By the time the Teen People article came out, JC had had enough. He was pretty used to people ragging on him. He'd heard the words so often in his life that it had just become second nature to ignore it.

The guys' jibes were no different than any of the others. If anything, it oddly made him feel more part of the group. Five quasi-brothers ragging on one another whenever the chance arose.

He would always remember the embarrassment when Joey gleefully exclaimed to a reporter "JC likes to sleep with teddies! He does!" They had all had a good long laugh at his expense, and later Joey had bought him a beer and apologized with a smile and all had been well.

"You see, JC matured too quickly. He peaked at the age of 15, and he's going downhill slowly. All he wants to do is sleep..."

Sometimes JC worried about being too serious. Like he was missing something by not going to clubs as often as the others, coming home blitzed at 4am, and high fiving about the fun they'd had in the morning. But most of the time he didn't worry and the others didn't seem to either. Once in a while Chris and Joey would get exasperated with him, roll their eyes and tell him to "loosen the fuck up." But most of the time they just smiled fondly and let it be. Justin, who had known him the longest, had gotten used to him ages ago, and Lance was so accepting to begin with that they never gave him a hard time. Besides, they all had some aspect to tease one another about; Justin's prettiness, Joey's rudeness, Chris' craziness, Lance's appearance...seriousness just happened to be his. And someone would usually end up jumping to another's defense anyway.

"We have cliques. Like, JC's not in my clique..."

JC noticed the subtle change sometime between the end of the No Strings tour and the release of Celebrity. The jibes became less friendly, harsher and more frequent. And definitely more one-sided.

Four against one. Like a gang picking on the weak.

And Chris was the ring leader.

"JC didn't used to be like that..." "One time? We make fun of you all the time..."

JC walked into the kitchen from the bunk area one day to find the other four all huddled around the small table.

"Hey, Rip Van Winkle is awake, guys. About time C," said Chris, barely giving JC a glance.

JC didn't answer, instead opting to pour himself a cup of coffee despite the fact that it was three in the afternoon. Making a face at the bitter lukewarm liquid, he asked, "What are you guys looking at?"

"New 'Teen People'," replied Joey.

JC raised his eyebrows.

Lance chuckled. "Teen People, remember? Motorcycles, badass clothes...those horrible striped pants of yours?"

JC cringed. "Oh. Yeah."

Chris tossed the magazine in JC's direction. "Read it. The article ain't bad."

JC caught the magazine and sat down as the other guys filed out to other areas of the bus.

Ten minutes later, JC threw down the magazine and stormed off in search of Chris.

He found him in the common room playing playstation. JC casually walked over and yanked the power out of the wall, turning around to glare at Chris.

Chris sat back, too shocked to get angry.

"This ends here, Kirkpatrick. I'm sick of all this crap. I'm tired of you riding my ass all the time. I mean, god forbid someone have different interests than you."

JC stopped, face red, catching his breath. Chris sat quietly with a small smile on his face.

"You think this is funny? Jesus, you really are a bastard sometimes. Look,I don't know when the hell my personality become such a huge offence to you, but I'd appreciate it if you just told me straight, or at least kept it to yourself instead of spouting all this garbage off in interviews."

Chris remained silent with the smile still playing on his lips. His eyes never left JC's face.

JC looked at Chris with exasperation. "Don't you have anything to say?"

Chris' slowly walked towards him, his predatory movement and quietly menacing look making JC uneasy. JC walked backwards until he was pressed against the far wall.

Chris suddenly lunged at him and JC was convinced he was going to get punched in the nose for overstepping his bounds. He closed his eyes and tried to bring his hands up to his face. He felt his hands caught in mid-air and pushed against the wall on either side of his head.

Bracing himself for impending pain, JC's eyes flew open in shock when he felt warm, soft lips pressing against his own.

Momentarily losing coherent thought, JC allowed himself to respond, swirling Chris' tongue with his.

Breathless, he finally pulled away. "Chris?"

Chris grinned. "I was wondering how long it would take you to notice, Chasez. You're so fucking clueless all the time. How's a guy supposed to get your attention, huh? I figured I just had to step it up a notch."

JC blinked. "Ummm...what?"

"You know, I had to get a rise out of you somehow," Chris answered suggestively.

JC couldn't think of anything to say. He watched Chris' face for signs of joking. Chris had to be playing him, right? Chris seemed to be studying his face just as carefully.

Finally, JC bit his lip and said "I'm not that weird." A strange thing to say, he realized, but the only thing that popped into his head.

"Sure you are, C. You're weird as hell."

JC's eyes flashed "That's it. I-"

"What I mean is," Chris answered, cutting him off, "that we're all this side of strange. I'm odd, you're odd. Figured...maybe we should be odd together."

JC's expression softened. "So..all those things. You just said them cause you knew I'd get pissed off? That makes no sense."

"Sure it does. You're here aren't you?"

JC smiled. "I guess I am." He kissed Chris again, long and deep. He pulled back a few minutes later. "Promise me one thing? Next time we get interviewed, say something nice about me?"

Chris grinned. "You got it."

~end~.