Boys and Their Toys

by Karen and LB
© 2002

This was written to fulfill the following challenge:

Write a story using the following dialogue.

"Turn it off." The words were mumbled by the pillows at the head of the bed.

"I'm trying."

*****

JC sits on the daybed portion of the expansive Nickelodeon couch. He likes the couch very much, and makes a mental note to look into getting one for his LA house. He especially likes that it gives him the opportunity to practically snuggle up to Lance on MTV without anyone being the wiser. He lets his head fall back against the couch pillow and wonders how long till the next segment.

"You can't fall asleep, you know," Lance comments flatly, as he punches another number on the keypad.

"I'm not. Nice to know you have such faith in me. Like I'm really going to fall asleep during an interview. And I'm not even allowed to touch my own phone . . . "

"I'll give it back. I'm just programming my numbers in it for you. Hey, this is cool--you can email with it."

"Really? Cool! You'll have to teach me." JC grins. "You do give the best presents."

"I do, don't I?" Lance smiles mischievously. "Nah, I just got tired of that old thing you've been carrying around. It's like, ancient, JC. It's like a Flintstone's phone."

"Hey, a classic's a classic. What's this do?" JC pokes at one of the myriad buttons.

"Don't touch that. You're gonna cancel out what I just punched in."

"Oh, okay. You are going to explain this baby to me, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, just go away. We only have a few minutes and I want to get this right."

"Okay." JC looks past Lance "Hey, Just, did you see the totally cool phone Lance got me?"

"Yeah, yeah, JC. You guys should stop goofing with it, though. We're gonna be back on any minute."

"I'm almost done. Ooh, what's this?" Lance studies the small screen on the phone just as a faint buzz emits from the tiny speaker.

"What is that? Lance?"

Justin glares at both of them.

"I don't know--it just went off. I think it's an alarm or something." Lance fumbles with the keypad but the buzz continues.

Justin leans over, one eye on the camera, which has not yet gone live. "Turn it off." The words are mumbled by the pillows at the head of the bed.

"I'm trying. Where are the instructions?"

"I don't have the instructions. You have them."

"Guys!" Justin hisses, annoyed.

"I gave them to you!"

"And I gave them BACK to you."

"I don't have the instructions!"

Suddenly, the PA announces, "Guys, we're going live in five . . . four . . . three . . . "

"Let me try." JC reaches for the phone and they both drop it. It falls between JC's legs and they both grab for it and come up practically holding hands on camera. One of them must have accidentally hit the right button, because the incessant buzzing ends just as their mics go live. Lance clutches the phone guiltily, feeling JC's knee pressed against his leg, and it takes a few seconds to regain his composure. He keeps his legs crossed to hide the slight bulge that's formed in his crotch and says a silent prayer of thanks that he decided to go with the baggy pants today.

JC catches a glare from Justin, and looks away with a very guilty expression. He manages to smile for the camera and even makes it look natural when he moves to the arm of the couch.

"Justin, if this is bothering you . . . ," Lance whispers, when the camera pans away while the karaoke contest is happening miles away.

"It is! Okay, look, man, I'm sorry. I haven't seen Brit in like two days and seeing you on that bed like that . . . "

"Well, it's not really a bed, it's more like a couch with a really big mattress."

Justin snorts, but can't really say anything else because Carson is asking them what they think about the first group of contestants. From the jovial way they're acting, no would ever know that three out of the five guys were horny at that moment. As an added distraction, the boys offer up tickets to just about everyone Carson talks to, and by the time the show is over the couch incident is pretty much forgotten. Or so Lance thinks.

"Don't ever do that, man," warns Justin.

"Do what?" Lance asks innocently.

"You know what. You guys have got to cool it."

JC cuts in. "Justin, we're careful. We've BEEN careful for years. That--that was completely innocent. It was the phone."

"You and Lance were groping each other all over the place. It was gross, dude."

Lance holds out the phone and smiles. "Want to call Brit?"

"Wait a minute. You're going to let him use MY phone before I ever get to?"

"It'll keep him busy."

"What's gonna keep ME busy?"

Lance calls out, "Hey, guys, can we have a minute before the next shoot?" With assorted grumbles and snickers, the room clears out. "Wow, they actually listened. Okay, how about this?" Lance grabs JC's face in his hands and presses his lips against JC's.

"Yeah, " JC says when they separate. "That might keep me busy."

"Might? Gee, what else would you like to do?"

"You don't want to know."

"Now I really would."

"Nothing we have time for. Nothing Justin wouldn't kill us for."

"Tell me."

"I want you to teach me how to use my new phone. Naked."

"Josh! Oh my goodness, this is a family place." Lance blinks, then continues. "Oh, all right." He moves as though to take off his shirt, then laughs.

"It would be very educational. But I can wait till we get home."

"Hmm, it would be a shame to waste this comfortable bed." To demonstrate, Lance drops down on the mattress and bounces playfully.

"Don't tempt me."

Lance leans back, crossing his ankles, and puts his hands behind his head.

"You're tempting me. Babe, family place? Unlocked room? Justin running up minutes on my phone?"

Lance pouts. "You care more about your minutes than me?"

JC stretches out next to Lance. "Never. But he could come back in here any minute."

"So that leaves us 60 seconds," Lance purrs, leaning in for a kiss.

JC meets him halfway, opening his mouth to accept Lance's ready tongue.

"Hey, Lance, thanks for letting me borrow--ew, that is SO gross," Justin exclaims, as he returns from their break.

"Yeah, like watching you slobber over Brit is real appetizing."

"It's better than watching you two. You're like dogs in heat. You're like--"

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Lance looks at JC and smiles. In unison, they shout, "Turn it off!"

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