The next morning, Anika was barely moving as they boarded the bus before the sun was even up. She crawled into the bunk JC pointed out to her, and immediately fell asleep. Marissa sank down on the couch in the front and rubbed her face. "This is way too early," she muttered. Chris sat next to her.
"This isn't that early," he said, but then put his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. She lay her head on his, and dozed off, to tired to even contemplate what he was doing. Or what she was doing, for that matter.
When she woke up, she was lying down on the couch, a blanket over her, and there was noise in the back. It sounded like a war, and she wondered who was playing what video game, or if they were watching "Saving Private Ryan" really loud. She decided she didn't want to know.
"You awake?" She turned to see Joey sitting across from her, looking nervous.
"More or less," she grinned, and sat up. "What's up with you?"
"Clara's meeting us in St. Louis," he said.
"I like her," Marissa said. "She's very nice. We've spent some time with her since she got back."
"That's what she said."
Marissa stretched again, feeling the muscles in her back pull. She groaned a little. "That is not that comfortable."
"Actually, you and Chris fell asleep there, and neither of you looked that comfortable. He's going to be really stiff." He scowled. "Tim had a cow."
"Why, because we fell asleep sitting up on the couch together?"
Joey shrugged. "Apparently."
"He doesn't like us, does he?"
Joey laughed. "I don't think he likes us very much, actually. But we deal with it."
When they arrived at the next city, both Anika and Marissa had been briefed about how to deal with the transition. Under Tim's disapproving look, the two girls followed directly behind the guys. JC grabbed Anika's hand as soon as they got inside the hotel; Marissa found herself trapped between Chris and Justin.
Once they were checked in (with a connecting door to Lance's room again), they headed out for the arena for sound check and everything else.
Anika and Marissa were stowed in Wardrobe after the check during the meet and greet, and there they met a slender woman with dark eyes and a sly smile. "So, who do you two belong to?" she asked as she stepped into the room.
"I'm here to see JC," Anika said.
"I'm here with her," Marissa said, gesturing in Anika's direction. "The guys are just friends."
The woman smiled knowingly. "I'm Candy, and I do costuming and fitting. It's nice to meet you both."
"How long have you been with them?" Marissa asked.
"Since just before this tour," she said, and turned to the costumes. "They're wonderful to work with, although I was told Chris could get difficult."
Marissa looked wryly at Anika. "Oh, really," she said dryly. Anika giggled.
"I can't imagine. Chris, difficult?" she said sarcastically, and the two laughed.
Candy looked at them, her hands on her hips, curiosity raging across her face. "So, you've had some experience with this alleged difficulty?" she asked, which sent the two into further laughter.
"Chris can be impossible," Marissa said as soon as she had calmed down.
The door opened right then, and Chris stepped in. "What am I impossible about?" he asked. Marissa grinned at him.
"What aren't you impossible about?" she asked.
"Nothing," Joey said, and pushed him farther into the room. Behind them came Justin, Lance, and JC, and the chaos began. Anika and Marissa slipped out, giggling, and leaned against the wall, to wait.
Before long, they emerged, all but Lance, and with a wave, they went on down the hall. Marissa opened the door to go back in without even thinking that Lance might not be dressed, and stopped in surprise. Candy was staring him in the face, one hand on his chest, the other at the button on his pants. "Oh, sorry, you're not done?"
"How's that?" Candy asked, ignoring her, and Lance nodded.
"Fine," he said, so softly that Marissa barely heard him. He backed away from Candy's touch, and fled the room.
The relief in Lance's eyes was what shocked Marissa the most. She stared after him, then turned to look at Candy. She was looking out the door, her dark eyes half closed in an almost satiated look. Then she sighed and turned to smile at Marissa. "That boy is almost painfully shy," she said, and went to clean up the mess.
When they were shown to their box seats, Marissa was still surprised, and not entirely sure what she'd seen. Anika, excited to see the show again, didn't seem to notice her preoccupation. Marissa divided her attention between Chris and Lance, watching them both. There didn't seem to be a problem, so she shrugged it off. Lance seemed more reluctant than normal to emerge from his room that evening, though. Marissa finally dragged him over to Justin's, refusing to let him hide any longer.
The next morning was a photo shoot; Marissa and Anika, highly interested, tagged along to watch. The clothing was basic; jeans, sweatshirts, sweaters, etc., so the girls figured it wouldn't take too long. To their surprise, however, Lance was late; he came running into the studio, face flushed, and wouldn't meet anyone's eyes. The two women exchanged glances.
"So, you decided to join us?" the photographer said, and Lance's face grew even redder. The other four shot the man venomous looks that he didn't seem to see.
"Sorry," Lance muttered.
That set the tone for the whole shoot. By the second roll of film, all five guys looked tense and stressed. Both Marissa and Anika wondered what in the world was going on.
Someone called for a break and the guys stepped away from the set, slowly relaxing. Lance grabbed one of the bottled waters and withdrew to a corner. Anika walked over to JC and touched his arm. "You guys okay?" she asked.
He smiled. "Yeah. This guys rubs us all wrong, he always has. This is the first time he's actually attacked us, though." He shook his head. "Hopefully you'll get to see a comfortable shoot with us."
"All right, let's go!"
"Yeesh, short break," Marissa said just as she reached the corner Lance was in. He grinned wryly at her.
"I really don't like this guy," Chris said in her ear, and she turned, startled. "Lance, you okay?" he asked over her head.
Lance shrugged. "Sure." He pushed away from the wall and followed Chris back.
The shoot was over an hour later; Marissa had left before then, uncomfortable with being there as well. Justin rolled his shoulders in pain, and smirked slightly as he noticed everyone doing that as well. He and Joey left as soon as they could, leaving the others to follow when they wanted. When they got back on the bus, Justin sank down at the table in the front and rolled his shoulders again. "That is the last time we work with him," he said to Marissa, who looked at him over her book.
"You need a hot tub," she told him.
"If only," Joey agreed, sinking into the seat across from her.
"You're in luck." She closed the book and set it down. "I have two fifteen minute slots open. Who's first?"
"Me," Justin said quickly.
"All right. Take your shirt off. I'll be right back." She vanished into the bunk area.
"Open for what?" Joey asked.
"We'll find out," Justin said. Marissa returned, a bottle of lotion in her hands.
"Sit here." She gestured to the floor in front of the couch. He shed his shirt, leaving the tank top on, and planted himself where she said. She sat behind him, put lotion on her hands, and began to rub his shoulders.
"Mmmm, you're hired," he groaned, and relaxed.
She was halfway into it when the rest of them got on the bus. Lance stepped over Justin without a second look and vanished into the bunk area. Marissa watched him go, worried.
"Hey, good idea," Anika said, sitting next to Marissa. "Who's next?"
"Joey," Marissa said, over Chris and JC's protests. "He's been waiting the longest."
Anika grinned. "All right. Come on, Joe, let's get started."
"I'm next," Chris said, and stepped past his friends to the bunks, intending to talk to Lance. But he wasn't in his bunk. Beyond, though, he could hear rumbled, incoherent words and what sounded like things slamming around. Curious, he drifted closer, but he still couldn't make out the words, so he opened the door.
Lance was pacing, kicking randomly at anything left on the floor including the game controllers, and slamming the cupboard doors so hard that they bounced back open. His words were still unintelligible. He glanced at Chris, then went back to his destruction.
"You okay?" Chris asked. He decided that what he wanted to say could wait; Lance needed time to calm down.
Lance paused. "Never again," he growled. "Never."
"It's unanimous," Chris told him. "Come on out when you've cooled down a little." Lance gave him a grateful look and resumed pacing. Chris walked back out to the front lounge just as Justin crawled to his feet and collapsed bonelessly at the table, closing his eyes.
"Next?" Marissa asked. Chris glanced at JC, who gestured gallantly in her direction. Chris grinned knowingly - as if he wouldn't wait for Anika - drew his shirt off, and sank down in front of her.
"That would appear to be me." He leaned against the couch, conscious of her knees against his arms, then her hands, warm and slick with lotion, dug into his shoulders around the straps of his tank top. He couldn't stop the groan of relief as the knots loosened. Marissa chuckled.
"You're well trained," she said. "I don't have to do any work." His head lolled forward as she massaged his neck, then rubbed further down, working on a knot just next to his shoulder blade. That elicited a second groan, just as heartfelt as the first. He was barely aware of Joey and JC trading places.
"I didn't think you could get more relaxed," Justin told him. Chris didn't respond as Marissa's fingers brushed lightly down his shoulders, then she leaned forward.
"There you go. Is Lance in the back?"
He nodded and she kissed his cheek. "Good. See you later." She got up and slipped past him, looking back once as she started into the bunk area. He was staring after her, looking for all the world like a lost little boy, his brown eyes wide and innocent, all the walls down. She blinked, startled, then smiled and waved before she disappeared out of sight.
And once she was out of his sight, she paused, clutching the lotion as she tried to calm down. Seeing that look on Justin was one thing, seeing it on Chris was... She hadn't known he had a look like that, every defense down, his soul in his eyes. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and kept walking.
Lance sat at the table, his head pillowed on his folded arms. He didn't look up as she gently closed the door behind her. The game controllers lay violently against the wall, and there was a fork sticking up in the carpet. She plucked it up and dumped it in the sink.. "Hey," she said softly, sitting next to him. "You want me to rub your shoulders?"
He lifted his head and smiled at her, almost wistfully. "Yeah. That'd be nice."
"You'll have to move," she told him.
"Where to?" He sounded exhausted.
"Take your shirt off and sit in front of the couch." She got up to get out of his way, missing his wary look as she worked on getting the cap off the lotion. When he didn't move, she looked up and caught the expression before it faded. "Actually, you don't have to take your shirt off," she said, wishing she could kick herself. If what she suspected was true, that had been the wrong thing to say. "I don't have to use the lotion." After a pause and a second wary look, he moved, pulling his shirt off, and sank down on the floor. Marissa settled behind him, her thoughts screaming out the unfairness of it all, and focused everything on him, refusing to let her thoughts go anywhere near Chris as she worked knots out of Lance's shoulders. It was amazingly easy to focus away from him right now.
"Sheesh, and I thought I had a rock quarry in my shoulders," she murmured as she paused to replenish the lotion. "You've got to learn to relax."
"Any ideas?" he asked. Even his voice sounded tense.
"All girly ones. Hot tub, bath, hire a real masseur, light candles or incense or both, read a relaxing book, nap...." She paused, digging into a knot on his right shoulder. "Oh, sleep, go for a walk, watch a funny movie, listen to classical music, or combine any of the above."
"Walk's out."
"Oh, well yeah. Did I forget to mention my non-rock-star status?" she teased. Finally, his shoulders were beginning to loosen up. "Here's what I'd do. Fill the tub as hot as you can stand it, and just lay there as long as you can."
"I may just do that," he murmured.
"Just be careful. I did that once, and wound up laying in the hallway, wrapped in my towel and hoping my roommate didn't walk in the front door." She paused. "Oh, wait. That's because I was sick. I guess you won't have to worry about that."
Lance chuckled; one of the knots in his shoulders gave. His breath hitched, then everything went loose. "Oh," he sighed in relief. Marissa rubbed a little longer, lightly, then ruffled his hair.
"Feel better?"
"Mmm," he agreed.
"Good." She got up carefully, trying not to bump him, and started for the front again. Reaching for the curtain to the silent front lounge, her arm froze. She couldn't make herself move forward. Back was okay; she put the lotion away, hoping to give herself time to calm her nerves.
When she finally emerged from the back, they were stirring, sluggishly. Justin pulled his shirt back on reluctantly, then stood and stretched. "Come on, Shorty. We gotta go."
"Dead man," Chris mumbled, but opened his eyes and climbed to his feet, shrugging into his own shirt.
"And if he's Shorty," Marissa said, leaning in the doorway, "what exactly does that make me?"
Chris started, surprised, and looked at her. She was glad - and a little sad - to see whatever defenses he'd let down were back in place. Then he looked away, to Justin, one eyebrow raised. "Good question, J."
"Oh, that's easy," Justin said, kicking Joey's foot on the way by. "My masseuse." He dropped a kiss on her cheek and squeezed by. "Thanks for that."
"Sure," Marissa grinned.
"You know, I forget that you're shorter than me," Chris told her.
She snorted. "Right. Like I believe that." She walked over to Joey and shook his shoulder. "Hey, slug, come on. Can't you hear the Syren?"
He opened one eye. "Slug?"
"That's how fast you're moving, Joey. Come on, everyone's up."
"JC's not," Joey mumbled. Chris moved past Marissa, heading to his bunk.
"So you'll lower his standards to his?" she asked.
"Hey," JC protested, bringing Chris to a halt. Anika echoed JC less vehemently. Joey grinned and got up.
"I never thought to hear anyone talk about Joey lowering his standards to JC's," Chris said.
"Riss, you might want to move, ‘cause I'm gonna kill him," Joey said. Marissa squeezed past him and sank down in the seat where Justin had been, pushing herself into the corner.
JC gripped Joey's arm before he started moving. "Kill him later," he said. "You don't have time now."
Joey rolled his eyes but agreed, and the three went into the back.
"Interesting," Anika mumbled.
Marissa sagged in her seat, exhaling loudly. "Very," she agreed.
"Hey, Lance, come on. We're running late." Joey nudged Lance, who slowly climbed to his feet.
"Late for what?" he asked.
Joey stared at him. "We have an interview before sound check. You feeling okay?"
"Oh. Yeah, just a little like a lizard who's been sitting too long in the sun."
Comprehension crossed Joey's face. "Marissa gave you a back rub."
"She's good, too," Lance said, and rolled his shoulders.
"If she's as good as Anika, I believe it," Joey said, then the door flew open.
"Oh, come on, Chris! I saw that look you gave her!" JC said quietly as he followed Chris into the back lounge area.
"What look?"
"The one photographers love to see on Justin's face. Open, innocent, naive."
"Hey!" Justin protested from the bunk area.
"Vulnerable?" Lance asked, pulling his shirt on again, welcoming the semblance of normalcy.
JC spun and pointed at him. "That's it! So, what's going on?" he demanded as he turned back to Chris.
"What are you talking about?" Lance asked.
"You should have seen the look on his face!" JC grinned. "Classic. And her expression was just priceless."
"What? She smiled!" Chris protested.
"So you missed how startled she was."
As far as Chris was concerned, JC was having far too much fun with this. He gave a shrug. "You are reading too much into this," he said as the bus stopped. "Or have you guys been watching me?" Faintly, they could hear screams. Lance sighed and sank down on the couch.
"Into what?" JC pressed, ignoring his second comment.
"Our friendship." He left the lounge area, moving through the bunks to the front.
"Dre says to stay on the bus," Anika told him as he emerged. He plopped down on the couch next to Marissa.
"Fine by me." He looked at her. "Thanks for helping Lance relax."
Marissa smiled. "Sure. Any time."
"And thanks for me, too," he added.
Her smile widened. "You're welcome."
What, no any time for me? he thought, somewhat irrationally, as the other guys appeared at the same time the door opened to admit three of the body guards. The closing door cut off the screams of the girls outside. "You guys ready?" Dre asked.
"Ready as we'll ever be," JC said, and nudged Chris as they walked by. Chris got to his feet and followed.
"So," JC said once they'd gotten inside, slowing slightly so he was walking by Chris.
"Don't start something you can't finish," Chris warned him with a grin.
JC stared at him. "Why wouldn't I be able to?" he questioned.
"Because we're about to go into an interview, and knowing how this goes, it'll go late, and we'll be busy for the rest of the afternoon."
After a minute of frustrated silence, JC turned to him. "Okay, you're right. Don't think you're getting out of this."
Chris smirked. "Why would I think that?"
JC just sighed.
"Hey, Lance! Candy wants to see you!"
Joey was already gone from the doorway when Lance looked up. He sighed and stood, brushing ineffectually at his shirt. Marissa watched him walk out of the room, his shoulders already hunched. "He's not excited to be going to back to wardrobe," she said. Anika looked up.
"Huh?"
Marissa chuckled, well aware of where her friend's mind had been. "Never mind."
About ten minutes later, Justin poked his head in the door. "Hey, have you seen Lance?"
"Joey said Candy wanted to see him about ten minutes ago," Marissa informed him.
"Huh. Okay." He smiled, then was gone from the doorway.
Curious, Marissa followed him. He vanished into wardrobe and emerged seconds later with a rather pale Lance in tow. "Geez, Lance, and people make jokes about you and make up," Justin said, laughter in his voice. "According to them, you should be hanging around Anna, not Candy." Lance didn't answer and didn't resist, allowing Justin to drag him to where the others waited.
Marissa watched them go, then turned to start toward wardrobe. She stopped short at the sight of Candy, leaning on the wall, watching Justin and Lance go off. She had a predatory look on her face that Marissa really didn't like. And try as she might, she could not come up with a way to bring up the subject. So when Candy stepped back into the room, Marissa went back to where Anika was day dreaming.
"Are you okay?" JC asked Lance on the bus later that night.
Lance started and looked up. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."
JC sat next to him. "Not getting sick?"
Lance shook his head. "No. I'm fine, JC." A touch of anger colored his words.
"You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure!" he snapped and got up, disappearing into the bunk area. JC sighed.
"Sure you are," he muttered.
Chris stepped into the back, looking confused. "Lance just slammed past me, muttering. What's up?"
JC shrugged. "I thought he was acting a little like he did just before he collapsed. I just asked if he were feeling all right, and he went off on me."
Chris sighed and sank down. "He's been touchy for a while. He'll be fine."
JC nodded, not so sure, but he didn't voice his doubts.
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