Josh stepped into the room with all the charisma of Adolf Hitler. As his solid footfalls echoed throughout the room everyone inside stopped. Fingers that had been anxiously tapping away at keyboards fell silent. Phones that had been loudly used were now hanging dead from the owner’s ear. Josh smiled and walked into his kingdom.
He carried everyone’s eyes as he walked down the hall, past the endless cubicles and straight towards the elevator. As he climbed inside of it and pressed the button he reached up to his silver baseball cap and tilted it forward in a gentlemanly gesture. He watched through the glass doors as everyone slowly went back to normal. He turned around as he reached the top floor and walked out.
“Coffee sir?” a young, fair-haired girl asked, coming up to him with a steaming cup of auburn liquid.
“Yes, thank you, Kylie,” he said as he grinned down at her. She practically glowed as she poured him a cup. She handed it to him with shaking hands.
“Josh?”
“What?” he snapped his head around at the sound of a voice coming from behind him. The coffee girl was knocked backwards and Josh spun back around, catching the tray before it splattered to the ground and managing to grab the girl’s arm before she slipped.
“Sorry, my fault,” he apologized to the girl. She basked in his light, growing red around the cheeks. He gave her a genuine smile and handed her the coffee tray, sipping from his own cup. Then he turned back around to the figure whom had called his name.
“Josh! Here, we got these new files in; they’re from the TR producers. Lance called you to know about a new song for his newest sign... what was her name? Joey is having a party tonight and you’re invited. And...” Cindi paused, “… someone’s waiting for you in your office.”
Cindi handed him a stack of files and he thanked her, hurrying towards his office as he tried to balance his things. He entered his office quietly, expecting to see a nicely dressed business person. His desk faced the wall, and opposite it was a chair. The chair was empty.
He walked around to his desk, figuring that Cindi had made a mistake. As he circled around he jumped up, spilling coffee on his blue T-shirt and dropping the files. Before he knew it, there were two tiny hands circling his mid thighs. The hands were covered in ink from a very expensive pen that Josh could see was dismantled on top of his desk, with ink still dripping from it onto the wood.
“Daddy!” he chirped. Josh cocked his head to the side and looked down at the boy who had wrapped himself so securely about Josh’s thighs. He tried to walk but found himself entangled by the young boy. The young boy’s feet were suddenly on top of his, and Josh found that he could walk, lifting the boy as he went. He walked over to his desk and pried the boy off. As he set his hand down on the desk for balance, it was smeared into the puddle of blue ink from the pen. With his other hand he pressed the button on his intercom.
“Cindi! I could use some assistance in my office!” he called. Then he looked down, actually studying the boy for a second. All he could see was a brown circle of unruly hair. He put his hands on the boy’s shoulders and pulled him back for a second. The boy let go of him and stepped back. A brush of his hand to get the hair out of his way turned the boy’s forehead blue and Josh couldn’t hold back a laugh. The white T-shirt the boy had been wearing was covered in blue ink, as were his jeans. Josh looked into the boy’s eyes and saw a hint of blue, hidden inside the gray streaks. For a moment he was reminded of Lyte, but he quickly shook that thought from his head.
The door to the office opened and Cindi stepped inside. She saw the two of them, the young, disheveled boy and Josh, standing in his own jean and T-shirt and looking rather disheveled himself.
“Cindi? What is this?” he asked, his voice without anger or irritation. All he wanted to know was what was going on.
“Um, Josh, did you read what was on top of the files I gave you?” she asked. Josh shook his head, looking down at the sheets of paper that were scattered on the floor.
Cindi walked over and picked through the files, finally finding an envelope. She handed it to him and left quickly, leaving the young boy staring up idly at Josh, and Josh with a very confused look on his face. He looked at the envelope, which was sealed with a silver dove sticker. Josh reached for the impaling envelope opener and slid it across the top. He pulled out a piece of notebook paper and unfolded it, looking at the blue ink words.
Josh,
I’d like you to meet your son. I cannot tell you the pains I have been going through, but I feel that you will be able to care for him much more easily than I ever will have. Don’t bother coming after me. By the time you read this I will already be dead. I’m sorry Josh.
Love forever,
Lyte
Josh re read the letter a few times, attempting to convince himself that it wasn’t real. He looked down at the young boy. He could only be three or four. He took a deep breath, looking into the boy’s eyes. Those were Lyte’s eyes. He sighed again.
“So, what’s your name, little guy?” he asked. A smile instantly cracked on the boy’s face and he answered in a small, high pitched voice.
“I’m Jake!” Josh looked down at him, as Jake looked up.
“Really?” Josh said, stooping down to look into the boy’s eye’s straight on.
“Jake Scott Chasez,” he proclaimed. Josh stood up and turned himself around once, his eyes going heavenward. “What’s wrong daddy?” the boy asked, concern thick in his voice.
Josh shivered at the boy calling him daddy, but remained calm for the kid’s sake. “Nothing. Here, why don’t you sit down here, and eat this and I’ll be right back... and don’t play with my pen please, okay?”
“Okay!” Jake agreed as he was handed a cookie and tucked into the chair. Josh put a hand on his forehead and walked outside. He saw Cindi disappear around a corner and so instead leaned over the balcony to the floor below. People’s gaze drifted towards him and eventually the room fell silent.
“Okey, dokey!” Josh called out to everyone. “I need Lynn to call up the police, tell them to go to Lyte Engle’s house, possible suicide. Tiffany, I want you to go and buy cookies, lots of cookies. Ross, tell the TR people that I’m sorry, but I’ve got to cancel the meeting. Rob, don’t you dare think about leaving, I need you to get me some of your most powerful stain remover. Dyke, why don’t’ you make yourself useful and take a day off. Okay? For the rest of you, carry on!” he commanded everyone. They all stopped short, trying to decipher his message, said in less than ten seconds. Then he turned around and walked back into the room. Jake was sitting in the chair, making designs on his jeans with the blue ink that still lingered on his hands. He sighed again.
“Jake, what did your mommy tell you?” he asked the young boy. Jake looked up at him again, with that same cute little smile on his face.
“That I was going to stay with daddy. And that I was going to be a star when I grow up just like you!” Jake replied. Josh shook his head and rubbed his temples. Then he cursed again as he realized he probably had two blue dots on his forehead. He stopped and tried to think. Okay, first things first, gotta call the guys…
He picked up his phone from his desk, dialing the number hurriedly and impatiently stomping his foot.
“Hey wassup Jace?” he heard Justin’s buzzing voice come on the other end.
“Justin, is everybody else with you?” he asked.
“Yeah. Unlike someone here, the rest of us don’t have jobs to busy ourselves with.”
“Great, then you’ll all come over here?” Josh questioned.
“Yeah, sure… why?” Justin asked.
“I’ve got... I just... just come over here... and… bring Chris’ little game boy thing okay?”
“Sure… we’ll be over in a sec…” Justin said. Josh quickly said good-bye and then looked at the boy again. It was time to get him cleaned up.
“Jake, come here,” Josh called. Jake jumped out of the chair and ran up to Josh. As he came over Josh stared for a moment at his clothes, plain, dull and covered in ink. “We’re going to have to give you some new clothes,” Josh told him. Jake nodded his head.
“I’m sorry daddy,” he whimpered, his hands wringing the material of his shirt.
“Hey it’s okay, com’ere!” Josh said, holding his hands out and stooping down to Jake’s level. Jake ran into his arms and wrapped his hands tightly around Jake’s shoulders. Josh stumbled back as Jake toppled into him, but then returned the embrace and hugged Jake tightly. The small, innocent body pushed against his chest, and Josh had a sudden urge to defend him. He stood up and said, “Come on, let’s get you some new clothes.”
Josh motioned for Jake’s hand, which was given readily to him. He walked out and bumped into Tiffany, a platter of cookies in her hands.
“Oh, sir, I got your cookies. Hey! Who’s this?” she said, her hair bounced up and down as she knelt down to look into Jake’s eyes. Jake powerfully stuck out his right hand.
“I’m Jake!” he proclaimed. Tiffany switched the platter of cookies to her left hand and took up Jake’s. He shook her hand up and down and then brought it to his lips.
“Ooh, how nice. So who is this fine young gentlemen Josh?” Tiffany asked, looking up at Josh.
“I’ll tell you later,” Josh said. He took the cookies, handed one to Jake, and then told her to set the rest of them in his office and to try her best to attempt to clean up the pen. At this Tiffany stifled a laugh, looking at the blue that was smeared in various places over Josh’s clothes.
Josh rolled his eyes at her and brought Jake into the elevator. Once again, all was quiet. Jake pressed his nose and hands up against the window, his eyes going wide with awe as he watched their decent. Josh smiled at him.
“Hey, Amy, come here!” Josh said as he stepped out of the elevator, Jake’s hand once again safely cupped in his.
“Yes sir?” she asked, her black hair flying all over the place.
“You’ve got kids right?” Josh asked her.
“Of course!” she answered him.
“Good, do you want to take a little break and come with me for a sec?” Josh asked.
“Sure,” Amy answered. Josh pulled the silver baseball cap closer over his eyes and put on black sunglasses. Together, the trio walked out into the Orlando air and to the next door building, which (thankfully) was a clothing outfitter. Josh explained to Amy that he needed to get some new clothes for Jake. He told her that he was a visiting relative. While they were in the store, Josh bought another shirt, and jeans, to replace the ones he had on then, which were covered in blue splotches.
They ended up buying Jake three new outfits. One was another T-shirt (Pokemon, on Jake’s demand) and a pair of elastic waist jeans. The next was a green blue shirt with khakis and the third a black turtle neck with jeans. Jake decided to wear his Pokemon shirt, so they paid for them and then went out.
“Thank you daddy!” Jake said as they walked back. Amy said nothing, but gave Josh a weird look.
“I’ll explain later,” Josh said, giving her a pleading gaze. Josh told her she would get a bonus this month for helping him to shop for Jake, and that seemed to keep her quiet.
Jake’s face was once again smashed up against the glass of the elevator as they rode it up. Josh couldn’t help but laugh. As he reached his floor Cindi came out and said that the guys were waiting for him in his office. He thanked her and led Jake back to the office.
Josh braced himself for the worst and walked in. As he entered four sets of eyes turned onto him and he smiled at them.
“Hey guys, thanks for coming,” he said.
“Yeah sure, who’s your little friend?” Justin asked, getting up from where he had been sitting on the armrest of the chair and walking over. Jake, knowing not the concept of shyness, stuck out his right hand eagerly.
“I’m Jake!” he exclaimed proudly.
“Wow, I’m Justin,” Justin retorted with an equal amount of enthusiasm. Jake gripped Justin’s hand firmly. The rest of the guys came over and they were all introduced to Jake as well.
“Like my shirt? Daddy got it for me!” Jake grinned as the four of them gathered around him.
“Oh yeah, pokemon!” Chris said with a laugh. “Which one is that?” Chris asked, pointing to the yellow mouse that decorated his blue shirt.
“Duh, that’s Pikachu!” Jake said, as if EVERYONE should know that.
“Oh, well, duh! I should’ve known that!” said Chris hitting himself in the head. Everyone laughed.
“Thanks daddy,” Jake said again, looking back at Josh. Everyone froze.
“Guys, I’d like you to meet my son,” Josh cringed. No one said anything, so Josh continued. “I figured out today that Lyte and I had a child. Lyte’s gone now, and... well…”
“Daddy? What’s wrong? Don’t you love me?” Jake whimpered, twisting his new shirt again.
“Of course Jake, of course,” Josh said, kneeling down and picking Jake up in a giant hug. “Of course I do.”
“Wow… So what’s gonna happen?” Lance asked.
“I… I don’t know,” Josh said, shifting Jake in his grasp so that he was sitting in the crook of his arm with Jake’s hands around his neck.
“Have you told anyone else yet?” Justin asked, standing up and sticking his hands in his pockets.
“No, just you guys,” Josh told them.
“Well, we’re with you all the way, no matter what. You know that right?” Justin said. The other guys shook their heads in agreement. Josh let out a sigh of relief. Even though he knew his friends would go with him, it felt better to have them actually say that.
“I’m hungry!” Jake said, wriggling out of Josh’s grip and scrambling to the floor. Joey laughed.
“I agree! I like this guy!” Joey chuckled.
“Come on, Jake, follow Uncle Justin, he’ll show you around the town in style, man, style,” Justin brought his hand out in front of him and made a waving motion. Jake copied it, getting a laugh from everyone.
“In style! Come on daddy!” Jake said, running ahead of the five and out into the elevator.
“This is going to get hectic, y’know,” Lance said to Josh. Josh nodded his head.
“If you ever need anything, Just call okay, you know I’m there,” Lance said, making sure that Josh knew the offer was out there. Josh nodded.
Justin walked out of the back of the office and opened the door for Jake to climb onto the bus.
“Woah, cool!” Josh could hear Jake’s high voice even before he got onto the bus. Josh jumped the first two steps and then turned the corner and walked inside. Jake was already exploring every nook and cranny.
“Check it out! Apple Jacks! D’you like Apple Jacks?” Justin asked, holding up his favorite, green boxed cereal. Jake shook his head before continuing to crawl over and under absolutely everything. He walked behind the curtain to the bunks.
“Woah! Beds! Do you guys SLEEP on the bus?” Jake asked. Josh pulled back the curtain to see Jake climbing up towards the top bunk. Josh grabbed him around the waist and pulled him back down.
“Careful, Jake,” he cautioned.
“This one is my bunk!” Chris said, leaping into his bunk. Josh rolled his eyes as he heard a thud.
“Ohh… ow!” Chris yelped. Jake slipped out of Josh’s arms and climbed up into the bunk with Chris.
“Cool!” Jake said. “Daddy! Come and see!”
Josh peeked into the bunk and saw Jake laying down alongside Chris. The smile on Jake’s face was priceless. Josh smiled at his son’s antics.
“So Jake, you want to come and watch the ride?” Justin said as he felt the bus come to life beneath his feet.
“Yeah!” Jake called. Josh reached up and scooped Jake up, taking him out into the main room again and setting him down on the couch in front of the window. Jake pressed his face up against the window, gazing at everything as it passed by. Everyone leaned back into the couch, relaxing for a little bit. Jake closed his eyes, already exhausted by Jake’s antics.
“Daddy! Daddy! Wake up! We’re there! DDDDAAAAADDDDYYY!” Josh jolted awake and was greeted by the sight of Jake cheerfully standing on his chest and shouting at him to get up. He saw Justin in the background giggling with Chris.
“Uncle Justin was going to put applejacks up your nose. But I stopped him!” Jake announced proudly as he plopped onto Josh’s stomach.
“That’s my kid!” Josh said, glaring at Justin and running a hand through Jake’s tousled hair. Jake reached up and tried to straighten it up. “Daddy! Look at my hair! Now it’s not cool! Uncle Justin made it cool!” Jake exclaimed.
“C’m’ere!” Justin called. Jake got up and ran towards Justin, who ruffled his hair up even more, then pulled a brush out of his pocket and spiked it forward. “There, now it’s cool again!”
“Thanks Uncle Justin!” Jake said, running back towards Josh.
“Yo! Hurry up!” Joey called from outside. Jake rushed outside, hopping down the steps and coming up to Joey.
“Wow!” Jake said as he walked into the spiffy McDonald’s. He took a quick glance at the playroom and decided to play.
“Daddy, I’m going to play!” Jake called to Josh.
“Alright, what do you want to eat?” Josh asked.
“A Happy Meal!” Jake answered before popping inside the playroom.
“I’ll watch ‘im!” Justin volunteered, following Jake into the playroom.
Josh stood in line, gathering everybody’s orders. He walked up and ordered quickly. Then his eyes went back to Jake, who was climbing up a yellow tube. Justin was standing behind him telling him something. Josh smiled and then turned back to the cashier, to whom he handed the money and grabbed the tray, taking it back and setting it on a table in the middle of the playroom.
He walked in and took out the food, laying it out. Jake peered out of a clear plastic hole and banged on it. Josh looked up and waved him down.
Justin’s face suddenly popped up beside Jake’s and Justin made a face down at them. Jake laughed and then Josh saw Justin point towards the slide. Jake nodded and then they disappeared. Lance, Chris and Joey all readily dug into their food.
“Ooh! Listen to that!” Justin said as he came over to the table, Jake following shortly in his footsteps. Everyone cocked an ear to the ceiling, where the music was slowly pouring out. Everyone grinned and Justin let out a laugh.
“Mmmm mm mm.. yeah yeah…” Justin began with a laugh. “ Baby, please try to forgive me.”
“Stay here, don’t put out the glow!” Josh chimed in. “Hold me now; don’t bother, if every minute it makes me weaker, you can save me from the man that I’ve become. Oh yeah”
“Lookin’ back on the things I’ve done,” they all began to sing, Joey thumping his hands against the table as drums. They finished the chorus with a laugh and then went back to eating as people began to stare. Jake looked up at them from behind his chicken nugget box.
“What’s so funny?” he asked them. Josh took a sip of his coke before replying.
“Nothing Jake, we’re just having a little fun,” he chuckled.
“I was tryin’ to be someone… I played my part, kept you in the dark… What’s so funny about the Backstreet Boys?” Jake sang the part that was currently playing. Everybody stopped and looked at him.
“Wow, you’re really good at singing, Jake,” Lance complimented. “Can you sing this part?”
“Yeah! Now let me show you the true shape of my heeeeaaaaart. Was that good?” Jake asked as he finished singing Nick’s high falsetto part.
“That was very, very good Jake,” Josh confirmed.
“You’ve got your dad’s voice, that’s for sure,” Justin said, in every way serious.
“You get him started working on that voice of his now and who knows!” exclaimed Lance.
“I’m done! I’m going to go and play some more, ok Daddy? You wanna come Uncle Justin?” Jake asked, hopping down from the chair.
“Sure, I’lll be there in a sec Jake,” Justin said over his shoulder at the retreating figure of the boy.
“Oh shoot!” Josh suddenly yelped.
“What?” everyone asked simultaneously.
“I forgot to buy Jake some PJs. He’s going to need something to sleep in. Lyte didn't leave anything for him. Oh no…” Josh droned off, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing the police.
“Yes sir. Lyte Engle. Yes. We need someone to identify the body… it was suicide.” The voice of the officer answered him. He closed his phone and rubbed his temples.
“Come on Uncle Justin!” Jake yelled from the innards of one of the tubes.
“Well, I’m wanted,” Justin said, scooting his chair back from the table and kicking off his sneakers.
Josh sighed and bit into his burger, washing it down with a lengthy gulp of coke.
“So when are you going to tell everybody?” Chris asked, taking a breath from chopping down on his burger.
“You mean the fans?” Josh asked. Chris nodded, ketchup globs on the corners of his mouth. “Do you think… I mean… what do you think they’ll think?”
“I don’t know, but we go on Rosie tomorrow, and you better tell them. The sooner the better,” Lance said.
“For once the blond Mississippi boy is right,” Joey agreed. Lance kicked Joey under the table.
Josh nodded, looking up at the weavings of tubes, trying to spot Jake in between the tangles. He caught sight of the deep auburn hair, followed by golden tipped curls, and smiled. Jake had a strange hair cut that reminded him of Kevin Richardson’s new hair style. Actually, that described it rather well. He decided he would take Jake to get his hair cut before tomorrow’s show. But that meant telling the staff that he worked with.
Justin rolled out of the slide with Jake in between his legs. Everyone had finished, so Justin picked Jake up and set him on top of his shoulders. Jake banged his hands against Justin’s head, calling, “Giddy up!”
Josh laughed, opening the door for Justin as he ducked under and back into the bus. He set Jake nimbly down on the couch as Jake commanded, “Woah boy, woah!”
“Daddy!” Jake called to Josh. Josh hopped over to Jake and knelt down in front of him.
“Whatcha need?” Josh questioned.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Jake explained. Josh stared for a second or two. He hadn’t thought about that.
“Okay... here… The bathroom is right in there,” Josh directed, pointing Jake towards the door. Jake hopped off of the cough and walked over, then turned around and looked at Josh expectantly.
“Daddy, you have to undo my button!” Jake told him. Josh mentally hit himself in the head, then went over and undid Jake’s button. Jake hurried into the bathroom and Josh went back to the couch, plopping down with a sigh.
“So… JC is a dad,” Justin stated out of nowhere. When no one replied he continued, “I never knew you and Lyte were that serious.”
“It was just a one night thing, and we used protection. She dumped me the next morning.”
“Oh… sorry,” Justin apologized. Josh shook his head.
“Well, you’re going to have to tell everyone tonight at the concert, unless you expect to drop him off at some daycare,” Joey pointed out.
“Before Josh could respond, the bathroom door opened and Jake walked out, holding his jeans up with one hand and tripping over to Josh. Josh re-buttoned the button, giving Jake a loving pat on the head when he finished. Jake smiled, thanked him, and then turned around to face the other four. He spotted the blue fame boy in Chris’ hands and his eyes lit up.
“Uncle Chris, what’re you playing?” he ran up to Chris, pulling the blue fame boy down so that he could see it. Joey picked him up and set him down next to Chris on the cough. Jake leaned over enthusiastically to watch as the character on the screen flitted around.
“Here,” Chris said, handing the game to him and explaining how the game worked. Jake’s tongue stuck out between his lips as he pressed the buttons. Josh heard the game purr of an exited series of beeps and Jake grinned, “I win!”
“Woah, that’s good!” Chris yelped. He switched the gameboy off and turned the TV on.
“In later news, *Nsync will be performing in the half time show for SuperBowl 35,” an MTV news reporter announced. They broke into a commercial and 5 blue cloaked figures appeared, backs to the cameras.
“Uncle Joey, that looks like you!” Jake exclaimed as each of them turned around.
“Yup, that’s me! And look, there’s your daddy,” Joey pointed out as JC’s face popped up.
“Wait,” Jake paused. Everyone looked at him, waiting to hear his reaction and watching as then gears turned in his head. “Then…”
“Hi,” Justin cued the guys.
“We’re *Nsync,” They all said, then broke up laughing.
“Uncle Justin, is that why you were laughing about the Backstreet Boys?” Jake asked. Justin nodded through his laugh. Josh leaned over and picked Jake up, setting him down on his lap.
“How do you know so much about music?” Josh asked.
“Mommy always watched MTV. She told me I was gonna be a star like daddy,” Jake said. Josh absent-mindedly reached a hand up to Jake’s hair, fondling it gently. Jake leaned back against Josh’s strong chest, his eyes closing slightly as Josh continued to stroke his hair. Justin smiled as he watched both of them. Josh’s eyes began to droop as the bus went on. Soon father and son were fast asleep.
“Jace, Jace, wake up man, we’re at the arena,” Justin gently shook Josh awake. Josh was startled for a moment at the unfamiliar weight on his chest, then he looked down and saw the dark brown patch of hair and blue shirt and remembered. He reached a hand up to Jake’s shoulder and rubbed it soothingly.
“Hey, Jake, wake up,” Josh urged. Jake’s eyes slowly popped open and he let out a yawn. “Hey little man, sleep well?” Josh asked. Jake nodded sleepily, brushing the sleep out of his eyes.
Jake got up and Josh followed, taking Jake’s hand and leading him off of the bus. Lonnie came up beside him and gave him a weird look. Josh didn’t respond, but followed Lonnie into the building. Jake was ooing and awing at all of the different things he had never seen before.
“Daddy, what’s that?” Jake asked, tugging on Josh’s arm as they were led through a series of hallways. Josh looked where Jake was pointing, towards the lights and sounds room.
“That’s where they put together all the lights for our show,” Josh answered. Luckily, Lonnie didn’t hear their exchange. They were taken to a small room complete with food and a few couches. Jake ran up to one of the food baskets and pulled out a cracker and some cheese.
“Well, when are you going to tell everyone?” Lance asked as he took a seat on the couch. Jake came over and climbed onto Josh’s lap, sitting with his head resting against Josh’s shoulder.
“I’ll tell them... jeez I don’t know. I’ll tell them when we have to go to make up.”
Johnny walked in a few moments later. A cell phone was plastered against his ear, his mouth moving a mile a minute. The last thing the guys heard was, “Gotta go”
“Hey, hey, hey, what’s the kid doing in here?” Johnny asked, pointing a finger at Jake. Jake turned around to look at him, fright in his eyes. Everyone looked at Josh. Josh shifted Jake around onto the couch so that he could stand up. Lance nodded at Josh, supportively.
“Um, Johnny, this is Jake. He’s... he’s my son,” Josh said.
“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do,” Johnny said, taking a seat on the couch.
Josh told him what had happened between him and Lyte, and how he had found Jake that morning. “So what do you think I should do?”
“You’re asking me? He’s your son!” Johnny said. “And congratulations on that too. I’m sure the fans will go crazy over him.” Johnny winked to him and left, leaving a confused Josh behind.
“That was easy,” Josh muttered. “Now all I’ve got to do is tell the rest of the fans. Speaking of which… Hey Jake!” Jake came back from where he had been standing next to a bowl of crackers and came towards the guys. He stopped in front of Josh. “What do you say we get you a haircut?” Josh asked.
“Okay daddy,” Jake replied sweetly. Josh smiled and stood up, taking Jake’s hand once again. As they got to the door, Jake turned around and looked at the other four, who were still sitting contently on the couch. “Aren’t you coming Uncle Justin? You have to tell them how to make my hair look cool!”
After a good laugh, Justin jumped up off the couch and followed the retreating blue shirted figure. They went up to their hair stylist (after they had found her, which had taken them forever), and introduced Josh’s son. Their hairstylist went absolutely ecstatic over the prospect of doing his hair. Justin tipped in a few suggestions to make Jake happy as he sat in the small chair with a series of fashion magazines underneath him to prop him up.
When Jake came back in the room Lance greeted him with an, “Ooh. You look great. Bummer you aren’t from Mississippi or I’d say that it was the Mississippi genes.” Lance snapped his fingers in an “aw shucks” gesture. That got a laugh from everyone.
“Hey everyone, time to get ready,” a head popped up in their door.
“Okay Jake, when it’s time for me to do the concert I need you to stay in here and be good okay?”
“Okay daddy,” Jake said, nodding his head. Jake’s hand reached up and Josh took it, leading him over to costume and make up rooms. Josh found himself constantly repeating the tale, but soon enough everyone had heard and faces began popping up in the rooms Josh was in and staring at Jake, confirming that it was true. However, Josh made it very clear that no one outside this building was to know.
Soon it was time to perform, and Josh led Jake back towards the room to stay. Then he went out again and stood on the catwalk, waiting patiently to be lowered to the ground.
Is Jake ok? Is Jake ok? Is Jake ok? His mind screamed at him. He hadn’t even been with his son for a day, yet he already felt an unbelievable attachment to him.
