“Look who saved us a seat,” Justin cheered, genuinely surprised to see Rachel and Melissa sitting at a table. He knew Joey had put them all together in a group for seating. He smiled big, getting to them first. “Who's dancing with me first?” he eyed Rachel and then Melissa, pulling them both up as the rest of the guys minus Joey came in. “Come on chicas, we need a shot of Jack.”
“I thought you weren't coming,” JC fell into step with Rachel, giving her a look. He was glad the girls were there, hoping he could dance with Rachel to a slow song, that the reception wouldn't be as emotionally taxing as the wedding was.
“Someone changed their mind,” she took the shot glass and smiled when JC joined them, all taking a shot. Rachel turned and smiled at Lance, watching him come towards them. Her boyfriend and Chris ordered shots as well. “The bartender's gonna be busy tonight,” she said, watching Justin and Melissa have another shot. “Easy there, Bass.”
“I flew up here with the sole purpose of drinking until I forget today,” Melissa told Rachel, making the guys still. “I don't think I can forget five years. There's not enough alcohol,” she told her best friend, smiling sadly. “And look,” Melissa pointed towards where the bride and groom were about to enter, “I can smile and pretend to be happy.”
Without her knowing it, Chris had sided up to Mel, holding on to her just enough so it appeared he was hugging her. He downed the shot he had, setting the glass back on the bar. “We got you tonight, Melly,” he whispered, watching her blink back tears as Joey and Kristen were introduced, amidst claps and whistles, all of them doing their part to make it look like they were thrilled with what was going on.
“But who has Joey?” Melissa whispered back, watching Joey carefully. He had the smile on his face he got when dealing with the media, doing interviews for long hours, the same questions over and over when he was tired. The fake smile. Her own facade slipped a little and she looked away, not able to stomach the thought of Joey not being hers. It was real..and getting more real by the second.
“Not sure how long this will last,” Rachel told Lance as they looked at his sister who was standing there with Chris. “Tell her to breathe,” she told Justin, punching him in the shoulder.
“Breathe Chica,” Justin said, pulling her from Chris and back to the table. They were all seated and dinner was being served. “What the hell is this?” he asked, making a face at his plate. “I said I wanted the steak.”
“It is steak, just a little one,” Chris pointed out, not sure about his dish. “I told them chicken.”
“I bet fifty bucks Joey has someone go get McDonald's before the night is over,” Melissa said, her eyes not leaving the table where Joey and Kristen were.
“What's wrong?” Kristen looked at her husband, watching him push his food around on his plate. “I thought you liked steak.”
“I like something that's more than one bite of food. Tell me there's more,” Joey said, his nerves frayed. The whole reception looked ridiculous in his opinion. It was too busy and overdone, but what did he care. He just wanted his family and friends to have a good time. They were all eating and his eyes drifted over to the table that held his band mates. He'd been floored to walk in and see Melissa and Rachel there. He knew that was as close as he was going to get to his best friend for the night and comforted himself in the fact that she was there at all.
“There's more. Finger foods will be available all night, there's drinks...what else did you want?” Kristen said, watching Joey spear a cooked carrot and snarl at it.
“McDonald's. Burger King. Jack In The Box,” Joey commented, eating and deciding he'd send Steve out later if he remembered. “What flavor is the cake?” he asked, eying the tiered sugary confection. He felt a little bad, not even knowing about the cake until Kristen had shown him a picture a couple days ago when he gave her a stupid look about it. He just hadn't cared.
“Vanilla, chocolate and lemon.”
“Good,” Joey said, thanking God for small miracles. Now if he could just get through it all with his heart and emotions intact, he'd be doing well. Dinner and cake came and went, then it was time for the first dance. He prayed it wasn't one of their songs as his arms moved to pull Kristen in closer. Savage Garden started playing and Joey let his mind wander. This was as good as something he'd have come up with, even better actually. He had cared less about what the song was. A band was supposed to come play in a little while, switching out with the DJ.
“I love you,” Kristen told Joey, laying her head on him, smiling when he kissed her head softly.
“I love you too,” Joey replied, his heart twisting at the words. He was going to try to do just that, having promised that very thing in front of his family and friends and God. He was going to do it if it killed him, and it just might. Swallowing a lump in his throat, Joey looked over to the table where Melissa was, watching her laugh at something Justin said, wishing like hell it was him she was giving that smile to.
“He looks miserable,” Janine told Phyllis, who frowned at her, “Well he does!”
“Your brother's tired,” Phyllis told her, knowing she was lying to her daughter as well as herself. Truth be told, she was exhausted from keeping up pretenses all day and was thinking about calling it a night. Her in laws and parents, as well as a few of the older relatives on both sides had went up to their respective rooms already. The younger crowd was out on the dance floor, leaving parents and the 'middle aged' party goers coming and going. She got up and looked at her daughter. “I'm going to go talk to Linda and Jim. Come tell me if your father wants to leave,” she said, looking over at where Joe Senior had went, talking to one of his cousins from New York.
Janine sat at the table, watching Joey sit there. Kristen had her friends at the head table and he was stuck there entertaining them. She observed Joey's head turn to listen to something Kristen had to say, then his facial expression change. “Uh oh..I've seen that look,” she muttered to herself, Joey's mouth pressing into a thin line and his brow furrow. She grew even more confused when the girls around Kristen all said something and Joey got up, stalking towards the table that held his band mates.
“She wants what?” Lance said, looking over at where Kristen was sitting and back at Joey. “Did you tell her we'd sing?”
“You think I want to sing?” Joey said, a little louder than he meant to, running a hand through his hair. “I'm on my way to being FUBAR'ed and she asks me if I will 'please' sing a song to her,” Joey growled, shaking his head. “I can't sing. I'll be lucky to be on key with Lance and Chris.”
“You think we'll be much better, dude?” Justin asked, all of them feeling good with the alcohol they'd consumed. “Fine. What the fuck ever. One damn song.”
“What song?” JC asked, grinning when Joey suggested 'Bye Bye Bye', knowing his friend was still pissed. “We'd fall on our asses.”
“I'd pay money to see that,” Rachel interjected, making them all chuckle. “Lots of money.”
“Not happening,” Chris told her, seeing someone and telling the guys he'd be back. Along with family and friends, Joey had asked a few of his friends in the music industry to come. He came back with Joe and smiled wide. “We're saved,” he said, talking over the song.
Joey stood there looking out at the crowd. He kept telling himself he could sing, the microphone in his hand. “Well, this was a surprise to me...My wife, Kristen, requested that we sing. So here's a song for you Kris.”
Joey gave her a smile and was glad Joe had come, starting “I Believe In You”. It was a lie. In the bottom of his heart he knew it was a lie. As the words passed his lips, the woman on his mind wasn't Kristen. The men beside him on the stage sounded good, glad it wasn't as bad as what he'd thought. He faltered momentarily when he saw Rachel reach for a napkin, pressing it against Melissa's face, wiping tears. He quit singing then, mouthing the words. Joey looked over at Lance and gave him the signal for 'out' on harmonizing and let Chris take over his part.
Melissa's head turned when she heard a voice drop out. She didn't have to guess whose it was. Joey wasn't singing. Her eyes met his and she stared. He was hurting and it hurt her to have to be watching and not able to do anything about it. She took a deep breath and it came back out as a sigh. She reached over and squeezed Rachel's hand hard. Melissa wondered now if this was a good idea, her own emotions at the brink of crumbling.
“We can leave, Mel. You don't have to stay,” Rachel whispered, watching Melissa and Joey look at one another. She raised an eyebrow at Lance, not sure of what to think. She knew they were all inebriated, making everything different.
The chorus came up and Chris wanted to end the song. He wanted to quit singing like Joey had. This was a joke, sitting here watching his friends be unhappy. Melissa and Rachel were talking, once in a while looking at them. It wasn't hard to guess the subject. The man sitting next to him should have been the happiest guy ever. Chris knew that had nothing to do with becoming a father. Joey was excited about that. However, the subject of who he was marrying was sobering. As they harmonized for the end of the song, cheers started and he quickly put his microphone up, not wanting anyone to get the idea for them to sing any more. “Whatta ya need Joey?” Chris asked his friend, throwing his arm around him as they walked away from where they'd sang.
“Tequila. Lots of tequila,” Joey replied, glad when Chris led him to the bar.
“I think you're being out drank,” Justin hollered at Melissa and Rachel. “Oh shit,” Justin said, watching Melissa get up. He hadn't meant to bring Joey and Melissa together, watching Kristen get interested in what they were doing.
“Let her come have a shot for the love of God,” Lance muttered at Justin, pulling his sister up to the bar next to Joey.
“Bad idea,” Justin sang softly, watching Kristen get up.
Joey looked over at Melissa and took the shot. “You drinkin' with me tonight, Bass? You're behind I think,” he said, sliding the glass over to her, his eyes glassy. “Show me how it's done, Bambina.”
Melissa nodded, looking at the three shots in front of her. She took Joey's first, downing it, then immediately going for the other two. “Ha!” she told him, slamming the last glass down in front of him. “Whoa..” she stood there a second, the alcohol rushing through her.
Joey saw Kristen standing a few feet away and glaring at him and sighed. “We came here to party. Let's get this thing started.”
Melissa nodded, grabbing Rachel and the two of them made their way to the DJ before making their way back to their table.
Lance raised his eyebrow as his girlfriend and his sister removed their heels. “What are they doing?” he asked Joey, watching as the girls went to the dance floor. The people there cleared a path and he heard Chris mutter.
The song clearly wasn't an NSYNC song, but Rachel and Melissa were doing a combination of dance moves from Bye Bye Bye and It's Gonna Be Me in time with the music, throwing in some of their own. Justin joined in, a smile on his face when the two of them kissed him on the cheek.
“Oh hell no,” Kristen muttered as the other four guys joined in, with more people making their way to the dance floor. It was the most action the reception had seen and she glared in Joey's direction as he pulled Rachel to him, dancing with her provocatively.
“Your wife's gonna be pissed,” Rachel said, laughing at his over dramatic hip thrust.
“Don't care,” Joey said as the music changed, pulling her into a proper slow dance position, his hand on her waist, the other hand enclosed around hers. “What did one casket say to the other?”
Rachel shook her head. Only Joey would think of stupid jokes at a time like this. “What Joey?”
“Is that you coffin?”
Rachel laughed and saw his gaze wander over to where Chris was dancing with Melissa. She saw Joey's fingers wiggle in their direction. “I'd change places with her in a minute,” she said, their faces close so she didn't have to talk loud over the music.
“I'd sell my soul to be Chris. Never thought I'd say that,” Joey told Rachel, sighing. “I love you Rachel...I don't mean it like that.”
“I know what you meant. And I know you love me. Who doesn't?” Rachel saw a smile come to his face once more. The song ended and Joey kissed her cheek quickly. “Have fun...Looks like your dance card is full,” he gave her a smile and went to dance with Kristen.
Rachel turned to see JC standing there as another slow song came on. “Is it your turn?” she asked, smiling at him as he nodded.
“Lance lost in rock, scissors, paper,” JC told her, his smile growing when his hands touched her. It was the same position Joey had been in, however just a bit closer. He couldn't hold her as close as he wanted, since she wasn't his, but Josh wasn't about to act like they weren't dancing.
“I can't believe you played that stupid game to figure out who was dancing with me first,” Rachel told him, laughing when he blushed a little and shook his head. “I love that I made you blush Mr. Chasez.”
JC leaned into Rachel and looked at her, his blue gaze holding hers. He let his grip on her tighten for a moment, wishing he could pull her close to him and wrap his arms around her waist. Holding her like this but not being able to hold her like he wanted was torture. “I like the feeling, Ms. Weatherly. Just don't tell anyone.”
Rachel's grin broadened at JC's words. She felt herself sway a little closer; unable to pull away from his gaze. “Your secret's safe with me Josh,” she promised, glad that Melissa had decided that she wanted to come down for the reception. She didn't feel bad for dancing with JC, they weren't doing anything wrong. And the fact that Lance was waiting to dance with her was nice as well. It was nice to feel wanted, especially with the fact that the man she was dancing with now seemed to be enjoying himself.
“You staring won't make things change, Chica,” Justin pointed out as Melissa's eyes kept wandering to where Joey was. “You're killing me, Bass. He's married. No one stood up and screamed foul,” he said softly, breaking her gaze off to look at him. “Remember what I told you?” Justin asked her as she nodded. “What was it?”
Melissa's buzz was wearing off where she could think better and she sighed, leaning on Justin. “That he's always gonna be my homeboy...Like it matters,” she muttered.
“Course it matters,” Justin told her, watching his other friends. “We all need a Melly in our lives. And now you're moving...Bitch.”
“Don't hate the player, hate the game,” Melissa told him, watching Justin laugh.
“You even sound like Fatone,” Justin shook his head and pulled her to the bar. “We need a drink.”
Melissa went with Justin, thinking she needed more than one, but took the offered shot. She smiled at Rachel, watching her talk to JC and Lance. That was the biggest reason for coming down to the reception. She wanted her friend to have some fun.
“So you finally came to dance with me?” Lance inquired, watching Rachel laugh. He pulled her in close, dropping a kiss on her lips and then one to her jaw back by her ear. “Did JC tell you I lost?” he asked, listening to her chuckle.
“I can't help it you suck at a little kids game,” Rachel told her boyfriend, letting Lance hold her closer than JC had, not caring if someone stared. She felt comfortable with him, sighing when he ran a hand up and down her back. “I'm surprised we're still here,” she told him.
“I am too. Not sure when we'll be done. When Fatone calls it a night I guess. Hopefully when you and Mel leave, we won't get bombarded with bridesmaids,” Lance rolled his eyes and smiled at Rachel's glare in their general direction.
“I'll come yank a nasty bitches fake color out of her head,” Rachel warned Lance. She saw Justin and Melissa at the bar. “Timberlake doesn't mind getting her drunk does he?” It wasn't an accusing tone, just curious.
“Justin will drink as long as he has someone to drink with him. My sister is just a willing participant.” Lance was glad his parents had went to their hotel room already. No one had acted stupid yet, but the night was still young. It wasn't quite ten thirty.
“I love you,” Rachel told Lance before the song ended.
“I love you too,” Lance replied, leaning in and kissing her. “I love you even more saying my name,” he whispered in her ear, making her blush. “That stroked my ego like you wouldn't believe.”
“You're horrible!” Rachel smacked him on the shoulder and grinned.
“I'm horrible and you love me..I should have personality disorder,” Lance quipped, smiling as he wound their fingers together leading her away from the dance floor and towards their table to get some hordervuers.
The alcohol burned and Melissa handed the glass back to the bartender. “I'm going to go say hi to Steve and Janine,” she told Justin, wandering through the crowd to find Joey's siblings. She blinked back tears when Janine pulled her in for a hug.
“You're a brave woman,” Janine told Melissa, holding back tears for the woman she thought was going to be her sister in law. “We love you, Melissa Bass. Don't forget that.”
“I won't. I love you too. You and David will have to come visit me in California when I get settled.”
“We will,” Janine promised, smiling when Steve came and goosed the younger woman. The three of them talked before an old Toto song came on and Melissa yelped in laughter, not having noticed the band came back to play.
“Our song's on!” Melissa yelled to Chris, laughing more as he sang along, coming to retrieve her as the chorus started.
“I requested this,” Chris told her, shrugging, “Meet you all the way, meet you all the way, Roseanna yeah,” he sang, watching Melissa laugh and shake her head. “Hey, it was either this or the theme song to Oklahoma.”
“You going to dance anymore?” Joey asked Kristen, having shed his tuxedo jacket and lost his tie. When she shook her head, he shrugged. “Your loss I guess, Kris.”
“What's that supposed to mean? It's my wedding reception. I don't see you spending time with me,” Kristen said back, in a mood since she'd watched Joey and Melissa at the bar.
“I'll be spending the next few days with just you. Everyone came from Florida and New York and everywhere else. I'm going to enjoy it.”
“Whatever,” Kristen said, waving him off, clearly more interested in what her friends were saying than in him at the moment.
Joey's teeth ground and then he rolled his eyes when he heard “I Will Survive” start playing, but turned at the laughter. Steve and Janine were in line with Melissa and Rachel, doing the electric slide to the song. They were soon joined by Chris and Lance. Joey shrugged, going to join them, watching as they all had fun. He hoped someone would get pictures of this, knowing they were all buzzed. It was moments like this, ones where he caught Melissa's eyes and gave her a smile, that he thought for a moment the world was spinning the right way once more.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Rachel leaned on the rail of the elevator, watching Melissa stand there. They'd left during the bride and groom dancing before the band left for the night. The reception was still going to go on, just the DJ spinning tunes. Rachel held her shoes in her hand and had Lance's key card ready. “What are you gonna drink first?” she asked, watching Melissa, wipe tears. She sighed to herself. “No crying, Mel.”
“It's my party and I'll cry if I want to,” Melissa told Rachel, wiping her tears with the back of her hand that held her shoes. They got off the elevator and went to Lance's room where they'd left out their stock pile of alcohol. She grabbed the whiskey and all the shot glasses almost full. Grabbing the remote, she turned the television back on and turned up Destiny's Child. “Get over here, Rach. No chickening out.”
Rachel looked at the six shot glasses and at her friend. “We came to get our drink on,” she said, picking up the first glass. She did the shots in quick succession, licking her lips and groaning when the liquor found her stomach.
Melissa grabbed the remote and turned up the music louder as “Oops I Did It Again” came on, opening one of the bottles of Jack and Coke and using it as a microphone. “That I'm sent from above, but I'm not that innocent,” she danced provocatively, making Rachel laugh, grabbing another drink and join her, not caring they were singing loud and acting silly. “Eat your heart out Brit. I'm partying with you ex...” she told the television, kissing it.
“You've lost your mind, Mel,” Rachel said, sitting on the bed and changing channels, switching it to CMT. The two girls made up a game and took shots during music videos anytime someone wore boots or sang about a tractor or boat. They were feeling no pain in an hour. By the second hour they'd changed clothes, or at least some semblance of clothes: Lance's silk dress shirts and a tie loosened around their necks, the top button undone, no pants, just undergarments.
“I'm going out tonight, I'm feeling all right, gonna let it all hang out,” Melissa sang, her voice slurred, walking across Lance's bed, singing along to the television.
“Oh oh oh, get in the action, feel the attraction,” Rachel sang along with her, giggling as they ran into each other, holding on to Melissa's waist so they wouldn't fall down. She was beyond drunk. The wine cooler in her hand was almost done. In her drunk haze, Rachel looked at the counter and back at Melissa as the song ended. “We have more alcohol.”
“One bourbon, one whiskey, and one beer,” Melissa told her, both of them sitting down on the bed. “Lance's gonna be pissed. Oh well,” she didn't really care as she got up and grabbed more liquor. She poured (and spilled) it and handed Rachel another drink.
“Why don't you just use the bottle?” Rachel suggested, snorting a laugh when Melissa turned it up and chugged it.
“You think they're all drunk? I mean all of them?” Melissa asked after a moment, leering at Rachel.
“Probably,” Rachel told her, taking the shot out of Melissa's hands and drinking it. “You look hot in that shirt,” she told her friend, laughing when Melissa wiggled her hips. “I didn't mean like that.”
“Oh shut up,” Melissa told her, flopping down on the bed with the bottle in her hands, grinning. “Rach, the room is spinning.”
“We're drunk, Mel. I can't feel my toes. Or my tongue.”
“I think you kissed Chris by accident. He's poisonous,” Melissa said, laughing hard.
“You're a dork,” Rachel quipped back, looking around the room. It looked bad, alcohol bottles everywhere. Not that she cared, but the room had been wrecked.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*
“I hear a television, so that's a good sign,” JC said as Chris unlocked his room . Both men stopped at the entrance, looking around. Chris's bed had been messed up but the door was open from his room to Lance's. “Holy mother of god,” Chris murmured, looking at the open fridge and then at Lance's room.
“Hi,” Rachel smiled wide, her eyes glassy as she sat on the bed. “Melly, boys are here. It's Chris and Josh.”
“I love Chris and Josh,” Melissa told Rachel, coming out of the bathroom. “How are you?” she sang, stumbling into Chris's arms. “I missed you, Christopher Alan,” Melissa told him, grinning stupidly.
Chris was trying hard not to touch Melissa somewhere inappropriate, but the way her body was against him, he had a handful of her breast, leaving little to the imagination as the shirt she was wearing bunched up. “I missed you too, Melissa Nicole,” he said, moving to where he could lead her into his room. He looked her over carefully as she stood there, wobbly from being drunk. Drunk or not, she was making him rethink boundaries that had been set in his mind. It didn't help any he was pretty buzzed as well. “You alright?” he asked, letting himself be pulled to the bed and sit down before having her in his lap. “Mel...”
“Chris,” Melissa breathed, curling up in his arms. She knew he wasn't Joey, but her mind just wanted someone. Dark hair met her eyes and she reached up, running a hand through it. “Joey,” she murmured, tears coming to her eyes.
“No, honey..I'm Chris,” he told her, knowing she was too drunk to care. He stilled when he felt her lips on his neck. When her tongue found his ear, playing with his earring he had in, he groaned. “Mel...” Chris pulled away enough to look at Lance's little sister and his heart broke a little, wiping her tears with his finger, mascara running. “Let's just get you cleaned up a little,” he said, standing her up and leading her to the bathroom. He leaned her against the wall and grabbed a washcloth and got it warm, wiping off the make up. “There,” he said, pushing her hair out of her face.
“I look ugly with no make up,” Melissa said, looking in the mirror, frowning. She shook her head slightly. “And I don't like fixing my hair..I'm not all girly and all that stuff..”
“You're beautiful, Mel,” Chris told her, pulling her around to hold her. “Look at me,” he said, waiting until she did. “You're beautiful. You don't need that stuff.”
“You're just saying that, Kirkpatrick.”
Chris knew he shouldn't, but he leaned down and kissed Melissa on the lips anyway. Her lips were soft and he found himself pressing his body up against hers. He groaned when he felt her hands pull his shirt out of where it had been tucked in, her fingers finding skin. He reluctantly pulled back, giving her a searching look. “We can't do this.” The drunk male part of his brain was kicking the other part of him, telling him to shut up, but Chris didn't want his best friend's sister to wake up in the morning and regret anything. And Chris didn't either, truth be told. That and the rational part of his mind didn't want Joey to stuff his body in a bag to float down the Hudson River.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
“I think we missed the room,” Joey told Lance and Justin, trying to press the buttons on the elevator. “It's down...not up,” he slurred, laughing.
“Dawg, you're fucking drunk. Fatone..Fat one,” Justin laughed when Joey gave him the finger. “Dude, you're in the honeymoon suite.”
“No shit?” Joey asked, looking down at his left hand. “Oh yeah. I got married. And it wasn't because I wanted to, let me be the first to tell you,” Joey pointed out, frowning. “I want Melly. She'll fix it.”
“Joe...” Lance wasn't sure what to say. “She can't fix it. You wanted to get married.”
“I know. Stupid Joey,” Joey said, sighing. “You sure my room's up here?” he asked once more, stumbling towards the two men as they caught him. “Did ya see my jewelry?” he asked, holding up his sleeve of his shirt.
Lance looked and smiled. “Nice,” he said, watching Joey grin big.
“Your sister got them for me...I love your sister,” he said, hugging Lance.
“I know you do, man. I know,” Lance told him, glad he wasn't as drunk as Joey or he wasn't sure if they would make it to the right room, much less back to their own.
Joey turned after hugging Lance and hugged Justin. “I know I'm fucked up right now. But I'm serious,” he pointed his finger at Justin with as much seriousness as an inebriated man could, “You take care of my woman, Timberlake. You..and Christopher..make sure she doesn't cry over me. I don't think I could stand it...”
Justin just nodded, not sure of what else to say to Joey besides yes as his friend hugged him. He felt something wet and looked at Lance. “Fuck, man,” Justin's composure broke. “You weren't s'posed to marry Kristen, you feel me?” he half yelled at Joey, crying himself. “You were supposed to marry Mel. It was supposed to be the damn love story we sing about you dumb fuck.”
Lance pushed the stop button on the elevator, listening to his friends have an emotional meltdown. He blamed it on the alcohol, at least somewhat. As a group though, they had yet to deal with this. He felt a tear slip down his face and wiped it quickly. “Come on you two,” he said after a few moments, trying to smile at the two grown men who were now trying to act like nothing had happened. He pressed the button and the elevator opened and they herded Joey towards his room.
“Have a good night, Joe.” Lance didn't miss Joey cutting his eyes towards him as they knocked on the door.
“Fuck you,” Joey whispered, running a hand over his bare face. He smiled at Kristen when she opened the door.
“We brought you your lawfully wedded husband,” Justin told her, trying not to laugh at the go to hell look he was getting.
“He's so drunk he'll probably just go to bed,” Kristen said, getting shrugs from Justin and Lance both. “What am I supposed to do with him?” she asked as Joey moved past her into the room.
“Not our problem,” Justin told her. “Oh wait..” Justin went and got Joey's cufflinks and held them up so Joey could see them. “I'll take these home. Keep them safe.”
Joey nodded, reaching for the buttons his vest. “Get outta here, JT,” he mumbled, not in the mood to see anyone anymore. “Thanks,” he called out to Justin and Lance. He heard the door close and looked at Kristen. She was still in her wedding dress and giving him a look he knew.
“Not tonight,” Joey told her, tossing his vest on the floor reaching for the buttons on his shirt, his alcohol muddled brain thinking of Melissa's hands buttoning them up.
“It's our wedding night,” Kristen scoffed, her hands on her hips. She hadn't been waiting the whole day and now an hour after she'd come up to their room just to be denied sex. Not just that but to consummate their marriage.
“And you're already knocked up, sort of defeats the purpose. Not to mention the fact we were together a couple days ago. I'm drunk,” Joey told her, not in the mood to discuss it.
“And I'm your wife.”
Joey made his way to the bathroom and shut the door. “I know, that's why I'm drunk,” he muttered, sighing. He'd told himself the past week he was going to be a good husband and love his wife. It was just his heart protesting. If it would just stop beating, it might just work. That wasn't the answer, so Joey was going to do what he did when he had to make something work. He'd fake it until it became real.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^***
“Hi Josh,” Rachel said, smiling as she hugged him. “You smell good.” She didn't care he was sweaty and had alcohol on his breath. He still had on cologne and deodorant and his own scent.
“Thanks,” JC said, holding Rachel, his eyes wandering over her. “That's a good look for you,” he said, fingering the tie as he sat down on the bed. He looked around at the bottles of alcohol and then at Rachel who was still smiling at him.
“We stole Lance's stuff. His pants don't fit. We tried,” she said, giggling. Rachel knew she was talking to JC, her brain just wasn't registering everything she was saying. “And if it had been your pants...” her eyes went to JC's pants and back up to his face before shrugging.
“Oh Rachel.” Josh cupped her face and smiled, “You're somethin' else.” He could hear Chris and Melissa talking in Chris's room and pressed his lips against Rachel's. A satisfied moan left his mouth as she returned the kiss, not caring he shouldn't be doing that. He let his fingers run through her hair as he pulled her closer. It took all of his willpower to break off the kiss, studying Rachel's face. JC prayed she wouldn't be mad at him. “Sorry..I shouldn't have-”
“It's alright, JC. Really,” Rachel told him, returning his kiss with one of her own. In the back of her mind, she knew it was wrong, but she also thought she could play it off, the alcohol helping muddle those thoughts. She smiled against his lips, her forehead resting against his after she'd broken off the kiss.
“Come on, let's get some of this picked up,” JC said after holding Rachel a few moments, both of them quiet, enjoying the moment and feelings that neither one of them would admit to. “Or how about you stay on the bed and I'll pick up.” Josh patted Rachel's leg and went and started picking up empty bottles of alcohol.
Lance opened the door to his room and paused, looking around. He could just make out the dresser where the mini bar was sitting on and saw it was open and stepping in a few more steps, he could hear the clink of glass against glass. “Holy shit,” he said, watching JC toss another bottle into the trash.
“Hi Lance,” Rachel sat, watching JC like it was a sporting event, a goofy smile on her face. “I'm watching Josh clean. All he needs is a maid's outfit.”
“Don't think so, Rachel,” JC told her, sighing at another bottle. “It's a wonder they didn't get alcohol poisoning.”
Justin came in behind Lance and looked at the room that was still disheveled no matter if someone was cleaning it or not. “You have fun, chica?” he asked Rachel, going over and hugging her.
“Yeah, Timber timber timberlake,” Rachel replied with a laugh. “We drank and sang and drank more.” She let Justin go to hug Lance. “I missed you,” she snuggled into Lance when he sat beside her on the bed. When Lance didn't say anything, she frowned a little. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing. Really,” Lance gave her a little smile, his arm around her. He'd told JC not to worry about the rest of the stuff on the dresser and anywhere else. “I don't think I'll be leaving you and my sister alone with any alcohol for a while. Speaking of, where's Melissa?”
“With Chris,” Rachel said, closing her eyes and sighing. “Hope she drank enough. Cause I don't want anymore.”
“You drank two minibars. That should be quite sufficient,” JC said, sitting on the other side of Rachel and looking over at Lance. “You want me to hang out here tonight? Just to keep an eye on the girls? It won't be fun for them when they wake up if they mixed all that alcohol.”
“Stay if you want, C. The bed's big enough or there's the couch hide-a-bed,” Lance told him. The king sized bed could have fit four easily and it wouldn't be the first or last time one of his bandmates crashed in his room.
“Dude, it won't be fun for us either,” Justin told JC, going to Chris's room and standing there at the doorway. “Fuck. I told myself I was done getting emotional at this shit.” Justin went over to the light and was about to shut it off when he heard Chris's voice.
“She asleep?” he asked, his voice raspy, opening his eyes.
“Yeah man. Out,” Justin replied, watching Chris move Melissa around to get comfortable. He watched her squirm and whimper, sitting down on the other side of the bed. “It's okay, Mel,” he brushed hair out of her face. It hurt to watch her face scrunch up and he was relieved when she finally fell back asleep. “Tomorrow's gonna be fun.”
“That's what I'm screaming. All this alcohol and no one got into a cat fight. I'm a little disappointed,” Chris said with laugh.
“Dude, you really need help,” Justin said, tossing his tuxedo jacket and dress shirt towards a chair, along with a tie. “And if I wake up and find you curled up next to me, I'm gonna whip the shit out of you.”
“Try it and see what happens.”
Justin smiled, turning off the light, a glow still coming from Lance's room and talking. “Fine. I'll just tell Joey you got fresh with his 'Bambina'. She was drunk and you wanted to get in on the action.”
“You're a bastard, Timberlake. And don't do it. I'd like to live to have kids someday,” Chris told Justin, letting Melissa snuggle closer to him.
“I don't think Joey would just stop at castration. He'd go all Gestapo on your ass.” Justin smirked as Chris muttered. “Night old man.”
“Shut up, fool.”
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^*^*
JC couldn't sleep. It wasn't for lack of being tired, because he was tired mentally and physically. And it wasn't where he was. He was comfortable on the couch in Lance's room. He laid there in the dark and thought about things. Things that wouldn't leave him alone. Mostly one thing. The woman laying in the bed in the same room. He closed his eyes and told himself to quit fooling himself. It was just the alcohol talking for the both of them. As much as his head wanted to be rational, Rachel's smile came back to the foreground of his memory and the way she pressed her lips to his. He wasn't going to admit it, but Josh Chasez was smitten.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
“Never. Drinking. Again,” Melissa moaned softly as she felt her stomach clench up again, tears coming to her eyes. Her head pounded and after she flushed the toilet, she curled up beside the counter and whimpered. Everything was a haze sometime after a Britney Spears song. She felt a cool washcloth on her face and looked up, not hearing anyone come in. “Justin,” she croaked, shaking her head when he asked if she needed help.
“You look like shit,” Justin told her, looking concerned. “Let's get you back in bed,” he said, gingerly helping her up, only to be shoved out of the door when they got close to it, listening to her heave again. “Want a Heineken?” he asked, smiling when she told him to fuck off. “I love you too, Bass.”
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Rachel woke up and laid in bed a moment. She rolled over and smiled at Lance's still form, the covers just barely moving. A soft snore coming from the couch got her attention and she turned. Her eyes adjusted in the dark and she could make out JC's form. She knew it was him by the way he slept. She prayed her stomach would behave a few moments, her head starting to throb. A few seconds later her feet hit the floor as she made her way to the bathroom. Rachel got sick, glad no one was awake yet. She certainly didn't want to be babied and groaned when someone knocked on the bathroom door.
“You're a guy, go pee in a plant or something,” she barked, rinsing her mouth out with water after she flushed and washed her hands. When the knock came again, she jerked the door open, surprised to see a half asleep JC.
“There are no plants to pee in,” JC mumbled, waiting until Rachel had moved before shutting the door. He came back out a few moments later, wiping his hands on the towel just outside the bathroom with them smelling faintly of soap. “All yours again, mademoiselle.”
“Go back to sleep, Josh.”
“Don't worry. Wake up call isn't until noon,” JC replied, curling back up on the couch. “Wake me or Lance up if you need anything,” he muttered, a soft snore coming from his lips a couple moments later.
Rachel slipped back under the covers, actually glad she hadn't drank quite as much as Melissa. The night came back to her in snippets and a small smile came to her face. She wasn't sure if she really kissed JC or not, but the thought of it was nice. As was the thought of Lance kissing her. She knew it sounded crazy to like both men, but it was possible. At least for that time. Her eyes closed as she moved back next to Lance, ignoring the sounds of the hotel, trying to keep from having to get up again.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Joey downed four Aleve and slipped his sunglasses on, even though he was still in the hotel room. Part of the night was hazy, but he did know Kristen was mad at him. Judging by the way she was ignoring him, he wondered if there was anything he could do to make the honeymoon go smoothly. He wasn't about to go spend three days in the Bahamas with his wife pissed at him. A part of him didn't care, but the more sober and nice part of Joey won out. He went into the bedroom and looked at Kristen. “Sorry about last night, Kris.”
“Mmmmhmmm,” she said, not looking up from her magazine. “Listen, I know you've been stressed out with work, and the news of becoming a father and us getting married. But you were an ass last night. I mean, I didn't care you wanted to see your friends and everyone- I get that. But I'm your wife.”
Joey nodded, pulling her to him and kissing her. There was a piece of paper stating that fact. “I'll do better,” he promised. He had to do better. This was his future. It was at that time, he stuffed every facet of feeling he had for Melissa back into the recesses of his mind. Joey knew that time was coming, he just hadn't wanted it to come so soon. It took him a minute to remember to breathe, letting it out and smiled at Kristen. “Let's hit the airport. We got a plane to catch.”
Kristen returned his smile, kissing him on the lips. “As long as you let me have the inside seat.”
“Whatever you want, Kris.” Joey didn't miss her laugh at that statement, grabbing the bags after checking once more they had everything. His parents were going to get his tux and Kristen's wedding dress out of their room later. It was early enough no one else was up and they had almost made it to the door when Sofia Fatone called out his name.
“Nona, you are up early,” Joey said in Italian, hugging her.
“Nona is always up early, my Joey,” she replied, returning his hug and hugging Kristen. She studied Joey's face, pulling down his sunglasses. Without a word, she pushed them back into place and patted his cheek. “Be careful and have fun,” she told the couple, promising her grandson she would talk to him soon.
“What was that about?” Kristen asked, curious as they got into a cab to take them to the airport.
“That's just Nona,” Joey said, winding his fingers through hers. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Kristen leaned into a Joey, a small smile on her face. Everything had gone the way she wanted it to, aside from a few moments. Her wedding ring sat on her finger and she studied it. She had the perfect life now, at least to her way of thinking. Everything was just going to fall into place.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Okay I didn't realize when I posted this the first time it was't all there. (Curse you Dinkleberg..) anyhoo. Enjoy the FULL chapter this time and my apologizes.
Story Tags: joey
