JC moved drunkenly over two seats to Lance. He placed his hand on Lance's shoulder. "Lance..." he slurred. "Most girls? A waste of time. And space."

"I hear you," Lance said. He held up a shot of vodka and clinked it with JC's fifth bottle of beer. "Girls... 'specially that one that broke my heart."

"Who broke Lance's heart?" JC asked him. "Tell JC."

"JC... it was that girl we used to live with... up to now... you know," Lance shook his head. "I can't think."

"Think, damnit!" JC shouted. "THINK!"

"Her name..." Lance's eye brows furrowed. "Eryn. That was her name."

"Her friend, Sasha," JC said. "She broke mine."

"Get OUT!" Lance laughed loudly. "I can see it now." He held up an imaginary newspaper and pretended to read. "Best Friend's Break Hearts Of Best Friends."

JC laughed. "You're funny. One funny bunny."

"No, man, THAT WAS FUNNY," Lance began to laugh. JC joined in. The bartender smirked at them. All of a sudden, JC stopped.

"Another beer, man," he told the bartender.

"You sure?" the bartender asked.

"Oh yeah," JC said. "HOOK ME UP!" he yelled.

Lance held out his shot glass. "One more for me, too."

"You know what? No more, okay?" the bartender said. "I have rules here... you guys are too drunk. When you sober up, you can have some more."

***

"I can't believe that it's already been four hours since James was here, and it's still hurting," Justin moaned. His head was laid on Eryn's lap, and they were watching TV.

"Justin, I am so sorry," Eryn said. "I really am."

"Eryn!" Justin said. "It's not your fault okay?"

"I know, but..." Eryn caressed his cheek.

"But nothing. Stop it," Justin said. "I was caught off guard that's all, okay? If I see him again, I'll beat him."

"No violence, Justin," Eryn said.

"Eryn I have to defend myself," Justin protested. "I have a mass headache. Where's your Tylenol?"

"I'll get it," Eryn said. She gently placed a pillow under his head. She went into the kitchen and got some water and the bottle of pills.

Joey came down the stairs. "Eryn," he said.

"What?" she turned around.

"How's Justin? I know we are supposed to stay up there..." Joey stopped.

"I know, I know," Eryn smiled. "He's okay. But I am going to make him sleep. Can you and Chris sleep in my room?"

"Sure," Joey said.

"Thanks," Eryn said. She walked into the living room. Justin was almost asleep.

"Thanks, Eryn," he said, taking the water and the container.

"You're welcome," Eryn said. She helped him sit up. "Would you like to sleep? You look pretty bad."

"Thanks," he laughed. "Ohhhh, that was a mistake. Um, yeah, please, if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Eryn said. She kissed him gently on his forehead. "Good night."

"Good night," he replied. "And please don't let anyone else sleep in here... they'll talk and move around and stuff..." his voice trailed off.

"Okay, Justin," Eryn said, shutting the light. "Have a good sleep. I will come in here tomorrow morning." She waited for a reply but only heard his steady breathing.

***

"So what are you going to do about Sasha?" Chris asked Joey.

"I don't know, man," Joey answered. "I guess I will sleep on it."

"Yeah," Chris said. "Well, I am really tired. I am going to bed."

"Okay," Joey answered. "I'm glad this is queen size. Don't touch me in the night or I will rip off your head."

"Okay," Chris said. "And if you touch me I will rip off your -"

"Don't even say it," Joey laughed. "'Night."

"G'night," Chris answered.

***

"WELL," Lance said to the bartender. "Me and my posse... which is JC here, are heading out. CAUSE YOU are just a rude man... not giving me my alcohol." He burped. "So we will see YOU... never again."

"Actually, man," JC said. "I think I will see you tomorrow night. My girlfriend's seeing some other guy. I'll be back."

"Well, if you are going to be back, leave your keys here," the bartender said. JC handed them to him.

"Bye, guys," the bartender said.

"Au revoir, ma cherie," Lance said. He bumped into the wall. "And Merry Christmas."

JC laughed. "Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday," he sang.

"Hey, man!" Lance exclaimed. "That sounds familiar."

"I know," JC said. "I think it's by the Backstreet Boys."

"Yeah, that's it," Lance said. "You are so smart."

***

Eryn went upstairs to see if Joey and Chris were asleep. She opened the door and saw them each on opposite edges of the bed, ready to fall out.

Justin was asleep downstairs, and she couldn't sleep in Sasha's bed, because that's where she would send JC and Lance when she got home. She figured her and Sasha could sleep somewhere else.

There was a knock on the door and wondered who it was. Probably Lance, she thought. JC and Sasha were out somewhere, and Sasha had a key.

She opened the door.

"Lance! JC!" Eryn was surprised. "Where's Sasha?"

"I apologize for any inconvenience," Lance said. "But see, I can't talk to you. I should have never given you those damn flowers."

She had no idea what Lance was talking about, but she could smell alcohol on his breath. "Is he drunk?" she asked JC.

"DRUNKS RULE THE WORLD!" JC shouted, and flexed his biceps.

"Okay," Eryn said. "I think you two should go to bed."

"I'm not listening," Lance said.

"Please, listen," Eryn said. "Justin's hurt. He needs rest. Just go sleep in Sasha's room."

"Sasha?" JC snorted. "I am NOT sleeping in her room."

"You have to," Eryn said.

"Nope," JC answered.

"Fine, then go in my room and sleep on the floor," Eryn said.

"Will do," JC said. He leaned close. Eryn held her breath. "And Eryn," he whispered. "Happy New Year."

Lance laughed. "Do the Backstreet Boys sing that one too?"

"Nope, but they sing this. All you people can't you see, can't you see," JC sang as he walked upstairs to Eryn's room.

Lance ran upstairs after him, yelling after him. "Wait for me JC, I'm sleeping with you! Us brothers have got to stick together. POWER TO THE DRUNKS!"

***

Eryn sat in Sasha's room, unable to sleep. Where's Sasha? It's two am... and it's so unlike her. She wasn't with JC. She thought.

She walked downstairs to get herself a glass of chocolate milk, her thoughts on Sasha. The flowers caught her eye. They were sitting on the counter.

"They are from..." Lance began.

"Me," Justin said, taking the flowers and handing them to Eryn.

What was Lance talking about? Eryn thought.

"I apologize for any inconvenience," Lance said. "But see, I can't talk to you. I should have never given you those damn flowers."

Eryn walked over to the flowers and picked them up. Not noticing it before, she saw a small white envelope. She opened it up.

Eryn dropped the card and stared at her hands in horror.

End of Chapter Thirty One