Chapter 17

Inner Reflection | home

*~*March 1998*~*

"Can we go out to celebrate? Please?" Justin asked Johnny.

Johnny sighed. "Fine. Only cause you released the album today. But stay out of trouble!"

"Trouble? Us?" Chris asked sweetly. Johnny groaned, and shaking his head, left the room.

"All right! Clubbing!" Joey exclaimed.

"Think we can get Curly in?" Chris asked.

"Shut up!" Justin retorted. "Of course I can get in...I look 18!"

"Right. Of course," Lance said.

"You're only 18 yourself," Justin said, glaring at Lance.

"That's what you think," Lance said, not realizing he'd said it out loud.

"What?" JC looked at him sharply.

"Something you're not telling us, Lance?" Joey asked.

"Oh, yes. I've been hiding something from you. I'm really 37 and married with 16 kids. Sorry for keeping it from you. Hope you can forgive me."

"Um...right...yeah," Joey said, bewildered.

Lance burst out laughing. "The looks on your faces when I said I wasn't 18...priceless..." He sighed inwardly, relieved he'd managed to overcome his little slip up.

Chris laughed. "You couldn't look 37 if you tried."

"You couldn't ACT 37 if you tried," Lance retorted.

"Why would I want to?"

"At least I'm not--"

Justin grabbed onto Lance's shoulders and pulled him away from Chris. "That's enough, boys," he said.

"Not what? Come on, I can take it, but can you dish it?" Chris taunted.

Lance opened his mouth but Justin clamped a hand over it. "No more catfights. Tonight is a GOOD night."

"We were only joking around," Lance said, pulling Justin's hand off his mouth.

"Says you," Chris said, but he was smiling, indicating that he too was joking.

"Damn, man, why are your hands always so freaking cold?" Justin asked.

Lance shrugged. "Maybe I'm cold-blooded. Or would that make me warm-blooded? I don't know, I wasn't paying attention when they talked about that." Or no-blooded, but they don't have to know that, he thought to himself.

"Your hand is never cold to me," Joey whispered to Lance. Lance snapped his head over to him in shock, but Joey only shrugged. He was still trying to figure out where he'd seen the eyes before.

They'd all been dancing for a few hours before Lance started to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He decided it was time to go. "Hey JC!" he yelled over the noise of the club.

"I'm getting tired...you think we could go?" he asked, yawning for effect.

"Sure man," JC said. "Go get Joey and I'll get Justin and Chris."

"Easier said than done!" yelled Lance, turning to find him. It wasn't that hard. There was a flock of girls surrounding him. Lance pushed his way through.

"Hey, Joey!" he yelled.

"Because I want to have wild, passionate sex with you and maybe I'll give birth to your love child," Lance said sarcastically. "I'm tired, you idiot. Let's go."

"Bye ladies!" Joey said. He ended up with five or six pieces of paper being thrown at him.

"Phone numbers," Joey grinned. Lance shook his head and they went to the entrance where JC, Justin, and Chris were waiting.

"I was having fun," Justin whined.

"You were also having a drink," JC reprimanded.

"Might I remind you, Justin, that not only was it illegal for you to be in that club, but for you to be drinking?" Lance asked.

"Shut up," Justin said, crossing his arms.

"Where's the car?" Lance asked wearily, not noticing the shadowy figure following them out of the club. He did, however, notice the uneasy feeling grow stronger. They had to get out of there, and fast.

"It's...it's over there," JC pointed. They walked over, but were stopped by a raspy voice.

"And where do you think you're going?" They all spun around to see a figure leaning against a wall, a gun twirling on his finger.

"We're leaving, what's it to you?" Chris asked, his voice hiding the fear he felt.

"I don't think I can let you do that," he said.

Lance looked at him and glared. "I think you can. Let's go you guys," he said, taking a step backwards before turning around.

"Take another step and I'll blow Curly over here's head off," the man said. Lance spun around on one foot, seeing the man casually aiming the gun at Justin.

"Or maybe I should kill him." He pointed it at JC. "But what's it to you? I can't kill you." Lance's eyes widened. How much did this guy know? JC looked at him sharply, but the guy continued. "He told me I couldn't, so I won't. But maybe you should choose. Which one do you think I should kill?" Lance stood, rigid, fury growing in his green eyes.

"Come one, blondie. Which one of these freaks means the least to you? Is it him?" he swung the gun towards Justin again. "Or maybe him?" he pointed it at Chris this time. All the other four could see Lance tense up with every word, his eyes getting madder and madder. "Maybe him?" he pointed it to JC. "Or he told me maybe you wouldn't want him dead, would you?" the guy asked, pointing it at Joey. "So tell me. Which one means the least? Or can I choose? That's fun."

Lance's eyes seemed to glow in fury. His body was practically shaking in anger, but when he spoke, his voice was deadly calm. "I dare you to say that again," he said.

"What? That it's fun choosing? Maybe you're right. It's not fun. I should just kill them all."

Lance was furious. "Say that one more time," he said, wishing they weren't in a dark ally, wishing they were in the car heading to their respective homes.

"In fact," the guy continued arrogantly, "I think I'll start with you." He pointed it at... JC.

JC stepped back, eyes aglow with fear. Lance stepped forward.

"I don't think you want to do that," he said. His voice chilled everyone to the bone. The guy, however, seemed unaffected. "I think I do." His gloved finger squeezed the trigger.

The bullet came firing out of the gun with a bang. "JC!" Someone yelled, it sounded like Justin.

But it was Lance who was closest, tackling his friend out of harm's way to the ground just before the bullet stuck. Lance shuddered as he felt the bullet pass through him. They heard it hit the metal trash can behind them with a clang.

JC was underneath Lance, safe. "Are you okay?" Lance whispered into his ear.

"F...fi....fine," JC stammered. Lance frowned; he'd have to deal with that. But right now, there was another matter. Joey had been standing right next to Lance, and there was a shocked and terrified, yet awed expression on his face. Lance briefly wondered if he'd seen.

"Are you...are you okay Lance?" Chris asked with a shaky voice.

"Fine," Lance said, springing up and dusting himself off. "It went past me." Sort of.

Justin ran over. "Oh, God, JC, thank God you're okay..."

"Make sure he's all right," Lance ordered Chris before striding towards the gunman.

"Lance, I don't think that's a very good idea...." Chris trailed off. Lance pushed him against the wall, using physical violence for the first time in a very long time. "Who sent you?" he asked furiously. "Who in the hell sent you?"

The guy looked at Lance, terrified by the furious look in his eyes. "Nn...no one."

"Don't lie to me. Who sent you? Was it Seth? William? Or was it Benny?"

"See to it that you NEVER see him again. And that you LEAVE this town and NEVER come back. Is that clear?"

"Good." And Lance took the gun out of his hands, and snapped it in half.

"How did you do that?"

"Let's just say you decided to mess with the wrong group of people," Lance said. He turned around, where the others were supporting a still trembling JC. They were all looking at him, expressions of awe on their faces. "Let's go," he said, stalking forward. They all followed timidly.

Lance decided to let Joey drive. He knew he wouldn't be able to drive safely with the anger he was feeling. Tossing Joey the keys, he sat in the backseat, and started talking to JC, who was still in shock. Chris sat in front but kept glancing backwards worriedly. Justin looked out the window, not hearing Lance's whispered words to JC.

They drove in otherwise silence. "Take care of him," Lance said to Chris, looking at Justin, who was helping JC inside. "He's not as fine as he says he is. Pretty shook up."

"Yeah. I'd stay but I have to talk to Joey."

"Joey, you're staying at my place," Lance said. "I know there's something you want to say."

"Yeah...okay," Joey responded. The rest of the drive was silent. They pulled up to Lance's apartment and walked into the living room. Lance collapsed onto the couch while Joey went to get a drink of water.

He came into the room. "Lance?" he asked. Lance turned his head and looked at him. "You said that bullet missed you. But it didn't. It went through you."


	Inner Reflection \| home back to Sent From Above Chapter 17 **~March 1998~** "Can we go out to celebrate? Please?" Justin asked Johnny. Johnny sighed. "Fine. Only cause you released the album today. But stay out of trouble!" "Trouble? Us?" Chris asked sweetly. Johnny groaned, and shaking his head, left the room. "All right! Clubbing!" Joey exclaimed. "Think we can get Curly in?" Chris asked. "Shut up!" Justin retorted. "Of course I can get in...I look 18!" "Right. Of course," Lance said. "You're only 18 yourself," Justin said, glaring at Lance. "That's what you think," Lance said, not realizing he'd said it out loud. "What?" JC looked at him sharply. "Something you're not telling us, Lance?" Joey asked. "Oh, yes. I've been hiding something from you. I'm really 37 and married with 16 kids. Sorry for keeping it from you. Hope you can forgive me." "Um...right...yeah," Joey said, bewildered. Lance burst out laughing. "The looks on your faces when I said I wasn't 18...priceless..." He sighed inwardly, relieved he'd managed to overcome his little slip up. Chris laughed. "You couldn't look 37 if you tried." "You couldn't ACT 37 if you tried," Lance retorted. "Why would I want to?" "At least I'm not--" Justin grabbed onto Lance's shoulders and pulled him away from Chris. "That's enough, boys," he said. "Not what? Come on, I can take it, but can you dish it?" Chris taunted. Lance opened his mouth but Justin clamped a hand over it. "No more catfights. Tonight is a GOOD night." "We were only joking around," Lance said, pulling Justin's hand off his mouth. "Says you," Chris said, but he was smiling, indicating that he too was joking. "Damn, man, why are your hands always so freaking cold?" Justin asked. Lance shrugged. "Maybe I'm cold-blooded. Or would that make me warm-blooded? I don't know, I wasn't paying attention when they talked about that." Or no-blooded, but they don't have to know that, he thought to himself. "Your hand is never cold to me," Joey whispered to Lance. Lance snapped his head over to him in shock, but Joey only shrugged. He was still trying to figure out where he'd seen the eyes before. They'd all been dancing for a few hours before Lance started to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He decided it was time to go. "Hey JC!" he yelled over the noise of the club. "What?" "I'm getting tired...you think we could go?" he asked, yawning for effect. "Sure man," JC said. "Go get Joey and I'll get Justin and Chris." "Easier said than done!" yelled Lance, turning to find him. It wasn't that hard. There was a flock of girls surrounding him. Lance pushed his way through. "Hey, Joey!" he yelled. "What?" "We're going!" "Why?" "Because I want to have wild, passionate sex with you and maybe I'll give birth to your love child," Lance said sarcastically. "I'm tired, you idiot. Let's go." "Bye ladies!" Joey said. He ended up with five or six pieces of paper being thrown at him. "What are those?" "Phone numbers," Joey grinned. Lance shook his head and they went to the entrance where JC, Justin, and Chris were waiting. "I was having fun," Justin whined. "You were also having a drink," JC reprimanded. "Might I remind you, Justin, that not only was it illegal for you to be in that club, but for you to be drinking?" Lance asked. "Shut up," Justin said, crossing his arms. "Where's the car?" Lance asked wearily, not noticing the shadowy figure following them out of the club. He did, however, notice the uneasy feeling grow stronger. They had to get out of there, and fast. "It's...it's over there," JC pointed. They walked over, but were stopped by a raspy voice. "And where do you think you're going?" They all spun around to see a figure leaning against a wall, a gun twirling on his finger. "We're leaving, what's it to you?" Chris asked, his voice hiding the fear he felt. "I don't think I can let you do that," he said. Lance looked at him and glared. "I think you can. Let's go you guys," he said, taking a step backwards before turning around. "Take another step and I'll blow Curly over here's head off," the man said. Lance spun around on one foot, seeing the man casually aiming the gun at Justin. "Or maybe I should kill him." He pointed it at JC. "But what's it to you? I can't kill you." Lance's eyes widened. How much did this guy know? JC looked at him sharply, but the guy continued. "He told me I couldn't, so I won't. But maybe you should choose. Which one do you think I should kill?" Lance stood, rigid, fury growing in his green eyes. "Come one, blondie. Which one of these freaks means the least to you? Is it him?" he swung the gun towards Justin again. "Or maybe him?" he pointed it at Chris this time. All the other four could see Lance tense up with every word, his eyes getting madder and madder. "Maybe him?" he pointed it to JC. "Or he told me maybe you wouldn't want him dead, would you?" the guy asked, pointing it at Joey. "So tell me. Which one means the least? Or can I choose? That's fun." Lance's eyes seemed to glow in fury. His body was practically shaking in anger, but when he spoke, his voice was deadly calm. "I dare you to say that again," he said. "What? That it's fun choosing? Maybe you're right. It's not fun. I should just kill them all." Lance was furious. "Say that one more time," he said, wishing they weren't in a dark ally, wishing they were in the car heading to their respective homes. "In fact," the guy continued arrogantly, "I think I'll start with you." He pointed it at... JC. JC stepped back, eyes aglow with fear. Lance stepped forward. "I don't think you want to do that," he said. His voice chilled everyone to the bone. The guy, however, seemed unaffected. "I think I do." His gloved finger squeezed the trigger. The bullet came firing out of the gun with a bang. "JC!" Someone yelled, it sounded like Justin. But it was Lance who was closest, tackling his friend out of harm's way to the ground just before the bullet stuck. Lance shuddered as he felt the bullet pass through him. They heard it hit the metal trash can behind them with a clang. JC was underneath Lance, safe. "Are you okay?" Lance whispered into his ear. "F...fi....fine," JC stammered. Lance frowned; he'd have to deal with that. But right now, there was another matter. Joey had been standing right next to Lance, and there was a shocked and terrified, yet awed expression on his face. Lance briefly wondered if he'd seen. "Are you...are you okay Lance?" Chris asked with a shaky voice. "Fine," Lance said, springing up and dusting himself off. "It went past me." Sort of. Justin ran over. "Oh, God, JC, thank God you're okay..." "Make sure he's all right," Lance ordered Chris before striding towards the gunman. "Lance, I don't think that's a very good idea...." Chris trailed off. Lance pushed him against the wall, using physical violence for the first time in a very long time. "Who sent you?" he asked furiously. "Who in the hell sent you?" The guy looked at Lance, terrified by the furious look in his eyes. "Nn...no one." "Don't lie to me. Who sent you? Was it Seth? William? Or was it Benny?" "B...Benny..." "See to it that you NEVER see him again. And that you LEAVE this town and NEVER come back. Is that clear?" "Y...yes..." "Good." And Lance took the gun out of his hands, and snapped it in half. "How did you do that?" "Let's just say you decided to mess with the wrong group of people," Lance said. He turned around, where the others were supporting a still trembling JC. They were all looking at him, expressions of awe on their faces. "Let's go," he said, stalking forward. They all followed timidly. Lance decided to let Joey drive. He knew he wouldn't be able to drive safely with the anger he was feeling. Tossing Joey the keys, he sat in the backseat, and started talking to JC, who was still in shock. Chris sat in front but kept glancing backwards worriedly. Justin looked out the window, not hearing Lance's whispered words to JC. They drove in otherwise silence. "Take care of him," Lance said to Chris, looking at Justin, who was helping JC inside. "He's not as fine as he says he is. Pretty shook up." "I would be too." "Yeah. I'd stay but I have to talk to Joey." "Bout what?" "I don't know." "Joey, you're staying at my place," Lance said. "I know there's something you want to say." "Yeah...okay," Joey responded. The rest of the drive was silent. They pulled up to Lance's apartment and walked into the living room. Lance collapsed onto the couch while Joey went to get a drink of water. He came into the room. "Lance?" he asked. Lance turned his head and looked at him. "You said that bullet missed you. But it didn't. It went through you."