You love Chris the most in the morning. While Justin is grumping around the kitchen snapping at people, and Joey is sleeping off last night's hangover, and JC is sleeping just for sleeping's sake, Chris is the only one awake to make you laugh after you've just woken up. He's the one who teases you about your bizarre bed-head hair, and makes jokes about bad breath. He's the one who can come home at ass o'clock at night and be up at ass o'clock in the morning with no hangover, a big smile, and endless energy. Chris is most loveable in the morning.

Justin's beauty shines during the afternoon. When he finally hits his stride around two in the afternoon, barking out orders in the sound booth or picking up dance steps faster than any of the rest of them, Justin is 100% pure entertainer. Justin takes the time to encourage you when you're nervous about a vocal part. He takes you into the corner quietly and goes over dance steps with you when you haven't quite got them, trying to shield you from the other guys' eyes because he knows it embarrasses you. It's easy to love Justin during the day.

Joey is pure energy when the evening finally comes. When all the work of the day is finished and it's time to play, Joey is in his element, the party animal in his prime. He'll beg you to come out and order you to leave your cell phone at home. He'll throw you an outfit to wear which would have made you blush and stammer three years ago. Under Joey's encouraging words, you know you look alright. He'll choose a club full of good looking women and men, young and hip like you both are. He's make a scene of dragging you onto the dance floor each time, but will never pressure you if you just want to hang out in the VIP area and drink. Joey's good at reading your mind. You love that he never forgets to ask you to come out. You love Joey the best when twilight comes.

JC is almost supernatural at night. One could argue that he becomes an entirely different person, though both are equally special to you. But he's magical when he's finally fully awake and alert, albeit 5 hours after the rest of you are. Whether he's shining like a star on stage, putting his all into his words and his music in the way that makes Chris tease him endlessly, but you can only think to call beautiful. Or whether he's wrapped in your arms, warm, slippery and pliant, whispering your name over and over, the final hours of the day into the next will always belong to JC.

As you lie there it occurs to you that you love each of them a little differently, but then in the same way as well. None of the specifics really matter. What matters is that you need that love to get you through your days.

~end~