Two

“I have an idea,” Lou said, his large hand grasping Lance's shoulder muscle and lightly massaging. “Why don't you boys go out for dinner? On me.”

“Really? That'd be great!” JC said, beaming.

“You had a great rehearsal. Things are going well.” Lou nodded and grinned, and the group began to happily file out of the dance studio. “Not so fast,” Lou said, holding onto Lance's shoulder.

Lance looked up at him, swallowing deeply. “Is…is something wrong, Mr. Pearlman?” Lance asked. “I've been working hard…Justin helps me with the dancing and I tutor him.”

“I know you have, Lance…and eventually I'm sure you'll be good enough. I thought that you and I could go do some shopping. Your look isn't exactly what we're going for. You look…too sweet. Justin's our sweet baby…you need something different.”

“Oh,” Lance said, looking down at his shoes.

“We could get some dinner on our own. What do you think?”

“Lance?” Justin called as he entered the room. Lou's hold on Lance loosened. “Oh, hi, Mr. Pearlman. We were wondering where Lance was.”

“He won't be going with you,” Lou said, and Lance's heart sank. As much as he wanted to please their manager, he also wanted to try and fit in better with the other guys. “We have some shopping to do. We need to change Lance's image.”

“Oh, let him come with us,” Justin suggested. “We'll take him shopping…maybe change his hair?” Justin gave Lou his charming smile. No one could say no to Justin for long, not even Lou.

“If you really want to,” Lou said, looking mildly disappointed.

“Are you sure?” Lance asked Justin. He knew full well that Chris would probably be pissed off.

“Absolutely. Aren't you all about us bonding, Mr. Pearlman? We hardly even know Lance, even after a month!” Justin beckoned to Lance. “C'mon. Chris has his car and he's waiting out front for us. We need to go home and change.”

“Okay,” Lou said with a sigh. He peeled a large wad of bills from the pile in his pocket. “Make sure you get me receipts,” Lou told Justin. “Give the money to JC to hold. He's the most responsible of you all.”

“Yes, sir,” Justin said, nodding. “Lance, c'mon.”

“Thank you anyway, sir,” Lance said to Lou. “Bye.”

“Goodbye, Lance. You boys have fun,” Lou said, watching them leave.

“Lance, do me a favor,” Justin said quietly as they hurried out to Chris' car.

“Sure,” Lance said shyly, still a bit shocked that Justin had come back for him.

“Don't let yourself be left alone with Lou, okay?” Justin stopped by Chris' car.

“Why?” Lance asked. Justin smiled.

“You're so clueless, Lance. He's bad news, okay? He likes boys in all the wrong ways.” Lance flushed slightly and his mouth fell open. “Not that it's bad for guys to like guys, or whatever, but Lou…he's no good for anyone. You get me?”

“Yeah,” Lance whispered. Justin was the youngest, but in many ways, he was NO baby.

“Hey, Lance!” Joey yelled as Justin opened the back door.

“Oh, you brought him along,” Chris said, and Lance felt his heart hit his ankles.

“Get up front, Joe,” JC said, climbing out of the front seat of the tiny car. “You're biggest. We can snuggle in the back.”

“Snuggle, Jayce? Looking for some love?” Justin batted his eyes at JC.

“Not from you, Underage Boy,” JC said, tossing his head. He gave Lance a friendly smile and climbed into the backseat of the car. 

“Justin?” Lance said, looking up from his math book. Justin was whistling through his teeth, tapping his pencil on his notebook as he took notes from the novel he was reading. JC was in the living room watching television. Chris and Joey still had jobs, and they were both at work.

“Am I bothering you?” Justin said, smiling apologetically.

“Nah. I just…I had a question about Lou,” Lance said. He still felt uncomfortable with everyone, except possibly Joey, but the whole conversation with Justin had stuck in his mind. It was two days later and he was still thinking about it.

“Sure.” Justin kept one eye on the door from their study area in the dining room to the living room. The house they shared was small, and sound carried quickly.

“Did he ever…I mean, um…” Lance turned beet red.

“Did he ever do anything to me?” Justin finished, and Lance nodded. “No…but I can tell he wants to. Actually, he's only left me alone because you're around.”

“Me?” Lance squeaked, running a hand through the newly bleached hair. He hated it. His mom hated it. And Chris used it as the forum for his daily “pick on Lance” time.

“Yeah. You're sweet as Georgia peaches, Lance, and twice as clueless,” Justin said, shrugging. “But, anyway…he never touched me. But he did something to JC.”

“Really?” Lance's mouth fell open as he looked towards the living room.

“Yeah, but don't ever say anything. I'm the only one who knows, because I found JC afterwards. He's better now…JC's a good actor.”

“Shit,” Lance whispered.

“Just stay safe and never be alone with him.” Justin looked back down at his book. “Okay…this is bullshit,” Justin said, shoving the novel aside. “Why do I care about symbolism?”

“Because a lot of times the things that authors write aren't really what they seem,” Lance told him. “Like I had to read this thing once where a guy wrote about how they should just take all the poor people and feed them to the rich people as dinner.”

“Euww.” Justin wrinkled his nose.

“But he didn't mean it. He was just pointing out what was wrong with society at the time. People find all kinds of political commentary in things like Alice in Wonderland, the Wizard of Oz, stuff like that.”

“Whoa,” Justin said, impressed. He shoved the book at Lance. “Can you show me the symbolism in chapter three?”

“Sure.” Lance took the book and scanned the chapter. “Hey, Justin,” Lance said quietly.

“Hmmm?” Justin looked up from where he was practicing his autograph.

“Thanks,” Lance whispered. Justin just nodded.

Three