Disclaimer: I don't know them. I don't know their business. The chances of me meeting them are million to zilch.
Author's Notes: HELLO PEOPLE! It's me Dane with another story. This time around its an AU that will eventually lead to the formation of the group know as NSYNC. Confused? Then just read so you can understand it all.
As tradition dictates, I want to holler to some people. Shaun and Zarah, both wonderful people who host my stories on their sites. Josh and Ashley, who both inspire me to no ends as a writer. Sam and Jose, where the flying fuck you guys are, peace and nacho chips. Myles and Ed, get out of your closets! Sexual or otherwise!
As a final note, this story was inspired by the song "Eternity" by Robbie Williams. If you've seen the video, just substitute Robbie with JC and the blonde chick with Justin. At least that's how it goes in my head.
Now shoo. Read. Enjoy. Email. Peace. Dane
PS. I'm taking a break from writing Love, Words, and Intentions because of major writer's block. Mad Season will continue as always and the new chapter will be out soon for you Lansh Heads out there.
Eventually By Dane
Chapter 1: If Things Were a Little Different
Memphis, Tennessee 1992
"I'm sorry Justin, but I won't allow you to go to that audition," said a motherly Lynn Harliss to her 11 year-old son as they drove home from the hospital.
"But Mom! It's will only take an hour and my leg doesn't feel that bad. Owww!"
"You should have thought of that before you climbed our tree and fell down. The doctor said that you will be in this cast for 2 months and you should be in bed with your leg on a pillow. You will follow his orders. Don't worry Justin, there will be other opportunities out there for you to perform."
Young Justin pouted. "But Mom! It's the Mickey Mouse Club! This is the opportunity of a lifetime."
"Justin, there will be more of those in the future. I just want you to concentrate on getting better or I will ground you for a week," Lynn exasperatedly threatened.
The curly-haired boy remained silent, but continued to pout all the same. He stared out the window and let his thoughts cool. He honestly didn't know why he wanted so much to join the MMC, maybe it was the chance to be on TV or something, but he was sure it wasn't for the stupid skits and dumb songs that they have on the show. He was still mad at his Mom for this but he knew she was right. Justin allowed a soft sigh to escape and decided to resign himself to his fate.
Orlando, Florida
"I'm telling you, Joey. When all this is said and done, I'm going to be a star and I want you along side me when it happens."
Joey Fatone laughed in spite of himself at his best friend JC's dream of being world famous. Almost everyone they know knew this and almost everyone called it a pipedream. "Thank God for the MMC," thought Joey with good humor, "if it weren't for that damn show that he was on, his ego would probably be half way across Neptune by now."
They were sitting in the cafeteria of Dr. Phelps High School, along with JC's fellow cast mates in the MMC. Mini food fights and pretentious gossiping all around, Joey ate his "mystery meat" while he let JC blather on about his future. After a few more minutes of this, Joey turned to his friend.
"Josh, don't you think you are getting way ahead of your self. I mean, don't you have any back up plan just in case things don't work out. You're only 16 dude. There are other things out there than being in front of millions of people."
JC smirked. "No way, Joey. I'm going to be a superstar. Just you wait and see."
Just then, Dale threw a spoonful of mashed potatoes at JC and struck goal. JC scooped some of his apple pie and retaliated. Dale moved out of the way and the piece hit Keri in the cheek. She glared at JC and threw her sandwich at him, which unfortunately hit Joey. Out of the blue, someone shouted "FOOD FIGHT!" and then the cafeteria was soon sent to a mess of chaos.
Joey had no doubt about JC's dreams; it was he wasn't sure how far they'd go. As Joey managed that thought a plate of spaghetti flew across the table and hit him straight in the face. Looking for the culprit, he spots a very guilty-looking JC and pins him with some tapioca.
"Yep! Just another day in high school," Joey thought as he ducked for cover. "Hey, who threw that coleslaw at me!"
Justin mumbled in his bed, waiting for the painkillers to kick in. He couldn't believe that he missed the audition, months of waiting, hyping, and preparing down the drain. He may not like this, but as usual, things aren't always meant the ways that you want them to. Just like child who doesn't get what he wants, Justin sulks. Soon, the grogginess and the medicinal high took over Justin's system and then he succumbed to the dreams again.
Dreams were special to Justin in the sense that all of his dreams were like watching a history book unfold. Last night, he dreamt that he was a caveman trying to survive in the ice age. Tonight, he was dreaming that he was a young, though a few years older than he is now, feudal lord. It was one of his favorites because he was like a king or something, and that he had a band of knights in his service. In this dream, he felt like King Arthur.
In the dream...
Justin was sitting at the head of a long table that was laid out with food and wine. Being the eldest son, he inherited his father's land after he died from one of the crusades. His mother, Lady Lynette arranged for another meeting for Justin with one of the ladies of the land to ensure an heir to title. Justin didn't like it one bit. He wanted things on his own terms but how can you say no to your own mother. Now, he was just waiting for the arrival of his possible new bride and maybe, just maybe, he will like this one and get married.
Justin's gaze fell from the feast in front of him towards the flurry of movement that his house was doing in preparation for the arrival of Lady Brittany. Brother Christopher, his teacher, was helping the in the kitchen and double-checking for any missing goblets. Gianni, a Tuscan knight in his service, was cajoling with the rest of the knights with some wine and wenches in the next room. James, the head of the household, was reading off a list for things to do as soon as his "guest" would arrive. John and Stephen, his younger brothers were in their rooms waiting for Brittany to arrive. His mother kept on ordering the help in arranging everything just so it will be perfect. In all this, Justin tried to drown out everything by thinking of hunting in the countryside or sparring with the other knights, only the monotonously low voice of James kept on infiltrating his head with things he didn't want to think about.
Soon enough, Brittany arrived and the pageantry started. She arrived with one companion and a knight errant, along with some guards in her father's service. The moment Justin saw her, he groaned inwardly. Brittany looked like every other lady he ever had to kiss on the hand. She was blonde, pretty, and of little brain. Having a decent conversation with her is like having to talk to a child more than half her age. Her companion was just like her, only she looked very bored. The knight that traveled with her was another story all together.
This one had amazing blue eyes that pierced Justin's soul; it felt familiar. His brown hair looked like a silken mane meant to be touched. His mouth was perfect. "He's beautiful!" Justin thought and, for the first time all day, he smiled. He asked his name and the knight replied, "Joshua".
The real world...
Lynn opened the door and peered into the dark bedroom of her only son. His leg was propped up on a pillow and he had a huge smile on his face. She genuinely felt sorry that Justin couldn't go to that audition but she had to think of Justin getting better first before anything else. Crossing over to the bed, Lynn kissed Justin on his forehead and slipped out as quietly as she came in. Unconsciously, as Lynn walked away, Justin spoke out from his sleep.
"Joshua"
Joey found JC under the trees near the library writing into his journal. For the 2 years that Joey knew JC, he knew that JC kept a journal to document all of dreams that he has been having for as long as he could remember. He approached the lanky form of his friend and sat down beside.
"Another dream, C?"
JC looked at his best friend and smiled. He placed his journal down. "Yeah, you remember the dream of me being a knight and meeting this lord who owned this castle. I had that one again."
"Jesus, its no wonder you love your sleep more than living among us awake mortals. Your dream life is more exciting than your real one."
"I can't help it if my dreams are more vivid than most people. But honestly, that's not the weirdest thing."
"What is?" asked Joey with a piqued curiosity.
"I was reading something in the bookstore. Something about past lives and reincarnation. And it's starting to make sense after reading it, so I bought the book and read it last night. Interesting stuff."
Joey made a strange face and stared at JC as if he were from another planet. "Josh, are you on crack or something? I mean, its bad enough that you have ambitions to be like Michael Jackson and you dream like a historical novel. Since when did you decide to become like Shirley McLaine."
"Joey, it's not like that. All I'm saying that its possible. I see you in a lot of my dreams even before I met you. Even met my family in form or another in them. People that I know feel so comfortable around me, they all say that's because I feel like something familiar to them. I don't really know why but it sort of explains some things. Can't my dreams be my past lives and shit?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Joey remained silent, still bewildered by his friends sudden strangeness. He looked at his best friend who continued to write in his journal about his latest dreaming. Joey read it a few times and was amazed at how descriptive and detailed were some of his entries. He even used words that are outdated and underused to give life to the stories of his dreams. Reading the journal made Joey feel stupid sometimes. Then a sudden thought came to the teenage Italian.
"Josh, why are you looking for answers now? You always held that your dreams were just dreams and they are not real. What changed?"
JC propped up and gazed at the high school where he has been attending close to two years since he became a member of MMC. "I don't know really. Recently I've been recognizing people in my dreams. I'm telling you that it's close to freaky every time I meet someone new that I've seen in my dreams a million of times before. I know one thing though. There are like four guys that keep reoccurring in them. You are one of them, Joe. There's this one that's an old guy, well older guy, that acts like my younger brother. Another is one that acts like my closest confidant, like you. But the last is the one that I really want to meet, if he exists at all in this lifetime. He was the lord in my dreams, you know. All brash and ego, but smart and innocent at the same time. I don't know, I just want to meet him."
"I never realized how affected are you by the things in your head, C. Dude, what ever the crazy-assed scenario that will happen, I'm there to help you out." Joey patted JC's shoulder and JC grinned at his best friend.
"Thanks Joe."
TBC...