Eight
“Nervous?” JC asked Lance.
“Nah.” Lance pulled at his tie.
“Just eager to get the damn thing over with.”
“Need I remind you WHOSE idea it was to put all the brothers in a
talent show?” JC asked with a smile.
“Fuck off, JC.” Lance went to the curtain and peeked out. The
small auditorium was full. Another
brother had ordered each pledge to make sure at least three friends showed up
to watch, and obviously they had all obeyed.
“Do I look okay?” Lance turned and saw Nick Carter standing behind
him. He wore a dark blue sweater and dress pants. “I mean…”
“You look fine,” Lance assured him, smiling. He actually liked
Nick. He was able to ignore the whole athlete thing when it came to Nick. “Nervous?”
“Some. I haven’t played my guitar in public since the eighth
grade.” Nick held the instrument protectively. “Wouldn’t you know I have to go
on first?”
“Just pretend there aren’t any judges,” Lance said, looking down
to where Chris Kirkpatrick and two other professors were seated at a table.
“Pretend it’s the eighth grade again.”
“I got booed off the stage in the eighth grade,” Nick admitted,
and Lance laughed.
“Break a leg…or a guitar string…” Lance gave Nick a gentle shove
out onto the stage.
Nick sat down in front of the microphone, adjusting the height of the
mike stand. He found his place on his
guitar strings, and began to sing. “She
never mentions the word addiction…in certain company…”
Nick gained confidence as the song went on, and Lance smiled
broadly. Nick had the guts to go against adversity. That was definitely
something they looked for in a pledge. “You look nice,” Justin said, walking
over. “You clean up good.”
Lance looked at Justin’s baggy black pants and oversized
shirt. “At least one of us does.”
“Hey. You said I had to perform…not dress up in a monkey suit like
the rest of you.” Justin applauded
loudly as Nick came off the stage. “Dude, you rocked!”
“Thanks,” Nick said shyly. His blond bangs fell into his eyes.
“Nick, you were great!” AJ came up and hugged him. “Really. You
did us proud.” Nick blushed again.
“Good luck,” Justin said to Lance.
“You, too,” Lance said through clenched teeth. Just when he
thought he could like Justin, he did something to piss Lance off all over
again.
“Won’t need it,” Justin said nonchalantly.
Lance’s number was fifth on the bill, but he had to wait until
almost the end to see Justin. JC did
his piano piece brilliantly, of course, and Joey did a musical comedy act that
had everyone laughing. JC went back out
to the piano, and Justin stood in front of the microphone.
“I’ve been alive forever…and I wrote the very first song…” Justin
began. A few girls seemed to sigh. “I put the words and the melodies together…I
am music…and I write the songs…”
“I don’t believe this,” Lance scoffed. “Barry Manilow? Who wants to
hear THIS?”
“They do,” AJ said, pointing to about five girls in the front row.
Their eyes were glued to Justin, and they looked like they wanted to shriek at
every note that flowed from his lips.
“Whatever,” Lance grumbled, going backstage to find something to
drink.
“We’d like to thank everyone for participating in the show,” Chris
said, looking perfectly at ease in front of an entire audience. “Everyone did a great job, but we have to
single out a few performers as exceptional.”
He looked down at a piece of paper in his hand. “Best vocal
performance…Joey Fatone.” Joey went out onto the stage and grinned at the
audience. Lance clapped proudly. “Most
original performance…JC Chasez.” JC
turned beet red and quickly ran out on stage.
Chris handed him a small trophy, and Lance noticed the look that quickly
crossed between them. Why couldn’t JC realize that Chris wanted him?
“Good job,” Lance said to JC when he returned. “You were
fantastic.”
“And…I guess I can call this one the People’s Choice award…Best
Overall Performance…Justin Timberlake.”
A few girls screamed as Justin went out onto the stage. He beamed
his thousand-watt smile at the audience and Lance rolled his eyes. “You need to relax. Whatever he’s done to
you…” JC began.
“He didn’t DO anything. And he’ll never get the chance. Don’t
start this with me, JC,” Lance said, sighing.
There was an after-party at the frat house, and everyone who
performed was invited. The only straight person who attended, however, was
Joey. “That was fun, now, wasn’t it,
Lance?” Joey asked.
“No,” Lance said. “I hate
that kinda stuff.”
“Hey, JC…are there beginner guitar classes in the music
department?” Nick asked JC.
“Sure, Nick,” JC said, wandering over to talk to him about it.
“Lance…Joey…you both did great,” a voice said behind them.
“Hey! Chris!” Joey said.
“I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“Justin and a few of your guys talked me into it,” Chris said,
sipping at his beer. “Though I probably should be reporting you all…alcohol
with underage kids around.”
“But you won’t,” Lance said, smiling. He almost wished he had psychology classes to take. Chris was a
great professor and a nice guy. He watched JC start towards them, then pause.
JC did an about face and walked in the other direction. Lance glanced at Chris,
who was watching JC intently.
“So…what’s up next, Big Brother?” Justin came up and threw an arm
around Lance’s shoulder. Lance stiffened as he felt a shudder move through his
body.
“Nothing.” Lance pushed Justin away and went after JC.
