Wade wanted JC.

How could he not? JC was perfect. Gorgeous face. Talent and personality. Kindness and a killer smile. And that slim, lean body... he could sure do some amazing things with that body. Really, JC was everything Wade could want in a guy. There was only one problem.

Wade had no idea how to get him.

He thought about all the different ways to approach JC, all the subtle hints and gestures, but nothing ever seemed good enough. So finally, Wade decided to go to someone who knew JC inside and out. Justin and JC were best friends. Surely Justin would know what to do.

So one day, during rehearsals, Wade waited for an opportunity to talk to Justin alone during a break. When he saw one, he didn’t hesitate. "Hey Justin!” he called out as he approached him.

Justin looked over and smiled. "Hi Wade, what's up?"

Wade leaned in close to Justin, not wanting to waste any time. "I'll just get right to the point. I need to ask you something. About JC."

"What about him?"

"How do I put this... I uh... well..."

"Come on Wade," Justin said, "this is me. You know you can tell me anything."

"I... I'm..." Wade hesitated. "I'm attracted to JC."

"You..."

"And it's not just... a sexual thing," Wade continued. "I mean... I like him too."

"You have a crush on him," Justin said, sounding... tired? Wade wondered if Justin had gotten enough sleep the night before.

"Yeah, I guess... yeah, I do."

Justin nodded, and Wade didn't think he knew what to say. "I... does it bother you?"

"No!" Justin exclaimed quickly. "No, not at all. I mean... it's great, good... good for you."

"Do you think... do you think I have a shot? I mean, you're his best friend, you would know better than anyone."

"I think he'd be crazy to pass up a guy like you," Justin said softly, but Wade wasn't paying attention to Justin anymore. His eyes were firmly glued to JC, who had just walked into the studio. “God, he’s beautiful,” Wade mumbled under his lips.

Wade quickly walked over to JC and Justin watched, smiling sadly.

"He isn't the only one."

 

"I need your help. Again,” Wade said, standing on Justin’s door step a few days later, looking desperate.

"Ok," Justin said, stepping aside to let Wade in.

"I need to know what JC likes."

"Well, JC likes a lot of things," Justin laughed, leading Wade into the den and sitting down.

"I mean... is he the type to like flowers and romantic stuff, or does he go for the more... non mushy?"

Justin chewed his lower lip thoughtfully. "I think JC's more romantic than he is manly. Of course, judging by his clothes, you didn't need me to tell you that."

Wade laughed in spite of himself. "His clothes are part of his charm.”

Justin smiled, and Wade wondered if he was imagining things, or if that smile really didn’t reach Justin’s eyes.

“Ok, so JC is the romantic type,” Wade said. “What kind of romantic stuff does he like? If it were you... what would you like?"

Justin looked at Wade. "What... what would I like?"

"Yeah."

Justin paused for a moment, as if he was thinking about it. "Well... I would want flowers, but nothing girlie. A kiss on the cheek. I'd want dinner, somewhere outside where we'd be looking up at the stars. I'd want to hold hands the entire time. And afterwards, I would just want to walk. Anywhere. And talk about everything. Get to know each other so well, become so close that by the end of the night, when we go to say good-bye and we look into each other's eyes... we just know. Know that we were meant to be." Justin looked at Wade. Justin had been looking at Wade the entire time.

"Wow," Wade whispered softly.

"Anyway... that's what I would want,” Justin said casually, like it was no big deal, trying to brush it off.

"I... I think I like that," Wade told him. "You're good. I should come to you more often."

"Yeah," Justin said, with an almost hollow laugh. "You should."

 

Wade came over again two days later.

"I toyed with your ideas. And I decided I'd take him to an outdoors cafe, and afterwards we'd do a little dancing. Before taking the big romantic walk.”

Justin nodded silently.

“And… I know how to dance,” Wade continued, “I just I’m not sure how to, with another guy. Could you maybe...?"

"Dance with you?" Justin asked, amused smile on his face.

"If you would?" Wade smiled, almost shyly, and it didn't take Justin long to agree. They went down to Justin's studio in his basement and Justin fiddled with the stereo until he found a song that would work.

Wade offered his hand and Justin took it. "Is it just like dancing with a girl?" he asked.

Justin nodded. "Yeah, kind of. It all depends on who leads. Like... you're leading now, so I'm just following you. There's not much different about it, just... a girl is smaller."

"You sound like you've done this before," Wade told him, raising an eyebrow.

Justin laughed and quickly changed position, taking the lead. "Maybe I'm just smart."

Wade smiled at him. "Maybe you are."

They danced until the song ended, and Wade gave Justin another smile. "Thank you, J. For everything. I mean... you've been the greatest." Wade pulled Justin into a quick hug, surprised at how well Justin fit into his arms.

"You're welcome," Justin said softly, pulling away.

Another song started up and Wade offered his hand. "One more? Just for fun."

Justin smiled and took Wade's hand. As they danced, Wade wondered why he had never realized until then just how blue Justin's eyes were.

 

When Wade showed up at Justin's house again, his eyes were red and watering and he was trying his best to keep his emotions under control.

"He turned me down. He said... he said he was flattered, and it wasn't because I was a guy, he just... didn't want to see anyone right now. He said no, J." Wade sat down on Justin's couch and put his head into his hands.

Justin sat down next to him and put an arm around Wade's shoulder. "Shh, it'll be ok. I think he's crazy, Wade. I mean... God, look at you."

Wade looked up at Justin. "You mean that?"

"Yeah. God, yeah. You're..." Justin's voice went soft. "You're amazing."

Wade leaned in before either of them knew what he was doing and pressed his lips to Justin's. The kiss was sweet, simple... nice. Wade never knew Justin's lips could be so soft.

Then Justin pulled away.

"Justin, what-"

Justin stood up and looked at Wade, sadness in his eyes. "You're upset. JC turned you down and you're upset, and you just... want someone to make up for it. Someone to comfort you. And I don't... I don't want to be your second choice, Wade."

Turning, Justin headed out of the room. "J..." Wade started softly, and when Justin turned around, he had tears in his eyes.

"I wanted to be your first."

 

"Wade asked me out,” JC said, sipping on his coke.

“I know,” Justin told him.

“I turned him down. I mean… it’s not like I have anything against him. He’s a cool guy. And he’s… well, kinda hot. I just… business and pleasure, you know?”

“He really likes you,” Justin said, not looking at JC.

JC sighed. “And I think I could like him. I mean, I’ll never know unless I give him a chance, right? But… I just don’t know.”

“You’re an idiot,” Justin told him, finally turning to look at JC. “You have this… amazing opportunity sitting right in front of you, you have the chance to be with a great guy, and you’re going to throw it away?” Justin was quiet for a moment, looking down at his hands. “Like I said, you’re an idiot.”

JC paused, studying Justin. “You like him, don’t you?”

“He likes you, so it really doesn’t matter, does it? And I’m telling you that you’d be stupid to miss your chance with him. So don’t be stupid.”

“J, I don’t know what to say, I-”

“Don’t,” Justin interrupted. “Just don’t.”

“Ok, I… I wont be stupid. I’ll… call him tonight.”

Justin turned away from JC again, swallowing the lump in this throat. “Good.”

 

Wade showed up at Justin’s doorstep that night.

“Wade, what are you doing here?” Justin asked.

“JC called me today,” Wade said. “He told me he’d changed his mind. He said he would love to go out with me.”

Justin couldn’t bring himself to look at Wade. “That’s… good. I’m… I’m glad.”

“I told him no.”

Justin’s head snapped up, looking at Wade. “What? You told him no? Why would you do that?”

Wade looked at Justin before handing him a small arrangement of flowers. “You said you would want flowers, but nothing too girlie.”

“You said you would want a kiss on the cheek,” Wade continued, leaning in and pressing his lips softly to Justin’s cheek. Justin wasn’t sure if he was dreaming or not.

“You told me you wanted dinner outside, so you’d be able to look up at the stars.” Wade turned and motioned to a blanket and a picnic basket set up on Justin’s front yard.

“You said you wanted to hold hands the entire time.” Wade took Justin’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “And then we’d walk… anywhere. We’d spend all night getting to know everything about each other.”

“And then… you said we’d look into each other’s eyes… and we’d know.” Wade’s gaze met Justin’s eyes. “We’d know that we were meant to be.”

“I… don’t know what to say,” Justin said softly, his hand tightening it’s hold on Wade’s.

“You were wrong, you know. You are,” Wade told him, looking at Justin, stroking his cheek.

"I am what?” Justin asked.

“My first. JC… I never loved him.”

They kissed and this one was different from the first. It was filled with longing and promise, passion and desire, love and devotion.

Wade, once again, marveled at just how soft Justin’s lips could be.