HAZEL

'Because I'm up on a hill and still you're not there.' It sounds like a wail and it comes from the stereo. Joey almost wants to cry.

JC is the prettiest boy in the world, and Joey's always known that. And Joey dicked around and looked at girls and other boys and now he knows it all over again. And he needs to make sure JC knows, because the other thing Joey knows is that once JC loved him and maybe he can make JC love him again.

JC's wanted him twice. When JC got back from LA and Memphis, JC smiled at him a lot. He would look down and blush when Joey caught him. JC was scrawny and gangly. Joey played it nice. He said, "Man, you're the greatest friend." He used the word friend over and over and talked a lot about the girls he was eyeing.

They went out to lunch and Joey said, "JC, you're, uh, you're not, uh, straight, right?"

JC looked down and didn't blush. He didn't say anything at all.

Joey said, "It's completely okay. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. What makes you happy, you know?"

JC looked up and he stared at Joey for a long minute, all the questions in his eyes. Joey just shook his head. JC made up an excuse to leave shortly after that, and Joey thought he'd maybe never talk to JC again. Which would have sucked. Except two nights later he was at a club and he saw JC with Chris and Justin. They were talking about starting a group.

After the lawsuit, before the album came out, JC started staring again. Joey was pretty sure it had a lot to do with Lance. Or the lack of Lance. Or something like that. Joey liked being famous, he liked the girls and the occasional guy. JC was just too weird, too tightly wound, too JC. Too always right there. Joey wasn't like JC, he didn't want the things that were right next to him. He didn't want Lance, he didn't want Chris, he didn't want JC. And Justin wasn't even on the menu.

When they were filming Bye Bye Bye and the day was over and the cameras were gone, JC put his arm around Joey and said, "What you doing tonight, man?"

Joey smiled at the dresser's assistant, slung an arm around JC's waist and said, "Nothing, baby."

And they went back to the hotel and JC kissed Joey as soon as the door was closed. "Want you, want you," JC said.

Joey said, "I know," as he tugged at JC's pants. Very big pants and JC was hard as always. Hard for Joey. Nice. Joey wasn't a complete asshole. He sunk to his knees and pushed JC against the wall. Joey didn't work the finesse angle, he just licked once long and all around and started sucking. He sucked until he couldn't quite breathe and rubbed his knuckle back and forth between JC's balls and his ass. The good stuff. JC came hard and fast and Joey wiped his mouth and sat back on the floor.

JC said, "I want you. You should fuck me now. I want that."

JC crawled to Joey and pulled down Joey's pants just enough. Joey just panted while JC rooted around in his bag, lubed up his own fingers and prepped himself. Joey was pretty sure he'd stopped thinking about anything while he watched JC finger fucking himself. JC grinned and threw a condom at Joey. He said, "Put it on." Joey did.

JC pushed Joey down so he was lying on the floor and lowered himself onto Joey's dick. Tight, hot and all around Joey. He reached up and clung to JC's thighs while JC lifted up and slammed down and up and down and up and down. Joey was loud when he came and then he remembered that his room was next to Lance's. And then he thought that was maybe JC's idea.

JC cleaned them both up and helped Joey into the bed. "Stay here," JC said, smiling, content. Content. Joey nodded and fell asleep. In the morning, JC smiled again and said, "I really enjoyed that. Last night."

Joey thought he knew what was going on, and he said, "Yeah. Glad I could help you out."

JC frowned. "That's not why."

"Lance is right next door." Joey knew the score and he didn't want JC that much. He wanted JC but he knew enough to know how these inter-groups things worked.

"Lance," JC said softly. "Lance is out with Darren. He didn't even come home last night."

Joey said, "Still. I just. You're great, JC. But."

JC rolled over and said, "Get out now, okay? I don't need to be told three times."

Joey said he was sorry as he left and he was pretty sure JC heard him.

And now, now. Now Joey's a dad and JC's this thing of beauty he's always been and Joey can see it. He's ready now. He watches JC grin and blush. He watches JC throw himself around the stage and he wants.

He flirts during the show, dances with JC, sings with JC. He touches JC a lot during the show and JC smiles back. Almost perfect. JC plays back every time. He sings to Joey with a light in his eyes and he laughs at every joke Joey tells.

Second to last show, Joey finds JC after the show, right before they leave. He says, "JC, here's the thing --"

JC looks at Joey, looks him straight in the eye and says, "No. I know, Joey, and no."

Joey swallows. "I didn't before, I do now. I want --"

JC says it again. "No. I know, Joey. No."

Joey says, "I thought you. Is this because before --"

"It's not." JC looks down and then he sighs. He looks over Joey's shoulder and says, "You're not what I want. I love you, but no."

Joey looks over his shoulder and JC is watching Chris. Chris is on Justin's back, laughing, and Justin is saying, "I gotta call that girl, stop it, Chris!"

Joey sighs. JC says, "We can't always get what we want, right?" Joey hears Chris fall to the floor and snort. Justin starts to call someone.

So, yeah. In the bus, Lance is in the back, on the phone to someone. 'Because I'm up on a hill and still you're not there.' It sounds like a wail and it comes from the stereo. Joey almost wants to cry.

THE END.

Next Story

Back to Stories