by Zoicite

After several minutes of negotiation, Chris convinced the driver to stop. Joey wasn’t sure exactly where they were, somewhere in Massachusetts maybe. Definitely somewhere in New England. The conservatory was located on a rural road surrounded by farm fields. JC had spotted signs for it along the highway and his eyes had lit up immediately. As soon as Chris saw JC’s face brighten he went to speak with the driver. If Chris hadn’t gone, Joey would have. JC usually zoned on the bus. He slept or he wrote or he just stared off into space, but rarely would something really get him excited. When it happened the others jumped into action, trying to encourage whatever had roused JC from his bus slumber. The day of the conservatory Joey had switched buses. Both Justin and Lance had colds and everyone agreed that it was best to quarantine them on one ‘sick bus’. Not that it would really make much difference. The sick bus never stopped them all from catching every illness eventually. As soon as they pulled over Lance and Justin would be all over them again and then there was no stopping it from spreading to the whole group. Chris and Joey were engaged in a Playstation tournament. Some snowboarding game that Chris had picked up at their last stop. They were huddled around the small TV, indian style on the floor, knees touching. Chris occasionally broke out yelling threats, arms flailing, and protesting that Joey had to be cheating. Joey ignored him and continued to win. JC sat on the couch wrapped in a light blue afghan. He had just woken from a nap and his hair was wild and curly, matted slightly on one side. A notebook was open in his lap and he nibbled on the end of a pen. He hadn’t looked at the notebook since he opened it, however, and he seemed to be staring out the window intently. “Dammit Joey! That’s it!” Chris threw his controller down and punched Joey playfully in the arm. “Ow,” Joey rubbed his arm and glared at Chris. “When did you learn how to play?” Chris demanded. “You’ve been secretly practicing.” “Fuck Kirkpatrick, you are the worst loser!” “Just admit it Joe. You’ve been lying to me. You smuggled a Playstation onto ‘the moving zoo’, didn’t you? Somehow you got this stupid game weeks ago and perfected all the moves. How did you do it? I’ve been on that bus. Is it hidden in Dirk’s cage?” Joey just grinned and shrugged, rolling to lean forward without changing his sitting position. His t-shirt rode up on his back revealing the line of his underwear above his worn jeans. He self-consciously yanked the shirt down and flicked the Playstation off. Chris shook his head in disgust, slumping down next to JC. He curled into the couch, shoving his bare feet under JC’s blanket. JC turned and smiled at Chris, then went back to staring out the window. Joey was flipping channels on the small television and had just settled on an animal rescue show when JC perked up and quietly emitted an awed and surprised “Oh.” Chris and Joey followed JC’s line of vision and saw the sign: ‘Painted Wings Butterfly Conservatory’. Chris studied JC, who was watching the sign fly by. Joey was watching JC too. A butterfly conservatory? Why would JC want to stop there? Chris shrugged as though he was wondering the same thing but immediately headed for the front of the bus. Joey nudged JC with his foot. “Hey C. Better go get dressed. I think we’re stopping soon.” JC glanced at Joey and grinned, jumping out of his seat and bouncing back toward the bunks. Chris came back a few minutes later. “Fred isn’t too happy, but we’re stopping. Dude, a butterfly conservatory? C is so weird,” Chris scrunched up his face and shook his head. “Had to fight for it over the radio with Lance. He thinks we will arrive in Buffalo late if we stop.” JC came back toward the front of the bus. “We’re stopping, Chris?” He had put on a sweater, off-white, and had shoved a cap over his hair. He held his sneakers in one hand. “Yeah, but Lance says only for half an hour.” JC nodded and began shoving his shoes onto his feet. “Cool. Thanks, man.” Chris patted JC’s back, rubbing a little. “Anytime.” Fifteen minutes later they were all piling out of the buses into the small parking lot of the conservatory. Joey looked up at the sign. Painted Wings. Stupid name. Cheesy butterflies were drawn all over the sign. This was going to be fun. Justin came running over to them as soon as he was able to escape the second bus. He threw himself at Chris. “I’m so glad we’re stopping! Lance is so boring, and Dirk stinks, yo. There’s no way I’m getting back on that bus. Joey you gotta switch back. I’ve had all I can take.” Chris tried to push Justin away. “Hey! No way kid! Joey stays. You are quarantined. Speaking of which, get your sick nasty germs away from me!” Chris pried Justin off of him. “I don’t want to be contaminated.” Justin shoved Chris and stomped off to try his luck with JC who was jumping up and down and rubbing his hands together to keep them warm. The conservatory consisted of an outdoor garden that appeared to be under construction and was really too cold to have much of anything in it anyway, a museum that housed all kinds of dead butterflies and displays on just about every aspect of them, and a glass house that contained the indoor garden. It was the indoor garden that they had really come to see. The room was a greenhouse of sorts and inside was a full garden complete with a miniature waterfall. The place was relatively empty of people; it was late afternoon and close to closing time. The lack of people was welcomed and made up for by the abundance of butterflies. There had to be at least a thousand and several different species. Joey entered the garden beside JC. They both gasped upon seeing the butterflies flitting around the building, congregating on plants. Millions of different colors and patterns seemed to float around them. Chris immediately headed toward the waterfall, Justin close on his heels. Lance followed, probably to supervise the inevitable water fight that would soon ensue. Joey glanced at JC and was surprised to see that JC appeared to have zoned out again. He touched his shoulder, and JC smiled before moving on to explore. Joey strolled around the garden, taking everything in. Everywhere he turned he found a new and colorful butterfly. Joey hadn’t even known this many types existed. Eventually he made his way over to the others near the waterfall. His eyes caught Justin, who was waving his arms around, grunting and just generally looking very strange. “Uh, J? What are you doing?” “I don’t want these bugs landing on me. They keep getting too close!” Justin waved his arms in a kind of windmill motion. “Dude, they’re butterflies.” “Whatever. They are bugs. They probably bite and I’m already sick. I don’t want to be covered in itchy bumps too.” Joey shook his head and wondered why people thought he was the dumb one. Justin stopped flailing. “Speaking of itchy bumps, maybe you should go warn JC about the possible results of his actions.” Joey turned to look and felt his breath catch in his throat. JC was standing beside the small waterfall in the middle of a patch of tall bushes speckled with purple blooms. The sun was shining through the windows and bathing JC in warm afternoon light. He had one arm outstretched in front of him with three large swallow-tailed butterflies resting on it. Another bright yellow one was clinging to his sweater, and a monarch was resting on top of his cap. He was examining the three on his sleeve and his mouth was curved into a small smile of appreciation, enough so that his cheekbones were beautifully defined in the light. JC had always been especially beautiful if not strangely so, but this was the most breathtaking sight Joey had ever seen. He sat on a nearby bench and watched JC as two of the butterflies on his arm took off and a new one landed on his hat. JC stood perfectly still so as not to scare them away. JC didn’t notice Joey watching him and neither of them noticed Chris crouching behind the bushes until it was too late. “The jungle cat attacks with a surprise ambush! Aiyaaaaa!!!” Chris plowed into JC grabbing him around the waist as the butterflies flew away in alarm. Chris tossed him easily on to the path. Joey, almost as surprised as JC, was startled out of the daze he had been in. JC just laughed and rolled away from Chris, but not before Justin dashed over from across the room and threw himself on the pile with a protesting Lance in tow. “Guys, seriously, we are going to be late. If we aren’t even going to look around and are just here to goof off we might as well – Chris! Hey! I’m ticklish. Stop!” “Lance on the bottom!” Chris shouted as they shifted to attack Lance. After that Lance’s protests were lost in the sea of laughter and they didn’t notice when JC rolled out of the pile and went to sit with Joey. He bumped Joey with his shoulder to get his attention. Joey turned from the laughing pile of boys to look at his friend. “What’s up Joe? Not in the mood to join in?” “Nah, rough housing here just seems wrong somehow. It’s so peaceful and there they are rolling around and shrieking.” JC laughed. “I know. It’s like a different world in here. I can’t believe how many different species there are.” Joey was still looking at JC intently. When JC noticed he stopped laughing and just stared back. Joey reached up and gently ran a hand along JC’s cheek. JC smiled and pushed into Joey’s hand. “You looked beautiful over there.” “Over there?” JC asked shyly, “Not now?” He looked up and met JC’s gaze. JC’s eyes were huge and questioning. Joey had to look away, flustered and blushing. “No, I mean. Yes. Um-“ JC took Joey’s hand from his face, holding it firmly in his own and rubbing his thumb across it as he leaned in toward Joey. Everything seemed to be in slow-motion but Joey still didn’t realize what was happening. He didn’t realize it until it happened and he felt JC’s soft lips pressed against his, JC’s tongue stroking his lower lip, the line of fuzz on JC’s chin lightly scraping his own newly shaven face. JC tasted minty and fresh, like the toothpaste he had used before leaving the bus. Joey reached up with his free hand to take off JC’s cap and pull him closer just as JC was pulling away. Joey pushed forward, bumping into the visor of the cap causing then both to laugh. JC released Joey’s hand and pulled the cap off, dropping it into his lap and running his hands through his hair. JC grinned bashfully and Joey was just about to lean in and kiss haim again when Justin shouted and JC turned to see what was wrong at the same time that Chris and Lance knocked Joey off the bench, shoving him into the grass, tackling and tickling him on all sides. Joey protested and wheezed trying to push them off but Justin joined them and it was useless to fight. He looked pleadingly to JC, who was smiling mischievously, his eyes crinkling into happy half-moons. He shoved his hat back on his head and shouted something unintelligible as he jumped atop the pile. Two days later all five of them had the head cold and Joey moved back to his own bus. JC hadn’t mentioned the kiss and Joey was too chicken shit to bring it up. “This sucks,” He sniffled to Lance who handed the box of tissues to him. “I can’t believe you gave me your cold.” “It wasn’t my fault. I tried to stay away form you guys. Blame Justin. He’s the one that was all over everyone. I was innocently minding my own business, keeping my germs to myself, until y’all dragged me into your games.” “I think it was me that was dragged into the game,” Joey said. Lance shrugged. Joey snorted and tossed the tissue box at him, narrowly missing his head. Lance looked pointedly at Joey before setting the box on the table beside his laptop. “This sucks,” Joey repeated. “So you said.” Lance turned his attention back to whatever he was doing on his computer indicating that he was through with Joey’s whining. Joey listened to the tap of Lance’s fingers on the keys. He wondered what the other guys were doing. Justin and Chris were probably wrestling, or playing Playstation. The thought of Chris’ voice, yelling at Justin, loud and slightly lower due to the cold was threatening to become a headache somewhere in the clogged stuffiness of Joey’s brain. He moved on to more soothing thoughts. JC was most likely curled up somewhere sipping tea with a box of tissues beside him, his nose pink form the chafing. Joey smiled at the mental image. Maybe he could invite JC over to their bus and JC could curl up on the couch and then Joey could snuggle up beside him and they could sniffle and sneeze and drink tea together. Or Joey could make JC some chicken noodle soup and JC would be so grateful that he would reward Joey with another of those soft hot kisses that Joey couldn’t seem to stop thinking about. That would mean stopping the bus though, and Lance would never go for that. They were already behind schedule. Instead Joey laid back and shut his eyes. He saw JC bathed in bright light and covered in butterflies. When Joey awoke form his nap the bus was dark. Lance must have gone to bed already. Joey yawned and stretched. He sat at the table and fired up Lance’s laptop. A few clicks and Joey found what he was looking for. Buddleia davidii. When Lance stumbled out of bed, yawning, and headed toward the kitchen to pop a few more cold and sinus pills, Joey was already awake, dressed, and on the phone. “Uh. Eastern Standard Time,” Joey said as he stared at the paper he was scribbling on. He looked up when Lance entered. Lance raised an eyebrow and Joey just shrugged. “Oh. Um. Zones? I don’t really know anything about zones. I live in Florida.” Joey forwned and pulled at a string hanging from his jeans. “Orlando. Right.” Lance poured himself a glass of water and sat beside Joey. “Okay. Good. Yes, two months. Okay. Thank You.” Joey hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch. “Did you know that there are different plant zones? You have to plant plants differently in different zones.” “Who did you call?” Lance asked. “Some gardener. Gonna have a little landscape architecture done at the house.” The last night of the tour. It had become a tradition that they spent the last night of the tour on the bus. All on the same bus. After the show they would pile onto Justin, Chris and JC’s bus because the other bus “reeked like a farm, damn ferret” and Fred would drive until they were sure they had lost all the fans following them. Then the bus would pull over. It didn’t matter where, any rest area would do. After all, they really had nowhere to go. The last performance had ended, their hotel was booked for one more night, and they were leaving on planes the next day. But they insisted on sleeping on the bus and security didn’t think it was a good idea to do so at the hotel so they packed up and drove off. Truckers didn’t seem to care that they were sleeping beside ‘Nsync. Energy was still high from the show and the bus was full of laughter and jokes until everyone got sick of Justin and tried to shut him up and someone would start to complain about the stench of five sweaty guys and then they couldn’t wait to get to their sleep destination so they could just get off the fucking bus already. As soon as they pulled over Chris and Joey were out of the bus, Justin close behind with Lance and JC on his heels. They ran around, wrestling each other, playing games, toasting marshmallows in the barbecue pits until Justin or Chris complained that it was “fucking freezing out there” and they all piled back on to the bus. It was like camping but with heat and electricity and bunks and without tents or the threat of bears and really was nothing like camping at all. Except for the roasting marshmallows part. Then they all piled onto the couches and talked about the most memorable events of the tour. Lance wrote them down so they wouldn’t forget. That night Chris and Lance were sprawled on the floor, Chris on his back with his arms flung out at his sides, his shirt riding up to show his stomach over his track pants. Lance was lying on his stomach propped up on his arms with a notepad and pen poised to write. Justin, JC, and Joey were huddled together on the couch. JC was lying across Joey’s lap and kicking at Justin who was at the other end of the couch trying to shove JC’s legs off so that he would have more room. Joey reached over to swat at Justin’s shoving feet and then began running his hand through JC’s hair. JC sighed and nuzzled further into Joey. Justin pouted and curled his legs under himself. “Who wants to start?” Lance asked. “I do,” Chris always wanted to start. “The time that fan caught Justin peeing!” “Hey! That wasn’t funny!” “Sure it was. And definitely memorable,” Chris said. It was toward the beginning of the tour. A young fan apparently had connections with one of the hotels. After the show Just had gone back to his room and was just starting to empty his bladder when the fan jumped out of the shower scaring the shit out of Justin, who ran screaming from the room while trying to stuff himself back into his pants. “How about the time Chris tripped over his pants while trying to be sexy and fell off the catwalk,” Justin suggested smugly. Chris stuck his tongue out. “Or the time Lance ‘accidentally’ bumped into Chris and pushed him off the catwalk,” Joey added. “I still haven’t forgiven you for that Bass.” “Someone grabbed my ankle. Blame her.” “No one grabbed your ankle.” “I know. Actually, Joey paid me to do it,” Lance responded, not looking up from the notepad he was scribbling in. “Wait. What?” Chris sat up. “Joey, you fuckwad. That true?” Joey just shrugged and grinned. He hadn’t paid Lance to do anything, but he wasn’t going to argue cause it was funny as shit when Lance bumped Chris off and he would have paid Lance if he had been asked. Chris hadn’t been hurt. Security was in the right place at the right time and had managed to soften his landing considerably. “What are you writing Lance?” Chris rolled onto his side and tried to look over Lance’s shoulder. “I’m adding the frozen pizza incident in Detroit –“ “Ha!” Justin chortled loudly. “I forgot about that. Good one Lance!” “How about Painted Wings?” Joey looked down at JC who hadn’t really spoken much since they had gotten back on the bus. JC blushed and looked away but was grinning. “That butterfly place?” Justin asked. Christ snorted. “The only thing memorable about that place was that Justin and Lance infected us with their diseasiness.” “Diseasiness?” JC frowned. “Shut up. It is a word Mr. Thesaurus. Rhymes with Breeziness. Sort of like the way love rhymes with love." JC rolled his eyes. “Sure Chris.” “Want me to pull out the Scrabble dictionary?” Chris started getting up. “No thanks.” Lance pushed Chris back down to the floor with one hand and added the butterfly place to the list. “Anyway, that place was lame,” Chris grumbled. “I liked it,” Joey said. JC grinned. “You did?” Justin asked. “Wouldn’t have thought that Joey Fatone was the butterfly lovin’ type.” “Shut up Timberlake, maybe you would have enjoyed it too if you had stopped freaking out about them all biting you.” Joey nudged JC who in turn kicked at Justin. Justin growled and shoved at JC. “You thought the butterflies would -?” “Just shut up. All of you,” Justin pouted. A few hours later and all five of them had passed out. Chris was sprawled out beside Lance, who would most likely wake up the next morning with the spiral ring of the notepad imprinted across his cheek. Justin had moved to the floor and was curled up on the other side of Chris across a bean bag chair, snoring softly. Joey and JC fell asleep on the couch, Joey wrapped protectively around JC with one hand around JC’s slim waist and the other still buried in his friend’s hair. He dreamed of butterflies and warm kisses. The tour had been over for two weeks. Justin had gone off with Britney for awhile, Lance and Chris were busy with other projects, Joey spent time with Brianna, and JC was visiting his parents in Maryland. They were getting back together that afternoon at Joey’s. He had baked lasagna for everyone and Lance was bringing movies. Chris was in charge of bringing the liquor. Joey had just stepped out of the shower and had finished getting partially dressed when he heard a car pull into the driveway. He frowned and looked at the clock above his dresser. 2:30 pm. The guys weren’t due until four. Joey shrugged. Someone must have decided to drop by early. He busied himself at toweling his hair, combed through it with his fingers and waited for whoever it was to let themselves in. Joey finished getting read and looked at the clock. Ten minutes and no one had come in or even knocked. Joey hadn’t heard the car leave so he glanced out the window. JC’s 4runner was parked in the driveway. Joey pulled on a T-shirt and headed downstairs. JC was standing at the side of the house with his arms crossed over his chest. He was wearing worn jeans and a bright green t-shirt. He didn’t turn when Joey called out to him. Joey went over to stand beside JC. JC was biting his nails and eyeing Joey’s new landscaping. Four full Buddleia davidii, also known as butterfly bushes, lined the house. The bushes were in full bloom and several Monarch Butterflies were floating around among them. Joey loved them and had spent many afternoons watching the butterflies and laughing with Brianna since he had returned from the tour. JC turned to look at Joey, searching his face. Joey met JC’s gaze. “Joe-“ Joey shrugged. “I told you I liked that butterfly place. Favorite part of the tour.” JC touched Joey’s arm softly and Joey turned to his friend. JC was smiling, a sincere smile that transformed his entire face, crinkling his eyes and forming dimples in his cheeks and Joey couldn’t help but smile back. JC’s grin was replaced by something Joey couldn’t quite read. JC leaned in toward Joey and and kissed him lustily. Joey groaned into the kiss and surrounded JC in his arms, lowering them both to the grass beneath the bushes. The Monarch Butterflies flew around them, flashes of painted wings among the purple blooms of the butterfly bushes. Back/Home/Feedback