Behind His Smile---JC Chasez Fanfiction

Eight

Sigh.

JC blew a long breath through his chapped lips as he leaned his head back. The interview had lasted a little longer than expected, and it was a relief when the boys finally got back to the bus. His head was pounding,  and he just needed something to drown the pain.  All the pain...

Lunch time had finally rolled around, but truth be told, he wasn't even hungry. Maybe he could stay behind while the others went..

JC opened his eyes when he felt someone sit beside. Joey looked right at him, silent a few moments.

"So how are you feeling?" Joey asked. He bent down to untie his shoes. JC examined him.  

"I'm good, man. As always."

Joey took both his shoes off then straightened.  He raised his eyebrows at his friend. "That's why you haven't been sleeping and you threw up this morning in the hotel?"

"What?" JC started.  Joey was so observant sometimes. "I mean, how do you know I haven't been sleeping?"

"It's not hard to tell," Joey answered. "When you're in your bunk and the curtains are closed, I can still tell when you're awake. I don't know..." he gave a half-shrug. "I can feel it or something."

JC looked down at the floor. "Don't stress man. I'm fine. Just been a little...tired...of stuff."

Joey made a face. "You don't say. All the endless dance sessions, interviews, gigs.."

"Yeah," was JC's short reply. He looked at his hands.  

Joey said something about going to find the other guys and had just opened the door when Justin tromped in followed by Lance and then Chris.  

"Whew!" Justin screamed. "That was a close one!"

"What was," JC and Joey said at the same time.

Justin was out of breath, but found the need to explain between gasps. "We were running from the mall over to here and this old lady and her two daughters stopped us and then they asked if they could get pictures with us. And then Lance said no because we were on a time schedule, and besides we didn't have any security with us. And so---"

"We politely excused ourselves," Lance interrupted make quotations with his fingers. Justin gave him a look. 

"ALSO," Chris jutted in. "Pearlman said before we start for the gig, some hot girls are coming over to film us in the bus. And I mean, they're FINE man, you should see them--"

"Um, why?" Joey inquired. He was grabbing a can of pop from the refrigerator. "Why do we need to be filmed inside the bus. What happens in here stays in here."

"It's for the fans; they want a tour apparently." Lance replied. He raised his eyebrows as he looked toward the door. "Annnnndd. Here we go."

If the nsync boys were expecting loud,  giggly,  flirtatious girls,  they were not going to be surprised too much.  The squeals entered the bus before the girls even did. And so did the remarks. Followed by a few security men.

"Joey is my favorite one,  he's always so sweet."

"Well,  mine is JC.  He's soooo hot.  And his eyes... Oh my---"

"Heyyy,"Joey said, feigning a good mood. "Welcome to the NSYNC bus!"the girls giggled.

"Thanks so much for letting us come.We brought our cameraman along too!"

The guys exchanged glances with each other,  as if to ask what they had gotten themselves into.

"I'm Violet and this is my friend Shelly.  And the one with the camera is Jane. " The girl with the blond hair was the loudest one and was now making introductions.  When the guys needlessly had introduced themselves,  she wasted no time in turning to JC.