Chapter 25

After the kiss, JC and Lance lie on the couch, Lance in front of JC, JC's arms tightly around his waist. They fit perfectly together, as if their bodies were made to fit each other. JC held Lance close to him, his face in the back of his neck, each deep breath he took allowed him to breath in the scent of Lance. Lance's hands rested on JC's at his waist, and he traced mindless patterns on the back of his hands as they lie together in comfortable silence.

When they got tired, neither wanted to move from the position they were in, so they just fell asleep on the couch. Sometime during the night, Lance rolled over in JC's arms to rest his head on his chest. JC's arms continued to wrap around Lance, as if protecting him from any harm that the world would throw at him.

And that's how Justin found them the next day. He had come home after seeing Britney off at the airport late in the morning. He went into the kitchen to get his bowl of cereal and planned on watching cartoons until Lance woke up. He padded into the living room and set his cereal on the coffee table as he looked for the remote.

Turning, he stopped short at the sight of his two best friends asleep on the couch. His eyes widened and his face broke out into a smile. As he watched, Lance groaned softly in his sleep, moving closer to JC. JC tightened his hold on Lance and sighed contently. Justin was amazed they were comfortable on the couch, he always thought it was too small for two people to sleep on. Although, Lance was practically on top of JC, and JC didn't look like he minded, so Justin decided to let it go.

Then he settled down on the chair, the television turned on, softly playing his cartoons, his cereal in his lap. Although he was interested in Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, he could not help his eyes drifting over to his friends, deep in each other's arms, and wonder if everything was finally going to be okay.

Lance woke up for the second time feeling eyes on him. He knew it wasn't JC this time, since JC was still underneath him, and judging by the way he was breathing, still asleep. Lance continued to keep his eyes closed, wondering who was watching them.

“Yeah,” Justin responded, “They've been like that all morning. I don't know how they're comfortable.”

“Especially Lance,” Chris agreed, “I would think JC would make a really bony pillow. JC should have fallen asleep on Lance.”

Lance smiled to himself, “What are you saying, Chris, that I'm fat?” He rolled over and looked at his friends, who were sitting on the edge of the coffee table, staring at them.

Chris shrugged, “Not fat, and hey, you're certainly smaller than Joey,” Joey protested and pushed Chris off the edge of the table. “Hey!” He stood and rubbed his hip where it hit the floor, “I was just saying that JC's too damn skinny to want to fall asleep on, that's all.”

Justin rolled his eyes as he stood, “Are we going to have to hear about how wonderful JC is? Cause, really, I think I may puke.”

Lance grinned, “No, you won't.” He untangled himself from JC's arms and sat on the edge of the sofa. JC sighed and reached out in his sleep. Lance smiled at him and took his outstretched hand before turning to his friends.

Joey watched JC. “Look at that, one night and he's already reaching for you,” he met Lance's eyes, “Told you everything would work out.”

Lance looked down at JC and smiled, “I don't know, exactly. I was watching TV when I fell asleep, and JC was here when I got up. I don't know why he came over, I didn't ask.”

Lance turned to Justin as he asked his question, a small smile on his face. “He basically told me he was sorry for being an asshole, and that he knew what he did was wrong, but he had his reasons.”

Lance nodded, “Look, guys, we talked about it last night, we argued, we got it out in the open, and I don't really want to rehash it with you. I forgave him, he was confused, he was afraid of what he was feeling, and I know how he felt, okay? And I don't want any of you treating him any differently because of what he did. It's over, it's in the past, and I'd just like to move on.”

Lance felt JC squeeze his hand, and he looked down at him. His eyes were closed, his breathing still even, but Lance knew he was awake, knew he heard every word that they were saying.

Joey nodded at Lance, “I agree. Look, Chris, Lance is right. The problem was between the two of them, and if they worked everything out, then there's no need to bring it up again.”

Chris shrugged, “Okay, fine, it's in the past.” His eyes narrowed and he looked at Lance, “But if he ever does anything like that again, I'll hurt him.”

“He won't,” Lance said softly. He looked at Justin, who was at the window, looking out over the street, “Hey, Justin, you okay?”

Justin sighed, “I was just wondering how this was going to change things. I mean, you guys are in love now, you're going to be spending a lot of time together.” He looked at the floor, “I guess I'll just miss you, that's all.”

“Justin, it's not going to change anything. We're still going to hang out with y'all,” Lance told him. “JC's still your best friend, you know? I wouldn't take that from you.”

Justin looked up, “I know, and that's not what I meant. I just meant,” he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “look, I know when I first found out you were gay I acted kind of stupid.”

“I can't, Lance! I acted like a prick. I just don't want you to think that you have to act differently in front of me because of what I said in the past. I don't want you guys to feel as if you can't act like a couple in front of me. I'm really happy for you, I'm really happy JC finally decided to get his head out of his ass and admit his feelings for you.” Justin grinned, “I just want you to act normal around me. If y'all want to kiss or something, that's okay with me. Just don't give me a free show to your sex acts.”

Lance blushed and felt JC's hand tighten on his again. He looked down to see a small smile on JC's face. “Justin, trust me, I would not want you in my bedroom.”

Justin made a face, “No, not really.” He shook his head, “Look, I know JC's awake, so what do you say we get some lunch?”

Justin rolled his eyes, “Come on, Joey. Look at him. JC never sleeps on his side, he always sleeps on his back. He rolled onto his side because he didn't want us to know he was listening.” He crossed the room and hit JC on the head, “Rise and shine Pumpkin, we're getting something to eat.”

JC rolled off the couch, kissing Lance on the head as he stood. He said hello to Joey and Chris and left to go to Justin's bathroom. Lance watched him go and stood, “I need a shower, too.”

Justin caught his arm as he walked towards the doorway. “Hey, I want to ask you something,” he said. He turned to Chris and Joey, “Go play PlayStation or something.”

They grumbled something about how they wanted to know what he was going to ask, but got up and left the room. Lance turned to Justin, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyebrow raised. “What's up?”


	Inner Reflection \| home back to Secret Desires Chapter 25 LOVE IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW MANY TIMES YOU TOUCH EACH OTHER BUT BY HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH EACH OTHER. *CATHY MORANCY CHAPER TWENTY-FIVE - REACHING OUT After the kiss, JC and Lance lie on the couch, Lance in front of JC, JC's arms tightly around his waist. They fit perfectly together, as if their bodies were made to fit each other. JC held Lance close to him, his face in the back of his neck, each deep breath he took allowed him to breath in the scent of Lance. Lance's hands rested on JC's at his waist, and he traced mindless patterns on the back of his hands as they lie together in comfortable silence. When they got tired, neither wanted to move from the position they were in, so they just fell asleep on the couch. Sometime during the night, Lance rolled over in JC's arms to rest his head on his chest. JC's arms continued to wrap around Lance, as if protecting him from any harm that the world would throw at him. And that's how Justin found them the next day. He had come home after seeing Britney off at the airport late in the morning. He went into the kitchen to get his bowl of cereal and planned on watching cartoons until Lance woke up. He padded into the living room and set his cereal on the coffee table as he looked for the remote. Turning, he stopped short at the sight of his two best friends asleep on the couch. His eyes widened and his face broke out into a smile. As he watched, Lance groaned softly in his sleep, moving closer to JC. JC tightened his hold on Lance and sighed contently. Justin was amazed they were comfortable on the couch, he always thought it was too small for two people to sleep on. Although, Lance was practically on top of JC, and JC didn't look like he minded, so Justin decided to let it go. He did, however, call Joey and Chris and tell them to come over right away. Then he settled down on the chair, the television turned on, softly playing his cartoons, his cereal in his lap. Although he was interested in Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, he could not help his eyes drifting over to his friends, deep in each other's arms, and wonder if everything was finally going to be okay. Lance woke up for the second time feeling eyes on him. He knew it wasn't JC this time, since JC was still underneath him, and judging by the way he was breathing, still asleep. Lance continued to keep his eyes closed, wondering who was watching them. “They look so cute,” Joey said softly. “Yeah,” Justin responded, “They've been like that all morning. I don't know how they're comfortable.” “Especially Lance,” Chris agreed, “I would think JC would make a really bony pillow. JC should have fallen asleep on Lance.” Lance smiled to himself, “What are you saying, Chris, that I'm fat?” He rolled over and looked at his friends, who were sitting on the edge of the coffee table, staring at them. Chris shrugged, “Not fat, and hey, you're certainly smaller than Joey,” Joey protested and pushed Chris off the edge of the table. “Hey!” He stood and rubbed his hip where it hit the floor, “I was just saying that JC's too damn skinny to want to fall asleep on, that's all.” Lance smiled, “I think he's perfect.” Justin rolled his eyes as he stood, “Are we going to have to hear about how wonderful JC is? Cause, really, I think I may puke.” Lance grinned, “No, you won't.” He untangled himself from JC's arms and sat on the edge of the sofa. JC sighed and reached out in his sleep. Lance smiled at him and took his outstretched hand before turning to his friends. Joey watched JC. “Look at that, one night and he's already reaching for you,” he met Lance's eyes, “Told you everything would work out.” Lance laughed, “Yeah right, Joe. It took a lot for us to finally get to last night.” Chris cocked his head, “So, what happened?” Lance looked down at JC and smiled, “I don't know, exactly. I was watching TV when I fell asleep, and JC was here when I got up. I don't know why he came over, I didn't ask.” “What did he say?” Lance turned to Justin as he asked his question, a small smile on his face. “He basically told me he was sorry for being an asshole, and that he knew what he did was wrong, but he had his reasons.” “They better have been, good, Lance,” Chris told him, “because he treated you like shit.” Lance nodded, “Look, guys, we talked about it last night, we argued, we got it out in the open, and I don't really want to rehash it with you. I forgave him, he was confused, he was afraid of what he was feeling, and I know how he felt, okay? And I don't want any of you treating him any differently because of what he did. It's over, it's in the past, and I'd just like to move on.” Lance felt JC squeeze his hand, and he looked down at him. His eyes were closed, his breathing still even, but Lance knew he was awake, knew he heard every word that they were saying. Joey nodded at Lance, “I agree. Look, Chris, Lance is right. The problem was between the two of them, and if they worked everything out, then there's no need to bring it up again.” Chris shrugged, “Okay, fine, it's in the past.” His eyes narrowed and he looked at Lance, “But if he ever does anything like that again, I'll hurt him.” “He won't,” Lance said softly. He looked at Justin, who was at the window, looking out over the street, “Hey, Justin, you okay?” Justin turned, “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I'm just thinking, that's all.” “About what?” Lance wanted to know. Justin shrugged, embarrassed, “It's stupid, really.” Joey snickered and Lance silenced him with a glare, “Come on, Justin, what's wrong?” Justin sighed, “I was just wondering how this was going to change things. I mean, you guys are in love now, you're going to be spending a lot of time together.” He looked at the floor, “I guess I'll just miss you, that's all.” “Justin, it's not going to change anything. We're still going to hang out with y'all,” Lance told him. “JC's still your best friend, you know? I wouldn't take that from you.” Justin looked up, “I know, and that's not what I meant. I just meant,” he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “look, I know when I first found out you were gay I acted kind of stupid.” “Justin,” Lance said, “we've been through this, forget about it.” “I can't, Lance! I acted like a prick. I just don't want you to think that you have to act differently in front of me because of what I said in the past. I don't want you guys to feel as if you can't act like a couple in front of me. I'm really happy for you, I'm really happy JC finally decided to get his head out of his ass and admit his feelings for you.” Justin grinned, “I just want you to act normal around me. If y'all want to kiss or something, that's okay with me. Just don't give me a free show to your sex acts.” Lance blushed and felt JC's hand tighten on his again. He looked down to see a small smile on JC's face. “Justin, trust me, I would not want you in my bedroom.” Justin looked offended, “Hey! Why not? I'm cute, I'm hot, I'm sexy.” Lance laughed, “Fine, Justin, I want you in my bedroom. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Justin made a face, “No, not really.” He shook his head, “Look, I know JC's awake, so what do you say we get some lunch?” Joey looked at him, “How can you tell he's awake? He looks like he's sleeping to me.” Justin rolled his eyes, “Come on, Joey. Look at him. JC never sleeps on his side, he always sleeps on his back. He rolled onto his side because he didn't want us to know he was listening.” He crossed the room and hit JC on the head, “Rise and shine Pumpkin, we're getting something to eat.” JC opened one eye to look at Justin, “Have I told you lately that I hate you?” Justin grinned, “You stink. Go get a shower and let's go.” JC rolled off the couch, kissing Lance on the head as he stood. He said hello to Joey and Chris and left to go to Justin's bathroom. Lance watched him go and stood, “I need a shower, too.” Justin caught his arm as he walked towards the doorway. “Hey, I want to ask you something,” he said. He turned to Chris and Joey, “Go play PlayStation or something.” They grumbled something about how they wanted to know what he was going to ask, but got up and left the room. Lance turned to Justin, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyebrow raised. “What's up?” Justin grinned, “So, now that you've done it, what's it like to kiss a guy?”