Chris sat on the sunny bench, watching the Hi-Tones perform. Joey had insisted that they could take a day away from the Compound, before Chris had to decide how to get to L.A. to see what was going on. Even when Chris had insisted that he wasn't bored of the big house that *N Sync shared, Joey had been adamant in going out, in going to the Universal Studios to have fun.
Strangely, not even JC objected to it, and before Chris could think of any reason why not going out, he and Joey were in Justin's car, with Lommie in the back seat.
Universal hadn't changed that much since the last time he had been there, but it was the first time he could actually enjoy the park as a visitor and not as one of the attractions. Joey had took him to all the games, and surprisingly, he hadn't been recognized yet thanks to Justin's assistance, and Nick's help through the phone. It was very obvious to Chris that both singers had more than enough practice in hiding their features to have some moments of peace.
Joey had gone to buy them both a couple of ice creams before the Bettlejuice rock show began. Apparently, while Chris had been breaking his back with the Hi-Tones, Joey had done the same in a rubber suit... and if back then Chris had had the curiosity to see the other shows, he might have meet Joey earlier.
Both had laughed upon the irony of that, and then Joey had decided that Chris had to see the show, and had gone to get the ice creams because Chris said it was too hot, and all in all, it was a perfect date.
But Chris couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't going to last.
* * *
Joey hung up the phone and waved to Chris. They were about to leave Universal and everything had gone perfect. If it wasn't for Chris' job, and because in two days Joey had to go to the studio and work 24/ 7 in a new record that didn't even had a name, it would be a perfect day. A day when Joey could forget that he was famous and that he and Chris had to keep their relationship secret.
Until JC called.
In the minute he heard his bandmate's voice, Joey knew it was something bad. Since they were all living at the Compound, JC wouldn't just call him to his cell to do small talk. Still, he hadn't imagined how bad it was.
There had been paparazzi at AJ's party.
It had been only a question of luck that neither Joey nor Chris were mentioned in "Backstreet party out of Sync", a bad piece that, according to JC was a mixture of truths and lies that damaged practically everyone in the industry.
JC had only read part of the story, but it was enough to make Joey understand that things were bound to get ugly: "*N Syncer Justin Timberlake crashed Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean party after finding out that his long time girlfriend Britney Spears was there with Nick Carter. Upon finding the couple there, Timberlake proceeded to fight with Carter, and the fight ended with both of them in McLean's pool. Although neither *N Sync nor Backstreet Boys' management has been reached to comment, is this reporter's opinion that the rivalry between both bands is about to get into deep waters." There was also a malicious comment regarding Howie and Kevin's rift, and, incredibly, a nasty remark that insinuated that between Brian and AJ there was more than friendship. "It's our belief that Mrs. Lithrell, who was suspiciously absent from this reunion, should be more alert about the backstage activities of her husband."
Lance was credited as being the one who had finally managed to pull Justin out of the pool, and JC said that there was a grainy picture of Lance helping Justin out, that didn't include Nick's laughing face.
Joey didn't ask why JC had called, because the message was loud and clear. Even when he was wearing an almost foolproof disguise -he hadn't dye his hair because, as Justin explained, everyone was expecting him to wear weird hair colors, but even Lommie had been impressed by the 'new' Joey-, he knew that paparazzi photographer were too clever. He and Chris had to be careful, and be back at the Compound as soon as they could.
* * *
Chris tried not to frown as he read the note that had everyone so upset. When he and Joey had arrived, they had walked in the middle of a rant courtesy of Jhonny Wright, *N Sync manager. The big black man had been yelling at Justin over the article, and in the moment Joey and Chris entered the room, his eyes had narrowed towards him.
"And who the fuck are you?" Jhonny had asked, and before Chris could say anything, Joey had squeezed his hand and answered.
"Jhonny, this is Chris Kirkpatrick, from Albany. My... well, you can say he's my boyfriend."
There was a pause, in which Chris could feel at the same time how his heart burst in happiness and his stomach turned to knots. Because it was the first time Joey said the words out loud, with all his friends around. Because he could see the surprise in JC's eyes, the joy in Justin's and Lance's, and the plain shock in Mr. Wright's eyes.
"How long have you been together?" Jhonny finally asked, calmly.
"Six months." Joey answered, not letting go of Chris' hand.
"And you managed to keep it down after AJ's party." The manager closed his eyes and shook his head, smiling. "Just keep it that way. I'll see what kind of damage control we need to do on our end and if Backstreet needs any help in their end."
It was only then when someone passed him the article, and he finally found out why Joey had been silent all the way back, and why Lommie had drive so fast to get back to the Compound. The paparazzi had gotten the whole party out of hand, but if Chris had gotten the relationships in the other group right, he could bet Howie and Kevin were blaming themselves.
Or blaming the other.
And then there was the fact that he couldn't stop thinking what would have happened if the photographer had caught him with Joey at the party. At least, the Backstreet Boys could deny everything, even Justin and Nick's fight. But even if Joey only introduced Chris as a friend, someone would soon figure out that Chris was a gay teacher, and from there to "*N Sync's crowded closet!" there was not much distance.
Jhonny returned from his phone talk, looking even less happy. Noticing that the group was starting to make plans and discuss stuff that was obviously group business, and not wanting to intrude, he got up, smiled at Joey's frowning face and left the house.
He needed time to think.
* * *
Joey tried to focus on what Jhonny was saying, but his attention was on Chris' retreating back. It was obvious that the whole paparazzi thing had upset Chris, and that that was the reason why he had left the room. He wanted nothing more than go to Chris and hug him and tell him everything was going to be all right. It was not the first time both boy bands had to deal with bad press, and it wouldn't be the last, they all knew it.
Last year had been the worst. Joey had been sued twice by supposed "Mrs. Fatone" and once for dating a minor, a fourteen year old girl to whom Joey had only seen once. Lance and his collapse, that had been dubbed as "Drug abuse and rehabilitation", "Nervous breakdown" and, in a tiny german paparazzi that everyone had found as funny as hell, "Death". Justin and his two-week relationship with Britney, that had grown to be "Orlando's love story", and, of course, JC's and his strange dating habits that couldn't be more fake. They had survived all that, and Joey knew they could take even more.
As long as the paparazzi didn't say the truth. Truth was the only thing the group couldn't deny.
"So, I talked to Jive, and they think that the best we can do to defuse the situation is to give them some bigger news to talk about."
"Like what?" Justin asked, playing absentmindedly with the antenna of his cell phone. "I am not going back to Britney, I had it with her."
"Joey could..." JC started, but Jhonny shook his head no.
"I don't care how successful George Michael is, *N Sync is not coming out of the closet." Jhonny said, looking somewhat tired. "No, we need to make people focus on the music, not on your lives"
"Besides, no one would buy it." Joey managed to add, earning himself a half-hearted JC's glare. "I'm the flirt of the group, remember? No one would believe I want to settle with a Lit. Teacher, no matter how hot he is."
"Settle, huh?" Lance smiled. "Have you told Chris that?"
"Not yet." And, strangely, the words made him blush. "I was hopping to tell him tonight, but..."
"Can we return to the problem at hand?" Jhonny raised his voice a little, not enough to make it a yell, but enough to silence every side conversation. "Jive wants the heat off BSB, but without risking the so called 'fight' between you guys. So, we have to make something big. Any ideas?"
"We could try again the fifth member thing." JC commented, almost off handedly. If Joey didn't know the oldest member of the group so well, he would swear that JC wasn't even paying attention to the meeting.
"It never works, JC." Justin shook his head. "It didn't work with Jason, it didn't work with Mike, and it didn't work when Christina Aguilera wanted to be the *N Sync' girl. I don't think the press will buy it this time."
"We could try and put some extra concerts? Or maybe another dream date?" Lance offered, and from there, Joey completely lost the track of the conversation. He was too busy remembering Chris' saddened face as he left the Compound to even care.
* * *
Nick logged off the 'net, sighing. He had tried all the different forums he knew, and in every single one they were mentioning the party at AJ's. He had tried to dent the rumor, adding some stuff that his 'cousin best friend who works as a caterer' said, and some other comments like 'but I saw AJ's with Amanda at a club. I'm sure of it.'
The first time
he had started going in the mailing lists of BSB fans, he had done it
out of curiosity. He wanted to know what fans thought of him, and had
constructed a whole new identity to do that. So after a few fake starts,
which included 'Imcrazyforkevin@aol.com', 'brockrocks@hotmail.com', and
'backstreetback_1@freemail.com'
among some other really freaky email handles, he had managed to build
a credible identity as a 16 year old girl who loved BSB and kinda didn't
hate *N Sync. It had proven being really useful to kill rumors that could
hurt the group and spread others. It had been great to spread the word
on how Pearlman was a fat lying crook when the courts had ruled their
unfair decision, and the truth to be told, Nick loved to log in and read
everything. He had even created a couple of extra handles just to log
in the fan clubs of the other groups and check what their fans were thinking,
and, in *N Sync's case, help a little.
Except for the Eminem-JC's stuff. He had invented that one because he was angry at JC for badmouthing Justin once.
Of course, this one was bad. There were photos, and Bitchney was not going to deny it, no matter how much the record company insisted. She had been crying the whole night, and of course she was going to try and put the blame on Nick. She hated Nick, and for no good reason, except maybe that she thought that he had been the one to tell Justin to break up with her. Anyway, she could do things hard to deny.
Then there was the Howie and Kevin thing. They had disappeared before midnight, and the next day they had come down together and giggling. The rift was mended, apparently, and everyone had been surprised when Kevin announced he was going to divorce Kristen. Brian hadn't exactly took it the right way and the morning happiness had been quickly replaced with yells and screams.
It didn't matter now, really. Jive had specifically told Kevin that his marriage was to be perfect and happy until further notice. So he couldn't even tell Kristen that he didn't want to be married, that they had made a mistake... And he couldn't share a bus, a room or even a meal with Howie.
It was a sucky time for romance.
He grabbed his cell phone and dialed a number from memory.
Maybe things were better for Justin.
* * *
"How do you like Orlando, Elf?"
Chris turned around quickly, recognizing the voice and the nickname immediately.
"Danny..." He half whispered, not wanting to call any attention
towards him and his ex-boyfriend. Danny looked as good as always, but
there was something in his grin that Chris didn't like. "What are
you doing
here?"
"Looking for you." Danny's grin got bigger, and Chris couldn't help but be reminded of Tim Curry's old movies. It was the grin of a cat who ate a canary and wanted to brag about it. "You should have told me who your new friends were, Elf. I was shocked when I finally found out."
"What do you want?" Chris narrowed his eyes. He remembered quite well that tone in Danny's voice, even when he had never heard it used on him. The tone that said that Daniel Windsor wanted something and he was going to get it.
"You, Chris." Danny smiled. "A second chance. And I know that I am not going to get it while that dork fills your head with smoke."
"Joey is not a dork."
"I know his type. He's just looking for a quick fuck, Chirs. Don't let his money blind you." Danny sighed, then grinned. "I could wait for you to have your little heart broken, Elf. But I don't have the time or the patience, so here's the deal. You break up with Mr. Pop-star, and I burn the pictures I took of the two of you today at Universal. You keep this foolishness, and every single paper of the world will know about this."
"That's not the way to win me back, Daniel." Chris said, but his voice lacked the strength he needed.
"Maybe. But who's gonna love you more than I? You'll come around." Daniel leaned down and tried to kiss Chris, who ducked away.
"I'll return to Albany tomorrow." Chris said, turning around. "But I want you out of my life, forever."
* * *
Joey
stared at the closed door of the Compound, too numb to do anything else.
Chris had returned from his walk looking sullen and depressed, so Joey
had abandoned the group meeting to follow him to the room they were sharing
to see Chris pack his stuff.
When Joey asked what was going on, Chris had simply shook his head and sighed.
"This is not working, Joe." Chris had said, closing his suitcase. "I... I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Joey hadn't understood what was going on, but there was a heavy cloud of pain forming over his heart. "What's wrong, Chris?"
"I... I can't do this to you..." Chris begun, and then kissed Joey, a short, bitter kiss, that tasted like salt, and sadness and tears. "I'm sorry. I'll leave now."
And then he had walked out of the room, out of the Compound, and out of Joey's life.