Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

Chris

Lance watched as the van pulled away, taking contact with the outside world with it. Then he turned to face the foreboding mansion that was to be NSYNC's home for the next few days. With all the media attention certain rumors were getting and the added stress of the upcoming tour, the guys knew they needed a short break or they'd snap. With that thought in mind, they begged higher up for some downtime. Or more correctly, Lance and JC explained why a little vacation away from it all, was necessary for the well being of the group. After a rather lengthy meeting, Management relented, saying they could take a weekend off to relax. But, Management insisted on picking the location, a remote mansion in Massachusetts.

Lance couldn't help but stare at the mansion. It seemed dark and oppressive against the ruddy colored sunset. To him, the mansion seemed to be staring back at him, assessing him, figuring out what it could get from him.

A shiver passed through him. Shaking his head at his foolish notions; really, a house watching him; he grabbed his bags and followed his friends inside.

He heard JC shout, “You.” Before colliding with a frozen Joey. Joey had a small grin as he watched the center of the room. Turning to look at Justin, Lance heard the soft click of the closing door. Justin had his hand clamped over his mouth. His whole body shook with laughter.

JC stood in the center of the room, having a half-serious, half-joking discussion with AJ McLean of the BackStreet Boys. Kevin, Nick, and Howie were scattered behind AJ, each sporting various amused looks. Lance finally focused on the duo in the middle. JC and AJ were discussing the stupidity of a management that sent both groups to the same place to get away.

“Look, there's nothing we can do about it now.” Kevin interjected. “It looks like there's plenty of room, why don't we all stay here?”

“He's right.” Nick said.

“So, who gets which room?” Justin asked.

“Well, we've already picked, so I guess-“

“Hey has anyone seen Chris?” Joey asked suddenly.

The others looked up to find Chris gone. It was Nick who noticed Brian was absent as well.

“When did they leave?” AJ asked.

JC looked at AJ and shrugged his shoulders. “Forget when, where did they go?”

“Hey guys.” Brian ran into the room, Chris right behind him carrying a plate of sprinkle-covered cookies. There were ten cookies, each sporting a different color of sprinkles. “Look what we found.”

“Oooh. Cookies.” Joey rushed over, grabbed a cookie, and stuffed it in his mouth. The rest of them soon picked a cookie and began eating it. Lance, however, was too busy concentrating on the noises around them to get the last cookie. He thought he was hearing soft whispers.

“This place is great,” Chris said. “It's got an indoor pool and a playroom with a TV and a pool table and what is everyone standing around here for?”

Kevin smiled as Chris finally closed his mouth. “We were discussing room assignment. As I was saying, we've already picked our rooms, but there's plenty more rooms to choose from upstairs.”

“So let's go upstairs,” Joey said before popping the last cookie in his mouth. Lance looked around the room confused as the whispers stopped.

“Hey, Lance didn't get a cookie.” Justin smacked Joey playfully on the head.

Lance looked at the others in surprise. “That's okay. I wasn't hungry.”

As the group headed up the stairs, Chris began spouting off all the different things they could do that weekend.

Lance gradually tuned out Chris's babbling. He shook his head violently. He could have sworn that someone was whispering, several someones actually, but a quick glance at his friends showed it wasn't them.

When Chris stopped chattering, no noticed. However, when he gave a short gasp, everyone turned to watch as he tumbled down the stairs to lie in a heap at the base. Lance stared in horror at Chris's crumpled form, not noticing that the whispers had stopped.

“Geez, Chris, can't you stand?” Justin joked.

Chris didn't answer.

“Chris?”

Still, no response.

The others approached him hesitantly. His eyes were open, staring straight ahead. A look of shock and surprise was permanently etched on his face. His neck was bent at an odd angle. JC reached down and placed two fingers on Chris's neck. The others looked at him expectantly. He looked up, tears forming in his blue eyes, and shook his head.


	Inner Reflection \| home back to Listen Chapter 1 Chris Lance watched as the van pulled away, taking contact with the outside world with it. Then he turned to face the foreboding mansion that was to be NSYNC's home for the next few days. With all the media attention certain rumors were getting and the added stress of the upcoming tour, the guys knew they needed a short break or they'd snap. With that thought in mind, they begged higher up for some downtime. Or more correctly, Lance and JC explained why a little vacation away from it all, was necessary for the well being of the group. After a rather lengthy meeting, Management relented, saying they could take a weekend off to relax. But, Management insisted on picking the location, a remote mansion in Massachusetts. Lance couldn't help but stare at the mansion. It seemed dark and oppressive against the ruddy colored sunset. To him, the mansion seemed to be staring back at him, assessing him, figuring out what it could get from him. A shiver passed through him. Shaking his head at his foolish notions; really, a house watching him; he grabbed his bags and followed his friends inside. He heard JC shout, “You.” Before colliding with a frozen Joey. Joey had a small grin as he watched the center of the room. Turning to look at Justin, Lance heard the soft click of the closing door. Justin had his hand clamped over his mouth. His whole body shook with laughter. JC stood in the center of the room, having a half-serious, half-joking discussion with AJ McLean of the BackStreet Boys. Kevin, Nick, and Howie were scattered behind AJ, each sporting various amused looks. Lance finally focused on the duo in the middle. JC and AJ were discussing the stupidity of a management that sent both groups to the same place to get away. “Look, there's nothing we can do about it now.” Kevin interjected. “It looks like there's plenty of room, why don't we all stay here?” “He's right.” Nick said. “So, who gets which room?” Justin asked. “Well, we've already picked, so I guess-“ “Hey has anyone seen Chris?” Joey asked suddenly. The others looked up to find Chris gone. It was Nick who noticed Brian was absent as well. “When did they leave?” AJ asked. JC looked at AJ and shrugged his shoulders. “Forget when, where did they go?” “Hey guys.” Brian ran into the room, Chris right behind him carrying a plate of sprinkle-covered cookies. There were ten cookies, each sporting a different color of sprinkles. “Look what we found.” “Oooh. Cookies.” Joey rushed over, grabbed a cookie, and stuffed it in his mouth. The rest of them soon picked a cookie and began eating it. Lance, however, was too busy concentrating on the noises around them to get the last cookie. He thought he was hearing soft whispers. “This place is great,” Chris said. “It's got an indoor pool and a playroom with a TV and a pool table and what is everyone standing around here for?” Kevin smiled as Chris finally closed his mouth. “We were discussing room assignment. As I was saying, we've already picked our rooms, but there's plenty more rooms to choose from upstairs.” “So let's go upstairs,” Joey said before popping the last cookie in his mouth. Lance looked around the room confused as the whispers stopped. “Hey, Lance didn't get a cookie.” Justin smacked Joey playfully on the head. Lance looked at the others in surprise. “That's okay. I wasn't hungry.” As the group headed up the stairs, Chris began spouting off all the different things they could do that weekend. Lance gradually tuned out Chris's babbling. He shook his head violently. He could have sworn that someone was whispering, several someones actually, but a quick glance at his friends showed it wasn't them. When Chris stopped chattering, no noticed. However, when he gave a short gasp, everyone turned to watch as he tumbled down the stairs to lie in a heap at the base. Lance stared in horror at Chris's crumpled form, not noticing that the whispers had stopped. “Geez, Chris, can't you stand?” Justin joked. Chris didn't answer. “Chris?” Still, no response. The others approached him hesitantly. His eyes were open, staring straight ahead. A look of shock and surprise was permanently etched on his face. His neck was bent at an odd angle. JC reached down and placed two fingers on Chris's neck. The others looked at him expectantly. He looked up, tears forming in his blue eyes, and shook his head.