"So what's the plan, Yo?" Justin asked after the video shoot ended for the night. There were still more to finish tomorrow; the daylight scenes before the footage would go into the post production where the scenes would be meshed and spliced together.
"Mel and Holly are at a club waiting on us if we were up to going," Lance named off the name of a popular club in Los Angeles. He glanced to his right seeing Rachel exit one of the trailers. She was back in her regular clothes; her face void of makeup. When her eyes met his he smiled and watched her smile in return and make her way to him.
"You have no idea how good it feels to be back in my own clothes," Rachel yawned and leaned into Lance wrapping an arm around his waist. "What were you talking about?"
"How you're gonna show me all those dance moves you've been hiding," Justin grins and starts a remix of beat boxing as he pulls Rachel from Lance and starts dancing with her.
Rachel laughed, shaking her head but she moves with him. She raises her hands above her when Justin moves close behind her. She felt his hand lightly on her hip.
"Work it!" Justin laughed, the smile big on his face. "We better stop," he spoke into her ear. "Your boyfriend's gonna get jealous." He stopped dancing and pulled her back against him in a hug.
Rachel's eyes slid to JC as he walked toward them with Chris. Her smile widened at his raised eyebrow as he took in the scene in front of him. She winked at him before extracting herself from Justin.
"Don't stop on our account," Chris grinned as he gave his hips a shake. "It's my turn!"
"Later," Rachel said, holding a hand up to ward off Chris's advances.
"Count on it," Chris winked. "What's going on?"
"We're heading to catch up with Mel," Rachel indicated her and Lance.
"Apparently we're catching up with Mel," Lance said.
"Hey you don't have to go," Rachel told him. "You can go rest up," she pats his cheek.
"That's right," Justin rests an arm on her shoulders. "I'll take care of her."
"Yeah, I don't think so." Lance pulled Rachel away from Justin. He held her to his side, his hand resting lightly on her denim covered hip. "Find your own woman."
Rachel threaded her arm behind Lance, resting her hand on his back. She caught JC's gaze and sent him a smile wishing she could be held against him. Her skin still tingled where he had touched during the video; a caress down her cheek, where he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the tip of his nose brushing hers as he sang softly as if she was the only person around.
JC itched to pull Rachel away from Lance and tell them all to get their own woman - or man. He wished he could act on what he's been wanting to do since they started filmed; pull her into his arms and kiss her. It had been one of the hardest things he ever had to do. Being close to Rachel like he was during the video and not being able to touch her like he wanted to was rough. He had stared into her eyes and read the emotions that flickered through while he sang about being his girlfriend. He knew what she had wanted. He had wanted it too.
"Your sister's available," Justin grinned. He looked around to make sure Joey wasn't in hearing range.
"Shit." Chris scoffed. "Mel's the most unavailable woman in the world."
"Who's the most unavailable woman?" Joey asked as he walked up on the last half of the conversation. He looked around at his friend's faces noting how they looked at each other, exchanging glances.
"I am," Rachel grinned brightly and snagged her arm across Lance's stomach, meeting her other hand. She clasped her fingers together and hugged him tightly. She wasn't sure if Joey bought it, even when Lance played along and kissed her. Judging by the pursing in Joey's lips, he didn't.
"What's the plan?" Joey asked changing the subject. He didn't want to get involved with whatever they were talking about. He knew it was Melissa.
"We're going to the club," Lance answered.
"Same here," JC echoed hoping under the guise of dancing in the club atmosphere he'd be able to be close to Rachel without raising questions.
"Yup," Justin grinned. "I'm feeling good and feel like dancing."
"I was going to but if you want to do something else, I'm game for anything." Chris said. He didn't know if Joey knew Melissa was going to be at the club or not. He didn't want to be the one to spill the beans.
"I'm down for clubbing," Joey nodding feeling the need to go out and drink; to feel the loud music pulse through him. If anything, it might take his mind of his screwed up life. For a few hours anyway.
The four men exchanged glances and shrugged. No one mentioned Melissa.
"Let's head back to the hotel and change." Lance said and they started walking to the van that would take them back to the hotel. Joey climbed up front with the driver.
"Move your ass, Christopher," Justin said as the older man climbed over the middle seats to the back. He rolled his eyes as the aforementioned ass started shaking. "Get your fat ass out of my face." He reached up pushing Chris causing him to tumble into the seat.
"Hey fucker!" Chris's voice was muffled before he righted himself. "Do it again."
"Don't shake that thing in my face," Justin followed Chris over the middle seats plopping down beside him. "Damn, dawg!" He yelled his hips thrusting up. "That fucking hurt!" He reached down rubbing his behind where Chris had pinched him.
Lance rolled his eyes as he climbed in sliding across the bench seat to the other side. He ignored the ruckus going on behind him as Chris and Justin got into a pinching match. Rachel climbed in taking her seat next to him leaving the final seat next to her for JC. He smiled seeing the look JC gave sent Rachel seeing no one else payin attention. It made him happy that his friends were happy.
"Who's the pimp now?" Rachel laughed, wrapping her arms around both Lance's and JC's necks. "A girl could get used to this." She sighed contently as both men shifted closer to her. Her thigh now was pressed against JC.
"You can always jump back here and sit in my lap," Justin's voice spoke directly in her ear from where he had leaned forward; his head between hers and JC's.
"Now there's an offer," Rachel laughed as JC palmed Justin's forehead pushing him away.
"Best one you'll get all night."
"Not hardly," Rachel mumbled giving JC a sly look out of the corner of her eye. A smile teased his lips. "Is that one of the lines you use to get ladies?" She asked louder.
"Ladies?" Chris laughed out loud and that started Justin and Chris going at it again.
Rachel settled in her seat as the van pulled away. She took Lance's hand out of habit. Even before her and JC happened they held hands often. She had to keep pretenses up. But she took the opportunity while Joey was sulking in the front seat staring out his window, Chris and Justin discussing women and pick up lines to reach over and grasp JC's hand. She entwined their fingers and squeezed. She looked at their hands clasped together, his thumb moving slowly over the back of her hand and smiled. She quickly released his hand when Chris jumped forward drawing the three of them into the discussion of best pick-up line. Joey remained quiet in the front seemingly ignoring them all until he was directly questioned.
“Come on Joe, what was your best pick up line?” Chris asked, ignoring the dirty looks he was getting. He wasn't going to let his friend just sit up there and pretend that life wasn't happening around him.
Joey gave a half smile and shrugged. “Mine are all stupid. The girls always laughed at me and then I think let me buy them a drink out of pity. I had no game... I'm just the flirt. But,” he turned, angling his body to where he could look at the rest of the group, “one time I told Mel that she must be tired because she'd been running through my mind all day.”
Rachel laughed, watching Joey smile. “What'd she say back at ya, Fatone?”
“She told me that it couldn't be true. She had to stop and ask directions because there wasn't anything there.” Joey gave a forced smile at his friends laughing and then turned back to the front and lit up a cigarette.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*
“So how are you liking the city of Angels?” AJ asked, downing another shot as the music pulsed and played. He'd spotted the two girls when they came up to VIP and had sat down with the blonde. The last name had resonated with him, but he really didn't care if she was the little sister of one of the guys from NSYNC. He was just hanging out, making a new friend.
Melissa smiled at AJ, still trying not to pinch herself. “It's alright. I miss Florida but it has its perks,” she grinned wider, making a face at the boot on her foot. “You know my brother is supposed to be here soon. Not sure how he'll feel about seeing you talking to me.” Melissa didn't miss the odd look on AJ's face.
“Does your brother run your life? Last time I checked, free and over 18 counted as adulthood. And who the hell cares? You like talking to me right?”
“Yeah, it's been a lot of fun,” Melissa admitted, feeling foolish for worrying about what her brother would think. Or anyone else, for that matter. “I will admit my best friend Rachel and I have liked y'all since we were in high school. Only reason I didn't hyperventilate is that you aren't Brian.”
AJ laughed long and hard. “You had to be a Rok chick. I guess I can live with that. And your friend is...”
“Hopelessly lost to Nick. You're out of luck I guess. No one wanting to rip off your clothes tonight. Although I'm sure we could find someone...” Melissa looked around, pointing out a couple of girls.
“Will you stop? I get enough of that shit...” AJ waved it off, lighting a cigarette. “You do a good job of handling all this. Or is that why you moved to L.A?” he questioned. He could read people and knew he was scratching the surface of this woman. He watched her facial expression changed and looked at the door, at the man that was coming in. The one with the goatee who stared at him as if he could snuff him out with the greatest of ease. His expression darkened and AJ shifted. “Someone you know?”
“My...former fiance,” Melissa replied, motioning for Rachel to come over, dragging Lance and JC with her. She was glad to have the subject suddenly be interrupted with her friends and brother.
“I leave you with Holly and see what riff raff you come up with,” Rachel exclaimed, trying not to freak out. She first wasn't sure who she saw sitting with Melissa but then when she realized who it was, her stomach had knotted up and she'd become nervous.
“She's doing a good job of freaking out and I'm not Nick,” AJ pointed out, getting a wide mouthed stare from the taller blonde and then at Melissa.
“What did you tell him?” Rachel said, her voice low. “I'll kill you slowly and painfully, Bass.”
“Just that he wasn't the main man on the top of our Backstreet list,” Melissa said as Lance and JC greeted AJ.
“Ouch. That hurt.What's up, McLean?” Lance asked, thumping AJ goodnaturedly on the back.
“Not much. I must say your sister got the looks. And I may not be at the top, but I can stand for second place,” he replied, slapping hands with JC. “JC?” he said, getting a greeting from Josh.
“I would agree there,” Lance smiled as Rachel and his sister were now whispering. “You got a show tomorrow night?”
“Yep. Was about to ask if Mel and her two friends wanted to come. My treat of course,” AJ grinned wide at the two girls who looked like they'd just been given the key to Fort Knox and told to go get whatever they wanted.
“Is this what our fans look like?” JC leaned in and asked Lance as he watched Rachel and Melissa turn into teenage girls and hug each other and then kiss AJ's cheek before they went to find Holly.
“I don't know if you can compare my sister and girlfriend to other fans,” Lance replied, sitting down in the chair and ordering a drink. He knew they couldn't get drunk tonight since they had to finish up the 'Girlfriend' video in the morning. “Pull up a chair, Josh. We've lost the rest of our companions.”
“Where's your crew tonight?” JC asked, ordering himself a Corona, looking around at the VIP part of the club. He didn't mind clubbing, but when he found Rachel in the crowd talking with Holly and Melissa, it was the last place he wanted to be.
“I'm here with some other music buddies. The guys are all out doing whatever. I think Nick, Brian and Kevin went to see a movie and D is batching it in his hotel room, he started getting a cold the other day,” AJ answered, swirling his stick in his Jack and Coke on the rocks, mixing it up. He'd watched where the other two guys had sat down- Joey, he remembered- and Justin.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
“Woman, we have to get you to the club more often,” Justin half yelled at Rachel as he danced with her, a smile on his face. His hands pulled her closer, more so than he usual. There was no protesting on Rachel's part, especially when he handed her off to JC.
Rachel snaked her arms around Josh, who held her much like Justin did, glad that no one was really paying attention. Justin always danced like he was trying to get the woman in the bedroom, no matter if it was a friend or one of the dancers on tour or a stranger. Josh often asked Justin if he was half black. He smiled at Rachel, letting one of his hands linger on her side, his fingers caressing skin from the outside of her t-shirt. “You look better like this,” he told her, his mouth close to her ear for a moment. “Without all the make up and stuff.”
“You mean just me?” Rachel replied, grinning. She knew he didn't mean it like he wanted her to never dress up or wear make up, but that he wasn't one of those guys who thought women should always look like they had tried to rob the make up counter at Bloomingdales.
“I love just you,” he said, glad no one could hear them. “Coming over tonight?” he asked, getting a nod in response. He and Lance had rooms with adjoining doors on purpose. He looked over Rachel's head and looked at Lance. He hated to give her up just yet, but Lance was coming their way. It was for looks, he reminded himself, knowing that they'd be together later. He let her go, sighing when she melted into Lance's embrace. No matter how much he knew Rachel loved him, he wanted to have everyone know she was his.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Sorry I haven't updated in a bit. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. :) Thanks for reading, would love to read what you think on the story.
Story Tags: joey
