Chapter 11

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Chapter 11

TIME IS THE BEST MEDICINE.

*OVID, LOVE'S CURE

CHAPTER ELEVEN-THE PASSING OF TIME

He thought it would get easier as time went on. Better, even.

He was wrong.

Two weeks had passed since Joey spilled the news about Lance, and Lance could count on one hand the number of times JC spoke to him.

And the times he did, they were being interviewed.

It used to be that Lance dreaded interviews. The same questions they've been answering for the past year, the same repetitive answers, and the same jokes being made. Now though, Lance looked forward to them. It was the one time they were back to their old selves. Back to what made them so popular. Back to normal.

Lance didn't understand what was going on the first time it happened. They were doing an interview for one of the many teen magazines when JC was answering a question about their dancing styles. He was speaking to the interviewer, “Lance dances with his hands. He has big hand movements.” Then he suddenly turned to Lance, “You dance like you should be on Broadway.”

Lance was so shocked he couldn't respond. JC wasn't making fun of him, he was complimenting him, because he went on to say that Lance was the worst dancer when they started and he had come a long way. Lance stared at JC talking, as if he looked away, it would never have happened. Then JC turned to him again, and Lance noticed the smile on his face didn't quite reach his eyes.

At each interview, JC made it a point to be as normal as possible around Lance. He would always pointedly say something to him, laughing and joking around just like before.

Before Lance didn't trust him.

And JC thought he was getting pretty good at the game. Lance, on the other hand, wasn't quite as good. He wouldn't know how to respond right away, still reeling from the fact that JC actually spoke to him.

Looks like that damn Rat show taught JC some pretty good acting skills after all.

But when the interview was over, JC would climb in the limo, making sure he was as far away from Lance as possible in the small space, and stare out the window. When he would join the conversation, he would talk to Justin, Joey or Chris. Never Lance. He would barely acknowledge he even said anything.

Justin had tried to talk to him. Lance had forgiven Justin for what he said that night, and Justin just knew that if JC talked to him, Lance would forgive him, too. But JC wouldn't budge.

Justin, Joey, and Chris could do nothing but sit back and watch their friendship fall apart right before their eyes.

It was slightly easier on Lance because of the tour. The guys were always busy, interviews during the day, sound check in the afternoon, right on to the meet and greet, then the down time, then finally the show. On stage it was easier for Lance to forget that JC ignored him, he threw himself into each performance, making sure he hit his mark each and every time. There were subtle changes that shot a pain through Lance's heart each night, but he steeled himself for that every show.

Like when JC asked Justin to switch places with him so he wouldn't have to stand next to Lance during the performance of I Thought She Knew.

Or when JC asked Joey to be the one he spoke to at the beginning of This I Promise You.

Or how JC never, not once, looked at Lance, or in Lance's direction, the whole time they were on stage.

Or how when they were backstage after Space Cowboy, JC stopped telling Lance he did a good job on the dance break, just because he knew how hard it was for Lance to learn that dance.

It was the little things, really.

Lance had to admit, though, if JC was acting different, none of the others were. Joey became Lance's new best friend. He knew how much Lance was hurting inside over the JC thing, and he made it a point to be around Lance, to try to make him laugh, to insist that he go to the club with the guys. Lance forgave Joey for telling everyone his secret; he could never stay mad at Joey for long. And Lance was thankful that Joey was around.

Justin seemed to make up for his reaction that first night by over compensating. He was always around, trying to get Lance to do this with him, or play that with him. Lance actually got to a point where he threw up his hands and told Justin that he was forgiven, he didn't hate him, could he please give him a moment of peace? And Justin looked at him, relief written all over his face, and hugged Lance so tightly that Lance couldn't breath. Then he pulled away and asked if Lance wanted to go play basketball.

Chris was the biggest surprise to Lance. His teasing hadn't decreased, but Lance now knew that it was all in fun. He could see the twinkle in Chris's eyes as he spoke to Lance, the slight grin pulling at the sides of his mouth. But Lance didn't just sit back and take it any more. He gave it right back to Chris, which only spurred Chris on even more. And when they went out to a club, Chris would actually sit in the booth with Lance and point out guys that he thought Lance would find attractive. Lance laughed it off, telling Chris he wasn't looking for anyone right now.

When the truth was, none of them even came close to JC.


	Inner Reflection \| home back to Secret Desires Chapter 11 TIME IS THE BEST MEDICINE. OVID, LOVE'S CURE* CHAPTER ELEVEN-THE PASSING OF TIME He thought it would get easier as time went on. Better, even. He was wrong. Two weeks had passed since Joey spilled the news about Lance, and Lance could count on one hand the number of times JC spoke to him. And the times he did, they were being interviewed. It used to be that Lance dreaded interviews. The same questions they've been answering for the past year, the same repetitive answers, and the same jokes being made. Now though, Lance looked forward to them. It was the one time they were back to their old selves. Back to what made them so popular. Back to normal. Lance didn't understand what was going on the first time it happened. They were doing an interview for one of the many teen magazines when JC was answering a question about their dancing styles. He was speaking to the interviewer, “Lance dances with his hands. He has big hand movements.” Then he suddenly turned to Lance, “You dance like you should be on Broadway.” Lance was so shocked he couldn't respond. JC wasn't making fun of him, he was complimenting him, because he went on to say that Lance was the worst dancer when they started and he had come a long way. Lance stared at JC talking, as if he looked away, it would never have happened. Then JC turned to him again, and Lance noticed the smile on his face didn't quite reach his eyes. At each interview, JC made it a point to be as normal as possible around Lance. He would always pointedly say something to him, laughing and joking around just like before. Before Lance didn't trust him. And JC thought he was getting pretty good at the game. Lance, on the other hand, wasn't quite as good. He wouldn't know how to respond right away, still reeling from the fact that JC actually spoke to him. Looks like that damn Rat show taught JC some pretty good acting skills after all. But when the interview was over, JC would climb in the limo, making sure he was as far away from Lance as possible in the small space, and stare out the window. When he would join the conversation, he would talk to Justin, Joey or Chris. Never Lance. He would barely acknowledge he even said anything. Justin had tried to talk to him. Lance had forgiven Justin for what he said that night, and Justin just knew that if JC talked to him, Lance would forgive him, too. But JC wouldn't budge. Justin, Joey, and Chris could do nothing but sit back and watch their friendship fall apart right before their eyes. It was slightly easier on Lance because of the tour. The guys were always busy, interviews during the day, sound check in the afternoon, right on to the meet and greet, then the down time, then finally the show. On stage it was easier for Lance to forget that JC ignored him, he threw himself into each performance, making sure he hit his mark each and every time. There were subtle changes that shot a pain through Lance's heart each night, but he steeled himself for that every show. Like when JC asked Justin to switch places with him so he wouldn't have to stand next to Lance during the performance of I Thought She Knew. Or when JC asked Joey to be the one he spoke to at the beginning of This I Promise You. Or how JC never, not once, looked at Lance, or in Lance's direction, the whole time they were on stage. Or how when they were backstage after Space Cowboy, JC stopped telling Lance he did a good job on the dance break, just because he knew how hard it was for Lance to learn that dance. It was the little things, really. Lance had to admit, though, if JC was acting different, none of the others were. Joey became Lance's new best friend. He knew how much Lance was hurting inside over the JC thing, and he made it a point to be around Lance, to try to make him laugh, to insist that he go to the club with the guys. Lance forgave Joey for telling everyone his secret; he could never stay mad at Joey for long. And Lance was thankful that Joey was around. Justin seemed to make up for his reaction that first night by over compensating. He was always around, trying to get Lance to do this with him, or play that with him. Lance actually got to a point where he threw up his hands and told Justin that he was forgiven, he didn't hate him, could he please give him a moment of peace? And Justin looked at him, relief written all over his face, and hugged Lance so tightly that Lance couldn't breath. Then he pulled away and asked if Lance wanted to go play basketball. Chris was the biggest surprise to Lance. His teasing hadn't decreased, but Lance now knew that it was all in fun. He could see the twinkle in Chris's eyes as he spoke to Lance, the slight grin pulling at the sides of his mouth. But Lance didn't just sit back and take it any more. He gave it right back to Chris, which only spurred Chris on even more. And when they went out to a club, Chris would actually sit in the booth with Lance and point out guys that he thought Lance would find attractive. Lance laughed it off, telling Chris he wasn't looking for anyone right now. When the truth was, none of them even came close to JC.