Joey/Justin #5 - alternate fame AU

"So give me something," Joey said, handing the other beer to his friend, both of them ignoring the crush of people around them in what constituted VIP in the pseudo-dive bar they liked to frequent. "Give me something on him so I can stop being so fucking nervous. And I swear to you, C, if you tell me you haven't seen or heard from him since he was thirteen then you're a worthless friend and I'm not talking to you ever ever again. Or until I want you to get me a date with one of your coworkers. But not until then!"

JC laughed and sipped the beer and probably took Joey's threats for exactly what they were worth. "We've talked, a few times. It's not like me and Justin were ever close or anything; he was a kid, back then. What have you got to be nervous about, anyway? *He* should be the nervous one. He's looking for his big break, here."

"With all the hype he's getting ... I think he's already broken," Joey admitted. He had plenty to be nervous about. What JC *wasn't* saying was that Joey was looking for *his* big break. His chance to be the next -- better -- Carson. And his interview with this Timberlake kid was gonna be his ticket.

"Hype isn't everything," JC reminded him. "Trust me, I should know." He sipped his beer again and looked thoughtful, or at the very least assumed his thoughtful pose. When he was in public, everything about him seemed posed. "So what are you looking for then? Just a place to start, something he's not gonna get asked in every radio interview from here to Russia?"

"Well," Joey admitted, grinning. Knowing that his smile was the only thing that kept him from looking like the ugly duckling next to JC. "It was more for me. Like. Something embarrassing, so if I get flustered or something I can just remember that he's not perfect either -- *despite* all the hype. But something for the interview; that'll work too." Even though he actually already had some good ideas for that. He thought.

JC laughed again, and Joey could see it in his eyes so he knew it was genuine. "Oh, the kid's definitely not perfect. A real mama's boy, back when I knew him. While most kids were being pushed into the business by their mothers, he dragged his along with him for the ride. Wanted her there by his side just about all the time. She even cut the crusts off his sandwiches, while we were on set. Of course, she's probably not doing that anymore, but you never know."

"Aww, isn't that sweet," Joey murmured, giving some girl who was standing a little too close a glare. "Although I could get my face punched in for bringing up some guy's mama. What else? Any sleazy pre-teen romances? Sex scandals?"

"He was thirteen!" protested JC, widening his eyes at him. "I don't know what kind of precocious kid *you* were, but there weren't any sex scandals when Justin was thirteen. Not much sleaze, either. He almost got picked up by a transvestite hooker when he was fifteen, though. That the kind of thing you're looking for?"

"That works," Joey laughed, tossing his head back. "And shit, dude, I grew up in *New York*. We do things faster up here. Thirteen, Jessica Silverman. Although not really a scandal so much as the beginning to a long and distinguished career."

"Right, right," agreed JC, nodding his head emphatically. "I've heard the stories. Never been able to pick out which ones are true and which ones are just bluster, though. Anyway, it was when I was in Memphis with him, when I was still looking at music myself. We had to look and look for a place that would let him in because there was just no way he could pass, not baclk then. Ended up in this really ... interesting establishment, let's just say."

"None of it's bluster!" Joey blustered. "and anyway. So you were looking for a place to go out? Why didn't you just ditch the kid? Must've crimped your style a little."

"No, no *he* wanted to go out," clarified JC. "I went out plenty on my own. I was supposed to be keeping him out of trouble." He snickered and gave Joey a shrug. "I never was very good at that. Some things never change."

"Yes, you're bad to the bone," Joey smiled fondly, squeezing JC's knee. "Okay. So. Bar. And he was ... what? Trying to hit on all the ladies his mama's age? Or was this one of *your* type of bars." Which would be interesting. His gaydar'd already started getting pinged by the kid.

"No, no, nothing like that. Though we would've, if it had come to it. Timberlake never was too picky about it, even back then. I'd imagine he's already tried it all out, by now. No, he was actually being good since I promised not to tell his mama where we went, and she came over to buy him a drink."

"*She*," Joey repeated, grinning. He leaned back in his chair and just. Let the rest of it sink in for a while. Music's Next Big Thing, and he wasn't picky about who he went for? Joey'd met and seen and hell, interviewed his share of people like that. And fame changed it fast. "Could he tell?"

"No, I had to tell him afterward," said JC with a soft laugh, moving smoothly into his amused-but-still-beautiful pose. "He didn't believe me. He was fifteen, so I let it go. I think it was less the transvestite part as the hooker part, really."

"The part that bothered him?" Joey clarified, smiling to himself when he saw a handful more people recognize them -- or JC, at least -- when JC moved. "He's got something against hookers? Never met the right kind, I guess. Maybe that can be my hook. 'Hey, Timberlake, meet me in the champagne room at this strip club. We'll do your interview there.' What do you think?"

"I would *love* to see you try that," said JC, and Joey just bet that he would. "I know you won't, but I would pay good money to be witness to it. Where *are* you doing it? It's not in-studio, is it?"

"No, it is," Joey said. "He's got this manager, this young guy, who thinks he knows everything ... anyway. They want the Times Square hoopla for it so I didn't get a choice." He raised an eyebrow at JC. "But you should call him, huh? Suggest the strip club yourself."

"And won't he wonder why I care?" said JC. "Nevermind that I haven't talked to him in a couple months. Did get an invite to his party, though, so it gives me an excuse to call, I guess .... you want me to? Tell him that he'll look way cooler if he does a location interview?""

Joey blinked at him. At first he'd been totally joking, but ... hell, it could be good for *both* of their images. "Shit, Jace. Maybe. You think he'd go for it?"

"I have no clue," admitted JC. "Could be his schedule's at the whim of this manager of his. But no reason I can't give him a call, wish him good luck, give him a little advice if he wants to stand out from the crowd. You want me to suggest the place, or leave that up to you guys? I can get him to give you a call direct, probably ... "

"Oh, no, no," Joey protested, sitting up a little. "I mean, if he actually goes for it we still have to clear it with the producers and stuff on our end, so. Just have his manager call the office. *Shit*, C. How fucking *hilarious* would that be?"

"Just remember, the guy's pretty image-conscious right now. Play up that it would be good for his image. And make sure he stops by for an appearance on MTV at some point. Maybe hint that he'll drop by TRL or something, so they can still get the hoopla they want. Get a good buzz going, get people to keep anticipating." He laughed at the incredulous look Joey was giving him. "What? I date a publicist, some of it was bound to rub off on me sooner or later."

"I just think ... yeah, 'cause of his age, it can only help," Joey nodded. "You're right. God, I hope he *does* go for it. Tell him you know me, that I'm not an ass ... well, tell him if you think he trusts you. Otherwise don't. And can I have your publicist?"

"No, you may *not* have my publicist," teased JC. "Find your own. So I'll do what I can for you, Joe. When's the interview scheduled for again?"

"Thursday," Joey told him. "And then the party ... which you know about ... that's Saturday. And the album drops Tuesday. Shit. *Shit*! This could be awesome. Just." He could see it, was already coming up with what the background would look like, what camera angles they'd want to use, whether he'd want to act like they *weren't* where they were ... or make the kid talk about it.

"It could be awsome," agreed JC, draining the last of his beer alraedy. "What am I talking about? It's you. It'll be awesome, no matter where you end up doing it. But yeah, absolutely, I'll give him a call tomorrow afternoon -- I'll mostly be sitting around in my underwear in between shots anyway. And hey, if he drops anything else that might help you out, I'll let you know."

"You're a star, C," Joey said, still completely in his own head, even as he leaned over to give JC a hammy, loud kiss on the cheek. "Mwah. I don't want your publicist anymore, I want you."

Outfit. Hair. More camera angles. And his speech exercises, he couldn't forget those ...

"Yeah, you had your chance," teased JC, but Joey barely heard him. And heard him order another round of beers only well enough to know when to reach out his hand to take one. There was so much planning to do and never enough time.

* * *

"So this was your idea?" asked Justin as they watched the crew get set up around them. He was chewing on a cocktail straw and lounging back in his chair and he might've looked bored if it wasn't for that sharp, sharp attentive look in his eyes. That manager of his paced just beyond the camera crew, keeping a close eye on everything, but he didn't interfere.

"This is where I want to say something kind of confrontational about just suggesting it 'cause I never thought you'd do it," Joey said, "but. Really, it started as a joke." He was lounging too, but he *knew* how much of his own posture was forced. He reached a hand up to scratch his nose, then remembered the makeup and put it back down again.

"A joke?" Justin lifted his eyebrows, looking interested, the straw clenched between his perfect teeth. "To see if I would do it? Or to see if MTV would be willing to air it?"

Joey just grinned back, stalling to come up with a good answer. JC had sworn him to secrecy about the transvestite hooker thing. "Come on, man," he finally said. "It's secret tricks like these that make sure I keep my job."

A make-up person rushed over for a second and began dabbing powder on Justin's face, pulling the straw out at the same time. He looked astonished for just a second, but she didn't even blink. "Try not to touch your face. We'll be ready to go in about five minutes."

Justin waited until she was gone to turn back to Joey again. But that moment had been enough for Joey to see that Justin *could* be rattled, could be awkward. "Good thing we aren't doing this live then," he said, slouching even further in his seat. "I might have a few tricks of my own."

"Really," Joey said dryly, arching an eyebrow before glancing back down at his cards again. He fumbled with them a little, and almost dropped the advance copy of the CD he'd had on repeat for the past week, but caught it against his leg in time. He didn't look up to see if Justin noticed.

"At least the cellophane's not on it," said Justin, and Joey knew he had. "I was talking to this guy, a couple days ago, it was so obvious he hadn't even listened to it. I mean, I'm right there. He could at least pretend." Unlike most of the people Joey got to interview, Justin wasn't jaded enough yet that every word that he said was guarded. It was refreshing.

"Well, I'll be pretending I didn't listen to it as much as I did," Joey said, finally looking back up at him. "So maybe I'm not any better. But between you and me -- if you care -- I think it's great. Fresh and innovative and every other cliche I'll be using later but with a slightly more condescending tone."

Justin actually cracked a smile, and looked like he appreciated that, though he'd probably heard similar from everyone he'd interviewed with. Just in a slightly less honest way. He seemed a lot more eager to please at heart than he let on; that was good to know.

"I'm really happy with it. I had a great production team," Justin told him. "Which I'll also be telling you later, and dropping a few names alongside it for effect. I'm glad you enjoyed it. That probably makes this easier."

*For you, maybe*, Joey thought to himself, shifting his weight and staring at his cards again. The kid had a smile that rivaled his own; how was *that* fair?

"So, yeah," he finally murmured. "If you were serious about having tricks of your own, that was your invitation to do the cool thing and let me know ahead of time. So I'm not the one stuck looking like an ass on camera."

"Oh, where's the fun in that?" teased Justin. Joey had listened to other interviews, though, and knew that Justin played it pretty by-he-book. Probably that manager's influence, because Justin looked to Joey to be a pretty fun guy. "Seriously? I'd get my ass reamed if I tried anything funny, and not in the good way. I think you're pretty safe."

"Right," Joey said slowly, still focusing on his questions. Focus on the questions. Not eyelashes, not lips, what the kid just all but confirmed about his sexual orientation. "Well. As safe as either one of us could be, in a place like this."

"Right," said Justin, looking around. A producer gave Joey the two minute signal. If they *were* going live, he would've been more worried about that. "So you've gotta tell me, before we start. Why *this* place?"

"This *particular* strip joint?" Joey replied, even though he was pretty sure Justin was back on his earlier question. "They like me here. Well, management does, because I bring C here and that's good press for them. And the girls do, just ... because."

"So how did you meet JC anyway?" asked Justin, leaning towards him. "He never did sa--"

"We're ready to go, gentleman," he was interrupted by the producer. "First set-up, just head-on. That's what you wanted, right Joey?"

"Yeah, that's perfect, Tim," Joey nodded, sitting back in his chair and going over one of his speech exercises under his breath one more time. The last thing he needed was to make one of his boneheaded screw-ups, switching words around. "You guys used that blue filter on the light like I wanted, right?" He didn't even wait for an answer before he leaned over and gave Justin what he hoped was a friendly smile. "*You* ready, man?"

"I'm *always* ready," he said, looking cockier than he had only moments ago, his professional face back on. They all had one. "Always on. You aren't planning to throw me any curveballs, right?"

"Yeah, we're all set according to your specs," the producer assured him. "There's one thing we had to change up but it's not for this set-up so we can talk about it after."

Joey shot Tim a glance but he didn't want to argue before they even got started. The one thing he had to keep in mind was that he had final approval on the editing, so everything at that point would be to his liking. He hoped.

"No curveballs," he said, leaning back for the last time, closing his eyes and doing a quick hail mary. "You're safe with me, kid."

"I've heard that one before," muttered Justin, but he had a perfect smile on his face now and he looked ready to go. Joey looked up and nodded at his team and theybegan counting down, as if he was going live. It added to the energy of the interview if they felt like they had an immediate audience -- or at least that was the theory behind it. They hit one and then bang, he was on. Showtime.

He grinned, in what he'd already heard was becoming a trademark, and introduced himself and Justin. He started talking too fast, as always, but slowed it down quick enough and the producer didn't stop them to do it over so it must have been less noticeable than he thought.

He turned to Justin and had to blink for a second when he actually *saw* him again, and then hoped *that* wasn't caught on film. "So," he said. "Justin. You've already had a million interviews after the release of your single ... what's the one thing you've wanted to be able to say about the album that no one's asked you about, yet?"

"There's something left that someone hasn't asked me?" said Justin, giving him an obviously feigned innocent look. Then he laughed and shook his head, obviously buying himself a little time. Joey took his question as a challenge. "I think what I *really* have been wanting to tell people about it is that it was inspired by a trip I took, to Europe, with a friend. Just being in the presence of such history, seeing the work of generations of artists and musicians and poets before me, seeing and feeling the passion there, it's really inspiring. My musical influences -- which is what everyone always asks me about -- they're grounded in my roots here at home and I think that's really obviously when you listen to the album. But my inspiration for it, that was a different thing."

"And that's legitimate," Joey added, for the benefit of the audience, "since you wrote or co-wrote, and co-produced, every track on the album. So it really is *your* inspiration."

It was an interesting answer, but didn't leave much for Joey to expand on. Except for the 'who's you friend' question which, if he was being honest, was defintely more morbid curiosity than anything he wanted to expose on film. Yet, at least.

"So, the flip side of that question ... what do you think you're asked *too much*, so that what's behind what you're trying to say when you answer gets lost?"

Justin grinned widely and said, "What are your musical influences?" Obviously going for the laugh, which he got. "Seriously, though, there are two answers for that. The first is asking what my favorite track on the album is. I chose what went on the album very carefully, and to extract one track and say 'this! this is my favorite!' really undermines the cohesiveness of the album as a whole. There is one song that I can pick and say is my favorite, just because of what went into it, but I haven't told anyone which one it is. I think it's better that way."

"Amazingly, you are allowed to keep some things private, no matter what your manager or publicist says," Joey said, with a little innocent grin of his own. It certainly made *him* curious, though, and he wasn't even a twenty-year-old girl. "So what's the second?"

"Right, the second," said Justin slowly, not overtly trying to buy himself time this time but looking very pensive about his answer. "This is one I get a lot, actually, and I understand why. But I think asking me if I'm seeing anyone really takes away from what I'm saying about the actual album." Then he grinned again, like he thought it was getting to serious, or maybe too personal. "I'm not, by the way. Just to get that out there."

"And I know *I* can breathe a huge sigh of relief," Joey deadpanned, then grinned. "Maybe you can find someone in here before we leave. Seriously, though, that's one of those celebrity questions that probably won't ever go away. Not that it's fun to deal with, and believe it or not, I actually get asked it myself. But moving on.

"What do you really think about all the hype you're getting, before your first album even drops? Do you think it's deserved, considering that a lot of acts have to work their asses off to get contracts like the one that was dropped in your lap?" It was a little confrontational, but interestingly, it was one of the ones the producers had insisted he ask.

"Are you asking if I think I deserve my hype?" said Justin, still smiling but his eyes glinting a little bit. "I'd have to be an idiot to say no, I haven't earned it, I suck, don't buy the album. I'm not gonna do that.

"The problem with that question is that I *have* worked my ass off for it. I've been in and around the business for a lot of years, working on my vocals, working on my writing, learning about producing and exploring different musical styles. And spending time just living, so I have something to write about. Maybe the hype is because the album really is that good, because I waited until I was really ready to record my first album before doing it."

Joey knew all that to be true, knew it from his experience and the experience of his friends and just a knowledge about the way the system worked. If Justin didn't deserve it, there was no way he could have gotten all the writing and production credit on a major-label debut. "How is it different, do you think?" he asked though. "Versus what you would have recorded a year ago, two years ago? None of the songs are any older than that?"

"Two years ago, it probably would have been an album full of songs about how love is great and wonderful and nothing else in the world matters. Rife with cliches and bad rhymes." He chuckled quietly, balancing the serious with the light again. "Well, okay, maybe not that bad, but you get the idea. Or it would have been an album of songs that weren't my own, which probably would have sounded better but been worse in the long run. That's just not what I wanted to be doing.

"In the past five years, but in the past year or two especially, I think I've really grown as a person, I've learned a lot of lessons that you can't learn any way but by experience, and they've changed the way I approach things. That doesn't just apply to the writing, but to the whole sound of what I do. And to the things in my life other than music. *Not* that there a whole lot of those these days."

"Ahhh, the 'slave to my art' shtick," Joey teased. But he made certain to make eye contact with Justin, to let him *know* that he was kidding. "Man, just saying you weren't seeing anyone once was enough, you don't have to rub it in. I'm gonna be getting a million calls already, I can see it. 'Joey'," he screeched in the voice he used to mock the MTV crowd. "'Joey, you're the *best*, can you get me Justin Timberlake's phone number PLEASE?'"

That got a genuine -- or what seemed to be a genuine -- laugh out of Justin. "It's true though," he said. "The 'slave to my art' thing. It sounds ridiculous, but it's so true. When I'm immersed in my music, the world could be ending around me and I wouldn't bat an eye. I'm a horrible, terrible person to date, it's the sad truth. What you need to do, Joey, is convince those callers you're a far better catch than I am. And there you go, instant dating pool."

In the background, Joey could hear the backup crew starting to set up for another shot, this time from a higher angle. They would be lighting it differently, too, aiming to get a golden glint off Justin's hair. Not that Joey would tell him that's what they were doing -- it sounded cheap when he tried, and he hated explaining the whole 'golden boy' visual metaphor he was going for. Enough that the crew understood what he was going for.

He wasn't quite done with *this* segment yet, though, so he ignored them and carried on.

"It's a sad state of affairs when I need to start mooching off someone else's leftovers, even if that someone else is the current it-boy," Joey said dryly, before realizing this was getting pretty far afield from where he'd wanted it to go. And that he had the luxury of dictating the direction of the interview. "About the slave to your music thing, though ... what do you say to your critics who argue that you're *not* tortured, that you *don't* have anything to complain about, and so your music isn't legitimate? or if it is legitimate, that it's ... shallow?"

"I would say that they must have pretty sad lives if they think that someone has to be tortured to have felt anything," he said, the answer obviously very practiced. Unlike some of his others. "I would also say that they're making some pretty big assumptions about my life -- a life they know nothing about -- to even say in the first place that I *haven't* felt the kind of pain that would legitimize my music in their eyes. I don't write songs to whine and complain about my life, and I don't write songs to be bright and sunshiney and uplifting, either. I lay out what I'm thinking and feeling, what has inspired me in that moment, and I think people will get out of my music what they put into it, in a lot of ways."

It was a defensive answer, which didn't surprise Joey, but it was also one that Justin had to get used to responding to if he hadn't already. And he probably hadn't, given that it was the first answer that seemed less 'him' and more his publicity machine.

"Well, that's a good segue into the last question I want to ask about the album -- and, hopefully, the last cliche question you get. What *do* you want people to get out of the album? Actually ... let me put it another way. First, what would you want *me* to get out of your album. And then tell me what you'd want my friend's kid sister Heather to get out of it. If the answers are different."

"Well, I think it comes back to people getting out of it what they put in," said Justin, hesitating just enough for Joey to know that this answer wasn't going to be as glib. Would be more genuine. "I really believe that. If you go into it just wanting something upbeat and danceable, well, you're gonna get that. But if you want look deeper, listen for nuance and meaning, there are more layers to it to be found. I think in the end, I want people to come away from it feeling good, and feeling like they've learned something. Whether it's about me or about themselves or about the world."

Joey looked down at his notes so that Justin couldn't see him roll his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't believe the kid didn't mean it -- he did. He'd just heard it a million times. And maybe it was why Joey liked to think of himself as a performer but he'd never be a songwriter.

It was a good time to take a break, anyway; that really was everything Joey'd wanted to ask about the album. He signaled the producer and then leaned over to grab his water. "You doing okay?" he asked Justin.

Justin leaned forward and stretched, then nodded his head. "I thought MTV was supposed to be lightweight," he murmured under his breath, and Joey wasn't even sure he was meant to hear.

"All right, just stay where you are," said Tim. "We just need to adjust some lighting. Joey, we need to come in from the right instead of the left -- it's just a logistics thing, in this space. Is that all right with you?"

It meant more of his own face being on screen with Justin's, and Joey wasn't surprised they hadn't wanted to mention it earlier. If they switched seats now, it would be obvious. It was a constant battle he had with his producers, who wanted him to play up his image even more than he did himself.

He wanted to say something snotty about not having a choice but just bit his lip and nodded, and took another drink. "You want something?" he asked Justin instead. "We're kinda miked in but I can have someone bring you ... " He trailed off as one of the interns, or assistants, came over with a bottle of water and a napkin and a completely-faked bored look for Justin.

Justin smiled his thanks and took it and stared down at the floor, looking like he was lost in his own little world. Joey didn't know whether he was shaken already, or regrouping, or mentally going over his answers, or what.

"So how do you think that went?" he asked finally, not even looking up. Joey wasn't sure why Justin trusted his opinion, since 'going well' for Joey and 'going well' for Justin were two different things. Maybe he didn't, maybe he just wanted to hear Joey's answer.

"You've been taught well," Joey said slowly. "I mean, I'm no expert, but ... look, you're doing great. You're easy to get answers from, and they're meaty, if not necessarily deep ... and they don't sound textbook, for the most part. But ... " He really *couldn't* tell if Justin was unsettled. "We can take a break if you need a minute."

"Nah, I'm fine," said Justin, waving a hand dismissively and sitting back, opening the water and taking a long drink. "So are you saying I'm not deep?" he asked, and when he finally looked at Joey again there was challenge back in his eyes. He was all there. "That's not very nice ... "

"I *didn't* say that," Joey said, very carefully, talking slowly so he didn't sound defensive himself. "But like I said, I'm no expert. I just sit here and look as pretty as I can, and read the questions."

Justin looked at him knowingly, but Joey couldn't tell if it was because he thought that *was* all there was to being an interviewer, or because he knew damn well there was more to it than that. "You know more about me than you're letting on, don't you?" he said, right out of the blue. "You know JC, after all. I bet you do."

*That* surprised Joey, and he reached down beside his chair again, taking his time setting down his water. He wasn't about to get cornered into admitting something he didn't want to admit. "I didn't realize that you and JC were close," he said, by way of an answer.

"We're not," said Justin with a little shrug. "He just knows me, is all."

"Don't move, Mr. Timberlake, we're just adjusting the lights here. Right like that. Thanks."

Justin held himself reasonably still as they worked, and he looked at Joey but he didn't say anything else.

"Am I being unfair, so far, do you think?" Joey asked, honestly curious. And not exactly sure why Justin assumed he *did* know anything else about him -- and then why he'd care as much as he seemed to. "With the questions?" Which also definitely made his statement about just reading the questions an even more obvious lie.

"Why would I think that?" he countered, closing his eyes and looking lik ehe was drifting away a little again. "They're fine. It's not like this is hard-hitting journalism or anything. Are we ready to go again yet?"

"Like you know what that *is*," Joey retorted under his own breath, signalling to the producers and listening to them count down again. He didn't even ask Justin if he was ready this time, just did a back-from-commercial segueway and put everything he had into keeping his voice from sounding stiff.

He didn't really think he'd done anything to deserve a comment like that at all; he'd been open, and *polite*, and Joey Fatone was charismatic, but *polite* was another thing entirely. And he *hadn't* been unfair. But he sure as hell *could* be.

"So, Justin," he said smoothly. "Since you brought it up. Trip to Europe? 'Friend'? Wanna tell us what that's about?"

Justin couldn't mask the look of shock on his face when Joey asked that. It was brief, but it was there, and Joey was feeling contrary enough that he might just leave it in, in editing. "Last year," said Justin, his voice a lot more in control than his expression. "I decided I needed some time away. I'd just ended a relationship and my best friend and I decided that we were just gonna pack a bag and go for a while. Best thing I could've done, both personally and professionally."

Justin could've ended the interview right there, said he was done with it and walked out. But he hadn't. Sometimes the pretense of being live had some unexpected side benefits.

"You were ... twenty?" Joey counted backward, not bothering to mask the slight condescension in his voice about what kind of relationship he could have had at that age.

"That's right, I was," he said, nodding his head, his eyes narrowing just enough for Joey to see. "You can subtract one from twenty-one. That's very good."

"Amazingly, they even expect me to be able to read cue-cards," Joey grinned disarmingly. He got Justin to snap; that was all he wanted to make the audience forget that he goaded him into being nasty. Now he needed the rest of the interview. "But actually, that brings me to something else I wanted to ask ... you yourself haven't had quite the traditional education. Everyone else in America your age, they're in college, slipping roofies to sorority girls. But since becoming a child star of sorts when you were 12, you haven't done what everyone else does."

"Well, yes and no," said Justin, his voice still obviously tight. He needed to get some of that control back, quick, if he wanted to come off well. "I did go back to school after the show, went to regular classes for a while. But really, once you have a taste of what life can be like when it doesn't revolve around your classes, it's hard to go back. I did a lot of extra work on my own time, pushed myself really hard, and finished high school when I was sixteen. After that, well, I've had an eduction of a more practical sort than college."

Out of the corner of his eye, Joey could see Justin's manager arguing heatedly with Tim, but no one had interrupted anything so he just carried on.

"Well, I don't know about more practical, but certainly different," Joey said. Like he didn't know well enough himself. "Although ... no, I guess you're right. Ain't nothing practical about getting a girl knocked up in college." He grinned again, knowing that line would end up coming out, and paused long enough to allow a good edit. "What kind of practical things did you learn in Europe?"

"I leaned how to live with myself," said Justin easily. He wasn't calmer, exactly, but he was definitely back in control. "That probably sounds like a really obvious thing, but it's not. There are way too many people out there who don't know how to live with themselves, who hate things about themselves and try to pretend they're not there and just end up miserable in their own skin. That's probably the most practical thing a person can learn -- how to just live with themselves. Accept themselves, warts and all."

Yet he had to run all the way across an ocean to do it, Joey noted, not idly. "Last hard question, then," he said, all gentle voice again. "What do you think is your biggest weakness, or ... least attractive quality? and ... what do you think it is, in other people."

"I hate this question," said Justin, grinning for the first time in a while. "When I was fifteen I wanted to make some extra cash, since all my money was tied up until I was eighteen, so I went on this job interview for, I don't remember, something dumb. Anyway, they asked that very same question." He fell silent for a moment, letting people draw their own parallels between what he was doing right now, and interviewing for a job. "And all I could think was, why should I tell you what my weaknesses are? I want you to *hire* me."

With that, it hit Joey how much he truly liked this kid. And how he'd probably end up taking out the 'knowing how to add' comment. He was smart and forthright, and if there were two things in the world Joey respected, those were it.

"I have faith that you won't give me the PR answer," Joey prompted.

Justin grinned like he wasn't gonna answer, then he nodded his head. "I suppose hairy toes aren't what you're looking for in a "least attractive" quality, huh?" he mused. "Well, I guess it all depends on who's doing the looking. What's a strength in one area is a weakness in another. Like my single-mindedness when I'm working on music: It's great for the music, and lousy for my social life. So I guess maybe it *is* my intensity, in all things. How when I get really focused on something, I neglect a lot of other things."

He met Joey's eyes, then, and ... it wasn't even ... Joey wouldn't have known how to explain the look it felt like they exchanged. Challenging, maybe; understanding, definitely. And electric, in a way Joey hadn't really felt interviewing anyone on camera before.

"How unfortunate for the other things," Joey murmured, and he knew that wouldn't get picked up by the mic. "So ... is that related to the least attractive quality of other people, then? no patience to deal with you when you're ... intense?"

"Well, that's something that frustrates me, but it's not the big one," said Justin, not looking away as he answered. "I just really hate dishonesty, in other people. I'd say deception, but that's something that has so many degrees that it's pretty impossible to condemn it outright. But dishonesty, thats the quality in people that I find least attractive. It's just ... it's not necessary. And it's insulting."

"Well, you heard it here, ladies," Joey said, pulling his own eyes back to the camera with a huge grin. "You don't win with this kid by telling him what he wants to hear." He faced him again, still all smiles. "And I'm sure I'm contractually obligated by MTV to ask how someone *does* get a date with you."

"I'm a romantic," said Justin, his voice suddenly silky smooth as he said the word. "I like mystery and moonlight walks and candles. I like someone to show an interest in *me*, and in what I'm all about, but also have a pretty strong sense of who *they* are. I love it when someone can teach me something new or take me on an adventure. Oh ... and liking my music doesn't hurt either." And he gave Joey a huge grin, to finish off.

"Apparently I forgot to add the 'no PR answer clause' to that question," Joey laughed, getting just as much enjoyment out of the answer as how well he played the pronoun game. "We'll be back in a minute to finish up with Justin Timberlake, on MTV."

He waited for the signal from the crew and then just burst out laughing again. He couldn't help it.

"What?" said Justin, giving him a brief glare as he reached for his water again. "Like I'm really gonna answer that one honestly. What's so funny, anyway?"

"Nothing, kid," Joey sighed, wiping his eyes. Makeup could have their fit about it. "Not a thing. Just. You could come up with *something* that's a total lie and still not sound like you're quoting from "How to be a Teen Idol 101." You know? Still keep your privacy. Or what you can manage."

"It was true, more or less," muttered Justin, his glare getting less playful and more serious. "I just left a lot of shit out. It was all just ... meaningless.The dishonesty thing was true, too, for the record. Or *off* the record, I guess I should say."

"Well, points for the mystery thing at least," Joey said uncomfortably, his laughter fading. He suddenly realized that as much as *he* liked Justin, Justin surely didn't seem to like him. "We'll be done, soon," he said formally. "Just a few questions about the upcoming tour since we got all your bio stuff the last time you got interviewed. Then no more me, which will apparently make you happy."

Justin scowled and rubbed at his hair, messing it up a little. "Look, I just ... I'm not a puppet, okay? And after a thousand people suggesting I am, suggesting I'm just parrotting back answers that someone gave to me ... it just gets to me, all right? It's nothing personal."

"Don't do that," Joey murmured, reaching for Justin's wrist before he could stop to think about it. "We'll be here for a year while they fix it. Ever consider shaving that mop, man?"

"Every morning," said Justin ruefully, relaxing enough to not even pull away from him, to just lower his arm. Make-up and hair *were* on their way to give them a touch-up anyway. "But the urge usually passes. But ... okay, though, Joey? I know it might come off as a little bland, but at least it's all me. Part of me. A very small part of me."

Joey pulled away, though; about the second Justin said his name. "Okay, Justin," he said, returning the favor. "Sorry I touched a nerve. But ... you don't have to explain yourself to me. That's not how the superstar/wannabe-VJ relationship works. In case your high-strung manager forgot to tell you that part."

"You're JC's friend," said Justin with a little shrug. "What, you think I'd be talking to just anyone like this? So ... I wanted you to know that. It's nothing personal, it just *is* a nerve. Oh, and believe me, he's probably throwing a fit right now, about how this interview has gone. I said way more than he wanted me too. But I don't want to sound like everyone else."

Joey rolled his eyes again. Justin hadn't even said anything. So he went to Europe 'cause he had a bad break-up? Whoop-dee-shit. It was nothing to have a hernia over.

It also ... okay, it stung to have Justin say out loud that JC was the only reason he was opening up to Joey. It just reminded him that he was still new at this, and as many good ideas he had and as great a smile as he could show, he still had a lot to learn. "We'll be done soon," was all he said, and closed his eyes to let Trisha fix whatever goop he'd fucked up by laughing so hard he cried.

"Ow, ow," said Justin as they fixed his hair, but that was the only complaint he made. And considering what he probably had to go through each day to make sure his hair was tamed, Joey figured that probably wasn't that bad. "And no more questions like the friend one, okay? I'm pretty sure that's written into my rider somewhere. I know JC told you all about who it was anyway."

Joey blinked his eyes back open in surprise. "He *didn't*," he insisted, before even thinking about whether pretending to know would put him in a better position. Either way, he was gonna give JC a lot of shit for *not* telling him.

"What, are you kidding me?" asked Justin, looking up and squinting into the lights until he readjusted. "It's his favorite story about me, I think. Well. Maybe second favorite. He seems to love stories that embarass me. I talk to the guy once in a blue moon and he still manages to worm that stuff out of me."

"He's good like that," Joey murmured, closing his eyes again. This last segment was going to be done in extreme close up, so he needed to make sure he didn't look scared. Or worried. "And I didn't get the sense from you that it was a funny story. You going to Europe, I mean."

"No, not funny. Just not without embarrassing moments," he confessed, getting himself composed as well. He looked perfect, but Joey could see beneath that now. "It really was an amazing experience, just travelling around like that and experiencing things. Very eye-opening in a lot of ways. A *lot* of ways."

"Um, good," Joey said. He didn't want to be rude, but. This was his job, too. And Justin may have done a million of these already but *he* hadn't, and he might not get another chance. It needed to be perfect, and he needed to concentrate.

Except all he could do was wonder who the friend was.

Justin started at him for a moment, then looked away and into the lights again. His manager was still there, arguing with someone else now, but it was too soft to hear and Justin didn't look the least bit concerned. In fact, he looked completely calm about this, if distant again. Off in his own little world until they got started.

"Okay, we've got the cameras set up, were there any other changes you wanted to make Joey or are we good to go?"

Joey shook his head and glanced over his last batch of questions as they counted down for hopefully the last time. When he started speaking again, he could *hear* how stiff he was.

"Not only does the album drop on Tuesday," he started, looking over Justin's shoulder, even though it would look like eye contact on camera. "You've got a tour starting right around the holidays. How do you anticipate perfoming live being different from what you've done in studios?"

Justin chuckled and managed to look both modest and confident at once. "I'll be honest, most of the work I've done so far has been all studio work. I love performing on stage in front of a crowd though so I'm really eager to start the tour. There's a whole different energy, when your audience is *right there*, interacting with you, than there is when you have to imagine your audience going out to buy your CD."

"When *have* you performed on stage?" Joey followed up. "Anything since the studio audience when you filmed the Mickey Mouse Club? Anything when you've had to sing live?"

Justin looked uncomfortable for only a secnd. "Does open mike night at my favorite club, count?" he asked with a disarming grin. "I'm a long way frm my Mickey Mouse days, that's for sure."

"And you're already selling out modest-sized venues for a new act," finished Joey. "You *will* be singing live, though? You're shelling out for a live band on stage with you, which isn't cheap for a new artist."

"Well of course I'll be singing live," said Justin, his grin a little more forced now. Not that anyone but Joey would have noticed that slight shade of difference in it. Even in close-up "Is there any other way? I've already been doing some rehearsals with the band and I'm really happy with the people i'll be going on the road with. We're a good team."

"It's a vocally challenging album," Joey shrugged, "but from all reports, you'll be able to handle it. Now. The *other* aspect of touring ... you know. The sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll lifestyle." He held out his hands at their surroundings and grinned. "The clubs, the strip joints. Looking forward to that part?"

"Oh yeah, that's why I'm doing it, didn't you know?" said Justin, voice dripping with sarcasm. But the good-natured grin still on his face balanced that out. "Honestly, I've never known where people found the *time* to party so much when they were on tour. It's starting to feel like every moment of my waking time is already booked. But yeah, sure, I plan to have some fun. Not heroin-and-hookers fun, but you can count on me going out to clubs from time to time. All work and no play makes Justin a very boring boy, after all."

"And we don't want that," Joey smirked back. "So. When you go out, are you more the type to hole yourself up in VIP with the cristal and the posse, or do you want to be down the crowds, dancing and getting sweaty and dirty with the likes of us regular people. The regular people."

"The regular people?" scoffed Justin. "Are you saying I'm not regular people? Actually ... I was in VIP for the first time just last week and I gotta tell you, it was a pretty strange experience. I don't know how I'm gonna feel a year from now, but right now I'd rather be out and having fun than holed up somewhere with a bunch of people that I need to try to impress."

"That's the spirit!" Joey said, even though he knew it would be short-lived. If the kid wasn't already getting mobbed when he went out, he sure would be come next week. "Now if you can just avoid some line about how you don't have to drink to have a good time, maybe we can go out later." He grinned and moved on quickly, not even wanting to give Justin a chance to respond. Wanting it to come off like the joke he meant it to be. "Alright, time for quick response questions. No thinking! You ready?"

"No," said Justin with a short, friendly laugh. The kind of laugh one made when one was very nervous. "But okay. Hit me with it anyway."

"Aww, these are easy, kid," Joey smiled, knowing his eyes were glinting. "Okay. Favorite Karaoke song."

Justin snickered. "I Will Survive," he said, which had to be honest because no one sounded cool admitting to that. At least it wasn't "My Way."

Joey grinned. "Last thing you dreamed about."

Justin paused that time. "A date," he said finally. Discreetly. Joey could only imagine what that "date" had consisted of. Certainly nothing Justin would want to get into on MTV.

"I did say you didn't have to make them one-word answers, right?" Joey teased. "Last thing you bought."

"Ummm, actually, these shoes," said Justin, right after flashing Joey a grin. He even lifted his foot so the camera could get a shot of them. "They're great. That's probably a really lame answer, huh?"

"Well, it's not as exciting as a condom out of a gas station bathroom, but it's not as dull as some," Joey grinned back. "Thing you'd never ever tell your mom."

Justin laughed. "I'm in a strip club!" he proclaimed enthusiastically, then looked right into the camera and waved. "Hi, mom!"

Joey laughed easily, and figured that was as good a place to end the interview as any. "Thanks for talking with us, Justin," he said, knwoing his eyes were bright as he leaned over to shake his hand. "Good luck on the album and the tour. For MTV, I'm just a guy whose mom gets phone calls about going to strip clubs daily -- Joey Fatone. Thanks for watching."

Justin gave the camera another smile and a wave and then it was over, the noise level increasing tenfold. Someone came over immediately to unhook their microphones and carry the equipment back over to be stored. Justin stood up and stretched broadly, his shirt riding up to expose a glimpse of stomach and the small of his back.

"Joey," he said with a laugh, "you did *not* want to be asking me about that dream."

"Dude, seriously?" Joey grinned, grabbing the towel someone handed him and scrubbing at his face. "Those are the type of questions I ask everyone. It wasn't even ... it was not intentional." He stepped closer and showed Justin his notecards, only barely legible to anyone else. "See? I already had it written down. You should just be happy your manager wouldn't let me bring out two of the dancers and have you pick: Bunny or Muffy."

"Oh, trust me, I *am* happy about that," snorted Justin. "Though if she had one of those cute little bunny tails sewn on? That might've done it for me."

"Goddamit, Justin, what were you thinking?" And there his manager was, storming out between two of the cameras. " 'I Will Survive'?! How about we just give you a rainbow flag next time to wave on camera?"

"Oh gimme a break, it's gonna play as funny and endearing," said Justin with a sigh.

"Hey," Joey said, before he could stop himself. This was none of his business, and nothing at all to get in the middle of, but there he was. "Man, relax. It's fucking campy, and ... "

He trailed off when he looked over and saw JC skulking around the back of the club, unexpectedly.

"Huh. Excuse me a second, guys."

Justin and his manager kept on arguing, lowering the volume at least. His manager -- Joey knew him, Lance Bass -- was pretty big in the business and knew what he was talking about, but damn was he uptight. Justin didn't need that, he seemed to be doing just fine on his own, dancing that edge between safe and dangerous pretty expertly.

"Hey," said JC softly as Joey approached. "How'd it go?"

Joey just shrugged, but grabbed JC into a tight hug, letting out a breath of relief that it was done, at least. "I don't know," he said honestly. "How much did you see? and ... what are you even *doing* here, man? it's good to see you but I had no clue you were coming down."

JC just shrugged and gave him a smile. "I had nothing better to do?" he offered. "No, my job today got postponed, and of course I knew where you were gonna be. I figured I would lend my aura to the place fo rmoral support. Only just got here maybe twenty minutes ago, though. Lucky I know one of the PAs or I never would have gotten close."

"Whatever," Joey laughed. JC could get in wherever he wanted, one way or another. "Did you bring your fine specimen of a boyfriend around? I want him to give Timberlake's manager some tips on chilling the fuck out when your act is doing anything wrong to his reputation. He's not his fucking dad or anything."

"No, his dad would probably be laid back," said JC with a knowing grimace. "Managers are like that. But no, sorry, Chris is at the office today, taking care of a bunch of stuff. We're going out tonight, though. You should come, it'll be a good time. Or are you gonna be stuck in the editing suite with this interview?"

"Mmm, going out where?" Joey considered. He was already thisclose to jumping over the bar and grabbing the first liquor bottle he could find, just to calm down after the whole experience. "I can probably only look at this footage for a few hours before I need a drink anyway." He knew he didn't sound too optimistic about how he came across.

JC winced and gave him another hug. "I'm sure it came out fine," he assured him. "And we both know all about the miracles that editors can work anyway. You definitely need to come out with us tonight, wind down at little. So ... how's Justin, anyway?"

"What do you mean," Joey said, hugging him back and then turning, a little, to make sure he hadn't left without Joey getting a chance to thank him again for being such a good sport. Since he really had been. "Oh! I forgot, I'm mad at you! He seems to think you told me about who he went to Europe with. Or maybe it was who he went to Eurpoe because of. Now I'm not sure."

JC looked surprised. "He told you about Europe?" he asked. "Just how much time did you guys have to chat with each other off-camera, anyway?"

"He said it *on* camera," Joey said, even more intrigued. "Well, mentioned it. And then I might have brought it up again because he was being a shit. But he *didn't* tell me, not really. But you're going to." He grinned. "Right, C?"

"Wait a minute," said JC, raising his hand. "He takes a romantic trip to Europe with his new boyfriend -- well, at the time, anyway, funny story about that -- and he talks about it on camera? Wow, that guy has more balls than I thought."

"What?" Joey blinked. "Um, no. Dude, C, no he did not out himself in front of an MTV camera crew. He just ... he said 'friend'. And left out the 'romantic' part. And ... shit, hold on." Justin looked like he was heading back to the bathrooms, and Joey really did want to thank him. "Don't go anywhere. Or come say hi if you want but I gotta go catch him before he leaves."

"Yeah, sure, okay," said JC, tagging along behind him, not unexpectedly. "I'm not sure how romantic it ended up *being*, though. I mean, obviously he didn't get into detail with me. But I'm pretty sure they both got what they wanted out of it."

"You are giving me the whole damn story later if it means I have the threaten Chris into withholding sex from you," Joey muttered to him, grinning wide when they caught up with Justin. "Justin! Justin. Hey, man. I just ... I wanted to say thank you for being such a sport today. You really ... I think you came across great, you looked great. It'll be ... great."

Justin paused and turned around and gave Joey a smile before noticing that JC was even there. "Yeah," he agreed, and it sounded sincere. "It was good. You pissed me off a couple times, but that was a lot of fun, mostly. Actually interesting. And you didn't ask the stupid shit. And ... JC. Hey!"

Joey looked down and stepped out of the way as JC moved forward, more than used to getting out of the way when he was somewhere with JC. And he didn't really have anything to say in response to Justin. He was sure he hadn't exactly enamoured himself to him, and obviously hadn't redeemed himself even when he stuck up for him to his manager.

"Hey, Justin," said JC, pretty enthusiastically. "Good to see you again, man. So, your first real interview with MTV. You've almost hit the big time now, kiddo."

Justin scowled and smacked hisarm, but he looked pleased, too. "Yeah, it went great, JC. I can't wait to see it." He turned back to Joey again, surprisingly. "You are gonna edit it some, right?" he asked. "Maybe take out the parts where I sounded like a bitch?"

"You didn't sound that bad," Joey said, after JC looked over at him questioningly. "But I was thinking I'd take out the comment about being impressed I could add. Or subtract or whatever. Unless you liked that line."

He kept an eye on JC's expression as he spoke, knowing how bent out of shape his friend got when people called Joey dumb.

"Oh, you earned that one," said Justin with a sly grin. "But I'm really not sure it's gonna play well for an audience."

"Getting an ego so soon?" said JC, lifting an eyebrow at Justin, unimpressed.

But Justin just shook his head at him. "Just wait until you see it. If you see it," he said. "You'll see. You'll see how the whole thing played out."

Joey just shrugged. He still thought he hadn't said anything to deserve it, really, even though he'd known exactly what he was doing and had been banking on Justin reacting that way. "I have no problems keeping it in," he said, more than anything to see what Justin would say. He had planned on taking it out as a favor, but.

"No, no," said Justin, looking flustered. "That's not what I ... I thought you'd show it to him in editing. Or something. I think I'm just gonna quit while I'm ahead. I'm just gonna -- " He gestured at the bathroom. "And then I have to head off. I have a couple more meetings yet today; Lance is waiting."

"I'm sure he is," muttered Joey. "Well, good luck with everything, man. It was definitely a pleasure and I appreciate your letting me talk to you." This, now, was his standard speech, and he knew he sounded bored. "I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot more of you."

JC elbowed him, though. "Joey, you're scaring the poor kid," he muttered. "Giimme a call later," he said louder, to Justin. "You have my cell number, right?" Justin nodded. "A bunch of us are going out tonight. You should come along, if you can make it."

Justin looked surprised, then pleased again. "I ... I don't know how long these meeting are gonna go," he said. "But yeah, if I can I totally wll. It was great running into you, JC, but I really gotta run."

"Hey, you too, I'll see you soon."

"And you, too, Joey," Justin added, and it didn't *sound* like just an afterthought. "You made that way better than it coulda been. It was good to be interviewed by someone I trusted not to screw me over. Thanks."

JC elbowed him again. "Uh, you're welcome," he said, then had to give a friendly smile and a wink. He really *couldn't* afford for Justin to have anything negative to say about him, whether Justin was aware of that or not. And then he elbowed JC back, *hard*, because he'd really wanted to talk *about* Justin that evening. Not *to* him.

"All right then," said Justin, waving at both of them. "Thanks again!" And he disappeared into the bathroom. And it would have been seriously, seriously lame to follow him in there.

"There. Mission accomplished," said JC, looking quite satisfied with himself.

"What mission was *that*?" Joey turned on him. "Fuck, C. I don't make you take *your* work with you when we go out. I'll probably take a pass on tonight, okay?"

"Oh no you won't," insisted JC. "First of all, it's really unlikely that he's gonna be able to make it. Less than a week before his album drops? He's way too busy. And even if he does, it'll be way later on in the night. And second, for you and him to be spotted out together having some fun? *Fabulous* publicity. Add me to the mix, and you've more than got gossip-column-worthy news. That kind of buzz is good for both of you. It's a win-win situation, and we still get a few hours together before he shows up -- if he shows up -- for me to get you nice and toasted."

"I think you and your publicist boyfriend shouldn't be allowed to talk to each other any more," Joey grunted. "I'm just warning you. *He's* gonna be less than pleased to see *me* there, if he does show. I obviously didn't impress the kid."

"Oh, please," scoffed JC, leading them away from the bathroom door and back to where the crew was still packing up. "You're too hard on yourself. What did you expect -- for him to be your best friend afterwards? Trust me, he seemed plenty impressed and happy with how it went. And I *know* what people are like when they're unimpressed."

"*I'm* too hard on myself?" Joey squawked, grabbing JC around the neck and dragging him a little, finally laughing. "Well, I learned from the best, so whatever, ulcer-boy. I gotta make sure I have everything and then go clean up myself once to coast is clear, and ... you'll call me?"

"I'll call you," promised JC, glancing at his watch. "I've got to go get ready to meet Chris for dinner soon, so I'll call you after, tell you when and where? It'll be fun. I promise. You need to relax a little."

He did, he was never like this, but it didn't keep him from waving JC away as he grabbed the shot lists from one of the PAs. "Blah blah blah pot kettle go have your romantic date," he said loudly, grinning. "If I don't answer it means the lovely ladies here convinced me where my time was better spent."

"Yeah, whatever," laughed JC, knowing him too damn well. "I'll talk to you later, Joey. Have fun!" And with that, he breezed out the door just as gracefully as Joey was sure he'd come in.

All Joey could do was shake his head and grab some headphones from *another* PA, ready to settle down and watch the feed on the monitor they had in there. Cleaning up, making plans, accidentally running into Justin Timberlake ... all of that had to wait.

* * *

Joey almost felt bad for interrupting the two of them when he saw them at the club ... almost. They looked really sweet, as much as JC's boyfriend ever looked *sweet*, and Joey forced down a little twinge of regret or jealousy or something before he approached them. He really, really wanted to know what else JC knew about Justin. Watching the footage and seeing just *how* much the kid had been thrown when Joey asked him about Europe ... that just cemented it.

"Think the two of you will ever be able to behave in public?" he asked, slipping down into the seat beside JC, smirking when he untangled his fingers from Chris's.

"We don't *need* to behave in public," countered Chris defiantly. "That's the beauty of it. Out and proud, my friend. With just the right spin, and person an pull it off."

JC just gave his boyfriend a gentle smile before he turned to Joey. "You're late," he accused him, though they'd never agreed on a time. "You missed the floor show. Next time you'll know better."

"What floor show?" Joey blinked, glancing around to see if he'd missed some big name or big face on his way in. "And speaking of being proud, if not necessarily out. I believe you have something to share with me."

"I do?" said JC innocently, sipping his very blue drink. "And what was that again?"

"What you missed," said Chris, glancing out at the dancefloor, "was nothing more then an overly enthusiastic public display of affection. They were escorted out about twenty minutes ago. My Jace likes to exaggerate a litlte."

"And they let you back in so soon?" Joey teased, exchanging a wink with Chris. "Come on, JC," he whined, nudging him. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Even though I swear I should have had enough of that just-past-teen idol today to last my whole life."

"What, was he pulling his little diva routine?" asked JC with a smirk. "Asking for his chilled Evian in a champagne glass? Come on, you know you've dealt with a lot worse. When it comes down to it, I really think he's just still a sweet kid."

"He *wasn't* being a diva," Joey said, actually surprising himself as he realized it. "Not at all. I just ... the interview, and then re-watching the interview, and then *editing* the interview ... it was just a lot of curls and blue eyes and ... but the point is, I'm colored *very* curious. And I cannot *believe* you didn't tell me about this supposedly-embarrassing European vacation when I *asked* you for embarrassing stuff."

"It wasn't an embarassing vacation," argued JC. "It was his rebound fling. The only really embarassing thing, maybe, is that Justin didn't really realize that until the trip was almost over. And he was over there for ... three months? I think? Long enough to really get some miles in, anyway."

"Well, *he* said it was embarrassing," Joey insisted. "Athough that seems like an honest mistake. Nobody knows they're rebounding until they're done, really. And *jesus*, C, are you gonna tell me who it was? he thought you already had. Don't make me get nasty."

"What? I don't even *remember* who it was," said JC with a shrug. "David? Daniel? I'm pretty sure it started with a D. He was nobody, Joey. I mean, nobody you know or would have heard of. Why are you so hung up on that, anyway?"

"Oh," Joey said, frowning. It wasn't ... he didn't know. It was that Justin had just made such a big deal out of it. Maybe it was just because it was a guy? "He just. Seemed really defensive, and you know me. Gossip so much you'd think I was born a chick."

"I'm still not convinced you *weren't*," teased JC, glancing at his pants and smirking. "Oh, nevermind. That's a pretty clear indication right there that you weren't. Anyway -- " He sipped his undoubtedly-fruity drink again. "So what else do you want to know?"

Joey glanced over at Chris again, who just gave him an '*I* can't control him' kind of look. "I guess ... just why he got so defensive about it. So I can figure out whether to leave it in or take it out."

"I'm sure it was just because the guy he was traveling with definitely wasn't just a 'friend'," said JC with another little knowing smile. "I'm willing to bet that just about every memory of Europe he has is pretty sexually charged. I don't have the *details*, but ... well, you know what rebound flings are like. Except the last week of the trip, of course, which was probably all about fighting and broken promises and desperate sex and then, finally, parting ways."

"Well, he did play the pronoun game like a pro," Joey said, leaning back and sipping at his own drink. "But he didn't exactly try to hide his ... you know, preferences, when we were off-camera," he added. "I just don't know. I can't afford to choose wrong, here. As much as I want this to be *my* big break, I don't want it to come at someone else's expense. *Especially* by outing them."

"Well, as long as he doesn't *actually* out himself, then I think you're in the clear," said JC. "I mean, you didn't know for sure what it meant, until you asked me, so it can't possibly be *that* obvious. He was pretty out to you off-camera, though? Really?"

"Yeah," Joey said, not sure why JC was so surprised. "I mean, it was just this off-hand remark about something, nothing really straightforward. Not like his *manager*, god. That Bass guy, he cetainly wasn't subtle about it -- he was pretty pissed. That's what I mean ... like, it's hard for me to tell whether it looks like I'm outing him, since I already know he's gay, or whatever. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, that makes sense," interrupted Chris. "What you've got to worry about there, if you don't want to out him, is juxtaposition. Don't play the interview alongside anything that'll make anyone already be in the gay mindset -- commercials, other programming, whatever. Outside that, I think you're find. He did say it, his comments are his own responsibility."

"Right," said JC, beaming at him for a moment. They definitely weren't past the honeymoon stage of the relationship yet. "What he said. I'm surprised about the openness thing, though. Either he's really changed, or he really trusted you. He probably trusted you. You're a trustworthy guy."

"I'm a *reporter*, JC," Joey argued. He wasn't, really, but close enough. And he worked for MTV and even though they weren't about to bite the hand that fed them, they were still vultures. Which meant so was he, by association. "He was ... I don't know. I just don't know. Maybe he didn't even realize I picked up on it. *Maybe* he thought I was too dumb to pick up on it."

"Oh shush," said JC. "*Now* you're being dumb. Have another drink. Beer makes you smarter, you know."

"That's what they taught me in college, anyway," said Chris, raising his glass to him before downing the rest of his drink.

"You *are* a trustworthy guy, Joey," insisted JC. "I mean, you do your job, but you don't fuck with people. Otherwise you wouldn't *care* how that piece of footage made him look."

"Right," Joey said, swallowing the rest of his own beer and signalling for another. "Whatever. So, okay ... this big love of his life, then? was that a guy too?" He didn't like being uncertain about his read of Justin. He might not have been smart in school, but he always thought he was smart about people. And with this kid, he didn't understand the things that had upset him, and he didn't understand the things he hadn't bothered to hide.

JC frowned in thought for a moment, then nodded his head. "Actually yeah, it was," he said. "Come to think of it, I can't really remember the last girl he dated. Seriously, anyway. Not that I know everyone he's ever dated of course, but ... hmmm. Anyway, yeah, it was a guy. Justin was really in love with him, I think."

"That's sad," Joey murmured, concentrating on his beer. The whole thing was none of his business and he vowed that was the last time he was going to talk about him. "So. How was dinner? And Chris, did you make JC pay again?"

"He makes mre than I do," said Chris with a smile and an unapologetic shrug. "I bought him a present, though, so it evens out in the end."

"Ooh, yes!" said JC excitedly, and showed Joey the brand-spanking-new watch on his wrist. "Isn't it gorgeous? Chris has such good taste." JC seemed just as willing to let the topic of Justin go, but Joey wondered if he was still thinking about it.

He managed to bite back some comment about how the two of them were the fucking cutest, and then suffered through a couple of people coming up to say hi to JC. And then, typically, doing double-takes as they halfway recognized Joey.

"Do you ever get him to yourself?" he asked Chris quietly.

"When it matters," said Chris, quite seriously, looking at JC and smiling softly, the way he did only sometimes. Chris wasn't exactly a soft guy. "You get used to it. I know what to expect, going out." Chris was the kind of guy where if you heard his name, you'd know it from somewhere but probably couldn't place quite where. But no one on the street ever knew his face -- it was always all about JC.

Joey just hummed a little, and the two of them waited for JC's admirers to leave. As always, Joey wondered about what people would think about him being out with Chris and JC -- what they'd assume. And whether he cared.

He supposed he didn't care enough to not do it; it was long past too late now, anyway. He'd been hanging around with JC for ages, and it hadn't seemed to affect his career one way or the other.

"Hey, thanks," said JC with a big, fake smile as the last person left. "That means a lot to me." When he turned back to the other two, he didn't roll his eyes but he came pretty damn close. "He thinks I'd do great in porn," he explained. "Isn't that nice to know?"

"You have the weirdest fans, C," Joey said, shaking his head. Then he grinned. "What kind of porn, though? I might be able to get behind that idea ... "

"Oh, don't," he said, giving Joey's shoulder a shove. "That's what I get for doing a couple underwear campaigns in my youth, I guess." He glanced toward the door, then at his watch, then up at Joey again. "Would you really rent porn that I was in?"

"JC, I would *buy* porn that you were in," Joey grinned, inching away from Chris just in case. "I would buy the VHS and then the DVD and then the special-edition DVD, with the deleted scenes. I would buy it and wear it out and then buy replacement copies. I'd buy it for myself and for my friends and then for all my dates, as examples of what they should aim for .... "

Chris wasn't in any position to smack him, though, he was laughing so helplessly he almost slid out of his seat. JC was, though. "Oh, you would not!" he said. "You'd be far too embarassed. You'd get your assistant to buy it or something. Do you have an assistant yet?"

"Do I ... no, JC," Joey replied, laughing helplessly himself. "No. I do not have an assistant or a publicist boyfriend or, apparently, someplace better to be, like you. Are we that boring? I *saw* you checking your watch."

"Oh! No, no, I was just watching for Justin," said JC like it was nothing, like Justin Timberlake stopped by all the time. "And plus, I just really like looking at my watch." And he gave Chris one of those stupid, loving, beaming smiles.

"Justin's not coming," Joey said, looking at Chris for confirmation. He just ... he couldn't look at that face any moretoday. He wasn't exactly sure why not, but he knew he couldn't. "Justin's ... it's late, C. Justin's not *actually* coming, right? He didn't actually call."

"Oh no, he did," said JC earnestly, checking his watch again. Or maybe just checking it out. Chris nodded his head silently. "Earlier, he called. He was still busy, though, wasn't sure when he was going to be here still. He knows where were are now, though, so ... "

"C," Joey said, covering his face. "C, why didn't you tell me this, man? I really ... I know you think, publicity, blah blah blah, but. I'm really, I really don't think he'll want to see me, because he deserves to relax too and he knows I'm not done putting the interview together and so he won't be able to relax, and ... "

"Well, he knows you're here, he can make that decision himself, I guess," said JC easily. He motioned for another drink to replace his, and got quicker service than probably any other person in the place. "And you already *knew* I invited him. It's not like I'm springing this one your or anything. Don't you think maybe *I* want to see him, too?"

"Fine, okay," Joey said, raising his hands up, absolving himself of any of it. The kid probably wouldn't show up, anyway; he didn't need to get his panties in a wad about it. Even though it was strange that he still said he'd come if JC really told him that Joey was going to be there. "Except you're gonna see him Saturday, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah, sure," said JC. "Me and three hundred other people. Him and me, we have a bit of catching up to do. This may not be the quiestest place, but it sure beats the release party for being able to monopolize his attention. What have you got against him, anyway? Was today really that difficult?"

"I don't have anything against him," Joey said honestly, able to meet both JC and Chris's gazes. "And I know this is something I'm gonna have to get used to, if I want to really do this VJ thing, but. I don't like feeling like the enemy. I'm not out to get him. And I think maybe things were said today that makes him think I am. Or. Something."

"Said ... by who?" asked JC, with genuine curiosity. Chris, though, looked a bit warier. JC may have been around, but Chris had been around more. He knew the ins and out sof the *non*-artist side of the industry. "He really didn't seem to think that, Joey. I think you're just a little paranoid. Seeing what you're expecting, but is not really there."

"Fine, I don't know him," Joey admitted easily. "And maybe that *is* what I expect to see. I *do* know he has a chip on his shoulder, and he won *me* over, but if he gives the same type of answers to the same type of questions to someone that *wouldn't* want to take him to bed? he's in trouble. I seriously think that."

"Maybe you should tell him that," murmured JC. "Hell, maybe *I* should tell him that. I don't see him enough to know his body language at all, but he really did seem to genuinely trust you. For what it's worth."

Joey brushed that off. "Just because he knew we were friends." He sighed, vowing *again* not to let Justin Timberlake be the the focus of his evening. "He mentioned you a lot, actually. Maybe you should be getting jealous, Chris."

Chris just waved that off, though. If he wasn't threatened by all of JC's coworkers and admirers, he probably wasn't going to be threatened by an upstart popstar, either. He knew damn well he had JC's heart.

"Well, he did know me way back when," said JC reasonably. "Last time he was famous. It only makes sense."

"Sure," Joey said. "Whatever. I'm gonna go dance, I think." He stood up and made his way into a crowd of people, smiling at some of them, letting others of them close enough to touch him. Or grope him, really, which was just fine for his current state of mind. It might even be one of those one-night stand nights, which were becoming less frequent as he either got older, or more careful.

Sometimes JC and Chris came with him, but this time they just stayed sitting together, touching and smiling and doing all those sappy things that people in love did with one another. Really, it was sweet enough to choke on sometimes. Joey wondered if that was what Justin had been like, when he had been in love with that guy, then fiercely reminded himself that it was none of his business.

"The thing *is*," he blurted, when he made it back to the table and picked up the beer they had waiting for him. "The thing *is* ... I liked him. I mean. Whatever, I know, I was supposed to, and I'm a total fucking sucker for lips, we know this. And so maybe I wanted him to like me. And so maybe that's what's wrong. I either think I messed up or I don't *want* to mess up and I don't know which it is." He exhaled. Finally.

JC gaving him a smile like he'd known that all along. "He liked you fine, Joey," he said again, but the words got emptier every time Joey heard them. How did he *know* that, after all?

Chris looked at his watch and started to stand up. "Actually," he said, sounding apologetic, "we should probably think about going. I have an early meeting again tomorrow ... "

Joey understood, he really did, but it was typical. Any time he actually thought he could talk about how he was feeling and nobody wanted to hear. He shook Chris's hand and gave JC a big hug, and a promise to call him tomorrow.

"You should even come down and see the raw footage of the interview, if you want," he said. "I mean. You sounded interested."

"I am," said JC, holding him close for a minute. "You call me any time, okay?" he added softly, in Joey's ear. "Even later tonight. I'm sorry to run like this, but Chris is a bear if he doesn't get his sleep. You know how it is." Joey didn't, really, but he knew how JC felt about Chris, and he knew who would win if he asked JC to stay.

"Bye, C," Joey murmured, keeping the wistful note out of his voice successfully, he thought. And then giving his ass a brief squeeze because he thought it was funny to make Chris glare at him.

"Bye, Joe," said JC, kissing his cheek as he pulled away, and Chris's arms came around him. "Talk to you soon." The didn't linger after that, Chris giving him a parting wave and steering JC toward the door. His possessiveness had more to do with the crowds of people surrounding their exit, and not Joey at all, but that didn't change the way he felt about it.

He felt his shoulders slump, and let himself wallow in lonely self-pity for a minute, until he glanced back up and saw legs in a short skirt that were worthy of following to the dance floor. If *he* was ever interviewed, and someone asked *him* about his best quality, that's what he'd say. Not the skirt-chasing, but the inability to stay in a bad mood for long.

He certainly wasn't ready to leave yet, at any rate. Sure, he had things to do in the morning. A lot of things to do. But right now he wanted to get his mind *off* them for a while, not go home and wallow in them. It wasn't working very well, the getting his mind off things, but at least he was having a good time dancing.

He danced with a girl first -- not the one with the skirt -- and then a boy ... then another boy, and another, and he knew he *really* wasn't getting his mind off things. He just would close his eyes and see Justin's jaw, or his mouth, or that little sliver of skin when he'd taken off his mic after the interview, and he knew that was what he was in the mood for.

It wasn't long after that when he he gave up, returning to the table he'd abandoned and ordering himself another beer. He was better off when he wasn't rubbing up against hot bodies anyway. He wasn't going to take any of them home -- there was nothing lamer than calling someone by the wrong name, and for whatever reason he guessed he might be doing that that night. He didn't really look up until he heard a commotion nearby -- not a big commotion, just the kind of commotion that was made when someone recognizable came through the door. Joey had been through it many time.

Been there and done that, and he'd had his fill of recognizeable for the evening. Although he grinned to himself a little when he remembered JC's fan and the porn idea, and thought about stopping somewhere on his way home and picking up some tapes to FedEx to him in the morning with a post-it that said: "For ideas."

"Joey?" Joey froze. After today, he'd know that voice anywhere. He didn't even need to look up. "Hi." The voice sounded a little more uncertain now, probably from his reaction. "Have you seen JC around? I was supposed to meet him here, like, ages ago ... :"

"Hi," Joey said, looking up. Bypassing whatever Justin looked like from the nose down and just fixing his gaze on his eyes. "Hi, Justin. I'm ... sorry, you missed them by about a half hour. Him. Them. Um." Beer. Beer was good. "I guess they figured you couldn't make it after all."

"Oh." That was definitely disappointment in his eyes. He was probably going to leave now. "Shit. I'll have to call and apologize tomorrow, it's just been a really crazy day, you have no idea. Or, well, maybe you do. You mind if I sit down?"

"Please," Joey said easily, before thinking about it -- he found himself doing that a lot with this kid -- and slid over on the seat. "So. Can I get you a drink? what's your poison?"

Justin pointed at Joey's beer. "One of those is good. Anything, really. Seriously, it's just been ... I think I need to wind down a little. If Lance hadn't been dead tired, he probably would've followed me *here*, too. The guy's just gone nuts these last few days. I think the stress is getting to him." Joey doubted that was the case, though. Lance had been through the pressure of an album release before. It was Justin who hadn't.

"Beer's the cure for everything," Joey said, nodding at the waiter. "Didn't even go to college and I know that much." He chewed on his lip a little. "Did you ... did you want to talk about it? Off the record," he added quickly. "I hope that went without saying."

"Off the record?" said Justin, mulling the words over until he got his beer. "Off the record, I'm just about ready to kill him, I swear. That scene today? While you were there? He seriously had no right." Joey could've told him horror stories way worse than that, but he held back. "That was just over the line, there."

"I'm sorry," Joey said, a little helplessly. "I don't even ... I mean, yeah, I was surprised, but." Then something occured to him. "Or do you just mean how he acted, not what he said?"

Justin looked up at Joey and down at his beer a couple times and then said, "What he said, mostly. I'm used to his little blowups like that lately. At least you already knew, but seriously. I mean, he's worried about *me* messing up and then he says something obvious like that? Whatever. He needs a vacation."

"You took it really well," Joey offered. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say, but Justin obviously needed an ear. And no matter what had happened earlier, or what Joey felt, he was definitely sympathetic to the kid. "I guess. I mean, maybe it was just that ... okay, maybe you know this already and you can tell me to shut up, but there are a lot of people that are, like, out. To the industry? but not to the public. So I guess that's why he thought what he said, in front of me, might have been okay, and what you ... whatever ... might not have. Although *for* the record? The karaoke thing wasn't what might have pinged me if I'd been watching."

Justin lifted his eyebrows. "What would have, then?" he asked, his tone a lot more curious and a lot less challenging than it had been earlier. "And ... I know, about the being out thing. It just wasn't his choice to make, is all. Though apparently I beat him to the punch ... "

"Well, nothing specific," Joey hedged, but Justin just waited. "It's not the same because I knew. I mean, I knew already. JC mentioned that much. But. Well, it was just the pronoun thing. There's such a thing as being too skillful. Which, I mean, whatever -- you have to look for it to notice, I guess. And maybe you don't want to lie and say "she" if it's *never* "she," but. You should know that."

"Ahh," said Justin knowingly. "Yeah. I've been ... kinda practicing that. It was like I said, I don't wanna lie, but that doesn't mean I have to say everything, you know? It's a pretty fine line, I guess, but I hope I'm not straying from it *too* much. I know it's important."

Joey nodded. He could tell justin'd been practicing. That was kind of the problem. But he'd done his job; he'd told him it was noticeable. It wasn't his business to tell him not to do something. "It's just," he said slowly, the last thing he planned on saying on the matter. "You know, you may have to choose at some point. Lying, or. Keeping your image. And it's not fair but it is what it is."

Justin took a deep breath and nodded his head. "Yeah," he said, like he knew that. "And I *really* don't think Lance is gonna like the choice I'd make if it came down to it. So let's just not tell him, huh? I'll just ... you got any tips, for how I can lay off the obvious stuff?" Wow, JC *hadn't* been kidding, when he'd said Justin trusted him.

"Um?" Joey said, downing the rest of his beer almost self-consciously. "That's. Again, Justin, it's so hard to say because I knew already, you know?" He actually tried to think, though; felt his brow furrow as he scraped at the beer label. "No girls at all, huh?"

Justin shrugged. "Sometimes. Not really. I figured ... you're cool with that, right? I'd think you'd pretty much have to be, what with your job, and being JC's friend and all."

"Or, you know, what with *me*," Joey laughed, looking for their waiter again so he missed Justin's reaction to that. "I don't know. Really, do what you were doing. I'm sure it's fine. I just was ... looking for it. You didn't actually ever say 'they' which is the big no-no so I think you're, um, fine."

"I know it's gonna be tricky," said Justin slowly. When Joey looked back there was definitely a change in the way Justin was looking at him. "But I'm just ... not gonna lie about it. If it comes down to it. Which I hope it won't, at least not for a while, because both me and my career pretty much aren't ready for that."

"I don't know if anyone's ever is," Joey murmured, hoping it didn't sound trite. "Maybe you think this is awful but every time I go out with C and Chris, it's in the back of my head. Who's gonna see us. What're they gonna think. And I'm not you. I don't ... don't envy you."

"Yeah, well, hundreds have done it before me," said Justin, obviously trying to sound more casual than he actually managed. "I get that. I absolutely get that, the worry thing. Because ... people are always watching. I'm really ... I didn't really have any idea, until it started. I thought I did, but I didn't."

"Like I said, I don't envy you," Joey said again, then met Justin's eyes. "Okay, what. Now you're looking at me funny, man. Am I being too ... personal? apparently, that's *my* biggest fault. My ma always tells me that just because I like to talk to people, it don't mean they want to talk to me."

"No, that's not ... " began Justin, then shook his head. "I haven't really met a lot of people, for real, in a long time. I mean real people. It's nice. I *do* like to talk to you. That's a little weird, for me."

"I'm ... okay," Joey laughed. "That's definitely the weirdest thing you've said to me, I think. Either I'm not important enough to be considered more than a 'regular person' -- which, man, even if you think it, wait until after I finish editing the interview to admit -- or. Or I don't know what you've done with your time between 16 and 21."

Justin laughed and gave Joey a very genuine smile. "I meant, since this whole ride started. I meet so many people and they take and take and take, and I don't meet anyone anymore that gives back. Except that you do, you do give back. You interact. That's what I meant."

"Aww, aren't you sweet," murmured Joey, flashing the waitress who brought the next round over a grin even though his words were definitely for Justin. "Don't make me out to be too ... whatever the opposite of selfish is, too soon." He didn't mean it, of course. He was liking talking to Justin too, and didn't expect a thing out of it.

"Don't even," said Justin, waving a hand at him. "You know how you are, compared to other people in your business. Everyone's a little selfish, not everyone's nice. I don't ever want to get you mad at me, though. Something tells me you'd fight dirty."

"Everyone has their buttons," Joey said, handing Justin's beer to him. He wondered if Justin thought that because of what had happened in the studio today. Wondered if he should regret it.

"Yeah, for sure," he said, taking it gratefully. Joey could even *see* him winding down, see his muscles relaxing as he got some of that stuff out. "Everyone totally does, and it's dangerous not knowing what you are. That's the hardest thing, you know? Not the writing or the singing or the recording or the performing ... it's the figuring out the right things to say to people."

"You completely impressed me today," Joey blurted. "With that, I mean. You were ... you came across as poised and smart and mature and when you got rattled it was because I rattled you on purpose." Justin was looking at him funny again so he just stared at his beer. "I had a point. Um. I guess it was just that you're doing really well at it and if that's the hardest thing for you then you're gonna be huge."

"I was really stressed out about it," admitted Justin. "And then, I really did think it was gonna be fluffier. I just about threw up after. I'm still ... probably a lot blunter than I should be. Lance tells me that all the time. So thanks ... that makes me feel better about the whole thing."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Joey said, pretty much horrified at himself. It wasn't anything he'd ever intended on using, he just did it because he could, and because he got mad. And that made him an asshole. "Justin, shit. I'm really sorry, man. Wow. I'd be, like, busting that bottle open on the table and stabbing my eye out right now if I were you."

"What? No. You were just doing your job, I get that," he said quickly, starting to peel the label off his bottle of beer. "I've been through worse. Just usually on the radio, I haven't really done much TV stuff yet, just a couple little segments. So God, I hope I don't look as scared as I felt." He turned his head and gave Joey another grin. "I looked good, right? Tell me I looked good."

"How many nakedly honest compliments do you *expect* from a guy in one night," Joey grinned back, slowly. He knew he'd already told Justin he looked good. But it gave him a chance to take in what he looked like *now*, which was -- now that he *did* look -- much different. Sleeker, almost. No makeup and his skin still glowed, no lipgloss that Joey could see and his lips were still wet. And bare arms, and ... "Wow," he said, reaching for Justin's shoulder. "Nice ink, man."

Justin looked over and grinned some more. "Hey, thanks, man," he said. "I've got some others, but nothing like that. You?"

"Yeah," Joey said, his own grin turning into a little smirk. "I have a few. That's the type of thing that you gotta be-"

"Joey?"

It was a woman's voice, and one that Joey recognized faster and with twice as much nervousness as he had Justin's a half hour earlier.

"Hey, Kelly," he murmured, standing up to kiss her cheek and then sort of just ... hovering between standing and sitting back down. "What're you ... how are you."

"Fine," she said abruptly, glaring down at Justin. "Fine. I just wanted to tell you that I'm here with a *date*, so don't come talk to me."

"I don't think he was planning to, honey," said Justin, out of the blue. Joey had never heard that tone of voice come from him before. It was challenging, yes, but with a much sharper edge that he'd used on Joey. "We were talking. Do you mind?"

"Justin," Joey said carefully, after he'd recovered from what really had been a shock, shaking his head once at him and sort of pleading with his eyes. He turned back to his ex-girlfriend, ex-*everything*, reluctantly. "Um, where are you sitting," he asked, as politely as he could. "So I don't bother you."

"Over there," she sniffed distractedly, gesturing across the club and upstairs, and Joey knew she'd had to have been looking to even notice him where they were. She was much more interested in giving Justin a look that could kill. "And maybe I do mind, *honey*."

Justin gave her a skeptical look but he stayed silent. He didn't have to say anything for Kelly to get what he was thinking, though, it was written all over his face. He may have been following Joey's silent request to the letter, but not the spirit of it. "I'll make sure he leaves you alone," he said finally, and gave her a nasty smile. "You should probably get back to your ... *date*."

"Look, do you have a problem?" Kelly said, stepping closer and raising a finger almost in Justin's face; she'd always been mouthy, always been agressive. Joey touched her arm to try and get her attention back, but he was careful not to grab her. She could make his life hell *without* lifting that finger, and making a scene in a club was the least of the ways. And Justin's reaction still had him stunned. "Who the fuck are you, anyway?"

"A friend of Joey's," he said, surprising Joey. His name was recognizable enough that even Kelly would know it. Especially since she kept up with entertainment news, just to get dirt on him, he figured. "And we were having a private conversation that you rudely interrupted. Who the hell are *you*?"

"Oh, I know all about Joey's *friends*," Kelly started, and Joey finally slipped between them.

"Okay, that's enough," he said, trying to be firm without being loud, but still hearing his voice shake. He wanted to say something to *both* of them about attracting attention, but that was probably exactly what Kelly wanted. He tried to give her a guilty smile, instead, and touched her nose like she used to like. "He didn't mean it, babe. I promise I ... I won't bother you or your date, okay?" Not that he would seek *her* out, in a million years. Never again.

He was tall enough and she was short enough that he was completely blocking Justin from her view, and she backed down. "Just don't," she had to repeat.

Thank god Justin didn't say anything, start it all up again, but he did gently touch Joey's back while he was standing there waiting for Kelly to leave. Just enough so that Joey could feel it, and let it calm him down a little. Not much though. And even after Kelly left, he still got to explain to Justin what was going on.

"It was good to see you," Joey said weakly to her retreating back; lying through his teeth. One day, he told himself. One day he wouldn't feel the need to be so fucking gracious to that bitch.

"What the hell?" asked Justin, as soon as she was out of earshot. The *moment* she was out of earshot. "Who the hell was *that* bitch?"

"That was The Ex," Joey sighed, knowing Justin heard the capitals. "And dude, what the hell, *you*. I mean," he forced a laugh, "thanks for ... sticking up for me or whatever, but do you seriously go around picking fights with women?"

"Hey, I didn't pick that fight," he said defensively. "She's the one that came over here busting in on us and treating you like shit. Why do you let her do that, anyway? If she's an ex, and all."

"You *did* pick that fight," said Joey, surprised that Justin was even arguing. "She wasn't talking to you, and ... look, none of your business anyway, man, okay? Exes are messy and mine seem to come complicated pre-packaged and just ... don't."

Justin looked absolutely astonished that Joey had said that to him. "Fine," he said after a moment. "You can let her treat you however you want to. But I'm not going to let her be rude like that to me and it *was* rude to me, to interrupt. I certainly won't defend *you* again, though."

"She interrupted *me*," Joey muttered, feeling like he'd fucked up and not even knowing how. It just wasn't in him to be confrontational, especially not with someone that used to mean so much to him. "I'm sorry you had to ... see it, though," he told him honestly. "Kelly can be nasty."

"And you were talking to *me*, so she interrupted me, too," said Justin, then took a long, deep breath and let it out. "No, okay, you're right. I need to not provoke people like that. She just ... really, really rubbed me the wrong way, Joey. Why *do* you let her treat you like that? She got something on you, or something?"

"Justin!" Joey exclaimed quietly, wanting to answer that like he wanted to lose his job and get attacled by an alligator. "What part of 'none of your business' did you miss? I'm sorry you don't like her. *I* don't like her. She's an ex, after all. But if I can get her to leave in two minutes by being polite, I'm gonna choose that option over the alternative every time. And that is actually something you can learn something from."

Justin was silent for a moment, very obviously biting back what he wanted to say. "I should probably be going soon anyway," he said finally. "I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. But hey, it was good to run into you here, Joey. You have a good night."

"Hey, great," Joey said sarcastically, throwing up his hands and standing back up so Justin could leave whenever his self-involved little heart felt like it. He just ... it had already *been* a long day.

"Yeah. Great," said Justin, completely unrepentant. "Just ... could you forget everything I said to you tonight? I know it probably goes against your nature, but I would consider it a personal favor. I'd even say I owed you one, even though Lance told me never, ever to say that. All right? It would be better that way."

"What, precisely, are you worried about," Joey said, putting one of his hands on the back of the bench and the other on the table, leaning over where Justin was still seated and raising his eyebrows. "You didn't tell me a damn thing I didn't already know. If *anybody* should be saying that, it's me."

"None of your business," snapped Justin, draining the last of his beer. "I'm really fucking tired of starting to open up to people who aren't willing to do it back. Life's too short, and I don't want to waste my time making friends who are going to be condescending jerks to me when I try to stick up for them. Could you move? I'm ready to head back to my hotel."

Joey didn't move. "No," he said mildly. "Condescending jerk? where do you get off? And exactly what is it about me that makes you think I *need* you sticking up for me, kiddo? And ... " He didn't even know what else. Just that he'd been more open with Justin than he ever really was, more complimentary than he ever was unless he was trying to score. And somehow that made him condescending. "You *asked* for my help."

"You were letting her walk all over you," mumbled Justin, looking a little less sure of himself, but not much. "You're better than that, Joey, and I hated to see it, okay? You keep giving in to that stuff, and she'll keep doing it. I know it looks like a good solution but it's just, it's not. Not in my experience anyway."

"Ah, your vast experience," Joey said snottily, completely passing the point of no return for letting them both exit the conversation saving face. He was a man, for shit's sake, and if he let Kelly act like that, well. There was a reason. A perfectly legitimate one that he'd *tried* to explain to Justin. "All twenty-one years of it. Thanks for the tip."

"All right, I'm through being fucking nice," said Justin, shoving at his arm. "Just let me get out of here. Obviously you don't want me here any more than I want to be here. Oh, and by the way, you might not want to go near that girl over there on the balcony." He gestured in Kelly's direction and made a sound like a cracking whip, then shoved at Joey's arm again.

"Don't," Joey said darkly, catching Justin's wrist in his hand and twisting it just enough to hint at how painful it could be. His muscles might not look as good as Justin's in a sleeveless shirt, but they weren't for show. "All of it; just do not." He stood back up slowly, giving Justin what was barely enough room to squeeze out.

Justin did, shoving hard at Joey as he passed by. Funny thing, though, he looked more upset than angry. "I need to get back to my hotel," he said again, unnecessarily, and tossed a few bills on the table. Enough for his beers. "See you around, I guess."

"Well, I'll be seeing you," Joey reminded him, the fact that he was going to have to spend the whole next day in the editiing room staring at the kid's face just occuring to him. If it sounded like a threat ... Joey'd just have to see how embarrassed he was in the morning.

"The whole world will be seeing me," Justin reminded him, and looked for all the world like he didn't really want to leave. "I just ... I'm really fucking tired, Joey. I'm already *so* fucking tired. I just wanted someone who could be a friend."

"I didn't know I was auditioning," Joey retorted, but there wasn't any venom left in it. "Look. Do you ... do you need a ride? Back to your hotel or whatever? At least let me."

"I don't ... " began Justin, shaking his head. "I can call a car. Don't put yourself out or anything. I'm sorry I came and bothered you. Can you just tell JC that I did show up, though, if you talk to him? I don't want him to think I stood him up."

"I'll tell him," Joey said awkwardly, shoving his hands in his pockets. "And ... you didn't bother me. I'm sorry this ... whatever, this happened, because I was enjoying talking to you. No matter what, I think you're a good kid and I like your album and seriously? good luck with that."

"Yeah, thanks," said Justin, looking equally awkward and ... young. Joey had given him some shit about being young, sure, but this was the first time he'd really seen it. He looked like he wanted to say something else, looking up and parting his lips, but then he just shook his head. "I'll see you this weekend."

Joey blinked at him and cocked his head. "You will?" he asked. "Are you coming back by the studio or something? Oh." He looked down. "You probably wanted to see the interview before we aired it. It should be done by tomorrow night, I think."

"I think Lance is trying to wrangle me final approval anyway," admitted Justin. "But I meant the party. The release party? You got your invite, right? I know I put you on the list when I found out you were doing my interview ... "

"You did?" Joey didn't even bother to keep the surprise out of his voice. "No, I ... I didn't. I haven't. I mean, maybe it's back at the studio or something. Or maybe ... " He rolled his eyes. "I mean, if it was part of the group that got sent to the powers-that-be at MTV, I'm sure it got given to someone else." It happened. And Joey wasn't enough of a name or a face yet to complain. It was really nice that Justin had done that, though.

"I don't know how it got sent," he said, shrugging. "I don't take care of that, I just give them a list of people I want them to invite and then they double it with people they think should be there and someone else takes it from there. Anyway, yeah, you were invited. Are invited. I'm sure you can get all the info from JC, if they didn't actually give it to you."

"I'm ... " It hadn't even occured to Joey that he'd get to go. It would *really* give him a chance to talk to people, though -- mingle, and hopefully impress. And it made him feel even worse for what he'd said to Justin earlier. "Are you sure I can't just drop you off? Please. As a thank you. As a, um, personal favor,' or whatever you said."

Justin glanced up at the balcony where Kelly was sitting, then back at him again. "I didn't think you really wanted to leave so early," he said. "Especially not with me. You don't have to feel obligated or anything."

"I wanted to leave before I got here," Joey admitted, grinning ruefully. "I got bullied into showing, and then I got ... distracted, let's say. I'm not looking at it like an obligation, Justin, but ... I just get the feeling that it might be better for both of us -- our careers, at least -- if we leave on good terms."

"It's cool," said Justin, that sounding as much like a rehearsed line as some of the things he'd said in his interview. "We're good. If you really want to, though, you can. I don't think you're going to kidnap me or anything."

"You don't get everything you want *that* easy," Joey grinned wider, leaning against Justin playfully, if hesitantly. "Of course, when I say 'drop you off,' you do know I mean ride with you in the cab, right? 'cause Manhattan plus a VJ's salary means no wheels."

"I didn't figure you did," said Justin, actually smiling just a little again. "Unless you made a lot of wise investments when you were, like, six. If I called for a car it would be a lot classier, but ... okay. Sure. You ready to go?"

"Yes," Joey said, simply and gratefully, letting Justin walk out ahead of him and putting the tips of three of his fingers on his lower back as they exited. "Thanks. I'm a good Catholic and all and I woulda been feeling *major* guilt about this otherwise."

"Yeah, well," said Justin, awkward again. "That last bit wasn't exactly fun. And seriously ... I didn't know it was possible to even *be* this exhausted. I'm probably hypersensitive to everything. But I was only trying to help."

"Shh, okay," Joey said, leaning close to his shoulder so he could keep his voice low. "I know. Let's not." He patted Justin's other shoulder and then stepped out onto the curb, whistling loudly like the seasoned New Yorker he was, and raising his hand.

"Lance told me I should enjoy this while I can," said Justin. Lance obviously had a lot of confidence that Justin was going to make it big. Then again, so did the rest of the world. "Just everything. And then he gets all stressed when I stay out late. Seriously, I think his head's going to explode soon if he doesn't lighten up a little."

"So you said," Joey said, smiling over his own shoulder when Justin came up to stand close behind him. "Well, it's not late, it's just past midnight, and look. No pumpkin." He opened the door to the cab that pulled up. "I think you *should* enjoy it. Rock star, that's like the best gig in the world."

"He means the stuff I can't so anymore, when I'm famous," said Justin, not wasting any time before slipping inside. "I think he's overreacting. I mean, this is New York. Even if I get huge, I'm still gonna be hailing cabs in the middle of the night, you know?

"Ahhh," Joey said, sliding in after him. "Enjoying *that* while you can. And you wanted to get a car!" he teased. "So. Where *are* you staying?" The cabby was looking at them expectantly and Joey just gave him a grin.

"Oh, right." Justin leaned forward and gave him the address; unlike some people that Joey had ridden with in the past, he didn't need to use a side or a back door or anything. Yet. "Do you live far from here?"

"Luckily, no," Joey said, relaxing back in the seat and just watching Justin watch outside the window. "Or unluckily; whatever. Where do you -- I mean, where's *home* home? I know, whatever, Orlando in your bio, but. Do you have a place?"

"In Orlando?" said Justin. "Yeah. More or less. We settled there after the mouse club, me and my mom and my stepdad. Tennessee's still home, though. Always will be."

"That's nice," Joey said, falling quiet once more. And it *was* quiet; it was a lot different from talking in the club had been. And Joey *did* almost feel like he was auditioning, all over again.

"Yeah, it is," murmured Justin, from all the way over on the other side of the car, leaning against the window and staring out. "So you know JC pretty well, then?"

"What did he say?" Joey asked, by way of reply. "I mean. Yeah. We're ... he's probably my best friend, if you made me sit down and think about it. Even though he's been ... sort of busy, lately. You know."

"Yeah," said Justin. Joey could see his smile reflected in the window. "Back when we first knew each other, we were never close. He was a lot older then, when we were teenagers and it mattered. I think we're a lot more now, though. He's one of those people that I know is real."

"It's cool that you kept in touch?" Joey offered. "I think he thinks you're a good person." Everything he'd been curious about earlier, about how Justin kept bringing JC up in conversation, came back to hi m once he did it again. "You seem ... interested."

"In what?" asked Justin, seeming distracted by the world outside the cab and not catching the nuance of Joey's question.

"In ... in him," Joey said. He himself couldn't stop watching Justin. "That's, like, the tenth time you've asked me about him, how I know him, whatever ... "

"That's cause you never really answer," said Justin. "And I'm not, not like that. It's just ... more and more lately, I'm watching old friends drop away, start to treat me differently because of all this. And more and more it comes back to JC, who I kept in touch with, more or less, and who is just kinda taking this whole thing in stride. I kept in touch with a couple other people, too, from the show, but once they made it they just kinda forgot me. I don't know if he knows I think of him that way."

"Which way," Joey prompted, starting to bite his nails. He was pretty sure JC didn't, but JC ... JC took everything in stride. And he believed the best of people and stuck by them until and unless they no longer deserved him. "Just ... as someone to look up to, because of the way he handled his own fame? or. As someone to depend on to be there for you."

"Both," said Justin. "Now that I'm an adult, and we're finally really relating on the same level ... I guess I kind of want to make up for lost time. As much as I can, anyway, between my schedule and his schedule."

It was a sweet, if slightly naive thing to say, Joey thought. It seemed to be just like Justin to expect that JC would want to renew or redevelop the friendship just because he was ready. But, he had to admit, maybe it was just that he was feeling like his *own* place in JC's life was so precarious at the moment.

"Good for you," he finally said, meaning it sincerely. "JC is a good person and a good friend and ... just, good."

"Yeah, I know," said Justin. Joey could see Justin bite his lip, and bet Justin didn't know he could see. "This is my hotel, here," he said, tapping lightly on the window and finally turning to look at Joey. "So yeah. I'll see you this weekend." theunCJ:

"Good luck tomorrow," Joey replied with a soft smile, biting his nails again for something to do with his hands so he didn't reach out to touch Justin before he left. "Thanks for letting me see you back. And ... " There was something else ... "Oh. And I'll tell C, about you stopping by. Unless you talk to him first."

"Thanks," said Justin, leaning his head back in after stepping out. "I'd appreciate that. And good luck with the rest of your editing, too." He gave Joey a broad, genuine smile and then backed out again, closing the door behind him.

"Pretty boy," Joey sighed, turning his head and banging it carefully on the protective glass between him and the driver. "Pretty, pretty boy." And -- for good or bad -- he wasn't going away anytime soon.

* * *

"I brough sustenance," said JC, peeking his head through the door and almost sending Joey tumbling out of his chair in surprise. "Oh look, you have the lights on, that's a good sign, right? That you're not sitting here, starving in the dark for your art?"

"Ha ha," Joey said, leaning back dangerously far in his chair to grab the chips JC was taunting him with, once he caught his balance. "Some of us don't have jobs that pay us to keep tan, you know. But speaking of ... your shoot cancelled *again* today, C? did you develop some ugly spot overnight or something?"

"Look at your clock once in a while," said JC, snagging someone else chair and sitting down in it backwards. "I've been done for a while. And I was spectacular, thank you very much. How's it going here?" theunCJ:

"What?" Joey said, glancing down at his watch. It was already 6. "Shit." He grabbed his notes and started pounding himself in the forehead with them. "Shit, shit. Um. It's fine. I'm all done with all of it except ... except this middle segment. He looks great but I can't ... I can't pick the right time to start. Which question to restart after. 'Cause I don't think I want to use some stuff in the middle."

"Production problems?" asked JC, turning to look at the monitor that currently wasn't showing anything. "I remember that time you lost sound for a couple minutes. That must've been a real pain. Or was Timberlake having a diva moment or something. Or --" He chuckled quietly. "-- did you sneeze again?"

"*No*, C,' Joey groaned. "No, it's ... look. I'm not even doing anything 'cause I keep going back and forth on it. Can you take a look? Just. Just tell me when you think it won't mess up *both* of our careers for me to edit back in."

He pointed to the monitor with the footage from that segment, the one where Joey sprang the question about Europe on Justin and Justin insulted him about being able to count, and pushed 'play'/

JC gave a low whistle after watching it. "Wow, what prompted *that* little exchange?" was the first thing he asked, not offering any suggestion other than that. "Something off-camera, I'm assuming?"

"I don't even remember," Joey admitted, chweing on his lip as he stared at the freeze-frame of Justin's face. "I'd asked him if he thought the first segment had gone well and he muttered something about thinking MTV was supposed to be fluffy, or something, and then right as we went back to camera he said the whole thing wasn't, like, real journalism. Or hard-hitting or something. So I guess I got defensive." He finally looked back at JC. "So?"

"And that was it?" said JC, raising his eyebrows. "He seems pretty defensive, too. Hmm. I think you can actually leave the Europe question in. I might know what he's talking about, but the only thing that's obvious is that he's startled by the question. Then you can cut the whole age-and-math thing out, right up to where you introduce the topic of his education. it's not exactly a smooth transition, but better than the snark. Much better a clumsy edit than the host alienating the audience. And plus, people are going to wonder what was cut and that's pretty good buzz, too."

"The *host* alienating the audience?" Joey repeated. "You think all that was *me*? He's the one that came off looking like the jerk." He thought, if anything, JC'd be on his side.

"You both do," said JC honestly. "You're both sniping at each other. But him making a little snide comment just makes him look like a cocky star. You making a comment like that *to* him makes you look like an ungrateful, condescending bastard. Unfair, but true. Better to just snip the whole thing."

Joey was going to cut it anyway, and JC's suggestion about where to do it was a good one, but he was still stung by his friend's read of the exchange. "Thank you," he said, finally turning back to the monitor and staring at Justin's face again for a second before bending his head and noting the time on his sheet for the editors.

"If you're done, I might even be convinced to take you out for *hot* food," said JC. "Or do you have anything else you need to get done? I have no idea what your schedule's like anymore, now that you're all famous."

"JC ... don't," Joey sighed, leaving a post-it for Bill and Tammy, and grabbing his copies of the tapes. "No teasing today, okay? I'm tired. I was up all night and this has been driving me crazy and I just ... oh. Before I forget, your friend there ended up showing last night after all. He wanted you to know so you didn't think he stood you up."

JC just nodded though. "Yeah, he got ahold of me this afternoon," he said. "We talked for a while. And I wasn't teasing, you know me better than that. I really *don't* know when you need to be here, now that you're on the air regularly. Anyway ... food? Yes? Because I'm starving and those chips won't hold us very long, I don't think."

"Sure," Joey said, feeling his stomach rumble conspicuously, nodding and shutting off the light. "So, um. He called you, huh? He seems pretty serious about being your friend. It's like ... it's like it's next on his list of Things to Do When I Become Famous, or something."

JC frowned at him for a moment, and Joey wondered what he'd done wrong *this* time. "He called to apologize for last night," he said a moment later. "And we always were friends, more or less. He told me about your night last night. After I left."

Joey snorted lightly. "Well. Good. I can't imagine what an unbiased account *that* was." He was being possessive and it was stupid but he didn't care.

"Stop being a prick," said JC bumping his shoulder. "If I wasn't so generously chalking it up to hunger, you'd be getting a good lecture right now. But ... so you're okay, after running into Kelly like that last night? Everything's cool?"

Joey just groaned and closed the door behind them. "Ugh, he even told you *that*? Man, that kid's got a big mouth. Yeah, I'm fine. She's fine, we're all fine. It would have been over in thirty seconds if he hadn't opened said big mouth."

"Well, since it was pretty much the climax of your night, yeah, of course he told me. He's pretty confused about the whole thing, of course. You didn't tell him anything?"

"I can't believe he gave it another second's thought, actually," Joey admitted, grabbing his coat. "And anyway, JC, I met this kid *yesterday*. What would make me want to tell him about Kelly first of all, and second of all ... why would he even care? Now. Where do you want to eat?"

"I dunno, maybe because she screamed in his face?" suggested JC mildly. "Let's just go to that place on the corner, huh? I don't want to have to go far. I haven't eaten all day."

"Jace, you need to eat," Joey murmured, wrapping an arm around him as they made it to the elevators. "And is that seriously what he told you? she wasn't doing a thing to him before he told her to get lost. I swear he grew claws."

"I forgot again," admitted JC. "Until I got super hungry. So yeah, well, apparently he just viewed the whole thing from a different perspective than you. I mean, as far as he was concerrned, this stranger came busting in and cut him off and started laying into you. It pissed him off. Like *seriously* pissed him off. I'm not sure which part more -- that she interrupted you guys or that she was treating you bad."

"She cut *me* off," he sighed, hoping that one day he'd getto stop explaining this. "And believe me, I get that he was pissed. I just don't really get why. I mean, I appreciate that he was trying to help, I really do. But he wouldn't leave it alone and then he freaked out and there you are, boom. End of the evening."

"Right," said JC skeptically. "Well, then, there you go. You got together for drinks, you didn't get along, end of story. Obviously you both just don't understand each other." A bell jingled as he pulled the door to the restaurant open. "Now come on, let me buy you something greasy and delicious."

He was tempted to just leave it at that, especially since it was obvious that JC just wanted to push him about it. But he *was* tired, and hated being misunderstood.

"First of all," he said, only giving the menu a brief glance. "*We* did not get together for drinks. That was all your ploy. And we *did* get along! Surprisingly. Like, we were talking about him just being careful about his, uh, preferences, and how it comes across in interviews, and it was really mostly good. And despite what happened after, I understand him perfectly."

"You obviously don't, if you don't get why he was upset over the whole Kelly incident," said JC, sighing at him. "You said so yourself. He sure as hell didn't understand *your* reaction to the whole thing. Anyway, it's over and you're obviously way too tense to talk about it right now. He did tell me to make sure you had the address for his release party this weekend. How come you didn't tell me you were going, man?"

"I'm not sure I *am*," Joey replied, folding the menu shut and just trying not to be hurt by all of this. "And don't sigh at me. He invited me which is nice but seriously, MTV'll probably give my space to someone else. I had no idea before last night."

"Well, he's expecting you," JC told him. "For whatever that's worth. And I think his choices probably override MTV's. But anyway, your choice, but you're welcome to come with Chris and me. Now what am I buying you to eat? You're still way too cranky to talk to."

"Okay, *mom*," Joey said, but he had to smile a little. "Just ... how about a meatball sandwich. And maybe a promise that you'll tell me what's going on in that pointy head of yours, because even if I'm being cranky, you're being all secretive."

"I am?" said JC, closing his own menu and shoving it aside, waiting for their watress. "I didn't know I was being secretive. What am I being secretive about?" She showed up quickly, filling their water glasses and poising herself to take their orders. "A meatball sandwich for Joey and a half-salad for me. Garden, no dressing. Thanks. Oh, wait, Joey, you want something to drink?"

"No, water's fine," Joey said, "but bring him a baked potato too, okay, hon?" He glared at JC until she left and then just shook his head. "And maybe not secretive," he finally went on. "But I could just practically see your brain working, and I *know* you think you know what's going on with me right now better than I do myself."

"I usually do," said JC, so matter-of-factly that Joey almost laughed. "Sometimes it's really hard for people to see what's going on with them, from the inside. But I don't think I do this time, not entirely. Hell, I think I understand *Justin* better than I understand you this time. All I have to go on is what you said last night, before we left."

"And what did I say," Joey said, no clue in hell about what JC was talking about. He could make the biggest deal out of the littlest thing.

"Well, you said you liked him," said JC, surrpised. "And you said you wanted him to like you back. And I haven't quite reconciled that with what went on last night yet. But I'm working on it. You want to talk about that?"

"I said what?" Joey laughed. "Oh, man, C, you're a riot. I just ... I mean, yeah, I want him to like me. I want everyone to like me. But not ... are you doing that matchmaker thing again? because I've gotta tell you ... "

"No, you said that," said JC firmly. "And you m eant it, Joey. You talked about his lips. I'm not trying to do *anything* this time. This is all you. And him. i'm just kind ... here."

"JC," Joey said, more slowly. "JC. Come on. I didn't mean it like that. I *do* want him to like me, because if he doesn't, then seriously, it could be bad for me and my career. And I'm not blind, so I'm allowed to think he's hot. You really think I *like* him like him?" He thought about it. Really thought about it. "I don't think so. There might have been flirting, but ... yeah. What you said. Last night made sure that won't happen."

"I'm just trying to figure out how you went from that, to where the two of you ended up last night, is all," said JC, sipping his water. He would need a refill before his food even came. "I mean, he is pretty cute. He grew up *nice*, huh?"

"I guess," Joey said, annoyed at JC for the subtle reminder that he used to watch the show, and JC knew it. "Doesn't mean he's a nice guy, JC. I don't know *what* he told you, but what happened with Kelly, and what happened after ... he's not blameless, okay?"

"I didn't *say* he's blameless," JC corrected him. "Just that you're not blameless either. I know you're really good at that, Joey, and you grew up *always* being able to shift the blame to someone else with that cute grin of yours, but it doesn't work with me. And you know it. Oh, and I hope you're planning on eating that potato yourself, by the way, because you I know I can't."

Joey ignored that. He and Chris had a deal. "And *I* didn't say I was blameless," he insisted. "What did he tell you, anyway? why did the whole thing confuse him so much? Just because there was estrogen involved?"

"Be nice," said JC, giving Joey's hand a playful swat. "He didn't understand why you didn't just tell her to fuck off.. Because that's what he would have done. Hence, the not understanding one another thing that I believe I mentioned before. And he had *no* idea why you got mad at him like you did, not really."

"I didn't get mad!" Joey said, actually surprised at that. "He *said* that? I didn't! I asked him to mind his own business, and disagreed when he said he didn't pick the fight with her, and then we got snotty and said he'd never defend me again. JC, I swear I did not got mad until he overreacted."

"I believe you mean that," said JC. "I totally do. I just don't think that's what it seemed like to *him*. He said something about opening up to you about some stuff, and then you just totally shutting down on him and shutting him out after that. I don't know much more than that, he didn't really want to talk about it much."

He seemed like he'd talked about it plenty, as far as Joey was concerned. "I just can't even believe we're talking about this," he muttered. "It's pointless, don't you think it's pointless? We pissed each other off; it happens. Not everybody likes everybody. I saw him home after we apologized and it wasn't the same and that's as good a sign as anything."

"Yup, that's fine," agreed JC, finishing off his water, just like Joey figured. "Of course it's fine, who am I to say it's not? I hope it's not going to bother you if I keep in close touch with him, though. He's not going to be in town all that long and I'd like to take advantage of it while I can."

"I don't *hate* the guy, JC," Joey explained, closing his eyes and trying to rotate his shoulders, stretch his muscles. "I like him. A lot. Still. And if he's the one that doesn't want *me* around, well ... I can handle that too." It would absolutely *suck*, but he'd handle it.

"No, he likes you fine," said JC with a little smile. "You don't need to worry about that. He told me he flat out came out to you, pretty much. That ain't something he does every day, no matter how casual he came off about it. And look, food! Good, I'm starving."

"It doesn't count if he knew I knew," Joey muttered, leaning back as the waitress set down their plates. He grabbed the potato first and scooped out most of the sourcream and butter, then mashed the rest around and slid it back over to JC. "He didn't say I was a jerk about *that*, did he?"

"No, he said you were really cool about that. And it counts, Joey. If it counts to him, it counts." He ate a piece of lettuce. "Mmm, they have fabulous salads here. How's your sandwich?"

Joey was just picking at it, really. "Fine," he said, though. "Thank you for rescuing me. I hope all the time I spent today looking at that makes a difference, you know? Editing, and all ... wasn't what I thought I was getting into when I signed up for this gig."

"It ain't as glamerous as it sounds," said JC knowingly. "But hey, I gotta tell you, it's better to have the control than to not. It's a pain in the ass, but it's worth it."

"I know, C," Joey said, grinning a little. "You gonna keep that in mind when you start your new career in the adult film industry?"

"Oh stop, with that," he laughed suddenly as he chewed another piece of lettuce. "At least you're not as bad as Chris. Do you know what he asked me last night after we got home? To give him a little 'private performance'."

"And did you?" Joey grinned, thinking he might have to talk to Chris later anyway, even *if* JC finished his food.

"Now *that*," said JC, pointing his fork at him. "Is none of your business. Though I will confess there was music involved. What about you? Any action last night? Justin wasn't sure what you did after you dropped him off."

"Well, isn't Justin the curious one," Joey said, taking a big bite of his sub to mask any smile. "But no, I went home and stayed up all night stressing about the fucking interview. It sucked. I danced some after you left, but ... yeah, nothing once the kid showed up. Although ... "

"Although what?" asked JC. "You had a quickie in the bathroom before he even got there? Come on, spill, you know I like details ... "

"No!" Joey laughed. "Although nothing, I guess." He didn't even want to bring up whether he'd let himself hope that Justin might invite him up, even *after* their big argument. "I don't even know why he thought I'd be going back out. Did *he*?""

"I have no idea," said JC, picking out a tiny piece of carrot to eat next. "We didn't talk about it. And now you're being evasive. Come on, spill, Fatone. You know you tell me everything, sooner or later."

"What do you mean you didn't talk about it, you just SAID he said he wasn't sure what I did," Joey muttered, rolling his eyes. "And I'm not being ev-esavive. Evasive. I just, okay, I'm stupid, whatever. I just thought he might ask me up, is all."

JC grinned very suddenly at that. "So you *do* like him," he said softly. "And he only said he wasn't sure what you did because I asked him. It wasn't like he offered it or anything."

"Well, what'd you go and ask him that for, C?" Joey groaned. "It's not like we don't talk five times a day. Now he thinks I'm a big ho. And hey! Just thinking that he might be interested in a little casual fun does NOT mean like."

"Yeah, it kinda does, in context," said JC knowingly, not letting it go. "It's okay, Joey, it's totally understandable. The guy's adorable, and pretty good to talk to, these days. And just wait until you see him dance. He doesn't think you're a big ho, all I asked was if you went home at the same time as him or not. You didn't call me last night, after all."

"Well, and a good thing, too, 'cause it would have interrupted the soundtrack to your little private whatever," Joey said, grinning. It was pointless to be annoyed at JC. "And there was no context. No nothing. He touched me once and somehow, because I am a male, I think that means I have a chance. Whatever. Are we moving on, yet? Tell me what you're wearing tomorrow." JC never passed up a chance to talk about his clothes.

"What, to work, or to the thing?" asked JC, taking one more bite and pushing his plate away like he was done. "Because obviously, that's two differnet things ... "

"If you're not nekkid at work I don't want to hear about it," Joey said, pushing the potato in front of him. "To the party. Tell me so we don't end up wearing the same thing." As if that would ever, ever happen, but it made JC laugh anyway.

"Something bright, I think," he said finally, pushing the potato back, next to the portion of salad he'd left behind. "I want to wear glitter but Chris is trying to talk me out of it. He says no one should sparkle more than the man of the hour. I think I'm going to do it anyway, though."

"You're gonna ignore your genius publicist?" Joey gasped teasingly. He wondered, actually, in a room with the two of them, who would shine more, as he pushed the potato forward again. "So what should *I* wear." Picking out someone else's clothes was a close second, for JC.

"Wear something classy," he said immediately, not even looking down at the food this time. "Something classic. Dress up, not down. Everyone's gonna be trying to out-cool each other, wearing the most outrageous stuff. Get a nice suit, do something cool with your hair, and you'll really stand out. Not a white shirt, though. Something solid and classy, but not white."

That was so not the way Joey'd thought he'd go, but ... JC was right. He'd stand out, especially from MTV, if he didn't *look* like he looked at MTV. "Silver, do you think?" he asked, thinking of good colors for the shirt. He had a suit in mind already. "Or ... would red be too much?" Red might be too much. Especially if he had Janine come over to do his tips again.

"Deep red, maybe," said JC as he studied him. "More maroon than poppy. You've got dark enough coloring to look good like that. Silver might work, depending on the suit. Remember, classy, not outrageous. You won't need to sparkle to catch the eye."

"JC," Joey laughed. "*You* won't need to sparkle. Sparkling might be the *only* thing that gets me noticed." He wouldn't, though. Wear sparkles. He was thinking definitely red.

"Yes, but I *like* to sparkle," he said. "I like to go all out for these things, and I'm just going for the fun. You're going for the fun and to be seen, and that's a bit different. Do something fun with your hair, though. That's kinda your thing. That'll be that bit of spice to add to your suit." The waitress came back to clear their table and JC gestured that she should take his plates, too.

"Okay, I'll do something about the hair," Joey said quickly, holding up a hand to the waitress. "JC," he said. "Eat that potato, or I'm calling Chris. I'm serious. Do not make me act like your babysitter."

JC looked at him warily, as if measuring his seriousness, then pulled the one plate back reluctantly. "I'm full, really," he said, but he picked at it. "You don't need to call Chris. So what are you going to do with the hair, you think?"

Joey'd already *decided* to call Chris, but at least now it could wait. He relaxed a little. "The red tips," he said. "Or ... oh, hey. What about doing them red, but then adding glitter to just the very end? Like, silver glitter? Would *that* be too much?"

JC looked up at him again and cocked his head to the side, like he was imagining it. "If you do, definitely don't go with the silver shirt. That would be overkill. I think you could pull it off, though."

"No, with the red," Joey nodded, already decided. A really dark red. He watched JC pick at the potato some more, then sighed loudly and glared at him until he actually got some of the food on his fork.

"I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of this," he mumbled. "I ate the salad." No, he really hadn't. "You and Chris. It's a conspiracy, I swear." But he ate a bite, at least. "Yeah, go with the red, then. So I guess that means you're coming, huh?"

"Maybe," Joey said. "If you finish that potato." He crossed his arms and sat back and tried to look menacing -- apparently his serious face was working so far.

"That's so unfair," said JC, but it *was* working and he took another bit. "Chris would at least offer me sex or something. And you *know* you want to come and see Justin again anyway."

"As you pointed out," Joey told him, still watching carefully, "I'll be competing with a million people to see him. That's not why I'm going. And JC, you can have this body whenever you want it; I've told you this." He winked.

"If you really loved me you'd offer me a blowjob," insisted JC. But he took another bite, and not a small one. "*Officially* you're going for MTV," he said after swallowing. "But you know you want to see him."

"If you really loved *me*, you'd *accept* the blowjob, and give me tips after," Joey bantered with him. "Not for anyone in particular, of course."

"No, of course not," said JC knowingly. "Because of course there's no one you're interested in right now that you would need to give expert blowjobs to. Are you going to ride with me and Chris or are you going to show up on your own? To the thing, I mean. Not for the blowjob."

"There's no one I'm interested in right now that's interested in expert blowjobs from *me*, is really the issue," Joey replied, successfully managining to not sound wistful, he thought. "And I don't know. Ask Chris what he thinks, would you? and call me? and another bite, C, you can do it."

"i'm not a child," he said under his breath, as cranky as he always got when they did this to him, but he took the bite and that was the important thing. "You know I'll call you. I always call you. If you're going to be coming in with whoever else is showing up from MTV, though, let us know as soon as you know. Or in the unlikely event that you bring a date -- which would kind of defeat the purpose of going -- let us know that, too."

Joey rolled his eyes at him. "It would *not* defeat the purpose of going, since the purpose of going is to be seen by the press, and not Justin. But ... no, no date, I think. Not this time." Even his best female friends got fed up with all his flirting at parties.

"That's probably good," said JC, nodding his head approvingly. "At your age, and your status, appearing single is good for your image. And you never have problem mingling and meeting people -- that's your strength right there. That and that gorgeous smile of yours. Okay, I'm really done now. Seriously." And he pushed the plate away.

He'd eaten *almost* half of it, and really, it wasn't Joey's job to make JC hate him by forcing more down his throat. Chris was always better at distracting him and making him eat, anyway.

"But we still get to meet in the bathroom and talk shit about people, right?" he asked.

"Would it even be a party if we didn't?" said JC with a grin, reaching for his wallet to pay for the meal. "That's what makes those things bearable. That and flaming a little, just to scandalize people."

"I do love you, C," Joey grinned, now more than looking forward to it.

"Yeah, I know you do," said JC, patting his cheek before dropping some money on the table, on top of the bill. "Come on, let's get out of here, You've got a big day tomorrow, after all." And, taking Joey by the arm, he led them out of the restaurant.

* * *

Joey pulled his skip cap down over his eyebrows and shrugged on his jacket, cursing under his breath at the fuckwads he worked for. They said they'd try and reserve one of the slots for him, but they hadn't decided yet, and Joey was just fed up. He was just ... gonna go with Chris and JC, and hope that maybe Justin had put him on the list at the door by name. And hadn't taken it *off*, after the other night.

While he was here, he might as well pick up a copy of the interview now that they were done with it, make sure that one cut especially went smoothly. But when he went down to the editing suite he found someone was already running the tape.

"Right there," said Lance. "You've got to be careful about stuff like that, Justin. Don't give away too much. Always leave them wanting more. People are always going to be trying to trick you into giving something away."

"Yeah, yeah," said Justin as the shot ended and the tape switched to just blank screen. "I'll keep that in mind. I'm just gonna get some air for a second. I'll be right back." He turned to leave and almost ran straight into Joey where he hovered in the doorway.

"Hey," he said tentatively. "I didn't know you'd ... but you did. Um." He peeked around him into the room again. "What did you think?" Then he looked down at their feet, because it was easier than looking at Justin's face, and also, Joey's own face was scruffy and with the knit hat he looked like a bum.

Justin gently pushed him out of the room an pulled the door halfway closed behind him before saying anything, so there was a barrier between them and Lance and the technician. "Hey," he said a moment later, tilting his head down to catch Joey's eyes, then smiling. "Thanks for not making me look like a jerk. It's good."

"What, I just used the best footage," Joey said innocently, grinning briefly but ducking his head again. He was not about to talk about JC's role in it, or how it was better for *him* to do what he'd done. "If it's good it's because you were good to interview."

"Lance says I talked to much," he said, rolling his eyes. "I probably did, but whatever. I think it was interesting. The interview, I mean. I think it'll interest people. Some days I think I'd really rather interest people than impress them."

"You weren't exactly what they'd expect, I think," Joey nodded, resting his hand on the doorframe and leaning against it a little. "And anyway, I think you'll do both. Interest. And impress."

"Well," said Justin, taking a deep breath. "I guess we'll see, won't we?" He gave Joey a grin that actually gave away some of his nerves. "It's getting pretty real now. It's all kinda coming together."

"Tonight, baby," Joey chuckled easily. "And then, what, three days? and you're gonna be absolutely huge. Better not have told Lance I made you ride in a cab the other night."

"I told him you made me walk," said Justin, quite seriously, then cracked up. "I didn't even tell him I went out, though he heard anyway. I guess people are starting to notice. So yeah, tonight. I hope everything goes the way it's planned. I gave them an idea what I wanted but ... to be honest, I have *no* idea what it's gonna be like."

"Just the first of many," Joey said, grinning back and then finally reaching out to squeeze Justin's shoulder. The kid seemed *so* nervous, and everything in Joey wanted to help him relax. "Picked out your clothes, yet? that's what I always ask C."

Justin snickered. "Yeah, like I actually get to choose my own outfit," he scoffered. "I'm sure I'll be wearing something fashionable. JC said he's going to wear something sparkly. He's so weird sometimes. What about you?"

"Ahh, it's a secret," Joey winked, then rubbed his chin. "You'll have to wait and see. If they let me in the door, that is. I *can* promise I'll shave, though."

"Of course they'll let you in," said Justin dismissively. "If there's one thing I have at least a *little* control over for this whole thing, I think it's that." He reached up and tried to pull at some of the scruff on Joey's chin. "I don't know ... I think that looks all right. I guess it all depends on what it's gotta go with."

"Hey," Joey laughed again, grabbing his wrist. It took him back to their fight in the club, right away, but he still didn't let go when he remembered. "That part stays," he explained, rubbing under his chin with his other hand before scratching at his cheek. "*This*, this goes."

Justin gave him a very natural grin. "Yeah, that'll be all right," he said. "Listen ... for the interview? I'm glad it was you, Joey. I mean, it helped at first, because I could ask JC a bit about you and be more comfortable. But even without that, you're a good guy. And I swear I'm not just sucking up to get good coverage on MTV."

"Well, good thing, 'cause I'd let you, and I don't have any control over your coverage," Joey admitted, dropping both his hands and lounging against the door again, his own grin feeling like it was permanently in place. "So what did JC tell you, so I know how hard Chris is gonna kick my ass after I kick *JC's* ass for saying stuff that's private to a stranger."

"Oh, like, nothing at all," admitted Justin, with an expression that seemed to indicate it was the truth. "But he told me you were a good guy, and you were fair, and I could trust you more than the other guys. And obviously I did. He didn't tell me anything juicy. Are you going to? Because seriously, I could use just about anything to get me to lighten up right now."

"Am I going to ... ?" Joey prompted, a little surprised that Justin was admitting out loud his nerves, even if Joey already knew. "Tell you something juicy? Um." He thought for a second. "The other night before you got there this guy came up to C and told him he thought he could have a great career in porn, and I think me and Chris are halfway to convincing him that we seriously think he should do it?"

Justin looked shocked for about half a second, then burst out laughing. "Oh yes," he said. "That was exactly what I needed to hear, thank you. God, can you imagine?" He fell silent for a moment and was probably doing exactly that. "I should probably be getting back to Lance. I have stuff I need to get done yet today. But hey, I'll see you later. And I promise to be much oooler then."

"You're fine, Justin," Joey promised, letting himself draw his name out, then allowing himself a little white lie. "If I didn't know better I wouldn't even think you were nervous. Take care, okay?" He reached up to squeeze his shoulder again, and met his eyes.

Justin nodded and lifted his head, squaring his shoulders. "Thanks, man. You, too. Glad I ran into you here; might make this afternoon a little better for me."

"I'm glad," Joey murmured, then stepped aside to let Justin past him, back into the room. He shook his head and tugged his hat down again, vowing not to share that little exchange with JC. Who knew what *he* would try and pretend it meant.

* * *

There are probably more people at the party that Justin knows *of* than actually knows, but there are also an awful lot of cameras and people with discreet recording devices and so Joey watches him as he pretends to know everyone and everyone pretends to know him and there are a hundred and one photo ops before he can even think about letting the smile on his face fade.

He was right to be nervous about it. But he's doing great. And it's not like Joey isn't getting his share of attention, too.

"And aren't you glad you listen to my fashion advice?" said JC, appearing at his shoulder and handing over a much-needed drink. "You guys are going to look great together, in those shots."

"Which shots are those, C?" Joey asked, swallowing about half of it at once. He hadn't gotten within a hundred feet of the kid. He *did* look amazing, though, Joey had no problem admitting that. Anyone would look good with him that night.

"The ones that are going to be taken of you and him," said JC easily. *He* had gotten close already. A lot of places wanted shots of what they considered a reunion between the two men. "And in all the ones you've had taken already, of course. Was that Nick Carter I saw you talking to earlier? I heard about his last race; that was some win. Sexiest guy on the circuit. I didn't know he was going to be here."

"I'm telling Chris on you," Joey grinned evilly. It *had* been Nick Carter, and he'd asked about JC, but didn't seem to be bothered at all by Joey offering himself as a substitute. "You know he doesn't care about you lusting after my sexy body, but if he sees you chasing after a *blond* ... "

"Oh, it's not me," laughed JC. "You think *I"m* the one into racing? Chris is the one that got me hooked, so he'll have to live with the consequences." He looked around the room and then shrugged. "He's off schmoozing with the people who don't need to be seen anyway."

"Chris is a smart guy," Joey grunted, wrapping an arm around JC's bare shoulders. "Jesus, C. Do you own any clothes with sleeves? you know you get cold at these things. There's such a thing as suffering too much for your art." He turned around and stubbed out the cigarette he'd only been half-smoking anyway.

"I look good in this," said JC, looking down at his shirt and smoothing out a wrinkle. "But you, my friend, look amazing. Didn't I tell you you'd stand out? Hipper than the suits, classier than the wannabes. And the hair is great. I had my doubts, but it's very, very you."

"You do look great," Joey promised, squeezing his hand subtly. "*AS* do I. The hair *really* turned out well." He was pleased he'd had a hat on when he saw Justin earlier. Not that he was hoping *too* much that he'd notice when he saw him -- but if he did, it would be cool.

"You should be out mingling, not sticking with me," insisted JC. "Go, be seen some more. Worm your way to Justin's side. You have as much right to be there as anyone else. Go show them you're somebody, Joey. And then come back and find me and we'll trash everyone behind their back."

"'Worm my way'?" Joey echoed, reaching into his jacket and grabbing another cigarette. "Nice, C. And here I thought being your friend meant I got to use all your connections." He brushed past him, squeezing his ass and eliciting a yelp as he went.

He tried, though. He actually went and started working it. Working the smile and the friendly eyes and the confident handshakes, kissing chicks' hands and not looking like a dork when he did it. Flirting with abandon.

"Joey!" That was Justin's voice, from behind him and just to the left. Joey hadn't lost track of where he was, exactly, but he hadn't realized they were so close. Justin must have gone to get a drink or something, or was currently on his way. He said "excuse me" to the up-and-coming actress in front of him -- Mandy, she'd said her name was; pretty thing -- and turned around.

"Hey man," Joey said, giving Justin an obvious once-over and letting his lips curve into a smirk when Justin caught him doing it. He held out his hand. "They let me in after all!"

"What, are you kidding?" Justin said, giving a smile and a wave to a reputable producer who was passing by. "I told the guys at the door to hold you and strip search you on sight. Clearly they're lying down on the job. When did you get here?"

Joey tossed his head back and laughed. "Remind me not to tell you about the fantasy I have, the one about being an international spy and getting stopped in the airport," he grinned. "And ... man, who even knows? I've been here at least an hour, I think. Why?"

"Oh, I just haven't seen you," he said, giving another passerby a 'hey'. He threw his arm around Joey's shoulders and almost before Joey knew it there was a flash going off, some service or another catching a shot of their great smiles. "And I think we should probably save the fantasies for some other night."

"I said remind me *not* to tell you," Joey murmured, slipping his own arm around Justin's ridiculously slim waist like he did it every day and grinning again just in time for another flash.

"You don't get to say something like that and not have me ask," teased Justin. "Please, lie to me and tell me you and JC are currently cooking up a plan to rescue me from this and take me to a real party?"

"Aww, this isn't so bad," Joey said, gesturing. "Come on. Good drinks, and the pretty people you're allowed to be seen talking to, and then other pretty people you slip your number to and promise to hook up with later. There are worse things, kiddo."

"There are way worse things," said Justin, still smiling brightly, like he was telling Joey about his favorite track on the CD. "Doesn't mean I'm not waiting for this night to be over. Aren't things like this supposed to be fun?" Only when you're not the guest of honor, Joey figured.

"It's that bad?" Joey asked quietly, hoping the honest sympathy he was feeling came through. "Well," he said helplessly, "you're almost done? I mean, Lance won't want you to stay to the end, right? I'm sure you have something fun planned for after."

"Well, maybe not the bitter end, but damn close," said Justin, glancing back over his shoulder and giving someone and smile and lowering his voice. "It's not so bad really, I like meeting everyone, I'm just tired. I'm not used to this. If I don't drop dead, I think I might go to that club -- the one we met at before -- after."

Joey wouldn't let himself assume that was an invitation. And wouldn't let himself dwell too much on Justin saying they'd 'met' there, either. "Yeah?" he said. "That could be fun. Pretty people there, too."

"Yeah, there really were," said Justin, and just for a second met his eyes.

"Oh, Justin," said Lance, suddenly coming between them and taking Justin's arm. "There's someone I want you to meet."

Joey rolled his eyes and didn't care if either or both of them saw it. "Why, hello, Bass," he said, making his voice intentionally deep. "I'm doing well, thanks for asking. It's great to see you too! Oh, you liked the interview? Yeah. I think it turned out real good. You've got a real star, there, to ride the coattails of."

Lance didn't seem to hear him, but Justin looked back and gave him a wide-eyed, astonished stare. A moment later, though, he was being introduced to a big-name director and was forced to tear his eyes away.

Joey just rolled his eyes again, for himself, and lit another cigarette as he lounged against the bar. He needed a second to himself before he tried to smile at anyone else. It's not that he expected star treatment -- far from it. He just didn't understand why people didn't think to be polite to other people on their way up.

But he had to get over it quick, because scowling after being brushed aside by the man of honor was something that would get noticed.

And besides, Justin had looked like he wanted anything but to be dragged away to meet someone else, especially someone Lance thought he should knew. He would, of course, because that's what he was here to do, but Joey knew that it was work. For a lot of them, tonight was work.

"My, you certainly got a nice, bright smile out of Mr. Timberlake," said JC, suddenly at his side again with a fresh drink and a friendly shoulder. " You've could've lit a room with that thing."

"He found *me*," was all Joey could say, still surprised by that. "I don't think he's having fun."

"Would you be?" asked JC, gesturing at the room. "*Are* you, even? Out of all these people, only a handful are probably his friends. You know how these things are. They get better -- or worse, sometimes -- the more people in the industry you get to know. But the first? Pure stress."

"Poor thing," Joey murmured, sucking on his cigarette and catching himself staring. He just looked ... really, really good. "So. As an expert opinion, how *did* the pictures seem to look? Since you were obviously spying."

"You looked fabulous," said JC. "And I'm not just saying that because I adore you. I'm saying that as someone who gets his picture taken ever day, by a number of talented photographers and with people who are even more fabulous looking than I am. You looked great. You both looked great."

"He's gorgeous," Joey said, shaking his head. "Just. He is. I must have been more nervous than even I thought, not to ... I don't know, pay more attention during the interview, or something. Or say something." It didn't occur to him that his opinion could have been influenced by how much more he was liking Justin as a person, each time they spoke. Minus one tiny incident.

"Well, good of you to finally notice," said JC, giving him a nudge. "I told you he grew up nice. I had an idea he would be a good looking guy, but he surpassed all expectations. Not as gorgeous as my Chris, of course," he had to add.

"Of course," Joey agreed distractedly, still watching Justin's every move. He was gracious to everyone, but every time he smiled it seemed just the littlest bit off. "He wanted to know if we were planning on kidnapping him."

JC snickered. "We should," he said. "Wouldn't that be fun? But no, I'm afraid I have no kidnapping plan prepared, just at the moment. He's just gonna have to suck it up and make it through the night."

"That's what I said," Joey nodded, blinking and then hissing when he burned his fingers on the end of his cigarette. "Fuck. So how long you think y'all are gonna stay? I know Kirkpatrick has no willpower when he takes you out looking like that."

JC laughed quietly and sipped his own drink. "He's talking shop right now, though," he reminded him. "Even *I* can't pull him away *too* early when he's found a willing group of people to really get into it with him. What about you? I assume you'll be sticking around a while?"

"Why?" Joey asked honestly. "Why would I be? I mean, I might. I hadn't really ... hadn't decided, I guess. Why would you assume, JC?"

JC just shrugged and nodded in Justin's direction. "If the main attraction was going to be here 'til the end, I figured you would be, too. Would probably be far more interesting than spending yet more time with Chris and me."

"He's busy," Joey shook his head. "I mean, sure, he came and found me, but I doubt that Lance guy'll let him do it again. I'm not big enough for him to be seen talking to, apparently. And pretty as he is, staring at him from across the room is probably NOT more interesting than hanging with you and Chris. Although you can just tell me three's a crowd, you know."

"It's not like I'm inviting you back to the bedroom," grinned JC. "You're not *that*lucky. I thought we might go out for a couple drinks, though, if Chris ever manages to leave. I think I'm through with my mingling. I ran into Kevin earlier and he's still trying to get me to do that movie."

Joey shook his head. "I'll never understand why we have to feel the need to go *out* somewhere for drinks, when they're free here, but whatever," he shrugged. "And wait, remind me -- which movie is that?" He grinned. "The, you know, kind of racy one, when you spend all but the first two minutes completely naked and having sex?"

"No, not porn," laughed JC, finishing his drink. He didn't try to get another. "The one about the models on the horse ranch. The one I thought was dumb? He's still trying to get people to do it. Maybe -- *maybe* -- if he finds someone to rework the script. He says his cousin's a screenwriter and is giving it a look, but I'm not holding my breath or anything."

Joey just laughed, and gave Justin one more glance. "Alright. Let's just get out of here. We can talk someplace else, and I want out of this jacket, and ... nothing to stay for, anyway. You in?"

"Sure," said JC. "You been seen enough, then? Made all the major services?" Which obviously meant that JC *had*, and had probably been extremely smooth and cool about it. He glanced at his watch and nodded approvingly. "Yeah, it's not too early to go. You gonna say good-bye?"

"To who?" Joey said, reaching behind him to drop his empty glass on the bar. "C'mon, let's just sneak out. It's already gonna be crowded wherever we go."

"To Justin," said JC, but he didn't push it. "All right, I just need to get Chris, or tell him where I'm going at least. Do you want to leave in style, or just get a cab somewhere? I can meet you out front, either way."

"Whatever," Joey said, catching sight of Mandy again and thinking he could at least say goodbye to her. Eighteen wasn't too young, right? "Meet you in a minute."

"Sure," said JC, following his gaze and giving him a curious little smile. "Meet you in a minute." Then he slipped away and vanished into the crowd.

Joey just shook his head at his crazy friend and weaved his way over to Mandy, making her laugh with an exaggerrated kiss on the cheek, and then making her blush when he pulled her into a very familiar embrace.

That was as good a note to end the party on as he could come up with.

* * *

Joey collapsed back in the booth, laughing and loosening his tie. He *loved* dancing. Anytime, anyplace, no matter what ... put him in a great mood. "You guys should get out there," he said, panting a little and grabbing his still-full beer. "No cameras. Show these kids what you can do."

"I've *been* out there," JC reminded him, flashing him a grin. "It's *this* guy you have to convince." Chris looked pretty happy right where he was, but Joey knew that when they *did* get him out on the dance floor, he always had a good time. Maybe after another drink.

"I need to get some single friends," Joey complained, still grinning and wiping at his forehead. "Either that, or find some better way to get you guys to introduce me to *your* single friends." He didn't know why, exactly. It just sounded good. And spending a lot of time with Chris and JC just reminded him of what he didn't have.

"I think you've already dated all my single friends," JC shot back at him, accompanied by a nudge. "You've exhausted my pool, Joe. I think it's time to strke out on your own. But probably not with that bit of jailbait you were chatting up at the party, or was that just for the pictures?"

"She's eighteen," Joey protested mildly. "And did you see those legs?" He leaned back against the cushion and scanned *this* room, trying to find someone to do exactly what JC suggested with. It's not like he didn't know how.

"There's no way that girl was eighteen," said JC, shaking his head, but Joey was pretty sure that she was. She had a bit more poise than most of the jailbait he met.

"So I hear Justin's back at MTV on Tuesday," said Chris, like he hadn't even heard the rest of the conversation. "That's quite some manager he has."

"*Is* he?" That made Joey turn his head and finally stop staring out at the mass of other people. "Why? I mean. Why?" He was surprised Justin had mentioned it. Then part of him worried that Justin hadn't even *known*. "Oh. Who gets the interview, do you know?"

"Buzz is he's dropping by TRL," said Chris. "Details aren't even worked out yet, but it sounds like a sure thing."

"Well, that's great," Joey said, his voice a little strained. "Great. Well. Good for him. I'm sure there'll be a big crowd, and Carson's in next week, and ... well. Whatever. I'm getting another drink, you guys want?" He stood up and unbuttoned the top of his shirt, then rolled up the sleeves a little. He didn't want to talk about why he might not have been told about any of this.

Chris held up his half-full drink and shook his head. "No, I'm good, thanks," he said. "I knocked back more than my share at the party. That's the best way to get information out of anyone, just about -- have a few drinks with them."

"Well, you'd know," said JC, and Joey didn't even want to watch the look he must have been giving Chris right then. "You're the best."

"Lord," Joey muttered, just leaving them. They were his best friends in the world but even he had his limits.

He lit another cigarette when he made it to the bar -- that was a lot for the evening, more than he usually smoked, and he made a note of that -- and just lounged there. Halfway watching the floor, halfway ... halfway watching the door. He was; he had to admit it. He was *really* curious to see if Justin might show up after all. He was just glad he'd never told JC.

And speaking of JC, he'd never said whether he wanted another drink or not. Joey figured he'd get him one anyway, when he was ready to go back. *Some*one would probably drink it, if he didn't. Justin didn't come while he was staring at the door, of course he didn't. A watched pot never boils, and all those other sayings his mother always used. Still, that didn't keep him from keeping an eye out.

"Looking for someone?" A tall boy slid up next to him and smiled. "I mean, you obviously *are*, but. Someone in particular?"

Joey grinned and turned his head before exhaling the smoke he'd had in his lungs. "Mmm, not sure yet," he said, grabbing his beer and JC's drink from the bartender, and winking before he left. The guy was cute, but.

"Oh, I was going to try something blue next," said JC as Joey returned to the table, but he looked quite happy to take the drink that Joey was offering him. "Make sure I don't get drunk, though. I have to look beautiful tomorrow and I don't, when I have a hangover."

That meant Joey was cutting him off after this drink, because it really didn't take much to get JC drunk, and Joey was pretty sure he hadn't taken advantage of any of the abundant food at the party.

"You're beautiful anyway," said Chris, making Joey roll his eyes again. "But that probably wouldn't be a GQ kind of look, no."

"You're working on Sunday, C?" Joey said, frowning a little. It had to be okay if Chris knew about it, but it still seemed like a bit much to him. "You want someone to take you, if Chris is busy? I'm not doing *anything*, and since it looks like I won't be having leftover company, I can pick you up ... "

"It's not like I have a Monday to Friday job, Joey," JC reminded him, but still. That didn't he should work every day. Or even came close to having to. "It's the same people I was working with today; it'll only be for a couple hours. Don't give up hope yet, Joey. For you, the night is young."

Joey stuck out his tongue at him, but finally smiled a little. "Do any of us have a Monday to Friday job?" he wondered. "Personally, that makes me happy. Except on the nights I have off and I still can't find the person I want to be with."

"Hey!" Joey looked up, but he already knew what he was going to see before he did. Felt like he'd known even before he'd heard anything. "Hey, you guys are here," said Justin, looking more than a little pleased, even as he nervously looked back over his shoulder. "I was wondering where you disappeared to."

"Looks like you did a little disappearing act of your own," said JC, sounding equally pleased.

Joey didn't say anything, but he stood up to let Justin slide into the booth with them. He didn't know *what* to say; didn't know whether he wanted Justin to think he was there for him or not. Didn't even really know whether he was. JC had suggested the place and Joey certainly hadn't complained.

"I didn't leave until the media were gone," he defended himself as he sat down. "Told Lance I was heading back to the hotel to get some rest for tomorrow, then hopped on over here. Notice the lack of anyone with me."

"Notice I noticed," teased JC, gesturing for Joey to sit back down. "You know you can't keep doing that, you know."

"I know," said Justin. "I know. I was just finished working for the night and wanted to have a little fun."

"You're a grown-up," Joey said, after a pause, just looking down at the table and feeling oddly like he was on a first date. "Lance can't tell you what to do in your free time." That actually probably wasn't entirely true, but it wouldn't hurt for Justin to stand up for himself on it either.

"I'm not sure any of my time right now qualifies as "free"," he said with a sigh, tapping his fingers on the table. "I know, I know, I wanted this. Want this. Still ... it's nice to get away." He hadn't really, though. Already there were a few stray looks coming in their direction that clearly weren't for him or JC.

"Do you want a drink?" said JC. "Joey, get the boy a drink."

Joey rolled his eyes. "What did you want, Justin?" he asked, finally looking at over at him. "Uh, to drink. Same as the other night?" Once he started, he couldn't stop looking.

Justin smiled at him, which didn't help matters any. It Justin had remained the aloof, cocky up-and-coming pop star that he was supposed to be, none of this would have been a problem in the first place. "Sure, that sounds good," he said. "Thanks, Joey."

"You're welcome, Justin," Joey sighed, standing back up again and pushing his sleeves up. "Be right back."

He got a beer for the kid and one for himself, and lingered a second chatting with the bartender before walking back to their table under the gaze of way more people that had noticed him than before Justin'd come in. He set his beer down carefully and then took his seat, trying not to touch or crowd Justin at all, and trying not to care that all three of them had shut up as soon as he'd returned.

"Thanks," said Justin again, just a fraction of a second too late. "So how come you didn't tell me you were coming here before? I might've tried to slip out earlier if I'd known I'd have some company on my little adventure."

"Me?" Joey said, when JC didn't act like Justin was talking to him. "I didn't know. It was, um, JC's idea." And it basically confirmed Joey's suspicion that it *hadn't* been an invitation earlier. For whatever that was worth. But he smiled and bumped his shoulder into Justin's, not letting that get him down.

"So you were willing to come with JC and not with me? Oh, now I'm hurt," he said, and he pouted, but it didn't look like he was, realy. But that pout -- fucking devastating. "I guess I understand, though. I mean, you hardly know me yet."

"Well, that and JC *asked*, and didn't just mention that he *might* show up," Joey replied, his voice a little lower as he didn't bother to really move away from Justin's body once he was there. "But you hardly know *me* yet either, so I guess I don't blame you."

"Yeah, well," said Justin, looking faintly guilty, but a pleased kind of guilty. "Next time I'll just out and ask, I guess. I hope it doesn't look really bad, that I left. I hope not. It was a good party. I just couldn't be there anymore; a guy can only take so much."

"Yeah, all that ass-kissing, people fawning all over you, just wanting to be *next* to you ... " Joey teased, leaning even closer to his ear. "Who wants to put up wiith that?"

"Oh shut up," said Justin, but Joey had gotten him laughing and he barely noticed that JC and Chris hadn't said anything for a while. "You know what I mean. All that having to be excited and pleasant for all those strangers. "

"Speaking of which," said Chris. "I hear you're going to be on TRL next week. That should be interesting for you." "Excuse me?" said Justin, his eyes snapping away from Joey to stare at Chris. "I'm *what*?"

Joey blinked, too, and then couldn't hide a smile. It was an even better reason than he could have hoped for, for Justin not to have said anything. "Wow, I *love* your manager, Timberlake," he interejected sarcastically. "Where did you *ever* find him?"

"No, that's impossible," Justin went on. "I already have a full day, Tuesday. I have meetings and appearances and interviews and ... he wouldn't do that without talking to me about it. He'd have to rearrange my whole schedule and he can't do that because my family is flying up here to see me and they already have the schedule so they know where to find me ... "

"Well, that's what I heard," said Chris, almost apologetically, as though realizing what a can of worms he might've opened. Joey didn't know who he heard it from, but it had to have been someone pretty reliable for Chris to have taken it as truth.

"Okay, hey," Joey said, wrapping an arm around Justin's shoulders. Which, when he touched them, were absolutely quivering. "Hey, now. Don't worry about it tonight, okay, kiddo? You can find out tomorrow and still have plenty of time to tell your folks. And if it's true? it's not a *bad* thing. TRL! That's the real deal, not getting stuck being interviewed with a hack like me."

"No, I know it's not bad," he said, taking a deep breath and composing himself just like that. Joey wanted to tell him he didn't have to, but they were out in public and he kind of did. "It's just ... a bit of a shock. And I wasn't *stuck* being interviewed by you, Joey, I got lucky."

JC gave Joey an 'I told you so' look, which he pointedly ignored.

"Thanks, babe," Joey murmured, just giving his shoulders another squeeze. "Drink your beer, huh? Then maybe we can go find some women who might agree to dance with us."

Justin rolled his eyes a little, like that was the last thing he wanted to do. But then he paused and nodded his head. "I guess that looks good," he said. "Me, dancing with girls. And at least you'll be there."

"I'll be there," Joey promised. As if, now that he had his hands on Justin, he'd really want to let him *go*.

He completely avoided JC *or* Chris's eyes as he slid out of the booth again, giving Justin just enough room to stand up before he pressed close again.

"You don't have to," he said over his Justin's shoulder. "I just thought it'd get your mind off it ... "

"No, it's good," he said. "I like to dance. It'll be a good distraction, I think." He set his empty beer bottle on the table and tugged on Joey's forearm. "You any good?"

Joey shrugged, but again, couldn't hide a smile. "You can't dance with me anyway," he murmured, grinning and walking backwards, pulling Justin onto the floor even though Justin was the one holding on to him.

"There's more than one way to dance with a guy," teased Justin, but Joey doubted that Justin would be able to give him more than a couple token glances when they were out there. Mostly because they were followed out onto the dance floor by a number of girls who'd had an eye on Justin since he'd entered the club.

"Show me," Joey managed to say, before he was surrounded. Before *both* of them were surrounded, really, and Joey had to wonder about his lot in life. Was it always to be the sidekick of the pretty one that got all the attention?

It could be worse, though, and he knew better than to complain about it. Especially not when he was surrounded by lots of girls, and at least one boy, that really got his blood going. And damn. He'd known, in the back of his head, even though he'd never seen it, that Justin would be able to dance. But to see him do it was something else entirely.

He was gorgeous, and so comfortable, and easy in his skin; and he glowed under the lights and glistened when he sweated and it was just *something* to watch. Joey tried to stay close without looking like he was trying to stay close, and then had to give up. If Justin wanted to dance near him, he was going to have to be the one to do it, because Joey wasn't pushing his crowd of fans out of the way to make it happen.

Justin was watching him, too, though. Joey didn't notice that at first, because Justin kept closing his eyes and turning his head away. But time after time after time Justin managed to make eye contact with him, and Joey thought maybe that was what he meant by dancing with him. Not that they would manage to be close, but that Justin was connecting with *him* while they were on the dancefloor.

And then after that, it actually hit him that Justin was making an effort to dance with *him*.

And once that happened, Joey didn't take his eyes off him. He put his hands on anyone close, wrapped an arm around anyone closer, and pressed against hips and thighs and backs and anything that was offered to him by anyone else. But he didn't look away from Justin, and he didn't bother to hide it.

Justin wasn't doing a very good job of hiding it either, if he was trying. But there were so many people, and they were far enough apart, and it was dark and the lights were flashing and no one could have known what they were doing except themselves. It was a long time before Justin signalled that he was ready for a break, and started moving toward the edge, his crowd following him.

This time Joey did push the fans out of the way, if kindly, moving in behind Justin protectively. He tried to make it look protective, at least, even as he ducked his head a little to smell the skin right where Justin's neck turned into his shoulder. "Thirsty?" he said, in a normal voice that sounded like a whisper in the crowd noise.

"Very," said Justin, leaning his head back to speak so Joey's cheek grazed along his jaw. It was a struggle to get back to their table, and Justin got a real taste of what it was like to have a lot of autograph seekers around him -- if his album did as well as everyone thought it would, he was going to need security soon -- but when it finally calmed down again Joey had a beer for each of them and had resumed his protective posture where they sat.

"You okay?" Joey checked, looking carefully at Justin's expression, his position, everything, once people figured out they weren't getting back up -- or letting anyone else sit down -- for a while. He knew he'd barely acknowdlged JC and Chris when he'd sat back down, and that he'd get shit for that later, but right then? Making Justin comfortable was all he cared about.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," he said, and he *looked* okay, only shaking a little. "Wasn't really expecting that. It's never really happened to me before, especially not in a place like this." He'd smiled and been enthusiastic and cheerful through the whole thing, though. He'd done well.

"They love you," Joey smiled, leaning into him again once he was sure Justin wouldn't shy away from even more contact. That contact from Joey was going to be okay.

"They really do," said Chris, looking around speculatively. "I'm guessing the interview aired? Or the first few glimpses of your party? Or maybe a magazine spread?"

Justin hesitated, then nodded. "Yesterday," he said. "Friday. I have a thing in the new Teen People. But they aren't teens ... "

"Not technically, no," said Chris, giving him a knowing smile.

"The interview shows Monday," Joey murmured, still watching Justin's face, and smiling brightly when he met his eyes again. "Better start interviewing bodyguards, kiddo. Not everyone has a nasty tough boyfriend like CHris, here, to take care of him."

Justin laughed nervously. Surely he'd thought of that, or him and Lance had talked about it, but facing the reality seemed to shake him up a little. He'd never had to deal with *this* on the Mickey Mouse Club.

"Right," said JC, backing him up. "And Joey won't always be able to be around, either. Plus, he seems to have his own little fan club."

"I'll think about that," said Justin quietly, and sipped his drink.

"Are you okay?" Joey asked again, only for Justin's ears, getting the slightest bit worried. "You want me to go get you a car or something, kid? It's okay to be tired, and it's okay to be ... whatever, weirded out by the crowds."

"No, I'm okay," insisted Justin. "I'm getting used to it. I'm not gonna run now." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly but he still looked a little shakey. Joey couldn't really blame him; it hadn't been a scary moment at all, but maybe it was a bit of a moment of realization for him. About what life was going to be like.

"Okay, I'll shut up, then," Joey said, sitting back. Putting some space between them. And finally making eye contact with Chris and JC. If Justin didn't want to talk to him, or confide in him any more ... that was his right, if Joey had messed it up.

"You don't have to," murmured Justin quietly, shivering as soon as Joey moved. "Shut up. You don't have to shut up." He, too, looked up to see JC and Chris. "Hi," he said, giving them a little smile. "I'm not a freak, really, that just caught me off guard."

"I know all about it," said JC soothingly, reaching out to squeeze Justin's arm but only for a moment. "It gets better. I promise."

Joey just sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, so he wasn't tempted to touch Justin again. "You guys are so boring tonight," he complained, directing the criticism at his friends. "I even let you pick the place and you're being boring."

"We were guarding your drinks as you danced," said Chris dryly. " A thankless job, but someone has to do it. Though if you *must* know, my knee's giving me a bit of trouble tonight." He glanced at Justin and added, "Old football injury," so he would know what they were talking about. "I've been on my feet quite enough, I think."

"Blah blah," Joey mumbled, catching himself drifting back into Justin's space and pulling back again. He was ... ornery. Something. He could feel tension and electricity and everything running through his body and it was making him restless. Making him feel unsatisifed. "I think I'm gonna go get another. Drink. Anyone else?"

"I'm done mine," said Justin, holding up his bottle. That was pretty damn quick. "Thanks, Joey, I ... another would be really good, yeah."

"Me, too," said Chris, giving Joey an ingratiating grin. "And bring JC something blue?"

Joey glanced over at JC, since he'd already asked that they not let him get drunk, but he was nodding eagerly. And maybe if JC got drunk he wouldn't ask any embarrassing questions.

He slid out of the booth after letting himself touch Justin's thigh briefly, and tried to figure out how he was going to manage four drinks by himself.

"Wait," he heard Justin say from behind him before he'd gone more than a couple of steps. "Wait. I'm okay, I'll help." Joey froze when he heard it, and before he could get his feet going again, or even turn to tell Justin he didn't have to, he could just stay safe in the booth, Justin was right at his side. "I need to get used to this," he murmured, dropping his voice now that he didn't need to shout to be heard.

"But not tonight, not when you're tired," Joey protested, automatically moving behind him, *around* him. "Take it easy, kid. I can manage. Go make sure Chris and JC aren't fucking on top of the table before I get back."

Justin glanced back at them and smiled, but a moment later it was clear it was already too late to return without a scene.

"Oh my god, are you Justin Timberlake?" someone screeched near their ears. "Oh my god, oh my god. Will you sign something for me?"

Justin looked startled for a second, then let a smooth, calculated smile settle on his face. Joey could've spotted the fake even if he hadn't known Justin, but he did and that just made it all the harder to see. This was the life, though. This was how it was.

"Sure," said Justin, turning his smile on his fan. "Got a pen?"

Joey let the girl grab a waiter and practically shove him to his knees to get a pen and a napkin off him; let Justin sign the damned thing; but he had NO intention of watching him do it for an hour. Not with him being as tired as he seemed. He moved closer behind him, ready to pull him out the *door* if he needed to, to keep other girls away. Tomorrow he'd try and decide why the whole thing was making him so uber-protective.

"It's okay," said Justin when she left, clutching the napkin to her chest and squealing to her friends, and after he'd signed a couple more for girls who'd recognized him once she'd made a scene. "I'm okay. It's kinda nice, to be recognized." But he looked so damn worn out. He could get used to this when he appeared on TRL. Right now Joey just wanted him to enjoy the time he had left when he had relative anonymity. If it wasn't too late already.

"Will you just ... sit down?" Joey whispered next to his ear, not caring if it sounded like he was being a tightass. "Please. You look about to collapse. Actually ... maybe I should go call a cab for you ... ?"

Justin just looked at him strangely and shook his head. "No, no, I'll sit down," he said. "Maybe JC and Chris will enjoy my company a little more than you are. Thanks for the drink, though." He didn't give Joey a chance to say anything as he slipped away again, hurt in his eyes. He obviously didn't understand what Joey was trying to do, which shouldn't have been a surprise because Joey wasn't sure what the hell he was trying to do either.

Justin wouldn't even look him at him when he managed to get back to the table, not having to have worked too hard to get a waitress to help him with the drinks. He gave her his best grin and a little pat on the ass when she left: nothing he would have done if he hadn't been absolutely sure she wouldn't mind.

"There, that blue enough for you, C?" he asked, swallowing a big gulp of beer.

JC let out what was practically a squeal, proving to Joey at least that the last thing he needed was another drink. He wasn't getting him anything else after this one, no matter how nice they asked. "Yes, thank you," he said, stirring it with the bright cocktail straw. "It's perfect."

"You seem to have made a new friend," noted Chris, gesturing discreetly with his beer. When Joey looked he saw his waitress talking excitedly to someone else and pointing towards them. When she saw him looking, she smiled. "Lucky boy."

"Aww, her?" Joey asked, avoiding looking at Justin since two could play that game. "Yeah, I dunno. She's cute, right?"

Well, she'd be cute as long as that excited look was for him, and not for the other people she got to deliver a drink to. Jc OR Justin, except one Joey was a little more familiar feeling inferior to.

When he caught JC's eyes, JC gave him this little disapproving look that Joey just did *not* need right then. And besides that, he just did *not* need to be feeling that way about them -- he was doing fine for himself, *good* for himself, he had a great career started and it was only going up. Just his bad judgment to surround himself with people more famous than he was, he guessed.

He was startled when Justin's hand bumped against his for a moment. He'd though that Justin was just picking up his drink, but when he looked he realized that Justin's hand had been nowhere near the glass when it had happened.

He blinked at him, his own reactions a little slow -- not from exhaustion, like Justin, but maybe a little from his drinks, and carelessness. He just raised his eyebrows and then touched him back. Deliberately.

Justin looked like he relaxed again, as much as he could at the moment, and took a slow sip of his beer. "It's starting to get real," he admitted, opening up a bit more than Joey had expected, given his display only moments ago. "The whole thing, it's been like a dream up until now. A lot of hard work, but still a dream. But now ... it's only three days until the album is released. People are already playing songs off it. It's real."

"You're doing good, kid," he said, earning himself another look from JC with how casual his voice was. "Seriously, you are. Three days! And your family's here soon, too ... that's nice, you lookin' forward to it?"

"Oh, yeah," said Justin, perking up. "Everyone's gonna try and make it, even my grandparents, and they hardly even travel anymore. And I can't wait to see my little brothers again, even if it's only for a few minutes."

Justin had a fresh face and broad appeal and confidence and poise and experience and he just oozed sexuality ... but right at that moment the only thing that struck Joey is how young he still was, underneath it all. And how much his life was about to change.

* * *

For a minute, the way JC was bending, Joey almost thought he had gone for the porn career after all. It was positively indecent, which meant only that Joey found it at least little bit hot. That was the kind of thing a guy had to do when he was part of a national ad campaign for a new cologne, though, he supposed. Sex sells.

When JC finally took a break, he spotted Joey right away and gave him a wide, squishy grin, like he'd known he was there all along and was just waiting for the moment that he could finally acknowledge it. "You got in, good," he said as he approached. "I was worried that you might not."

"Oh, well," Joey tried to shrug. "When saying I was your massuese didn't work, I said I was your 'personal' assitant. With the wink. So now I think you're supposed to fuck me or something."

"Well, I'm certainly dressed for it," said JC, but Joey hadn't needed to be reminded that he wasn't wearing so much as a stitch of clothing. Which explained the closed shoot. "Let me just get a robe or something, though, man. It's cold in here."

"Oh, here," Joey said, holding the forgotten item out for him, with a bit of a lingering look. "Jace. I know maybe this isn't cool to say, betweenfriends, but you're just gorgeous. You are. And ... and I'm glad you have Chris."

JC just looked down at his body a little and pinched at his waist, like he was unsatisfied. He didn't say anything about though, before he wrapped the robe around his body. "I'm glad I have Chris, too," he said, all smiles again. "Though probably for entirely different reasons than you are."

"Yeah, don't wanna know," Joey sighed.

"Yeah, don't wanna know," Joey sighed. "So. You look good, though! No ill effects from last night?" He hoped not. JC had enough to bitch at him about without involving the alcohol he might or might not have given him.

"Beyond a tough time getting out of bed this morning? Not really," he assured him, finding himself a bottle of water to drink. "How about you? Any ill effects from last night?" Joey suspected he wasn't talking about the alcohol. At least, not entirely."

"Well. We could discuss the obvious," Joey said, "but that's a little tacky, even for us." He'd gone to bed alone, and wanting, and he knew JC knew it. His attraction to the young new superstar was just too much of a given already.

"Nothing's tacky, between friends," said JC with a smile that was either predatory or curious or just suspposed to be reassuring. In this state of mind, Joey couldn't be sure which, even though it was *JC*. "Have you talked to him yet today?"

"Who?" Joey blinked innocently. He wrapped an arm around JC's shoulders, mostly for his own comfort but at least a little because JC had said he was cold.

"Don't play dumb with *me*," said JC, finding them both a place to sit. "I was there, last night. And I'll wait as long as it take for you to tell me all about it. Or at least until they call me back up again."

"Okay, Justin, what about him?" Joey said, handing him water and a washcloth. "What. He's going to be huge; he was getting more attention than *you*. He doesn't have time for anything else right now, C."

"Yeah, well, I don't doubt *that*," said JC. "By the end of this week, the only thing he's gonna be absolutely sure of is his own name, and that's because he's going to be hearing it everywhere. But it'll settle down. So now tell me what I want to know and stop feeling sorry for yourself."

"What do you want to know, C," Joey said, giving him his most disarming smile. It wasn't liker hw ouldn't talk to him about this anyway. He was hard up for the kid like he hadn't been since ... since anyone, and JC knew it. Knew *him*.

"What's the master plan, Joey?" he said, kindly blunt like only he could really be, for Joey. "Are you going to go for him or not? He's not gonna make the first move, not right now, not when his life is getting turned upside down, but that doesn't mean he won't be receptive."

Joey blinked at him. "You actually think I should go for him?" he asked, sounding as incredulous as he felt. "You, C, I would have ... I would have BET that you'd tell me to let him settle in first. He's not looking for anything. I think you're wrong, with the 'receptive' thing."

JC just shrugged. "If you were someone else, I might tell you to wait. I might tell you to wait for him to come to you. But you're not, you're Joey, and you're not the kind of person who needs to cling to someone. And you know the business, you know what he's getting into. You'd be good for him."

"He doesn't need someone right now," Joey murmured. "He's .. too busy, too big, too ... too watched-over by his manager. And ... need we forget? He hasn't really said he's interested. I don't even know if he knows *I'm* interested.:

"Oh come on, Joey, you're just lying to yourself about that. I know you, and you know when someone's interested in you. I can see why you might be denying it because sure, it'll be complicated with him, but you are interested. And he was flirting back. And don't assume you know what ne wants or needs. You want me to feel him out a little for you? Would that make you feel better about the whole thing?"

"I always knew I was really a girl at heart," Joey muttered. "No. I don't know. This is ... I really think this is one of those cases where I should just be glad to know him as a friend, you know? Have him in my life. I think he's a good guy and we get along and why do we need to bring anything else into it."

"I don't know," said JC. "Maybe because it's already there? Joey. Joey Joey Joey." He lay his hand along Joey's cheek, cool and soft. "You know I just want you to be happy. Don't be dumb about this, okay? If you don't want to be with him, at least make sure it's for the right reasons and not because of something you're just imagining."

"Ugh, I just," Joey groaned. "Whatever. I guess I haven't made an ass out of myself in a while so I'm due. How'd Chris get you to sleep with him anyway? Cause that's like this."

"You know exactly how," said JC, his smile very much genuine this time. "He was sweet and funny and he swept me off my feet. But mostly, he *asked*. Which is the key that you seem to be missing in this whole Justin affair. I can't tell you what he'll say, Joey. I can only tell you that he was interested. I can only get you so far."

"*Was* interested, right," Joey sighed, kissing JC's shoulder. Before he'd messed up, twice; before he'd flirted with girls in front of him. "Well, I'll maybe try. Maybe. In the meantime ... let me know if he talks about me. Anything."

"Sure," said JC with a sweet little laugh. "You know I will. You got any notes you want me to pass him, maybe?" But his teasing was affectionate, and he gave Joey a kiss on the cheek. "Just be yourself. He obviously likes that, Joey, it's how you hooked his interest in the first place. You know how to do this."

"I know, I know," Joey sighed, groaning a little when they started motioning for JC to get ready for the next set. "I just bet I won't have time. And ... I'm out of excuses to see him, to run into him. And if he was interested ... don't you think he would've maybe made it plain, last night?"

JC lifted an eyebrow at him as he smoothly slid out of the robe again and handed it back. "Don't you think he did?" he suggested. "I think you're too hung up on thinking he could never possibly want you to see that he kind of seems like he does. Anyway, you'll see him Tuesday anyway, right? You wouldn't pass up the chance when he was actually in the building, I know you're not that dumb."

"Nice, C," Joey said, not bothering to hide how that stung. Usually JC wouldn't use that word with him. He folded the robe up carefully for him. "Sure, I'll see him Tuesday. For all of a minute, probably, but. I guess I can give him my number, for whenever he's back in town."

JC sighed and leaned in to give his cheek one last kiss. "You know I adore you, but you're way too hard on yourself sometimes, Joey. Give it a chance, okay? At the very least -- the *very* least -- he wants to be your friend."

"Okay," Joey said, giving JC one of his grins. It wasn't so bad, nothing was so bad. He wouldn't lose anything trying, really -- JC was right about that. And he had the rest of his own life to worry about, too: they were airing his interview tomorrow. And it could be enough to make his *own* career.

* * *

Joey didn't exactly *sneak* into the hall outside the TRL studio, but he had stuff he should have been doing. His interview was gonna air right after TRL, so that stuff probably included throwing up out of nervousness in the bathroom.

But he was on a mission, of sorts. He'd seen Carson on TRL a million times, but never really watched him when he'd be interviewing a potential friend, and someone who was still a novice at the game, the next day. And maybe he was just checking out the competition.

Of course, it didn't hurt that *this* afternoon, he had the young actress that Joey'd met on Saturday ...

"Star of the new movie, *Unfortunate*," Carson was saying, with a bit of a smirk, "please welcome Mandy Moore!" Cheers, applause, and Joey felt his pulse quicken. What he wouldn't give for Carson's job. "Miss Mandy. How was your weekend?"

"Oh, it was ... " she began then waved her hand vaguely in the air and giggled and looked very nervous, to Joey's experienced eyes. To others, she probably just looked cute. "Good, it was good. Everyone's been just so nice to me, everywhere I go. It's been great." Joey had a lot of ideas about why people were so nice to her, but he kept them to himself. She had seemed awfully sweet then, and seemed equally sweet now.

"I bet," Carson nodded. "Probably not only because you just turned eighteen, even. Because I'm sure there aren't a ton of guys out there that were waiting for you to be legal. Not that you have time?"

Joey was a little surprised by that; Carson was *saying* it like he was beaing friendly, teasing, but it was still a bit of an uncomfortable thing for a new kid to respond to.

To her credit, she only looked startled for a moment. "Much too busy," she agreed. "I hardly even noticed my birthday pass by, really, it's all happened so fast. I've met all sorts of people, though. It's nice being invited to places and doing things, new things. It's all very exciting."

Joey's first thought was that Justin would have handled the question better. Probably. But it was still a question that ... well, that he wouldn't have asked, especially not like *that*. There was good, edgy interviewing and there was crassness. And Joey may not have been the first one yet, but at least he wasn't the second.

"What kinds of things?" Carson prompted. "The New York sights, the parties? or just the nonstop press for the new film? I know it feels like you get asked the same question a million times."

"Oh, well I got invited to a party this weekend?" she offered, like it was a question. "An album release. It was really cool, so many people. It was really a lot of fun." She had probably been told over and over again by her manager not to give anything away, not to say anything of substance. And it showed, to him at least. And if he knew then Carson knew.

"Ahhh, yes," Carson said, raising an eyebrow. "The ever-entertaining 'album release.' Well, but at least you weren't bored. And did any of your co-stars go with you, or are you sick to death of them already?"

"Oh no, I love them!" she said immediately. "It was a great experience working with them all." Joey struggled not to laugh at the rote response, even as he knew Carson had asked the question because he knew he'd get exactly that response. "I wasn't there with any of them, though, just me all by my lonesome. But like I said, everyone was just so nice to me. I definitely wasn't bored."

"Yeah, you see some things at those parties," Carson teased. "Alright, but enough interrogating Mandy about her weekend. Let's show a clip from her movie, opening this Friday."

The cameras cut to the video and Carson, to his credit, at least smiled and talked to Mandy quietly even when they were off-air. Joey'd seen him outright ignore people, sometimes.

Then, when the cameras came back, he let her talk about her role for a minute before wrapping up the interview. "So thanks for dropping by," he said, grinning. "Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in New York ... "

She gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek, leaving a pinkish smear of lip gloss, and Joey caught Carson rolling his eyes. "Thanks for having me," she said, "and thanks everyone for coming to see me! Hope you enjoy the movie!" She waved at the audience and blew them kisses and that was it for her.

Joey managed to catch her hand as she was being escorted back off the set. "You did great, honey," he said, smiling. "Super professional. And I'm glad I got to see you again." He didn't exactly let go of her hand quickly, either.

"Oh!" she said, meeting his eyes, recognition clear in them. "Oh *hi*! I didn't expect to see you today. How are you doing?" People were surrounding her, obviously ready to usher her away, but when she stalled they stalled with her.

"I'm good," he laughed. "Now don't break my heart and tell me I have to remind you what my name is, sweetheart." He tugged on her sleeve, and then glanced over her shoulder to make sure Carson was still on the set. "Did you really have fun, Saturday?"

"Oh yeah, I did, I did," she insisted, then looked back over her should to see who was listening to her. When she looked back again, she scrunched up her nose and made a little face and leaned in closer to him. "Do those things always drag on so long?" she asked conspiratorially.

"Interviews?" he laughed. "I dunno, babe. Maybe I'm the wrong person to be asking." Carson looked about ready to go, so he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek himself. "Gotta run, though. You have my number, I *know* you do, so use it, okay?"

"I will," she said, smiling sweetly, and Joey wasn't sure whether to believe her or not. But she just looked so guileless that he had to. "Bye, Joey!" A moment later she was swept away and off the set.

"She's a little young for you, don't you think?"

"She's a little young for you to be making age of consent jokes about, is what I think," Joey replied, pleased with himself for the quick comeback. Carson always made him a little nervous, especially smirking like he was when Joey faced him. "You can take it a little easier on the new ones, man."

The smirk didn't so much as quiver as Carson stared him down. "That was so easy your grandmother could have handled it," he said breezily. "So what are you doing here, Fatone? Taking notes?"

"Sure," Joey said, making it sound like it was the last thing he was doing. "I dunno. Maybe I just wanted to see how you were going to do the promo for my interview." Which was airing right *then*, and he'd managed to keep his mind off it. It was a good sign.

"Oh, right, your little interview," said Carson, crossing his arms over his chest. "That boy certainly climbed to the big time fast, didn't he? Last week he was still interviewing with you and this week he's already on TRL. You *did* know that he's on the show tomorrow, didn't you?"

"I heard," Joey said, a little stiff before he forced a grin and felt himself relax. If the producers hadn't been happy with his 'little' interview, it wouldn't be airing right after TRL, and Carson knew it. "Makes your job a little tougher, though, doesn't it. Or are you gonna just ask *him* about the joys of being legal?"

"Oh, I don't think you need to be worrying about that. From what I hear, there are *far* more interesting things I could be asking young Timberlake," he said, unrattled. "We'll just have to see how it plays out, won't we."

Joey froze for a second, then made himself relax. It didn't have to mean what he thought he meant, first of all, and second of all ... no reason to give Carson anything else. Carson, who didn't seem to really care anymore about being friends with the people on the show, just about being a snarky ass.

"What things?" he tried to sound innocent. "I mean, *I* could tell you that he's having to fend people off with a stick already."

"Oh, I just bet he is," said Carson knowingly. "Pretty boy like him? I just bet. And I'm sure you know all about it. Was there something you needed, Fatone? An autograph maybe?"

Joey bit his lip to keep from snapping something like: fuck off. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders like he was physically brushing off Carson's comment. "I just thought I'd ask what angle you were going to take, with it," he explained innocently. "Since you are the old pro, right?"

He didn't look like he was quite buying that, not from Joey, who he *did* know better than that. But he seemed to take it at face value anyway. "After watching your little interview with him I figured I'd try to cover the holes you left. Like what his influences are, what he likes about fame. You know, things like that."

It was interesting that Carson'd taken the time to watch it -- Joey was actually surprised. "I asked about his influences," he blurted defensively, before he could stop himself. "I did. Just. He does better with the less routine questions, you know? That's the vibe I get, at least ... " he trailed off, still uncertain about how his own interview had really come across.

"Well, maybe you just need to learn how to ask them," he said, and sniffed, and looked at something past Joey's head like he'd lost all interest in the conversation. "I'm sure you'll do better next time. Now I'm sure you know I have things to do ... "

"Sure, sorry," Joey said, having to keep himself from adding 'Mr. Daly, sir' at the end. "I'll just. See you. Tomorrow, I guess." Since there was no way he'd miss Justin's interview.

"Sure, whatever," he said, pushing past him. Joey wasn't even sure Carson had heard what he said. "See you around, Fatone."

He definitely would, Joey thought, grinning even at Carson's retreating back. And he'd keep grinning until the day he had his job.

* * *

Joey wasn't quite prepared for the entourage that accompanied Justin into the MTV studios. Sure he'd seen bigger and better and brighter a dozen -- a hundred -- times already in his time there, but this was Justin and he'd never seen quite this kind of hoopla about him before. Hell, he couldn't even *see* him, in the midst of it; he wasn't even sure he was there and not already behind closed doors.

He'd made his way down from his office, *certain* he'd get to give him a quick manly hug and a hopefully encouraging smile. He'd thought Lance would be his biggest obstacle. Right then, it looked like he'd be lucky to get a glimpse of *Lance.*

"I'm sorry," said someone, holding a hand up in front of him. "I can't let you in there. Mr. Timberlake asked for some time alone before he went on." Joey looked up -- there weren't all that many people around he actually had to look *up* at -- and saw it was a guy he knew, Vlad, who worked security sometimes.

"Oh, hey, man," he said easily, holding up his own hands innocuously. "I just wanted to say hi, honestly quick." He gave him his most winning grin. "I won't harass the poor kid."

He was a bit surprised when Vlad shook his head. "Sorry, man, no can do. Orders are orders. The kid's been mobbed already since he got here. Just look at this scene--" He gestured at the assembled people. "And they told me it was going to be a quiet day, too."

It really was a zoo, and all at once, Joey was hit with a bout of nerves about whether Justin really *would* want to see him. Or if he'd just be considered another one of the people in the building wanting to be connected to who was a no-brainer for the Next Big Thing.

"Well, okay," he said, more quietly. "He's okay, though?" Not that he really thought Vlad was the one to go to for insight on the matter, but it was who he had. Unless he wanted to wait for Carson's post-mortem.

Vlad just shrugged. "He seemed fine when he walked in there, that's all I know. A little rattled maybe, but who isn't, their first time on? You worried about him or something?"

Joey was shoved from behind by someone before he could even answer, even more evidence that the mission was pretty much hopeless. He was just one of the mob at the moment.

"Nah, never met a kid that could take care of himself better," Joey bluffed, pressing back against the wall before hitting Vlad companionably on the shoulder. "Thanks, though."

He faded back into the crowd, if only to try and figure out a way to work his way into the green room from a different route.

He knew a few of the people who where there -- interns, who he knew had no business being there but were trying to look official anyway, a couple more security guys, a publicist or two, that kind of thing -- but there were more that he *didn't*, which was a bit bothersome. He wondered who was being let into the room. Maybe catering? But that was kinda lame.

He knew there'd be other press, and just ... Justin's people. Or rather, Lance's people, maybe. Since it was the first day the album was out, and TRL -- while big -- was just one of many stops. He'd just kind of wanted to see Justin's face when he told him that he'd bought his very own copy on his way in, that morning.

Maybe Justin would ask for him. It was a longshot, but he thought maybe he was the only person around there that Justin really knew so far, and maybe he'd just want to see a familiar face. The only thing standing in the way of that plan was Lance, who he got the idea was pretty unimpressed with him, after that interview. Judging from the tightness of security, maybe it was his *only* shot.

He blessed his height in a hall full of women, high heels or not, just in case Justin did poke his head out and look for him.

He tried not to let the disappointment affect him when he did see those familiar curls come out of the dressing room, but only after Carson'd announced "Justin Timberlake, right when we return from the break." So that even if he DID see him, there was no time at all to even say good luck.

His best bet, at that point, was to stick around for the show, back behind the audience, and wait for the segment to be over. He certainly would have no trouble doing that, at least, and odds were that if Justin glanced at the audience at all, even with the lights, he'd spot him. Probably.

He wondered if the nerves he was feeling were just on Justin's behalf, or because he figured Justin didn't know enough to be nervous ... Joey'd ruminated *way* too much on his brief conversation with Carson the night before, when he should have been preparing for the next interview *he* had to do. Just ... seeing him with Mandy -- which reminded him, he should call her -- Mandy, who was a sweet girl, he had no faith in Carson taking it easy on Justin.

Despite his bravado, and his insistence that he had "life experience" and professional experience and he could handle it, Justin *was* new to the the life. He would put up a good front, of that Joey was sure, but it something happened it would affect him more deeply than he let on. At the moment, though, seconds before the show returned, the only thing he could really do was wait and see.

"So let's bring him out," Carson was saying. "Justin Timberlake, girls and boys. Boys and girls." Joey glanced over at him sharply, but Carson's face was typically bland.

Justin looked just as confident -- bordering on cocky -- as he had during Joey's interview. The parts that had aired, anyway. He waved at the audience and gave them his biggest smile before turning to Carson expectantly.

"Justin," Carson said, holding out his hand. "Am I the only person at MTV that *hasn't* already met you? Jeez, man. You get around."

'Nice start,' thought Joey with an inward scowl, keeping his face bright and interested in case the camera caught him.

"Well, you know how it is," Justin said with a grin and a shrug of his shoulders. "Some people really go out of there way to meet you, and some people wait for you to come to them. It's all a difference of personality. But I've got to tell you, given the number of people I saw on my way in here, I haven't met a *tenth* of the people who work in this place."

"Ah, but surely the important ones," Carson said, and Joey wondered what the hell *that* meant. "But. Today's the big day ... so spill. How many copies of your CD did you walk into Tower and buy this morning?"

"All of them," said Justin, too solemnly to be serious. "Just to make sure I had some sales my first day. Or at least I tried, but, well, they were already sold out." His straight face broke into a grin again, even cockier than before but charming all the same. "Fess up, Carson, you beat me there and bought them out, didn't you? You wanted to get a copy for everyone you know."

Joey saw Carson calculate whether he had to laugh, and really, he did, or he'd come off like an ass. "I'll neither confirm nor deny," he had to say. "You seem confident about this album, though. Way more confident than most debut record-makers I see in here."

"I wouldn't have released the album if I wasn't confident about it," he said, candidly, Joey thought. "I know I took a few chances on it, did a few things that might not be as commercial and some people would have liked, but you're right, I *am* pretty confident about it. Do I think it's gonna break sales records? No, of course not, I'm a realist at heart. I know this is a debut album by an untried artist. Do I think it's gonna do pretty well? Yeah, yeah, I really do. I'm really very happy with the work I've done on it."

It wasn't really a "TRL" answer -- the correct one would probably have been "Well, I like it and I hope other people do, too" -- but Joey liked it better that way. It was more "Justin". The TRL environment, and the -- in his opinion -- inane questions weren't sapping away that guy that Joey had met while interviewing Justin himself.

"Is that more important to you?" carson asked, the beginnings of a smirk in place. "The commercial success, rather than maybe critical acclaim?"

It wasn't exactly fair, although Justin almost had set himself up for the question.

"They're not as different as you're making them out to be," said Justin immediately. "Would I rather my album got out to a lot of people who could make up their own minds about it, rather than get praise from some industry professionals? If it came down to a choice, then yeah, I kind of would. But it's not usually an either/or situation. To be perfectly honest, of course, I'd rather have both. Because in the end, it's all about people liking it, or if not liking it necessarily, then getting something valuable out of it."

Lance was going to have fits about this, Joey was sure. But Justin was holding his own, and Carson wasn't really going to like that much, and Joey got an uncharitable thrill about that. The audience seemed to be liking his answers an awful lot, too -- maybe because he was telling them that their opinions were more important to him. It was definitely a whole different kind of interview than the one with Mandy the day before.

Which, certainly, he expected -- Mandy was in no way as naive as she liked to play, but neither was she anywhere near Justin's league when it came to articulating what he meant, when it came to common sense.

"Actually, it usually *is* an either/or situation," Carson said dryly, the implication being that Justin had a lot to learn. "But, that's the sad lives of music critics for you. You want to maybe talk about what you *wouldn't* like people to do, or think, hearing the album?"

"Well," said Justin, letting out a laugh. "I don't want people to *hate* it, how about that? What else can I say? All I can do is make the music, and maybe talk about it a little, what went into it and the parts of me that it reflects. What people do and think and feel, when they hear it, that's up to them. There's a lot of grey and not a lot of black and white, when it comes to that. You'll probably get what I mean when you listen to it, though that theory's not much different when you're listening to *any* new music. What you get out of it depends a lot on you, and the experiences you bring to it while listening."

"Maybe I should clarify," Carson said, not at all rising to the subtle jab that Justin made about him not already listening to the CD. In direct contrast to, Joey was stupidly pleased to be proud of, his own actions. "I guess, what don't you want people to *say*."

"Ahh," said Justin knowingly. "You should've just said that, that's a whole different question entirely. I guess I really don't want people to say that it's trendy, that it's a fad. I don't want them to say that it's anything but genuine blood, sweat and tears -- my own -- that went into creating the songs. But I don't think I'm in much of a position to tell people what they should or shouldn't say about it. The album is out there now, and I'm at the mercy of the public." He raised his hands, palm up, helplessly, and gave Carson a shrug and a smile that said he maybe didn't have expectations of people, but he had some pretty strong hopes.

"You have a favorite track?" Carson asked casually, and Joey flinched, knowing that Carson'd watched his interview and went ahead and asked the question anyway. "One that's maybe more 'blood, sweat, and tears' than the others? And don't give me something about them all being your favorites for different reasons." He laughed when he added that, but it was still kind of harsh.

"They're all my favourites, for different reasons," said Justin, deadpan, his eyes glinting in amusement but his lips not even twitching in the slightest. "Actually yes, yes I do have a favorite track. Thanks for asking."

Joey snorted in reaction, and looked around to see if anyone heard him. But practically everyone else was laughing, too. Which, good for Justin, but. It didn't pay to piss Carson off. He joked with artists about whether they wanted their video to be number one or not, but Joey had the sneaking suspicion that he actually *would* prevent it, if he decided to.

"Can we play with yes/no questions?" Carson snarked back, but then just glossed over it. Joey knew he wouldn't bother to ask, at that point. "Okay, how about telling us which track was the hardest for you to write, and why."

Justin nodded and looked like he actually appreciated that question. He was giving it some serious thought anyway. Then halfway through his thought he broke off and smiled and waved at the audience again, raising the yells and cheers to a crescendo. Reminding them he knew they were there, and maybe reminding himself that they were there, too.

"There's this one track," he said a moment later, when the noise had died down enough. "The ninth track. It's called "Justified"--" He laughed and shook his head. "--which I swear wasn't meant to be self-referential. I was really going through something tough at the time, and the words didn't come so easily. It was one of those times when the hardest thing to say was exactly what you meant. But they finally did and it was worth the difficulty of getting it out." The way he said it, Joey wondered if that track was the answer to the other question as well.

He wracked his brain trying to remember some of the lyrics to that one, but buried that deep in the playlist ... he hadn't heard it as much as some of the others. But he knew he'd be listening when the interview was over, just like he knew he wouldn't be the only one.

"Why was what you meant hard to say?" Carson was pressing. "Because it's not nice, maybe? Worried about hurting someone's feelings? Worried about whether it would fit your image?"

"Worried about admitting things about myself, *to* myself, that I didn't like as much as other things," said Justin, probably more candid than he would have liked to have been about that one. Joey remembered his 'no lying' personal policy and wondered just how long that was going to last. "It's tough owning up to your own weaknesses and failings. You know?"

"Ah, so it's more a *you*-done-somebody-wrong song, than the other way around?" Carson inferred, even though Joey was pretty sure that wasn't necessarily what Justin had meant. Wasn't even necessarily about a person. "Only 21 and already a heartbreaker."

It was clear to Joey, and to Justin, he was sure, and probably to a lot of the people watching, that Carson *hadn't* bothered to listen to the album of the next big thing before interviewing him. The downside was, it probably didn't matter to most people.

"Something like that," said Justin vaguely. "Sometimes our failings are the little things, though. But you know, that's like what I was saying before. The song is about something that happened to me, which isn't really made explicit in the lyrics. So people who are listening to it, hopefully, they're going to layer it with their own failings, their own insecurities. And that's a good thing, that makes it more personal. The feeling is universal, the details vary."

"So how about getting a little 'explicit' for our audience?" Carson asked, looking around and gathering cheers and squeals from the studio. "Go ahead and tell us about the story behind this title track."

Justin just laughed and shook his head and looked perfectly calm even though Joey was sure he was knots on the inside about the question. "Oh, I don't think so," he said. "I don't think so. And besides, that just takes away from the whole experience of listening for the first time. Ask me again in a year or two, then maybe I'll let y'all in on it."

"Aww, come on," Carson pressed, and Joey clenched his jaw. It was the way that Carson did it, making it seem like it was no big deal to answer a little question. And Joey knew he knew it probably wasn't a little question, to Justin, at all.

Justin just shook his head again, looking cool and calm and in control. "Well, *you* might want to take the easy way out, but I'm sure not everyone does," he said, his voice very obviously teasing. Or very obviously meant to sound like he was teasing. The difference was subtle, but important. "I'm sure there are lots of people watching who like a little bit of mystery."

Carson couldn't ask a third time without it looking like harrassment, or a set-up job, so he backed down, but not before he coaxed a good half the audience to pout and say "awwwww!" Joey just rolled his eyes.

"Are there any songs on the album that you *will* tell us the story behind?" asked Carson instead.

"Well, sure," said Justin with a friendly shrug, like it was no big deal and *Carson* was the one making it that way. "Actually, the very first track -- what might be the second single. It's about going to a club one night, and all the sight and smells and feelings ... just, you know, the whole sensual experience of being there."

"Well, I bet everyone watching -- all the girls, at least -- hope it is, just to see what kind of video you do," Carson said, eliciting more squeals. Joey was amazed that neither one of the men on camera rolled their eyes. "Thanks for stopping by, Justin. Good luck with the album."

"Thanks for having me, man," said Justin, giving the appropriate and expected response to that. "It's been a blast. Bye everyone!" And he waved at the camera *and* the audience.

They went to the credits rolling Justin's video, and Joey watched as Carson shook Justin's hand perfunctorily before turning his back to him and busying himself with talking to one of the sound guys. Nothing the audience would notice, maybe, but Joey certainly saw it for the dismissal it was. Carson hadn't gotten what he wanted, whatever it was, and he wasn't likely to forget it.

Justin looked momentarily surprised -- even though, really, he shouldn't have been -- then shook it off and started off in the other direction toward his people and, coincidentally -- or not so much, really -- toward the side that Joey was lurking on.

"Justin," Joey blurted, not wanting to let him get by, or leave, without at least saying hello. He put a big, hopefully reassuring smile on his face too. Just in case.

"Joey!" he said, and Joey knew he wasn't imagining seeing Justin's face brighten at seeing him. He motioned Joey closer, pausing to sign a couple of autographs for those fans pushy or devious enough to get that close. "I was worried you weren't in today, when you didn't drop by earlier. Were you busy?"

"But ... " Joey started, then just shook his head and shrugged. Him being kept away from Justin was somebody's doing, and they could maybe talk about it later. It wasn't the place for it. "Must have missed you," he said instead, his voice easy. "You have a sec now?"

Justin looked over at his people, then looked back at Joey. "I'll make a sec," he said with a smile. "What's up? How are you doing? I can't even *tell* you how crazy today's been already."

"You don't need to tell me," Joey laughed, holding up his arm to gather Justin closer, if he wanted. "I can see for myself. You hanging in there? Having fun with your family?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah, I met up with them about a couple hours ago!" he said, brightening even more. "I'm so glad to have them here for this ... this madness. I didn't think it was possible to get busier than I already was, but ... I guess so. How do you think it went? The interview, I mean?"

"How do *you* think it went, is the important question," Joey said, having to smile more. "You look great, kid. And unflappable as ever, it seems." He didn't really wait for Justin to respond to that. "So do I get to meet your ma, dude, or do I have to settle for you giving her a kiss for me?"

"Oh, she's ... " Justin turned around again, squinting as he tried to spot her. "She's here somewhere. Mom?" Someone seemed to be making their way closer from the back after that, so Justin turned back to Joey. "Carson's kind of an ass, huh?"

"Well, somebody around here sure likes him," Joey replied to that. He had plenty of things to say about Carson, and none of them pretty, but he wasn't dumb, and he'd learned in junior high that walls have ears. "It's just ... man, you know. We all want to get the dirt when we interview someone. 'Specially someone new."

"And none of us want to give it. And that's the whole central interviewer-interviewee conflict, isn't it? It's like a game," said Justin, looking back for his mom again. "You're better at it than he is. And that's all I'm gonna say about that. I think I need to get out of here soon."

"Well, better, what does that mean," Joey asked, sort of rhetorically. Better, meaning he got results? or better, meaning he was nicer. He wasn't sure which he'd rather hear. "And ... okay, I'll get out of your way. I'm glad I caught you, though. Since it might be the last time I see you or whatever."

"Last time? Are you kidding me? I'm counting on you to take me out for a beer in a couple days, or *now* -- I wish -- and get me away from all this. I'm gonna go nuts. I love it, but I'm gonna go nuts."

"Mr. Timberlake, your family is already in the car waiting, and I know I don't need to remind you that we're on a tight schedule here ... "

"Okay, I think that's my cue," said Justin. "You'll call me?"

"I will?" Joey blinked. "I don't ... okay, sure." He didn't have Justin's number, but he knew JC did. He just wasn't sure he wanted to deal with JC's reaction if he asked for it. "Take care, kiddo."

He reached up to squeeze Justin's neck playfully, careful not to let his hand linger.

"Thanks," said Justin, giving him a friendlier grin than any of the ones he'd given Carson, Joey was sure. "I'll see you soon. I've gotta run." And he practically *did* run on his way out, catching up with the people who'd left him behind, on his way to his next appearance, or interview, or performance, or whatever else he had scheduled.

* * *

Joey threw his jacket over the chair in the entry of the loft that JC rented, not quite sure *what* he'd find after responding to a harried phone call from Chris. Chris, who was stuck at work, but had some reason to think JC wasn't eating again, or doing something similarly mildly self-destructive.

"Jace?" he called out, peeking into the large main room. "Come be a good host, man."

"Am I really required to be a good host when I didn't invite you over?" asked JC, appearing from around the corner. He looked like he always did, except maybe a little pale, Joey thought. At least he was smiling. "Hey, Joey, what's up?"

"Hey, C," Joey laughed, pulling his friend into a hug that lifted him off the ground. "I came straight from the studio. Feed me. Even if it's those styrofoam rice cakes you like."

"Don't you usually eat at work?" asked JC, giving him a kiss on the cheek before sliding past him and into the kitchen. "What were you doing today that you forgot? I'm sure Chris has something around here that you'd like ... "

"*So* busy, C," Joey sighed, intent on helping JC with whatever had Chris spooked, but also not minding that he'd get a little comforting out of it himself. "I've got that interview tomorrow, the one I've been preparing for all week, and. I just really want it to be *good.* Especially after Justin's."

"You did really great with Justin's," said JC, opening and closing random cupboards like he didn't know where anything was. "You didn't tell me they were going to rerun it. I was up late last night doing some stuff and I caught the whole thing this time. Who're you doing tomorrow again?"

"Tomorrow?" Joey echoed, spying some white cheddar popcorn and grabbing the bag over JC's shoulder. "Um, this band. Johnny and the No-Names. But actually I'm only interview the front guy. Johnny. Well, not Johnny, actually, his name's AJ, but yeah. They're pretty decent."

"I've heard of them," said JC vaguely. "This guy I did a show with once, he had a bootleg of them doing a gig in some club in L.A. Used it for his warm-up music. Not my thing, but they're not bad. So they're finally making the big-time, huh?" He closed the cupboard once Joey had something in hand and slid onto a stool next to the island.

"So it seems," Joey said, grinning and joining him, his hand already deep in the bag. "Well, as much as you're big-time, getting interviewed by me. But I think I have so good questions, and we're doing another on-location shoot, so it should be good. Interesting, at least."

"Another strip club?" teased JC, not so much as *looking* at the food. "You're gonna get a reputation pretty soon, you know. Not that I think you'll mind that too much."

"Ha!" Joey snorted, holding out a handful of popcorn to him expectantly. "I almost wish, though. But no. Actually, we're doing it at a zoo. Should be cool. I'll save the next strip club interview when I know you can come, C. Maybe you can get some ideas for that porn career."

JC snorted and waved the popcorn away. "Right. You know, porn just doesn't pay all that well, turns out. So maybe I'll have to stick to what I know best. So a zoo? Really? That should be interesting. Is it true that all they require to get a shooting permit is a donation to one of their exhibits?"

"I am not the detail man, C," Joey shook his head, grinning, but it was a little more forced. "All I know is I show up tomorrow and look as good as I can. And try not to fuck up." He ate the popcorn, then arched his eyebrow. "So. Wanna tell me why Chris called?"

"Chris called?" said JC innocently, even meeting his eyes. Joey was sure he knew damn well why Chris had called, and *that* Chris had called. "Didn't he tell you why he called when he was talking to you? That would make more sense."

"Well," Joey said slowly, trying not to get upset with JC trying to make him feel dumb. "He just said he had to work late and it was maybe a good idea for me to come see you. I know you know, C, so please, just talk to me?"

"I think Chris just worries too much," said JC gently. This time he didn't meet Joey's eyes. "He just *happens* to call when I'm working out, most of the time. It's just a weird coincidence, and he's making too much out of it. Especially to *call* you about it. If that's what he called you about."

"Oh, C," Joey sighed. "I know you guys, and I know Chris calls you all the time. You guys talk all the time. And maybe Chris does worry too much but he also doesn't call me unless it's something that he thinks I can help with. So how come you're pushing yourself so hard, again/"

"I'm not doing anything that everyone else I work with doesn't do," he said, which didn't do much to assure Joey of anything. "And look at me! I look great now, I feel fine, I'm getting lots of work. I'm not sure what you want to help *with*."

"You always look great," Joey sighed, rubbing his head a little. "You actually look a little ... wan, is that the right word? ... today. Maybe you overdid it and can take the rest of the day off, go get bagels or ice cream with me."

"Bagels and ice cream?" he said incredulously. "You must be kidding me, Joey. I was gonna do another half-hour or so on the rowing machine soon, actually. Well, maybe not quite that, I get bored. You can stick around, if you want."

"But you already worked out today," Joey said carefully. "Look, I know I'm not the best at this, but ... did something happen? 'Cause you've been doing great the last few months, and I hope nobody said anything."

It was always such a delicate thing, with JC. He had to wonder if that was what it would be like to date a guy. More like dating a girlthan he thought.

JC frowned at him unhappily, and Joey didn't know if it was because of the question, or because of something that happened. "It's just something I have to do for my job," he said. "I have to keep myself in this kind of shape, or the jobs are going to go to the other guys. If I'm not going to be bulky and muscular then I have to be this, Joey. You understand. And if someone suggests that I could stand to lose a couple more pounds then, well, I do."

"*C*," Joey said firmly, pulling him onto his lap immediately and then regretting it when he could feel his tailbone more prominently than usual. "No. No, you could not stand to. You're not bulky, you're lovely, and you're as skinny a thing as anyone'd want. I don't know who this someone is, but they're stupid, because you looked great to me last week. And I happen to have the best taste in men, as you know."

"That someone is a person who pays me a lot of money to look the way I do," said JC firmly. "They know what they want to see, and if I'm not it they'll find someone else. There are hundreds of guys who want to be me, Joey, and if I give them half a chance they *will* be. Look, I'm not hurting myself, so you and Chris can just not worry so much about it."

"Oh, C," Joey shook his head again, burying his face in JC's shoulder. "C'mon, remember what your doctor said about your metabolism ... look, you know Chris is the one that's weird about you working out too much. I don't care about that, but if you're gonna do it, then you need to eat more, so you're burning food and not muscle and stuff. Dude, do you want to lose your hair? Remember my sister?"

JC reached up and touched his hair protectively. "I'm eating," he said defensively, which meant he wasn't and he *knew* he wasn't, unlike the times when he wasn't and just didn't realize it. "All right. Fine. If I eat something now, can we talk about you instead of me? I'm dying to hear about how things are going with you and Justin."

"Ahhh," Joey nodded, thinking that was the ace up his sleeve. "Ice cream, then. That's high-prized information right there, Chasez, and it doesn't come cheap."

"Come on, not ice cream," he said, shaking his head. "Chris didn't even buy the low-fat stuff, last time. It'll just make me sick. How about a sandwich?" he bargained. "I'd eat a sandwich."

"Ice cream," Joey did not budge. "It's actually worth it, too. I have stuff to tell." He lifted JC off his lap too easily, and went for the freezer.

"A little bit of ice cream," conceded JC. "And if I throw it back up, I'm blaming you. My stomach hasn't seen fat content like that since ... I don't even remember when. So yes? You have stuff to tell? Spill, my friend."

"We'll share," Joey relented. "So, okay. So, you know how he was on TRL, yesterday. I tried to see him before, you know, just to wish him luck 'n all, and they wouldn't let me near him. But then I saw him after, and -- did you watch it? -- anyway, he seemed happy to see me and said I was better than Carson. Well. He sort of said that. And then I said goodbye because who knows when I'd ever see him again and he told me no way. 'No way,' he said, that I had to take him out for a beer. So. Um. I kind of need his number, C." He took a deep breath, at the end of all that.

JC was grinning at him, pretty much exactly what Joey had been expecting. "Oh *good*," he said. "You're finally going on a date. Just let me find his number and give it to you and oh! This is just fabulous, Joey. I did see him on TRL yesterday, too. I taped it. Well, Chris taped it for me; I haven't figured out how to work the new VCR yet. Is that my date book over there? It'll be in there somewhere."

"Yeah," Joey hopped up to grab it. "But, so. But. What did you think of the interview, then? And. And tell me what to say when I call, C. I don't do guys so much, you know this. Dating them, I mean. Or. Getting *a* date, I should say." He was honestly nervous. More nervous than he was about his interview, which was something."

"You say "Hey, do you want to go out for a beer with me tomorrow?" or whatever," he said. "Yes, okay, here it is. Here you go." He pushed the date book back towards Joey. "His interview with Carson? Damn that kid's cocky. I got a real kick out of it, though. He doesn't seem to like to play the game much. Yet."

"Nooooo," Joey agreed, taking the book back and running his finger over the numbers, mouthing them to himself so he wouldn't get them backwards. "No, he does not. He's ... he's too good, is what it is. Too honest. I told him to just make shit up, for the personal questions, and he ... he just won't."

"He will," said JC, sighing. "Eventually they all do, even the best of them. Justin's stubborn, though. He'll get away with doing what he wants to do for as long as he possibly can. You can write that down if you want; Chris always keeps pens by the phone. I know you know better than to let it out of your sight."

"He's smart, too," Joey went on, quietly. He copied the numbers down carefully, and double-checked them. JC knew he wouldn't lose it. "Maybe he can actually do it his way. What do we know?"

"I'm certainly doing my thing *my* way," said JC. Which in some ways he was and in other ways he ... well, he painfully *wasn't*. "If anyone can, he can. That boy can be whatever he wants to be, I really believe that. I'd be really happy to see him succeed."

"Me, too," Joey said. Which was a little bit of a surprise, because beyond the crush, what did he have invested in it? Not much. "So what's he gonna want with a clown like me?" he asked, not really wanting a response, and shoving a spoonful of ice cream into JC's mouth to put it off.

He made sure JC swallowed, and JC even licked his lips after. "Dunno," he said with a shrug. "Maybe he'll tell you. There's just no accounting for taste." He leaned in and kissed Joey's nose and Joey didn't have the heart to take his words poorly, after that. "He's probably gonna want to have sex. *I* would."

Joey blinked. It was what he'd hoped for, too, but a kid like Justin ... well, if it wasn't for his manager, he was sure Justin could get it wherever he wanted. "Oh," he said, realizing. "Oh, because. Because he thinks he can trust me? Okay, I get that."

"Yeah," said JC, confirming Joey's suspicions with that one word. "Yeah, he really likes people he feels like he can trust. It was always a thing with him, and it seems like it's an even bigger one now. Yeah, that's probably a huge point in your favor."

Which had less to do with him than JC, Joey figured, but whatever. "Well, like I'll say no," he tried to joke. "I wanted my album copy signed anyway."

"If you say no I'll kick your ass," said JC, actually taking his own spoonful of the ice cream. "I can, you know. I've been working out. He's into you, Joey, don't do your thing where you figure they'll be better off without you and punk out before you can get things started."

Joey stuck out his tongue. "I never punk out," he muttered. "And anyway. He's gonna be busy after, so it's not like I expect anything. And I'm taking out that Mandy sweetheart too, next week. So I'm busy too."

"Mandy?" said JC, staring at him for a moment. "Who's Mandy? You're going out with someone else?"

"Yeah, maybe," Joey said. "*Mandy*, C. The actress? From Justin's party? The one you didn't think was legal but is definitely 18. She's a darling. Dude, I know you remember. The one with the legs."

"Oh, *that* Mandy," said JC, recognition dawning quickly. He still didn't look terribly pleased, though. "I didn't realize you were that interested; I thought she was just eye candy for you. You asked her out?"

"Yeah, she was in the studios the day before Justin," Joey said, feeling a little small and shallow. "She's really nice, C. Carson was a dick to her, too, and she's just nice. But I'm still calling Justin, don't worry."

"Well, good," said JC. "Good. He's a good guy. Not that I don't think Mandy isn't a sweetheart -- you're a pretty good judge of character -- but Justin's Justin. Here, you can have the rest." He pushed the bowl closer to Joey and put his spoon down.

Joey squinted at it, and JC had eaten more than he'd really expected, so he gave in. "Justin is Justin," he agreed, with a note of inevitability in his voice that he hadn't really intended. "Lemme use your phone?"

"What, now?" said JC brightening a little. "Yeah, yeah, of course you can, you know where it is. Feel free. My home is your home, and all that."

Joey rolled his eyes, knowing who JC'd want to hear morning-after details about, and who he wouldn't. But it didn't keep him from curmpling Justin's number in his hand securely. And taking the phone into the bathroom.

* * *

After the whole scene the last few days, Joey was half expecting Justin to be flanked by a set of big, burly men when he came in, drawing every eye in the place, but when he appeared, he was alone. Joey wasn't sure if it was a disguise or just being sloppily comfortable, but Justin was wearing worn jeans and a black, untucked T-shirt and a ball cap and even Joey had to look twice before he knew who he was seeing. And he was *looking* for him. The T-shirt was tight enough that they would overlook dress code for it, Joey figured -- Justin was getting attention, but not the kind he had to be wary of.

"Hey," said Justin as he slipped gracefully into a seat. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's okay," Joey said, trying not to sound that weird kind of relieved when you know someone's doing you a favor just by showing. "It's ... I'm just glad you could make it. I just ... " He laughed, a little self-consciously. "I guess I wanted you to mean it, when you told me I was taking you out for a beer."

"Yeah, speaking of ..." said Justin, slapping his palm to the table. "Where is it, Joey? I snuck out for this, you know. I expected a beer." He gave Joey a tired grin and pulled his hand back again. "Wow, this whole thing's been great but damn am I ready for a break."

"Wow, kid, give me two seconds to get a waitress over here," he laughed, but looked more carefully at Justin at the same time. "Um, so. So why'd you have to sneak out, exactly?"

Justin just rolled his eyes and shook his head. "They were talking about getting me to go to that new club uptown, make an appearance and, you know, be seen for a while, since I don't have to be up early for anything. And hey, you know me, I'm always up for a club and dancing and all, but just to be seen? That didn't sound like much fun at all. Besides which, I already had plans. Obviously. So I headed off out the back way. If they come looking for me, too bad, I'm already gone."

"You could've cancelled," Joey said, more casually than he felt. "Postponed. That ... it's your *career*, Justin ... I'd understand, you know I would." He'd been dying to try that club himself, and he honestly *wouldn't* have been upset. Well, not for long, at least.

"It wasn't a planned thing, though," said Justin. "They just wanted to tack it onto the end of my day, since there were a couple hours there they hadn't squeezed anything into. And I already had someplace I wanted to be. Do you ... " He tilted his head to the side curiously, then frowned. "You think I should've gone?"

"No, I ... " Joey said, then just smiled and shook his head. "I like where you went." He kept his eyes on Justin as he said it, almost the bravest he felt he'd been since he'd interviewed the kid. JC's pep talk had done wonders.

"You gonna buy me a beer, then?" asked Justin, a tentative smile returning to his face. "I definitely think I've earned it. Or if I haven't yet, I promise you I will."

Joey had to arch an eyebrow at that, but instead of responding, grabbed a waitress around the waist as she walked by and pulled her down so he could whisper their order in her ear. Keeping his eye on Justin the whole time, of course, and saying something wittily flattering enough to make the waitress giggle before she left.

"I'm not sure what you just ordered for me," teased Justin, taking only a second to watch her go before fixing his eyes on Joey again, "but it looks good already. So ... some small talk maybe? How was your day?"

Joey just laughed again. It was easy, with Justin, when they were getting along. "It was ... it was okay. Good and bad." He wondered how much of it to go into -- the JC stuff, his interview the next day -- and just decided to let Justin ask a more detailed question if he wanted a more detailed answer. Neither subject was exactly small talk. "And you? Man. First day numbers, huh?"

"You know nothing's confirmed yet," said Justin warningly, but Joey didn't miss the pleasure and eagerness in his eyes. "It's probably bad luck or something, to talk about it too soon. Is it? You'd know if it was, right?"

"Baby, you can talk about it with me," Joey laughed again, taking the beers in hand when the waitress returned with them. "Even if they're off by a little, they're still *huge*. You can be proud of that."

"It's amazing," admitted Justin as he took the beer Joey slid over to him, letting their hands touch for a moment. "I dreamed pretty big, you know I did, but this? I didn't really see it coming. Everything's changing, everything's happening so fast."

"It is, it really is," Joey acknowledged, nodding. Deciding that maybe JC didn't know what he was talking about after all, but not giving up yet. Even if he didn't think adding sex on top of stuff was something Justin seemed to need, or want. "Any way to slow it down? S-savor it, a little?"

"I don't know," he said. "I'm not sure I want to. But then every time I think that, I realize what I still spend my free time doing is going out and doing exactly the same things I used to. Meeting my friends or ... whatever. Having a beer. Not worrying about things like wearing the right clothes and signing autographs and saying all the right things. I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if I didn't love it, but at the same time ... it's nice to be able to go out and just be me. It doesn't slow it down, but it does give me some perspective."

"Ahhh," Joey said. A lot of people talked about that, about perspective, and it was one of those things that Joey always felt like he was a little too stupid to quite grasp. So he nodded and pretended to understand. "Have you, um, been able to? See friends, I mean. Not JC."

"Well, I kinda thought that's what I was doing right now," said Justin, raising his beer at Joey before taking a sip. "And reminding myself that the other part of my life is just craziness and this is what's real. I'm really glad I met you, Joey. I mean, outside of the whole interviewer-interviewee dynamic. Although I'm glad I met you inside it, too. Um. If that makes sense. I mean, they're two different things. You know?"

"No," Joey said, bluntly, but he was laughing. "I'm dumb. What? Oh. You just mean, you mean you're glad I interviewed you first, maybe? instead of Carson. Thanks, Justin, seriously ... I appreciate it, man. Gives me some confidence."

"Well, I *am*," said Justin, fiddling with his bottle. "But more than that, I'm glad that we met again when it wasn't an interview. That I got a chance to get to know you. That's what I mean."

"I got that part," Joey said, gently. "I mean, the first time. And me too. Like ... like it's not obvious. You're just, you're this good kid, and you make me laugh. And. Smart. You're smart, I mean, not that you make me smart like you make me laugh."

Justin grinned at him, and tilted his head again, and Joey was relieved to realize the awkwardness wasn't all one-sided. "I get it," he said quietly, then sipped the beer again. "You, too. Make me laugh. Make me feel like my *whole* world hasn't gone nuts. Helps me handle the rest of it, you know? I like to be reminded I'm flesh and blood, and not just a thing or a moving picture."

"I have mad flesh-and-blood skills," Joey nodded, keeping a straight face, and doing his very best not to look like he was appareciating the flesh, at least, as much as he was. "I gotta say, though, I have to stop watching your interviews. You're making *me* all curious, and unlike some people sitting at this table although I won't name names, I *hate* mystery in a relationship."

Justin looked startled for just a second -- in Joey's brief experience he never did look startled for more -- then let a smile slowly spread across his face. "But half the fun of a relationship is learning everything," he insisted. "And you already know more than most."

"I know nothing, Timberlake," Joey laughed again, easily, wiping his lips with the back of his hand after swallowing some beer. "Well, okay, maybe I know one thing you don't know I know. So indulge me."

Justin lifted his eyebrows. "Okay, now you've got *me* curious," he admitted. "What exactly do you know that I don't know you know? Have you been talking to JC again? I bet you have. What did he tell you?"

"Hah!" Joey clapped, happily. "No way. You first. Tell me the secret story behind that song. You know, the one. The one where you didn't like yourself." It was maybe not the best way to seduce someone, but Joey sort of needed to be sure that Justin was over it.

Justin was still smiling, but it looked a little different, a little strange. "I'll tell you," he said after a pause that was long enough to make Joey nervous. "But it's not the kind of story I want to be telling in a club. Maybe later, when we're alone?"

He wanted to laugh that off, too; make a joke about whether they'd discussed 'being alone' later. But he couldn't make himself do it. Couldn't really concentrate for a second. "Okay," he finally managed, but it was sort of weak. And smitten.

Justin nodded, and the smile returned to almost normal. "So what did he *tell* you?" he pushed. "Oh man, did he tell you about the time on the show that he caught me ... " He must've caught Joey's blank-then-interested look, because he stopped right there. "Okay, obviously not that one. Tell me!"

"No, not that one," Joey cleared his throat. "Um, Justin, can ... ?" He couldn't exactly find a way to say what he wanted to say. Whichwasn't uncommon, really. He just, he couldn't think when he had 'alone!' flashing in his brain, so he leaned a little closer to Justin and reached a hand out to touch one of his necklaces carefully.

Justin just moved closer. "Can you what?" he asked, barely doing more than mouthing the words. The ambient noise was loud enough that Joey wasn't even entirely sure he *had* spoken aloud. And Justin's smile was inviting, and he was so close now.

"Okay," Joey whispered back. "Okay, here's where you say, if I'm. Mis-whatever. Misinterpreting. You know that, right?"

"If you're thinking that I'm hoping you'll take me home with you tonight?" said Justin, "Then you're not misinterpreting."

"God, good, okay," Joey exhaled, then smiled shamelessly. "I've gotten smacked more times than you sold records Tuesday for thinking the wrong thing."

"Oh, I'm sure you haven't," said Justin, looking more than a little relieved himself. "So does that mean you're going to, then?"

"Oh, I'm sure I have," Joey insisted, and instead of answering Justin's question, he just stood up and pulled the guy to his feet. He'd always, always been a better man when it came to action anyway.

Justin drained his beer and set the bottle back down on the table, looking at Joey expectantly. "All right then," he said. "You ready to go?"

Joey grinned and wrapped a subtle finger around Justin's belt. "Are you gonna get in trouble if you're not home by curfew?" he teased gently.

"Yeah, my daddy might get his shotgun out," teased Justin. "You prepared to take that risk?" He reached up and touched Joey's lower lip, just for a moment. "Just make sure I'm back at the hotel by dawn," he added, softer. "So I can get a few hours sleep under their watchful eye before my next appearance."

Joey felt everything in him heat up at that touch, even as his heart clenched a little for the kid and how much control he still didn't quite have over his own life. "C'mon, then." He tugged on him slowly. "That doesn't give me a lot of time to do this right."

"But enough time to *do* it, I think, which is the important part," insisted Justin, following along quickly behind him, still observed but unrecognized by the people around them. So far. "I'm glad I didn't misread *you*."

Joey was just proud of himself for not giving up before it happened, and at least mostly -- maybe? -- making it come true. He groped for Justin's hand behind him as they threaded their way to the door. "Misread me how?" he wondered, over his shoulder.

"I'm glad I wasn't wrong, about you being interested," Justin said, lowering his voice and speaking close to Joey's ear. "I would have been really disappointed."

"Justin," Joey chuckled, tipping his head back and catching Justin a little off-guard by rubbing their cheeks together. "Sweetheart. You're gonna have trouble finding people that aren't interested. And ... and I'm pretty set on doing my best not to disappoint you, too."

"Just, you know, make it real," said Justin. "I think I'm gonna have a harder time than ever, finding people who are interested." But Joey doubted that very much; Justin just had no idea, still, what it was going to be like. "How far to your place?"

"Ahh," Joey said, once they made it outside and he'd flagged down a cab. "Quick, quick cab ride. Very fast." He slid into the back after Justin, halfway facing him, and laid a hand high on his thigh. "So, yeah. A little more ridiculous buildup to me getting to kiss you, unfortunately."

"It's not ridiculous, it's fun," said Justin, looking way too calm and happy about this whole thing now. He could show a *little* nerves at least. "My heart's just pounding, and here we are racing across the city in a cab just so we can get naked and ... well, it's exciting. It's great."

"Naked?" Joey gasped, laughing when he actually made Justin look alarmed. "I thought you were coming home with me to see my comic book collection."

Justin laughed and hit his arm and, if it was possible, he looked even happier. "Asshole," he got out. "God. I was really worried there for a second."

"You don't want to see my comic book collection?" he asked, sticking his lower lip out and moving his hand even higher up Justin's leg. "Go ahead, break my heart. I can take it."

"Maybe after," said Justin, laying his hand very carefully overtop of Joey's. "Maybe next time. I'm sure it's a very nice collection. I'd hate to stain it while we were busy doing other things."

Joey just smiled, then glanced down at their hands. "Is that a 'stop it' signal? I've gotten myself smacked for that a lot, too."

"No, it's a 'take me with you' signal," said Justin, everything he said now so perfectly clear. Nothing was just hinted at or talked around. "I'm not gonna smack you, unless you like that kind of thing."

"Wow, you're giving me all sorts of new fantasies, Timberlake," he replied, smiling slowly before he glanced up. "Oh, we're here." He wanted to ask again if Justin was sure, but he didn't want to give him a chance to change his mind, really, either. He wasn't sure how he'd managed to catch Justin's interest but he was sure as hell gonna take advantage of it.

Justin got out quickly, and even paid for the cab ride. "So lead the way," he said, grabbing himself a handful of Joey's shirt. "I got no idea where we're going, but I'm in an awful big hurry to get there."

"You've got to be the damned cutest thing," Joey murmured, but he just nodded at the doorman and pulled his keys out of the pocket of his jacket as they waited for the elevator. Once they were in it, though, with the door closed, he really couldn't wait anymore. He pushed Justin up against the wall slowly enough to be stopped if Justin wanted him to.

Justin just hit the wall with a bang that had to be at least partly himself throwing his back at it -- making like Joey had flung him up against it -- and looked at Joey expectantly, if not patiently. "So what are you waiting for?"

"Justin," Joey just said, and pulled his chin up for a kiss. A little slow to start, maybe, but Joey got the feeling that was sort of all him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been the one holding back more.

It only took a couple moments for Justin to grab his shirt again, to pull him closer and kiss him more deeply and even moan softly into his mouth. A pretty clear sign that he, at least, had no doubts about what he was doing here. "So how many floors till I have to let go?" he mumbled.

"Seven," Joey said, just as muffled, letting his teeth graze Justin's lower lip. "Six, now. Five ... " He shoved his hand up under that tight tee shirt and gasped at how warm Justin's skin was.

"Four ... " breathed Justin, then missed all of three, two and one as he kissed Joey again, fiercely and deeply. The elevator dinged and he let go. "Take me inside," he all but demanded, breathlessly.

Joey just grinned and managed not to fumble too much with the keys. Justin was so hot, was so hot for *this*, and he couldn't wait to see where it went. "Throw your coat wherever," he muttered, pulling Justin in after him.

"Do you have roommates?" asked Justin, tossing his coat over a chair. "Will they mind?" He didn't look much like he cared one way or the other, though. "I'm not going to embarrass myself by telling you how long it's been," he said, "except to say that I've been kept very busy lately and I'm looking more forward to being introduced to your bed that I have been about anyone else I've met today."

Laughing, Joey wrapped his arms tightly around Justin's waist from behind and nosed at the curls at his nape. "No roommates," he assured him. "And while I can't say I'm not pretty surprised it's been a while ... that shouldn't embarrass you."

"The secret truth about becoming famous," said Justin, reaching behind him to cup the back of Joey's thigh, "is that for the first while, there's no time to take advantage of any of the perks. So yeah ... it's been a while. But I promise you I'm not out of practice."

"Aren't those things, um, how do you say it ... mutually ex-exclusive, or something?" Joey chuckled, hoping he'd gotten that right. He let Justin pull him closer against his back.

"I'm sure hoping not," said Justin, moving slowly and wickedly against him. "What do you like to do, Joey? I don't think we've ever talked about that."

"We've never even talked about *us*," laughed Joey quietly, thinking that he was really damn lucky that JC made him do this. "Um. I can. Either. Anything."

"Yeah?" said Justin, sounding pleased with that. "Good. Good. I'm usually a top -- yeah, big surprise, I'm sure -- but I really feel like bottoming tonight. For you. I trust you."

"Wow, okay," Joey breathed, feeling himself fit even more familiarly against Justin's ass. "Like, not to talk you out of it, but. What did I do to deserve that?" He pulled the front of Justin's shirt up, a little, with one hand, and snuck the tips of the fingers of the other down under Justin's waistband. Hot skin, very hot skin.

"What do you mean?" asked Justin, his breath hitching. He let his head roll back to rest against Joey's body. "Why I trust you? I just do. And you seem like you'd be a really great top."

"Thank you, I think," Joey said, letting his fingers dig a little into the flesh of Justin's stomach. "Mmm. God, kid, you do feel good. C'mon. My bed, which wants to meet you very much in return, is this way."

Justin stumbled as Joey moved mayge a little too abruptly, but was eager to follow. Now that he'd made his intentions known, he wasn't shy about carrying through all the way. "Thought we'd never get there," he murmured. "Though we were going to have to do it on the floor, and that's bad for your back."

Joey still couldn't get over how eager Justin was for this, how almost deprived he seemed. It made him want to take it slow and not, all at the same time. "Lemme get you off, first," he said, turning and walking backwards with Justin's hands in his. "Can I?"

Justin grinned instead of looking offended, which Joey knew he could have. "What, do I look that eager?" he teased. "Yeah ... yeah, okay. Yeah. How are you gonna do it?"

"You got somethin' against blowjobs?" Joey grinned, pushing Justin playfully down on the bed and kneeling beside it to pull off his boots and socks. His hands fit all the way around Justin's slender ankles, and he wondered just how skinny the kid was.

"I definitely have *nothing* against blowjobs," laughed Justin, falling back onto the bed as Joey started to strip him. "I'm a big fan of blowjobs, actually. On both sides."

"Cool," Joey nodded, rubbing Justin's ankles for another second before he slid up between his knees and unbuttoned his pants. He'd been with guys, sure, but still not as much as girls. He passionately hoped *he* wouldn't be a disappointment.

"So believe me when I say that I'll return the favor one of these days," Justin went on, "and that it'll be my pleasure." He reached down and started helping slide his own pants down.

"Justin," Joey said, his own breath hitching a little when Justin hooked his fingers in his underwear and tugged them down, too. "Can you just ... here, let me, kiddo. You're doing so much and just ... here, just let me take care of you a little."

Justin laughed again. "I'm not doing *anything* yet," he said, "but I'm sure as hell not going to stop you, if you want to take care of me. I ... think I'd kind of like that, actually."

"I just meant, the past week ... " Joey tried to explain, hoping it didn't sound dumb. "Nevermind." He had Justin's admittedly lovely and very hard cock in front of his face, so he just closed his eyes and lapped at it gently.

Justin let out an incoherent sound and arched his back, and Joey was getting a real sense of how tense Justin had been. And still was, in a lot of ways. "OH yeah," he breathed a moment later. "I'm definitely not going to complain about you doing *that*."

"You poor sweet thing," Joey whispered, slipping his hands under Justin's hips and pulling him closer. He dug his thumbs into Justin's flesh, a little, and heard *himself* moan when he actually took Justin's cock into his mouth.

Justin's heels hit Joey's back as he tried to wrap his legs around him, awkwardly. Joey had never really seen him awkward before, but he supposed that if there was ever a time, this was it. "Oh yeah," he said again, then made a stifled noise, something like a gasp or a whimper, and clutched at the blankets.

"Poor baby," sighed Joey again, running his hands up over Justin's thighs, his hips, his stomach, before trailing them back down gently between his legs. He spread them carefully and took Justin deeper, about as deep as he could go. He hoped it was enough.

Justin seemed pretty eager to let Joey get between his legs, and when Joey took him all the way in he arched his back and made a burst of tiny, gentle thrusts against the back of his throat. "Oh yeah," he said. "That's it, that's right ... "

He was so fucking *sweet*, Joey just didn't know what to do with him. He left one hand groping lightly at the joint of Justin's thighs, and used the other to coax his legs even higher up his back so he could press closer. And made what he hoped was an encouraging noise in his throat, keeping his eyes open and trained on Justin's face.

"Oh yeah," said Justin again, as he obviously *felt* the noise Joey made more than heard it. He didn't say anything as he thrust a little again, and just let out another breathy moan as he came, clutching at the blankets and squeezing Joey's body with his legs.

Joey swallowed as carefully as he could, thinking that he didn't exactly want to get Justin messy. Which, okay, was weird considering they were about to fuck and that's nothing if not messy, but it just seemed rude or something, right away like that.

"Okay?" he whispered quietly, wiping his mouth with his wrist and just pressing closer, not making Justin move his legs or anything.

Justin laughed and let his back fall to the bed again, lifting his head. "Yeah," he said "Yeah. Oh yeah. You have no idea how much I needed that right then. So you now? Yeah?"

"Aww, no," Joey mumbled, but he was grinning. "No, that was for you. I'll ... you want a drink or something? Then we can. Um. When you're ready, you know. If you still want." He wiped his mouth again and sat up a little, so Justin could see how happy he was. If that mattered to him.

"Of course I still want," he said, letting his legs fall finally and sitting up on the bed. "As much as I always did. I have this feeling about you, Joey. I have this feeling you're going to be really good. But in the meantime, yeah, I'd love a drink. What've you got?"

"I either really want to know why you think I'll be good, or I really don't," Joey laughed, sitting up. "JC told me you didn't even ... you know, that maybe you didn't know I was into guys. When I met you." He sat up, adjusted himself carefully. "And, um. Whatever you want, man, I have. Beer, tequila, vodka. Bailey's?"

"Well, it took me a little while to know for sure," admitted Justin. "I'm trying to be careful about that. Well, I was always careful, but even *more* careful now, to make sure I only approach people I can trust. And I tell JC a lot, but he doesn't understand *everything* about me." He reached out and pulled Joey closer and gave him a firm kiss. "Now. A beer would be good. Something to cool things down before we heat them up again."

"Right away, sir," Joey laughed, his breath hitching just a little from the kiss. "Be right back." He pulled off his shirt and tossed it near his closet before he walked into the little hallway that held his fridge and his stove. "Not watching your weight, are you, kiddo?" he called out. "There is no light beer at Casa Fatone."

"Well, we're going to be having sex, right?" said Justin reasonably, still in the bedroom, from the sound of it. "So I'll be working it off anyway. And then some, I'm betting. It's gonna be a good night."

Joey chuckled at the kid's ... confidence, or optimism, or whatever it was. "How *did* I end up with you here?" he asked, mostly rhetorically, walking back into the room with two bottles dangling from his fingers. He took a sip from one and then handed it to Justin with what he hoped was a playful grin.

"Because if we used my hotel room, I would've gotten a lecture about appropriateness and blah blah blah and I really didn't feel like it," said Justin, taking the bottle and grinning back at him. "This is just so much more ... comfortable."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," Joey laughed, falling down on the bed beside him and taking a big swallow of beer out of his own bottle. It was easy to be with him like this. Too easy, he thought, letting his hands trail down Justin's ribs without him flinching, or giggling, or moving away.

"You ever get the feeling?" asked Justin, draining nearly half his beer in one gulp. "You ever get the feeling like there's two sides of you? Like, the one side that loves fame and attention and everything, and the other side that ... doesn't?"

"Mmm, kinda," Joey agreed, even though he felt like he hadn't quite tasted fame enough yet to be tired of it, or dislike it. He understood how Justin might, though. "JC talks about that, some."

Justin nodded a little more eagerly. "Like you want it you want it you want it, it's great and you're loving it and it feels like anything is possible ... but then you're also looking forward to those things you can't do in the public eye. Like, you know, this. This right now."

"This right now?" Joey echoed, then let his hand drift lower to touch the parts of Justin that were starting to react again. "Yeah, you're not allowed to do this right now in public, kiddo. Not while walking your thin line of sexual, um, ambiguity, or whatever."

Justin gave him what he probably though was a mysterious smile but given that he was naked and already reacting to Joey's touch, it mostly looked like a boyish grin. "I'm not sexually ambiguous, am I? I flirted with the girls. I was a good boy. It was fun."

"You flirted with girls and came home with me almost before I asked," Joey teased, rolling over slowly and getting a little more familiar with where his hand lay. "And I'm not even all that pretty."

"No, I'm the pretty one," agreed Justin, running his hand down Joey's chest. "And I've been flirting with you since the way we met. Of *course* I was more than ready by the time we finally got around to it. Weren't you? *Aren't* you?"

"I wouldn't have bet money on it happening," Joey admitted honestly, sucking in his breath a little when Justin reached his belly. "I'm kind of slow, I guess. Or you're better at hiding the gay thing than I've given you credit for, kiddo." He shifted a little and pressed a kiss to Justin's shoulder, the rest of his words registering. Of *course* he was ready for it. And he might have done the big thing, and gotten Justin off, but *he* was still almost aching with the excitement of having someone new ...

"I'm getting better at it, I think," he said. "Hiding the gay thing, for as long as I need to. The partly-gay thing. Well, the mostly-gay thing." He moved back on the bed, draining his beer and letting his legs fall open. "I'm sure I could use some pointers, though. Later."

"Later," Joey echoed, sliding over his body as gracefully as he could manage, continuning to press soft kisses to his chest and his collarbone and his nipples -- soft kisses that he hoped didn't give away how horny he was. "'m I too heavy?"

"Hell no," said Justin, rolling his hips up against him. "Not even close. What do you think I am, some fragile flower? I can take it, Joey. And you just take that however you'd like to."

"Jesus, Justin," Joey breathed, reaching down with his hands to still the kid's hips. "I just ... I mean, I know you've had guys, been with guys, but ... I was taught it's still cool to ask what's, you know, cool."

"You're such a gentleman," mused Justin, slowing his motion and tugging Joey down for a kiss, even as he stretched his arm past the side of the bed to set his beer bottle on the floor. "I should just let you be a gentleman. It's really nice. It's kinda hot, too."

Joey didn't think he was so much a gentlemen as he just was usually with women, but if it worked for Justin he wasn't complaining. Because holy hell was the kid hot, literally and figuratively and all of it. He cupped his face in his hands and kissed him back, deeply.

Justin reached up to tangle one hand in Joey's hair and let the other claw ineffectually at his back as they kissed, and he certainly wasn't being gentle with *Joey*. Not that Joey really minded to much -- that kind of eagerness, that kind of single-mindedness ... it was a compliment.

"Next time," he muttered, mostly to himself, "next time, yeah, you're topping." If Justin was this passionate about letting someone else in control, Joey was sure it would blow his mind to actually give into Justin completely. He reached over to his drawer and grabbed a condom, dug around a little longer and harder for some lube. "So, um. Justin. What's cool, here? with you?"

"Well, don't get too creative or anything," he said, his breath already heaving slightly from that kiss. "I'm not into fisting or anything like that. But I'm up for a good fuck. Is that what you needed to know?"

"Sure," Joey laughed, taken aback again, but maybe less than he should've been and less than he would've, the day before. "You don't appreciate creativity, got it." He grinned and tried to silence any protest of Justin's with another kiss, groping between their bodies again to make sure Justin was all-the-way aroused.

"Do too," Justin managed to mumble out despite the barrage of kisses. He thrust up into Joey's hand, and if Joey hadn't been sure he was ready before that, he certainly was after it. Especially when Justin freely opened his legs just a little wider.

"You said," Joey taunted, letting go before Justin could rub against his hand again, pushing himself up onto his hands and knees above him. "Like this, then?" he asked, touching the opening to Justin's body almost reverently before he pulled the cap off the lube.

"Mmm, yeah," said Justin, pulling his knees up, and Joey wasn't sure he'd ever known someone as completely comfortable with his body as Justin was. "Just like this is good for me. Is it good for you?"

"Baby, yes," Joey said. "You don't even have to ask." He held Justin's hips with one hand as he slipped a finger insde Justin's body -- maybe more gently than he needed to, but he desperately didn't want to make this go wrong.

"I don't need too much prep," he said, though his expression betrayed that he didn't mind, not to mention the soft sounds he'd made right when Joey entered him. "But if you wanted to finger fuck me a little ... that's pretty hot, too. That really gets me going."

"If I don't get inside you soon," Joey chuckled apologetically, "this isn't gonna happen. I'm sorry ... I just, you're so hot, Justin, and I've been thinking about this for a week ... "

"I knew it," said Justin, cockier than he'd seemed about it earlier. "I *knew* it. Oh yeah, Joey ... any time. Just go ahead any time, I'm good. I'm ready."

"I look that easy to take?" Joey teased, because it kept him from asking what Justin thought he knew. What he'd given away by saying, without even knowing. But he didn't need to be invited twice, either; just spread Justin carefully with his fingers and rolled on the condom a split-second before he pushed the head of his cock inside.

Justin's eyes closed and his mouth fell open and the only sounds Joey heard him making were those of his harsh breaths in and out. Joey hadn't really realized he'd stopped moving, though, until Justin reached up and tugged on his shoulder and said, urgently, "Keep going."

"Sorry," Joey apologized quickly, pushing the rest of the way in and shuddering at the heat that enveloped him when he did. "Sorry, sorry." He cupped Justin's hips with both his hands, now, and lifted them to make the angle a little better for him.

Justin let out a half-sigh, half-moan. "Oh, I needed this," he mumbled, reaching for Joey's other shoulder so he had a firm grip on both of them. Enough to brace himself as he pushed forward and took Joey just a little further inside.

Joey smiled shakily and tried not to feel a little used at that, all better accomplished by closing his eyes and just feeling how much *he* was needing this. He lifted Justin even higher, almost off the bed, forcing all their combined weight onto his knees and Justin's shoulders. "I'm sure you deserve it," he offered quietly.

Justin didn't answer, he just let out another one of those sounds that Joey couldn't quiet identify and starting moving more insistently. As much as he was able, anyway, which wasn't much but was certainly a signal to Joey about what Justin wanted. He was pretty damn toppy, even when he was bottoming.

Joey just shook his head and gave in, gave in to feeling what he was feeling and not thinking about what he was thinking. He held Justin tightly as he started to rock against him, inside him, changing the way he gripped his hips with almost every thrust so that Justin wouldn't exactly know what to expect the next time.

That definitely got some more noise out of him, less breathy and light and more gutteral and growly. Justin's fingers clawed at his back again, not scratching but still using enough pressure that Joey was sure there would be marks afterward. Marks he would probably admire in the mirror and smile as he remembered just what caused them.

He shifted one of his hands to squeeze Justin's ass a little roughly, then smoothed it back around his hip to push his leg higher against his chest. Soon, he knew, he was going to have to let go enough to start jerking Justin off, because he was coming in the next minute, no matter what either of them did.

Justin let his head roll back and arched his back, the way he had when Joey was sucking him off. He had the same look on his face, too -- part awed and part anticipatory and mostly turned on. It make for a bit of an awkward angle, but the way Joey was holding him it worked. He let his hands come forward from Joey's back, running his thumbs over Joey's nipples before clutching at his sides.

"Fuck," Joey blurted, almost dropping him before he moved one arm to cradle his hips and freed the other to do the necessary stroking. "Oh, fuck, Justin, I'm ... just." He dug his knees in a little harder, pushed inside a little less gently. He'd said it was okay.

Justin just clutched him tighter, moving harder and faster against him and gritting his teeth. His legs moved out and around Joey's body, as much as they were able, and just *gripped* him as they fucked.

Joey whimpered and mostly hoped Justin didn't hear, and then he was coming -- coming like more of an explosion than he'd felt in bed in forever, coming like he'd been wanting this for more than a week. He froze buried inside Justin's body, barely noticing the way his fingers didn't stop moving over Joey's body.

"Joey," said Justin, his first word, since they'd started all this. "Joey." He sounded desperate, and then his hand was wrapping around Joey's on his cock, using both to stroke himself to a quick orgasm with Joey still buried inside him.

Joey let him, of course, and then finally let himself collapse on top of the poor kid, pinning him to the mattress and smearing the mess on Justin's stomach over both of them. "*Now* am I too heavy?" he muttered, after trying to make his voice work three times.

Justin caught his breath and then laughed softly, kissing right on the spot where Joey's neck met his shoulder. "Nope," he said. "Not too heavy at all." Each deep, shaky breath that Justin took rocked Joey a little, but they didn't seem to be troubling Justin at all.

"I should move," he admitted, not making the slightest motion. "God, Justin. It can't have been *that* long. That was ... yeah." So good. So very, very good.

"I told you how long, more or less," he said, his hand resting lightly on Joey's back on, no sign of the clawing he'd been doing not so long ago. "It's a really long time, in boy-years."

"Did you?" Joey honestly couldn't remember, but his brain was foggy after sex at the best of times. "And, was ... I mean, did that go okay? For you? You're ... your body, Justin, it's ... and you make these sounds. So amazing."

Justin laughed again, sounding as boyish as he'd just claimed to be. "It was great," he said, his body getting limper by the second. "It was fantastic. I knew you'd be good; my instincts about you were dead on."

"You keep *saying* shit like that," Joey snorted softly, still not moving. "What do you mean, instincts?" He reached down to rub Justin's hips a little, hopefully soothingly. There. That was some kind of progress towards moving.

Justin blinked a few times and looked cute and confused. "What do you mean, what do I mean? I just mean I had a feeling about you. That it would be good with you, things would be good with you. It's not, like, sinister or anything."

Joey laughed a little more obviously at that, thinking that outside of his occasional divatude, Justin didn't have anything approaching a sinister bone in his body. "You just ... I just mean you seem very sure this would happen. Very confident. Way more confident than me, is all."

"Well, maybe I just *am* way more confident than you," he suggested. He hadn't been acting all *that* confident back when they'd been hooking up, though. "I just figured, you know, you're hot, and I'm hot, and we pretty much seemed hot for each other ... it made sense."

"Maybe," Joey shrugged, willing to let it go at that. He really did have to move though. "Here, I gotta ... condom. Sorry." He kissed Justin's temple softly before reaching between them to try and withdraw as gently as he knew how.

"Yeah, that's cool," said Justin, spreading and lifting his knees again to help Joey out. "I knw how it is. Just ... don't be long. I was just getting comfortable and all, with you here."

"I'll be back," Joey replied, just barely keeping inside a giggle. A giggle. He rolled his eyes at himself as he trashed the condom and grabbed a clean towel from under the sink. When he fell back in bed, not ON Justin this time, he kissed the very same spot on his head. "How long you want to stay, babe?"

"Till whenever I can," he said, raising his arms above his head and stretching out on the bed. "I need to be back at my room by dawn. That gives us some time yet, right? I'm not one to kiss and run."

"Good," Joey murmured, rolling over to press his face to the warmth of Justin's neck. He'd desperately hoped he'd stay. "So. So now do I get to hear the story you didn't want to tell me in the club? Did I earn it yet?" He knew Justin couldn't see his smile, but hoped he heard it.

"I didn't know I was telling you a story," he said coyly, rolling over onto his side and tangling his leg with Joey's. "What story was that? Because I'm pretty sure that yeah, you earned *something* all right."

Joey rolled his eyes again and let him see it this time, punctuating it with a careful slap of Justin's ass. "Yes. You were gonna tell me about the song, about 'Justified.' But you didn't want to do it in public. And this ... this is very much not-public, babe."

"Oh," said Justin softly, nodding his head. "Right. I'd, um, forgotten about that, actually. You sure it's something you want to hear? Right now? It's not exactly pillow talk."

"You don't have to," Joey said easily, meaning it. "You don't ... I understand. Why you wouldn't want to. Especially, you know, especially with me. Forget it, kiddo."

"It's not that I don't want to," he promised him. "It's just ... you're really into me right now and you think I'm sexy and we're getting along great.But I can be a real jerk and this is one of the stories that proves that and I just didn't know if you wanted to hear it right now. Or ... okay, if I wanted you to hear it. I like the way you're looking at me right now and I don't want to change that."

"Justin!" Joey laughed again, putting his hand back on his ass but just cupping it this time; yeah, possessively. "Dude, exes ... that proves nothing about what you're like now. I mean. I mean, I really *hope* it doesn't, or else ... I dunno, maybe you forgot that you met mine?" He wished he hadn't asked now, though. The last thing he wanted was for Justin to remember this evening with anything other than fondness, in case it didn't happen again.

"Huh," said Justin, smiling just a little. "Maybe I am better off telling you my story than telling you just what I think of your ex, Joey." He coughed politely and Joey definitely heard a muffled "harpy!" in the middle of it. "I was just. I was with this guy, right? And I guess I kinda lost interest ... " He trailed off, but it obviously wasn't the end of the story.

"Yes, that happens," Joey said coaxingly, pulling Justin into a closer embrace to hide his own smile for Justin's opinion of Kelly. "It's okay." He even hitched Justin's leg a little higher over his own, and started kissing his shoulder idly. It was there, after all.

"Right. Well." Justin grunted softly and hesitated again before going on. "It wasn't even a really serious thing, but I wasn't man enough to just break up with him, end it there. No. I waited until this one time at a club I saw him dancing with someone else ... and I used that as an excuse. To break up with him. So he'd feel like it was his fault. And for a long time I convinced myself that I did it because he was cheating on me, or he was going to. I really believed it. I believed I was in the right. But it wasn't true."

"Mmmm," Joey said, hoping it sounded non-committal. He was a little surprised -- just a little, it wasn't *awful*, and it actually sounded like something Justin might have done when he was younger, but ... he couldn't reconcile it very easily with how sweetly the kid acted towards him. "Was the guy hotter'n you?" he asked, his voice light.

"Ain't no one hotter than me," he said, almost automatically. Then he wrinkled his nose and sighed. "Yeah. Maybe. Probably. You don't need to tell me how not cool it was either, Joey, I know that. That's where the song came from. Me accepting that I was a real shit about the whole thing."

"Well, as hard as it is for me to imagine someone hotter than you ... " Joey smiled, kissing Justin's nose. "Hey, we don't know, you know? Maybe he wanted you to see, maybe he knew things weren't working ... don't beat yourself up, kid. I mean. You got a great song out of it, but I hope it's not still bugging you."

"Nah, it's not still bugging me so much," said Justin. "I don't really like that I would've done something like that, but I'm okay with it. It's past and done and all that. And now you know." And now Joey knew, yes, but it was still only a small part of Justin's past.

"And now I know," nodded Joey. "And kid, believe me. Nothing in that story makes me think less of you, or want you to be here less. And ... am I still looking at you the right way?"

"Yeah," said Justin with a grin that verged on hungry. "Yeah, you're definitely still looking at me the right way. The way I like you to be. You want something else, maybe? Want to go again, and get our minds off our exes?"

"Do *you*?" Joey asked, rolling back onto his back and pulling Justin on top of him, letting his eyes do the thing that JC assures him makes people only think of sex when they look at him. But he grinned, too, just in case. "And also. My mind is nowhere near *my* ex."

"Well. It was," he said with a dismissed shrug. He seemed just as happy to leave the thought behind as Joey had been. "But no more. Do you want me on top? Oh, or maybe you could take me from behind ... "

"Justin!" Joey protested, slapping his bottom again lightly. "Although I guess I should be happy that you're comfortable enough with me to be ... to ask for what you want. I just ... I really want this, want tonight to be good for you. Want you to remember it, remember me. So however you want." He rolled his hips up, though. "Um. I definitely want it, though."

"I really like sex," he said, lowering his voice and making it like some grand secret. "I love how it feels, and I'm really liking how you're doing it. So you should tell me what *you* like best, so that I can experience it. I'm pretty bendy, too. I might not look it so much, but I am."

"Jeez," Joey said, closing his eyes against some of the images that found their way into his head at Justin's words. "I dunno, kid, I just ... " His hands started rubbing, fondling Justin's ass, almost of their own accord. "I'm like a fucking kid in a candy shop with you. I can't choose." He couldn't. Couldn't even pick top or bottom this time.

"I could ride you," offered Justin. "You could just lay there on your back and let me. Or did you maybe want to be more active again. We could do that, too." Justin wasn't hard yet -- there was almost no way he *could* be, after just coming twice -- but he was already thickening a little.

"Fuck," Joey grunted, squeezing his eyes closed even tighter. Justin *would* have to say what he was thinking out loud ... just imagining that lean body ... yeah. Fuck, exactly. "Justin ... "

"Yeah, that's it exactly," he teased. "Fuck Justin. That's the idea. So do you really want me to choose? To tell you exactly what I want you to do to me? I can do that ... I'm pretty good with words, most of the time. It may not be lyrical but I guarantee you it would be genuine."

Joey was only pretty good with words on his best day. He hoped his expression and body language and the rest of it would be enough to give Justin the answer he needed. He hitched Justin up higher on top of his body, then reached down between them to take his own dick in his hands and nudge it between Justin's legs, managing a strangled "yeah, okay. Choose."

"I think we already have," said Justin, sliding over easily to straddle Joey's body. "I think you've already let me know what*you* would like, and I've let you know what *I* would like. Do I look good like this, Joey, you looking up at me like this?"

"Justin," Joey protested, but he blinked his eyes open slowly. "Fuck," he groaned again, his head sinking back into the pillow. "You know you do. You look ... yes." He did. All tall and firm and more golden than he did when Joey'd lighted him that way on purpose during the interview.

"What I think I need to do," said Justin. "Or *you* need to do, is to get a condom ready. So that when the moment comes and we can't take it anymore and you're desperate to be inside me, we'll be ready."

"In the drawer," Joey gestured with his head, not at all willing to move Justin off of him at the moment. He was still teasing at Justin's opening with the head of his cock, controlling the motion with his finger and thumb, and biting his lip with the concentration it required.

Justin leaned over him to the drawer, pushing himself down on Joey's cock without actually letting it enter him. "Oh yeah," he breathed, but Joey could only imagine what he was referring to. "Okay, I got it, I got it."

"Is this really what you want?" Joey exhaled, wrapping his arm around Justin's waist. "Or did you ... is it just because I reacted the way you wanted me to, when you said it?"

"Just go with it, Joey," said Justin, but that didn't answer the question. "Just go with it, let it happen. I'm doing what I want to be doing and so are you, I hope. I don't say things just for the sake of saying them. I'm honest."

"I know, I ... " Joey had been told to shut up a million ways, and he knew it when he heard it. He pushed himself up onto his elbow, dislodging Justin just a little from his precarious position, and started to tongue gently at the hollow of his neck. Best way he knew to shut up.

Justin rolled his head back to give Joey more to work with, even as he settled in against his body again. "Yeah, like that," he said. "Don't doubt it. Don't question it. Just do it."

"Such a bossy thing," Joey muttered, nipping at Justin's collarbone. "Shoulda been up there, on top, all along." He slipped his hand under Justin's ass again, resting all of his weight on the arm he held himself up with.

"But didn't you have fun when I wasn't?" asked Justin, grinning at him again. "Oh, I know you did. I saw the way you looked at me, felt the way you touched me, heard the way you sounded ... we both had an amazing time. And we're going to again."

"Good thing you're pretty enough to get away with that," Joey teased him. "You sounded pretty ... happy with it, yourself." He was already almost at Justin's point of not being able to wait any longer to be inside him.

"Oh, believe me, I was. You are anything but a disapointment, Joey. This is exactly how I was hoping my evening would turn out. You naked and underneath me and touching me the way you do. But mostly the way you look at me, so hungry. So eager."

"Well, I want you," Joey said, like that explained it all. "Uh, lots." He surged up to kiss him on the mouth, deeply, briefly, then fell back to the sheets. He patted Justin's hip lightly, but enough to make him jerk a little. "So get to it." The longer he had to wait, the less eloquant and more needy he got."

"Does that mean you're ready to be fucking me now?" he asked, teasingly running his hands down Joey's chest. "You're ready to push inside, to *be* inside me, to watch me riding you, fucking myself on you. Is that what you're saying?"

"*Fuck*, Justin," Joey said again, pushing back up to grab the condom from him and rip it open with his teeth. He wasn't even going to bother asking if he wanted fingers first, again. Enough was enough.

"I just wanted you to say it," murmured Justin, bending over to kiss him. "I wanted to hear you say it. But more than that, I want to *feel* you *do* it. I want to feel you, Joey, feel how powerful you are."

"From this position?" Joey choked out, grinning, even as he dug his fingers into Justin's hipbone and guided him down onto his cock. It made everything else come out in a rush. "God, yes, Justin, I want to be fucking you again, want to be fucking you whenever you'll let me ... "

Justin's words became a series of breathy, hoarse sounds as he lowered himself slowly onto Joey, inch by inch. It was only when Joey was all the way inside him that he spoke again. "It feels different this time," he murmured, shifting around like he was trying to get comfortable but mostly managing to turn Joey on more. "But good."

"How, different, different how?" Joey babbled, reaching up to run his thumb over Justin's lip. "God, and just. Hold still for a sec. Please." He wasn't, was NOT going to come first this time, and that was just starting the wrong way.

"Can't," confessed Justin, shifting again but then, blessedly, stopping. "It just feels ... different. I can't explain." He rolled his head back and Joey could see him biting his lip and that was almost as bad as him wiggling around.

"*Justin*," Joey pleaded, holding on to his hip with that one hand and trying to slip his thumb inside the kid's mouth. "It doesn't ... not hurting, right?" It felt tight, *so* much tighter than before, Joey wouldn't have been surprised.

"Not hurting," said Justin, scraping his teeth along the pad of Joey's thumb before taking it into his mouth. And moving his hips again, dammit, in what had to be a very deliberate motion. "Feels good. Big. Full."

Joey groaned again, then dug his heels into the bed and shoved himself up farther, in deeper. If Justin wanted to feel what Joey could do, he was certainly asking for it. "And that?" he goaded gently.

Justin didn't answer, he was too busy arching his back and panting and groping desperately for something to hang on to. "Oh God," he said finally. "That's unbelievable ... "

Joey slid one hand a little higher up Justin's back to back sure he didn't fall back too far, and reluctantly pulled the other away from Justin's mouth to allow Justin to grab it and brace himself. It didn't leave Joey any way to control his thrusts, at all, so he hoped that Justin would take advanatage of the position and ... well, ride him, like he'd teased about.

"God, Joey," he said as Joey's thrust got a little shallower again. But certainly not *shallow*. Justin's hips never stopped moving. "I'd forgotten how great this position is. How great it feels ... for both of us. It feels great to you, too, right?" Joey couldn't be sure if the question was rhetorical or not.

"Baby, yes," Joey laughed out loud. "Fuck. Yes." He squeezed Justin's hand tighter and bit his own lip as he watched the muscles in Justin's legs flex, the ones in Justin's stomach tighten. He bit harder when he looked lower, fascinated by the sight of his own cock disappearing into Justin's body over and over.

For a long time Justin wasn't watching -- he either had his eyes closed or he was staring at the ceiling or something. But then, abruptly, his head snapped back forward and his eyes met Joey's and he picked up the pace, looking very serious about it.

"Um, hey," Joey whispered, blinking up at him and wondering if he should be worried. But he didn't ask, couldn't, just kept moving his hips to Justin's rhythm, sliding his hands over the kid's slick skin.

Justin opened his mouth like he was going to answer, but just let out a long, low moan and plunged himself harder onto Joey's cock, finally reaching for his own. "Oh Joey," he said once he was gripping himself firmly. "Oh Joey."

"Justin," Joey gulped in reply, desperately trying to pull his hand off his shaft and then just giving in and helping him stroke himself, the way Justin had helped him the first time. He dug his heels into the bed again, but this time to try and stave off his orgasm. It still lifted both their bodies off the bed.

It took a little longer this time -- if it hadn't, Joey would have been a little concerned about the guy's endless stamina -- but it still wasn't too long before Justin came, spilling over both their hands even as he kept on moving himself on Joey's body.

"Okay, okay," Joey panted, shaking his hand free and using it to push himself into a sitting position with Justin still astride him. Then he drew Justin's body back down to his one last time, and let out a low shout, pressing his mouth to Justin's sweaty shoulder as he came.

They were both wet and hot and sticky and panting and tangled up in a big ball on the bed, but neither seemed to mind much. "I feel you," murmured Justin and Joey didn't doubt it, not the way Justin still felt so very tight around him.

He knew he wasn't the hugest guy in the world, but he still had to ask. "You're sure it didn't hurt?" he worried softly, still catching his breath and not willing to let Justin move at all, not with his cock so hypersensitive right then.

"It didn't hurt," said Justin firmly. "It didn't hurt, Joey. I'm fine. I'm good. I'm .... damn, I'm tired. You wore me out." Justin wasn't the only one who was worn out, though. Joey wasn't sure he could go again if his life depended on it.

"It didn't hurt," said Justin firmly. "It didn't hurt, Joey. I'm fine. I'm good. I'm .... damn, I'm tired. You wore me out." Justin wasn't the only one who was worn out, though. Joey wasn't sure he could go again if his life depended on it.

"Baby, you got off three times, and ... shit, kid. You've had a rough week. You should be tired anyway." He kissed Justin's shoulder again and then tried to roll him off him, tried to disentagle their limbs. "You should be tired, and ... and you should stay. Tonight."

"I'll stay as long as I can," said Justin, which wasn't quite the same thing. "I need to be back at my room by dawn. But that still gives me some more time here." He carefully lifted himself the rest of the way off Joey'sbody and stretched out on his side, closing his eyes. "I'd like to stay for a little while."

"Why," Joey said, rolling with him, keeping their chests touching as he reached up to play with Justin's hair. "I mean, why dawn, not why you want to stay. Or ... or is that another 'shut up, Joey,' so you can sleep?"

"I have appointments to keep," he said regretfully. "The stylist is going to be there at ... I think they said 6:30. And it keeps Lance from knowing I was out all night. But it's still dark now, so we still have a little more time."

"I have stuff too," Joey replied, rolling over a little more, then grimacing and reaching down to tug off the condom and toss it somewhere near the trash can. "But I'd ... no, okay. Right. Appointments. You want me to set an alarm?" He just wasn't at all ready to let Justin leave, because he had more than a sneaking suspicion it was the last time he'd have him all to himself. Maybe ever.

"Yeah, prob'ly a good idea," said Justin, busy tangling his leg with Joey's again, familiarly. "If I oversleep, that would be bad. I had a great night, Joey."

"Good, babe," Joey said quietly, kissing his forehead and tugging a sheet up over them after blindly pressing some buttons on his watch. Even though he didn't think he'd be sleeping at all; not with Justin that close and still, kinda, far away.

* * *

"Now *that's* a story I can't tell you on the record," said AJ McLean with a loud laugh, reaching up and adjusting his hat so it wouldn't fall off. Again. "Let's just say I helped her with her "homework"--" He used those obnoxious air quotes to set the word off. "-- and leave it at that."

"Riiight," Joey said slowly, grinning back but thinking to himself whether this guy really thought that was smooth. Not that he'd really stopped grinning since he got to the set. His producers were gonna love him today. "Alright, a fan encounter that's PG-13 enough for MTV, then."

"You're gonna have to let me think about that one for a minute," he said, giving Joey a wicked waggle of his eyebrows. "Okay, right, so it was the middle of the night and me and the guys were picking up some shit--" There was yet *another* bleep they were going to have to insert. "--at Walmart or whatever, and I got some underwear. A guy needs underwear, it don't matter where it comes from. And so we got outside and we ran into these girls and they were all jumping all over and bouncing their tits and all. And these bit--" He censored *himself* that time. "These girls, they stole my new underwear. Right out of my bag. What the hell? Used underwear, that I can understand. But this stuff still had tags on and everything."

Okay, so that *was* kind of funny, and Joey gave him an honest laugh for it. But so far this interview had been everything he expected, nothing he didn't, right down to the words they'd have to censor and the subject matter of the stories. Not like ... not like Justin's. When it was nothing he expected.

"Alright, so getting underwear stolen sucks," Joey agreed conspiratorially. "What's one of the good things about touring?"

"Getting my underwear stolen for the right reasons," he said with a grin, obviously kidding but probaby only half. "Getting to be on stage night after night, that's one hell of a high, right there. All these people screaming for you, getting to go wild like that. Yeah, that's the best part right there. The heat and the sweat and the energy and the girls ripping their tops off in the front rows. Makes it all worth it."

Joey chuckled again, but this time it was more for imagining Justin's reaction to girls doing that as his shows. God, he could not get him off his brain.

"Cool, man," he said, reaching out his hand to shake, then squeezing his shoulder. "Thanks for talking with us. And good luck with the new single."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks man. Thanks." He made a hand gesture at the camera that might've been a wave or might've been something obscene, Joey just wasn't sure. "See ya." As soon as they stopped rolling, AJ was already reaching behind him to get the mike off. "Damn these things are uncomfortable."

Joey stepped closer and reached over his shoulder -- the kid was *short* -- and helped him untangle it. "Yeah, sorry," he apologized. "We had to use these bigger packs 'cause of being outside. Thanks for being such a sport." Which he had been, even if Joey'd asked three times for him to keep the cussing to a minimum.

"Yeah, no, I know," he said, and Joey thought he heard something tear as AJ finally yanked it away from his body. A production assistant was already right there to detach the rest and take it away; they'd seen enough guests pitch a fit that they were damn quick about it. They were slower about Joey's. "That was good. You weren't a dipshit. I appreciate that."

"Uh, thanks," Joey said, still grinning until AJ looked at him curiously. "So, um, it airs Monday. I can get you a copy if you want to see it first."

"Shit, Fatone, you look like someone was giving you head while we were talking. Was the interview that good for you?" He was adjusting his shirt as he asked so Joey thankfully didn't have to meet his eyes.

"Heh, no, heh," Joey chuckled quickly, looking down himself so that anyone else who thought the same thing couldn't see his expression. "I'm, um. You know, still pretty new to this. So it's still exciting. Not ... not in THAT way." That wasn't it, though. He knew exactly why he looked the way he did, and it was all because of the person he'd sleepily called a cab for at five that morning.

"You should try being on stage some time," said AJ, adjusting his ever-present sunglasses and looking up again. "Speaking of getting excited, and in *exactly* that way. It's better'n almost anything. You have no idea."

"Aww, no, that's not for me," Joey protested, shaking his head and staring off into space a little past AJ's shoulder. "No, I'll leave that to you pretty guys. And keep ... you know, getting excited 'that' way where I'm supposed to, in bed."

"Bed or wherever else you can get some," said AJ with a grin. "I've got stories you wouldn't believe, about what goes on when I get offstage. Stories I *definitely* couldn't share with the MTV crowd. But anyway, thanks again man, I'm outta here."

"Bye, AJ," Joey said, knowing it sounded distant even as he shook the guy's hand. He turned a little and one of the PAs was right there, handing him a towel and his cell phone.

"It rang," she said. "Like, more than once, so I turned it off."

"Oh, thanks, Monica," Joey said, a little embarrassed that he'd forgotten to turn it off when he'd been rushing around doing prep for the interview. He turned it back on and checked his voicemail.

"Hey Joey, it's Justin," the first one started, and Joey winced a bit. "I'm just between interviews and thought I'd give you a call, but I guess you're busy. Or still sleeping. Ha! Lucky man. Catch you later." The second turned out to be from Justin, too. "Hey Joey. Me again. I only have a couple seconds here this time. You still out? Where are you this morning? Anyway, bye."

The third, however, wasn't from Justin. "Hey Joey, it's Chris. You think you can take JC out tonight or something? Sorry to spring this on you but I have a meeting that's gonna run until midnight, and that's if I'm lucky. You know the drill. I'm still worried." That definitely wasn't something Joey wanted to hear, not that he didn't want to see JC, but he worried, too.

And the fourth -- the last -- was from Justin. Yet again. "Guess I'm not going to get lucky today. I'm heading out soon, not sure when I'll be back. You've got my number, give me a call when you can. Let me know what's up."

He groaned and hit his forehead with the phone. The last -- the *last* -- thing he wanted was for Justin to think he was blowing him off. But they'd both been half-asleep when they said goodbye, and Joey'd thought he'd told him that he had the interview, and ... blown off was exactly how Justin sounded.

He still returned Chris's call first, leaving him a message on his work voicemail that he'd definitely grab JC for something, even if it was just movie night. And he'd try to get some pizza or popcorn in him. Then he took a breath and let Justin's number ring.

It was already too late though, it seemed; he was kicked pretty quickly to Justin's voicemail and was forced to leave a message. He was going to have to try again, though, and soon, before Justin gave up on *him*. Maybe tonight, when he was hanging out with JC. Maybe that would be a better time, for both of them. Right now he needed to help pack up and get back to the studio and start getting the interview ready to air.

* * *

Joey let himself into the door at JC's, like he'd done the day Chris called two weeks earlier.

"Jace, babe?" he called out. "I let myself in. And I brought you some wine, to, y'know. Thank you for letting me mooch your cable."

"You know you don't need to do that," called JC. "Does it need to be be chilled? There's lots of room in the fridge. Or just leave it on the counter. I'm in the bedroom ... " Which meant he probably didn't have any intention of *leaving* the bedroom to meet him. That or he just wasn't dressed yet.

Joey didn't know jack about wine but he figured it could be put in the fridge. So he did, and then made his way to the bedroom that he and Chris shared more oftenthan not. He knocked softly on the door and peeked his head around. "m'I allowed in?"

"Yeah, sure, you've already seen my ass plenty of times," said JC. There was no ass on display, though, just JC's bare back as he flipped through the closet for a shirt. "Are you early or am I late?"

"I'm early," Joey had to admit, only slightly embarrassed at his eagerness. "I just didn't want to miss it, is all."

"Honey, you ever think of just recording it?" teased JC as he found what he was looking for and pulled it on, finally turning to face Joey. "Lasts longer, you know. Have you eaten? We have leftovers."

"It's not the same," muttered Joey, leaning against the door. He *had* eaten, but he'd eat again if he could get JC to eat with him. "Plus, I don't get that channel so good on my TV, and ... just shut up. Yeah. Let's have some leftovers."

"No, just for you," insisted JC, flipping the light off as he led Joey back to the kitchen. "I already ate. You can check for yourself, it's written down on the fridge." He made a face at that but Joey already knew he didn't like that system. But it worked. "It's pasta. You like pasta."

Joey wrinkled his nose. "I like pasta," he agreed, "but I'm picky about my pasta." He *was* going to check the fridge, though. It got him out of a second dinner, which JC might have needed but his own belly didn't. "C'mon, I'll pour you some wine?"

"Chris made it," JC assured him unnecessarily. Chris was always the one who made it, whether he was better at it or not. "Wine sounds good, though. We haven't been out drinking in ... too long. You should try the pasta at least; you know it'll just go bad if we leave it in there."

"You can have it for lunch tomorrow," Joey just said lightly, ushering JC out the door. Both so he didn't get stuck eating it if they kept talking about it, and honestly, so they didn't miss the start of the show. "C'mon, C, make fun if you want but I don't want to miss him."

"Oh, I don't even need to make fun anymore," JC said, which was teasing in itself. "We're not going to miss it, the show hasn't even started yet and you know he won't be on until later. Did you talk to him about it?"

"No," Joey said, ducking his head a little, even though it *wasn't* anything to be embarrassed about. "We haven't ... since. I mean. We've played voicemail tag, but. He's so busy, Jace. And I ... " And Joey just didn't want to harrass him.

"Ah well," said JC, patting him on the shoulder before curling up on the couch. "I'm sure you'll get in touch soon. Anyway, he's the second guest, so we're in no rush here. So how did your, um, dinner go? With what's-her-name. That actress."

"Mandy," Joey said patiently. JC knew who she was. And it had gone ... well. Really well. "And it was nice," he told him. "*She's* nice. She's a sweet girl and, um, I'm seeing her Friday too." He didn't even watch JC's face for the reaction.

"Really," said JC, managing to sound both interested and disinterested at the same time, a special skill of his. "Well, it's nice that she's a sweet girl. Is she really in town for that long? I would've thought she would've been gone by now."

"Nope, she's ... she's here, here for a while, actually," Joey tried to explain. "I mean, her promotion, and she's between shootings for her movies, and. Maybe she had stuff she wanted to stay *for*, Jace." He didn't draw the obvious parallels between her and, well, Justin. Who was now in L.A.

"Oh, does she have family in the area?" he countered, but JC never could stay mean for long, not to his friends. "No, sorry, forget it. None of my business. You're sure awfully eager to see your boy, though, when you've got your girl on your other arm. I'm just saying."

"I've got my girl on one arm," Joey argued carefully. "And a whole bunch of not-much on the other. Justin ... he's not. It's not like that. It's different." Of course he wanted to see him. Wanted more than that! But he just wasn't there. In more ways than just the geographical.

"Well, if you say so," said JC. "You'd know better than I would, I guess. Though I know you can't possibly be blaming Justin for not being here, when you know he's busy working over on the other coast. And I know this because you're a better, more reasonable man than that. But if you're serious about dating this Mandy girl, well, you don't need to be stringing Justin along. Is all I'm saying." But JC just didn't *get* that Joey wasn't doing any such thing. It just ... it wasn't like that.

He blinked at him. "I'm ... are you saying that I shouldn't see anybody else?" he clarified. "I'm not *blaming* Justin, not at all. But. This ... it's not something we talked about, Jace. I'm sure he's not sitting at home either."

"Never said he was," said JC, finally looking away from the tv and at Joey. "I'm just saying. That if you're serious about her, then Justin should know that. Just like if he gets serious about someone else, *you* should know that. It's just the right thing to do. In my world."

"Well then I'm not sure what you're asking," Joey exhaled, his attention on JC and not the TV, too. "Or saying. I'm ... I'm just seeing the girl, Jace. I haven't slept with her. Um, yet. Is that your criteria for 'serious,' or is it something else?"

"Hey, it doesn't matter what my criteria is, it matters what *your* criteria is. This is one area where ... well, I never did get you, Joey. You know that. I watch what you do when you date people and I never quite get it." Which was just ... dumb, though Joey would never say that. JC used to date around a lot, too. It wasn't any different.

And he was feeling pretty harshly examined at the moment. "Okay, you are my friend, JC, and so. Can you just be, like, straight with me? Tell me what I'm doing wrong? Because you disapprove of something and I'll be damned if I can figure out what it is."

"Just my bias, I guess," he admitted grudgingly after a moment. "I know you already know that, Joey. I like Justin. I like you and Justin together. I think you like you and Justin together too. And this Mandy girl ... she could be the sweetest thing in the whole world but she messes with that. You know me, I just want everyone to be happy."

"I liked being with Justin," Joey admitted easily. "God, C, I barely shut up about it for a week. But ... we're not together. He never talked about it with me or I never talked about it with him and maybe we just, you know, missed that window. It's nothing to do with Mandy." He was pretty sure of that, even though Mandy did make it a lot less lonely.

"Well, it's not like I'm going to stand in your way," said JC, raising his hands. "You asked, and I told you, and I meant it when I said it was none of my business. I can harass you all I want, but it has to be your choice."

"J*C*," Joey said, just wanting to not be arguing. Never wanting to be arguing. "You said it yourself. He can't be here. It's ... don't you think? I hoped we were friends before and I think we're still friends. Me and Justin. We just, we had this night that I hope he'll remember, you know, fondly. Like I will."

"And now you're over in my living room bearing wine just for the priviledge of getting to see him do late night TV with better reception than you could get at home," said JC, letting Joey draw his own conclusion from that. "You seem very fond. And that's *all* I'm going to say about that. Can I have some more wine?"

"Yes," Joey said simply, pouring it for him and just letting their words hang there for a little while. He was very fond. He didn't think he'd played games with JC, or even Justin, to hide that. But Mandy was there, and more interested by the day. And Justin was his intensely private self that Joey could barely read in person, let alone over voicemails.

"Well," said JC after an awkward moment of silence. "That's that, then." That first glass of wine had disappeared pretty quickly; Joey hoped JC *had* eaten what he'd said he had, and that he wasn't filling up on the wine instead. He might not even realize if he was.

Joey didn't even realize the way he sat forward on the sofa when Leno brought Justin out to sing, the way his eyes followed Justin's movement across the screen. He just knew he looked ... he looked beautiful, and everything and nothing like he had when Joey'd kissed him goodbye.

JC was silent as Joey watched; he wasn't even really aware of JC being there anymore until the performance was over and they cut to commercial before Justin's interview. Joey knew there were a hundred sweet or snarky or teasing things that JC could have said, but he'd thankfully voiced none of them. Then again, he didn't have to when Joey thought them all up himself.

"He sounds great," he exhaled, sitting back and scrubbing his hands through his hair. "Man. And looks ... " He couldn't even really put words to it. Just put his hand in his lap and adjusted himself in his pants and sighed.

"Yeah, he does, doesn't he," said JC finally, looking at Joey's motion but not commenting. "He's really something else. He's a natural. I remember first watching him perform, when he was a kid. Even in rehearsals he had it ... you know, "it". That special thing that sets him apart from everyone else."

"He knows his body," Joey agreed, only halfway aware of what he was saying out loud. "He has ... he's got so much control for his age, you know, so much ... what's the word? composure? And just, like a cat or something, all stretchy and graceful and bendy."

"Bendy?" repeated JC, finally letting amusement color his voice. "He wasn't showing off much "bendy" there in that performance. I think you're the only one in this room who knows how bendy that boy can be."

"Oh." Joey blinked, and had to adjust himself again. Like he was Justin's age himself, or younger even. "Well. He is. Was. It was ... aw, Jace, don't get me started on that again."

JC looked him in the eye and then laughed gently. "No, that's perfectly all right, I've heard *plenty* about your night with Justin. And even though the word "bendy" didn't come up, I'd pretty much already assumed. You doing all right over there? Need a little time to yourself or anything?"

"No, jeez," Joey started, then hissed and leaned forward again. "Shhh. He's back on." He heard, but ignored, JC chuckling at him.

Justin looked perfectly relaxed, perfectly comfortable, perfectly ... perfect. Even Joey couldn't pick out the little tics that would betray his nervousness this time. He laughed on cue, smiled on cue, and told cute, inoffensive anecdotes that made the audience laugh, that made him look humble and that made Jay look good. He was the perfect guest.

He made Joey want to kiss JC's poor TV. That, or call the kid up and tell him to meet him in Omaha. He *missed* him. He'd known him a week, and that was two weeks ago, and he still missed him.

"That's a good color on him," said JC out of the blue, interrupting Joey's thoughts. "Don't you think? He looks really good right now."

"I've never seen him look bad," Joey murmured. "God, JC. Why ... nevermind." He wasn't going to do this. He wasn't going to ask why he'd just gotten to have one night with him, why things had to seem so distant the next day. Something'd happened in there and he was too stupid to figure it out, and never even got to say thank you. Or tell Justin how much he'd enjoyed it. Not face-to-face.

JC waited until the show went to commercial again before saying anything else. "You should get your eyes checked, Joey," he said. "You're sitting awfully close to that television. Close enough to touch him almost."

"Shut up, JC," Joey sighed, closing them and settling back into the couch for good. "Do you have something to say, for real?"

"I don't know what you want me to say," he said, and Joey heard the TV suddenly silenced as JC hit the mute button on the remote. "What can I possibly add to that? Except to maybe say that last time I talked to him he still seemed interested in you, too."

"What?" Joey sat up. "What? When did you talk to him? Why didn't you tell me? What did he say?" He knew he sounded ... not desperate, but definitely not as aloof as he'd been trying to pretend, but he didn't care.

"What do you mean?" asked JC. "I talked to him last a couple of days ago, he reached me when I was on a break during that ridiculously long shoot. You remember the one? I know I complained about it to Chris for hours."

He remembered JC telling him about the shoot, it was a day he'd been stuck in the editing room for almost nine hours straight. He hadn't even eaten. "What did he say, JC?" he repeated, a little anxiously.

"I don't even remember," said JC with an apologetic shrug. "Just talked about his schedule and what a good time he's having, and asked what you were up to. He's been having a bitch of a time reaching you, huh? That was ... about it, I think."

"JC, none of that means he's still interested in me," Joey sighed, feeling let down and not even knowing why. "I haven't even gotten a voicemail from him since that day, I don't think." Their schedules were *so* different, and almost equally busy.

"Come on, Joey, don't exaggerate," said JC. "I know you've talked to him once or twice, you told me about it. You're just being ... you're being ridiculous about this. You're so self-defeating sometimes, you know that?"

"I've talked to him!" Joey admitted. "But not since last week. Not since you, I guess. And for real, JC, how am I being ridiculous? or self- ... whatever that other thing you said?"

"Self-defeating," said JC with a sigh. "You think things are impossible or against you, and so you *make* them impossible or against you. I know things come to you pretty easy -- most of the time -- but sometimes you have to work for what you want. And I *know* I don't need to be telling you that. Or shouldn't need to be telling you that, anyway."

"I work for stuff," Joey replied stubbornly. "I work hard for what I do. JC, *please*," he finally pleaded, putting his hand on JC's knee. "Please. Just tell me what he said. Unless that really was it."

"Joey, I don't *remember*," said JC. "I was tired and cranky and we didn't talk for that long. Just long enough to catch up. I'm sorry. I doesn't mean anything, it just means we didn't have much time to talk. And he still found time to ask about you. So make of that what you will."

Joey sighed again, not really sure what he'd bothered to expect. He didn't make much of it at all. "I should call Mandy before it gets too late," he muttered. "Firm up our plans for Friday."

"You do what you want, Joey," said JC, unmuting the TV again. "You always do. Is there more wine?"

The bottle was almost empty, and Joey'd barely had any. "I only brought one bottle," he said, forcing himself not to say anything about it to JC, not sure if he'd just be doing it to get the heat off himself.

"Yeah, but it can't be finished already," insisted JC. "Or did you bring one of those tiny bottles that you seem to like? In which case, check the wine rack, I'm sure there's something good on there unless Chris has emptied it."

"JC," Joey sighed, wanting nothing more than to just go home, jerk off maybe, stop thinking about whether he was being 'self-defeating.' But he couldn't leave JC like this, not when he'd promised Chris. "How about we turn off the TV. I think Justin's segment's done."

"Sure," he said, eyeing Joey warily. "It's been done for a while, actually. What are you "JC"ing me for, Joey? I seem to remember we were talking about you, here, about *your* decisions. For once."

Joey sighed again. "Yes, we were," he admitted. "And ... look, Jace, I love you. You're still my best friend, even if ... you just are. But I don't want to be, like, criticized for Justin any more tonight. He has a phone too. He has a mouth too."

"Yeah, and he's used it to ask about you," said JC again. "He's called you when he could. I know you're a busy guy, Joey, but you still have tons more free time than he does, don't forget. He's doing album promotion, he's probably working 18-hour days, on a good day. So don't get all the way you get, with the second-guessing and the doubts. And that's all I'm gonna say. That's all the important bits. *Now* will you let me have some more of your wine? I've been good."

"Eat a cookie?" Joey relented, handing over his glass. He didn't get like that. He didn't. And if he was doubting, well. He had reason.

"Hmm. Cookie ... wine. Not exactly the same thing, Fatone." He was smiling again as he took the glass, though, and didn't even protest that it was Joey's. "So anyway. Yeah. I've said what needed to be said about it. Just ... he's a good guy, Joey. I want to see this work."

"I know he's a good guy, JC," Joey sighed, feeling like if he sighed any more that night he'd suffocate. "And I know you're looking out for me, but I want to be happy, and have fun, and long-distance things, they aren't either. So how about I don't tell you about Mandy and you don't ask, and we go back to having fun conversations."

"I'm sure I would like Mandy," admitted JC grudgingly. "She seems like a very nice girl." But that didn't change that JC seemed a little ... well, disappointed with the whole thing. Joey had told him again and again not to get his hopes up about Justin, but JC just never listened. "I just want everyone to be happy, too."

"Well, everybody will be," Joey said. Hoping it was simple as that, as he pulled JC into a careful hug.

* * *

They were seated by the window, facing a somewhat busy street, which Joey figured was typical and definitely not because of him. It was Mandy they wanted on display, eating at their restaurant, promoting it without ever saying a word. At least it assured them of fabulous service for the night.

"So I went to read for that part again," she said, taking a tiny, graceful sip of her water. "The one I was telling you about. It looks good, my agent thinks. They're down to a very short list now."

"Sweetie, *you're* good," Joey said, meaning it, and not even thinking about what it might earn him. His smile was big, and genuine. "Where is it gonna shoot, do you know? Have they cast anyone else yet?" He grinned wider. "Do they need a big, dumb, Italian-y looking guy for you to make out with?"

"No, I'm sorry," she said, giving him big eyes that Joey knew by this point weren't *entirely* innocent, at least not when it came to conversations like this. "I believe they were looking for a busty, blonde girl to fill that role. If you'd like to audition anyway, though, I'm sure I could make the time ... "

"Shut UP," he said, barely hearing her after the busty blonde line. He knew his eyes glazed over. "You're gonna make out with a *chick*? Damn, Mandy. Forget famous. You'e gonna be bigger than ... I dunno. My brain isn't working. Everybody."

She laughed lightly and sipped her water again. She'd barely made a dent in it; it was the action that was important. "Just a kiss," she admitted. "But it's in there. I've never done anything like that before. It's kind of exciting, that I might get this part."

"Damn," he muttered again, before shaking himself out of it. "And wait, audition? Yes." He leaned forward a little and touched her knee under the table. "Yes. Any time you can, um. Fit me in."

She blushed a little -- though it was hard to tell because of the natural rosy glow of her cheeks -- and glanced down. "Oh, I think I might be able to," she said, soft and almost demure. "But what about you? I feel like I could've told you I won a potato sack race and you would've been just as excited about it. Good day?"

"Yes!" Joey grinned, finally able to *tell* someone. JC and Chris were off on a long weekend together, and his mom hadn't been home ... "I, um, I found out today that they're offering me my own show. The station is. Not like, not TRL, but. A weekly thing. Mine."

"Ohmygod!" she said, practically squeaking, her veneer of calm, cool stardom vanishing. "Oh, that's great! You have to tell me all about it. What is it? When does it start? What will you be doing?"

He grinned even more broadly. "Um, it's ... I don't know!" he laughed. "Some of those questions, I mean. Have you, um." He didn't want to assume anything. "I don't know how much time you have to watch MTV, or anything, but maybe you saw the interview I did with, um, with Justin? Timberlake? It'll be like that. New artists."

"Yeah, they've only aired it, like fifty times," she said, grinning at him. "Of course I've seen it, it's really good. So, what, you get to go out all the time like that, hooking up with the up-and-comers before anyone else? That sounds ... that sounds *fantastic*."

"I *hope* so," Joey replied vehemently. "I mean, I hope it will be. I hope I'm good at it, at all. I do my first one next week. I think they'll keep showing them after TRL, which ... I mean, that's the best time slot. So. I'm still in kind of this state of shock, like why me, you know?"

"Because you're good," she said, still looking so excited for him. Even more excited for him than for herself and her big audition. "You did a good job. Why do you think they keep showing it? MTV doesn't just re-air crap. Well ... okay, yeah they do, sometimes. But you're still good. Who are you doing next week?"

"Um, I'm doing, I don't know if you've heard of her," Joey stuttered a little. "Her name's Christina Aguilera, she's ... she's got this huge voice. She used to be on that Mickey Mouse Club thing, you know, with Justin." She looked like she might be just as big, too.

"I never really watched," she admitted, back to sipping her water again. "And when I did ... well, it was Justin I remembered." And she blushed prettily again. "Been a long time since those days. So she's good, then? That's great. Good for her."

"Justin, he's ... " Joey started, then didn't really know how to finish. At all. Had no idea what he was going to say, in fact. "Do you have a crush?" he teased.

"Not anymore," she assured him. "Not since I was a kid. But I have to say, when I heard that I was going to his album release party, I might have been just a teensy bit excited. Even though I only got to talk to him for, like, half a second. The best part of that night turned out to be meeting people other than Justin, anyway."

"Half a second's longer than me," he told her, smiling a little at how damn sweet she was. Sweet, but not *too* sweet, and delightfully easy to make laugh. "And other people? Should I be jealous?"

"You *are* 'other people'," she said, giving him a playful kick under the table. "And you know it. So wow ... your own show. Are you doing anything to celebrate it? Big party or something?"

"No, no!" he laughed, reaching back under the table to grab her ankle playfully himself. "No, I can't jinx it. Plus, you know, it's not really cool to throw yourself a party like that. Plus *plus* ... it means a *whole* lot more work for me. I mean. Scouting locations and picking the artists and researching the artists and then post-production and stuff ... *so* much more work. I'm gonna be swamped until I get into, like, a routine."

"Busy is the best way to be, in this business," she said, a phrase Joey had a heard from a hundred different people a hundred different times. "As long as you can still find time to take me out to dinner, once in a while. Are you still going to be based in New York, or are you gonna be all over the place now, for this?"

"Oh, no, New York," he assured her. "They can come to me." He laughed. "They all come here, anyway! And this is my hometown. I mean, if everything goes well, I might do special stuff out in LA or ... I don't know, special stuff. Other places. But mostly here. So, um, as long as you're here, then yes. Dinner." He grinned a little devilishly. "And then more fun places, when you'e legal."

"Planning on waiting around that long?" she said coyly, as a sharply-dressed waiter arrived to deliver their meals. Joey noticed his hands tremble a little, but he didn't comment. There really was no pressure, serving people like Joey and Mandy, but someone in the kitchen had probably played it up huge to him. "Oh thank you," Mandy said sweetly to him. "This looks wonderful."

"Only if you continue to get roles where you kiss hot women," Joey teased back, rubbing her ankle a little before he let go of her leg to eat. "Then I might be convinced."

"You only want me for my lesbian tendencies," she teased him. "So I'm sorry, we were interrupted. You're staying in New York then, more or less? That's good news. It'll probably be enough travel as it is, scouting locations in the area. It's not exactly a small place." She laughed prettily, not even touching her food yet. "I found *that* out my first week here."

"Even more reason you should keep a native like me around," he told her, winking. "You know. Close at hand. For when things come up. Now please tell me you eat, darlin'."

"Yes," she said with a smile, "but my mom taught me not to talk with my mouth full and, well, I just haven't stopped talking yet." She did right then, though, and forked a piece of broccoli off her plate.

He really liked this girl. Really, really. Almost enough ... almost enough to get other people off his mind for longer than they'd been in about a month. "So," he said slowly, stabbing at his own dinner almost nervously. "What are you up to tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" she said after swallowing, thinking about it for a moment. "I know I have a lunch date with some new hot-shot director my agent suggested it would be a good idea for me to meet. He's got this hush-hush project going on that apparently anybody who's *anybody* is going to be a part of. I think that's it, though."

"It sounds cool," Joey said, a little dumbly, then put down his fork to reach for her hand. She had small hands. "And also, maybe, wouldn't interfere with breakfast?" He kept his eyes on hers, kept his face neutral. A little hopeful, but not pushy. He hoped.

"I'm pretty sure we can arrange for your audition to be tonight," she said after a moment, smiling at him. "You're not a busty, blonde girl, but I bet you serve a mean pancake the morning after." The, without looking away from him, she took another bite of her dinner.

"There are some things I do better than a busty blonde, this is true," Joey murmured. "I ... " He paused when his phone vibrated in his pocket; pulled it out just enough to see the caller ID. It was JC. He let it ring.

She glanced at the phone in his hand, and as he put it away again, but didn't encourage him to answer. "I'll just bet you do," she said softly. "Can't wait to find out."

* * *

Joey'd fallen back in bed after he kissed Mandy goodbye with cabfare in the morning. He'd gotten up early after all, to make not pancakes but french toast, and omelettes, and even ran down to the market in sweatpants and a jacket over his bare chest to get a grapefruit. So he deserved to go back to bed.

He couldn't fall asleep, though, something nagging at him, until he replyaed the evening in his mind and remembered the phone call he hadn't taken. He kind of hoped he'd just get JC's voicemail when he hit redial.

"Hey baby, miss me so soon?" said JC, making kissy noises into the phone. "I *knew* you wouldn't be able to resist calling the moment you left the driveway."

"Ew, JC," Joey grimaced, shaking his head. "Dude. It's not bad enough I have to see it all the time with the two of you." He yawned a little, rubbed his eyes. "So, um, sorry I missed your call last night. What's up."

"Oh. Joey," he said, sounding less than enthused for a second. "Sorry. Chris just left to go to the store. We ran out of ... well, you just said you don't want to know about that. Anyway, right. Where were you last night?"

"Dinner," Joey replied evenly. "I was out at dinner and forgot to turn off my phone." They hadn't exactly agreed not to talk about Mandy, but close enough. "Are you guys having fun?"

"Oh yeah, it's beautiful here," said JC with a happy sigh. "I love the beach house. But right, I did call last night. Thought you might like to know that your boy's gonna be back in town soon."

"In my town?" Joey blinked, rolling over onto his back when his stomach flip-flopped a little. "Here? New York? What for?" He didn't even have to ask who JC meant.

"SNL, baby. He's the musical guest on Saturday Night Live next week. I mean, the week after this coming week. You know what I mean. Chris just heard yesterday, which means Justin's finding out right about now, which means he's probably going to call you and tell you soon but I'm a little bitch and wanted to tell you first."

"He's not!" Joey said, grinning hugely. "Oh, man. That's so great, that's. He'll have to be in town almost the whole week. Oh, good for him." He rolled over again, playing with the pillowcase. "Man, I hope he has time to see me. I have time to see him. Whichever."

"Well, *make* time," said JC breezily. "You know *he* will be, and he's a whole lot busier than you. I've got no idea where he's staying yet but I'm sure he'll tell you when he calls."

"*If* he calls," Joey corrected him. "I haven't heard from him in ... it's been a few weeks, C. But, yeah. Okay, if he calls, I'll make the time. Catch up with him a little, wish him luck on the tour. Maybe he'll come by the studio'n I can do it then."

"You should make the time anyway," said JC, and Joey just *knew* he was gonna get pushy about this. "I know you stopped calling him, too, Joey. I *told* you, you always--" He broke off and Joey heard him take a deep, cleansing breath and suddenly that was the end of it. "So. Have a good night?"

"I did," Joey replied a little softly, smiling to himself. It *had* been nice. Mandy was a darling girl and he'd felt very ... manly, with her. It wasn't a bad feeling. "Very good."

"Well, so at least there's that," said JC, and Joey didn't think he was wrong when he thought JC sounded a little resigned. "Chris has been a doll this weekend, he really has. It's so nice to be able to get him away from his work for a few days."

"I know it has," Joey said sympathetically. He couldn't decide which was worse, really; not having someone when you wanted them, or having them and not being able to see them ever. "He's so busy, and you're so busy, and I'm ... oh! Fuck, C. I totally forgot to tell you. Dude. You will never believe."

"Never believe what?" asked JC. "What happened, Joe? Is this a good never-believe or a bad never-believe?"

"Good, good," Joey laughed. "They're ... I'm getting my own show. They're developing this, this show for me. Every week, C, and I'll be doing scouting and research and editing and ... and it'll be like the one I did with Justin, every week. Except, well, you know, not quite exactly like with Justin."

JC was silent for a moment. "Are you serious, Joey?" he said finally. "Are you *serious*? Oh wow, that's ... I *told* you. I told you it would happen for you. You see?"

"Yes, I'm serious," Joey laughed louder. "And, okay, trying not to be offended here that you're surprised, but also, you did tell me, and you've been such a huge help and support and all that and, and I owe you, C. Like, lots; anything. Thank you. And Chris too, thank you for him."

"I'll thank him in all the best ways," JC assured him. "And I'm not surprised, I'm just ... that's *fast*, Joey. That's really fast, going from concept to execution like that. Someone important's really impressed with you, that's for damn sure. Oh Joey, this is great!"

"I *know*!" Joey barely kept from squealing. Telling Mandy had been nice, but it was nothing like telling his best friend, who knew exactly what it meant. "And, I mean, it is fast. You're right. And I've got my next interview, the first episode, I have it the end of this week. With, actually, with Christina." He laughed a little self-consciously. "So, you know, your insider information helped with Justin ... "

"Holy hell, you have an interview with Christina La Diva?" laughed JC. "We need to have drinks, Joey, because oh, the stories I can tell you. Most of them second-hand, of course, but no less entertaining. But, oh, tell me about your *show*!"

"Naw, Jace, when you get home," Joey said, smiling happily to himself. "You're on vacation. And I'm sure you'll hear more than you ever wanted to, about it, when you get back. So, um, say hi to Chris for me. And, oh! Thank him for the, uh, Justin news. It's good news. It's ... I hope I do see him."

"You'd better see him," said JC ominously, but even that was tinged with his obvious glee at Joey's news. "I'll call you when I'm back, we'll do something, okay? Stay out of trouble."

"You too," Joey smirked. "Don't get stuck on any of Kirkpatrick's piercings."

"Not without meaning to, anyway," teased JC, and Joey thought he heard a door opening in the background. "Bye, Joey. Talk to you soon."

Joey said goodbye and hung up the phone. Justin Timberlake. Back in town, and he didn't have a minute to spare, it seemed, to think about what that might mean.

* * *

It wasn't as though he didn't still have people -- really good people -- doing all his technical editing work for him, but there was still something satisfying about taking his raw interview footage and turning it into something presentable. If he hadn't loved doing what he did so much, Joey thought he might have been pretty happy working on this side of things.

It also had the lovely side-effect of taking his mind off everything that was troubling him.

And so he was in the middle of reviewing a segment of footage when he heard an unexpected knock at the door. And then again, a little harder, when he didn't answer. "Joe, that is you, right?" he heard JC's voice. "Otherwise I'm gonna have apologizing to do in a second ... "

"Oh, C," he said, leaning back to try and open the door for him. "Hey. What're you ... did we have plans?" He didn't think they did, but given what he was trying to juggle already, given what he'd have to BE juggling over the next few days ...

"Just doing what I'm always doing when I track you down to the editing room," said JC, slipping inside and closing the door behind him. "Making sure you're fed and rested and haven't forgotten to take care of yourself. Speaking of which -- shave. Soon. So how's it going?"

Joey scratched at his face. "She's a fucking firecracker is what," he explained. "Also, she *does* know she's white, right? And I can't believe her mom lets her out in public like that. But other than that ... I think it's going well. She said she saw Justin's interview, like, eight times. She said it eight times, not that she saw it eight times. You know what I mean."

"Firecracker," said JC with a little snort, pulling up a chair and handing Joey some takeout in a plain brown bag. It smelled kinda like Chinese, but he wasn't sure. "That's one way to put it. But clearly you survived the experience. Get anything good out of it?"

"Well, she looks like a star," Joey admitted, gesturing at the screen in front of them. "It'll be good. There's already so much buzz about her video, that premiered this week, and. If I can just get this part done, then yes." He grinned a little bit. "She talked about making out with girls. It was cool."

JC grinned at him, even while rolling his eyes. "And I'm very sure that's going to make it on the air," he said knowingly. Which of course it was; you don't get a sound bite like that and pass it up. "You look tired, Joe. I've hardly seen you this week. How's it been, trying to put this show together?"

"It's like ... I wonder how I ever managed to do the first one," Joey remarked. "Like, I know you'll grin at me knowingly, or whatever, but. I guess Justin made it easy, because this? Despite the nice wet dream material, this is not easy."

"Justin gives good interview," said JC, then predictably, "and plus, Justin likes you. But you're dealing with the whole 'establishing a brand' thing right now, too, on top of that. On top of dealing with La Diva, who I'm guessing had a lengthy list of demands pre-interview. It's not just a one-off thing, you're trying to set up a series. "On Location with Joey Fatone" or whatever it is you're calling it. So eat already, and take a break with me."

"Nothing so boring as that, I hope," Joey murmured, but he did press stop on the remote and pulled out the fried rice from the bag. "So, um. Speaking of Justin. He's ... so, I guess he gets here tomorrow."

"So I guess he does," said JC, watching him. "You know what time he gets in? I was going to give him a call when he got here. Of course, I won't interrupt if you've already made plans ... "

"Late, I think," Joey replied. "And ... no, no plans. We've been doing the voicemail dance again." Which, nevertheless, was more than they'd done in a few weeks, and JC knew it. He did, however, have plans with Mandy for the next day.

"Okay, I'll wait a couple days, then," said JC amiably. "You've been a hell of a guy to reach this week. I had to actually show up, just to get to talk to you. He knows about your show, right? You told him?"

"Um, not ... no," stuttered Joey. "I mean, I said I was sorry I was so hard to reach and that I was more busy than normal at work, but no. I'm not sure it would mean much to him. And that's not, like, an insult or anything, just that he might not understand what a big deal it is."

"Joey!" said JC, in genuine astonishment. "Joey, that's just dumb! Why *wouldn't* he he happy for you? Especially since you were so supportive of him, and his thing."

"No, no, he'd be happy for me, it's ... I'll tell him when I see him, C." He shovelled some food into his mouth. "Mmm, good," he tried, placatingly.

"It better be; I got it from the good place," said JC. "The one Chris likes so much. I can't believe you didn't tell him, you dork. Because now *I* can't talk about it until you do."

"Why?" Joey blinked up at him, mouth full. "Why not? It won't make me mad or anything, JC, if I don't get to tell him. Plus, you know, he has a lot to worry about. Saturday Night Live, that's a big deal."

"So's your show," insisted JC. "You know it is. I don't know if it's modesty or what that's keeping you from telling him, but it's du--it's silly, Joey. And of course I'm not gonna take away the thrill of being able to tell him from you." Even though he'd gone and told Joey about Justin being on SNL, Joey remembered. "That's yours."

"You're worse than my ma," Joey complained, turning back to the TVs. "I told all your aunts and uncles about your show, dear!" he mimicked. "You should write your grandma. And bring that nice girl you're dating home for dinner once in a while."

"You mean you haven't?" asked JC, actually acknowledging what Joey had said about Mandy. "I would've thought you had, by now. As soon as you manage to find a nice girl, you're all gung-ho to parade her past mama."

"I actually *like* Mandy," he reminded him. "I'm not ready to scare her off yet." And part of him just wasn't ready to *do* it yet, either. That was kind of a big step.

"So you really are dating then," said JC casually, the kind of casual that really isn't. "You're not just ... whatever. Getting together once in a while. Well, that's cool. Good for you."

"It is cool," Joey murmured, even though he knew perfectly well that JC wasn't really meaning what he said. "She's gone this weekend, though. Back to L.A. for some voiceover stuff for the movie they just wrapped."

"That's too bad," said JC. Joey just wished he didn't have some kind of irrational grudge against Mandy; he'd never even met her, yet he always expressed disappointment over Joey being with her. Joey decided not to add how he was seeing her as soon as she got back. "But at least it means you'll be able to go out with Chris and me? Maybe? Or are you going to be chained down in here?"

"JC, I always make time for Chris and you." What it really meant, of course, was that he'd be able to goout with Justin, if Justin'd have him. Not that he wouldn't have done it anyway, had Mandy been in town, but.

"Sure you do," said JC. But Joey did, he really did. He never took the friendship he had with them for granted. He didn't think. "There's chicken in that bag too, you know. It's probably getting cold."

"Will you share with me?" Joey asked softly, poking around for it. "Also, um. Did Justin get you tickets for Saturday?"

"If he did, he didn't tell me," said JC with a shrug. "I guess I'll see next time I talk to him. And the chicken's all yours; I ate before I came."

Joey didn't even feel like he had the moral authority to question it at the moment. "I'm going to see him, JC," he said, trying to figure out if that was what had JC so disappointed in him. "I want to, a lot."

That got a smile out of JC. "I know that," he said, just as quietly as Joey had. "I know you do. He wants to see you, too. You guys have missed each other."

If he could miss someone he'd known so briefly, then ... yeah, he did. And it only made Joey feel good that it wasn't one-sided. "He probably forgot what I look like," Joey tried to joke. "I'll have to hold up a sign for him, like at the airport."

"I doubt that," said JC, giving him a nudge. "Eat, Joey, you've hardly touched that. And believe me, he remembers you just fine. It hasn't been *that* long. A few weeks is nothing, in the grand scheme of things."

He ate, and squeezed JC's knee, comforting himself more than JC probably. "I know," he nodded, his mouth full again. Couldn't JC tell that he was just trying to protect himself a little?

"I know you know." said JC. "You're a smart guy, Joey. You just forget that sometimes. So. Am I gonna get to see what La Diva pulled on you or what, Joe? It's the real reason I came, you know."

"I know," Joey laughed. "Okay." He hugged JC's knee again and then pressed the right buttons on the remote. He *was* a smart guy, normally. Just not smart enough to call Justin back.

* * *

Joey kissed her shoulder, then watched a little forlornly as she sat up in the bed, the sheet falling from her thin frame. "I have an alarm clock," he told her, giving her his best pout. "I can get you to the airport. Just, c'mon, stay. I'll make you hot cider ... ?"

She smiled at him sweetly and leaned over to give him a lingering kiss. "I still have things that need packing," he told him again. "I'm going to be up most of the night as it is. Thank you for dinner, though, and ... everything. I'll call you when I get back?"

"Mandy," he said, sitting up and pulling her back down to him, to his lap, and giving her a real kiss before he let her go. "Okay, okay. Do you want me to go with you back to the hotel, or will you be okay in the cab?"

"I'll be fine in the cab," she assured him, kissing him once more as she reached over the side of the bed and groped for her clothes, her body pressed up against his. "No sense you getting cleaned up and dressed just to ride with me." She snagged her underwear and finally slid out of the bed to slip them back on.

He laid back on the bed, gripping his hands behind his head and just watching her move. He always seemed to manage to get these ... graceful people in bed, and he thanked his lucky stars for it. "Okay," he said, once he was sure she meant that and wasn't just saying it so he'd insist on accompanying her. Mandy didn't seem to play those kind of games. "Have a safe trip," he told her.

She leaned in to kiss him again after fastening her bra, draping her shirt over her arm. "I'll miss you," she told him softly. "I really did have a great night." Joey just watched, lazy and sated, as she buttoned her blouse and pulled on her close-fitting jeans. They'd dresssed casually for the dinner he'd made her, but she always looked fashionable anyway. "I'll see you next week, Joey."

"You will," he agreed, and stared after her for a second after she slipped out the door, before getting up and going into the bathroom to brush his teeth and get ready for bed himself. He'd have to do something nice for her next week, get her into a club, maybe ...

He had his mouth full of toothpaste when the phone rang, and he banged his hip on the doorknob when he ran to answer it. "lo?"

"Joey?" Well holy shit. Justin. "Hey, it's not too late, is it? I just got in, just barely opened my suitcase. Thought I'd give you a call and see what you're up to ... ?"

"Justin, hey," Joey mumbled. "Hold on." He walked back to the bathroom, spit, rinsed his mouth. "Okay, sorry. Hey, man! And no, it's not too late. I was just ... you know. Getting ready for bed, watch some TV. How was your flight? It's good to hear from you." It was. His heartrate picked right back up again.

"The flight was ... a flight," said Justin. "It was fine; I'm really happy to be here. And wow, it's great to dial your number and actually have you answer the phone. You're almost harder to reach than I am these days."

"Oh, no," Joey laughed. "You're so full of it. But ... yeah, it is. Nice, I mean. To hear your voice and ... man, so much has been going on. I saw you, um, on Leno. The other week."

"Oh hey, did you?" said Justin excitedly. "Lance was really happy with that appearance. And me. *I* was really happy with that appearance. And plus, he was a pretty cool guy. So what have *you* been up to?"

"Just ... pretty much the same old," he said, actually a little shy about telling him. "Um, they're ... MTV, they're giving me my own show. And I'm pretty sure I have you to thank for it, so. Thank you. I hope I get a chance to thank you in person, but."

"They're *what*?" said Justin, like it was the hugest thing ever. "When did this happen? No, no wait ... what do you mean *if* you get a chance to thank me. See me. We're ... of course we're getting together, right? I mean, after last time ... Well. You're still interested, aren't you? In hooking up with me while we can?"

"Of course I am," Joey said, the words coming as easily as they'd seemed to, from Justin. "Of course, I want to. I just, I never assume, and with your schedule ... " He sighed and then just was honest with him. "I'd love to see you," he finished, plainly and simply.

"I've been looking forward to this," admitted Justin. "You're the first thing thing I did, as soon as I got to the hotel. Calling you, I mean. Do you want to get together?" he asked, then paused for a second. "Now, I mean? Do you want to get together now? Tonight?"

The rest of Joey's body caught up with his heartbeat, even though he was sort of frozen still. "Tonight?" he echoed. "You ... like, come over? I should shower ... "

"Why? I plan on getting you dirty again just as soon as I possibly can," said Justin, his tone getting much more suggestive now that Joey had all but accepted. Not that he'd ever *really* sounded like he doubted they'd get together in the first place. "It's already late, and I don't want to wait any longer than I have to. It's already been too long since the last time."

"Jeez, Justin," Joey mumbled, feeling his face and neck flush a little. But he'd go, of course he'd go. Or. "Oh, should I be inviting you over here?" he asked. "That whole image and appropriateness thing?"

"No, no, come here," insisted Justin. "It'll be fine. I'll make sure there someone downstairs to meet you, bring you up to the room." Now *there* was something Joey wouldn't have heard him saying just a few weeks ago. "I don't have to be up early ... oh, I hope you don't either. I was really hoping to keep you up a lot later before we get some sleep. Man, I'm really glad I got ahold of you, Joey. I would've been so disappointed if I hadn't."

If Joey hadn't already been ready to walk out the door, now he was, without even bothering with a jacket, or shoes, or a shirt. He managed the shirt and shoes though, blurting "give me ten minutes" into the phone before hanging up.

He practically ran downstairs to grab a cab, panicking for a second when he thought he didn't know where Justin was staying. But then he remembered that the kid had left it on one of his voicemail messages, and of all coincidences, it was the same hotel Mandy was at.

He didn't have any trouble recognizing who was at the door to meet him -- he knew a bodyguard when he saw one, even when they weren't huge and menacing. There was just a tense, wary look to them. His guess was confirmed when he went inside and the man recognized and approached him immediately. "Mr. Fatone?" he said respectfully. "This way."

Joey followed obediently, glancing carefully around the lobby and the halls. He'd been getting recognized more himself. Not this time, however -- too late, maybe, or the hat Joey'd grabbed was working. He just followed the bodyguard to the elevator and up to one of the top floors.

The man wasn't stand-offish, but he didn't say anything to Joey until they got off the elevator either. And Joey hadn't really expected him to. "Mr. Timberlake is waiting for you in the last room on the right," he said finally. Which, given the size of the suites on this floor, was only two doors down. Leaving him behind, Joey approached the door and gave it a tentative knock.

Before he knew it, it was being flung open for him. "What *took* you so long?" laughed Justin, ushering him inside.

"Long?" Joey laughed back, pulling up his pantsleg and showing Justin his lack of socks under his sneakers, then showing off the goosebumps on his arm from being outside in the cold without a coat. "I practically ran. And I do not run. Jeez, kid, already so spoiled? Want what you want, when you want it?"

"And look at me, I'm getting it," Justin pointed out, locking the door again behind them. "I was teasing, Joey. Of course. That was really quick. It's ... good to know I'm not the only one of us that still wants this. Did you want a drink or anything? I can get you one; there's a bar in here." Well, at least he wasn't *too* jaded yet about the perks of his newfound fame. Not around Joey, anyway.

"No, I'm okay, no drink," Joey told him, stepping very close after that proof that he really wasn't any different than Joey'd left him a few weeks ago. "And whatever would make you think I wouldn't want this, want *you*, kiddo?"

"Too much time apart, maybe," admitted Justin, taking advantage of the proximity to touch him, to slip a hand up under Jory's shirt and run it over his stomach. "I knew I would be busy, but ... well, you just have no idea until you're actually doing it. It's so great to be back in New York again. And you're here. We're here."

"I hated that we only had one night," Joey told him honestly. "I hated it. That we, I dunno, kept missing each other until you left ... "

"Life's pretty different now," said Justin, and Joey couldn't tell from his tone just how he felt about that. Maybe Justin didn't even know. "But some things stay the same at least. I still want you. You still make me feel good in all kinds of ways. And I did manage to reach you tonight, after all ... "

"You didn't forget about me," Joey addded. "Or, you remembered the good stuff." He reached for Justin's face, finally, cupping it carefully and kissing him. Deep, good. It was so much better than the memory of it.

Justin was just as enthusiastic about it as he had been the first time, as if he *had* been waiting for this, anticipating the moment they would get together again. The hand under Joey's shirt clutched at his side as they kissed, as they kept kissing for as long as they had breath.

"Maybe we should skip right to the bed, then," said Justin finally, when they'd parted. "Before we end up on the floor."

"Aww, the floor sounds fun," Joey teased, but only because he was too breathless to say anything else. He let Justin tug him over there, though, giving him time to catch his breath. "You're definitely sight for sore eyes, though, kid. On TV, it's not the same."

"So you've been watching me?" asked Justin he backed through the doorway, plled Joey along with him, and stumbled onto the bed. "When I've been doing shows and stuff, you've been watching? Where did you find the time?"

"I told you I did," Joey said, smiling a little at the grin it already had put on Justin's face. "I even invited myself over to JC's because he has cable and I was getting shitty reception." He chuckled a little. "I don't go out *every* night, kid."

"Yeah, but the show," said Justin, looking *so* pleased. "Your new show, and you've been so busy lately, and I never heard from you. I didn't know you were still watching me. Have I been doing good, do you think?"

"You've sounded great," reassured Joey. "And looked ... good enough to eat. And I called you! I never heard from *you*, is what it was."

"No, I never heard from *you*," insisted Justin, pulling Joey down on top of him, fully dressed. "Until now. Until I'm back on your home turf and here we are again, finally."

"Finally," Joey echoed, kissing him again, and then just giving up on holding back anymore. He shoved Justin's shirt up over his chest a little roughly; pushed at Justin's pants. Kicked off his shoes.

Justin grinned at him and quickly undid his own pants to help Joey get them off. "You too," he said. "Just take it all off, Joey, I'm dying to see you again like this. To feel it again. It's already been too long, you know, and having to last on the memories just isn't the same thing."

"I'm sure your bed hasn't been that lonely," Joey smiled. Not with the practiced way Justin had told him someone would be waiting for him in the lobby. Not that he expected anything else. "But I'm not arguing." He sat up and yanked his own shirt up over his head.

"Yeah, but it hasn't been this," said Justin, whatever *that* meant, finishing off his own clothes and stretching out naked on the bed. "I'll tell you about it some time, but right now ... right now let's just make up for lost time, huh? There'll be lots of time later for stories."

"Whatever you say," Joey promised him agreeably, stopping to stare for a second before he fumbled his own pants off. "So," he hedged, running a thumbnail down over Justin's thigh. "So. Do you think maybe you'd want to try me, tonight? or did you want it to be like it was before."

"I would definitely be happy to try you tonight," said Justin, running a hand confidently over Joey's ass once it was bare. "I've been thinking about it a lot. More than I should probably admit to thinking about it, really. If that's what you want, too. You know I'm pretty easy when it comes to sex. I just ... like it."

"I'm just ... the same," Joey said, mimicking Justin's tone and laughing when he pouted. He was nervous, a little, but oh so excited to be in bed with him. Especially knowing he'd been thought of. "Seriously. What were you thinking about, J?"

"I just really wanted to have the chance to fuck you," admitted Justin, managing to make that sound almost sweet. "You know, since we didn't last time, and oh, I really like doing that. A lot. And you, look at you. How could I not want that, you know?"

"Such a sweet-talker," Joey chuckled, trying to arch his back a little to get Justin's hand on his ass again. He couldn't move his body exactly the same, but it didn't seem to matter to Justin. "I don't let a lot of guys do it," he admitted openly. "I'm not saying go easy, but just ... I wanted you to know."

"Oh," said Justin, hesitating for a second. But he didn't take back what he'd said, about wanting it, which Joey had been halfway worried he would. "Thank you. And believe me, I do appreciate it." He pulled Joey closer and kissed him again, rather than starting anything else just then.

"That's not why I told you," joey laughed, a little more self-consciously, once Justin let go of his lips. "It's not a gift, or an honor, or ... does that change things?"

"Only in that I'm gonna ask you what your favorite position is," said Justin. "Or actually, I probably would have asked you anyway. When a guy's bottoming for me I want him to be, you know, as happy and comfortable as possible. But thank you. For telling me."

"You're welcome," Joey murmured, fisting his hand in Justin's curls and kissing him again, still self-conscious at the discussion. "And ... I'll be comfortable. I want you to do it your way. I want ... what did you say to me, last time? I want to experience the way you do it."

"That doesn't help narrow down the possibilities," admitted Justin. Amazing how he seemed *younger* when he was in bed with Joey, his smiles more eager, his posture more excited and boyish than anything Joey had seen him do on tv. It helped remind him he was here with the real thing, a real guy and not some icon that he'd been watching be born for the last few weeks. "You know what I've missed, really?" Justin went on. "Kissing you. I can't believe now we had just that one night."

"Me either," Joey said, and it was the truth. "I'll ... if you want, I'll stay tonight. You can kiss me as much as you want. But maybe, maybe for this ... maybe you can, I can get on my stomach. Maybe."

"Sure," said Justin just like it was no big thing. "That's what I wanted to hear, Joey. I like it any which way; I just want it to be good for both of us. I like to see that look on your face, when you're really turned on. I remember the first time I saw it ... when we were dancing? You remember? Oh man, that's really ... it's a great look for you, Joey. Really."

"Justin," Joey said, not even knowing what else to add to it. He knew he must look at least as turned on now, naked, in a soft hotel bed, when he knew almost exactly what he was getting. What Justin might ask him to do again later, maybe. "We'd probably be dangerous in public now," he finally settled on, smiling weakly.

"Then it's a good thing we're not," said Justin in agreement, running his hand down Joey's chest lightly. "Public is fun, but private can be funner." Funner. Joey almost laughed in spite of the earnest look on Justin's face. "You already look so hot, like you were ready for this before I even ever called you."

"Heh," Joey laughed, realizing why that might be, rubbing at his neck in case he still ... smelled like Mandy, or something. He really should have showered. He rolled off of Justin instead, grinning teasingly at him, and grabbed one of the pillows to pull to his chest as he settled on the bed beside him. "Do I?"

"Yeah," said Justin, pressing his face to Joey's neck for a moment, almost exactly what Joey *didn't* want him to do. But if he noticed a whiff of perfume or anything like that, he didn't show it. "You look like you want me as much as I want you. I'm not just, like, flattering you when I say I've missed this, Joey. One night gave me a taste for it that I just can't shake. Well, one night and a week or so of flirting, anyway."

"We really need to just stop talking about how much we both wanted this," Joey chuckled, reaching for one of Justin's hands and pulling a long finger into his mouth. "Whether or not I believe it, it sounds really fucking right, right now, and ... yeah. Just, let's."

"I was trying to slow myself down," said Justin with a grin, licking his lips as he watched him. "So I wouldn't just jump you the moment I saw you. Which probably wouldn't have been a bad idea, I guess. You just ... you lie back and relax and let me take care of you, Joey." He started kissing his way down from Joey's neck, tiny wet kisses that covered Joey's throat and chest and stomach.

"God," Joey shivered, digging his fingers into Justin's shoulders, wishing Justin's hands were still close enough for him to keep doing that sucking thing. "Don't have to ask me twice."

He hadn't expected Justin to start sucking his cock but suddenly there he was, head between Joey's legs and going at it. One hand still gripped Joey's waist like Justin seemed to love to do. The other was slipping up between his thighs and it only took the barest hint that Justin wanted in for Joey to spread his legs for him.

"Babe," Joey breathed, but only after he *did* move this knees wider. "You don't ... ah, shit, that's good. But ... " Justin's mouth was amazing, *amazing*, but he'd already come twice that night with Mandy.

So amazing, in fact, that he hardly even noticed when Justin gently pushed a finger inside him, just like that. The one good thing about already having seen some action earlier was that he was going to last a while, no matter what Justin did to him.

He groaned, and he knew it was loud, and arched his neck back. It'd been a while since someone'd done that to him, and he was still a little surprised that it wasn't ... that it just felt good. Nothing else. Just good.

He'd known Justin wasn't new to this, but somewhere in the back of his mind he still thought he'd be the more experienced one. As it turned out, though, they were on damn equal footing. Justin didn't do anything with the finger, just gave Joey a chance to get used to it as he licked and sucked at him. And then again, while Joey was distracted by the wonderful things Justin was doing to his cock, he slipped another finger in.

Joey arched his back that time, and tugged weakly on Justin's hair. "Just, Justin," he babbled softly, pulling one foot up onto the bed and letting his leg drop open farther. "Baby, that's so good."

Justin still stayed at Joey's side rather than moving in between his legs. He moved the fingers gently at first, turning them and pushing and pulling and Joey could feel himself stretching open but it was an easy stretch, not a painful one. Then Justin finally let his lips slide off Joey's cock to gently mouth his balls for a few moments.

He'd always, always been a sucker for that, and didn't care that he was grunting and groaning pretty much continuously. He couldn't wait for Justin to turn him over, to ... he couldn't remember wanting to be handled like that. Not in a while.

Justin licked the span of skin right behind Joey's balls and then finally lifted his head. "I think you're ready," he said, and licked his lips. He looked as turned on as Joey felt, flushed and wet and messy and so hard his cock was jutting away from him. He carefully pulled his fingers out and put a hand on Joey's shoulder, to roll him over.

Joey turned easily, so easily, squirming when his cock was trapped against the bed. "Condom," he said quietly, then just tried to be still as he waited, only humping the bed very slowly.

"Always do," Justin assured him, kneeling on the bed next to him now and resting a hand lightly on Joey's back as he reached for the bedside table. Joey couldn't see what he was doing but he knew, and he was patient waiting for Justin to be ready.

"Kiss," he said, more quietly, turning his head just enough so that Justin could lean over his shoulder and kiss him, if he would.

He hardly even needed the invitation, pressing his lips to Joey's barely a moment later. "Now lift up a little," he said a moment later, his lips still hovering near Joey's. "Do you want a pillow under your hips? Would that be easier for you?"

Joey closed his eyes and pushed the one he'd been hugging to his chest already down to his hips. "How's that," he whispered back, shivering again when Justin cupped his ass so gently.

"You tell me," said Justin, nudging Joey's legs apart a little further so he could slip between them and get comfortable. "Are you good, Joey? Are you ready? Just say the word."

"I'm ready," Joey exhaled immediately. "Like, more than." He really wanted this; knew Justin would find some way to surprise him. Wanted to get a chance to do it right back to him.

Justin didn't ask again, a moment later he was pressed up against Joey's body and pushing inside and finally making some needy noises of his own. And gripping Joey's waist again with that one hand. "Oh yeah," he breathed, or something like that; Joey wasn't a little too focused on what *he* was feeling to really notice.

"Mmm, Justin," he moaned, pushing back against him. It had been long, long. And whatever he remembered felt good, but not like this. Justin filled him perfectly, covered him exactly. "God, that's good, too."

Justin bent down close to him and pushed in all the way again and licked up Joey's spine in one smooth stroke. "Yeah," he breathed, his breath hot on Joey's back.

"So," Joey panted softly. "You like this better?" Justin did seem very practiced at it, very comfortable. He wondered if Justin had thought the same about him.

"Shhh," said Justin instead of answering. He sucked at the skin of Joey's shoulderblade and moved his hips and then he was thrusting in again, hard and hot.

"Oooh," Joey shivered again, getting his hands under him and trying to push back up against Justin, trying to give him more skin to do that to. "Justin." It sounded so good, and came so easy. "Justin!"

Justin's teeth grazed his skin and then he was gone, sitting up higher again and gripping Joey's hips and beginning a rhythmic motion. He didn't say anything, but the sounds -- the *sounds*. Like he was desperate and hot and hungry for Joey.

Joey's breath came out in sharp little gasps with each thrust, missing Justin's weight and warmth but loving the way the angle felt inside him. "Baby," he whimpered softly, his chest falling back to the bed as he buried his face.

Justin didn't ask how Joey was doing, how he was feeling, if it was too much, but he did rest one hand in the middle of Joey's back, right where he would be able to feel if Joey moved or tensed up or lifted his head. Making sure all was well without having to interrupt anything he was doing, and Joey was grateful for it, for both. The thrusts got faster and harder as it got easier, as Joey got more receptive to him, and it wouldn't be long before it was all a blur of motion and sensation and sound.

Joey spread his legs a little more, a movement that forced Justin deeper inside him and made Joey cry out. "Justin, Justin," he repeated, then struggled to push himself up with one hand so he could reach for his cock with the other.

Justin moved easily to accommodate him, leaving that hand on Joey's back and still gripping him with the other, his thumb pressing tiny circles into the flesh near the small of Joey's back. He slowed slightly when they moved, but then started right back up again, the noises he was letting out getting higher and more punctuated.

"God, Justin," Joey breathed, just gripping himself. He just needed the pressure, didn't need the stimulation -- he was more than ready to come as it was. It felt too good and too different for him not to.

"Joey," he said, *finally*, practically growling the name out. "Fuck ... Joey ... " His grip got even tighter and Joey *knew* this feeling, knew those kinds of sounds, knew that Justin was seconds away from coming and probably trying to make it last as long as he possibly could.

"*Hard*, baby, J," Joey gasped at him, tugging at his cock and crying out when he came before even one stroke. He muffled himself with the pillow with the last of his coherent action.

Justin's other hand fell back to Joey's opposite hip again and he was driving inside, as far as he could go, panting and grunting and all but crying out. "Joey ... " he said again and gasped and that was it.

They were both so still, maybe more still than either of them expected they could be after that. Joey didn't want Justin to move away from him, and Justin maybe didn't think Joey was ready for him to. "God, yeah, that's the stuff," he finally blurted, almost giggling at himself.

Justin spread himself flat against Joey's back and kissed his neck tenderly. "I gotta move now," he whispered to him, propping himself up on one arm, then on both. "Just ... be ready."

"k," Joey murmured back, preparing himself. As much as he could, anyway, because he shivered again and not in a good way when Justin withdrew. He rolled over onto his side, out of the wet spot, and stretched his arms over his head.

It was hard when Justin rolled away from him, not touching at all anymore, but Justin stripped the condom quickly and was back with his hand resting on Joey's stomach seconds later. "Okay," he said, his voice so soft now compared to the noises he -- they -- had been making moments ago. "You good?"

"Yes," Joey promised him, his hand coming down immediately to bury itself in Justin's hair. "And next time, I'll be better. Just ... okay, you know how you said you were out of practice? Me too, like, doubled, for that kind of stuff."

"Anything I can do?" offered Justin, sliding even closer so they were pressed up against one another again, side by side. "That was fantastic, Joey. Seriously. Even better than I'd been thinking it would be."

"Yeah?" Joey asked, grinning goofily at that. He didn't know how many other boys, or girls, Justin'd had recently; didn't care. He knew it had been good; he didn't think JUstin was that good of an actor to fake it. He had no reason to.

"Yeah," said Justin, grinning back. "It was." He stroked Joey's skin for a moment as they began to cool off, then leaned in and started kissing him. The only thing he hadn't been able to do while they were fucking.

It was sweet, and took Joey a little by surprise with how intimate it was. He returned the affection easily though, cupping Justin's chin, then just resting his hands on his chest. "Maybe even worth waiting for?"

"Worth waiting for," Justin said quickly. "Worth waiting for. But let's not wait so long for the next time, huh? Not when we can have this." He ducked his head and looked down the length of Joey's body, and when he looked up again he was smiling sweetly, still flushed and sweaty and hot.

"Such a sweet-talker," Joey said again, blushing at the attention. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his body at all, just next to Justin's ... and to have someone like Justin looking at him so blatantly ... "Well, you call me next time, then," he teased, knowing full well he'd been at least as much to blame.

"Well, I will, then," said Justin promptly. "I'll fill your voicemail box with messages and you'll have to call me back just to get me to stop." He paused to kiss him again, his eyes bright, a smile never quite leaving his face. "So, this new show of yours. How much travel do you have to do for it? I mean ... is there any chance of us hooking up while I'm on the road somewhere?"

"Oh, J," Joey said in surprise, before he could help himself. "You're so ... no. I mean, I doubt it, it'll mostly be here. Be done here. But major industry things, award shows ... I'll be around for those. As long as the show does well, of course. But ... no, man, I'm pretty stuck here."

"Okay," said Justin, his smile lingering in spite of that. "It was just a thought. I mean, I'm kicking off the tour here in New York next month anyway, but that's only one stop out of ... thirty, I think. Thirty-two. Something like that. Well, we'll work it out." He reached up and ran a hand through Joey's hair. "So how're you doing?"

"Good," Joey replied, wondering what exactly they'd be working out. He closed his eyes under Justin's touch. "I feel fine, great, baby. You took good care of me. I had no doubts."

"And you're still gonna stay?" confirmed Justin, letting his hand wander down to brush lightly over Joey's thighs and even letting his fingers twist in the hair surrounding Joey's cock for a few moments. "For tonight, I mean, like you said. I'd hate to see you go home in this state anyway, aside from my own selfish reasons."

"This state?" Joey echoed, amused. "Sweaty and dirty and, um, achy, that kind of state?" He kissed Justin's cheek. "I'm staying, if I can. But you can tell me those selfish reasons anyway."

"I selfishly like you here in my bed," said Justin, clinging to his arm playfully for a moment. "I selfishly want to sleep in with you and maybe shower with you and eat breakfast with you after. I selfishly want to make this last as long as I can, before I get busy with the show tomorrow. Are you coming? To see me perform on Saturday?"

"Are you inviting me?" Joey teased. He thanked his lucky stars he didn't have much to do the next day and *could* take advantage of sleeping in. "I might have to crash the gate if you don't."

"Well, yeah, of course," said Justin, releasing his arm to go back to stroking him again. "I'll get you in. Unless I decide it would be more fun to watch you try to gatecrash the place. I don't know ... what do you think? You know, you could probably just get in, if you wanted to. They'll know who you are."

"Mmm," Joey said noncommittally, thinking it would be nice if it were true. He let his hips buck up a little into Justin's hand. "I'll come if you want me to, Justin," he ended up saying, smiling balefully when Justin glanced back up at the insinuation in his voice.

Justin just lifted an eyebrow, then grinned at him, then laughed. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is ... not quite there yet," he said, brushing his fingers over the inside of Joey's thigh again. "It would be cool if you came to the show, if you aren't too busy to make it. I know you've got things going on."

"Not on Saturday night, not *this* Saturday night," Joey promised him. "I'm real busy Friday, but. Saturday you'll have me, promise." He rolled back on his side and started touching Justin the way he was touching him.

"And I plan to," said Justin smoothly. "Have you." Then before Joey could respond to that Justin was kissing him again, wetly and deeply and fiercely. "I leave again Monday morning. I want to make the most of this weekend."

"Well, we have to eat," Joey said reasonably, turning his face a little to take Justin's earlobe between his teeth. "Sleep's kinda negotiable, though." He nipped harder, then licked delicately at the soft flesh.

"If there's one thing I've learned since this whole thing started," said Justin. "That's it." They were still touching casually, and licking and nipping and just generally being pretty damn intimate. Joey's body was already complaining that he'd abused it far too much that evening, that it didn't have anything left in it, but Joey figured if they made out for long enough, he could convince it to go one more time. Maybe. "Sleep is always secondary."

"I'm glad you called me," Joey told him. "Like, super-glad. I'm ... I think maybe I would have waited until you left or something, knowing me. JC calls it, um, self-defeating. Or something." He cupped a hand around Justin's leg and wondered how he ever considered that.

Justin watched him curiously for a moment. "So you're saying you would have wanted to call me, but you wouldn't have done it?" he clarified finally. "Am I intimidating or something? I wouldn't think I would be, to you of all people."

"I don't know, Justin," Joey sighed, not at all sure why he told him. "Not intimidating, not ... just. You're busy. I would have hated to ... stalk."

Justin's look got even more curious, and he shook his head. "Stalk? That's ... come on, Joey, we're sleeping together. It wouldn't be weird for you to, like, give me a call once in a while. Especially when I'm in town. Even if I'm not around to take it, I do actually check my voicemail from time to time." He grinned to soften his words, and kissed him again. "I'm glad I called too, then, if you weren't going to."

"Sleeping together?" Joey echoed before he could stop himself. That was ... maybe not how he would have put it, but it sounded really good. "Like, a thing?" He kissed Justin back, keeping him from responding for a long minute.

"Well, I guess, yeah," said Justin. "I mean, it's twice now, with plans for more. That's pretty much a thing, right? At least, I kinda figured it was. So you just *call* me, if you want to. It's cool."

"Okay, okay," Joey relented, pulling Justin's hand back down between his legs again. "Glad it didn't totally turn you away," he went on. "Tonight, I mean."

"Obviously not," said Justin, running his hand over Joey's skin gently and relaxing against him. "So it's been crazy, so far. Everything. I mean, huge groups of fans are starting to show up at the studios where I'm appearing and wow, I think I'm building up the muscles in my wrists just from signing autographs."

"It's nice of you to do," Joey told him. "That'll only help your reputation." He'd heard Chris say that enough, to enough people. "Not that, y'know, I've seen you do *anything* wrong yet."

"Oh, *believe* me, I have," said Justin. "I don't know all the right people on sight and that's a pretty important thing, to know the people that can help your career. That's why I don't mind Lance sticking by my side so much. *He* knows. He tells me. But everything's just so wild, Joey. It's amazing."

"I know, baby," Joey said, kissing his nose because he was still the sweetest thing Joey'd ever seen, even naked and hot and sweaty and half-to-hard again. "You really deserve it, too."

"It's like ... I had all these ideas, about what it was going to be like. What I was going to *make* it like. I was going to be serious and smart and do everything the right way. And people were going to listen to what I had to say. And now I'm in the middle of it and it's all I can do just to hang on and keep going and not fall on my ass. You just kinda abandon all those plans and just go with it, go with your instincts and hope the most important of your plans are so well ingrained that they come naturally. I think maybe even what I'm doing it turning out better than what I'd planned. You ever feel like that?"

Joey blinked at him, then grinned slowly. "That's a lot of words for naked and after midnight, kid," he teased. "I think I heard an 'ass' in there, though, so sure. Whatever you say." He was just teasing, and hoped Justin was learning him well enough to not take Joey too seriously.

Justin grinned back at him and shook his head. "I'm just excited," he said. "I wanted to tell you all about it. Since we're just kinda killing time until you get it up again and all. Come on, pokey, let's go." He held Joey's dick in his hand as he talked to it, petting it slowly like he was trying to coax it to grow. Which is pretty much exactly what he was doing.

"I think I should be insulted," Joey said, but he rolled over onto his back obediently and let Justin grope him. He closed his eyes and smiled to himself at the sense memory of the last time Justin had been hovering over him while he was on his back on a bed.

"I'm teasing," said Justin, continuing to just play with him, to stroke him and touch him without any real urgency. "I'm a little worn out myself. But I'm not *too* tired, not just yet."

"You were on a plane all day, poor thing," Joey murmured to him, pulling him down for a lingering kiss. "Want some room service or something? *You* want a drink?"

"I've *had* a drink or two already," Justin assured him. "You were quick getting here, but not *that* quick. The only room service I want, I'm already getting right now. Believe me."

"Cute," Joey laughed, wrapping an arm around Justin's waist and pulling him close again. Justin had to swing a leg over Joey's to keep from collapsing on top of him, putting him in exactly the position Joey wanted. "So I get to? Service you?"

"That's the plan," said Justin, stealing another kiss. He didn't make it feel like they were just fooling around, he made it feel different. And no matter what was going on between them, Joey appreciated that. "And we have all night."

* * *

"Yeah, yeah, sounds good," Justin was saying when Joey finally started to make out actual words, and he felt the mattress shift as Justin sat back down on the edge of the bed. "Oh, were you? That's funny, C, you should've said. He's right here ... "

"Mmmph," Joey grunted, rolling over to spoon his body around Justin's waist even as he tugged a pillow over his face to block out the light and noise. He felt absolutely wrung out, and like he'd slept all of two minutes. And Justin was loud.

Justin laughed and curled his free hand around the back of Joey's knee. "I can try, but he's kinda groping me in his sleep right now. I'm not sure how coherent he'd be." He paused, then laughed again and squeezed Joey's leg. "Yeah, absolutely, and bring Chris, too."

Joey would show him *groping*, if he was just gonna laugh at him like that. He slipped a hand deftly under the towel Justin was wearing, not needing to open his eyes once, and gave his balls a light squeeze.

Justin yelped and smacked his hand, then giggled. "No, not you," he said into the phone as he grabbed Joey's hand and held onto it tightly. "Joey just ... well never mind. Yeah? You sure? Okay." Then he was shaking Joey firmly ... which was silly when a good grope back would've worked much better. "JC wants to talk to you," Justin sing-songed at him.

"No," Joey said from under the pillow, but he held his hand up and wasn't surprised when Justin dropped the phone into it. He pulled it under the pillow with him. "'lo?" he coughed.

"Joey, you unbelievable thing, you!" said JC, far too perky for -- what time was it anyway? "Good for you, man, good for you. Nice that you didn't waste any time ... "

"What?" Joey mumbled, his voice all muffled. "Good for me what, C? Why you bugging me before breakfast." He trapped the phone between his chin and the pillow, then let his hand drift right back under that towel.

"Oh, don't play games with me," he laughed. "And it's definitely not before breakfast. I tried to reach you at home but you weren't there; I figured you'd gone in to work. Imagine my surprise when I called up young Justin and there you were, hiding out in his hotel room."

"Not hiding," Joey grunted, cupping Justin's balls again and then curling his finger very, very gently behind them. "Not working today. And I thought this was what you wanted."

"It is, it is!" said JC, again with just way too much enthusiasm. "I think it's great!"

Justin just silently bent backwards over Joey's body, the towel just barely hanging on now. His face was a bit flushed -- from the touch or the shower, Joey couldn't tell -- and he was biting his lip.

Joey pushed the pillow the rest of the way off his head, and switched the phone to his other ear so he could get that arm free too. "You need to find Chris," he muttered. "Get laid yourself." He ran that palm up over Justin's tight stomach.

"Been there, done that," he said. "You *are* going to tell me about this later, Fatone, you're not getting out of it. Not even by being a little bitch. I was calling to find out if you wanted to go out, but seems to me you've already got plans. Call me back later?"

"Yup," grunted Joey. "Bye." He thought he dropped the phone before JC could hear that part, but he couldn't quite care at the moment. He had Justin's towel off and the boy on his back on the bed in about ten seconds.

"You're so courteous to your friends," said Justin, grinning up at him, looking pretty damn happy to be pinned to the bed. "I thought you were too tired. Hmm?"

"And I thought you wanted breakfast," Joey mumbled, pushing him up higher toward the pillows and slipping further down between his legs to mouth at his navel.

"Looks like you're the one looking for breakfast," breathed Justin, running his fingers through Joey's thoroughly-mussed hair. "Hey. Hi. Good morning. Sleep well?" Then he moaned softly and didn't seem to be expecting any kind of answer at all.

"I know what I'm having this morning," Joey agreed, mouthing carefully at the tendon at the very top of Justin's thigh. "And I slept ... not long enough." But well, definitely well, he thought; with Justin wrapped in his arms until he must've gotten up to shower.

"Good, good," said Justin, pushing himself up from the bed and toward Joey's mouth. "You just go ahead and sample that just as much as you like. And I'll just ... lie here ... yeah ... "

"Justin, you're fucking gorgeous, I fucking swear," Joey breathed, more vulgar, more blunt when he was still half-asleep. Less inhibited too, maybe, as he ducked his head and lapped at Justin's balls, then reached under his knees and pushed them up.

Justin let out another soft sound and let his legs fall open for Joey. "Damn," he breathed. "Okay, this is definitely my kind of breakfast ... " He didn't try to do anything except run his fingers down Joey's cheek before he lifted his arms away again, stretching his upper body out.

"Let me," Joey growled softly, getting up on his knees and pushing Justin's closer to his chest -- enough so he could get his lips, his tongue where he wanted them. "Pretty boy."

"Believe me," said Justin, staying just exactly how Joey put him. "I'm not stopping you." He reached above his head and grabbed hold of the headboard with both hands, effectively letting Joey have free reign of his body.

"Fucking gorgeous," Joey repeated. "And I bet you taste good everywhere." Right now Justin just tasted like soap, and the musk of his skin. Joey buried his nose in the tangle of hair at the base of Justin's cock and inhaled deeply, appreciatively.

"God," moaned Justin already, and Joey was hardly even touching him yet, had hardly done anything. "I knew I should've jerked off in the shower ... you're getting me so hot so fast ... "

"I catch you jerking off anytime that I'm around to do it for you, and I'm spanking you," Joey threatened. He pushed Justin's legs higher, wider, and ducked his head to tongue generously behind Justin's balls.

"Promise?" gasped Justin, spreading his legs wider all on his own. "I might even do it in front of you, with that kind of reward ... " He was still clinging to the headboard and Joey could feel his muscles tightening in anticipation.

"You might not like it," Joey mumbled from between his legs. "I won't be gentle with your precious little ass, here." He closed his eyes again and searched the entrance to Justin's body out with his mouth.

"N-never asked you to be," Justin stuttered out as Joey found what he was looking for. Justin's body was so sweet and clean all over it was irresistable to him. Hell, it was irresistable to him anyway, even when it wasn't naked and splayed out in front of him.

Joey growled again at the idea of anyone else before him being anything other than perfectly gentle with and respectful of Justin's body, even though the way he plunged his tongue inside him probably made it obvious that he wouldn't either.

"Oh *God*," said Justin, so much more vocal when he wasn't the one on top. "Joey ... Jesus ... " It definitely wasn't a complaint, not with the way he pushed back against Joey's tongue as much as he could.

Joey bent the kid even farther in two at that, pushing Justin's thighs higher with his shoulders. he held his hip tightly with one hand, and then used the other to reach up over his head and toy with one of Justin's nipples.

He felt a shudder go through Justin's entire body. "Oh fuck, fuck ... " he was saying, along with other syllables that sounded like nonsense to Joey's ears. "Please, fuck, Joey ... " He wasn't finishing any of his thoughts, but that didn't mean it wasn't clear to Joey just what Justin wanted. It was just up to Joey how to give it to him.

Wanting to see Justin come apart, and not sure what he was doing would be enough to bring him off, Joey shifted his mouth back up to Justin's balls and then the very tip of his cock in a slow process, agonizing even to him. "Gonna have to shower again, baby," he breathed, then took Justin as deep in his throat as he'd ever done with anyone.

Justin gasped and his hips jerked, then froze. "Oh *fuck*," he said again, his back arching and his head going right back. And still he hadn't let go, still he was letting Joey do anything. Anything. "Oh God, Joey, yeah, yeah ... "

Joey's eyes started to water, but the whole thing was just ... good. Justin looked absolutely amazing; even moreso when Joey slipped two fingers smoothly inside his mostly-prepped body.

"Oh god, yeah, that," Justin kept babbling, thrashing a little from side to side like it was the only thing he could do. "Just ... yeah ... finger fuck me ... *yeah* ... wanna come, Joey ... " Half his words were still nonsense, the other half were exactly what Joey had been hoping for.

Joey used his other hand, the one on Justin's hip, to pull his body down to meet his fingers less-than-gently. There was coming apart under him and then there was coming apart under him, and this was better and more than Joey'd even expected when he started with just an inncoent grope under a towel.

"Oh sweet Jesus," said Justin, his heels skidding uselessly along the sheets as he tried to push back against Joey himself and failed. He just had to let Joey do it for him, let Joey take care of everything. Joey even felt it as Justin gave in, his legs getting heavier as they spread just impossibly wide for him. "Joey ... Joey ... Joey ... " he said over and over, desperately, his pitch getting higher with each one.

Joey backed off just a little, just enough to suck in earnest, still practically yanking Justin's hips down against his hand. Fucking him on it. He idly hoped Justin didn't plan on dancing at his rehearsals that day.

"Joey!" he said one last time and his heels slammed into Joey's thighs and he was coming with a stong pulse that Joey could even feel with his lips and tongue moments before he started tasting it.

He swallowed, as much as he could, but kept his fingers buried inside Justin's body. "Mmm," he couldn't help sighing, pressing his tender-feeling lips against Justin's hipbone, his abdomen.

Justin shuddered a couple more times then relaxed into the bed, and finally let go of the headboard. He shook out his arms a couple times, then rested one of his hands on the back of Joey's head and sighed. "Holy shit, Joey," he murmured, sounding dazed. "My god."

"Good?" Joey asked quietly, glancing up at his face, then dragging his tongue up over Justin's bellybutton. "I liked my breakfast, myself."

"Incredible," said Justin. "You fucking broke me. I hope you're still worn out from last night because I'm in no shape to return the favour right now ... " His fingers moved restlessly through Joey's hair and it was obvious he was telling the truth. He looked stunned and well-fucked, and it was a great look on him.

"Well," Joey just said. Of course he was hard after that, horny, but he could wait. He didn't move out from between Justin's legs, either, but he did remove his fingers carefully.

Justin let out what could only be called a whimper, but he didn't stop him. He just stretched out his legs and started to get comfortable, letting his hand run down the back of Joey's neck, down his spine. "Good morning," he said, and smiled at him.

"Good morning, again," Joey smiled back, reaching over to grab Justin's towel from where he'd tossed it. He wiped off his hand, then snapped it playfully at Justin's hip. "Can I shower now? Since I'm obviously not getting to go back to sleep?"

"Maybe," said Justin. "Since you were just real nice to me. Maybe I'll let you use my shower. Any chance you'll need a hand from a guy who'll be hard-pressed just to stay standing?"

"You're so cute," Joey laughed, rolling off the bed and stretching himself, not even trying to hide his own erection from Justin. "No, you just ... lay there. I'll only be a few minutes." Enough time to wash, and shampoo finally, and jerk off himself, it looked like. Funny; if it was anyone else, he'd be feeling pretty unsatisfied.

"You sure?" said Justin, managing to get halfway to a sitting position to look at him. "Even if I slump to my knees, I can still be pretty useful ... "

Joey laughed louder. "No, no. Jeez. Save your energy." He couldn't leave for the bathroom without walking over to give Justin a sweet kiss first, though.

"Okay," said Justin, relaxing into the bed and smiling back. "I'll be right here. *Right* here. Recovering. Come back soon, though, anwyay."

* * *

Joey watched Justin swallow half a bottle of water and then smile, if a little distantly, at him before he walked over to where Joey sat.

"Come here," Joey murmured, keeping an eye on the rest of the cast and crew around. And Lance. He kept his voice so low he could barely hear himself. "When you were singing that song, there was this part ... you looked just like you did this morning when I had my tongue all up inside you."

Justin was silent for a moment but Joey could hear his breathing quicken and he smiled. "Wow, Joey, do you *want* me to walk around with a hard-on all day?" he joked finally, keeping his voice equally soft. "I must've really been enjoying myself, huh. You bored yet?"

"Yes, take me back to your hotel now," Joey said, stretching his arm over the back of the seats and watching the crew set up for a run-through of a skit. But then he smiled back. "I'm just teasing. It's fun to watch you. I've never seen you sing live."

"So what did you think, then?" asked Justin, looking back over his shoulder to see what was going on. "It was pretty half-assed, but they didn't need me to run through the whole thing this time. Next time, though, when they'll looking for an exact time."

"You'll make a million chicks all hot and bothered the first time they hear you," Joey told him. He kept from reaching out for Justin's knee, to touch the small patch of skin bared by the hole in his jeans.

"Yeah, and what good's *that* gonna do me?" grinned Justin, kicking gently and discreetly at Joey's foot. "Glad it's going okay." He looked back over his shoulder again and frowned this time, cocking his head to the side. "Did you hear someone call my name? I could swear I did ..."

"Okay, you made *me* all hot and bothered, is that better?" Joey replied, not really feeling selfless enough at the minute to care if anyone else was looking for Justin.

But then he heard it too, a girl's voice. Then accompanied by a girl's body. And what a body. "Justin? You busy?"

"You're the only one I was trying for," murmured Justin, just loud enough for Joey to hear, before turning around to see who it was and practically squealing when he did. "Brit! Baby!" He grabbed her up into his arms and gave her a huge, crushing hug. "I've been *waiting* for you to get here!"

Joey couldn't have been more surprised if ... if Justin had kissed her, really. And he knew he was staring. This was Britney Spears, also on the Mickey Mouse Club with Justin, and JC, and ... yeah, he knew her. You couldn't live in New York and go out at all without knowing her, the star of SNL and a playgirl in her own right.

And okay, he'd known Justin knew her too, but that was a really ... close greeting. And Britney had *no* recognition in her eyes when she turned to look at Joey. "Oh, no, I *am* interrupting. I can go ... "

"Oh no, it's fine," said Justin dismissively. "We were just talking. Joey, this is Britney. Britney, this is Joey. I'm guessing you've never met ... ?" There was still a blank look in her eyes as she smiled at him. "He's on MTV," Justin supplied. "He interviewed me?"

"Oh my god, am I interrupting an interview? I'm sorry!" And she *sounded* sincere, but that sweet voice of hers made everything sound sincere if she wanted it to. Her brand of comedy depended on it.

"Oh, no, no," laughed Justin. "He *did* interview me. A few weeks ago. We're friends; he came to watch the rehearsal."

"Yes, don't mind me," Joey said brightly, leaning over to kiss her cheek in greeting. "Did you need him for, uh, something?"

"Oh, I just, I was late today, I wanted to say hello." She paid attention to Joey for all of two seconds. "I've *missed* you, you jerk," she laughed. "You need to spend more time in New York."

"Yeah, tell me about it," laughed Justin, *his* attention on her, too. "There's all kinds of attractions in this city. But I've been so busy, Brit, just so busy. I've been all *over* the place. So how are you? Congrats on being bumped up from featured player this season, by the way. I meant to call, but ... you know how it goes."

"Yeah, like I don't hear 'I meant to call' enough," she giggled, slapping his arm. "But thank you. It;s been a blast. I'm just so glad you could come, do the show. Can you come out with the cast tonight, do you think? or even just me?"

Justin actually looked back at Joey before answering, so at least that was something. "Oh, is the cast going out tonight?" he said. "Me and Joey were gonna go out and do something anyway, it would be fun to tag along, I think."

"Sounds like a blast," added Joey, brightly again. So brightly that he gave Justin just about his fakest smile when he looked over, uncertain.

"Great!" Britney chirped. "Oh, man, I can't wait to catch up with you. And the new album's great, just great. I had my assistant pick it up, and oh, hon. Some of those *songs*!" She put her hand over her chest. "So sad. Why'd you let someone break your heart like that, sweetie?"

"I did some breaking of my own," said Justin, though Joey saw his smile falter. "It's all okay now. And hey, it was great fodder for my songwriting career. Things are looking up now, anyway, so I can't complain. We'll definitely have to catch up, baby, I want to hear all about what you've been up to."

Joey felt his teeth grind together at the casual 'baby.' Justin never called him anything but Joey, even or especially when they were alone. He just kept that smile pasted on his face while Britney made sure she had Justin's number, then gave him a kiss on the cheek before she dashed back to the dressing rooms.

"So what do you think?" asked Justin, turning back to him and not the least bit daunted by Joey's expression. He must have been controlling it better than he thought. "You want to go out with them tonight, or did you already have other plans?"

Joey just shrugged, still staring in the direction Britney'd gone. "Justin, you're the, you know, the visitor or whatever. You should do what you want to do while you're here." Joey certainly, obviously, had nothing better to offer.

"Oh, don't be like that," scoffed Justin. "I know damn well you have opinions. It's part of what I like about you. Now. Did you already have plans for us this evening or what?" Plans for *us*, he said. Not just plans.

"I didn't," Joey had to admit. "But I have to work tomorrow, pretty early. So maybe this is good. You can, um 'catch up' with Britney there. And I won't have to worry about you being lonely."

"Oh, you sure?" said Justin, touching his arm for just a second. "I didn't realize. Well, I'm really glad you decided to tag along to rehearsal, then, even though it's probably cripplingly boring for you when I'm not up there making you all hot for me." And a grin found its way back to his face. "Just to be perfectly clear, though, you *are* coming tomorrow, right? And we *are* going back to one of our places afterward?"

"Unless you want to go out," Joey offered. "Saturday night and all." He wasn't even subtle about wanting Justin to say no to that, though; and he caught his hand and squeezed it before Justin could pull it away.

"I think I've already made it pretty clear what I want to do," he said, looking around and then squeezing back. Lance was watching them again. "Whether we go out first or not, I definitely want the night to end up with someone's tongue in someone else's ass again."

"Justin!" Joey laughed. "Jesus, okay." He had to be happy with that, really. And he did have to get up early the next day. "I'm gonna take off then, alright? Let you ... what I said. Spend some time with Britney, there. Tell her hi for me."

"I will," Justin promised him, squeezing one more time before letting go. Any longer would've been too much of a risk. "She'll remember you, Joey. And I'll see you tomorrow, then. Be good!"

"Sure, bye," Joey said quickly, his breath hitching a little. He sat and watched Justin climv back onstage, and then figured he didn't exactly want to be around when Britney came back out. He made himself scarce.

* * *

"Oh, that's so sweet!" said JC as Britney bounced up in place to give Justin a kiss on the cheek as he was saying his thank yous. "Don't you think it's sweet?"

"Precious," Joey said dryly, tugging a little on the sleeves of his shirt and avoiding even really paying attention to what was going on on stage. "Jace, are you sure this thing isn't too tight?"

"You look hot," said JC for the hundredth time, and he didn't even *look* at Joey that time, his eyes still glued to the stage. "You *wanted* to look hot. Now stop fussing; the show's just about over."

"I'm not fussing," Joey sighed, resigning himself to focusing back on the cast but avoiding eye contact with Justin. Just in case he *wasn't* looking. He hadn't talked to him since he left the rehearsal yesterday.

Everyone was hugging and kissing and Joey's eyes tracked both Justin and Britney as they moved through the group. He had to admit to a bit of relief when Britney's hug of the host of the show -- that guy Howie something, who was starring in that new sitcom about that single dad -- lingered and lingered and lingered.

"You can't actually kill people with looks," said JC suddenly, giving him a poke in the side. "I just thought I ought to say something, since it looks like you're trying real hard."

"Who are you talking about?" Joey said innocently, after jumping just a little. "I got a chance to meet the cast, they're all cool. Unless you think I mean to kill *Justin* ... "

"My money's on Miss Spears," said JC knowingly. "Who I absolutely *have* to get up there and say hi to. Believe me, the last thing I think you want to do to Justin is kill him. Would you like the list of things I *do* think you want to do to Justin?"

"Entertain me," Joey prompted, absolutely refusing to respond to the jab about Britney. Joey had nothing to be jealous about. Nothing, nothing. Not even the fact that he'd tried Justin's cell late the night before, and it rang and rang. "You won't shock me."

"Oh, I don't think I'll shock you," JC assured him. "I'm pretty you've already done most of it -- suck him, fuck him, lick him, touch him, finger him, bite him ... shall I go on? But 'kill him'? Definitely not on that list. Come on, they're off the air and I want to go say hi."

"You don't have to go on," Joey muttered, standing up with him and wishing he hadn't worn tight pants, too. He sighed. "I'm right behind you." He kept close -- Chris had trusted JC out with him, and Joey took that seriously.

"I didn't realize you appreciated my ass that much," said JC as they were waved easily through security and approached the main stage. "I'll have to remember that."

"Jayseeeeeeeeeee!" squealed Britney suddenly, leaping off the stage and into his arms where he barely caught her. "Oh my god! How *are* you?" Obviously Justin hadn't mentioned to her that he would be there.

Joey rolled his eyes and said hello to a couple of the cast members he *had* met, then exchanged a sort of cold look with Lance. And sighed, and tugged at his shirt. Lather, rinse, repeat.

While JC and Britney were busy talking in breathless excitement to one another, Justin finally caught up with Joey. Right when he wasn't looking, too, which was the danger of avoiding eye contact. "That was so much fun," he said, giving Joey a huge sqeeze while he could, in a venue where it was not only appropriate but expected. "What did you think?"

"You did great, kiddo," Joey told him casually, his voice maybe a little louder than it needed to be. "It's gonna play real well. You did yourself proud up there." And made Joey hot and bothered all over again, but Joey wasn't going to share that this time.

"Woo hoo!" said Justin, and laughed, and was clearly over-the-top giddy about the whole thing. "Man, that was fabulous. Listen I gotta, you know, talk to a few more people and get my things and all. Stick around, wait for me, we'll figure out what we're gonna do tonight. I'm--" He bounced on the balls of his feet and rested his hand near his groin and grinned at Joey. "--really feeling kinda energetic right now."

Joey smiled back, completely not able to be self-conscious when Justin was so obviously excited, and so obviously deserved to be. "I'll just be here with C," he told him. "And, look, if there's something else you want to do, someplace else you want to be ... "

Justin just rolled his eyes at him and laughed. "You're not quite getting it, are you?" he said. "Just ... *wait* for me. I promise not to take long. And then we can whatever, okay? Just don't go anywhere. And say hi to C for me. Tell him I'll catch up with him in a bit."

"I said I'd wait," Joey laughed, making sure Justin watched him walk over and throw his arm around JC. "See? Right where I said I'd be." There was nothing fake about his smile this time, and he wondered if Justin could see the difference.

"Right, good," laughed Justin, backing back into the still-large crowd of people. "Now stay."

That was the last Joey saw of him for at least half an hour, by which time the crowd had thinned to almost nothing and he was left sitting in an empty row of seats with JC standing in front of him, still looking positively blissful about the experience.

"He still looked pretty freshly-fucked when he was up there singing," he said, the words sounding so blunt from him, even though he was grinning and rocking in place. "If he looks like that during every performance, he's gonna make millions. Billions."

Joey blinked at him. "He did?" he said. "You think? Um." He wasn't sure whether it was better to admit he hadn't seen the kid in 36 hours, or not. "I didn't ... if you say so. Hope he finds some nice people on the road. Or, heh, starts fucking Lance, then."

JC rolled his eyes at him too and what was *with* people doing that to him lately anyway? "Joey. Honey. You know I adore you and you're my best friend in the world. And you know I think you're a smart guy. But you're *super* dumb about relationships sometimes. I'm sorry but you are."

"What?" Joey said, jerking his head up. "What? Why? I'm ... what am I doing wrong this time? I'm here, I came to his rehearsal yesterday ... I gave him, like, eight million outs so he didn't have to do anything with me tonight he didn't want to do ... "

"That's just *it*," said JC. "You gave him eight million outs which, as far as I can tell, he didn't need or want. You keep thinking he'd rather be with someone else. What's up with that? He's so obviously hot for you, Joey. Why are you still trying to, I don't know, sabotage the whole thing or something?"

Joey squinted past JC onto the stage, staring at ... nothing, really. "I'm not," he said calmly. "I'm just ... I had him Thursday night. I'm letting him make his own decisions. I'm letting him do what he wants. Up to and including Britney."

"*Britney*?" scoffed JC. "You're kidding me, right? I mean, I know you got uptight about them getting together last night, but ... okay, Joey. Here's the thing. There's a big difference between letting him make his own decisions -- which I'm sure he does -- and pushing him away because you think you already know the decision he's going to make."

"I am not doing that, JC," Joey said. "And how many times are we going to have this argument? I swear, I don't even ... " He shut up when Justin appeared again from behind the set, or maybe more accurately, couldn't remember what he was going to say.

"You do, and you are, and you're a real dope if you don't snap that boy right up," said JC, sounding just like a guy who was in a long-term relationship of his own and had forgotten what it was like to play the field. "And that's all I'm saying. So ... am I left to fend for myself the rest of the night or are we still going out?"

Justin had changed, and was wearing a tight, worn, grey T-shirt and jeans, carrying the rest of his things in a bag over his shoulder. Joey could see his muscles working under the shirt as he approached. And Lance was nowhere to be seen.

"Ask him," Joey shrugged. "I'm not going to, um, act like I know what kind of decision he's going to make." He stood up, though, as Justin approached, and smoothed his own clothes down over his body. "Isn't that what you want?"

"What's *with* you?" asked JC, shaking his head at him incredulously. "You're allowed to make decisions of your own too, you know--"

"And just what are we deciding?" asked Justin as he joined them, throwing his arm around JC's waist and giving him a squeeze of greeting like he hadn't had a chance to earlier. But looking at Joey the whole time. "What we're going to do tonight? I'm free as a bird now, baby. At least until ten a.m. tomorrow when I have a meeting."

Joey swallowed at Justin calling him baby, and couldn't meet JC's eyes. "Yep," he said brightly. "What we're doing tonight. Whatever you want, kiddo ... stay in, go out. I know you said you had a lot of, um, energy ... we could go dancing? Unless, well. I don't know what you did last night, so."

Justin flushed a little and glanced at JC. "That's. Um. Not exactly what I meant by energy," he admitted, back to Joey again. "But hey, I mean, it's not like I'm not up for it if that's the plan. The night is ... well okay, it's not young, but it's not old yet either."

"I think I can see where I'm the third wheel," laughed JC, not looking put out by the fact in the slightest. "I think I'll let you two decide just how to burn off that energy and I'm gonna head home."

Joey glanced over at JC too, then looked around to make sure nobody else was around before he pulled Justin close against his side and took his bag for him. JC thought he was stupid about relationships? Maybe. But he was going to get to see just how much Joey liked this kid.

"Come home with me then?" he asked, looking into Justin's face and saying it just loud enough for JC to hear, too.

Justin's expression said it all, and Joey hadn't quite anticipated that level of enthusiasm for the plan. If he was being honest with himself, he'd really figured that Justn would want to go out first, be sociable. Which on another day Joey would, too, but this was Justin and he only had him for a couple days, and ...

"That sounds good," Justin said aloud finally, interrupting that thought before Joey was forced to complete it. "JC, you're okay to get home without him?"

"I'm an adult, you know," he said, with a mild grunt. "I'm pretty capable of getting myself home, with or without an escort. Justin, call me before you leave town? And Joey, Just call me."

Joey sniffed a little, and surreptitiously slipped his other hand into Justin's. "Are you going to yell at me again?" he asked, hefting Justin's bag up on his shoulder and raising an eyebrow. "Maybe you'll have to find someone else to pick on. I already know who you get the dirty details from." He winked at Justin.

"I never yell," protested JC. "I just prod and coerce and berate every so often, when you need it. And don't tell me you don't, Mr. Fatone. Have a good night you two, I'm gonna go catch a cab, now." He gave them a wave and backed away before Joey could stop him. Not that he was planning to.

"Be careful, Jace," Joey hollered after him, even though he wouldn't have let him leave if he was at all concerned about him getting home. "So, um, where to," he asked Justin once they were alone, completely forgetting they'd already decided when he looked back and met his eyes.

"Your place," said Justin, giving him a gentle nudge. "And quick, before someone else comes out and grabs us and convinces us to go out to a club. Because you know how easy it is to say yes to that and I just really want to fuck right now. Yeah?"

*Just fuck*? Joey wanted to say. *Or fuck me?* But he didn't, just squeezed Justin's hand and led him to the door, out into the late New York night. JC was right: Justin could make his own decisions. And as long as they included Joey, he wasn't going to complain.

* * *

"No Lance?" Joey murmured, pressing his lips into Justin's shoulder while they were still in the relative privacy of the elevator, surrounded by bags. "You guys flying out seperately?" He moved closer, wrapped his arms around the kid and gave him one of his biggest bear hugs from behind.

"I'm meeting him at the airport," said Justin, tilting his head back so his neck was exposed to Joey. "He had a meeting with someone early this morning; no way was I getting up and leaving you for *that*." Joey knew Justin was probably still supposed to have at least security with him, but there was none of that either. As though Justin had contrived to make their least few minutes together private.

Joey obediently kissed Justin's neck, smelling the clean scent of the shower they hadn't even gotten to share. "You know what I told you, though, about doing all the dirty stuff now ... all the stuff you don't want to do. Get it out of the way now, babe, so you get the reputation of being easy to work with ... "

"Yeah, I know," said Justin with a little groan. "I know. And I do. But this one ... I really didn't need to be there. The only reason that I might've been is because I had nothing better to do ... only I did. Lance didn't even push it, and you know he would've if he had any grounds at all to. So we're in the clear."

Joey did know that Lance would have pushed it, especially after Justin'd had him pick up the phone in the hotel for him and Lance had been on the other end. He gave Justin another squeeze for being strong before the elevator dinged open and they had to navigate through the lobby. "One of these bags is all shoes, isn't it."

"I'll never tell," laughed Justin, as they pushed their way through to the doors. "Maybe. Possibly. At least you don't have to carry them." Justin *was* making him push the cart, though. Or Joey had volunteered. He wasn't quite sure *how* it had happened, and he wasn't entirely grateful when someone appeared at his side to help him with it, lest Justin Timberlake and guest be caught dealing with their own bags.

"Such a little diva," Joey teased, although Justin was anything but. Around Joey, at least, and damn if he didn't want to keep holding on to the kid as they walked out to the waiting car. "Are you sure you don't mind dropping me at the studio, kiddo?"

"Of course not," he said as his bags were loaded. "What, you think I'd make you go on your own?" He leaned in like he was going to kiss him, then stopped himself. It was a mistake he'd made more than once lately, and something he was going to have to be a little more careful about, Joey thought. But Justin wasn't exactly a guy who hid his emotions. "No way. Hop in."

Joey licked his lips in an echo of what he never got. He hummed softly and followed Justin into the back seat, keeping a safe distance between them. Trying to decide what, if anything, he was supposed to be saying. "So," he finally blurted. "I'm ... I know this isn't cool, I know it. To ask this. But ... are you ... you;re seeing other people, right? Like, you're going to?"

Justin looked startled for a moment, leaning with his back against the door and staring at Joey like he was trying to find the words. "No, it's okay to ask," he said finally. "But ... what do you mean by seeing? I hooked up a couple times over the past, what, month or so. But other than that, well, not really."

"Because you're busy," Joey nodded, understanding that. "Okay. I just ... you know, wanted to make sure." He tried a grin. "Make sure someone was taking care of you. And all that, you know, youthful energy was being put to good use."

"It's mostly my hand that's getting the workout," admitted Justin with a sheepish grin. "But you know, thanks for looking out for me and all. For making sure I'm keeping the parts in working order in between the times I get to spend with you."

"Justin," Joey said, rolling his eyes and rubbing a hand over his head playfully. "But ... okay, about that too. When do ... when are you back, um, again?"

"A month," said Justin promptly. "I mean, more or less, unless I have to come back for some of the arrangements before then, but I don't think so. For the tour?" he reminded Joey, like he didn't already know. "I'll mostly be down in Orlando and over in LA for the rest of the month, I think. Plus a weekend in Chicago? I'll have to check the schedule. So just a month. Don't worry, it'll just fly by, I'm sure."

"So you'll want to see me then," Joey said quickly. Like ripping off a band-aid. "When you come back."

"Um. Yeah?" said Justin. "Of course! I can't even believe you just asked me that. Or ... oh." His expression suddenly changed, and Joey heard warning bells start to go off in his head. "God. I'm so stupid sometimes. You'd think I would've learned by now, but apparently not. Are you trying to tell me you're not interested, Joey?"

"Um. No?" Joey replied, blinking at him. "God, Justin, I just spent ... no, okay? No. I'm just, heh, I dunno. Being a girl. Just checking, because the *last* thing I want to do is be a drag on you, or feel like another obligation in your schedule ... "

"Don't be silly," said Justin, bouncing right back up again as soon as Joey said that. "Of course you're not. I *make* time for you. You're the fun part of what I get to do when I'm here. You don't think I'd just be up front with you if I didn't want to get together? One of the first things I ever told you, Joey, is that I'm an honest guy."

"You did," Joey smiled, remembering more than he would have expected of their first conversation. "So, um, I can count on being done by you when you're here again, then?" He winked.

Justin grinned back at him. "You most definitely can," he said confidently. "Done and done well. And plus, *call* me this time, all right? I may not be around here in person but I've got a hell of a porn voice when I want to." He looked past Joey and out the window and he frowned. "Oh hell ... are we almost there already?"

Joey recognized the Times Square intersection all too well, and sighed. "Yeah. So ... a month, kiddo. You call me, too. I'll ... I'm really looking forward to seeing you again. This weekend was ... yeah." He couldn't put words to it.

"Yeah," agreed Justin with a dazed grin that probably matched Joey's own. "It was. I will definitely be calling you, Joey. And keep busy -- I'll be back here in no time. You'll see."

Joey pushed the door open as the car rolled to a stop, and slid out. And then thought better of it and ducked his head back inside the car to grip the back of Justin's neck and give him a deep, deep kiss. "I'll miss you," he muttered.

"Fuck yeah." said Justin, stealing another quick kiss before letting Joey go. "Me too, Joey. Me too."

'Bye," Joey said breathlessly, then shut the door quickly before he did anything else he couldn't take back.

* * *

Joey stood on the shore and wished he trusted the water enough to roll up his pants and wade into it barefoot, just a couple steps. But there was no way and so he didn't, but while they were setting up the shot behind him he figured it was probably the best chance he was going to get all day to have some peace and quiet to check his voicemail and maybe return some calls.

There was one message from his mom -- he was going really going to have to get over there for dinner some time soon -- and two from Justin, both from the night before. That was nothing unusual now, though. Last week it had taken him five tries to reach Justin, and just this past weekend Joey had been incommunicado for the whole thing while Justin left him a series of cute messages. They managed to talk every three or four days, though, and Joey thought maybe that was working out okay.

He crossed his fingers with one hand as he pressed Justin's name on his speeddial, hoping that this time he'd get lucky and catch him. Justin was in the absolute thick of rehearsals, he knew, and Joey just hoped that maybe talking to Joey made him relax a little.

"Hey, hi, hello!" he heard Justin answer on the other end, and breathed a sigh of relief. "If this is about the costume change I absolutely don't want the green thing and that's final. I mean it."

Joey laughed happily. "Oh, I don't know," he said. "If the green thing is tight and slinky and easily removed using teeth, you won't reconsider?"

"If the green thing is tight and slinky and easily removed using teeth," said Justin, "I'll bring it back with me and model it personal for you. Hey Joey! How's it going?"

"Hey babe," Joey continued to chuckle. "It's good. Just ... doing the hurry-up-and-wait thing at the moment. I'm glad I caught you. What're you doing?"

"Chugging a bottle of water while they fix something with the sound system," he said, his voice getting muffled for a moment as -- Joey guessed -- he actually did drink some. "It cut out a few minutes ago, let out this eardrum-shattering squeal and died. We decided it was a good time for a break."

"You okay?" Joey asked, unable to keep the concern from his voice. "Were you wearing in-ears or anything?" He kicked at the sand a little, then bent down to dig up a half-buried shell.

"No," admitted Justin. "My ears were ringing a bit there but it's already cleared up. No harm done, except to the equipment. Did I tell you I meet my dancers this afternoon? Did I tell you I have *dancers*?"

Joey laughed again. "Guys or chicks?" he hummed, grinning. "Justin, I can't wait to see your show. You're gonna be so great. After SNL, JC said ... well. Never mind what JC said."

"You *tell* me what JC said," insisted Justin, in that way he had that *almost* always got Joey to tell. "And the dancers ... little of this, little of that. It's gonna be great, Joey."

"It is, kiddo," Joey said, deciding to try and pretend Justin hadn't asked him what JC said. "It definitely will be. Now why are you being secret-spy about your dancers? One of them an ex, or something? or you got a crush already?"

"I'm not!" protested Justin. "I haven't even met them yet! Someone else hired them for the tour, though I made sure I got the power to change someone out if I don't think things are working out. Three guys and three girls, I think. I'll know more later. And if one of them is an ex, heads are gonna roll. I can't think of any exes I want to spend an entire tour working with. Of course, I can't think of any exes who can dance, so I think I'm safe."

"You're so cute," Joey taunted him a little. "Well ... that should be fun. Your own little self-made party, whenever y'all want to go out on tour. I'm so jealous, Justin; you're going to get to see so much."

"You sure you can't change the premise of your show?" he said, pausing to drink again. "Maybe make a road-trip documentary? That would be cool, right?" Actually, that would kind of be cool, but it had also been done and definitely wasn't an option, even if Justin *hadn't* been joking. "I know it's gonna be amazing, Joey. I'll ... take pictures?"

Joey just laughed again. "I'm sure I can find pictures if I want them. You just ... you know, keep calling. Keep me informed, babe. I think ... we've been good about it, huh? And only, what, a couple weeks and you'll be here. Again."

"Only a couple weeks," agreed Justin, sounding astonished all over again like he did every time he realized how close to the tour he was getting. "And oh, I was back at the top of TRL again so I got the pleasure of seeing Carson Daly have to be nice about it. Is that petty of me, do you think?"

"Ha!" Joey's grin felt like it was splitting his face. Carson *hated* having to be nice about Justin, and Joey wasn't surprised that Justin'd picked up on that. "No, baby. You just keep being all hearts and flowers, though, when you talk to him. Don't give him anything to work with."

"I'm never anything but an angel with him," Justin assured him unnecessarily. An angel with a bit of sass, though, which was the whole cause of the friction in the first place. "You never did tell me what you thought of the video. You like it?"

"You get to kiss a hot chick, man, what's not to like?" Joey smiled to himself, letting some more sand fall through his fingers.

"She *was* pretty hot, huh?" laughed Justin. "She was a model. But her boyfriend, man, her boyfriend stayed on the set the whole time and gave me these death glares every time I touched her. It was pretty funny. So hey, how about you, what are you working on?"

"Not getting to make out with models on camera," Joey sighed morosely. "Or, well. Not that I'll tell you about, anyway." He grinned to himself. "No, I'm just ... prepping for another interview. This, ugh, this New Kids rip-off group. O-town, you heard of them? And if you tell me they're opening for you, I will cry."

"No, I've got some chick opening for me," said Justin. "O-Town, huh. They any good? I was a New Kids fan back in the day, you know. When I was, what, eight? Don't tell anyone I told you that."

"Don't worry, baby, I'll save it for the next time I get to do your interview," Joey said solemnly. "And dude, they're a boyband. What's to like, really." He was gonna have to get to it in a second, though. "Okay, I'm about due to be back," he apologized. "I'm glad I caught you, J."

"Oh hey, me too," said Justin. "I hope they fix the sound system soon, I have a lot of stuff left to get through today. Have fun with your boys! I'll try you tomorrow, but if not, make sure you've got your phone on Sunday at eight. We've got a date, remember."

Joey rolled his eyes, but it was only so he didn't start blushing. "I can't believe we have to schedule that," he mumbled. "S'embarrassing."

"It's a *date*," insisted Justin, but he was laughing again and Joey bet he was blushing a little too. "Lots of people make dates. We're just ... doing it by phone. Now promise you won't be standing me up."

It made Joey all ... goofy, and giddy, that it mattered so much to Justin, when Joey never thought he was that interesting to talk to on the phone. "Cross my heart," he said seriously.

"And be alone," added Justin quickly. "Okay, gotta go, bye!" He hung up the phone before Joey could say anything to that, and he had to laugh, imagining just what Justin had in mind for their date.

* * *

"Just come in, it's open," Joey yelled from the little kitchen/hall of his studio. "My hands are full." He was doing spaghetti, and had pasta in one hand and an oven mitt in the other, and sauce everywhere. It had been a while since he'd cooked for people.

"We brought wine," said JC, poking his head in the door before opening it all the way. "I figured I owed you a bottle or ten. Wow, was there an accident in here?"

Chris laughed and nudged JC out of the way so he could close the door behind them. "It smells great," he assured Joey. "Where do you want us to put this?"

"Just, the table," Joey gestured, with his elbow, then sort of kicking in the direction of the tiny little table he had in one corner of the room. "And of course, make yourselves at home. I'd just, you know, avoid any red stuff. Heh."

"That's generally pretty good advice," said Chris slipping his coat off and hanging it up before reaching for JC's, wine bottle tucked carefully under his arm. "So how are things going? Did you end up stuck in the studios late again like you thought you might?"

"Yeah, sorry, so this'll be a little bit longer," apologized Joey, giving Chris a big smile when he could peek around the fridge. And then JC, he got a special smile too. "Shit, it's good to see you guys. It's been, like, weeks since I seen both of you together."

"Tell me about it," said Chris, setting the wine onto the table before collapsing into a chair, then pulling JC into his lap. "But things are finally settling down at work so I can spend some more time at home again. I think I need to start being a little choosier about my clients. Just because I'm good doesn't mean I have to take on all the tough jobs."

"That's right," said JC, giving him a kiss that Joey caught out of the corner of his eye. "Did we tell you we're celebrating tonight, Joey? We're celebrating."

"You're celebrating, and you're slumming it with my cooking?" Joey laughed. "What are you celebrating, kids. My favorite suckers in love."

"We're just here because your cooking's better than the little Italian place on the corner," said Chris dryly, letting JC slip off his lap finally and into a chair of his own. "We don't actually want to share the news with you or anything."

"So you remember those meetings and stuff I had all last week?" interrupted JC, getting up restlessly and sticking a finger in Joey's sauce to taste it, much to Joey's shock.

Joey spanked him gently and pushed him back out of the kitchen. "Yes," he prompted, once he was certain enough that JC would stay put or that Chris would at least keep an eye on him. He walked over and got some wine glasses out too. "But you didn't tell me what it was for." He opened his eyes wide. "You;re doing it, aren't you. Really doing it! The porn! Oh, happy day."

"It's not the porn," laughed JC, sucking the last of the sauce off his finger. "But I did get offered a contract, Joey. An exclusive contract. With Armani. And I signed."

"J*C*!" Joey gasped, dropping his spoon. It wasn't like he could make a much bigger mess now anyway. He stuffed the towel he was holding into his jeans and went over to where JC was perched, and just lifted him up in a giant bear hug. "That is excellent, *excellent* news. Oh, wow. I'm so proud of you, man."

"So yeah, we're celebrating," said JC, squeezing him back almost as hard. "Did you just get tomato sauce on my new shirt, Joey?"

"Yep, he did," said Chris from where he was still sitting, looking tremendously pleased. And Joey was sure he was, not just because of the contract but because of *who* it was for. "It looks kinda good, though. It matches the pattern."

"JC, that is the ugliest shirt," Joey laughed, giving him a loud kiss on the cheek. "Armani's not gonna let you do so much with the sparkly anymore. You know this." He got up and went back to his pasta, squeezing Chris on the shoulder happily as he passed.

"I know this," said JC. "I know what I'm getting into. But it's time. And nothing saying I can't do the sparkly on my own time, with my friends. So it all works out okay. I think it's going to be really good, Joey."

"It's going to be great," said Chris, pulling JC back for a hug of his own. "So, Joey, how are things going with you? Did you find time to get ahold of that poor girl of yours or did she have to leave you another message or six?"

"Um, Mandy?" Joey said evenly, stirring his sauce intently. "I've ... she was in LA. And then went home to see her folks. So, I saw her last week, yeah, but not. No. Not since. I haven't talked to her since." He wanted to ask why he asked, but he knew it would sound as guilty as he felt.

"That's too bad," said Chris, and surprisingly JC didn't even pipe up about it, was still sitting there looking pretty content. "I remember you saying how she kept trying to reach you but you just were too busy to catch her. Was she as upset as you thought she might be, or was she cool with it?"

"Chris," laughed JC. "He just said he hasn't talked to her. I'm sure sure she'll be fine, though. She'll understand. Oh, by the way, I talked to Justin yesterday. He said he's sorry he missed your call and to give you a big kiss when I saw you. But since Chris is here, you'll just have to imagine the kiss, okay? I'm not sure I'd be willing to kiss you like he does anyway."

"JC, if you could kiss me like he does, I would never have let Chris get his hands anywhere near you," Joey grinned, laughing at himself and the way he perked up when JC mentioned Justin's name. And he didn't miss the way it felt different from thinking about Mandy, who he'd nevertheless had a good time with the week before.

"Don't even think about it," said Chris, giving him a mock growl. "I fight dirty. So is that food there almost done? JC's hungry, I can tell."

"Chris is hungry," said JC solemnly. "He was complaining about it the whole way here. Do you have some bread or something I could cut up? I promise I won't cut myself or anything this time."

"You both better be hungry," Joey warned. "I do have bread, it's in the oven. Just sit. You guys are guests tonight. Seriously, turn on the TV, whatever. Just ... stay off the bed, that's all I ask."

"Are you sure you don't want any help?" asked Chris, sounding serious that time. "I know you invited us over, but we invite you over all the time and we always put you to work anyway. It's a thing."

Joey just waved him off again, and it wasn't like there was really enough room in the kitchen for more than one person to work anyway. Unless Justin was over, but then they ended up wrapped around each other which was just fine, but wasn't a situation Joey really wanted to find himself in with Chris *or* JC.

He came out with the bread anyway, and plates and napkins and a corkscrew. "Open the wine?" he relented. "You can do that." He smiled when he saw that JC had gravitated back onto Chris's lap. "You'll have to tell me if it's good. You guys are my guinea pigs, for the next ... for, um, if I decide to cook this for anyone else."

"You mean you haven't already," said Chris, reaching for the corkscrew before JC could. "Isn't that your modus operandi, Joe?"

"Of course it'll be good," agreed JC. "It always is, even if you're making -- wow -- a *huge* mess there."

"If I make it for someone I want to impress, I'll be neater," Joey promised. He thought it smelled good, though, and hoped it WAS good. He'd taken a look at Justin's schedule and tried to figure out if they'd have an evening for dinner, when he was in town. "Or, heh, maybe make a bigger mess. So we'll have to figure out a way to get clean."

"You dog," laughed Chris, popping the cork out and setting the wine back on the table. "That's more like it. So who is it you're going to be trying to impress, then?"

"And since when did I become someone you didn't need to impress?" added JC. "It's because I don't put out, isn't it."

"Well, it was your idea to duck out of the kiss that Justin wanted you to give me," Joey pointed out. He didn't answer Chris's question. He was sure the answer was obvious enough anyway, even without JC doing his usual job of harping on him to call Justin.

"Point taken," said JC, cutting off a couple pieces of bread and handing one to Chris. Joey didn't miss that he actually took one of them for himself and started nibbling on it. "But at least now you have someone -- someones -- who does. Do. Whatever. Do you want some bread?"

"Way to imply I was hard up before, C," Joey laughed, joining them and gnawing at some bread himself. "I always had people that put out. Just not anyone I wanted to impress. Or not even impress, really. Just. Treat good."

"Treat good," agreed JC, giving him a knowing look. "Fun, isn't it? I'm happy for you, Joey. It's good to see you--" What? Confident, busy, maybe driven? All things that JC liked to see in him, he knew. "Happy," finished JC. "It really is."

Joey grinned back, then opened his mouth to show off the chewed-up bread inside of it, making Chris laugh. "Whatever," he said, glancing away. "It's me. When am I not happy, really? Just -- my job, I'm really enjoying it. Stupid boybands and raging divas aside."

It wasn't just his job that he was enjoying, though, and he knew that JC knew it. It was everything that was going on, everything that was finally starting to happen for him. "Well, it's good to see," said JC after a moment, not delving into it any deeper than that. Some things were just understood.

* * *

Joey's phone rang almost as soon as he turned it on, startling him enough to fumble it, if not drop it. Which would have been bad, very bad. He looked out at the view as he finally answered and gasped aloud -- he always forgot just how magestic it was, from up here. Which was the whole reason he was scouting it as a location in the first place, but still.

"Well that beats hello any day," came Justin's voice, chuckling gently. "You should stick with that."

"Oh, Justin," Joey breathed, surprised to hear from him. Pleasantly. "Hey, baby." His voice was still soft, still a little awe-struck.

"Hey," said Justin, still sounding happy though the laughter finally petered out. "I knew if I just kept calling you'd have to answer sooner or later. What's up?"

"Nothing." Joey shook his head, still a little breathless. "Just ... checking on some locations. Everything okay, kiddo?" He wondered if Justin'd ever been up here; wondered if he'd want to see it.

"Everything's great," said Justin. "Just ... you know, calling when I have a bit of free time. Well. Bit being the operative word there, but isn't that how it always goes? I'm getting my measurements re-taken. They think I've grown. *I* think I've grown. I might need to get some new clothes again. So where's your next interview gonna be, anyway?"

"I'm on the top of the Statue of Liberty," Joey said, practically whispering reverently. "So I'm thinking, yeah, here." He looked out over the still-strange skyline of Manhattan. "Wait, what? Growing? Boy, you're already tall as me."

"Yeah, well, I guess I get to call you shorty now," teased Justin. "Are you really up there? That's really cool. What does it look like?"

"Big," Joey murmured. "Clear; there's not a cloud in the sky, J. And it's ... but there's like this shadow, too. Where the towers were. Like, I don't know. Like a hole in a photograph. It's weird."

"I've never seen it," murmured Justin. "From up there, I mean." There was a brief silence between them, but a comfortable one. "So when are you going to be shooting up there? I bet it's a real pain to get the whole crew up there to do something like that, huh? But worth it."

"I hope so," Joey replied, finally tearing his eyes away from the skyline and just leaning against the railing. "And when? I don't know. It was just an idea; we'll see if the producers go for it. I still don't get to make a lot of decisions, you know?"

"Oh, but you do," said Justin. "Have you made any location suggestions yet that they haven't gone for? No, I don't think so. Including, I might add, a strip club."

"I still love you for going for that," laughed Joey. "I really, like, owe you for this, J. That interview was huge for me, big publicity, and you could have fucked me over easily."

"But I do fuck you over," said Justin innocently. "Or is that just 'fuck you'?" He giggled into the phone. "Don't worry," he said. "No one's around right now. They've gone for -- I don't know -- more pins or something. Thank *you* for that interview too. I think it was pretty mutually beneficial."

Joey smiled, feeling very fond of Justin right then. "Well, if you're growing as much as you say, maybe you'll be string enough to fuck me over *something*, next time I see you. I volunteer the sink in my bathroom."

"Are you sure it'll hold?" asked Justin. His voice still had a teasing edge but it got a little smoother, too. A little deeper. A little sexier. "Because there all kinds of things I want to do to you when you're bent over something, Joey. I can just picture what you'd look like, all-- Oh hell. Someone's back."

Sighing, Joey closed his eyes, then opened them again and focused on the skyline. "I miss you," he whispered, moving the phone so that Justin probably couldn't hear.

"Joey?" said Justin, softly and uncertainly. "I'm sorry. Listen, I gotta go. Can I call you tonight? Will you be around?" Except Joey *wouldn't* be around that night, he'd be out having a nice dinner with Mandy. Justin interpreted his hesitation as a rejection and went on. "Okay, tomorrow then?"

"Tomorrow," Joey agreed, clearing his throat and then repeating it louder. "Tomorrow, Justin, I'll ... definitely. And next time you have a day off, I'll take you up here, okay? It's ... I think you'd like it."

"I think I'd like it too," said Justin. "It won't be long now, Joey. I'll see you soon. And I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye ... " He trailed off, and sounded very much like he didn't want to disconnect the call despite the fact that Joey could hear other voices in the background now.

"Bye, babe," Joey murmured

"Bye," Justin echoed him, saying it again. "Bye." And finally he ended the call.

* * *

"You look nice," Joey said, leaning across the table to hold Mandy's hand while they waited for their desserts. "I don't think I said." He himself, he was a little sunburnt from being outside all day, and tired from running around. The producers had said okay, though, and so of course he was sitting there running the next few artists scheduled through his head, to make a choice on who to shoot there ...

"You did," she said softly. "A couple times. But thank you." She tilted and ducked her head to catch his eyes and Joey realized his attention had wandered. Again. "Thank you for dinner, Joey, this is all very nice. It's good to finally see you again."

"I know, it's been too long," he apologized. "I'm just ... so busy, since you went out to LA. SO busy." He squeezed her fingers and tried a smile. "How long are you here this time?"

"I've already been here for a couple days," she reminded him. "I'm gone again after the weekend. You know ..." When she smiled the way she did, Joey knew it was to soften whatever was coming next. "You do have my number, Joey. Even if you couldn't reach me--" Joey'd never had a problem with that, though ... when he called. "I wouldn't mind it so much if the phone tag was going both ways."

"Mandy," he said awkwardly, starting to realize where maybe this was going. She was a sweet, sweet girl. "I'm sorry ... the distance, it's ... I don't know, I didn't expect we'd start anything, something like this, dating ... "

She nodded her head and squeezed his hand in return and she didn't look mad or anything, but... "Neither did I," she said. "And I like you an awful lot, Joey, but this whole thing ... the distance, and the workload, and all of it... " And then, finally, she pulled her hand away. "Well, it's a really hard thing to make work and I just don't think we are. I'm sorry."

Joey blinked at her. Okay, maybe he *hadnt* realized where it was going. He;d been mostly expecting that she'd want more attention, maybe, or more assurances, or something. Not ... not to break it off.

But it didn't exactly hurt, either.

"Um, okay," he said, pulling his hands back into his lap. "Wow. Well ... ? I'm really glad I got to know you better, no matter what. I think you;re just a darling girl."

"Oh please don't be upset," she said immediately, still so sweet, leaning forward to rest her hand on his arm. "I still think you're really great, and I'd love it if we could still get together when I'm in town, but ... " She seemed to run out of things to say, and bit her lip helplessly for a moment. "I'm looking for more than this."

"And you should," Joey nodded. Even he recognized that. It was just ... his heart wasn't in it. Not for her, at least; and wasn't *that* a self-discovery. "I'm not ... I should have called."

"It's okay," she said. Once she saw Joey was okay, she drew her arm back again. "It really is, Joey. It's not you or me, it's just circumstances. And it really has been a lovely dinner with you. I still want to be able to do this again some time."

Joey nodded, and meant it when he said: "we should." He just picked at his dessert, though, and then ... well, and then devoted half his attention to a story Mandy was telling, and the other half was back on his job.

* * *

Joey held his page of shot notes between his teeth as he dug around in the seat next to him for his phone, slamming on the brakes as a kid darted out into the street from between two parked cars.

"Fuck," he muttered as he spit out the sheet onto the pile of others next to him. The kid looked up, then picked something up off the road and darted away again. Joey might've been more pissed off if the kid hadn't been a spitting image of *him* at that age. Instead he just grinned and shook his head and was grateful the brakes of the production vehicle were in great shape.

While he was stopped, though, he finally did find his phone and punched in JC's number with his thumb.

"C," he said, when JC answered after a few more rings than normal. "Did I wake you up? It's after 8, man, and I thought you were still doing that thing where you got up and cooked Chris breakfast ... "

"How do you know I wasn't cooking when you called?" JC asked him pointedly, but then a yawn gave him away. "Okay, so maybe I was sleeping. So sue me. What the hell are you doing calling so early, anyway? Shouldn't *you* still be sleeping?"

"Haven't been to bed," Joey replied perkily, realizing maybe that last cup of coffee wasn't such a good idea. "All-nighter, man. So I figured I'd call my good buddy and JC and chat."

"You're calling me at eight in the morning ... to chat?" confirmed JC slowly. Joey heard some banging noises in the kitchen, and figured JC was probably making some coffee of his own. When he heard a horn blare from behind him he started on his way again, back from taking a few test shots of a potential location, and on his way either home or back to the studio, depending on how long the coffee held out and how lucky he figured he was going to be when it came to parking. "Well, I guess there's a first time for everything. Where *are* you?"

"In the car!" chirped Joey. "Just, you know. Pretty good night. How 'bout you? Did you have a good night, C?"

It was easy to be chipper about being dumped when you had your work to fall back on, Joey noted, and then realized that made him sound like a big dork.

"Yeah," said JC, still speaking and moving at half Joey's pace. "Yeah, well, I mostly slept. So that part was good. Didn't you go out last night? Or is that tonight? I never could keep your social schedule straight."

"No, I did," Joey nodded vigorously. "I did. Went out, yep. With Mandy. Lovely dinner. You know, up to the point where I got my ass *dumped* and all. Otherwise, great night."

"You ... what?" said JC, and Joey wasn't sure if it was disbelief or just morning slowness in his voice. "Mandy dumped *you*? What happened, Joe? You wanna tell me about it?"

Joey scrunched up his nose at the already-cold coffee left in his cup. "Well," he started, more breezily than he felt, really. "Well. She just said it wasn't working out. She wanted more, or something ... you know, I don't even really know. It's cool, though. No big deal. I think we'll still be friends."

"I'm sorry," said JC, surprising Joey with the sincerity in his voice. "I mean, I know you liked her. I'm sorry it ended up that way. You wanna come over, let me make you breakfast, wallow a little? Or are you really, honest-to-god okay?"

"I probably need to crash," Joey laughed, sniffing a little. "I mean, thanks. It's really ... the awful part, C? Like, we'd barely finished talking about it and I was like: cool, I can go back to the studio and work on this thing. Isn't that awful?"

JC snorted, and Joey could actually hear him sip something, pausing a moment before saying anything. "It's not awful," he assured him finally. "It just means, probably, that she did the right thing. That you both did the right thing. Tough as it might have been."

"Yeah," Joey said slowly. "I mean. I didn't put up much of a fight. She was a sweet girl, and we had a blast together, and man ... hello, legs. But ... well. Right, what you said. I guess It was the right thing."

"Joey," said JC seriously. "You're starting to sound wasted. Are you sure you should be driving around right now? I mean, a day of work, and then a break-up, and then a whole night of work ... you're gonna fall asleep at the wheel and cause a sixteen-car pile-up or something. You should've taken a cab, at least."

"Mmm, I'm okay, C," Joey said, although he was having to blink a lot to keep his eyes from getting blurry. "I'm on my way home. I mean, back to the studio. Drop off the car. THEN on my way home. And THEN I'll take a cab."

"And for next time?" said JC. "Remember - work during the daytime, sleep during the nighttime. You don't need to be pulling all-nighters if you're just gonna crash all day, Joe. You should've come here last night, afterwards. You know I would've taken good care of you." That wasn't what Joey had wanted, though. He'd *wanted* to work. He just didn't know how to explain that.

"I needed to finish something, JC," he said. "You don't like it when I complain about the stuff you think you have to do for *your* job." He sighed a little. "I kinda think Mandy was seeing someone else, in LA, anyway."

JC was silent for too long, and with no accompanying noise to indicate he might've just been busy. "I'd heard things," he said finally. "I didn't really want to say. Well ... Chris didn't think I should say. Rumors are just rumors, especially out of L.A. I know you liked her, Joey. I'm sorry anyway, even if it's a good thing."

"Well," Joey said again, sort of helplessly. "Well. It's better, she'll be out there ... I don't have any time, anyway. And as far as that goes ... well. She wasn't the only person I saw. Which, um, you're well aware of."

"Yes," agreed JC. "I know that. So how's ... ?" He was obviously asking about Justin, how things were going there, but Joey didn't really know what to tell him. Didn't really know what JC wanted to know.

"My mom?" he finally teased him. "She's great, C. Wants to know when you and, and I quote, 'that charming short manwith the ears' are coming back over for dinner."

"Joey," sighed JC, then seemed to give in. "All right, all right, we'll talk another time. You need to get yourself home and to bed before you get killed. Because that would suck."

"Thanks, C," Joey just said. He had woken him up, after all, and said mostly the right things about Mandy. And it wasn't like Joey wasn't thinking about Justin already anyway. "See you this weekend?"

"You'd better," said JC. "Don't forget all about us just because you get to see your boy again soon. And, you know, take care of yourself. Yes I *do* need to say that because you're obviously not doing it on your own, and I owe you about ten billion of them anyway. We'll talk soon."

"He doesn't come til next Tuesday at seven-thirty," Joey protested automatically, then blushed when JC chuckled at him. "Shut up. I only know because ... because I had to know whether to make dinner plans. For him. Us. Whatever."

"And did you?" he asked. "Make plans with him? Oh, why am I asking, of course you did. You guys are good together, Joey."

"Yes, thank you, Captain Obvious and Repetitive," Joey growled. "I'm hanging up now. Bye-bye, JC!"

"Bye, Joey," JC managed to get in before Joey disconnected the call and tossed the phone back on the seat. JC may have been genuinely sorry about thebreak-up with Mandy, but Joey had always known who JC was pulling for, was *still* pulling for. But in spite of that, and his fatigue, and the world's worst drivers, he managed to get himself back to the studio in one piece, and then home.

* * *

Joey sank even deeper into the bathtub, down far enough that the bubbles were tickling his goatee. Then he cracked his neck and dangled his hand over the side to grab for his cell phone, not even looking before pressing the number that he had programed for Justin's cell just the week before.

"Jup," he mumbled, when Justin actually picked up. "Hey. Wasn't really expecting to get you."

"Well who else did you think was gonna be answering my phone?" Justin teased, then took on a snotty tone. "Well actually, I just hired Fred Durst to answer my phones. He's not doing much else these days, just that little band of his. It's only right that I give the little people a way to make their lives meaningful."

"Okay ... ?" Joey said, then laughed, too blissfully relaxed to even consider that Justin could have meant that at all. "You're funny, kid. Is this a bad time?"

"What? No, no, it's fine. You know the phone would be off if it was a bad time. I'm actually just on my way to dinner. You know ... all kidding aside, I could really get used to this whole limo thing."

Joey smiled, closing his eyes and remembering riding in a cab with Justin, thinking that probably wouldn't ever happen again. Which was okay, because the image he was getting of Justin sprawled out in the backseat of a limo wasn't such a bad consolation prize.

"I bet," he said. "Well. I don't want to keep you, I just wanted to make sure we were still on for Tuesday. Um. We are, right?"

"Oh yeah, yeah, right, I meant to call," he said. Joey heard the squeak of leather as he shuffled on the seat. "Did I give you the flight information already? I think I did. Nevermind. But yes, we're definitely still on. I'm looking forward to it."

"You did," Joey replied, switching the phone to his other hand so he could dump some more bubbles into the tub. "Me too, Justin. I mean, I'm looking forward to it. And your show, too ... definitely your show."

"Is it too early to start getting jitters?" laughed Justin. "Actually, I'm starting to feel real tight, real good about it. It's gonna be a great show, Joey, I'm gonna blow you away. So what are you up to right now? Looking over the city again just to make me all jealous?"

"No, no," Joey said, letting his head fall back against the side of the tub with a thud. "Ow. Shit. No. Just taking, uh, a bath. And be careful how you respond to that, man."

Justin laughed, which Joey didn't think was being very careful at *all*. "I have no idea what to say to that," he admitted. "Do you have candles and everything?"

"No," Joey said very simply. "Candles are for chicks. I have Mr. Bubbles." he splashed around loud for Justin's benefit, then just settled back into the warm water again. "Don't even try and tell me you don't take a bath every once in a while."

"Oh, you do *not* have bubbles," snickered Justin. "I can't picture that at *all*. And hey, what do you mean candles are for chicks? I happen to *like* candles. Jerk."

"I *do* have bubbles," Joey insisted. "I wish I had one of those, whatever web cam thingies; I'd show you. Huh. Maybe I'll steal one from work." He mulled over that for a second.

"Steal a web cam so you can show me what you look like in the tub? That's pretty damn kinky, Fatone. I think I like it. So -- assuming I believe you -- dude, what's up with the bubble bath?"

Joey smiled. "Nothin'. Just ... in the mood, I guess. I used to just drink a lot when I had a long day, but ... I gotta film tomorrow, and the makeup people already hate me. I know you know what *they're* like."

"Oh, hey," said Justin, sounding immediately attentive. "Long day? What's up? Just getting ready for your next big interview? Heh. And don't get me started on make-up people."

"Yeah, interview tomorrow," Joey sighed. "You don't want to hear about it. Or, really, I don't want to talk about it. And I *still* haven't gotten over that all-nighter *last* week." He sighed exaggeratedly. "I'm not a ... whaddya call it? spring hen anymore."

"I'm not sure you were ever a 'hen' Joey," he teased him. "You know, if I was there with you, I'd be making that there bath a whole lot more relaxing than it already is. Or if not relaxing, well, at least enjoyable ... "

Joey trailed his hand through the bubbles. "Well," he said quietly, surprising himself by actually deciding to say what he was thinking. "You are. I mean, making it enjoyable, just by. You know, me getting to talk to you."

"Oh yeah?" said Justin. Joey knew him well enough to know that he was pleased. "I'm really glad you called. If you hadn't, I might've gotten caught up in things tonight and not had a chance until tomorrow. And you know how hard it is to reach you sometimes. You've been a busy guy."

"I'm turning into you," Joey grinned. "Naw, I just ... I know I've been out a lot. I won't be, as much, now, but ... now it doesn't matter! 'cause you're almost here."

"Next Tuesday," said Justin cheerfully, "and don't you dare forget. You're definitely one of the bright spots about heading back to New York. Even better than the very *fact* that I'm heading back to New York. So are you getting a bit of a break once tomorrow's interview wraps?"

"No, not really," Joey admitted, not exactly sure he wanted to get into why he'd have more free time. "Just ... hey. Only one of the bright spots? You have other boys waiting to see you too? Pick you up at the airport, maybe?"

"Yeah, I'm actually seeing the entire publicity department at the label," said Justin. "Oh, and the bodyguards, too. They're all my secret boyfriends." Then he laughed, comfortably. "No, you dope. There aren't any other boys waiting to see me too, except for maybe JC and Chris, and they don't do to me the things that you do."

"Better not," murmured Joey, slipping deeper into the bubbles, having to hold the phone up higher so it wouldn't get wet. "Although, hey, if sometime me and Chris get you and Jace drunk enough, you could, like. Kiss or something. I don't think we'd mind."

"Ha!" Justin blurted out. "Oh God. Can you imagine? No ... no way, man. Well, maybe if you begged. But you'd have to, like, lick my feet or something. And then give me a blowjob afterwards. Then maybe I'd consider it. But hey, why *watch* me do it when you can have the real thing? Or is it JC you want to see?"

"I see JC kissing all the time," Joey reminded him. "And don't pretend to be grossed out, either. You're the one that had the huge crush on him, when I met you."

"I'm not grossed out," he protested. "I just ... JC's with Chris. And it was only a tiny crush. And you're embarrassing me, stop. Seriously, Joey, I *am* looking forward to seeing you. It's been too long, and jerking off over the phone once in a while just isn't the same thing."

"I'm just teasing you," Joey said gently, his own smile softening. "And I know it's not. The same thing, I ... I've said this a ton, I know, and wow do I feel like a chick saying this in the bathtub, but I miss you."

"You don't have to be a chick to miss me," said Justin. "Just like you don't have to be a chick to like the candle thing. But hey, I've been missing you too."

"You've ruined me for other people, I hope you know," Joey blurted, laughing. After a bit of a silence, that was awkward for *him* at least, he went on. "I mean, that's actually true. I ... I kind of was seeing, um, someone else, and now I'm not, and I don't even miss them."

The silence lengthened, then Justin said. "Well, maybe she just couldn't fuck you like I can." Joey hadn't said it was a she. "Or maybe it was something else. I like hearing you miss me, though. It's good to be missed."

"Justin," Joey said uncomfortably, sitting back up and then climbing out of the tub altogether, just perching on the edge and grabbing his towel. He didn't even want to make it seem like a big deal, since it wasn't. And he actually only felt good about getting it off his chest. "Well, no, she didn't," he finally said. "She was sweet, though."

"I wouldn't think you would go for anything less," said Justin, with almost painful sincerity. "I really wouldn't, Joey. You're a good guy." There was another pause, and Joey brushed a patch of bubbles off his knee. "So ... you're gonna call me when I get in on Tuesday? Or I'm gonna call you? Or what's the plan?"

"I made reservations," Joey told him. "For dinner, but ... I don't know what you're gonna have to do when you get in. Maybe we just could meet out? At the club, you know the one. The one we like to get in fights at."

Justin chuckled nervously. "I just need to know when and where we're hooking up," he said. "I pretty much kept my evening open for this. Wednesday ... Wednesday is booked solid, but Tuesday night is ours."

"You're so cute, when you do that," Joey smiled. He stood up and started actually making an effort to dry off. "Justin, honestly. Whatever you think. My night's open, too, and ... and I just want to see you whenever and for however long I can."

"Well, you said you made reservations?" said Justin tentatively. "Did you mean for us? Seriously, Joey, I'm putting myself in your hands here. I haven't had much time to make any plans of my own and I'm pretty happy to go with whatever flow you get going there. I'm easy, when it comes to you."

"Yes, for us," Joey laughed. "Nothing too fancy, but someplace it'll be okay for us to go. But JC and Chris want to see you too, so ... I mean, we don't have to, but I kind of promised we'd meet them for a drink, too, if you were free ... "

"Yeah, like I'd ever turn down a drink with JC and Chris," said Justin. "Well, unless someone had me covered in whipped cream or something. Then I'd have to give it some serious thought."

"God, Justin," Joey groaned. "Quit that. Three days -- just keep reminding yourself! or reminding me. And ... so we're good, right?"

"We're good," said Justin confidently. "Don't worry, we're good. And listen, I'm just pulling up to the restaurant here, I gotta go. Talk to you soon? Before Tuesday, yeah?"

"Okay, baby, call me," Joey said quickly. And then, again, "Miss you."

"You too," said Justin, "you too. Bye!" There was the sound of a car door being opened, and a voice, then the call was disconnected and Justin was gone.

* * *

It was a little awkward, that when they headed over to the club, Justin brought security with him. What was even more uncomfortable, though, was knowing that it wasn't an affectation, it was a necessity. It wasn't that it was a bad thing, but Joey had been largely absent -- in person anyway -- while Justin's career bloomed to the point where Joey was actually able to say "I knew him when," and it was more startling than he'd expected to see it now.

"You're staring out the window again," said Justin, giving Joey a friendly nudge in the side. "Hey, hi, hello, I'm right here, man."

"Sorry," Joey smiled, reaching over to touch his knee quickly. "Just. This isn't ever gonna be normal, is it? Like. Us going out. With anyone, I mean, not even. Y'know. Each other."

"Well hey, what's normal?" he countered. "I mean ... I don't mean that as some kind of pop philosophy question. If this is the way it's gonna be, then I guess I should start thinking of it *as* normal. But no." He turned his body halfway on the seat and met Joey's eyes. "I don't think it's ever gonna be that kind of normal anymore. With each other."

Joey nodded, knowing that already, and went back to looking out the window without even really realizing it. It didn't bother him as much as he thought it would, either. "Well, hopefully there won't be as many cameras outside the club as there were outside the restaurant."

"It's good publicity," he said, and it already sounded like something he said by rote. "I'm sorry if it ruined dinner for you; I thought it was still pretty fun, though. It's good to see you again, Joey."

"It didn't ruin it!" Joey laughed, surprised, turning back to catch a little bit of a wary expression on Justin's face. "Come on, baby, I'm just happy to see you however and wherever. You look absolutely great. You, you know, *felt* great, when I got to hug you hello. So. Don't you worry about me, kiddo."

Justin shrugged and even looked a big sheepish. "Yeah, well, you know me," he said, "the big romantic. I wanted tonight to go perfect. I didn't expect so many people to be up there in our faces so early on in the night. I mean, a few, sure, I'm used to that. Maybe I'm just, you know, hyperaware of it right now. Because it's not like I ever went on a date when I was out east or back home."

"Tonight *is* going perfect," Joey reassured him, then casually took his hand and just held it. "You're here. And yeah, there are people around, but ... there won't be *all* night." He grinned hopefully.

"Not unless you're inviting an audience back to your place," Justin agreed. "Or my place. And no, don't even think about it. We've earned this time, Joey. We've waited more than long enough for it, as far as I'm concerned. It's been ... a little lonely. For me, I mean."

Joey knew what Justin *thought* he meant, at least. "It's been lonely for me, too, Justin," he reminded him. "I feel like I told you every day how much I missed you. And I did, it wasn't just me saying it."

"I know," he said immediately. "I know. You did. Whenever we talked, just about. And it was good to hear. Made me feel kinda special, even though ... Well, and we were both just so busy. The world's gone crazy these last couple months."

"Justin, you're ... " He just chuckled and squeezed Justin's hand. "You were special. I mean, you *are*. And it's ... " He bit his lip. "Okay, so, this is so not a big deal, but are you talking about Mandy? Because, I don't know. Should I have said something before or something?"

Justin didn't seem upset, but his comments -- both now, and when Joey told him they'd broken up before he'd ever told him they'd dated -- seemed pointed.

Justin shrugged a little, in a way that said 'yes, but I don't want to admit it.' "You always made me feel like I was special," he said after a moment. "I never worried about that. It was okay you didn't say anything; you didn't have much of a reason to."

"It's not the same," Joey just said. "It wasn't ever. Um ... you knew anyway, though. I guess. Didn't you?" Joey'd had some time to think about their converstaion, to think about how Justin had said 'she', how Justin *hadn't* seemed surprised at the revelation in the least.

Justin nodded his head, and took a second before meeting Joey's eyes again. "Yeah, I knew," he said. "It was cool. And you're right, she was an awfully sweet girl. She was at my album release, did you know?"

Joey smiled, a little guiltily. "S'where I met her," he admitted, then reached for Justin's hand again. "She is sweet, but she's not you, and I don't miss her. And I've already said all this so I don't need to bore you."

Justin laughed softly and looked down. "JC never said where you met," he admitted. "That's ... sorry, that's just kinda funny to me. And Joey, it's cool. You don't need to reassure me. I know you like me. I like you too."

"JC?" Joey repeated, then just shook his head. It wasn't important, not at all. "Okay, then we're dropping this. Starting now. You can tell me if we're allowed to kiss in the car, instead."

"Not to be a total girl about this," said Justin, grinning at him, "but I'd really kind of like it if you did. I've -- maybe, possibly -- been waiting for it since I saw you. And we're almost there so you're running out of time."

"Sorry," Joey said sincerely, then reached over to cup Justin's face firmly and give him the kiss *he'd* been waiting a month for, too. He halfway *wanted* his lips kiss-swollen when they saw JC and Chris.

It was maybe the first and only moment they were going to have alone together all evening -- at least, until the evening ended and they ended up back in someone's bed, which Joey could be reasonably certain was going to happen -- and he wanted to make the most of it. And obviously so did Justin, clutching Joey's shirt so hard and tight to keep him there that the fabric was probably going to look stretched afterward.

"Um," Joey breathed, when they finally let each other go. "That's almost enough for me to ask you to ask *them* to turn the car around, baby."

Justin seemed a little breathless and dazed himself, which pleased Joey probably more than it should have. "Me too," he admitted. "But ... they're inside waiting for us. We don't have to stay long."

"Holding you to that," Joey warned him, tugging Justin closer again with a hand to the back of his neck, kissing him deeply and then letting him go abruptly as he leaned over his lap and opened the door on his side of the car.

"You'd better be holding me to something, anyway, before the night is over," Justin muttered as he moved to get out of the car. His bodyguard was already there, moving more quickly than his bulk would suggest. Joey got out behind him, and his hopes for there being fewer photographers this time were dashed. There were already a couple, and by the time they came back out? Well, he just wouldn't think about that.

It was even worse than he'd anticipated, though ... they'd danced, and drank, and by the time they'd left ... there was a *crowd* of fans outside the club. Joey had to run a hand through his hair, wipe his mouth carefully, straighten his clothes. And let Justin walk ahead of him.

"Joey!" someone called, though. More than one someone. "Joey, over here!" She was holding out a bill for a show a couple streets over, and a pen. "Sorry, I don't have anything else you can sign."

"He could sign your chest!" one of her friends giggled.

"Shut up!" she said, blushing fiercely but giving Joey a bright, hopeful smile all the same. "I love your show *so* much!"

Justin looked back over his shoulder and gave Joey an equally bright smile, with a whole lot more meaning behind it.

"Aww, thanks, honey," he said, grinning at her and winking at her friend, then taking the pen and paper just a little awkwardly. He signed it, and chatted with them a second, then looked up to see four or five more people with paper for him. He blinked.

"Joey, Joey, I can I have a picture?" someone asked, while another person held out a picture for him to sign, an MTV publicity shot, and how'd she gotten that, anyway? Didn't they only release those internally and to media outlets?

"Just a few more minutes," he heard Justin say in his ear before he moved away to greet some more of his own fans. "Then we'll be on our way you know where to do you know what."

Joey laughed loudly, obviously making the girls standing in front of him curious about what they'd missed. When he saw Justin raise his hand to the rest of the crowd apologetically, he signed one more himself and followed him to the car at an even *more* respectable distance.

Justin just looked exhilerated about the whole thing, when they were finally safe in the car, his bodyguard making sure the girls all kept their distance and let them get away. "That was definitely better than a pack of photographers, don't you think?"

"Oh, man," Joey just laughed. "That was ... wow, okay, I need to follow you around more often, if that's what happens. How cool was that??? Autographs!"

"What, that doesn't happen to you all the time?" said Justin, and it took Joey a minute to realize he was serious. "They weren't all there for *me*, after all."

"No, I ... I know," Joey admitted, feeling himself blush a little. "I know. But. No, I've never. Done that, signed autographs. I guess, I guess they recognized me, when they saw you."

Justin just shrugged that off. "Yeah, sure, whatever you want to think," he said, and Joey thought maybe it was faintly teasing and faintly knowing. Understanding. "You should maybe probably get used to that, though. God knows I've had to, this last while. Fans are great, though."

"No, it's ... I'm fine," Joey said, still humming with the energy from it. "I've watched C sign a million, just ... I'm cool. I can handle it. But wow." He looked over at Justin and felt his eyes crinkle up when he grinned.

Justin grinned back just as easily, and smoothly crawled closer so he could be the one to kiss Joey this time. "I'm all pumped up now," he said. "The dancing and the fans and the getting to see JC and Chris and the fans and the you. It's gonna be a good night."

"You're all pumped up?" Joey echoed wryly, pulling Justin onto his lap and sliding a hand brazenly up the front of his shirt. "What are we gonna do about that, kiddo?"

"I don't think I need to draw you a picture, Joe," he laughed. "I believe there were promises made of bending me over something, way back when, don't think I've forgotten that. Where are we headed -- your place or the hotel?"

"Oh, man, *I've* forgotten that, but I can't say I'm upset you reminded me," Joey muttered, pulling Justin down even closer to his body. "What's better for you, baby? What time you have to be up?"

"Early," said Justin. "Real early. Either I get to sneak out of your place or you get to sneak out of my place. And at least if we're at your place you can sleep a little longer. No sense getting up at five if you don't have to."

"I don't want you to leave while I'm asleep," Joey told him, letting himself pout a little. "But we can go to my place. If you want. I'd tell you there are clean sheets, but if I'm bending you over something, maybe it won't matter ... "

"Well, there's always the second time," said Justin with devious practicality. "I'm sure there'll be a moment when we appreciate the clean sheets. So okay, your place. And I promise to give you a kiss good-bye in the morning."

"Don't," Joey said, softly, meaning Justin's teasing -- letting the pout slip in a rare moment of seriousness. "Really, Justin. Promise you won't leave in the morning when I'm asleep."

"I'll wake you up," he conceded, "but I won't make you get out of bed. At least let me be that much of a gentleman, all right? No reason for you to try to keep to my schedule when you've got a hectic enough one of your own. And something tells me we won't be getting a lot of sleep tonight anyway; you'll need to take as much as you can get."

Joey let it go at that, and smiled again. "Something tells you? You're so ... something, secretive, tonight, baby." He slid his other hand under Justin's thigh, and finnaly let himself feel the skin of his chest that he was touching with his other hand. "Or, not, but. You've never been shy to just say we'll be fucking."

Justin just laughed and half rolled his eyes. "I'm not being secretive," he said. "I'm trying and failing to be seductive ... or something. Let me try again. "Something -- being you -- tells me you're going to be fucking me over something -- I believe it was your bathroom sink? -- until we're spent and curl around each other in bed and share those cute little kisses that mean we're exhausted but still don't want to stop touching each other. Yeah?"

"Perfect," Joey replied, digging his fingers into Justin's leg. "I just wanted to see your mouth when you say 'fuck.' Pretty porny, kid." He freed his other hand from under Justin's short and touched his bottom lip lightly.

"Fuck," said Justin again, shaping his mouth carefully, then bit at Joey's finger. "I thought you wanted to do a lot more than *see* me say it. And if we're not careful we're gonna end up doing it right here, I swear."

"Oh, I do, baby," Joey said, slipping his hand down to cup Justin's chin and pull their faces together, kissing him teasingly. "And we will." He let go of him and gestured out the window. "See? practically there already. Wanna tell the driver?"

Justin kissed him again before doing anything, then tapped on the window to get the driver's attention. "Just up at this next corner ... no, not this one, the next block, yeah. And I'll be ready to go ... say 5:30, tomorrow morning? Jay, I won't be going anywhere but here, so I'll see you then, too. Have a good night!" He turned back to Joey and gave him a satisfied smile. Joey could only imagine the smile he'd be giving him *after*.

"Very professional," Joey teased him. "You sound very practiced at that. I think you go on 'dates' more often that you let on, boy."

"Maybe I'm just trying to be efficient so you can get me upstairs and screw my brains out," said Justin, his lips agaist Joey's ear. "Maybe I've just been practicing for this moment."

Joey just laughed, tilting his head to the side to let Justindo just whatever he wanted to his ear. He felt so, so amazingly good in Joey's arms; on Joey's lap. And only part of it was just how he *felt*; he really thought most of it was just how happy they *both* seemed to be, to be in each other's company again.

The car came to a slow stop and Justin was quick to let himself out, pulling Joey out alongside him. Which meant that he had to stop nibbling on Joey's ear, but *didn't* have to let go of him, not completely. In fact, he had his hand fisted in Joey's jacket as he urged him toward the front door.

"You obviously remember your way," Joey laughed, wrapping his own arm around Justin's waist and just waving and grinning at the doorman.

They stepped in the elevator and it was like deja vu all over again: their first kiss was here. And it was nowhere near their first, but Joey was excited to be doing it anyway.

"This place is definitely burned in my brain," Justin told him, staring at the numbers for a second then tugging Joey closer and kissing him fiercely. "We need more nights like this, Joey. We don't get to do this near often enough."

Joey just kissed him. What could he say to that? It wasn't near enough, but ... it was what they had. All they had. They were too busy for anything else.

"Come on in," he said softly, letting him into the apartment. "Do you need anything?"

"Just the usual suspects," said Justin, already tugging at his shirt. He hadn't been kidding about being worked up, that much was obvious. "Condom, you, a bit of naked. What more could I need?"

Joey helped him with his shirt, then just picked him up -- with a little bit of effort -- and held him against his body. "You feel good," he grunted. "Okay. Let's see what we can do about the naked."

"I seem to remember us being pretty good at that part," said Justin, starting in on Joey's shirt. "Of course, it's been so long I could be wrong ... "

"You're just not at all used to not having what you want, when you want it, are you?" Joey accused with a smile. He let Justin back down to the floor and started backing toward the bed, making Justin follow him if he wanted to keep unclothing him.

Justin almost stumbled over his feet but didn't let go. "Maybe," he admitted evasively. "When it comes to this, well, yes. I'm pretty used to us wanting the same thing. That doesn't make me selfish and spoiled, does it? Much?"

"Baby, we do want the same thing," Joey assured him, turning to sit on the bed and pulling Justin between his legs. "You're just the one that keeps complaining how long it's been, instead of, you know. Kissing." Joey didn't want to talk about how long it had been. It just reminded him of how long it might *be* before they saw each other again.

"I'm working on the naked part," protested Justin, pulling Joey's shirt off over his shoulders. "What are *you* doing except making it harder for me, huh? It makes a guy think you don't *want* to see him naked and spread wide open and bent over the furniture, ready for you."

Joey reached up and wrapped an arm around Justin's back, tugging him down on top of him and kissing him fiercely. "I do, Justin, I do want that," he breathed, when he could. "So much."

Justin gave up on the clothing for the moment, grasping at the blankets on either side of Joey's head and kissing him back just as hard, just as desperately. Joey had known he would give in eventually; if there was one thing he'd learned about Justin, it was that he was a real sucker for foreplay when it was offered to him, be it fast and furious or slow and thorough.

Joey disentangled one of Justin's hands from the quilt and rolled him over onto his back, basically pinning him to the bed with his own weight. Their kiss only got deeper, more ... greedy. Almost animal.

Not to boast about my size here," said Justin, his voice muffled by kisses, "but I'm about to bust outta my pants. I ... kinda like it." He thrust his hips upward and ground against Joey's body.

"Mmm," Joey just mumbled, lifting a hand but just using it to slip between their torsos, to find one of Justin's tight nipples and tease it more with his thumb. He'd never wanted to draw something out so bad in his life, even -- or especially -- in the face of Justin's eagerness.

"Just promise not to call the Enquirer if I come in my pants, that's all I ask," mumbled Justin, still arching toward him and asking for more, more, more with his body and his expression. So demanding, and Joey did want to give him what he wanted, but didn't plan to give him what he expected.

"Baby, I share too much of you already." Joey was whispering, burying his face in Justin's neck and nipping at his pulse. He finally bucked back down with his own hips, meeting Justin's thrusting.

Justin let out one of those throaty noises and rolled his head back, exposing all of his neck and collarbones for anything Joey wanted to do to them. "Maybe you should ... take them off?" he suggested, but Joey had no intention of doing any such thing just yet. After all, he could always throw them in the wash.

Joey just smiled and licked at the hollow of Justin's throat. "I know for a fact that your arms aren't broken," he teased. Not broken, maybe, but like the rest of Justin's body, Joey had him basically pinned. At his mercy.

"I ... can't," he mumbled, before letting out a raw sound again. "You're there ... I can't ... Joey ... " The thing was, though, he wasn't struggling too hard. Not unless you counted rubbing himself hard against Joey's body as struggling.

"I'm gonna fuck you, now, Justin," Joey told him, pulling back just enough to see Justin's eyes. For Justin to see *his* eyes. "You still want it over the sink, or would you mind a lot if I just take you here?"

Justin just blinked up at him, taking a little longer than normal to process his words. "Just do it," he said finally, licking his lips. "Wherever. However. I don't care. Just please, Joey, just do it ... "

Joey just kissed him as he undid the buttons on Justin's pants, then pulled them down as he flipped Justin -- so pliant in his arms, already -- over onto his stomach, and pressed him down into the mattress again. And then just kissed the back of his neck, between his shoulderblades, every bit of that soft skin he could manage.

He could feel Justin quiver beneath him, feel his hips roll as he continued to rub himself against the bed. "You're killing me," he muttered, but Joey knew he was doing anything but. He recognized the noises Justin was making from when all they'd had were each other's voice, for the last month or so, and he knew they were good ones.

"I'm not, either," he whispered into Justin's back, smiling to himself. "I'm loving you. Just enjoy it." He ran both his hands down the expanse of Justin's back, then slid backwards himself to pull Justin's pants the rest of the way off.

Justin really didn't have anything to say to that, but he did spread his legs once his pants were gone, and arched his back to offer Joey his ass, invitingly. He leaned up onto his forearms and pressed his forehead to the back of his hands and Joey wasn't sure he'd ever seen *anybody* quite so eager and ready to have him.

"You're beautiful," he told him, getting off the bed just long enough to strip his own pants and grab the condom. "God, Justin."

When he climbed back over toward him, he just pressed his cheek to Justin's back for a moment, then started mouthing his way down Justin's spine.

"You wouldn't believe me," said Justin, surprising Joey by speaking, "if I told you how much you turn me on. I hope you can see." Husky voice, flushed skin, legs spread wide and muscles quivering under his touch -- Joey could guess just how turned on Justin was, but it felt good to hear it anyway. "Don't want to wait much longer ... please ... "

"Baby, I'm not making you wait on purpose," Joey promised, even though he guessed he kind of was. Not any more, though, as he slipped a slick finger inside Justin's body, then a second right away, running his other hand all over Justin's back and thigh.

Justin just pushed back against him impatiently, and Joey wondered if Justin wasn't just a bit more of a bottom than he admitted to. "Yeah, that," he said, both breathy and demanding. "*That*."

Joey was far enough down on the bed to be able to bite at the tender flesh of Justin's ass warningly when he did. "You want me to stop?" he threatened, and it was such an empty threat he almost laughed.

"Nooo," said Justin. "More." He didn't much seem willing to give up on the pushiness, and Joey thought it was probably more a sign of his neediness than his personality. In fact, he pushed back against Joey's fingers again.

He obeyed, though, adding a third finger a little more slowly, then removing them all because that was more than fucking enough and he was needy himself.

He coated his dick with lube, and held Justin's hips gently in his hands as he just nestled himself against his ass.

"Oh," said Justin, stopping his backward motion against him. It was a good oh, though, a whimpered, breathless, needy, surprised oh. "Yes, Joey, yes, please ... " Once the surprise wore off, he was back to pleading with him again, trying to get what he wanted. What they both wanted.

Joey wrapped an arm around Justin's stomach and started nudging himself inside, all at once. And it really, truly felt like Justin's body was drawing him inside. It was the weirdest thing. The *hottest* thing. He'd ever felt.

Justin didn't disguise his pants or muffle his moans as Joey sank into him, finally, all the way. "God," he breathed between harsh, ripping breaths. "Yes. Fuck me." Joey just wished he could've seen Justin's lips when he said fuck.

Once he was inside, he could reach up with this other hand: to bury it in Justin's curls and tug his head back, just a little; to move it along his jaw and then rub a thumb over Justin's wet mouth.

Justin licked and bit at his thumb and threw himself wholeheartedly into something he could actually *do*, as opposed to everthing else he was just reacting to. And started pushing back against Joey, too, trying to start a rhythm with his hips.

"Oh, God," Joey gritted out, tightening his arm around Justin's torso and then just giving up on holding back. He adopted the pace that Justin'd set but the depth of his thrusts were all his own.

Justin bit down a little harder on the flesh of Joey's thumb and then released it as he gasped and threw his head back, like he was trying to get air. "Oh yeah," he said, grunting softly as he threw himself back against Joey. "Fuck. Yeah."

Joey drove him back down into the bed, burying himself inside Justin's body over and over. He'd withdraw so quickly he barely had time to blink before he *needed* to be surrounded by that warmth, that pressure again.

"Justin," he panted. "God, you're beautiful."

Justin just moaned, pressing his pace into the pillow, and didn't respond. His body still moved with Joey's and it was so natural, so easy for them to be together. If only they could have it all the time, because Joey could *really* get used to this. Then Justin started pushing back against him harder and Joey could practically feel him clenching his muscles when he was inside him.

"God," Joey said again, and drove into him harder still. He was going to come, he could tell, and just ... *needed* it so he could turn Justin over and take him into his mouth.

Justin let out what sounded like a whimper again, moving his head to the side so he could heave breaths in and out, almost in time with Joey's thrusts. His eyes were closed and he looked positively blissful about what Joey was doing with him.

Joey pressed down again, kissed Justin's shoulderblade, and came. And came and came, it felt like, with a sharp cry of his own. And then he was pulling back on his knees, holding the condom and easing out carefully.

Justin tried to follow him with his body, whimpering again -- and more loudly -- at the loss, but Joey wouldn't let him feel neglected for long. As if he could resist that flushed, prone, writhing body, ever.

"Sorry, baby," Joey murmured, wrapping an arm under Justin's leg -- lifting him up and over and then slipping his fingers back in the void his cock had left. He kept his hold on Justin's leg, too, slipping his shoulder underneath it and taking as much of Justin's own swollen cock into his mouth as he could, as quickly as he could.

Justin bucked up into his mouth but Joey had been ready for that, had been expecting it. "Oh God!" said Justin, his hips jerking, and Joey knew it would probably only be a few more seconds until he came.

He fingered him, and sucked him, and basically tried to cover him with as much of his body as he could. They been so *close* in the other position that he missed the contact; knew that Justin was missing it too.

Justin shuddered as he came, and Joey continued to lick and suck until he'd swallowed it all before finally lifting his mouth off Justin's cock. As soon as he did, Justin was grabbing at him and pulling him closer and diving in for a searing kiss that Joey could feel in his toes.

They rolled over on the bed, knocking the rest of the pillows to the floor and gripping each other tightly. "Justin," Joey gritted out. "Oh, Justin."

Justin kept kissing him over and over, clinging to him and licking his jaw when Joey had to stop to take a breath, or he did. "God, Joey," he said finally as they started to slow down, as their breathing started to become normal again. "That was worth waiting for."

"Yeah," Joey managed, halfway between a question and just agreement. Kissed Justin's cheek, his eyebrow, his temple. "Aw, fuck, hold on baby. I gotta ... " He untangled himself to strip off the condom, practically already all the way off.

Justin laughed gently and nodded his head and closed his eyes and he just looked ... beautiful. As Joey moved away for those few moments, Justin stretched out his body on the bed to let himself cool off. The smile never left his face.

"No sleeping," Joey smiled in return, using the corner of the sheet to wipe himself off. "You're supposed to be jetlagged the other way."

"I think the people that worked that whole thing out never counted on a person being fucked senseless, first thing. We should probably factor that in." Hereached for Joey to try to pull him closer again.

"I didn't fuck you senseless," Joey protested, going easily. "Did I? That was just ... miss-you sex. Yeah." He smiled and wrapped a tiny curl of Justin's hair around his finger.

"Then you need to be missing me more often," said Justin. "Or ... no, wait, that's not right. I don't want you to be missing me more. I just want more sex like that."

"Sorry the other times were so inadequate," Joey teased, wrapping Justin tightly in his arms and holding him close. "Sorry about the sink."

"I still wasn't convinced it would have held us," admitted Justin, pressing his face to Joey's neck. "It was nice not having that nagging worry. We might want to try the kitchen counter some time, though; it always struck me as really sturdy. It could stand up to a good pounding."

"Maybe we can try it the other way," Joey offered. "Switch places." He kissed Justin's earlobe and then his hair, just smelling him and feeling him. "Glad you;'re here," he said, slower.

"You saying you want me to bend you over the kitchen counter?" said Justin, grinning at the notion. "Can't say I'd object to that. Even just thinking about you in that position sends these little thrills through me." He obviously thought about it some more in silence, then kissed Joey's throat. "Glad I'm here, too."

"Are you nervous?" Joey asked, scratching Justin's back softly. "About tomorrow night? I mean, you know you'll be fabulous, but ... "

"Nervous in the good way," he said, practically purring under Joey's touch. "I'm ready. I'm really ready. I can't wait to get up there and do it. Are you going to be there? I know you said you weren't sure ... "

"I'll be there if you want me to be there," Joey said simply. "You just say the word, baby, and I'll be there. I *want* to."

"I wasn't sure if you'd be busy, you know, with work. Or whatever," he said. "Of course I want you to be there. You're the one who knows how far I've come, these last couple of months. I mean, there's buzz, and then there's blow up, and somewhere in the middle it turned into blow up. It would ... " He kissed Joey's neck again. "It would mean something to me if you could be there."

"Then of course, I will," Joey said. And he realized -- maybe not RIGHT then, but close enough -- that he really would drop almost anything he had to do to do this for Justin. Under these circumstances.

"Thanks," said Justin, giving him a smile that, right there, made it worth it. "I'll make sure someone brings you an all-access pass and all ... you'll be at the studio tomorrow, daytime?"

"Yeah," Joey nodded. "But I can leave whenever you need me. Um. Not that you'll need me, so. When you want me, I meant. Or. Or I can just show up whenever."

"I just mean, I'll have someone bring it to you there, take care of things with you there so it doesn't get all bungled up when you show up at the show. I'll be there from, I think, five o'clock on. So any time after that, Joey, you just show up and find me. Yeah?"

"I meant ... okay," Joey just laughed, shaking his head. "Nevermind. I know better than to try and talk after sex. Let alone, you know, sex like that. *Damn*, baby, that felt good. Didn't it?"

"Yeah," said Justin quietly, a curiously soft smile coming to his face. "Yeah, it really did. And people wonder why I love New York so much ... " He closed his eyes and nuzzled closer to Joey, getting comfortable, still tangled up with his body.

Joey felt himself grinning stupidly, and just held Justin close. Glad they'd never turned the lights on, glad he didn't have to get back out of the bed. Glad he'd listened to JC, or Justin, or even himself, and stuck tothis. And not just for the sex.

* * *

Joey hovered by the wall outside the dressing room, virtually unnoticed by the people bustling around, keeping the show moving. He wasn't making a fuss and he looked vaguely familiar and he had the proper ID hanging round his neck, so he wasn't really even worth stopping to say 'hello' or 'do you need anything' to. And really, he couldn't say he minded so much.

The sound was much more muted back here, the music, the screams, the vocals of the last song of the night. He could finally hear himself think, finally hear himself speak. Finally really realize just what he was doing here. It was all becoming pretty damn clear to him as he stood there and waited.

Which of course was when the phone in his pocket started to vibrate. This time he actually realized what it was, but he suddenly remembered feeling the same sensation a couple of other times during the evening. He thought it had been the heavy bass at the time; now he realized he'd missed at least a couple of calls. He answered it quickly this time, trying not to miss another.

"Joey?" said JC, sounding worried. "Joey! Are you okay?"

"Jeez, Jace, yeah, why?" Joey laughed, more to relieve JC more quickly than words could. "I'm fine. If that was you before ... well. It was a little loud out there. And oh, man, Jace, man," he added, gushing. "Justin ... he was just ... wow. Wow. Amazing. Incredible, even."

"Justin?" said JC, then laughed suddenly. "I thought we were going together to *tomorrow's* show. You know the one I've got passes for? But damn ... If

But damn ... I've got to tell you, this is the best excuse you've ever come up with for bailing on dinner with me."

"Oh, he's ... sorry, Jace," Joey said, finally getting to the place where Justin had showed him to wait after the show, trying to lean casually against the wall and not quite making 'casual'. "Sorry. He wanted me to be here tonight,and yeah, it totally slipped my mind. I was ... pretty worthless at work, too."

"Yeah, I bet," said JC. "He wanted you to be there with him, huh? So is out golden boy living up to the hype? Is he really as good as we all already knew he was?"

"Oh, he's ... " Joey found that he couldn't quite put into words what Justin was, right then. Part of it was his own adrenaline from the performance, but part of it too was just that he almost couldn't vocalize *anything* about him, right then.

He didn't think JC would mind hearing what else he had to say, though.

"We spent the night last night," he started, glancing around when the bustle backstage started picking up. "We ... I think I'm in love with him, Jace. I'm gonna tell him, too."

"Oh man," said JC. "Oh *man*, Joey, are you serious? For real serious?"

"About which part?" Joey laughed again, but this time it just sounded a little hyper and nervous. "Either way ... yeah. JC, I just seriously haven't felt this way. About anyone and I think that means something and it's gonna be hard as hell but I'm not letting him go."

"Well, it's about damn time," said JC, but he sounded a little nervous and awed, too. "And hey, what are you wasting time telling *me* for. Call me tomorrow? When you're free?"

"You were calling *me*!" Joey laughed again, biting his lip and drumming his fingers on the wall. "But okay. Okay, yeah, of course, JC. Um, wish me luck though, 'kay?"

"Damn, of course, good luck!" he said quickly. "I just wanted to know where the hell you were, that's all, and whether I was gonna need to bail you out. Good luck! Good luck! You can tell me all about it tomorrow."

"Ha ha ha BYE," Joey said, clicking his phone shut and shoving it back in his jeans and then just. Waiting. He already knew what he wanted to say, but only if ... only if Justin seemed like he wanted to hear it. After he'd let him talk about the show as much as he wanted to, of course.

He could hear Justin coming long before he got there, the commotion around him was so loud. But it got quieter, not louder, as it got closer. As people dropped off the fringes of his entourage to go about their business. By the time Justin reached where he was, he was only being followed by a bodyguard and someone from wardrobe.

He pulled Justin into a hug once he was sure that the kid's protests were more about not getting Joey sweaty than not actually wanting to be hugged. "J, baby, you fucking kicked ass. Kicked *ass*. I've never seen ... that was just wonderful. You are gonna be such a huge star and you deserve it, because I know you've worked hard ... "

Justin just kept squeezing him, hard and long, as soon as Joey assured him it was okay. "I am so fucking wired," he said. "I am *so* fucking wired, Joey. I'm so fucking glad you're here. You saw the show? Yeah? It was good? It *felt* good. It felt fucking amazing. Come on ... inside ... close the door ... "

Joey laughed and guided Justin inside, closing the door after them obediently. "Baby," he said again, just smiling fondly and wiping Justin's hair back from his sweaty face. "You blew me away. Better than even I was expecting. I'm so ... okay, not your mom here, but so proud of you, kid."

Justin's smile was so, so bright, his *eyes* were bright, and he looked just about as happy as Joey had ever seen him. Maybe even more now than he'd been when he was on stage. He was doing what he wanted to be doing, *this* was what Justin Timberlake was put on this earth to do.

"I'm so glad you're here," he said again. "You're just about the only person I'd want to share this moment with."

That made Joey feel like *he* was glowing. "Well then I'm glad I'm here, too," he just said. And then kept smiling at him like a doofus. "You want to talk about it? How it felt?"

Justin just threw his head back and laughed and, if possible, looked even happier. "It was amazing," he said finally. "Fucking amazing. I mean, I've performed before, I've had an audience before, but that ... the *energy*, Joey. You know? Could you feel it, too?"

"Mmm," Joey nodded, agreeing, happy to just let Justin talk this out. To let him babble and gush or laugh or just think to himself or whatever it took. He realized that if their places were switched, Justin would be doing exactly the same thing for him. He'd proven himself, as far as that went.

"And everyone was just into it, and the more *they* were into it the more *I* was into it and it was just ... just everything. You know? It was ... wow." He laughed again and seemed to run out of words to describe it. "I should've had you standing by the stage doors, it felt like it took forever to get back here."

Joey grinned at that. "Aww, it's okay. This way I got to hold you the way I wanted and not cause *too* huge a scandal. Speaking of ... when's Bass gonna come and harrass you about how it went? How much time do I got here, just us?"

"I may possibly have someone running interference," said Justin, grinning back at him proudly. "You should be more worried about my mother. But we got a few minutes, Joey, I made sure of that."

"Okay," Joey said, nodding and then taking a breath. "Okay, then, um. A few minutes. I need to tell you something, then, J, okay? Something I ... oh, hell, I don't know. I don't know when I figured this out. And I don't even know if my timing's good or if it sucks but good God I didn't want to let you out of my sight this morning, and it's just getting harder, and I mean, not complaining about that because hello, busy myself, but yeah, it's hard, hard to let you go ... "

"Oh yeah," said Justin, nodding his head understandingly. "Tell me about it, Joe. You think I wasn't thinking about you, all through soundcheck? I just, you know, I take whatever time we can. Make the most of ever second I get to have you in person."

"You were thinking of me?" Joey blinked, feeling himself grin again. "Aww, J, that's so ... okay, yes, sweet, but wait, I gotta say this." He reached for Justin's face again, even though he hadn't exactly let go of him. "We're good together, yeah? And we've been talking more, talking a lot, and you're really good to talk to, about work and all, and. This isn't about sex anymore, for me. I mean, it is. Uh, obviously. Just not *just* about it, and I'm not sure it really ever was, and. Okay. Is all this okay, so far?"

Justin nodded his head and seemed to start to realize that Joey was saying something serious to him. "If it makes this easier," he said slowly, careful with his words now, "me too. About the thinking this is more than sex. But I kind of have for a while, it's not really new for me, feeling like that ... "

"I just didn't think ... well, that's not important." It was times like this -- even though he hadn't exactly been *here* before -- that made Joey wish he was a lot smoother, when he talked. "So, okay, so. I'm just saying this and you don't have to say anything, but you deserve to know how I feel." He cleared his throat. "I'm, um. You made me fall in love with you. Totally. And maybe it's stupid and nothing you want, or our schedules, I know, but none of that's gonna change it. I just ... do. Love you." He smiled slowly. "It feels good, too."

Justin blinked at him a few times, and looked completely uncomprehending right up to the point when he took Joey's face in his hands and pulled him closer and kissed him. "I never thought," he murmured. "You had someone else, before, and I just never thought ... "

"What?" Joey said, blinking and chuckling a little when Justin let go of his mouth. "Mandy? or do you mean Kelly. Because yeah, okay, maybe that fucked me up a little about love and now I guess I'm gonna have to tell you *that* story someday, but it's not the same, this isn't the same, I know it. I can feel it."

"I meant Mandy," said Justin, kissing the corner of his mouth. "I know all about having relationships in the past that mess you up. But Mandy ... no, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter now."

"Okay," Joey nodded, exhaling heavily again. "Okay. So. Um, there you go! Guess you wanna shower, or change now, or something. Um, and JC says hello and can't wait to see you tomorrow."

"Wait," said Justin, grabbing at his arm. "Wait, no. No. You can't say something like that and just, like, leave. No. I won't let you."

Joey just grinned, affectionately again, and plucked at Justin's fingers. "I'm not *leaving*," he explained. "Not unless you want me to. I just didn't want you to feel like, you know, you had to say something. You kind of weren't."

"Well what am I gonna say?" asked Justin, still clutching at him like Joey might disappear at any second. "What am i gonna say, Joey, that you don't already know? I mean ... that is why you told me, right? Because you already figured it out ... ?"

"Figured ... what?" Joey blinked, confused but not worried. That didn't sound *bad*. "Yeah, I told you 'cause I figured out how I felt. Didn't I say that? I know I kind of babbled there but I *thought* I got that part right."

"No," said Justin, touching his face again, touching his lips. He looked a bit confused too for a moment, and physically shook it off, looking away from Joey's eyes for only a moment and then looking right back again. "I mean, me. How *I* felt." He chuckled and once again his eyes flicked away. "Okay, I know I haven't exactly been subtle since I got back to the city. I was just so excited to see you again ... "

"I know," Joey grinned, happy to have Justin's hands on him. "I mean, I know you were excited to see me. It felt good. I love looking at you, being around you when you get what you want."

Justin suddenly started grinning as he studied Joey's face. "Oh, man. You *don't* know, do you." It was less a question than some sort of revelation.

"Justin," Joey groaned, still grinning, even as his breath hitched a little as he shoved Justin's shoulder playfully. "I'm an idiot. We know this. Just ... just tell me, okay? Tell me how you feel. Whatever it is, however it is, we'll deal with it, okay? I'll deal with it."

Justin rolled his eyes but he was grinning so wide Joey couldn't take it poorly. "You're not an idiot," he said, "you just ... kind of missed the part where I fell for you, too. There hasn't been anyone else, you know. Out west, or during rehearsals, or any of it. I know, I know, it sounds stupid and romantic and maybe you don't believe in that stuff like I do. But I was waiting, until I got back here to you."

"You. What?" Joey knew Justin liked him; couldn't have *missed* the way he did light up around him. But he never would have guessed that he'd been ... not with anyone else. "Nobody? But. You said, before. Justin, that you had, so ... how come you didn't tell me that?"

Justin looked away, down at his hands for a second. "Because of Mandy," he admitted, bringing her up again. "Because you had Mandy and I figured it might make you feel weird, to know I hadn't, not beyond a few kisses, a few gropes. I didn't know it was the right time to say, until now."

Joey wished he'd listened to JC, a little more. All he could do now was touch Justin's face, try and tug his lips into a smile. "Okay, well, that's done. Nothing to worry about now ... you fell for me too? That's ... okay, *that's* the important thing, right? And it's, like, still good? You're still ... fallen?"

Justin chuckled. "If I fell anymore I'd be stumbing into your arms," he admitted. "You're what I think about when I perform, Joey. You're what I think about when I'm alone. You're what I think about when I"m writing. I'd say I want us to be together, for real, more than just when I'm here, but ... " he grinned. "I kind of think we already are."

It was true. Lately, it was true. So Joey just smiled and tried not to sound too floored when he said "you think about me when you perform? Like ... the mushy songs? and, um, the sexy ones?" The rest of it, he hoped, went without saying.

"Who else would I be thinking about?" said Justin, ignoring a light tapping at the door. "Who else did you think I was snging them to, tonight, especially knowing you were out there?"

"I ... I don't know, I didn't ... I don't know how it works," Joey admitted, giving the door a glare. Justin hadn't said he loved Joey back, but Joey felt okay about it. Felt good about it.

He gave him his most tender smile, and one more kiss, before whispering in his ear.

"Someone needs in, babe. I'll see you outside?"

"Don't leave," insisted Justin fiercely. "I ... I have things to do, and I *smell*, but don't leave. Stay. I'll be out as soon as I can." He gave Joey a swift, hard kiss, and smiled. "We've got all kinds of things to do and to talk about, and I can't wait to get started."

Joey just laughed. "Okay, but only because I already admitted that I like seeing you get what you want." He backed away, letting Justin open the door. Trying to wipe the goofy expression off his own face; the expression that would give away pretty much everything. Justin at least had an excuse for his.

"Stay," said Justin one last time, right before they were interrupted. "You know you don't want to be anywhere else. Stay, and we'll be alone together soon. We'll make time; we always do."

back