Behind His Smile---JC Chasez Fanfiction

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I know. I know. I'm terrible at keeping up with this story. I'm gonna try to do better I promise.

This is what happened after that weird phone conversation JC had with his manager.

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time: 3 am

The air was thick with tension as the boys of NSYNC stumbled their way sleepily into their tour bus.  Not one of them was in a good mood, having to get up at such an early hour of the morning.

"Who's idea was it to leave at 3 o'clock?!" Justin grumpily spat out as he set his foot on the step and hoisted himself into the bus.  No one even needed to answer that.  Who other than their 'lovely' manager Lou? 

Chris and Joey were already climbing into their bunks, determined to redeem their blessed sleep.  Justin sighed heavily as he dropped onto the couch, kicking his untied shoes off his feet and leaving them scattered.  Lance yawned as he rubbed his eyes and made his way to his bunk. 

"En route to London City," the GPS system blared from the front as the bus lurched forward.

Wow.  Here it goes again.  Concert that night.  Rehearsals and setup all day.  More dancing, singing...Justin rubbed his eyes and went toward his bunk.

"WAIT!" Lance said suddenly. His eyes darted around. "Where's JC?"

Rick, the driver, stared back at them.  "He didn't come with you?" he asked in an annoyed tone.  "Figures. One member of the band always has to be late for something important."

Justin and Lance opened the door and peered outside.  No JC Chasez. 

"Could you ring his phone perhaps?!" Rick suggested in an unimpressed voice. He quickly looked at the time on the dashboard.  "We need to be to the city by 5. Precisely."

Justin grabbed his cellphone and quickly rang JC. No answer. Lance tried as well, but to no avail.

"Are we in London, already?!" Joey's sleepy voice called out from his bunk.

"We haven't even started," Lance said to him. "Go back to sleep."

Rick joined the boys in the small kitchen section of the bus.  He pulled out his phone.

"Well, if we can't reach Chasez, we'll have to try and reach Lou."

"B-but Lou would be mad.  He never gets up early than 7!" Justin blurted.

"Wait--" Lance said. He pushed the door open again.  Two figures could be seen in the dim starlight.  One was obviously Lou.  No one could mistake that large, round figure. Maybe the other was JC?

"I guess Lou got up early this morning," Justin mumbled.  He switched on a light that cast a beam across the hotel parking lot.  Sure enough, Lou and JC.  JC was carrying a pillow and his cellphone.

"We called?" Justin said as JC pushed past him into the bus. "You didn't answer,"

JC made an "oh well," face and tossed himself up into his bunk.

"He refused to wake up," Lou said, as if he was an embarrassed parent who had to explain their child's behavior. "I figured this would happen, so I came here early to make sure all the boys woke up in time."

"You never came and checked my room," Lance said.  "Heck, I could still be sleeping right now, all you care about is J--"

Justin gave him a look which made him silent.  Lou made an uncomfortable face.  "Well--I know JC has tendencies to--over sleep. So ..." his voice faded away then he got of the bus.

"Have fun boys! Knock 'em dead, tonight!"

Rick shook his head in annoyance.  "Everybody here now?!"

Justin affirmed it, and once again the bus started its journey. 

"I don't know about you, but I'm gonna milk this two hour drive for all it's worth!" Lance said as he climbed into a bunk and pulled the curtain. "Sleep, Justin. You'll need it," he advised.

Justin just zoned out, falling back onto the couch once again.  Things were weird.  Something strange going on between Lou and JC, there was no doubt about that. Louis Pearlman absolutely had never come to their hotel before, "making sure" they were awake. Hmph. Liar. He was up to something else and Justin decided he was gonna be a detective and find out.