“All right, what are the terms?”

-December 13, 2000; day one of the bet; 12 days until Christmas-

9:56 AM

Justin held the tiny black box in his hands. He popped open the top and looked at the large diamond engagement ring. He didn’t know how many karats it was, where the diamond came from, how it was crafted... all he knew was that it was the flashiest and most expensive ring in the store. So he also knew that it was a real diamond.

He ran his finger over the flat, smooth surface of the diamond. His eyebrows sank in and his lips formed a slight frown. He really didn’t want to do this...

There was a knock at his door, and the sharp sound jolted him out of his thoughts. He put the ring in his top dresser drawer quickly, covering it with magazines and a half empty condom box. ‘Condoms. Yeah,’ Justin thought as he went to get the door. He opened it grinned. Every time he saw Joey with that horribly bleached blonde hair, he couldn’t help but smile a little bit.

“Hey Justin, what’s up?” Joey asked, a silly grin on his face. “Nothin’ Joey, what do you want?”

Joey shrugged. “What are you doing today?” “Nothing,” Justin said slowly, giving his friend an odd look. “Good... so, do you wanna do? Something, I mean! Do you want to do something?” ‘God, nice one Fatone,’ Joey said to himself.

“Sure, Joey, we can do something. Just not tonight.”

“I thought you said-”

“I mean, I’m not busy today, but to*night* I’m taking Britney out to dinner. I... I really want it to go well,” Justin said, hoping it didn’t sound as phony as he thought it did. Justin missed the sad look on Joey’s face, but Joey quickly brightened up again before his friend could notice and said, “How about we just rent a movie or something? Nothing too big. Wouldn’t want you to be tired tonight, because, well, you know...” Joey winked and nudged Justin, even though the thought of Justin doing -anything- passionate with Britney killed him.

Justin smiled half-heartedly. “Yeah.”

“Okay, so I’ll see you at what? Two-ish?”

“Something like that, yeah,” Justin said, giving Joey a smile. Joey nodded and walked down the hall back to his room, and Justin shut the door to his, going back over to his top drawer. He opened the ring box and continued to stare at the ring.

1:47 PM

Justin knocked on Joey’s door, and Joey opened it, hair bright and blonde, a grin on his face, and Justin smiled. If only Justin knew how much those little smiles were worth to Joey.

“American Beauty is playing on cable, I thought we’d just watch that,” Joey said, and Justin nodded. “That’s the one with Kevin Spacey, right?” “Yeah,” Joey said, and Justin looked around his room. It was spotless. “Did you clean?” he asked, and Joey turned around so Justin wouldn’t see him blush. “I just picked up a few things.”

Justin felt the awkwardness in the silence, and wondered when silence had become awkward between him and Joey. Joey turned on the TV and sat down on his bed. Justin sat on the floor against the end, and the movie began.

“So, wait,” Justin said, at some point during the movie, “Kevin Spacey wants to fuck the kid?” “No, I think the kid’s father thinks Kevin Spacey wants to fuck his son.” “So the kid’s gay.” “I think.” “Wow, you do Joey?” Justin said, laughing. He felt a pillow hit him in the back of the head and he laughed even more. “Kidding, Joey, I was kidding!”

“Just watch the movie.”

4:34 PM

“That was...”

“Weird,” Joey finished, and Justin laughed. “Yeah.”

They stood in that awkward silence again, and Joey stuffed his hands inside his pocket. “So...” “I better get going, I have to pick Britney up at her hotel and then drive to the restaurant. Plus get ready.” Joey nodded and opened the door for Justin. The younger man thought the action was a little weird, but didn’t say anything about it.

“Hey Justin?” Joey called as Justin was walking down the hall. Justin turned back to his friend. “Yeah?” Joey gave Justin a smile and said, “Thanks for keeping me company, it made my afternoon a lot better.” Justin smiled back and said, “Anytime Joey.”

Walking to his room, Justin tried to hold onto the warmth Joey’s words had given him.

7:12 PM

JC walked into the living room to see Joey flipping channels on the TV, a bored and depressed expression on his face.

“What are you doing, wasting time when you could be out wooing Justin?” JC asked, sitting next to him.

“He took Britney out to dinner, why don’t you leave me alone JC?”

“He took Britney out to dinner,” JC said, his voice in a deadpan tone. “That’s really not helping you a lot, now is it?”

“Fuck off,” Joey growled. JC was about to say something back, but before he could, Lance walked into the room, going over to the kitchen that was visible from the living room.

“Is it me, or is really cold in here?” Lance asked, holding onto the edge of his shirt with his fingers, trying to cover as much of his hands as possible. He opened the fridge to grab a drink, and shivered.

“Well, it could be because you’re standing by an open refrigerator, Lance,” JC said, chuckling lightly.

Lance rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “I was cold -before- I opened the refrigerator, JC. Hey Joey, you want a drink?” Lance asked. Joey just shook his head, eyes still focused on the TV.

“Everything okay?” Lance asked, taking a seat between Joey and JC. Joey just nodded again.

“O-kay, well, either of you guys wanna go clubbing, let me know.” Lance got up, took his drink, and left the room.

“Why don’t you go with him and leave me alone?” Joey asked.

“Fine, I will. Maybe you’ll have better luck tomorrow,” JC said, mock sweetness lacing his voice. He walked towards the hallway that lead to the stairs, but he paused and looked back at Joey’s turned form.

“Gee, I wonder where he’ll fuck her tonight?” JC asked, as if contemplating to himself, and Joey just continued to stare ahead at the television, trying to ignore his words.

“Bye Joey.”

‘Screw yourself, JC,’ Joey thought, and he continued to flip through the channels.

-December 14, 2000; day two of the bet; 11 days until Christmas-

6:23 AM

Justin looked outside into the pre-dawn sky, not really seeing much color through the black tinted windows of the limousine he was in. ‘How did I get myself into this mess?’ Justin silently asked himself, rubbing his temples. Of course, she had said yes. What other choice did she have? What other choice did -he- have?

The limo pulled up to the house, and Justin got out, feeling like there was a whole new weight on his shoulders. He unlocked the front door and quietly walked towards the kitchen, wanting to get some breakfast. He passed the living room and almost missed the lone figure sitting on one of the couches.

“Long night?”

Justin jumped and turned around. “God, you scared me. What are you doing up this early? I thought that you’d for sure be sleeping. You know, knowing you and everything.” Justin said the last part with a small grin on his face.

“Shut up, Justin,” JC said, throwing one of the pillows from the couch at him. Justin caught it and threw it back. “So, have you been with Britney this whole night?” JC asked, throwing the pillow up in the air, twirling it.

“Yeah,” Justin said, not looking at JC as he grabbed a bowl out of one of the cupboards in the kitchen and headed towards the refrigerator to get some milk.

“And...” JC trailed off, looking at Justin expectantly.

“And what? She’s... you know... Britney,” Justin said, shrugging, no looking up at JC.

“I’ve known you for too long for you to pull that shit with me, what happened?”

Justin looked up at JC, not noticing Joey walk into the kitchen.

“I asked her to marry me.”

JC, however, had noticed Joey, and had to fight back the laugh that threatened to come out of his mouth. Now Joey would -never- win their bet, and the look on Joey’s face was a great added bonus.

“She said yes,” Justin said, still not noticing Joey, and JC was too wrapped up in watching Joey that he didn’t notice the way Justin had sounded when he spoke.

“Jace, are you even listening to me?” Justin asked, following JC’s gaze to the doorway, to rest on Joey, standing there, looking at him.

“Congratulations,” Joey said softly, giving Justin a weak smile.

2:45 PM

“Hey Joey!”

Joey sighed and silently willed Lance to go away. He wasn’t in the mood for Lance’s never ending good mood.

Lance sat down next to Joey on the porch swing that the older man had been swinging back and forth on. Joey nodded his head in a hello.

“So, I guess you’ve heard about Justin and Britney, huh?” Joey nodded again. As if he needed to be reminded. Lance laughed softly to himself and said, “You know, I think JC was more excited about it than Justin was.”

Joey held back his snort. Of course JC would be more excited. He had won the bet.

“Anyway, we’re going out to dinner tonight to celebrate? We’re leaving at about 5:30. You in?”

Joey shook his head. “I’m really tired. Thanks, though.” Lance smiled sadly at Joey and put his hand on his knee, patting it, before getting up. It was as if he knew why Joey was sad.

Maybe he did.

6:25 PM

Joey rubbed at his eyes as he walked into his bedroom. The rest of the guys were out celebrating Justin’s engagement, and Joey had never felt such a weight on his chest before. It was as if his heart was broken before it even had a chance to become breakable.

He sat down on his bed, barely missing the red flashing light on his answering machine. He pushed the play button, and listened as the voice on the machine told him he had one new message.

“Joey, it’s Justin, I need to talk to you first thing in the morning. It’s important. Bye.”

Joey just stared at the machine, wondering what in the world Justin could want to talk about.

-December 15, 2000; day three of the bet; 10 days until Christmas-

7:23 AM

Joey groggily opened one eye, the events of the previous night flooding back to him as he became more aware of his surroundings. Justin and Britney were getting married. And Justin wanted to talk to Joey.

Joey remembered the way Justin’s voice had sounded on the message, almost urgent. Joey wondered if he should get ready, but Justin -had- said first thing in the morning. Joey decided that he’d just put on a pair of pants and his Kiss t-shirt, and he’d be good.

Ten minutes later, he found himself at Justin’s hotel room. He knocked hesitantly, almost afraid. Like whatever Justin did could make him or break him. It unnerved him to know that Justin had that kind of power over him.

The door opened quickly, and Justin smiled at Joey. “Good, you’re here, I’ve been waiting for you.” Joey entered the room and Justin shut the door.

“How was last night?” Joey asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Justin shrugged. “As good as it could go, I guess. I wasn’t really all there, you know?” Justin looked at Joey, and Joey nodded. “I was actually thinking about you.”

Joey wasn’t sure he had heard right, and he told his heart to stop beating to fast, so excitedly. “I was thinking that you’re the one person I can talk to about this... problem I’m having. I can’t talk to Josh, because he wouldn’t understand, and I’d... I’d rather talk to you about this anyway.”

“So, what do you need to tell me?” Joey asked, hoping beyond all hope that Justin was going to tell him what he wanted to hear.

“Britney’s pregnant,” Justin said, sitting down on the bed.

Joey felt like he was going to die. It was bad enough that they were getting married, but they were having a child? Joey could feel his heart crushing, the hope from Justin’s words earlier leaving it just as quickly as they had come.

“That’s why I proposed to her. I... shit, Joey, I don’t love her.”

Now -that-, Joey had not been expecting. He moved over to the bed and sat down next to Justin. “It’s just... sometimes I need someone, and she’s there, every time... and one night, the condom didn’t work or something, because she’s pregnant. And I couldn’t just do -nothing- about it, I had to do something. I had to do the right thing.”

“You don’t love her?” Joey asked, wanting to follow with, “Who do you love? Please let it be me.” Knowing, however, that he could never say that.

Justin shook his head, and Joey could see the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. “I don’t know what to do, Joey,” he whispered, putting his head on Joey’s shoulder and Joey instinctively wrapped his arms around Justin.

5:34 PM

“What kind of wedding do you guys want?” Lance asked Chris and JC. The three men were sitting in Chris’ room, and Lance was throwing darts at Chris’ dart board.

“I want a big, fancy one, but not too big and fancy. Simple yet elegant,” Chris said, grabbing more potato chips out of the bag on the bed.

“You can’t forget about the food, and of course the cake. Both have to be great. Especially the cake,” Lance said, hitting the 25 point mark.

Chris nodded in agreement. “My wedding is going to have the best decorations, because your wedding is the most important day in your life, right? So it has to be beautiful. And all my family has to be there,” Lance said, hitting the 15 point mark.

“How about you JC? What kind of wedding do you want?”

JC shrugged. “I don’t know. I probably wont even get married.”

“Okay, well, lets say you’re getting married tomorrow. What would you want your wedding to be like?”

“I’m never getting married,” JC replied.

“Okay, but if you -were- going to get married, what-”

“I’m -not- going to get married, trust me on this one,” JC said, his voice almost a growl.

“Why?” Chris asked.

JC shrugged, but inside he was saying, ‘Because I’ll never love anyone else but the person that I do love, and I can never have him.’ JC then took a mental note never to talk about weddings with the person he was in love with again.

Chris grabbed more chips, and Lance hit the bulls-eye.

6:49 PM

“Joey, I don’t -want- to do this!”

Joey smiled at Justin, tugging on his arm. “Come on, Justin, it’ll take your mind of Britney, plus it needs to be done.”

Justin sighed as he and Joey entered the large Christmas tree lot. “All the good ones are going to be gone,” he muttered.

“Well, we’ll have to not procrastinate next year.”

Justin sighed again and pointed to a tree, not even looking at it. “This one’s good,” he said. Joey just laughed and dragged him further into the lot.

“How about this one?” Joey asked, pointing to a tree that was about six feet and five inches tall. The pines were green, and it looked like a decent tree to Justin.

“Sure,” Justin told him.

“Now see, this is why I brought you here. You know -nothing- about buying good Christmas trees. Some of the branches on this thing are growing crooked, and you can tell that the pines are about to start turning yellow.”

“How?” Justin asked, confused.

“Because, there’s not that much sap on the tree. That means it’s dying. You want one with deep green pines and lots of sap, that means it’s healthy. You also don’t want your tree too tall or too small. Anywhere between six feet, and six foot five is good.”

Justin smiled at Joey. “When did you become such a tree expert, Joe?”

“Who do you think buys the Christmas tree every year?” Joey answered with a laugh. Justin joined him and together they continued on their way through the lot.

8:56 PM

“I think we got the best tree in the lot,” Justin said with a smile as he and Joey drove back to the house.

“I’ve found better ones, but for December 15, it’s a good tree.”

Justin nodded and the car was silent for a moment, before Justin turned to Joey. “Thank you, for making me feel better,” he said with a smile.

To Joey, that smile was worth a thousand perfect Christmas trees.

-December 16, 2000; day four of the bet; 9 days until Christmas-

9:24 AM

“Woah, we have a tree,” Chris said when he walking into the living room that morning.

“You say that every year,” Joey said with a laugh, “now come help me with this couch.”

“It’s a nice tree, where’d you get it?” Chris asked as they pulled the couch over to make room for the tree.

“Justin and I picked it out last night.”

“Is it just me,” Chris asked, pulling at the couch, “or was Justin not that happy to be engaged to Britney?”

Joey pulled on his own end, remembering his conversation with Justin the previous day, remembering how his friend had confided in him, how scared and confused he had been. Remembering how Justin had trusted him with the things he had told him.

“I think it’s just you, Chris.”

2:25 PM

“Can someone help me out here?” Lance asked as he walked into the room, arms full of brown boxes filled with ornaments.

JC got up off the couch and grabbed one of the boxes out of Lance’s arms, taking it over to the Christmas tree. “Thanks,” Lance said, smiling at him.

“All right, let’s get this baby decorated,” Joey said, grinning.

“Joey has a Christmas tree fetish. Who knew?”

Joey stuck his tongue out at Justin, and that just made Justin laugh.

“Why don’t you call Britney, Justin? Maybe she wants to help us out,” JC suggested, and Joey threw him a dirty look.

“I already did, she’s busy,” Justin said, and Joey knew he was lying, but who was he to say anything. Why would he want to?

“Uhh, Joey? Which garlands do you want to use?” Lance asked, silver and gold garlands wrapped all around him, making everyone laugh, releasing all the sudden tension in the room.

“Silver, I think we should use that this year. We used gold last year.”

“Yeah, plus our album went diamond, and diamonds are kinda silvery... what?” Chris asked as every looked at him. “I was just saying...”

“Silver it is,” Lance said, trying to untangle the gold out from under his feet. “Here,” JC said with a laugh, “let me help you.”

“JC, has the holiday season softened you up?“ Chris asked, mirth written plainly on his face.

JC shrugged as he pulled on a strand of garland around Lance’s ankle. “I guess.”

“How does garland get this tangled?” Lance asked, trying to pull it off his other ankle.

“Look at this way, it could be the tree lights.”

3:48 PM

“I can’t find your balls Joey!”

“What are you talking about? They’re right next to my nuts,” Joey said.

“I see nuts, a long stick thing, but no balls.”

Joey sighed and walked over to Chris, pushing him over to look inside the box. “They’re under the Nutcracker, Chris,” Joey said, pulling out the wooden Nutcracker and the cracking nuts, then pulling out a box of red and silver ball ornaments.

“My balls are in perfect condition!” Joey exclaimed, going back over to the Christmas tree.

“That’s more than I can say for your nuts,” Chris muttered, looking at the old, used nuts sitting by the Nutcracker.

5:34 PM

“It looks pretty good guys,” Lance said with a smile.

“Of course it does, now who wants to put the star on the top?” Joey asked.

“I did it last year,” Chris said.

“And the year before,” JC added.

“Here,” Joey said, handing Justin the star. “You do it.”

Justin took the star and stood on the chair that was next to the tree, placing the star on top.

“It’s done! Now you guys can start putting all my presents under it,” Chris said.

“The only thing I’m giving you this year is coal, Chris,” JC said, and Lance laughed, their voices getting softer as they left the room. Justin got off the chair and went to stand next to Joey, who was looking at the tree.

“It’s perfect,” Joey said, his voice soft.

“You and your damn Christmas trees.” Justin said, trying to sound neutral.

Joey, however, heard the smile in his voice.

-December 17, 2000; day five of the bet; 8 days until Christmas-

10:32 AM

“Where’s Justin?” Joey asked as he walked into the kitchen, his hair wet and sticking up from the shower he had just taken.

“Over at Britney’s hotel. She called this morning and said that she had something important to tell him,” Chris said, munching on a piece of toast.

Joey nodded and grabbed a box of cereal and a bowl. “Where’s JC and Lance?”

Chris shrugged and continued to eat his toast.

3:36 PM

Joey glanced at his watch, for what seemed to be the thousandth time that day. Justin had been gone all morning, and he was still gone, and Joey was starting to get a sinking feeling in his stomach... he was with Britney. ‘Maybe he really does love her, he just knows you love him and he feels sorry for you,’ a voice in his head told him.

“No,” Joey said to himself. “He doesn’t love her. I believe him when he says that.”

“Waiting around for Justin?”

“Go away, JC.”

JC sat down in one of the dining room table chairs, and faced Joey. “I just wanted to talk about when would be a good time for you to hold up your end of the bet.”

“I haven’t lost yet, JC. Besides, you said you knew things about Justin I didn’t. How much do you want to bet me -now- that it was all a load of bull shit?”

JC shrugged. “Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t, you still lost.”

“You can’t prove that.”

JC looked at Joey incredulously. “He’s -marrying- her, Joey! God, if that’s not a sign of love, then I don’t know what is.”

Before Joey could respond, the phone rang. JC grabbed the cordless that was on the couch. “Hello?”

“Jace, it’s Justin. Let me talk to Joey.”

“He’s not here,” JC said, looking at Joey.

“Yes he is you dick, now let me talk to him.”

JC rolled his eyes and threw the phone at Joey.

“Hello?”

“I broke it off with her, Joey,” Justin said.

Joey smiled and JC got up in search of another extension in the house. He wanted to listen. Joey followed him.

“You did? Why?”

“Her baby isn’t mine. She was sleeping with one of her dancers, and he got her pregnant, not me. She told me this morning, she said she couldn’t handle the guilt anymore. She said the only reason she lied was because she wanted me to keep “dating” her. I told her we were over, and I left.”

“That’s great Justin,” Joey said, smiling. “I mean, not great that Britney lied to you, but-”

“I know what you mean,” Justin said with a laugh. JC picked up one of the phones in the living and before Justin could say another thing, Joey cut in. “I have to go. You wanna talk when you get back?”

“Yeah, I’m on my way now. Bye Joey.”

Joey hung up the cordless phone and threw it back at JC.

“You haven’t won yet,” he said, grinning.

-December 18, 2000; day six of the bet; 7 days until Christmas-

2:47 AM

“I can’t believe we’ve been talking all night,” Justin said, glancing at the clock in his room. He was holding one of his pillows to his chest. Joey nodded, his eyes drooping. They had talked about anything and everything, from Britney to what they had for breakfast that morning, and Joey felt like he had gotten to know Justin all over again.

He found that he had fallen in love with him even more.

“I’m so tired,” Justin continued, yawning.

“I better let you get to sleep,” Joey told him, getting up.

“No you don’t have to, I mean, it’s a long way to your room, and everything. You could just... stay here.”

Who was Joey to say no?

9:15 AM

Joey slowly woke up to the most wonderful scent in the world, a mix between Justin’s cologne and Justin himself. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was in Justin’s bed, and he expected Justin to be curled up on the other side of the bed, but instead there was just tangled sheets. Joey got up and headed down to the kitchen, where the other guys were already eating their various breakfasts.

“Morning,” Joey mumbled, reaching for the milk. JC was sitting on a stool in front of the counter, and he was eyeing Joey like a hawk. “Joey, I went by your room this morning, and your bed hadn’t been slept in. Where did you sleep last night?” he asked.

“I slept in Justin’s room,” Joey said nonchalantly, taking pleasure from the shocked look on JC’s face.

“Yeah, we were up talking really late last night, and... we were both tired, so we just... fell asleep,” Justin added.

Joey enjoyed the smirk he was sending JC’s way.

2:35 PM

“I am so bored,” Chris said.

“Ditto that,” Lance muttered.

“We should play a game,” Justin offered.

“Like what?” JC asked.

“Truth or Dare,” Chris said.

“No. How about I Never.”

“Joey, I am so sick of that game, let’s play Truth or Dare,” Chris told him.

“What about What If?” Lance suggested.

“What If?”

“Yeah. Everyone has a piece of paper, and everyone has to write a question. So on my paper I would put something like, ‘What if Chris had two heads?’,” Chris grinned and Lance continued, “and then I’d put my paper in the middle of all of us, and when everyone has a question written, you chose one out of the pile, randomly, but it can’t be your own. So let’s say JC gets my paper. He’d answer my question with something like, ‘That would be really weird.’ So then someone starts by reading their question, and then the person next to them gives their answer, then reads their question, and the person next to -them- gives -their- answer, and so on, until the first person who went gives their answer. So the answers to the questions make no sense.”

“Sounds fun,” JC said.

“Yeah, and by the time we get sick of this, we’ll just start playing Truth or Dare again,” Chris said, and everyone rolled their eyes. Lance pulled some paper and pens out of the drawer he was leaning against, and passed them out to everyone.

“Now, just think of a question and write it down.”

“Do we put our name on it?” Chris asked. “No, it’s supposed to be anonymous, although we all know each other’s handwriting, so I don’t really see the point.”

They all wrote down their questions and put them in the middle of the circle they were sitting in.

“Now just take one, and if you get your own, trade with someone else.”

Everyone grabbed a paper, and no one got their own, so everyone started writing down their answers.

“I’ll start,” Lance said, as soon as everyone was done.

“What if-- and I wanna know whose question this is-- Lance finally got himself a woman?”

JC, who was sitting next to Lance, gave his answer. “I’d probably laugh.” Then JC read his question. “What if Joey crapped his pants on stage?”

“Chris!” Joey exclaimed, smacking him on the arm.

Chris, laughing, read his answer, “I’d be horny.” He laughed some more before reading his question, “What if Tyra Banks walked into the room right now?”

“Chris isn’t that lucky,” Joey answered, grinning. Then he read his question, “What if Chris got laid?”

“All right, who wrote that one?” Chris demanded, and everyone laughed before Justin gave his answer.

“I’m not getting married,” Justin replied, and then he read his question.

“What if Nick Carter was Justin’s best man at his wedding.”

5:57 PM

“Can you really believe that Britney did that to Justin?” Lance asked, gently pushing the porch swing off the ground with his feet.

JC shrugged. The two of them were sitting outside on the porch swing, and Lance gave the swing another self-propelled push.

“And he’s taking it so cool and stuff. If it were me, I’d be really mad.”

JC nodded, and they continued to swing. “I wrote the question about you finally getting a woman,” JC said, out of the blue.

“Really? I thought it was Chris. That’s why I wrote the one about him getting laid, because I figured he’d write something about me.”

JC shook his head. “He wrote the one about Joey, I had his paper. Joey smacked him, remember?”

“So, I guess Justin wrote the one about Tyra Banks, because they know each other.”

“And Joey wrote the one about Justin’s wedding,” JC finished. “Makes sense.”

“Yeah,” Lance said, pushing the swing again.

“I don’t think you need a girlfriend Lance,” JC said, looking over at the younger man. “I didn’t mean it, I just wrote the first thing that came to my mind.”

“Well, if the first thing that comes to your mind is how bad I am with women, I guess that’s not a good thing, is it?” Lance asked with a laugh.

JC laughed with him, and Lance continued to push the swing with his feet.

-December 19, 2000; day seven of the bet; 6 days until Christmas-

12:26 PM

“I think we should go ice skating today,” Joey said, and Justin looked up from his book, looking at Joey. “What?”

“We should go ice skating,” Joey said with a smile. “Remember the other night when we were talking? You said you’d always wanted to try it. So we’ll go. Today.”

“Right now?” Justin asked.

“Why not?”

Justin laughed. “You’re crazy, Joey.”

“You know you want to,” Joey said, grinning.

Justin shook his head, trying to suppress his own grin. “All right, Joey, we can go ice skating.”

4:58 PM

Joey and Justin got their rental skates at the counter and moved over to a bench to put them on.

“God, look at all these little metal things! And these laces, they’re like fifteen feet long!” Justin exclaimed.

Joey laughed and slipped one of his skates on, lacing it. “See how I’m doing this?” Joey asked as he slipped the laces under the metal hooks and crossed them. Justin nodded and tried that with his own skate. By the time Joey had both of his ice skates on, Justin was only half way up his first one, and he had missed a bunch of hooks, and his laces were loose and loopy.

“Let me show you how to do the first one, and then you can try the second one, okay?” Justin nodded and Joey started lacing up his boots, slowly, so that Justin could see how it was done. He tied the remaining lace, and handed Justin’s other skate to him.

“Now you try,” Joey said, and Justin’s hand brushed his as he was taking the skate, and Joey felt the touch long after Justin had removed his hand.

Justin laced up his skate, tying it, and looking proudly at Joey. “Did I do it?” he asked. Joey nodded and helped Justin off the bench.

“Now, it’s just like walking in rollerblades, so just pretend you’re wearing rollerblades and you’ll be fine.”

Justin and Joey headed out to the rink, Joey behind Justin incase he fell.

“Joey?” Justin asked, “How come the rink is empty?”

“Because,” Joey said, putting one foot onto the ice, and then gliding out with the other. “I rented it out for the day. It’s much easier to learn how to skate when no one’s in your way.”

Justin just stood at the foot of the rink, and Joey skated back over to the doorway. “Come on, Justin, it’s not that bad.”

“I’m going to fall,” Justin said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, you will, but that’s all a part of learning. Think of ice skating as just another dance, you don’t know it at first, but once you get the basics, you can fly through it, make it perfect.”

Justin tentively took a step out onto the ice, and when he didn’t fall, he put his other foot out as well. “Now, just pretend you’re on rollerblades, and come towards me.”

Justin moved forward, his feet wobbling, and his arms flailing as he tried to get his balance. “That’s good, you’re doing fine,” Joey said, moving backwards just a little, and Justin kept coming towards him.

“You’re moving,” Justin said after they were about halfway out into the rink. Joey laughed and moved back again. “Well, you’re getting better.”

Justin moved forward, and the tip of the ice skate got stuck in the ice because of the jagged edge, and Justin, not knowing this, kept moving. When he got a face full of cold ice, however, he figured it out.

“Are you okay?” Joey asked, helping him up. Justin nodded and shook the ice chips off his clothes. “Yeah, now I know why they have those things on ice skates, it’s to make beginners like me fall.”

Joey laughed. “They’re the breaks, Justin. You point your toe into the ice, and the edges stick into the ice, and you stop. “You can also,” Joey said, moving away from Justin, skating for the other end of the rink, “stop like this.” He got to the end, turned around, and headed straight for Justin. Justin thought he was going to stop, but Joey just kept getting closer and closer, and about two feet away from Justin, Joey slid to the side, and ice flew everywhere, mainly in Justin’s face.

“I like to call it the sliding stop,” Joey said, grinning from ear to ear.

“You’re so dead, Fatone,” Justin said, lunging for Joey, falling back down to the ground.

Joey laughed and skated off. “Catch me if you can.”

6:24 PM

“Think you can beat me this time?” Joey asked.

“Oh, I’m going to do it this time, that’s a promise,” Justin told him.

“All right, on your mark, get set...” Joey took off before he said go, laughing. “Hey!” Justin exclaimed, racing after him. Joey got to the back of the rink first, touching the wall, and skating back to the other side. Justin soon followed, and skated as fast as he could without falling after Joey.

Joey got back to the front of the rink first, and turned around, seeing Justin coming up towards him. Justin put his foot forward to brake, but he over placed it, and he lurched forward, right into Joey’s arms.

“You okay?” Joey asked, looking down at Justin’s face, into his eyes.

“You cheated,” Justin said.

“You’re right, I did.”

“So I win,” Justin told him, looking back into Joey’s own eyes.

“Yeah, I guess you do. What do you want for your prize?” Joey asked, a smile still on his face.

“This,” Justin whispered as he pulled himself up...

...and covered Joey’s lips with his own.

-December 20, 2000; day eight of the bet; five days until Christmas-

12:02 AM

Joey placed his hands on his lips, where Justin’s kiss still burned on them. He looked over at the passenger seat, seeing the younger man curled up, asleep.

‘God, he kissed me!’ Joey thought, pulling into the driveway of the house, turning of the engine and looking over at Justin. ‘He kissed me.’

“Justin, wake up,” Joey whispered, shaking Justin.

“No,” Justin muttered, curling tighter into his man-made ball. Joey laughed softly and got out of the car. He went over to the passenger side and opened the door, unbuckling the seat belt and pulling Justin out of the car.

“I’m tired,” he whined, not even fully awake.

“Come on, Justin, we’re almost inside,” Joey told him, putting his arm around Justin to support him while he half dragged the teenager.

“Mmm, Joey,” Justin mumbled, snuggling into the crook of Joey’s arm. Joey grinned and continued his way to the house.

8:12 AM

“Did I drink last night?” The half-asleep Justin asked as he poured his cereal, rubbing at his head. “No,” Joey said. ‘I can tell you what you -did- do though,’ he thought.

“Then -why- does my head hurt?” Justin pouted, taking a bite of Apple Jacks. Joey shrugged and tried to find the best way to put “Why did you kiss me last night?” in his mind.

“So, I kissed you last night,” Justin said, chewing again, sounding like he was stating a fact. Joey couldn’t believe how blunt Justin could be at times, but now they could talk about it, which was what Joey had wanted.

“Yeah, and I kissed you back.”

“You’re a good kisser,” Justin said, again sounding like a fact sheet to Joey.

“You too,” Joey said, feeling a little awkward.

“I like you.” Joey wanted to scream. How could Justin admit all of these things and act like it was no big deal. Say them like he was saying hello or good-bye.

“I’ve liked you for a long time. It just wasn’t a very big like until these past few days. Now I like you a lot.”

Joey couldn’t believe how much Justin sounded like a little kid. “So, if you like me back, then it’s pretty cool for the both of us, don’t you think?”

‘I love you back,’ Joey thought. “Yeah, well, I like you too. So...”

“I’m going back to sleep. Goodnight,” Justin said as he dropped his spoon in his cereal bowl and walked out of the kitchen.

Joey watched him leave with an expression of utter confusion on his face.

12:37 PM

“So, please tell me I didn’t act like I remember acting this morning,” Justin said with a laugh as he sat next to Joey outside on the front steps of the house.

Joey laughed. “It was a little confusing, but I think you got your point across. I hope,” Joey added, suddenly afraid that the half asleep Justin he had been talking to earlier that morning was saying things he didn’t mean.

“Let’s just say... if you were interested in me in the way I’m interested in you, I’d be one happy person.” Joey grinned at Justin and moved forward, slowly, unsure, but Justin met him halfway, and their lips locked, for the second time, and Joey thought it was just as good, if not better, as the first time.

“Well,” came an amused voice from in front of them. They quickly pulled away and looked guiltily at Lance, who was standing in front of them with grocery bags in his arms.

“All I have to say is that it’s about time.”

“It’s about time?” Justin asked.

“You two have needed some lovin’ for the longest time, I’m glad you’ve finally found it.” Lance stepped in-between them and headed for the front door.

“You don’t care? It doesn’t bother you?”

“Oh please, bigotry is beneath me.”

Joey smiled at Lance, silently thanking him for easing Justin’s worries, but also knowing that his friend had meant every word, and he was truly happy for them.

That was something they both needed from two other people.

5:13 PM

Chris shot the basket, and it bounced off the rim, and the ball came right back into his hands.

“Hey Chris,” Justin said, coming up next to his friend.

“Hey Curly,” Chris said as he shot, and missed again.

“Can I talk to you about something?”

“Sure,” he missed again.

“What would you do if I was gay?”

“Why? Are you gay?” missing the shot again.

“What would you say if I was with Joey?”

“Are you gay and with Joey?” he shot and missed again.

“If I was? Would you care? Would you hate us?”

“I’d say that if you show me how to make this shot, I’d let it all slide.”

“What?” Justin asked, eyes wide.

Chris laughed. “I’m kidding. I don’t care, you guys are cute together. Plus Joey needs love, sometimes more than Lance, so it’s all good. I really could use your help on this shot, though.”

Justin sighed in relief and took the ball from Chris, shooting and swooshing it right through the net.

5:26 PM

“Brooding again?” Joey asked as he walked into JC’s room, the shades drawn and the lights off, JC on the bed looking at the ceiling with his arms behind his head.

“What do you want?” JC asked.

“I won. We kissed, and now we’re together, he’s telling Chris right now, Lance already knows, and I’m telling you.”

“Has he told you he loves you?”

“No.”

“Then you haven’t won anything yet, you know the terms.”

“Fine, I just thought I’d let you know. Come down to dinner if you feel like you can grace us with your presence.”

“God, I thought I was supposed to be the asshole.”

Joey, who was almost at the door, turned around. “You are. Only an asshole would be more upset about losing some stupid bet then be happy for two of his supposed best friends. Hope that makes you feel better.”

Joey left the room, and JC looked back up at his ceiling, wishing that it -did- make him feel better.

-December 21, 2000; day nine of the bet; four days until Christmas-

11:56 AM

“Do you guys know what’s wrong with JC?” Lance asked, coming into the room Joey, Justin, and Chris were in, all watching TV.

Justin shrugged. “Beats me. Maybe he’s in one of his stupor things again. Just leave him alone, the bastard mood will past.”

“I doubt it,” Joey muttered.

“What did you say, babe?” Justin asked, looking over at Joey. Joey just grinned and said, “I like it when you call me that.”

“Oh you do, do you?” Justin asked, leaning closer to Joey.

“Oh please, none of that in front of my virgin eyes,” Chris said, covering his face with his hands.

“Virgin eyes my ass,” Joey said, laughing.

“Guys? Hello? What about JC?” Lance asked, drawing everyone’s attention back to him.

Justin sighed, “Lance, it’ll pass, don’t worry about it.”

“Well, you guys don’t have to be so mean to him all the time.”

“He doesn’t have to be so mean to us, Lance,” Chris told him.

“Maybe he’s that way for a reason. Maybe it’s something we did.”

“Why are you standing up for him? He’s not exactly nice to you either,” Chris said.

“Well why not? Someone has to, and obviously you guys don’t even care. Look, I was just asking. I’ll find out without your help.” Lance then turned and left the room.

“Damn,” Chris said, turning back to the TV.

“Overreact much?” Justin added.

Joey, however, stayed silent.

4:54 PM

The light drizzle of rain didn’t seem to bother JC much as he continued to shoot baskets, not noticing as Joey came out and stood next to him.

“Mind if I play?” Joey asked. JC jumped, startled by his friend, and then looked at the orange ball in Joey’s hand.

JC shrugged. “Sure.” He grabbed his bag off the wet cement and started walking towards the house.

“No, I meant -with- you, JC,” Joey called after him. JC turned around. “Why, Joey, so you can gloat? Well, save it, I don’t need to hear it.”

“I didn’t come here to gloat,” Joey told him, and JC still wasn’t moving any closer to the house, so Joey kept talking. “I wanted to tell you about something, something that happened this morning.”

JC sighed and went back over to where Joey was standing, discarding his bag where it had been before he picked it up. “What?” he asked, shooting the basket, making it.

“Lance came in to talk to Justin, Chris, and myself today. I just... I wanted to tell you what he said.”

“Okay, tell me,” he made it again.

“He asked us if we knew ‘what was wrong with you’, as he put it. We just told him that you were a bastard.”

“You came out here to tell me what I already knew?” JC asked, looking at Joey momentarily before shooting again, and making it.

“No. Then Lance told us we should be nice to you. He said maybe it was our fault that you felt like you couldn’t be around us. He defended you.”

JC was silent for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders. “So?”

He shot and missed.

-December 22, 2000; day ten of the bet; three days until Christmas-

11:25 AM

Chris, Justin, and Lance had gone out to get lunch. That left JC and Joey alone in the living room, the silence heavy between them.

JC finally spoke up, after what had seemed like forever to the both of them. “Are you going to tell him?”

“About what?” Joey asked, confusion on his face.

“About the bet.”

Joey was silent. He hadn’t really thought about it. He was just so excited that Justin had actually wanted to be with him, he hadn’t even considered that the whole reason was because of a bet.

“I don’t think he needs to know. I went into this loving him, I’m going to come out of it loving him.”

“Does he love you?”

“He hasn’t said it, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“So you haven’t said it to him then.”

“I can’t, you know that.”

JC grinned and said, “That’s right, you can’t.”

“Are we done with this conversation?”

“What conversation?” Justin asked as he walked into the room. Joey looked at JC, panic written across his face, pleading silently for JC not to say anything. “Nothing, we were just-”

“Talking about this little bet we had,” JC finished. Joey’s eyes grew wide and he pleaded silently, even more so, to JC. ‘Don’t say anything.’

“Bet? What kinda bet?” Justin asked, going over to Joey and wrapping his arms around the older man’s waist. Joey closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down.

“It’s nothing, it doesn’t even matter-”

“It was simple, really. See, I bet Joey that he couldn’t make you fall in love with him. Obviously, he won.”

Justin pulled away from Joey, almost violently. “What?” he asked, his voice low, eyes piercing into Joey’s soul.

“Justin, it’s not what you think, it’s not-”

“Were you only this nice to me, did you only get together with me, because of a bet?!” Justin asked, disbelief and hurt crossing his features.

“Justin, no, let me-”

“Did you, or did you -not- bet JC that you could win me over?”

“Yes, but you have to-”

Justin shook his head in disgust and walked out of the room. “Justin, wait!” Joey called, running after him. JC just sat there, but there was no satisfaction on his face.

11:30 AM

“Justin, wait!” Joey called, running after Justin.

Justin ignored him and kept walking. Joey cut in front of him and put his arms on Justin’s shoulders, stopping him. “Please, you’ve got to listen to me-”

“No, you listen to me, Joey. I didn’t fall in love with you just to be hurt like this, I thought you were better than JC. I didn’t think... I didn’t think you’d ever break my heart,” Justin said, his voice soft as he said the last part.

“Justin, I made that bet when I was already in love with you. JC knew that and he was acting on it, and he told me he knew things about you, things -I- didn’t know. I thought he was saying I had a shot, and whatever it took to get you, that’s what I wanted to do. Please, Justin, you have to believe me.”

Justin was silent for a moment, looking down at the ground, before looking back up at Joey. “You were already in love with me before we got together?” Joey nodded. “I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t. That was one of the terms for the bet. You had to say it first. And you did, you just did.”

Joey was smiling as he said those words, remembering how it had felt to hear Justin admit that he loved him.

“Still, we wouldn’t have gotten together if you and JC hadn’t made a bet, and I don’t want our relationship to be based on that.”

Joey stayed silent, what could he say? “I need time to think, can you give me that?” Justin asked.

“You already have my heart, I don’t think you have to ask for anything else.”

-December 23, 2000; day eleven of the bet; two days until Christmas-

12:13 PM

Joey sat on the back porch, on the top step, hugging his knees to his chest. He wasn’t watching anything in particular, he was just thinking.

He hadn’t seen Justin since that previous morning, when they confessed their feelings, but then Justin had also confessed that he needed time to think about what Joey had done.

And Joey was scared out of his mind, because he didn’t know what Justin’s decision would be.

He vaguely heard the screen door slam, and hardly noticed when someone sat down beside him.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Joey looked over at JC. “Get away from me,” he said. JC sighed, “Look, Joey, I’m so-”

“Don’t. Don’t continue that sentence. Because you’re not. So don’t say it.”

“Look, Joey, he would’ve found out, and then he would’ve been mad at you, so really, I was just trying to get something inevitable out of the way.”

Joey rolled his eyes. “You were trying to make him mad at me. Well, it worked, and now I don’t even know if he’s going to forgive me.”

“Look, I’m sorry, okay? You don’t think I -like- being a bastard, do you? I can’t help it, it’s the way I feel. I can’t-”

“You can’t have what you want, and you think that justifies ruining other people’s lives? God, JC! So you’re in love with Lance, but how do you know he doesn’t feel the same way? You automatically assume that he’s going to turn away even if he -doesn’t- feel the same. If you’re not going to tell him how you feel, fine, I wont either, because unlike you, I don’t tell people things that should come from someone else’s mouth. If you’re going to continue to be an asshole, though, do it to someone else, because I’m tired of it.”

JC looked down at his hands, never looking at Joey. Even as he spoke. “For what it’s worth, I think Justin will forgive you.”

“What you think isn’t worth anything right now, JC.”

“I’m sorry. What more is there that I can do?”

Joey sighed. “Right now? I don’t know.”

JC nodded and sat down by Joey. “Is this a start?”

Joey didn‘t answer, but gave JC the tiniest hint of a smile.

Neither noticed that Justin had been listening from the door the entire time.

4:24 PM

“What do you think about gay people?”

“What? Why do you want to know?”

JC shrugged and said, “Just wondering.”

“Well,” Lance started, “Joey and Justin are gay, or at least bisexual, because they’re together, and I think it’s great for them.”

JC flinched inwardly. Obviously Lance hadn’t heard about the bet, or about the fact that Joey and Justin might not be together anymore.

“What about you? What would you do if you were gay?”

Lance paused and fiddled with his fingers for a moment, before answering. “If I was gay? I wouldn’t care, I guess. I mean, it would be who I was.”

“What if I was gay?”

“I wish you were,” Lance whispered.

“What was that?” JC asked, not having caught what Lance had said.

“Nothing.”

-December 24, 2000; day twelve of the bet; one day until Christmas-

2:21 PM

“Hey,” JC said slowly, sitting next to Justin, who was out in the middle of the backyard.

“Hi,” Justin said softly.

“Can I talk to you?”

“Why not? I don’t think there’s anything worse you could do.”

JC sighed. “I have to tell you why I made that bet with Joey, I need to explain-”

“I know why you did it, JC. I heard you and Joey talking yesterday.”

“So you understand?”

“No, I don’t understand. If you’re in love with Lance, why don’t you just tell him?”

“Because of the same reason Joey wouldn’t tell you he was in love with you. We were both so scared we’d be hated if we told you both how we felt. To take my mind of my own misery, I played on Joey’s. I knew he was in love with you, it’s not hard to spot someone pining away when you’re doing pining of your own. I confronted him about it, and I knew he’d go for it, because it gave him a shot at you. He had a chance, and he took it.”

“That still doesn’t make what you two did right,” Justin told him.

“I know. It’s not like Joey did that to hurt you Justin, he agreed because he wanted to be with you. Because he loves you.”

“What were the terms?” Justin asked.

“Joey couldn’t tell you he was in love with you, he had to make you fall in love with him. And you had to tell him you loved him first, before he could say it to you. If he had lost, if you two hadn’t gotten together within the twelve days, he would’ve had to flat out tell you how he felt.”

“So, if Joey won, what do you owe him?”

“That doesn’t matter, what matters is that you two have to make this right. Do you love him?”

Justin bit his bottom lip and nodded.

“Do you really want to end things with him over this?”

Justin shook his head. “No,” he whispered.

“Then you have to talk to him.”

“Why are you trying to help us? I thought you were supposed to be the asshole.”

JC grinned. “So did I.”

5:15 PM

Justin found Joey at the pool table in the basement, whacking balls into the pockets.

“Nice shot,” Justin said as Joey hit one of the striped balls into the corner pocket.

Joey turned around and looked at Justin. “Hi,” he said.

“Can we talk?” Justin asked.

Joey nodded and set down the stick.

Justin approached Joey and stood in front of him, looking at him. Joey swallowed and waiting for Justin to say something, anything.

“I love you,” Justin whispered before pulling Joey to his lips.

“Does this mean I’m forgiven?” Joey asked, grinning, as they pulled away from each other.

“Oh yeah,” Justin said with a smile before pulling Joey back to his lips.

-December 25, 2000; Christmas Day-

7:23 PM

“That was a pretty good Christmas,” Justin said, rolling over to face Joey.

“That was a great Christmas,” Joey said, closing the space between him and Justin, the sheets rustling between them.

“I got a lot of good presents,” Justin continued, pretending not to notice Joey nibbling on his ear.

“Me too,” Joey whispered, and his breath on Justin’s neck made the young singer giggle.

“I have a question for you, though,” Justin said after a moment.

“What?”

“What does JC have to do?”

Joey, who had propped himself up on one elbow, looked down at Justin in confusion.

“You won the bet, and JC lost, so what does he have to do?”

Realization dawned on Joey’s face and he grinned.

“Well...”

7:35 PM

JC knocked on the door to Lance’s room, fiddling with his fingers as he waiting for him to come answer it.

“Hey JC,” Lance said with a smile, opening the door.

“Hi Lance,” JC breathed. “Can I come in? There’s... there’s something I have to tell you.”