„Tequila. Please hurry.“ Chris said to the bartender, when he reached the bar with Josh.

„Why didn’t you tell me?“ Josh blamed Chris.

„Tell you what?“ Chris asked back. 

„That something is going on between Eve and T!“ 

„I swear, I didn’t know that they are together.“

„WHAT??? THEY ARE TOGETHER???“

Chris stopped breathing for a moment, not knowing what to say next. 

„I thought T is just hitting on her!!! How he dared doing this to me???“

„T believed you’re with Jen.“

Josh grabbed his face and sighed. He understood now, why Justin was suddenly so tensed, as they talked about Jen before dinner. 

The bartender served their drinks.

„He’s such an idiot!!! All because he heard a fucking dog barking!!!“ 

„I totally agree. But things happened and can’t be undone, bro. They are a couple now. And Lance said it’s serious.“ 

„So, Lance knew about it and kept me in the dark?!“

„No. He learned today from Eve and then told me.“

„And Joe?“

„I don’t think he knew earlier. I mean, if he did, he would have immediately spread the news, right?“ 

Josh just nodded, taking another deep breath. Then he grabbed the Tequila. Chris did as well and both drank. 

„Another one“. Josh ordered. 

„Where the fuck is he?“ Lance asked nervously.

„We didn’t check the garden, yet. Maybe he went there.“ Joey replied.

Lance nodded and followed Joey outside. They found Justin sitting in the front row, staring into darkness.

„There he is.“ Lance said relieved. 

Both men went to the front row and sat down next to Justin on each side. 

„I want to be alone.“ Justin said quietly. 

„Nope.“ Joey replied. 

Justin sighed. 

„You don’t need to talk to us. But we’re staying.“ Lance added. 

„Actually, I have questions.“ Joey said.

Justin and Lance rolled their eyes. Joey didn’t care and continued talking. 

„Did you have a plan when you decided making Eve yours? I mean, Chris was right saying, that C and Eve weren’t finished business. You must have known that, dude…“  

Justin looked at Joey for a moment, before he replied. 

„When I saw her again during my gig, all I could think of was how much I wanted her. Then Matty and Sarah talked me into their Jen theory. When I called C and I heard the dog, I believed they must been right. I didn’t think twice. I just went to her place and…“ 

„Seduced her…“ Lance finished his sentence. 

„We both wanted this… she didn’t try to stop me…“ 

„Because you told her what you believed to know about Jen.“ Joey said.

„I told her after having sex.“

„Oh… that’s interesting.“ Lance said. 

„Eve wasn’t surprised when I told her. After all what happened before, she didn’t stop believing that C wanted Jen. So it just made sense to her that they were back together.“ 

„And then what?“ 

„I knew I couldn’t fight my desire to be with her any longer. I just couldn’t. So I talked to her in the next morning and she didn’t hesitate for a single second to say yes. I felt like the happiest man on earth. I didn’t think about what would happen when C finds out. I simply didn’t care at this point…“ 

„And here we are now… facing the giant mess you caused…“ Joey replied. 

„Joe… stop that shit. Our bro is suffering.“ Lance warned him. 

„I’m sorry. It’s just… fuck man… you had no right… there is this unspoken rule not touching the ex of one of your friends…“

„This case is completely different and you know it, Joe.“ Lance interrupted him. „We thought C would never wake up. T kept his hands off her, until there was no hope left. All of us gave him our blessing. And just because C woke up doesn’t mean, that T and Eve stopped having feelings for each other. The situation couldn’t be more frustrating for both of them. I agree, that T should have stayed away from her. But honestly, I also understand his struggle. And after the shitshow with Jen in the hospital and that barking dog thing, I can’t blame T for grabbing the chance.“ 

Justin looked at Lance, being surprised about his support. 

„Keep talking and you’re my next bestie.“

„Now you wanna steal best friends, as well?“ Joey complained half seriously.

„He’ve been hitting on me very hard during this year.“ Lance smirked. 

„But you little bitch liked it.“ Justin talked back. 

„Okay, it’s really time that you and C clarify things, before I truly start getting worried.“ Joey said. 

„I can’t talk to him right now. All I want is killing him…“ 

„I’m convinced he feels the same way about you. But still, you need to talk this out.“ Lance said.

„What I don’t understand is, why he suddenly changed his mind about Eve. I mean, he treated her like shit and then he just left for Florida. He didn’t call her once in that time. And the thing with Jake… today was the first time he was holding his son in his arms. It makes me furious! I don’t care, if he lost his damn memory or not. Jake didn’t deserve being ignored!“ 

„Very clearly C screwed things up. But no matter how hard we blame him for being a shitty husband and father, it doesn’t change the fact, that he’s still a husband and father. And he wants to make things right.“ Joey explained.

„So? This is just about doing the right thing?“ Justin wanted to know.

„I’m not sure how exactly he feels about Eve. But he told me, that he misses her. I guess this means something.“ Joey answered. 

„Look.“ Lance added. „He fell for her once and now it is happening again. As he finally opened up to her, he will realize very soon that she’s the one and that all of us have been right from the beginning.“

„Awesome.“ Justin said cynically. 

Then he put his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and put out a joint and a lighter. 

Lance and Joey raised their eyebrows.

„Uh… I was hoping you would bring some weed to my wedding.“ Joey said with a shady look.

„I’m not sharing.“ Justin replied. 

„Of course you’re sharing.“ Lance said, smiling dirty. 

Eve was sitting at a quiet table with Lucy, drinking Vodka shots with her. Both talked about what has happened during *NSYNC’s gig and right after. Lucy noticed, that she was too drunk for giving any smart advices. She just sat there and stared at her friend, who was very obviously drunk as well. 

„What is this?“ Mateo asked, showing up at their table. 

„We’re getting wasted.“ Lucy slurred. 

„Why?“ 

„Eve played with fire.“ 

The waiter appeared with further shots. 

„Bring more of those.“ Mateo said and sat down at their table. 

„Guys, just go and have fun, instead of giving me your pity looks.“ Eve said. 

„It’s not pity, Eve. It’s lack of understanding.“ Mateo replied. 

„I already explained to you.“ She slurred. 

„And I said you should focus on Lucy and Joey instead working up into anything. But just few minutes later you agreed dancing with JC. What did you expect to happen, hm?“ Mateo blamed her. 

„I knew he wanted to talk and decided to give him the chance.“ 

„And then he almost kissed you.“

„So, you saw?“

„Eric did. We’ve been dancing as well and then he suddenly started squeaking when he saw what was happening.“ 

„Justin came just in time.“ Lucy said. 

„Would you have really let Josh kiss you?“ Mateo wanted to know. 

„Yes… without hesitating…“ Eve answered. 

„So, it’s JC again. Is this what you’re saying?“ Lucy asked. 

„I love Justin. I love him so much…“ Eve slurred. 

„It makes no sense. You are completely confused, girl…“ Mateo replied. 

„I love both of them. I want both of them…“

Lucy and Mateo looked at each other. 

„She officially lost her mind.“ Lucy said.

Can someone explain what just happened at the dance floor?“ Eric said eagerly, joining Josh and Chris at the bar. 

„Justin slightly freaked out because C tried to kiss his girlfriend.“ Chris replied. 

„EXCUSE ME???“ Eric yelled in disbelief. 

„Yap. That’s the latest news, Ricky.“ Josh said, finishing his Tequila shot.

He was drunk in the meanwhile and ordered the next round right after. 

„I need to know how that happened.“ Eric said. 

„Sit. I will explain.“ Chris replied.

„Fuuuuuck… this stuff is unreal…“ Joey said, staring at the clear sky full of stars. 

„T always got the best quality…“ Lance replied, also staring into the sky. 

Justin cracked a smile. He was high as well, but as he was used smoking pot, it didn’t hit him as hard as his friends. 

Joey took another puff.

„Hey, slow down a little. You’ll leave for your honeymoon early in the morning.“ Justin said, taking the joint away from him. 

„But I don’t.“ Lance said, grabbing the joint. „I feel so relaxed… god, I missed that feeling.“ 

Justin was relaxed, as well. The drugs helped him calming down and stop overthinking.

Eve stood up from the table, after drinking another Vodka with Lucy and Mateo.

„Where the heck are you going?“ Lucy asked. 

„I need to find Justin.“

„And then what?“ Mateo wanted to know. 

„He’s upset. I need to make things right.“ 

„Looks like your masterplan turns out quite differently, Jay.“ Eric said to Josh, after hearing the whole story.

„What masterplan?“ Chris wanted to know. 

„Making sure Eve doesn’t sleep alone tonight.“ Eric answered. 

„She’s my wife. T has no fucking right sleeping with my wife…“ Josh slurred. 

„I told you it might be too late. You screwed this up, bro. Justin just grabbed the chance.“ Eric replied.  

„Really? You defend him now?“

„Stop blaming others for your defeat, Jay. All of us tried to bring you back to your senses. But you didn’t listen.“

„Do you have an idea how it feels like losing five fucking years of your life? This is a nightmare, Ricky!“ 

„Hey, guys. Calm down. It makes no sense fighting about this. Things are as they are now.“ Chris intervened. 

„I’m not accepting that!!!“ Josh almost shouted.

Chris and Eric exchanged glances. 

„Well, after seeing what happened at the dance floor, I believe you have a realistic chance to make Eve yours again.“ Eric said. 

„But if you take her away from T, your friendship will be over.“ Chris added.