Chapter FORTY

"Okay, so everything is set tonight?" Lance whispered to Eryn during breakfast.

She nodded. "We'll talk about this later."

He smiled. "Okay."

She smiled back. Raising her voice, she spoke. "Justin," she said. "I need some groceries. Do you want to come with me to the grocery store?"

"Sure," he said, standing up. "I just have to change. I don't want to go in my boxers and a T-shirt."

"Good idea," Sasha said.

"Joey, do you want to go to Sam's with me? I think there is a sale on CD's," Chris lied.

Joey shot Chris a look. "But we have to..." he caught on. "Okay."

Eryn smothered a giggle. Justin walked back into the kitchen. "Okay, well I am leaving. Joey, Chris, why don't you come with us? We will drop you off there."

"Okay," Joey agreed.

"I'll come," Sasha offered.

"Great," Joey smiled. He got up and cleared the table. After he was finished, he turned to the group. "Let's go."

Eryn got the keys and they all walked out the door.

"I guess it's just you and me," Lance said to JC. "Let's go out somewhere."

"Sure," JC said. "But first, I want to talk to you on what's going on with you and Eryn. I've been trying to talk to you for like, a week and a half... but we're always busy."

"Yeah, I guess I owe you some sort of explanation," Lance said. "I'll tell you in the car."

"Okay," JC agreed. "Where are we going?"

"I don't know," Lance said. "We'll take Sasha's car and go somewhere, okay?"

"Okay," JC said.

They walked out to the car and drove out of the driveway. Lance was driving.

JC turned to Lance. "Okay, Lance. What's going on with you and Eryn?"

"A lot," Lance said. "What do you want to know?"

"She's still with Justin, right?" JC asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Do you want to hear the whole story?"

"Sure," JC said.

Lance told JC everything that had happened between him and Eryn, ending at last week when she told him how she felt.

"So she likes you?" JC asked.

"Yeah, she said she did," Lance smiled. "But you can't say anything."

"I won't," JC promised. "Does Justin know?"

"No one knows," Lance answered. "And it is going to stay that way."

"I know, I know," JC said. "Don't worry."

"Oh, I forgot... Happy birthday," Lance told JC.

"Thanks," JC sighed. "You are the only one who said it today. They know, don't they?"

"They should," Lance said. "Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know," he looked out the window. "Want to go to the movies? I want to see that new one... what's it called... the one with that girl, and Steve Martin."

"Bowfinger?" Lance asked.

"That's the one," JC said.

"Okay," Lance said. "Let's go. It's on me."

He drove off in the direction of the movie theatre.

***

"Oh, no," Justin said. He grabbed Eryn's arm. "We forgot JC's present!"

"No, we didn't," Eryn said. "The other day, I don't know where you were, we took the money that everyone put in and we bought him a laptop!"

"Are you kidding?" Justin asked.

"No," Eryn laughed. "You didn't know that?!"

"No," Justin laughed too. "I'm so stupid. Where did you get it?"

"Chris and Joey went and bought it at Future Shop. It's a really good one, we bought him internet hours, too," Eryn shook her head, still laughing. "I can't believe you never knew that."

"Maybe it was when I brought JC out," Justin said.

"I think it was, because maybe one of us told you to bring him out," Eryn said. "Oh, forget it. We're worrying over this. Anyway, what do you want to do now?"

"I have two ideas," Justin grinned.

"What are they?" Eryn asked.

"Number one, we could wrap his present," Justin said.

"Already done. What's number two?"

"This," Justin replied, pulling Eryn close for a kiss.

***

"Okay, they should be back any second," Joey said to Chris, Eryn, Justin and Sasha.

"Let's shut the lights," Justin suggested. "We'll pretend no one's home."

"So we are going to shut the lights, shout surprise, eat, give him the present, then just hang around?" Chris asked.

"Yeah," Justin said. "The food is on the table. It's from that place Lance said that JC likes. It's all catered."

"Great," Joey said. "Maybe instead of just hanging around, we can figure out something else."

"We'll see what JC wants to do," Chris said. He heard a door slam outside. "Okay, hit the lights." Justin shut off the lights, and they all crouched around the living room.

The front door open and the group heard Lance and JC talking. They walked into the living room, and Lance flicked on the lights.

"Surprise!" Justin, Eryn, Chris, Joey, and Lance shouted. Sasha faked a smile.

JC's face broke out into a grin. "Thanks guys." He said. "Whose idea?"

"Mine," Lance said, hugging his friend. "See? No one forgot."

"Thanks," he said again.

"Time for food!" shouted Joey. Everyone followed him into the kitchen and filled their plates.

***

"Joey, I think I am going leave," Sasha whispered an hour later.

Joey looked at her. "No," he said. "Why?"

"Because... I'm not talking to anyone... I feel so out of place. JC doesn't want me here anyway."

***

JC looked over and Joey and Sasha who were deep in conversation. Why are they so close lately... he wondered.

"Present time," Eryn said, going into the kitchen and coming out with a big brightly wrapped box.

"Oooh," JC smiled. "I wonder what it could be?" It ripped off the paper. "A computer? This is great! Thanks!" He smiled.

"There's a card, too," Eryn said. She gestured to the table. JC opened up the card.

It was a blank card, with messages from his friends written on the inside.

JC looked up from the card, and looked at Sasha, who was still engrossed in conversation with Joey. "Thanks," he said, clearing his throat. "It's a great present."

Eryn smiled. "As long as you like it."

Sasha looked up. "I almost forgot," she said. "Here." She handed JC a card.

Relieved, he opened it up.

JC looked up, surprised. "Sasha, can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?"

Lance looked worried. He leaned over to JC and whispered. "Let me see the card." JC handed it to him and Lance read it.

"Sasha!" Lance exclaimed. "What the hell is your problem?"

"Stay out of it, Lance," Sasha said to him. "Anything you want to say to me in the kitchen you can say in front of the others. We are all friends here."

"Fine," JC said. "I just want to know why you are treating me the way you are?"

"JC, don't even start. You treat me just as bad," Sasha was fuming.

"I do not! I'm past that, I haven't hardly said a word to you in a week!" JC said.

"Stop it guys," Chris cut in. "Sasha, it's his birthday."

"I don't care if it's his birthday! I wouldn't even care if he was on his deathbed! This has to be said," Sasha said. "JC, from the day I met you, I should have realized you were a mistake." Sasha yelled.

The words slapped JC. "I-I- I was a mistake?"

"Yeah, you were," Sasha said. "I regret spending every second with you."

Tears welled up in JC's eyes. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

"It's not your fault," Lance said.

"Yeah it is," Joey blurted out.

"What?" JC asked.

"Stop bitching at her, JC," Joey said. "Just leave her alone."

"This time it wasn't my fault!" JC said.

"That's enough!" Eryn shouted. "Just stop it! I think the party's over. Sorry JC."

"That's okay," he said to Eryn. "I have to do something upstairs anyway."

JC walked out of the room. Lance followed him. "JC, wait!" He yelled.

JC turned around. "What?" he asked.

"Where are you going?" Lance asked.

"To use the phone," JC said.

"Why?" Lance asked.

"Because I am calling that hotel where we once stayed down the street and seeing if there is room," JC said.

"Don't leave!" Lance said.

"This time, I am," JC said. "I really am. Sorry, Lance, but Sasha is just too much."

End Of Chapter Forty

These are the story lines I need help with:

1. What's going to happen with JC?
2. Joey and Sasha... possible romance?
3. Chris. He's so boring... what should happen with him?
4. Although I have somewhat of an idea, what should happen with Justin/Eryn/Lance situation?

Thanks!