Girlfriend
by Sofie K Werkers

~..~

I don't know why you care
He doesn't even know your there, no
'Cause he don't love your eyes
And he don't love your smile
Girl you know that ain't fair

~..~

"Justin, I really don't think this is a good idea."

"Yes, Chris, I know. You've told me about twenty times today. And JC's told me at least a dozen times, and Joey, and even Lance. I get it already. Y'all don't think I should be dating a Backstreet Boy."

"It's not that Backstreet part that's worrying us, Justin. It's this particular Backstreet Boy. We just don't think Nick's good for you. You know he's just interested in an easy fuck, right?"

"Good," Justin snapped, "that makes two of us. Jesus, would you guys please stop treating me like I'm an innocent little virgin in need of protection? It's not like this would be my first time or something."

"That's not what you tell the press, though."

"I tell the press I've never had sex with Brit. Which, by the way, is the truth." Justin sat down heavily on the side of his bed. "Look, I'm sorry for being such a bitch about this, but I'm twenty-one now. I'm capable of running and ruining my own life. And right now, I have a date with Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, which is a pretty big accomplishment even for me. Especially for me. I'm not asking for congratulations, I'm just asking to get off my back about it."

Chris sighed. "Okay, fine. Just don't expect me to listen to the sordid details, okay? I don't really need to picture you and Nick Carter making the beast with two backs.

"Thanks for the romantic image, there. And I didn't exactly need to know the sordid details of your and Howie's sex life either, you know."

"You asked!"

"I was sixteen!"

Chris groaned. "Don't remind me. I still can't believe you convinced me to corrupt you."

Justin grinned. "I'm going now. Wish me luck."

"Good luck."

When Justin came to breakfast the next morning looking very content and humming, it was pretty clear what had happened. "Well," Lance remarked, "at least you got laid."

"Thanks, Lance. At least somebody's happy for me. Sort of."

"Hey, I still don't think it's a good idea. but if you're gonna go through with it, you might as well reap the benefits, too."

JC gave Justin a worried look. "Justin, are you sure-"

"Yes, I'm sure. Look, you're not gonna convince me, I'm not gonna convince you, so can we just get off the subject of me having sex with Nick Carter?"

"Does that mean we won't be getting any details?" Lance asked.

"Well, you know, he has this sweet spot right above his navel ..." Justin grinned wickedly.

Joey eyed his breakfast and sighed. "Thanks, J. I didn't really want those eggs anyway."

During rehearsal, Joey cornered Chris while Justin and Wade were discussing something trivial about the choreography. "I can't believe you're just letting him waste himself on Nick Carter, of all people."

"Joe, he's an adult now. I can't run his life for him, you know."

"But you can tell him you're in love with him."

"Dammit," Chris hissed. "Broadcast it all over the place, why don't you." he looked around to see if anyone overheard them. Justin and Wade were still too busy to notice anything else, Lance was working on his laptop, and JC was taking a nap in a corner.

"Relax, nobody's paying attention to us."

"Lucky for you. And I'm not gonna tell Justin about that stupid crush. Besides, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly Justin's type."

"Chris, that 'stupid crush' has lasted about five years now. I don't think it's gonna go away any time soon. And hell, if it saves Justin from the clutches of Nick Carter, Evil Incarnate, don't you think it's worth the risk of rejection?"

"No."

Joey started to say something, but Wade and Justin chose that moment to wrap up their discussion, and he settled for a pointed look. Chris groaned inwardly. Joey was like a dog with a bone about these things. Funny, he'd always thought JC would be the matchmaker of the group.

Chris was just about to beat Joey in Tekken III when Justin burst in. "That fucking bitch!" Chris' warrior died a painful death at the hands of a grinning Joey.

Chris sighed. "Now what'd he do?"

"He stood me up! We made this date two months in advance, and he didn't even call me!"

Joey and Chris looked at each other.

"Yeah, I know," Justin sighed. "You told me so. Never mind. I'm gonna go shower."

After Justin closed the door, Joey smacked Chris' head and said, "Would you please just tell him before he gets his heart broken?"

Chris didn't answer.

Chris stared at his drink, feeling pathetic. Here he was, surrounded by the biggest stars in the music business, and all he could do was pine after Justin Timberlake. Justin, of course, was completely oblivious to this, and was making the rounds being charming to people. Chris decided to get drunk.

When he was on his fourth glass of pink something cocktail, Joey showed up. "Alcohol won't solve anything, you know."

"Go away, Joe. I don't want to talk about it."

"I just don't understand why you're standing here drowning your sorrows while he's practically playing tonsil hockey with the guy in the middle of the room."

"I don't know, maybe because he's nine years younger? Because he's every teenage girl's dream? Because he's dating every otherl teenage girl's dream? Because he's my best friend and I don't want to risk that?"

Joey chuckled. "Congratulations, Chris, you've officially turned into a girl."

Chris groaned. "It's not funny, dammit."

"Actually, it is. And it's gonna keep being funny until you say something."

"I am not going to tell him. Period. Could you just lay off it, now?"

"Okay, okay. I'll stop, for now. But when Justin gets his heart broken, I'll be right on your back again." Joey paused. "Metaphorically speaking, of course." He grabbed a blue-green cocktail and disappeared into the crowd. Chris sighed again.

Author's Notes: Okay, first of all, in honour of the tons of teenie sites I've had to go through to find pictures and such for inspiration for this story, I'd like to point out to the world's population that it's 'God Must *Have* Spent (A Little More Time On You)'. Have, not of. Okay? Thank you. Secondly, during the writing of this story, I listened to Girlfriend exactly 123 times straight. My poor brain. And lastly, next time I answer a songfic challenge, someone remind me to pick a gender-neutral song, yes?