Eleven 

“Was I the last on your list?” Nick said as he shrugged off his coat.

“Anything you want. It's on me,” JC said, tossing aside the menu and grabbing the dessert card. “I could SO eat a sundae.” He looked at Nick and blushed slightly. “What do you mean?”

“On your list of friends, I know I'm not number one, Jayce,” Nick said with a friendly smile. “Did you call Joey and Justin and they were busy?”

“I admit that I'm not as close to you as I am to them, but no, I called you first,” JC said. “I wanted to talk to you about Chris.”

“Oh.” The waiter approached. “I'll take a piece of chocolate cream pie and a café _mocha with extra whipped cream,” Nick told the waiter.

“Hot fudge sundae, hold the peanuts, and a glass of water,” JC said. The waiter nodded and left the table. “So…I thought Chris bugged you.”

“He did. He used to LEER at me, you know? I thought he was a freak.”

“He IS a freak,” JC said with a grin.

“But that day when I ran into him…he was so sweet. Really sympathetic. He took me out for a nice dinner, and next thing I knew we were back at my place.”

“Chris can make you do things without thinking,” JC agreed.

“It was great, though.” Nick blushed. “It's been a long time since someone really took the time to care about me, you know?”

“Do I ever,” JC said, sipping at his water.

“So…you're a real artist now, huh?” Nick asked.

“Or something. All I did was send Lance a painting to thank him, and now this hotel wants to buy my work,” JC said, still shocked.

“Thank him for what?” Nick asked.

JC realized his slip, but he knew he could trust Nick. “I think Lance Bass is the one who is paying for Justin's surgery.”

Nick dropped his spoon. “Lance BASS? But WHY?”

“Well…he told me that Justin really reminded him of someone from his past. Someone he loved very much. I guess he felt like he was helping this old friend by helping Justin.” JC didn't feel he could say much more. “Just my opinion, though.”

“Wow…that kinda makes up for the way he dumped you.”

“He didn't dump me, Justin. He has a boyfriend.”

“From what they say in the papers, AJ McLean spent Valentine's Day partying in Rome,” Nick said. “While his sexy boyfriend pined away alone.”

“Oh, yeah, Valentine's Day,” JC said. “I forgot it even existed. I assume that's why Chris kept coming home with suspicious looking bags?”

“He bought me some things, yeah,” Nick said, blushing again. “Don't ask.”

JC laughed out loud, trying to forget about Lance Bass for ten minutes. 

“Man, you have him wrapped around your psychotic little finger, don't you?” JC asked Chris as he stood in the doorway of Chris' room. “He didn't tell me anything about going away for the weekend.”

“That's because he doesn't know it yet,” Chris said, zipping his duffel bag. “I got us a room at one of those bed and breakfast places up in the hills.”

“Impressive,” JC said. “You're really behaving with him.”

“I like Nick. He's a good kid.”

“About that,” JC said. “You realize you are nine years apart, right? Be nice to him, Chris. He's still a baby.”

“Didn't stop you from hooking up with Justin, now, did it?” Chris asked.

“Chris, he's five years younger than me. Not quite like you and Nick.”

“Whatever.” Chris rolled his eyes as JC glared at him. “Okay, okay, be nice to the baby. Got it.” He kissed JC's cheek as he went by. “See you.” He stopped in the hallway. “Maybe I should call him first, let him know that I'm on my way over?”

“Maybe,” JC said with a laugh as the doorbell rang. He ran down the steps and went to look out the peephole. “Oh my God.”

“Hi,” Lance said, teeth chattering.

“Where's your coat?” JC gasped.

“Oh…yeah…” Lance looked down at himself. “I don't even have real shoes on, huh?” He wiggled his toes in his slippers. “Can…can I come in?”

“Of course.” JC moved aside and Lance came in the door.

“Holy fuck,” Chris said, staring from the top of the steps.

“Hello,” Lance said. He looked at JC, and JC was shocked at the look on his face.

“Are you okay?” JC asked.

“It's, uh, AJ…he's been arrested. For cocaine.”

“A-HA,” Chris said triumphantly.

“Go to hell, Chris,” JC snapped. He looked at Lance.

“The phone hasn't stopped ringing. Kevin's doing his best to keep the reporters away, but he can't do everything. I've been up since yesterday afternoon. I couldn't sleep. I can't go anywhere without being hounded…so I came to the only place I knew they wouldn't look. Is…is that okay?” Lance asked. He ran a weary hand across his forehead. “I didn't know where else to go.”

“It's okay. Chris was just leaving, anyway, right Chris?” JC said.

“Uh, yeah.” Chris came down the steps, bag thumping behind him. “See you on Sunday.” He left the apartment after giving Lance one more strange look.

“I just…” Lance leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. “I'm so tired.”

JC put a hand on his arm, and suddenly he was hugging Lance as he sobbed on his shoulder. 

Twelve