Forever Young: Moving Forward
by Karen and LB
© 2002
Number 6 in the series.
Lance turns the cassette over in his hands. It's the cassette JC had given him for his birthday months ago. He plays it nearly every day. He carries it around with him everywhere. He isn't even sure if JC is aware of that. In a few days, it will be JC's birthday and Lance has been scheming for a while. He just hopes he can pull it off. After all, they're back in Germany and their schedule is pretty hectic--clubs, the recording studio, countless interviews. But with a little help, Lance believes it will all work out.
"Hey, Lance, you still with us?" Chris asks from across the room. They're in the green room of the local radio station, waiting to be interviewed.
Lance puts the cassette back in its case and tucks it into his jacket pocket. JC has gone to the men's room and Justin and Joey are tossing a ball around. "Yeah, I'm with you." He smiles when JC comes back.
"How much longer do we have?" JC asks, sitting next to Lance. Chris and Lance both shrug, while Joey and Justin remain completely occupied with their ball. "Fine, I'm going to take a nap." JC drops his head playfully on Lance's shoulder.
Lance tries not to let on that there is anything unusual about what JC just did. He does manage to stop himself from letting JC's head fall into his lap. But barely. He picks up the book he brought with him and attempts to read, but the scent of JC's shampoo is too distracting.
"Hey, that looks kind of comfortable," says Chris, and he drops down on the other side of Lance and puts his head on Lance's other shoulder.
"Hey, get off, dude," Lance fires back, twitching his shoulder against Chris's head.
"How come JC gets to use you as a pillow?"
" 'Cause I don't end up swallowing his hair." Realizing how that must sound, Lance blushes and turns his attention back to his book.
Chris sticks his head between Lance's face and his book. "What's wrong with my hair? You love JC more than you love me."
"JC doesn't annoy me as much as you do. Man, you're getting hair all over my book." He swats Chris's head, noticing that in all this time JC hasn't budged. He really can sleep through anything, he muses. Just then, the door opens and an intern comes in to collect them and show them the way to the studio.
The interview goes well--they're getting pretty good at this stuff. When it's over JC looks around. "What next?"
Lance immediately kicks into professional mode. He might not be completely at ease around his new friends all the time, but when it comes to the business of the group he's there 100 percent. "We're heading to the studio to lay down some tracks, then we get a break before the club tonight."
"How do you remember this stuff?" Joey asks, using Lance's arm as a punching bag.
Lance shrugs but falls into JC when Joey hits him. It's a light tap, but Lance, being slight, loses his balance.
JC catches Lance and holds on a bit longer than necessary, which, since they're all so touchy-feely, goes completely unnoticed. "C'mon, Joey. Don't break him. We need him to flip Chris."
Joey squeezes one of Lance's biceps. "I don't know how he manages with these chicken arms."
Lance pulls his arm away. "Good thing I don't have to flip YOU, Joey." They both laugh good-naturedly, and Lance winks at JC. It will be hours until they can be alone, but at least it will give him something to look forward to.
After a few hours in the studio, JC is pulled aside to record some solos, so Lance grabs Justin and uses this opportunity to duck out for a little while.
JC is so wrapped up in the music that he doesn't even realize that Lance and Justin have left until he's finished and looks around for the others.
When Lance and Justin return, the producer keeps them for another hour, and then they're free for dinner. In the small pub where they're busy chewing on burgers and fries, Chris sighs. "Another birthday in a foreign country."
"It's not your birthday, Chris," Justin replies.
"Not mine, dork, JC's."
"It's JC's birthday?"
"I didn't know it's JC's birthday," Joey chimes in. Lance kicks him under the table and they all burst out laughing. "That's right--tomorrow, you officially lose your status as a teenager and enter MANHOOD." Joey deepens his voice on the last word.
Lance smiles and averts his eyes back to his food. Manhood. It's not like he hasn't thought about what that means, but when he looks over at the next table and sees his mother smiling back, he pushes that thought from his mind.
"Joey, it's my manly opinion that you're a dork." JC flings a french fry at Joey.
Joey picks up the projectile and takes a bite. "I may be a dork, but at least I'm not OLD." Lance looks at JC and nudges him with his leg.
"Yeah, but you're CHUBBY."
"I am not!" Joey gazes down at his gut. "My mom says I'm healthy."
Justin pokes Joey's belly. "You're getting healthier by the day, dude."
Joey throws a fry at Justin, who swats it away and laughs.
Lance watches, smiling. He loves this part of the deal; he loves the camaraderie. How did he get so lucky, he wonders. Four new friends and a boyfriend in a matter of months.
The night wears on. After dinner they're back at the hotel, changing, and then it's off to a small club where they perform for an hour. Each time they do a show the crowd seems to get bigger; at least that's the way it appears to Lance.
By the time they get back to the hotel, exhausted, it's after midnight. As they head to their rooms, Justin looks at his watch. "Hey, it's officially your birthday, C."
"You know what that means, don't you?" Everyone stares at Joey. "Birthday spankings!" Joey grabs JC by the waist as Chris opens the door to his room, and everyone tumbles inside. JC struggles, but there are just too many hands. He lets himself become a dead weight, forcing them to struggle to hold him up. Joey throws his weight forward, and they fall to the carpet with a soft thud. Justin lands on top, and Lance rolls off to the side. Chris is lost somewhere at the bottom of the heap, and using his position to his advantage, smacks JC on the butt. "That's one," he declares. "Gee, how many left? Oh yeah, 19."
"20--one for good luck," Justin adds, in between fits of laughter. Lance hurls himself back to the pile of bodies and pulls Justin off.
"Hey!" Justin shouts. It's the knock at the door that finally saves JC. "You boys have five minutes before lights out, y'hear?"
"Yes, mom," Justin whines.
"All right, we better make this quick," Joey whispers, swatting JC again.
"Wait, wait," Lance whispers back. "Let's give him his present."
"I am." Swat. "No, his real present, Joe."
"Oh, all right. But I owe you 17 more," Joey says to JC, as he helps his friend to his feet.
"Remind me to send your mom a thank you note, Just." JC pretends to brush himself off.
"You got lucky, C," Joey warns. "Have a seat. Oh wait, sure you can sit?"
JC looks at Joey witheringly. "I'll manage."
Lance gives JC a sympathetic smile. "Okay, I think he earned his presents." Chris goes to the closet and tosses out three packages. Justin catches one, Lance catches another, and Joey catches the last. Joey hands JC the one he's holding, a medium-sized box.
"Wow. You guys . . . " JC rips the paper off quickly and opens the box. Inside is a pair of pale blue, soft cotton pajamas with sleeping bears all over them. "Um, guys? Did you go shopping with my mom?"
"I told you he probably already has them," jokes Chris. "Open this one." He tosses JC a larger package, something soft and squishy.
"Do I really WANT to?" JC pokes at the item a few times before slowly, cautiously, peeling the paper back.
"Yeah, I think you'll like this one," Joey replies, as JC uncovers a large, soft pillow. "It's goose down, or something like that. Supposed to be real soft."
"Yeah, and you can get all kinds of diseases from hotel pillows, you know," adds Chris.
"That explains a lot," JC says with a grin. "This is REALLY nice! Thanks, guys!"
"This way you can keep your drool to yourself."
Lance hands him the last present. It's rectangular, flat, and hard. "A little something to help you sleep better."
"As long as I don't drool as much as you snore," JC shoots back as he turns the last package over in his hands. He rips into the paper . . .
...and pulls out a copy of Goodnight Moon. In German.
Justin plops down on the bed next to JC and opens the book. "We wanted you to have something to read at night."
"And we couldn't find it in English." Lance chimes in. He's leaning against the dresser, hands behind his back.
"I always meant to pick up another language," JC looks around at his friends, smiling. "Thanks, guys. It's good to know you take my hobby seriously."
"It would be less embarrassing if you'd take up stamp collecting or something," quips Chris.
"Um, guys, I'll be right back. I just want to tell my mom something." Lance ducks out of the room, JC's room key in hand. JC was lucky enough to draw the single room this time, and Lance swiped the card from the dresser while JC was unwrapping his presents.
A few minutes later, he returns, yawning. He replaces the card where he found it and says, "JC, I left my history book in your room. Could I get it before I turn in?"
"You did?" JC looks puzzled, then realizes what's being said. "Oh, yeah, you did. Yeah, sure."
Lance shoots him a look but the other guys are too busy tossing the pillow around to notice. Lance smiles and shakes his head, then leads JC out of the room. When they're in the hallway, Lance says, "If it wasn't your birthday I would have smacked you for that."
"Gee, Lance, I didn't know you were into the kinky stuff."
It's a good thing the hallway is dimly lit, or JC would be able to see Lance's bright-red face. "Yeah, whips, chains, the works," he replies, laughing nervously. "Give me your card." When JC places the room key in Lance's hand, Lance instructs, "Close your eyes."
JC looks curiously at Lance, but complies.
Lance opens the door, and, taking JC's hand leads him carefully into the room. "Okay, you can open them." The room is lit solely by candles. Dozens of them.
JC looks around in amazement, squeezing the hands that still holds his. "Wow! This is beautiful. How'd you do all this so fast?"
"Well, after we came back to change and you went to Justin's and Joey's room, I came in here and set everything up. I went shopping today while you were recording. Um, have a seat. I have two more presents to give you."
JC sits on the edge of the bed. It takes him three tries, but he finally manages, "Lance, I LOVE that you did this for me."
Lance glances around the room as if checking to make sure each candle has been perfectly placed. "You don't think it's, like, too queer?"
"No, it's wonderful. No one ever did anything like this for me before."
"Okay, then close your eyes one more time."
"So mysterious," JC murmurs, fondly.
"Keep 'em closed and no peeking." Lance reaches into his pocket and pulls out the tissue-wrapped package he's been carrying around all day. He pulls out a leather wristband and gently wraps it around JC's right wrist. It's emblazoned with a simple design, but on the inside Lance had the man who made it inscribe it with "I love you" in German. Before JC opens his eyes, Lance places a soft kiss on his lips.
JC runs his fingers over the elegantly embossed leather. "This is so beautiful. Thank you. I love it." He reaches for Lance to pull him in for another kiss.
When they part, Lance adds hurriedly, "I know it's not much, but I had it inscribed." He peels back the band a little so JC can see. "It says 'I love you'."
"Ich liebe dich, too."
"Then there's one more present I want to give you."
"Aw, honey. You don't have to give me anything else."
"Um, I think you'll like this one." Lance kneels before JC and begins kissing him, slowly parting his lips and sliding his tongue between their joined mouths and inside the warm recess of JC's mouth.
JC, liking this one very much, reaches up to cup Lance's face in both his hands, his tongue teasing at Lance's.
Lance spreads JC's knees and moves between them so he can be closer to JC. He begins to unbutton JC's shirt, never breaking their kiss.
JC smiles into the kiss. It's not usual for Lance to be the instigator, the aggressor, but JC certainly likes it. A lot.
Lance peels JC's shirt off, letting it slide down the older boy's shoulders, revealing smooth, tanned skin underneath. He moves his mouth over JC's cheek, kissing his way to JC's ear, and as he nibbles lightly on the lobe his hands play over JC's chest, finding the nipples already erect.
With his last shred of rational thought, JC whispers "Baby, don't you have to be back in your room? This feels amazing, but I don't want to get you into trouble, either." Lance pulls back and presses his forehead against JC's. "I can't stay the night, but I can stay for a little while. At least long enough to give you your present." JC tilts his head to bring his lips to Lance's again, sliding his hands into the younger boy's soft hair.
Satisfied that JC's worries are pushed aside for now, Lance throws his concentration back into pleasuring his friend. His hands travel down JC's sides to his slender waist, and his fingers quickly find the button to JC's pants. He deftly flicks it open and slides the zipper down, and as his lips travel to JC's neck, Lance slips his hands inside JC's shorts, where they discover JC's already hard erection.
"Lance," JC moans, again surprised and pleased at Lance's aggressiveness. He lets his hands slide down Lance's back, finding the hem of his shirt and caressing the warm skin under it.
"Mmmm," Lance murmurs against JC's neck, letting his hot breath tickle the skin there. He moves his mouth back to JC's ear. "Get up for a second." When JC raises his hips off the mattress, Lance slides his pants and shorts down to his ankles, freeing his heated erection. Once again, Lance kisses his way down JC's neck to his chest, sliding his tongue over the smooth skin to capture one round, erect nipple in his mouth. He teases the hard point with his tongue, while one hand slides up JC's leg and wraps around the stiff member.
JC tugs at Lance's shirt pulling it upward to allow JC to caress more and more of his skin. With his other hand he caresses Lance's head, pressed tightly to his own chest.
Lance's tongue works its way across JC's chest to the other nipple, which he takes between his teeth and gently rolls in the same manner that JC sometimes does to him. Traveling lower, Lance runs his tongue over the ripples of JC's tight abs until he reaches the soft curls between his legs. He pauses, gripping JC's thighs, not sure what to do but trusting that his instincts will take over. He knows only that he cannot look at JC right now; Lance's lack of experience in this particular activity put a crimp in his already shaky self-confidence, and he's afraid of what he will see in JC's eyes.
JC is so excited he can hardly breathe, but he senses Lance's hesitancy and manages to gasp out "Lance, you don't have to . . . "
Now Lance does lift his eyes. "No, I want to. I really do. But Josh . . . I, um, never did this before, so if I, like, do it wrong tell me. Okay?"
"It's hard to do this wrong, Lance. Just think about what would feel good if it was being done to you. Oh, and be careful with your teeth."
Grinning, Lance shakes his head. "I'll try to remember that." And when he does think about how it would feel, his groin tingles. The smile fades quickly, though, as he returns his concentration back to what he was about to do. To JC, his boyfriend. And that's all he needs to boost his confidence. Gently circling the base of JC's hot erection with his hand, Lance flicks his tongue at the tip, getting used to the feel and taste. He brings his lips over the tip and slowly, carefully, draws his mouth down the length, listening for any sounds of annoyance or discomfort from JC.
JC digs his fingers into the bedclothes. He doesn't think he's ever been this aroused, and Lance's tentativeness, combined with his utter willingness, adds to his arousal rather than detracting from it.
Encouraged by JC's reaction, Lance engulfs the length of the stiff shaft in his mouth, sliding down as far as he can go before pulling up again. He sucks gently, finding a rhythm and steadily pulsing up and down; part of him can't believe he's doing this, the other part can't believe how much he's actually enjoying it.
JC gasps, and gasps again, struggling to breathe normally and losing the struggle. The intensity of the physical sensation alone is beyond anything he's ever known, but that fact that it's Lance who's giving him this amazing experience makes it even more incredible.
Lance grips JC's legs, using only his mouth now on the throbbing organ. He flicks his tongue out to lick its length, then engulfs it once more, increasing his rhythm and urging JC on.
"So good, Lance. So good," JC murmurs, his head rolling against the mattress. He can't resist the urge to reach for Lance's head, but he wills himself not to grab, not to push, but to caress, encourage.
Lifting himself slightly, Lance runs his tongue along the shaft and back down, and lower to JC's balls, which he takes the time to lick before returning once again to the pulsing member. With each minute that passes Lance feels bolder and more confident, and he only hopes that JC likes what he's doing.
JC begins to thrust ever so lightly against Lance's hot mouth. He's holding back, reining himself in. Lance's hot mouth and teasing tongue are almost too much for him, though, and he knows he's getting close.
Faster and faster Lance moves against JC's thrusts, sliding his moist lips up and down, again and again, completely lost in the moment. JC can't restrain his thrusts anymore--he's too aroused, too close. He gasps out "Baby, I'm gonna, I'm gonna," and then he's exploding.
As the hot fluid shoots into his mouth, Lance steadies JC with his hands. It's only when JC's body stills that Lance releases his organ. Even in the flickering candlelight, Lance knows his face is flushed. Still, he wants to see JC's face, so he shifts his weight and rests his butt on his ankles. JC continues to lay back, eyes closed. Lance's keeps his hands on JC's thighs, though he's loosened his grip. "Happy birthday, Josh," he says softly.
JC smiles, a lazy, loving, goofy smile that spreads slowly across his face. "That was the best birthday present ever. Are you okay? I didn't hurt you? Come here."
Lance pushes himself onto the bed and lays down next to JC. "No, you didn't hurt me. Did I hurt you? Did I . . . um . . . do it too hard?"
JC gathers Lance into his arms. "You were perfect. Perfect." JC hugs Lance tighter. "I love you."
"I love you too." Lance places a soft kiss on JC's cheek and studies the older boy's profile in the dim light of the room. "But I have to go. Chris'll be wondering where I am and my mom'll be checking up on us."
"I wish you could stay. I wanna make you feel as good as you made me feel."
Lance props himself up. "You always make me feel good. When you walk in the room, I feel good. When you look at me, I feel good. When you sing, I feel good. You don't even have to do anything and I feel good."
JC reddens. "You know when I just said I loved you? That was nothing compared to what I feel right now."
"It's true though." Lance brings his lips to JC's once more. If he stays any longer, he'll never leave, so he quickly hops off the bed. Besides, he really needs a cold shower. The sight of JC lying on the bed, nearly naked, is not helping his state. "I'll see you tomorrow, Josh. And Josh? I'll miss you."
"Me too, baby? Thank you. For everything."
Lance nods and slips out the door. Outside, in the hall, he leans his back against the door, sighing softly. Things have been happening so fast. Their careers, this relationship. Then he smiles as he heads toward his room. Sometimes fast is good.