Chapter 44

Inner Reflection | home

*~*May 4 1999*~*

Lance heard someone shout his name and turned around, and saw JC hurtling himself towards him. "Wha--Ooof. Hello to you to, JC."

"Sorry. But my dad called! He said he's sorry and he's okay with us and -- oh, Happy Birthday -- and he says that he didn't mean to sound like that on the phone, that was just shock -- and he says Happy Birthday too -- and he wants you to come and visit and..."

"Josh, honey, breathe," Lance said, trying not to laugh. He engulfed JC in a hug. "That's great," he said sincerely. JC beamed. "And thanks."

"For what? Oh yeah, it's your birthday," JC said, nodding. Then he snapped his fingers. "That's right, you're supposed to come with me to Justin's," he nodded.

Lance gestured to a room. "But I was supposed to..."

"Never mind that," JC said, shaking his head. "Come on..." Without waiting for an answer, JC dragged Lance along behind him. "Hurry up!"

"If you'd let go of me, I'd go faster!" Lance said, laughing. JC shot him a dirty look but let go of his arm. Then he grinned and sprinted down the hallway. "Josh!" Lance yelled. "What are...UGH!" Lance sighed, then took off. When they finally reached the door, he was out of breath. "Damn, I didn't go that fast," he mused, but shook it off and went out to his car. "And NO, Josh, I'm NOT going to race you back." JC pouted and Lance laughed. "But I'll beat you there." Lance jumped into his car and drove away.

"Look, you're gonna ruin it," JC whined.

"Ruin what? I already know there's gonna be a party," Lance said, rolling his eyes. "I waited for you, too. What more do you want?"

"A kiss," JC said with a nod. Lance rolled his eyes good-naturedly and kissed him.

"For now," JC said, a devilish gleam in his eyes. Lance moaned. He let JC lead him up to the front door. JC opened it. "We're back!" he yelled.

"Oh, look, it's dark in here," Lance said in a monotone. "Maybe I should turn on a light."

"You really like to zap the fun out of surprises, don't you?" JC asked.

"No...me? I love surprises. Really I do. But I like the light more." He flipped it on.

Lance blinked. The room wasn't any different from it had been the day before. "Oh, wow."

"Aren't you surprised?" Chris asked. Lance gave him a weird look. "You haven't seen the best part though!" He grabbed Lance's hand and led him into the kitchen.

Draped across the table was a big banner that said "NORMAL NIGHT!" Lance laughed. Then he looked on the countertop. "Oh my gosh," he said, covering his face. There was a mountain of french toast on a huge plate. "You've GOT to be kidding me. I'm not so obsessive that you need to..."

"We kid you not, dear Lansten," Joey said.

Lance stopped for a second. "Wait, who cooked it?"

Chris blushed. "Lynn," he said.

Lance rolled his eyes. "This is unbelievable," he said. "Thanks."

"Anything for our little Poofu," Justin said.

"Who are you calling little? I'm older than you are!"

"So what? Age ain't nuthin but a number, Poof," Justin said. Lance made a face but got his french toast anyway.

"Dig in!" Joey said. They all got a few pieces. Lance shook his head at the pure absurdity of it all. They kick him out of the house for a day, only to make him come back to a mountain of french toast. He needed new friends.

Lance looked at his gifts. A laptop (from everyone), a new phone, the movie "101 Dalmatians," (From Chris..."You've never SEEN that? You dressed up like a freaking Dalmatian for God's sake!") the animated one, of course. He also got clothes, CD's, and a new CD player to replace the one the guys had broken a while back. There were also, of course the little miscellaneous presents, plastic french toast (they wouldn't let that go!), a plastic Dalmatian toy, they even found one of the Poofu BOOKS for crying out loud. (Justin: "I've been looking for it since last year!") He REALLY needed new friends. He appreciated it though. In an offhand way. "Thanks you guys," he said. They grinned and all gave him hugs. Lance put all the presents in a box and stood up. Then he grabbed onto JC for support.

"You okay, Lance?" Justin asked. They'd all noticed that happening too much lately.

"Yeah, fine...just a little...dizzy." Lance shook his head and walked towards the door.

"I'll drive you home," JC said, following him.

"No, you don't have to..." Lance said.

"I was gonna come over anyway," JC said with a grin. The others exchanged knowing glances. They knew JC had gotten Lance another present, even though he didn't tell anyone what it was. Lance sighed, but gestured for him to come over anyway, then shifted the box in his hands. "Bye guys," JC said with a wave.

"Bye...Happy Birthday Lance," they shouted.

"Night," Lance said with a laugh, shifting the box again to get a better grip on it. JC grabbed it out of his hands. "Josh, I can...ugh! I'm not an invalid, you know! I'm not so weak that I can't carry a box--" JC silenced him with a quick kiss on the lips.

"But you're the birthday boy so I'M carrying it," JC said with a grin, then bowed as best he could with the box in his hands. "After you."

Lance rolled his eyes. Chris had definitely gotten over his "Uncomfortableness," as he'd put it, over the couple. Apparently college hadn't taught him the meaning of the word discomfort..."Let's go," he said, holding the door for JC. "I'm stronger than you are," Lance said, watching JC shift the box.

"No you're not," JC argued, and that's all the guys heard before the door clanged shut behind them.

"Wonder what JC got Lance?" Joey wondered.

"I know," Justin said with a grin.

"Wait, how do YOU know?" Chris asked.

"I helped him pick it out," Justin said, still grinning.

"But he wouldn't tell EITHER of us!"

Justin breathed on his fingernails, then rubbed them off. "You don't have connections," he said snootily.

"Connections?!" Joey asked indignantly. "What the hell are you talking about? I've known him longer than you have!"

"But I know him better than you do," Justin argued.

"Guys, who cares?" Chris asked, rolling eyes. "Lance is the only one on his mind right about now," he snickered.

"Josh, what are you doing?" Lance asked.

"Shh, keep your eyes closed," JC said from behind him. "I got you a birthday present."

"But I already opened..."

"You opened the other ones. But this is my real present for you."

"You got me another one?" Lance whispered softly. He shifted from one foot to the other in anticipation. He felt JC's hands against his neck, then a cool weight.

Lance felt JC's lips against his ear. "You can open your eyes now." He opened them slowly and blinked. Then he looked down, and saw a large silver cross. "Josh, it's beautiful."

JC bit his bottom lip. "You like it? I wasn't sure if it was too big, or too long...or...or..."

Lance put a hand over his mouth. "I love it. It's perfect."

JC's face broke out into a wide smile. "Look at the back."

Lance fingered it and turned the cross around. Vertically were the letters of his name, "LANCE," and on the sides of the A were the initials JSC and JLB. Lance grinned broadly. "Even better."

"Josh," Lance said, kissing him. "I love it. Thank you."

JC smiled. "Now," he said sternly, "Time for you to go to bed. You're still sick."

"No, I'm not," Lance protested. "I'm fine."

"Are we going to have this conversation again?" Lance shook his head.

"Good," JC said with a smile. "Now go to bed." Lance shook his head again. "Lance!" Lance tilted his head and looked at him. "Bed." Lance shook his head. "Please?" Lance shook his head again, fighting against the smile that wanted to creep across his face. "Pretty please?" Lance shook his head again. JC sighed, and in one quick motion, picked Lance up over his shoulder.

"No," Lance said, and JC could hear the pout in his voice. "Put me down."

"Nope. Besides, don't you like the view?"

Lance was still pouting. "No," he said. "It sucks. I want to get down."

"I liked being picked up when I was a kid," JC informed him.

"But I'm not a kid and I don't like it!" Lance said.

"You sound like one," JC grumbled, walking towards Lance's bedroom. Lance hit him on the butt. "Hey!"

"Uh huh. Besides, you're more tired than I am."

"Yes you are. Put me DOWN!"

"Jo-osh!" he whined. "I wanna get down."

"La-ance," JC mocked, "I wanna keep you up there."

"Butthead," Lance said, pouting again.

"Oo, I'm hurt. Here we are, babe," JC said, unceremoniously dropping Lance on the bed.

"Ow," Lance complained. "You're mean."

"What, you gonna punish me for it?"

Lance nodded. "But later. I don't feel like it now. Can you go get me some aspirin?"

"I have a headache."

"I told you you were sick!"

"It's a HEADACHE. You get them all the time. Now go get me some!" JC grumbled but soon returned with them. "Thanks," Lance said, swallowing it. He got up and changed into sweatpants. "Now come lay down."

"Demanding, aren't we?" JC said with a grin.

"Uh huh," Lance said, tugging on JC's arm. "It's my birthday. So you have to do what I wanna do."

"Uh huh." Lance tugged some more and JC finally complied. Stripping down to his boxers, he laid against him.

He wrapped his arms around Lance. "Mm, this feels nice," he said sleepily. "You smell good."

Lance smiled. "What do I smell like?" he asked, snuggling closer.

"You smell like...Lance..." JC muttered before falling asleep.


	Inner Reflection \| home back to Sent From Above Chapter 44 **~May 4 1999~** "Lance!" Lance heard someone shout his name and turned around, and saw JC hurtling himself towards him. "Wha--Ooof. Hello to you to, JC." "Sorry. But my dad called! He said he's sorry and he's okay with us and -- oh, Happy Birthday -- and he says that he didn't mean to sound like that on the phone, that was just shock -- and he says Happy Birthday too -- and he wants you to come and visit and..." "Josh, honey, breathe," Lance said, trying not to laugh. He engulfed JC in a hug. "That's great," he said sincerely. JC beamed. "And thanks." "For what? Oh yeah, it's your birthday," JC said, nodding. Then he snapped his fingers. "That's right, you're supposed to come with me to Justin's," he nodded. Lance gestured to a room. "But I was supposed to..." "Never mind that," JC said, shaking his head. "Come on..." Without waiting for an answer, JC dragged Lance along behind him. "Hurry up!" "If you'd let go of me, I'd go faster!" Lance said, laughing. JC shot him a dirty look but let go of his arm. Then he grinned and sprinted down the hallway. "Josh!" Lance yelled. "What are...UGH!" Lance sighed, then took off. When they finally reached the door, he was out of breath. "Damn, I didn't go that fast," he mused, but shook it off and went out to his car. "And NO, Josh, I'm NOT going to race you back." JC pouted and Lance laughed. "But I'll beat you there." Lance jumped into his car and drove away. "HEY!" * "Look, you're gonna ruin it," JC whined. "Ruin what? I already know there's gonna be a party," Lance said, rolling his eyes. "I waited for you, too. What more do you want?" "A kiss," JC said with a nod. Lance rolled his eyes good-naturedly and kissed him. "Happy?" "For now," JC said, a devilish gleam in his eyes. Lance moaned. He let JC lead him up to the front door. JC opened it. "We're back!" he yelled. "Oh, look, it's dark in here," Lance said in a monotone. "Maybe I should turn on a light." "You really like to zap the fun out of surprises, don't you?" JC asked. "No...me? I love surprises. Really I do. But I like the light more." He flipped it on. "SURPRISE!" Lance blinked. The room wasn't any different from it had been the day before. "Oh, wow." "Aren't you surprised?" Chris asked. Lance gave him a weird look. "You haven't seen the best part though!" He grabbed Lance's hand and led him into the kitchen. Draped across the table was a big banner that said "NORMAL NIGHT!" Lance laughed. Then he looked on the countertop. "Oh my gosh," he said, covering his face. There was a mountain of french toast on a huge plate. "You've GOT to be kidding me. I'm not so obsessive that you need to..." "We kid you not, dear Lansten," Joey said. Lance stopped for a second. "Wait, who cooked it?" Chris blushed. "Lynn," he said. Lance rolled his eyes. "This is unbelievable," he said. "Thanks." "Anything for our little Poofu," Justin said. "Who are you calling little? I'm older than you are!" "So what? Age ain't nuthin but a number, Poof," Justin said. Lance made a face but got his french toast anyway. "Dig in!" Joey said. They all got a few pieces. Lance shook his head at the pure absurdity of it all. They kick him out of the house for a day, only to make him come back to a mountain of french toast. He needed new friends. * Lance looked at his gifts. A laptop (from everyone), a new phone, the movie "101 Dalmatians," (From Chris..."You've never SEEN that? You dressed up like a freaking Dalmatian for God's sake!") the animated one, of course. He also got clothes, CD's, and a new CD player to replace the one the guys had broken a while back. There were also, of course the little miscellaneous presents, plastic french toast (they wouldn't let that go!), a plastic Dalmatian toy, they even found one of the Poofu BOOKS for crying out loud. (Justin: "I've been looking for it since last year!") He REALLY needed new friends. He appreciated it though. In an offhand way. "Thanks you guys," he said. They grinned and all gave him hugs. Lance put all the presents in a box and stood up. Then he grabbed onto JC for support. "You okay, Lance?" Justin asked. They'd all noticed that happening too much lately. "Yeah, fine...just a little...dizzy." Lance shook his head and walked towards the door. "I'll drive you home," JC said, following him. "No, you don't have to..." Lance said. "I was gonna come over anyway," JC said with a grin. The others exchanged knowing glances. They knew JC had gotten Lance another present, even though he didn't tell anyone what it was. Lance sighed, but gestured for him to come over anyway, then shifted the box in his hands. "Bye guys," JC said with a wave. "Bye...Happy Birthday Lance," they shouted. "Night," Lance said with a laugh, shifting the box again to get a better grip on it. JC grabbed it out of his hands. "Josh, I can...ugh! I'm not an invalid, you know! I'm not so weak that I can't carry a box--" JC silenced him with a quick kiss on the lips. "But you're the birthday boy so I'M carrying it," JC said with a grin, then bowed as best he could with the box in his hands. "After you." "Aww!" Chris cooed. Lance rolled his eyes. Chris had definitely gotten over his "Uncomfortableness," as he'd put it, over the couple. Apparently college hadn't taught him the meaning of the word discomfort..."Let's go," he said, holding the door for JC. "I'm stronger than you are," Lance said, watching JC shift the box. "No you're not," JC argued, and that's all the guys heard before the door clanged shut behind them. "Wonder what JC got Lance?" Joey wondered. "I know," Justin said with a grin. "Wait, how do YOU know?" Chris asked. "I helped him pick it out," Justin said, still grinning. "But he wouldn't tell EITHER of us!" Justin breathed on his fingernails, then rubbed them off. "You don't have connections," he said snootily. "Connections?!" Joey asked indignantly. "What the hell are you talking about? I've known him longer than you have!" "But I know him better than you do," Justin argued. "Guys, who cares?" Chris asked, rolling eyes. "Lance is the only one on his mind right about now," he snickered. * "Josh, what are you doing?" Lance asked. "Shh, keep your eyes closed," JC said from behind him. "I got you a birthday present." "But I already opened..." "You opened the other ones. But this is my real present for you." "You got me another one?" Lance whispered softly. He shifted from one foot to the other in anticipation. He felt JC's hands against his neck, then a cool weight. Lance felt JC's lips against his ear. "You can open your eyes now." He opened them slowly and blinked. Then he looked down, and saw a large silver cross. "Josh, it's beautiful." JC bit his bottom lip. "You like it? I wasn't sure if it was too big, or too long...or...or..." Lance put a hand over his mouth. "I love it. It's perfect." JC's face broke out into a wide smile. "Look at the back." Lance fingered it and turned the cross around. Vertically were the letters of his name, "LANCE," and on the sides of the A were the initials JSC and JLB. Lance grinned broadly. "Even better." "You sure?" "Josh," Lance said, kissing him. "I love it. Thank you." JC smiled. "Now," he said sternly, "Time for you to go to bed. You're still sick." "No, I'm not," Lance protested. "I'm fine." "Are we going to have this conversation again?" Lance shook his head. "Good," JC said with a smile. "Now go to bed." Lance shook his head again. "Lance!" Lance tilted his head and looked at him. "Bed." Lance shook his head. "Please?" Lance shook his head again, fighting against the smile that wanted to creep across his face. "Pretty please?" Lance shook his head again. JC sighed, and in one quick motion, picked Lance up over his shoulder. "HEY!" "So you DO talk!" "No," Lance said, and JC could hear the pout in his voice. "Put me down." "Nope. Besides, don't you like the view?" Lance was still pouting. "No," he said. "It sucks. I want to get down." "I liked being picked up when I was a kid," JC informed him. "But I'm not a kid and I don't like it!" Lance said. "You sound like one," JC grumbled, walking towards Lance's bedroom. Lance hit him on the butt. "Hey!" "You deserved it." "Nuh-uh." "Uh huh. Besides, you're more tired than I am." "No I'm not." "Yes you are. Put me DOWN!" "No!" "Jo-osh!" he whined. "I wanna get down." "La-ance," JC mocked, "I wanna keep you up there." "Butthead," Lance said, pouting again. "Oo, I'm hurt. Here we are, babe," JC said, unceremoniously dropping Lance on the bed. "Ow," Lance complained. "You're mean." "What, you gonna punish me for it?" Lance nodded. "But later. I don't feel like it now. Can you go get me some aspirin?" "Why?" "I have a headache." "I told you you were sick!" "It's a HEADACHE. You get them all the time. Now go get me some!" JC grumbled but soon returned with them. "Thanks," Lance said, swallowing it. He got up and changed into sweatpants. "Now come lay down." "Demanding, aren't we?" JC said with a grin. "Uh huh," Lance said, tugging on JC's arm. "It's my birthday. So you have to do what I wanna do." "Do I now?" "Uh huh." Lance tugged some more and JC finally complied. Stripping down to his boxers, he laid against him. He wrapped his arms around Lance. "Mm, this feels nice," he said sleepily. "You smell good." Lance smiled. "What do I smell like?" he asked, snuggling closer. "You smell like...Lance..." JC muttered before falling asleep.