Brotherly Love

One

“Why did I EVER agree to be a part of this?” Lance Bass groaned as he looked at the list of names. “This is insane.”

“You said you'd do it,” his friend JC reminded him. “You promised last year that you'd be on the pledge committee this year. You said everything they did last year was lame, and you were tired of it.”

“I hate that you have such a good memory,” Lance snapped. He poked his glasses up on his nose and sighed. “I changed my mind.”

“Too late.” JC grabbed the piece of paper and leaned back in his chair. They were seated in one of the university's dining halls. They weren't eating, just drinking coffee and using the space.

“What's that?” A hand reached over JC's shoulder and grabbed the paper.

“Joey! Give that back!” Lance almost whined. “It's private!”

“This your list of lays, Lance?” Joey teased, scanning the list. “It's easier to put notches in your bedpost.”

“Shut up, Joey.” Lance swiped at the paper but missed.

“Joe…” JC said, shaking his head. Joey sighed and handed JC the paper.

“You gay boys are such drama queens,” Joey said. He ruffled Lance's short hair and pulled a chair up, sitting on it backwards. “So, what's that list REALLY?”

“Pledges,” Lance sighed.

“Our boy here is on the committee,” JC said proudly. “He gets to help pick the things the boys have to do to join the frat.”

“I have a feeling it's not the kind of stuff I had to do to join MY frat,” Joey said. He watched Lance carefully and was rewarded by exactly the reaction he had hoped for.

“Joey, just because it's a gay fraternity doesn't mean…”

“Joey, quit picking on him,” JC said, sighing. “He's not in the best of moods.”

“I was just playing,” Joey said by way of apology. “I know that you guys aren't some big orgy house. I know the rules.”

“And number one rule is NO sex with a brother,” Lance said.

“Which is why you haven't gotten laid in HOW long?” Joey asked.

“My sex life is NONE of your business,” Lance said primly.

“Sounds like you're not GETTING any business.” It was JC's turn to gently tease Lance. “Anyway, Lancey, you're right. The whole pledge thing is getting old. I remember how it was when I was pledging…some of the stuff was just DUMB.”

“Ages and eons ago, when JC Chasez was a lowly little freshman,” Joey said poetically.

“It wasn't THAT long ago, Fatone. I'm only in my second year of grad school,” JC snapped.

“And he's only a year older than you, anyway,” Lance reminded Joey. “Although, if someone hadn't flunked a year, he'd be graduated anyway.”

“I didn't flunk and you know it. Mono knocked the hell outta my sophomore year,” Joey said. “Being out all that time.”

“Serves ya right, getting the kissing disease,” JC said.

“You just wish you were kissing me, Chasez,” Joey retorted.

“Nah, you're not my type.”

“Too ugly?” Lance asked.

“Too straight.” JC stood. “I gotta fly. I haven't met my music psychology professor yet, and that's my next class.” JC rolled his eyes.

“I thought you loved all your classes,” Joey said.

“I DO…but this just seems like a waste of time. I know how music affects me, and I know it affects others the same way. Why in the world do I need to study it for an entire semester?”

“Isn't it an elective?” Lance asked.

“Yes, but it was either this or Music of the Renaissance.” JC made a gagging motion and picked up his backpack. Joey poked at the rainbow letters on the back.

“You're still a little Gay Frat Boy at heart, aren't ya?”

“You're just jealous. Speaking of the frat, though…” JC turned to Lance. “If you need any help this year, as an alum and all…I'll help you.”

“Thanks, JC. I just have to figure out a fun theme for our first party. This list is from that sign up sheet we had out, but I doubt they'll all come. I need something that will entertain ten people or thirty people.” Lance sighed and rubbed at his forehead.

“I'm sure you'll do fine.” JC embarrassed Lance by giving him a smacking kiss on the forehead before wandering off to his class.

JC drummed his fingers on the top of his desk, staring at the clock. The new professor was already ten minutes late, and JC was about to get up and leave. He needed to work on the composition he was preparing for his graduate thesis, and he didn't need to be wasting time sitting and waiting. No one knew much about this new professor, except that his name was Kirkpatrick, and that he was fairly young.

“Hey, kids and kittens.” A man breezed in the door, closing it behind him. “Sorry I'm late. I actually was trying to find a space to park.”

“You didn't look in the faculty lot?” A student in the front asked.

“Nah. You guys have to hike it from hell and back to get around this campus…why shouldn't I?” The man put his briefcase down on his desk and smiled. “So…hi.” A few students laughed, a few said hello. “The name is Christopher Kirkpatrick, and believe it or not, I used to attend this hellhole. Didn't graduate from it, but I attended. The music program here holds a fond place in my heart, so here I am.” He sat down on top of the desk and swung his short legs. He ran a hand through his short, dark hair, tugged on his goatee, and grinned. “I love music. I love psychology. Ergo, here we are. I hope to help you all learn how music and psychology work together. I also hope to give you a good time in the process. Any questions?” No one answered. “You can call me Chris, or Mr. Kirkpatrick…whatever makes you comfortable. Okay, let's call roll.” The professor started down his class list. “Joshua…”

“Chasez,” JC said in a quiet voice.

“Huh?” Chris looked up. “I heard SOMETHING…”

“Chasez,” JC pronounced a little louder.

“Chasez, you a vocal music major?” JC nodded. “I hope you sing louder than you talk.” JC blushed and looked down. “But thank you for the pronunciation.”

“And it's JC…not Joshua,” JC said louder.

“Got it.” The teacher winked and smiled. To JC's horror, he felt a blush again creep across his face. He looked down at his fingernails, trying to blend into his chair.

Two