Justin was a kick-ass performer. He was really, really, *really* good. JC had always known that but it was the first time he got to see Justin performing and commanding the show all by himself. It was amazing to watch and realize that he'd met that gorgeous and talented man when he was just a little thing, staring around wide-eyed and kind of scared on his first MMC day. And to think that he had actually been there for most of Justin's life and, as JC liked to think, helped raise him in a way. JC had enjoyed his teenage years sort of like a normal guy but Justin hadn't. Justin had gotten some of the extremes of the bad and the good of that age, all in the public eye, and JC was proud to see what a beautiful man he had become despite it all.
He was brought back to earth and jumped about ten feet out of his skin when he heard Lance's name being announced. And for a second there he thought Lance had actually been able to make it. And there weren't enough words to express how disappointed and sad he felt when he realized it was just Jimmy Fallon.
Because of that and because he hadn't really been able to rest enough during the afternoon, he really wasn't in the mood to go in front of cameras and he was glad that he had actually chosen to wear a hat that covered half of his face, that way people wouldn't see the impossibly dark circles around his eyes. So, as soon as Justin had finished changing and the fake Lance announced them, they went on, called the obnoxious girls who were presenting the Viewer's Choice Award, stood there like pretty little stupid souldiers till Michelle Branch's name was announced, heard the speech and, thankfully, walked off the stage.
"I really, really need my bed..." JC whined as they made their way to Justin's dressing room.
"I'm pumping! I don't even think I'll be able to sleep at all!" Justin grinned and they laughed at him.
"Yay for me. Now go and get pretty again and think about the massage I'll give you when we're back at the hotel." Chris patted Justin's butt and the blonde went giggling over to the small bathroom he had in his dressing room.
"OK, I didn't need to hear that. I'll be waiting right outside," Joey said and JC and Chris booed him, which made Joey flip them off and receive more boos in response before he closed the door.
"What did you feel watching Justin perform?" Chris asked and JC looked at him puzzled before answering.
"Proud."
"What did you feel when you heard Lance's name and you thought that he was here but then you realized it wasn't him?"
"Empty. Like... Like something was missing! Chris?" JC stared wide-eyed at Chris.
"I think you have the answer to the question I asked you earlier today." Chris smiled softly, amused, trying not to laugh at the I-just-discovered-the-secret-of-absolute-happiness-and-am-trying-to-wrap-my-mind-around-it look JC had on his face.
"I think... I think I'm in love with Lance," JC whispered softly, like he had to say it out loud so he'd believe it.
"Duh! And you just noticed it now?" Justin asked, raising his eyebrows, as he came back into the room all pretty again. And JC was ecstatic to notice that, yes, Justin was still very, very attractive, totally gorgeous, absolutely cute and JC loved him very much but it didn't hurt as much anymore. He had been so wrapped up in trying not to be in love with Justin and in how much pain denying his feelings brought that he hadn't noticed the change in those feelings. He'd always have a special place for Justin in his heart, after all he had been in love with the guy for years and a love like that you don't just forget. But he realized that the really strong feelings he used to have for Justin weren't there anymore. Actually they were, but the intensity was less and the pain they brought was less too.
"Yeah..." JC replied, still sort of dazed, smiling like a fool, "You think I'm able to get a last minute ticket to Houston?"
"Uh... well..."
"What?" JC asked looking at Chris, alarmed at the tone of his voice.
"Here," Chris said, handing him a plane ticket.
"Is this what I think it is?"
"We decided to maybe help you out a little and we were hopeful that maybe you'd realize what you've just realized. Call it a lucky guess." Justin grinned and JC felt a huge grin nearly split his face open.
"You guys rock, you know that?"
"Yeah, we know. But you sort of have to hurry. The flight leaves in 45 minutes and..."
"And?"
"Lance's leaving tonight to Russia," Justin said softly and JC felt like someone suddenly had grabbed his stomach in a vise-like grip.
"He... How do you know?"
"He called to wish me good luck while you were sleeping."
"Oh..."
"You guys, we have to go back!" Joey yelled as he opened the door and stuck his head inside, "Oh! So, you're going?" Joey grinned like the cat that ate the canary when he saw the ticket in JC's hands.
"You... you knew too?"
"Lance and you are too slow, man!" Justin exclaimed and JC nearly fell over laughing at the irony of the situation. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
"C'mon, let's go. We gotta get JC out of here and then go back in there 'cause I wanna see Guns 'N Roses!"
"Ewww, Joe! Have some class, man!" Chris slapped Joey's arm as they headed for the door, bickering about music class or lack of it. JC stayed back a little, staring at the ticket before following. He had to get in Houston on time. If not, he'd take the first flight to Russia he could get.
Now that he knew what he wanted and knew that he was wanted back, JC wasn't letting Lance escape if he had to go to the end of the world to get him.
TBC...
PS: OK, so I had to make a comment about the obnoxious girls who presented the Viewer's Choice Award... I hated them lol Sorry if anybody knows them, not my fault they're annoying *shrugs*
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