The legal stuff: This is a sexually explicit story (at times) involving homosexuality. By continuing to read, you affirm under penalties of perjury that you are not a minor or in the company of a minor and are entitled to have access to sexually explicit material. The content and opinions expressed in this story do not imply anything with regard to the sexual preference of any member of 98 Degrees or other celebrities named herein. This is a work of fiction entirely.
Author notes: Sorry about not posting in a while. I just got the second chapter back from my beta. I really appreaciate the support that a few fans have gave me. I still would like more support and really want to know what you think good or bad. So until then on with the next chapter.
Chapter 2
Michael was still nervous about what Leah had told her friends about him, but once he got into the car and relaxed, he popped one of his favorite music groups into the CD player. Michael had been an avid fan of 98 degrees since high school when some of his friends played some songs for him. Leaning over, Michael turned up the volume when his favorite song, "My Everything", played.
Michael had always told Leah that one day if they have a concert in the town he lived in, he would go to their concert and try to out scream all the other fans. Lost in his thoughts, Michael started singing along with the music, while Leah kept looking over at Michael. She smiled as she listened to him sing throughout the rest of the drive to the restaurant.
"Hey Leah, you never told me where we were going for breakfast when you grabbed my car keys and rushed out the door. So are you going to tell me?" Michael asked.
"Well, we are going to take liberty of using our employee discount and eat at the restaurant at the hotel, since that is where my friends are staying, and no I didn't plan that, their travel agent did. So even if we have to work, we will get to see them everyday," Leah said with a giggle.
"Well, if I'm supposed to get to know your friends as well as they know me, then I guess that is a good idea. So, am I going to at least get a little bit of info out you about them, or are you going to make me suffer till we get to the hotel?" Michael asked with a smirk.
"Make you suffer of course. Why would I tell you anything when you are about to meet them and ask all the questions about them that you want. I know you are still nervous about what I told them, but don't be. If they didn't want to get to know you then why would they ask if you were coming with me for breakfast?" Leah said.
"They asked if I was coming with you for breakfast?" Michael asked in amazement.
"Yeah, they did and I told them yes, you were and mentioned that today was your birthday. They were really shocked to find out that it was your birthday. You should expect them to either take us out for dinner or buy you something if not both," she said.
"Oh, great here it comes. They probably thought that I told you to tell them that and now they think that I'm a total greedy asshole hitting them up for cash and that I'm doing the same thing to you as I'm doing to them," Michael said all in one breath. Leah immediately pulled the car over and put it in park. After she did that, she glared at Michael and he felt as if her eyes were piercing daggers into his heart.
"Now you stop that. I told them that so they could make this the most extraordinary birthday you have ever had; and if they think that about you after I told them that you were one of the kindest guys I have ever met, then they were never friends to begin with. So just stop thinking that my friends will hate you and just enjoy the time that we have with them!" Leah shouted.
Michael couldn't believe what just happened. He knew that Leah rarely shouted at anyone and she only shouts when she is trying to make a point. "Leah, I'm so sorry that you had to yell at me. You know that it is hard for me to admit to myself that other people like me for who I am," Michael whispered.
"It's okay," she spoke calmly, "I know that it's hard for you to admit that other people might like you for who you are, instead of the money your family has, but I swear that I didn't tell them who your family is. I doubt that they have even heard of them."
"I know but ever since high school, I've had to watch which people I made friends with. That's why I'm so scared that they might think awful things about me," Michael spoke with a shiver.
"Don't worry, they'll totally love you, and you'll love them, but you should be prepared for them to ask questions about your past. I won't tell them anything anyway. They will want you to tell them yourself," she said with joy and fear mixed.
"Alright, I understand. So what if they want to get to know the real me, I just want your friends to like me as much as you do," Michael said.
"Good, now let's go meet them, get some food, and get ready for the time of our lives," Leah shouted happily.
*********** The Four Seasons hotel; Half an hour earlier********
Drew and the gang had just checked into the hotel and were heading up to their suite. Drew was still trying to sort out why he was feeling having all of these feelings for someone he hadn't even met yet. Jeff noticed that Drew was struggling with the fact that he was about to meet the man who has been Leah's best friend ever since she moved far away from him. All Jeff could do in front of Nick was put a supportive hand on Drew's shoulder. Drew turned his head and smiled at Jeff.
"You ready to meet him, Drew?" Jeff asked with a bit of concern.
"I'm ready as I'll ever be i guess. It's just...," Drew started.
"You wonder how Michael feels about you ending your and Leah's engagement. The only thing I can say about that is just pray and hope for the best but knowing Leah, she probably told him and said that more she thinks about it, it was for the best and she knows that she will love you forever and not to do anything real drastic," Jeff said.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I've just got to hope for the best and take any sort of verbal abuse that he gives me," Drew joked.
"You really shouldn't worry about it, Sprout. If what Leah says is true, Michael probably forgave you and forgot all about it. Let's just hope he doesn't decide to be a part of one of Leah's evil schemes," Nick laughed. That got a groan and a laugh from the rest of the group.
"Well, it's getting close to the time for us to go down to the restaurant and meet the guy, so if you guys don't mind, Drew and I will be seeing you later," Jeff announced while pulling Drew out the door. Once they were far from the room, Jeff turned around and looked at Drew.
"So are you really ready to meet Michael or are you trying to put a brave face on?" Jeff asked.
"You want the truth?" Drew asked.
"Of course, I want the truth, Sprout. I can tell you have a lot on your mind and I'm wondering if you meeting Michael is putting a strain on you that maybe you should wait until you have your mind clear," Jeff said.
"Jeff, I understand that you are worried about me but the truth is that meeting Michael is what I have on my mind. I want to make a good impression on him and help him understand that he can trust me or any of us with anything. Look, what Leah did last year, she pretty much outed Michael to us without talking to him about it. If you think I'm bad right now, think how bad he is," Drew said. Jeff hadn't really thought how Michael was doing but now that he thought about it, Drew was right.
"Yeah, you're right Drew. Sorry if I was being a pain again. You know you always have me in your corner and now Michael does too," Jeff exclaimed while putting an arm around him. "Now let's go meet him."
**Half an hour later
"See, you got here in one piece, Michael. I don't see the problem with my driving," Leah said.
"You would see the problem if you were sitting in the passenger seat with yourself driving!" Michael exclaimed.
"Shut up! Do you really want all these people to see us fighting? You are so loud when you get into one of your moods," Leah joked.
"Alright, enough joking around. Are we supposed to get the table and wait for them or the other way around?" Michael asked.
"We are going to wait right here for them and when we meet them, you have to promise that you will not freak out in anyway, shape or form," Leah said sternly.
"Why would I freak out? It's not as if its like your friends are celebrities or something like that," Michael joked, but Leah wasn't laughing.
"Just promise that you won't freak out, okay?" she said faintly.
"Alright, I promise that I won't freak out in anyway, shape, or form. I wouldn't have to make this promise if you had told me who they were to begin with. I mean if they were celebrities, you could have made me swear on my life," Michael said.
"I know if I told you anything, there wouldn't be any fun for me to see your suffering and give you the biggest surprise of your life," Leah giggled, "Why don't you turn around and see your surprise."
"Alright, I will but this conversation isn't over Missy," Michael said as he turned around. When he turned around and saw who was approaching them, his jaw fell to the floor. He could not believe who he saw coming out of the elevator and heading straight for them. Drew Lachey and Jeffery Timmons were at the hotel that he worked at and were walking towards Leah and himself.
"Leah it's so good to see you again and this must be the nicest, greatest guy in the world that you told us so much about," Jeff said as he grabbed Leah in a hug.
"Well, you got most of it Sugar. You forgot, also, the cutest guy in the world and yes that's him. Michael, I want you to meet Jeff Timmons, aka Sugar," Leah said with a smile on her face.
"Uh....hi, nice to meet you Jeff," Michael stumbled over his words.
"Hey, don't be so nervous, dude. Just chill and everything will be great," Jeff said with a smile, "This little man, here, happens to be Drew Lachey, aka Sprout," Once Jeff said the name Sprout, Michael's mind raced back to earlier that morning and the phone call.
"Hi, it's nice to finally meet you Michael," Drew barely whispered.
" ..." Michael was awestruck, he couldn't speak. He heard the sexist voice in the world come from the sexist man alive to him. It was a little too much for him to take and he fainted.
"So much for him saying that he wouldn't freak out," Michael heard Leah say above him.
"Well, it could have been avoided if you told him about us Leah," Drew exclaimed
"Hey, will everyone just stop yelling it's not really helping Michael with all this commotion," Jeff snapped at the pair. Michael decided to chime in at that moment.
"I don't know Jeff. I think that their arguing is in their natural habitat, don't you think?" Michael joked. Everyone looked down at him to see that Michael was wide awake and grinning like a Cheshire cat. Jeff was rolling on the floor with laughter. He couldn't believe that Michael had stumble on the fact that Leah and Drew liked to argue.
"Way to go, Michael," Jeff hollered.
"Why you, Oh, I can't believe that you said that I should kick your ass for that but I can forgive you for the fact that you fainted," Leah said.
"I can't either but he did say it at the right moment," Drew said trying to hold back his laughter. He couldn't hold it back any more and Leah was right there along with him.
"Okay, now that the hyenas have finished their little ritual, can we please go get something to eat?" Michael asked as he got up off the floor.
"Okay, sure, but I should warn you, Drew and I can eat a lot," Jeff said as he swung an arm around Michael. Michael still couldn't believe Leah knew 98 degrees and told them everything about him. Even when they enter the restaurant and were seated at the table, Michael was in a daze.
While they were eating, Michael asked Jeff and Drew all about themselves and their life on the road. Jeff and Drew couldn't believe that Michael was asking so many questions about themselves. It was like Leah had forgot to mention anything about them as a friend, but they answered all of his questions and asked him questions about himself that they didn't know.
"So after that great breakfast, what would you like to do, guys?" Leah asked while wiggling her eyebrows at Michael.
"Well, I think Jeff and Drew should decide since they are here for only a few weeks," Michael stated calmly. Jeff turned to Drew and started to whisper in his ear. Michael and Leah got a little worried about what they were planning when they saw Drew get a big smile on his face. Drew shook his head yes while Jeff turned to look at Michael and Leah.
"Well, since its Michael's birthday, we thought it would be a good idea that Leah and I go get him a gift, while Drew and Michael go see a movie or something for at least an hour. Then we will switch while Drew go finds you a gift. Of course, Leah will be holding onto the gift, so you won't know what we are getting you," Jeff exclaimed.
"What about Nick and Justin? Who is going to tell them where to meet us and to get Michael a gift?" Leah asked.
"Who said that I needed a gift from all of the members of my favorite group, Leah? I'm just glad that I'm spending the day with them. That's the greatest gift I could ever have," Michael said a little too loudly.
"Hey, could you both keep your voices down," Drew whispered, "Not everyone knows that the group is staying at this hotel and we would like to keep it that way."
"Sorry, it just that I don't want any of you to think that I want you to spend money on me. I don't like it when people think that I want something from them just because it's a special occasion. I'd rather have my friends just be on the day instead of giving me stuff," Michael said.
"Wow, you called us your friends and you don't want us to spend money on you. Will you go out with me?" Jeff asked jokingly.
"Oh, Mr. Timmons, I do declare that you are flattering me," Michael giggled with a bad southern accent. After the words left his mouth, the whole table went up in a uproar.
"Michael, you are never to use that bad accent of yours again as long as we live," Leah gasped.
"Yeah, if I ever have to hear that accent again, I'll die laughing," Jeff laughed.
"Okay, Mr. And Mrs. Hyena, I won't use my bad accent again," Michael grumbled.
"I happen to think the accent is cute and would love to hear him use it whenever he wanted," Drew said. Michael was the only one who heard it and his mind was racing at about a hundred miles an hour after Drew had said those words. Michael couldn't help but get a picture of him and Drew kissing under the moon light.
'What was that? Why am I imagining me kissing Drew? I just meet the guy and I am picturing making out with him. I thought him and Leah had something going on but he called my accent cute. Have to ask Leah about Drew?' Michael thought to himself as his face blushed.
"Hey, Michael, your face is red. Are you okay?" Drew asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's hurry up and go to the mall," Michael said. He didn't want anyone to know what he was thinking.
"Okay, I'm driving," Leah exclaimed. When the words left her mouth Michael, Jeff, and Drew groaned together at the thought of Leah driving.
"Hey, there is nothing wrong with my driving," Leah grumbled.
"Yeah, not if we were a part of a demolition derby," Jeff said
"So, I guess, that I'm not the only one who has experienced what happens when Leah drives, huh?" Michael joked.
"Oh, I think everyone knows what you go through on a daily basis," Drew said while heading out the door, "You should have been there when my brother, Leah, and I went to high school. Just remembering the day she got her license and drove us all over the place gives me the goose bumps."
"All right, no more making fun of my driving or I will really give all of you a good wallop upside the head," Leah threatened. The group got to the car and Jeff took the front seat and left the backseat for Drew and Michael. The one thought going through both of their minds was 'Oh shit. How am I going to be able to sit by him without trying to make out with him?' When Michael sat down he tried his best not to get to close to Drew, but with Leah at the wheel he knew he would be sliding over to Drew each time. While Michael was thinking of away to not get to close to Drew, Drew was thinking how to get close to Michael.
'If Michael knew that I wanted him, he would freak out. He barely knows me, but maybe I can get close to him and let him get to know the real me, then maybe he would like to go out on a date with me.' Drew thought. 'Oh, why did Leah have to tell us all about him? Why couldn't she keep her mouth shut for once and let me meet him and get to know him on my own?'
"Hey, brood twins. Why don't you stop looking out in space and get out of the car we are here," Leah said. Michael and Drew both got out of the car and saw that they were already at the mall. The group quickly made it to the center of the mall where Jeff and Leah decided that is where the group should split up.
"Well, this is where Leah and I go shopping and the two of you go see a movie or do some shopping of your own," Jeff exclaimed, "Just make sure you two are back in about two hours, okay?"
"Yes, Dad!" Michael and Drew said.
"Okay you kids go and have fun," Leah shouted as she took Jeff's arm and dragged him to her favorite stores.
"Well, what do you want to do?" Drew asked.
"Why don't we go see a movie then get a quick snack, then we will take it from there. I just want to get to know each and everyone of you." Michael said. What he didn't want Drew to know was that he really wanted to get to know him on both inside and out.
"That sounds great to me. I want to know more about you and not what just Leah told me but the things you haven't told her," Drew spoke softly to Michael, "I want to be someone that you trust just as much as Leah or more. I think all of the guys want to be just like Leah to you." Drew placed his hand on Michael's shoulder and firmly squeezed it. Drew wanted Michael to know that he wanted more but he would let him make the pace that they should go. Michael's face was getting redder by the moment.
"Thanks Drew and I want you to know that I want the same for you and the rest of the guys too," Michael whispered, "Let's go figure out what we want to go see," Michael stated quickly while walking to the theater with Drew following him. Unnoticed by them, Leah and Jeff were hidden behind a mall directory watching Drew and Michael walking to the theater.
"So, how long do you think it will take them to figure out that they want each other and go out on their second date?" Leah asked.
"I don't think they know they are on a date, first. Second, I say it will take them about three days and they will want to jump each others bones. Either it will take them awhile or it will happen real fast. Either way, we know that they are made for each other," Jeff said sincerely.
"Yeah, you are right. I can't wait till they get together though," Leah whispered, "Hey, aren't you suppose to call Nick and Jeff now?"
"Oh, yeah, you're right. Better do that now while I have a chance before we get Michael's gift," Jeff answered while taking out his cell phone and dialing Nick's cell number.
*Back at the Hotel
Nick was struggling with the fact that he had not heard from his girlfriend Jessica in a while. Nick was missing her terribly, but with the both of them on the road, they really didn't have a choice but to have a long distance relationship. Also, he was wondering if Drew was really ready to meet Leah and her friend. It had only been a couple of months since Drew had ended their engagement. He was wondering about all of these things, when his cell phone started to ring.
"Hello," Nick answered "Hey, Nick. It's Jeff. Leah and I were wondering if you and Justin were up yet and were ready to meet Michael and go shopping to get him a gift?" Jeff asked.
"Well, I'm up and ready to go. I might have to wait on Justin to get ready. So, give us about an hour to get ready and we will be there," Nick answered.
"Okay, Leah and I will be waiting in the center of the mall. Don't worry about Michael and Drew. They are going to see a movie," Jeff said.
"Alright, see you in an hour." Nick said.
"Bye," Jeff said before hanging up. Nick went to Justin's room and knocked on the door before opening it.
"Hey, Justin, glad to see you are now just getting up. Hurry up and get ready. We have to meet Jeff and Leah at the mall before Drew and Michael get back after the movie," Nick said.
"Gotcha, Nick, and I can guess why we have to meet them so soon. We are shopping for gifts for Michael. I guess Drew got the short straw and had to play decoy," Justin laughed.
"Yeah, he did but I think he's glad to play decoy. Gives him a chance to meet Michael and at least give him his side of the story. I'm sure Leah told a whole bunch of our most embarrassing moments to him. Oh, if she told him about the pants at the concert incident, I'm going to kill her," Nick groaned.
"Hey, at least, she lived her life to the fullest and they got a kick out of embarrassing us." Justin laughed, "Let's get out of here and head to the mall."
two hours later "Okay, whoever said that "The Village" was a scary movie was dead wrong. It was an Amish love story. I can't believe that we wasted our money and two hours. At least I got to get to know you better Drew," Michael exclaimed.
"Yeah, I know it was great to get to know the real you instead of hearing about you. Hey, look it's my brother, Nick and Justin," Drew exclaimed. While Drew was running to his brother and friends, Michael could believe that Drew was engaged to Leah and broke it off. He understood that Drew wasn't ready but Drew was leaving out something really important and the more that he talked to Drew, Michael knew he was falling in love with him. He just couldn't tell Drew that no matter what though. Michael knew that Drew could have anyone and wouldn't want him. So, he was going to keep Drew as a friend. If he couldn't have Drew as a lover, Michael would be glad to have him as a friend. If only he knew that Drew was planning.
Like before I really want to know what everyone thinks. Michael aka Kaikan