nothing like this is ever going to happen again. I will never let my foolishness get in the way again," He whispered as a tear fell.
The police took their report rather swiftly asking us a series of questions informing us that they usually would ask us all separately. But, when this point was made my mother scoffed at them and they immediately backed down on separating us. Joey was excited again as his adrenaline began to rush again with the telling of the story as all the people who had exited listened they all stared at me.
"What," I asked.
"I just can't believe this happened. How did you stay so calm?" Justin said as Lynn shot him a look of displeasure.
"I just did. I felt like I better play dead or he will make me that way. But, then when he turned to fire on Joey and Lance I reacted and he hit the floor. It all happened so fast. I just want to stop thinking about it." Lance squeezed my hand and the police officer did not notice. I smiled at him and nodded my head at the officer. Lance just shrugged his shoulders at me telling me he did not care.
"So all of this because he got fired. By the way who hired him, did you guys have any knowledge of his past offenses?" The officer said as the guys all said no or just shook their heads. My father sighed as he stepped forwards.
"Well, I don't know how to tell you all this but he has a record of." he looked at Jonathan and stopped. "I won't go over this in front of the child." Lynn looked at my father with a puzzled look then it hit her what he was trying to say.
"Officer, most of these men are hired by the label and I am sure they know nothing of his past. There is no need to discuss this right now is there. We do need rest and the Catz family has been nice enough to offer us their home for such." With that said the officer closed his note pad and shook my father's hand on his way out of the room.
"Ok, so now we all head over to our house and relax a bit and celebrate two reasons for being here," my mother said, as she stood up from behind the desk. Lynn turned around and met her face to face.
"What I meant was Justin's Birthday celebration and Delwyn's contract and of course to the greatest friends he could ask for. Of course there is also the budding um." She peered at me to find the right word.
I leaned over and kissed Lance quickly letting everyone know what she was attempting to say. Lance blushed as everyone laughed at us. It was nice to think we could all laugh again. We all had become closer by this but it was also too much for one person to handle. I was sure there were still tears to be shed. Lynn agreed and reminded my mother that she had counted off more than two reasons. Of course, with my mother that was to be expected.
As we exited the restaurant, I noticed Lyle sitting in an ambulance. Matt was sitting in the back of a squad car. He was saddened and sober now it had been several hours since the investigation began. I waved at him vigorously, making fun of him as Lance did the same. It was my ways of saying I win you lose. The guys all began to laugh as Lynn and my mother both yelled for us to knock it off. Soon enough Lance and I were laughing with the guys. This was my life from now on I belonged here and I knew it. Now all I had to do was figure out just what it was I was doing here to begin with.
I looked over at my parents as they climbed into their Lexus and started it up. I began to laugh on the inside as I thought that with all the money they have they choose a Lexus. But, my parents were known for their sensibilities and a Lexus was a good car. To me I would of course rather have a BMW or something of that nature.
The Limo was cold as I looked down, found my legs to be hurting, and cramped. My heart raced forwards thinking this evening had produced so far, it was only 9 o'clock now. I leaned against Lance's shoulder and closed my eyes briefly. We were on our way to Marrin county where I lived I was sure we would make it there safely.
Before I knew what was happening, I felt the car jerk and make the turn onto my street. I had fallen asleep as I opened my eyes and looked around the guys were now napping as well, we had all fallen asleep. Our driver followed my parents up the drive to the house. It was dark until they hit the Garage door opener. The house lit up coming to life as we all crawled out of the car. Lynn stood staring at the house in amazement.
"Wow, this place is huge," I heard Chris say. I wanted to laugh but my parents beat me to it.
"It's not that big is it?" I asked being facetious. Lance nudged me in the shoulder as Chris frowned. I was beginning to laugh again as my parents walked up to join us.
"Delwyn why didn't you open the door?" My mom asked. I looked over at her sheepishly.
"Michelle if there is one thing I have learned about these boy's here it is this. When they are all standing together it is like they only have one brain cell to share amongst them," Lynn said while sitting down on one of the benches on the porch.
"Daniel let me have your keys please," Michelle asked of her husband who was standing off to the side talking with Paul. He did not notice her asking him the question.
"See what I mean," Lynn said as we all burst into laughter.
"Daniel!" She shouted almost looking as if he was shocked, he dropped the keys out of happenstance to the ground. We all dived for them as Lynn and my mother laughed now. We did not notice but my father had fallen to the ground with us and was searching just as fast. It was quickly turning into a wrestling match as I found my father now pinned to the ground with us all on top trying to pry the keys from his hand.
"I've got them!" JC shouted as he squirmed out of the pile falling down next to all of us before making a run for the door. I shuffled over next to him wrestling around trying to grab them as Lynn reached into the mix and snatched them away. My mother began to laugh so hard she was coughing as Lynn handed her the keys. Paul snapped another Polaroid shot of us all on the ground he had been taking pictures all night now he had gotten one of all wrestling. `Blackmail' I thought as we all tried to get up at once. Lynn began to laugh again as she and my mom opened the door to head inside.
"Here, we should leave the tribe outside," She said noticing my mother choking now. " I guess it's up to me to get you inside," she said, as she headed over to the front door.
My mother followed closely behind her as we all gathered up our balance and began to stand. I began to wonder if I was all right after all because of the sharp pain in my side now. I had not been hurt in the scuffle at restaurant to outside eyes. But internally I was falling apart as I began to hurt all over. Lance was at my side as I began to grasp at my side for fear of death. I felt my sides turn to fire as they began to twist into a ball of nerves. I buckled under the stress as my heart raced. Here was I was falling apart as collapsed under the pressure.
"Mom!" Justin Yelled. "Mom," Lance yelled. "Michelle," my father yelled.
Both of them came running out of the house stopping all laughter as they saw my current condition. Each rushing to a side as they tried to find out what was going on. Lance sitting next to my mother reached out and placed his hand on my chest. I calmed immediately at his touch. Internally I was on fire as it began to subside and my heart began to slow. I began to feel better, as he sat patiently waiting a reply. Each of the women in my life took a hand and began to try to help me up from the ground. I was standing in no time as everyone who had been wrestling watched calmly. We had been through a lot and here I was making the evening more difficult, I thought as I stood shaking my head.
"You've got to relax and get some rest Del. You have been through a lot tonight." Lynn said, as my mother shook her head in agreement.
We all headed inside the house where the group was shown around. I made my way to my room quickly trying to get to my bed. As the group came to my room, they immediately silenced themselves. I was now sitting up looking at them as they froze staring around the room.
"What," I asked.
"We have seen most of the posters in this room but not all in one place at one time." Chris said as Lynn was grinning at my parents.
"We call it his shrine." My father said, as I was blushing now.
"Hey! There is a picture of Kevin Richardson here next to Lance's," Joey said.
I began to laugh. I was caught and I knew it. I had not really meant to make this look so bad. But if you looked at it, you would think the same thing as them. Deep in my mind, it was justifiable. I mean if you looked at it you would certainly know I was a fan minus the hearts and all the notes I had posted of things I had to say to them. Wow I guess it does look like a shrine so to speak.
"Guys, it's not a shrine. I just use you guy's for inspiration some times. It is time I took them down especially since I have the real thing now," I grinned as I said it as all but Lance exited the room.
"Lance, please say this is not as bad as it looks," I said as I looked down at the floor.
"It's not. You should get some rest though. Believe me I could never stay away from you. Besides your not the only one in the U.S. with this kind of infatuation you know." He said, as he sat down next to me on the bed. He pulled me back down onto the bed with him as we lay down. I kissed him before slipping into a dreamy state only looking at him as I fell off to dream land.
Back down stairs.
"Is he always this worried?" Lynn asked referring to Delwyn as she questioned Michelle.
"No, actually he has never been this self-conscience about anything. Well, except for the time he was." Michelle trailed off thinking of his performance at the arena.
"Was what?" Chris asked knowing he was butting into a conversation he had no business discussing with them.
"Ok, everyone let me explain my son since he is most like me and I think I had some hand in his selfless acts." Daniel said as he sat down on a barstool at the kitchen breakfast bar.
"You see our son is a good person he is so good that at times he has a tendency to forget his own self to the point that he has nothing left. It is because of this that he will not do anything for himself. Often times I wonder if he is not meant to be a sort of servant to the people or something of that nature. But then again, he would have to realize that even in that there are bits and pieces of self-gratification." She paused long enough to realize what she was saying as Daniel stepped in.
"It's funny before that night he had all kind of Backstreet Boys stuff on his walls and then when he failed out there he felt it was time to move on. After several months he suddenly found the strength and began to play again after um which one of the posters was it Michelle?"
"It wasn't a poster Daniel it was the Picture of Lance and JC, he has it on the Closet door. You know the one that used to have the picture of Kevin on it. Of course he waited several days before he put that one back up." Michelle began to laugh.
"After that he has been adding picture after picture then what 3 months ago?" Daniel paused looking at his wife for an answer, which would never come. "Well any how, he started to talk to Lance on the computer and the pictures stopped being put up. He suddenly had a reason to stop. His accident nearly killed him and here he was trying to make himself live again. I was worried about him but then he started to play again last week. It was amazing he thought neither one of us were home as he began to play and sing. I have to admit I was about to cry my eyes out. But instead I hid in my office listening to the miracle. Man I thought I was going to loss it but as I read more and more of their conversations from the net." There was a sudden gasp coming form everyone in the room.
"You read their conversations! I thought you only took records of them!" Michelle screamed as everyone watched knowing they only wished to ask the same thing.
"Well. Yes. I thought it would be best to keep an eye on him he was so depressed. That is why I would not be in bed until all hours of the night. Michelle I was protecting our son."
"That's the whole point Daniel we have been protecting him all of his life and now when he is to be free it is because of our doing. This is not right! He has to earn this on his own."
"Actually Mrs. Catz the truth is if you husband here hadn't set all of this up ahead of time we would have made the arrangement's. We want him to be there." JC said, as he looked at the rest of the guys.
"Oh I see. But, Daniel you had no right to do this to him. You have to stop prying into his life. I told you months ago he has to start living his life for him and not for us." Michelle said as she walked over to the sink.
Back in Delwyn's room.
I had a splitting headache as I rolled over to see Lance smiling at me. I found it hard to remove my eyes from his as we kissed. "Daniel!" I heard my mother yell.
Back Down Stairs.
"Daniel! You lied to me about all of this. I helped you set all of this up. You should have told me about reading their Internet conversations," Lynn motioned everyone to make their way to the living room.
Back in Delwyn's room.
"What in the hell is going on down there. They have not fought in so long an here they are just hours after. I have to get down there." I said raising myself off the bed with Lance in tow.
"Delwyn they are fighting it is not a good idea to step in," Lance said, while we headed down the stairs.
Back in the Kitchen.
"Michelle if I had of told you. You would have never done this."
"Your right! Daniel you told me this was something Delwyn wanted from us to do for him because they offered. Now I look like and ass!"
"Michelle it was for our son. I would do anything to make him happy. He is our son! You think it is so easy. You think I can just stand by while he is suffering day in and day out. I had to help. You didn't read the transcripts. I did!"
"That's it Daniel! You read about their personal conversations and did not let me in on it and when you told me to just agree I did. Now I find out you have been reading all of this for so long. I just don't know what to think of you right now." Michelle said as she walked into Delwyn entering the Kitchen.
"What don't you think I appreciate all you do for me," I asked, stopping her from leaving.
"Del, that is not what I am saying. I just wish I had of known everything before all of this happened. Now if you will excuse me I have to pack a bag. I will not stay in a house where I am lied too. Your father has to come to his senses before we can work this out."
"You're not going anywhere," Lynn said as she walked back into the Kitchen.
The Kitchen spun in horror as my mother and father both shot each other looks of pain. Lynn walked over to where I was standing and ushered me out of the room. Lance stood waiting in the hallway for me as we headed into the Living room.
"Hey guys what are you watching?" I asked sitting down in a chair.
"Actually we just finished watching the Backstreet Boys video for "The One" it was really good." Justin said, while no one else responded.
"So, how are you Delwyn?" JC asked.
"Fine I guess. A lot is going on behind the scenes but I am fine. I guess I was just tired. So what are the plans for tomorrow?" I asked.
"Well, to be quite honest tomorrow we will be on a bus sleeping on our way to Sacramento. We actually have to leave tonight at 3:00 in the morning." Chris said.
"Ok, I guess that means I better pack then" With that said I made my way out of the chair and started to head out of the room to go back upstairs to my room.
"Delwyn hold up!" Justin said, while everyone went back to watching television. I could see Lance being held back by JC for some reason and decided they had some thing to discuss alone. It was odd but I said nothing I just wanted to get out of this house before World War III got any worse.
Back in the Kitchen.
"Look you two I have been where you are right now. You need to calm down." Lynn said to both Michelle and Daniel now sitting side by side at the breakfast bar.
"It think your right Lynn and I am sure you have been in some pretty heavy situations with your husband we all have. But, he lied to me belligerently and made no effort to let me know in the end. How can I trust that he will not do this again?" Michelle asked now looking at her husband. Lynn sat down at the opposing side of the bar.
"Michelle all I can do is tell you I understand about how you feel. But, at the time I felt it was necessary to keep it all secret for Delwyn's own good. I did not mean to cut you off like I have. You have to understand I was trying to protect him from the beginning and when I saw the opportunity to help, I did." Daniel said, as he placed his hand on his wife's.
"Daniel I don't know that I can accept that as a excuse. You say you were only trying to help but in a way, it was underhanded. I mean it Daniel promise me you will never do this kind of thing again. You will always fill me in on what's going on." Michelle said, as she looked into Daniel's eyes.
"Well, in that case I must tell you Delwyn has no idea but I will fill you in. All of his things have been packed for him already. I had Jon do it this afternoon and well it only seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Ok I can live with that. I love you but you have to stop being so impetuous." She said, as she reached over to Lynn's hand. "Thank you."
"Your welcome. With all we have gone through I would hope no more devastation would happen here. We need all the happiness we can get right now." Lynn said as JC walked into the Kitchen.
"Ok, just so everyone is informed we have decided that until this family is back to normal Delwyn will not be coming with us. We took a vote and just told Lance. He is not doing all that great but over all it will work out." JC said as Michelle just froze in her tracks. Daniel looked at JC with anger filled eyes.
"You guys can't do this we just got all of this settled." Daniel said, as Lance walked back into the Kitchen.
"Mr. and Mrs. Catz you told me I was welcome in your home that I was now one of the family. I hope you meant it. JC I quite. I won't leave him here." Lance said, not missing a step as he moved over next to Lynn.
Back in Delwyn's room.
"Delwyn we need to talk about something," Justin said, as he sat down at my desk.
"What's that J," I asked not knowing of my demise.
"Well, your parents have been married for quite some time. As I am sure, you are well aware of the fact that we want you with us but."
"Justin you haven't changed your minds have you. Did Lance side with all of you on this. Does he even know about this? Justin this is a joke right!" I was jumping ahead of him and I knew it but he had made me see it somehow before it was even said.
I was walking out of my room before he could answer my questions I had to figure out what to do. I had to find out what was happening right now. Lance met me half way up the stairs as I was now running. He tried to stop me as I walked into the Living room. JC was sitting holding his head in his hands starring at the floor. No one said a word as I walked over to his side. Lance and Justin made it to the doorway as I looked at each of them.
"Is this what you all wanted. You know I should have seen all of you ready to turn your backs on me. It always comes to this my friends are my friends while they need me then they turn their back. My heart is not a revolving door," I threw my hands up and headed directly into the Kitchen to find my parents standing there.
"You think your fight only affects you, well let me tell you something it has worked better than you expected. They have just decided I am not to be with Lance and you win. I hope the both of you are happy. I finally made real friends and you could not help yourselves but meddle could you? Could you? You always mean well but this time you actually stepped in at the wrong time. Congratulations!" I ran up the stairs to my room.
I fell to the bed and began to cry. Here I was finally getting my life together and having the happiness, I had always searched for. Lance was my all and I was going to loss him. I heard a commotion behind me more than one person was coming into the room. I was not about to turn around to look at them. Here I was upset and all they could do was gloat at me. I began to hear the sounds of the posters being ripped and torn from the wall next to the door. They left as quickly as they came into the room as I heard Lance whispering just on the other side of the door.
"This is not going to work guy's. What if he doesn't come out?" Lance said to the others just outside the now closed door.
"Lance he has to make the decision on his own," JC said.
"I know that, but if it does not happen I am not going with you all when you climb on that bus. I am staying with him no matter what," Lance said, as I began to look back around the room. I could not understand why they all were still here if they did not want me around them.
I was looking directly at the closet door where they had taken down my pictures of Lance and them. Now in their place were four smaller pictures taken by Paul earlier in the evening. There was one of Lance and me holding hands sitting in the restaurant we looked so happy then just hours ago. My tears began to fall as I set there staring at it. I looked at the next Picture it was of Lynn and I hugging at the dinner table. I was shocked at how comforting this made me feel. It was so funny at the beginning of the evening she had showed very little pleasure in my presence and now here was the evidence to showed she had been won over. The next picture was of me at the Baby grand singing Heaven in your eyes. My eyes were closed at the time, as I sang from my heart to them. I felt a rush come over me as I felt the moment again.
"We have to say something to him JC. I wont loss him over this. You had no right to make the decision without thinking about what this was going to do to him. I love him and this is not right." I heard Lance saying to the others outside my door.
"Well, Lance it is entirely up to him to decide. I know we have screwed this all up. But, if he does not make the decision on his own to forgive us and come then he will be stuck here because of his own decisions. This has nothing to do with any of us any more. He can not hide from himself any longer." JC paused. "Lance we are like brothers a family. And families make mistakes. We made one he has to see us for who we are and our imperfections all together. We can not hide who we truly are from him. You already have a real relationship with him. But that was only because he had no idea who you were when you two started. We're a family and he can be part of it but we are not a poster on a wall." He finished.
As I looked at the last picture, I began to realize what he was saying about us all being closer and a family. It was a picture of all of wrestling around for the keys to the door. It was funny how we all looked so serious trying to get them. I noticed that JC was really pulling at my leg trying to keep me from getting them as Joey was crushing Justin. Lance seemed to be getting Chris pinned rather than getting the keys and my father was laughing at the bottom of the pile. Over all we were laughing and playing as if nothing else mattered. We were a bunch of guy's fighting to have fun. I walked over to the door. Not sure of what to say as I opened it.
"Alright so when do we leave. I still have to pack and you guy's better be ready to go as well." I said as Lance just looked at me with surprise. I was certain no one was going to say a word until Chris stepped forwards shaking my hand.
"Perfection is over rated welcome to the family." He said as I just laughed at his comments. My parents stood just down the hall hugging while Lynn and Paul stood silent. Jonathan was standing there grinning from ear to ear as Lynn stepped forwards.
"We'll replace anything they ruined Del welcome to the family." She said as she stopped at the edge of the circle.
"I have to get packed now guys." I said as Lynn just laughed.
"Your father already took care of that Delwyn. Your stuff is down in the trunk of his car already." She said, as she turned to walk away.
"What Dad you trying to get rid of me already." I laughed out.
"Nope just wanted you to be prepared that's all." Was all he said, as the four of them headed down stairs again.
"Ok, so now does anyone want to explain what happened here?" I asked as they all looked to Lance who just stood grinning at me.
"Latter," was all he said, as he walked past me into my room closing the door.
"That's out cue to leave," Chris said, as everyone began to back up and go down the stairs.
I laughed as I turned around and headed into my room again. Lance was laying on my bed relaxing as I closed the door. He was lying with his eyes closed looking as angelic as he possibly could. I couldn't stand just staring any longer as I made a b-line for the bed and jumped. I missed Lance by inches as the bed shook and swayed.
"Hey! Watch out." Lance said as he flipped me over in mid flight and pinned me to the bed.
"Guy's you have no time for that." JC shouted from the outside of the door.
"Damn can't we get any time alone?" I shouted.
"You will have plenty of time. We have to get to the Hotel." JC said as he opened the door seeing Lance pinning me. "I didn't need to see that did I," He said as he quickly closed the door stepping back out.
"We'll be down in a sec!" I shouted from under Lance.
"Just hurry. We all need to pack and get out of town," JC said as he made his way down the hallway.
"Maybe we should make them wait." Lance said. I began to laugh as he had this evil look in his eyes.
"Maybe but with what just happened here I don't think they have enough pictures to make me forgive them." I said realizing I had hurt him as he let go. " I heard you in the hall. I love you but you have to promise me something. You will never break up the group to stay with me no matter what." He stared at me with hurt eyes. "Promise me"
"I promise, but you have to promise me one thing first. You will always tell me before something like that happens." Lance said.
"I promise you too." I pulled him into my arms and we began to kiss.
"Delwyn!!!!!! It's time to go!" My mother shouted from downstairs.
"Lance we have to get moving I am sure you don't have a butler to take care of your packing." I said, while pushing him off of me.
"No, but that does sound like a good idea now that you mention it." He said grinning as I picked up my backpack and started to put my CD's into it along with two books and the CD player.
"I don't think there would be enough room on the bus for all of his things to do you? I mean Jon is a great person but um we might."
"Delwyn I didn't mean it. I was joking!" Lance said as he jumped off the bed.
"I know but I had you going there didn't I," I said while taking down the picture except for the one of all of wrestling around. That one would stay here waiting for my return for memory sake and to give my father something to remember and laugh. I knew he would take it the hardest out of my parents he was over protective but he meant well. I was going to miss them but I was sure they would be coming to see me at some point in time. Lance reached for the picture to help me.
"No I want this left here to remind my parents of how happy I am to be going with you," I said, while he just nodded.
As we exited the room, I looked back at all the times I had spent here. I had grown up in this room. Here was the one thing that led me to lance my laptop still sitting in its place on my desk. Lance continued down the hall to the end of the landing. I was half tempted to just grab it but we would have plenty of access to computers and besides I had the real thing here with me why would I need it I thought as I closed the door. As I reached Lances side he grabbed my hand and squeezed.
"I know this is the hardest part. I love you Delwyn," with that said, he leaned forwards. Our lip's brushed as electricity rushed through our bodies. It felt soft and gentle not rushed as we began to comfort one another's desires and hopes. As he parted, my lips with his, his tongue swept mine as our bodies clashed against one another. I gently backed away and looked into his eyes. There was the man before me, the reason for my happiness, my desires, and my love.
No words were spoken as we made our way down the stairs to everyone waiting for us at the bottom. My mother had tears in her eyes as my father was holding his hand over his grinning mouth. He looked like he was blushing with happiness. I looked at Lance as we walked down the steps. He was as happy as he could be. The guy's looked as if they were getting impatient as Justin swung the door opened and closed several times. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, we all headed out the front door towards the Limo.
"Wait! I have to grab my jacket," Lance yelled as he ran back into the house.
It took him forever to find it I thought as he had the driver place it in the trunk. This seemed odd but he was Lance and I was still getting to know him. We were off in a flash as the Limo took off being followed by Justin's parents as well as mine. We made it to the Marriott by the Bay in less than 30 minutes. A record time I thought as we pulled into the parking lot noticing the Bus was not there.
"Where the bus?" I asked as JC looked out the window in a horror.
"I don't know but it is supposed to be right here," He said as our Limo pulled right up to the spot where it was supposed to be.
Lynn rushed over to the door and pulled it open.
"We have a problem guy's," she said as she leaned into the door. "It seems Matt claims he placed a bomb on the bus. The Police have impounded it and they are tearing it down trying to find it. They don't think you will be able to leave on time for Sacramento," with that said JC stepped out of the car and pulled his Cell phone out of his inside pocket.
"JC I already called the label they are trying to figure out what to do they should be calling us anytime. Oh and Delwyn Mr. Bradshaw says welcome aboard the team," she said.
To be continued.
Thank you for all your responses it has been great reading them all and I have tried to answer them all. If you did not get a response, it is because I did not receive it. Please send it again, I love to read what you think. Writergray@aol.com