Messed Up

by Shireen

*

"Um, what's wrong with you?"

"Huh?"

Justin pointed to the TV screen where Nelly was stuttering through an interview on 106 and Park. Nelly, here with Justin now, looked over his shoulder at the screen and groaned.

"Turn it off dirty."

Justin smiled from the end of the bed and kept the channel where it was.

"Dude," Justin laughed. "You're so messed up!"

"Shut up."

Quicker than Justin knew he could be Nelly rolled over and on top of Justin, turning off the tv and throwing the remote across the room.

"Off." Nelly smiled up at him.

Justin looked down at the man in his lap. Nelly's eyes were heavy with sleep, one hand trailing up and down Justin's back absently.

"Why're you up anyway?" Nelly flung his other arm over his eyes, shielding them from what little light there was. His voice was groggy and hoarse, still stuck in sleep.

Justin flexed his legs under the weight of the young rapper, who had curled himself around Justin, eyes falling shut.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Mmm…that's nice."

The hand at Justin's back had slowed, fingers just barely moving at the small of his back. Justin laughed to himself at the dual image of the fumbling man he'd seen on tv and the quiet, peaceful one in his lap.

"What's so funny, J?"

Nelly's eyes were still closed, but his other hand had slipped through the side of Justin's track pants and closed around a bare hip.

"You."

"You remember what you were doin' the day I filmed that show dirty?"

"Maaaaybe," Justin grinned down at Nelly, running an open hand over Nelly's head, gently massaging the back of his neck. "You know you liked it."

"And people think I'm cocky."

Justin just stuck his tongue out, and lay down, pulling Nelly up against him.

***

A week later a package arrived for Justin, while he was waiting for sound check to start. He quickly tore open the plain brown paper. He held up the sweatshirt and furrowed his brow reading the front: "Stop Pretending". Turning it around Justin shook his head, laughing. "You don't want me!"

A note fell from the shirt: Enjoy it dirty.
-N

Justin shook his head again and pulled the shirt over his head, and walked out to sound check, smacking Chris upside the head when he taunted,

"Your boyfriend's right, Infant. I want you. I can't live without you. Justin take me now! Please!"

Justin smiled the rest of the day.