Chapter Text
Chris walked into the room where he shared with Joey and JC, in it were all the members each focused on their own business, well not exactly all of them.
"Ok guys meeting" Chris raised both arms grouping the other three together thus forming a pineapple.
"Without Justin?" Joey asked.
"It's about him" Joey, JC and Lance's serious expressions indicated how understood they were. "He's definitely not well."
"Right" Lance nodded. "That's not the Justin we know."
"He's had some strange behaviors this week, he looks depressed now" Joey spoke. "And I doubt it's because of hormones"
"I felt bad when Justin has handed the weaving basket to that old lady" JC commented disappointed.
"If it made you sad, imagine him" Chris replied, "He looked so focused and eager while he was weaving. I wonder what he did to get the urge out of him?"
"What if someone is messing with him?" Lance posed carefully. All three looked at him with raised eyebrows. "You know, when we found him unconscious outside the hotel."
"Mmm...I think the point makes some sense" JC replied not too convinced.
"Then whoever it was is going to have to get their asses ready" Joey said, his voice indicating he meant it.
"If so, why doesn't he tell us?" asked Chris but no one answered. "He knows he can trust us."
"Maybe his mother knows something" Joey said but was met by a denial from JC.
"The last call I had with her proved that she also have no idea what Justin is going through."
They all sighed in defeat, the recent attitudes of the younger one worried the older members of the band, the boy barely looked at them and the few times he did it was only a pair of sad eyes mixed with guilt and fear. The worst part was that this sudden change was after the accident he had.
"Maybe it would be better to try to make him feel good instead of interrogating him like we were the fbi." Chris proposed. The three present nodded silently.
"I think the same thing" Lance replied. JC and Joey flashed a smile.
"On with the operation 'make Justin feel better' " Joey exclaimed.
***
Justin was lying on his bed browsing a magazine to distract his mind, however he put the magazine aside when he saw that he could not get distracted by anything, his brain always focused on the same point remembering again and again that everything would end very soon and that he would return to his mother empty-handed.
Two knocks on the door and then open it catching Justin off guard, he looked at the entrance as the members of his band entered the room one by one.
"Hey Justin" Joey greeted.
"Guys" The younger one returned the greeting.
"Since we are leaving this hotel tomorrow we were planning on going to a fair around here. Will you join us?" JC requested with a genuine smile.
What's more, they all looked at the youngest of the group with a smile, something that saddened Justin even more, they all looked so cheerful not knowing what was really going to happen to them shortly, Justin thought.
"No, thanks guys, go have fun" Justin replied grabbing the magazine he had left earlier.
"Come on J" Lance pleaded. "You regret it."
"That! You better get off your ass and get some air" Chris walked over to Justin and snatched the magazine from him. "It'll be fun! You and me in the bumper cars against these three here, what do you say now?"
"Or if you don't want to, we can get cotton candy or candy dipped apples, like you always wanted" Joey commented.
"I don't know guys..." Justin muttered.
"You always liked going to fairs," said Lance. "What changed your mind?"
"No, nothing it's just-" Suddenly Justin felt Joey pull him out of bed as he simply stretched him out.
"Then let's go!" Joey exclaimed holding Justin's hand. "I'm sure at our next whereabouts there won't be any fairs or anything like that. So come on get dressed!"
Justin stopped and looked at the others who still kept their smiles intact, he debated with himself for a few seconds, he wanted to stay here until Lou called them to give them the news that they would be fired ending their friendship and go back to Tennessee, but he also wanted to have fun with them so he could have a good memory....
Meanwhile the other members looked at Justin waiting for him to make his decision.
"What do you say Justin? You in or-"
"Get out now, I'm going to get dressed" Justin walked over to his backpack and started rummaging through it. He spun back around to find his friends looking at him perplexed. "Are you guys going to stand here watching me get dressed? Out. Now."
"Does that mean you're going with us?" Chris asked.
"That it does" Justin rolled his eyes. "Now get out."
The four of them looked at each other with a victorious smile and left the room as quickly as the youngest had ordered them to.
"Idiots" Justin blurted out but a smile formed on his lips.
***
As soon as he arrived at the fair, Justin was amazed at the colorful lights of each attraction and the loud music blaring from some of the rides and bars. JC's hand tugging on his arm brought Justin's focus back to his group and he leaned in a little to hear them better.
"So which one do we start with?" raised JC's voice so he could be heard over the music.
"The Viking ship!" Chris replied instantly.
"Wow I think we should start with something less intense" Joey suggested.
"It's okay Joey, just tell us you want to ride the carousel along with the babies" Justin joked. Everyone laughed except for Joey, who rolled his eyes.
"Very funny, but I didn't mean something like that" Justin let out a chuckle in response causing Joey to flash a genuine smile and run his curls through his hand.
"I agree with Joey, we better not throw up on the first ride" Lance said.
"Pff bland" Chris blurted out. "Do what you guys want but Justin and I are getting on the Viking boat.Aren't we kiddo?"
"Sorry Chris, but you're alone."
The older man's smile was replaced by an annoyed expression.
"Alright cowards. So which one do we start with?"
"Didn't you say at the beginning you wanted to get on the bumper cars?" asked JC looking at Chris.
The ride was total chaos for everyone present and drivers of the cars, it was already Nsync's turn to ride in the cars so everyone ran off to quickly pick their cars, Justin was quick and was able to get his own car, to the bad luck of the others they had to go as a duo seeing as kids and teens luckily caught up, Lance and Chris sat together while Joey and JC did as well.
Justin was driving around the track playing that he was driving a real car properly, suddenly another car being driven by two girls crashed into his and both Justin and the two girls laughed.
But at one end of the track the laughter and humor was not there, JC and Joey were facing a big problem in driving the vehicle.
"Come on Josh" Joey exclaimed watching as JC frantically turned the steering wheel. "You know how to drive but you don't know how to drive a bumper car?"
"If you're just going to judge how I drive this piece of junk you better shut up."
"We're going to be like this until our shift is over, then let me drive this" Joey had already placed his hands on the steering wheel.
"What? No!" JC protested, his hands were now forcing the grip, Joey seeing this began to turn the steering wheel in his direction, JC did the same. The two were more focused on who should be driving that they didn't notice the childish and hilarious scene they were creating just for a car crash.
"HONK HONK!" Chris' sudden shout made Joey and JC stop arguing and look straight ahead.
Chris and Lance approached them until both crashes caused JC and Joey's car to quickly go backwards and collide with another car. Lance and Chris started laughing at the shouts of surprise from the other two. As quickly as they recovered JC and Joey scowled at Lance and Chris who were still taunting them.
"God you should have seen your own faces" Chris said with a chuckle.
"They'll be unforgettable" Lance wiped away a tear from laughing so hard.
Suddenly something crashed in their car catching Chris and Lance off guard, they screamed as they were dragged to a part.
"What the hell?" Lance said looking everywhere until he stopped at the sight of Justin.
"YOU!" Chris looked at the teenager defiantly as he pointed his index finger at him.
Justin meanwhile looked at the two with a smirk on his face.
"You must always be on your toes" Justin used a mocking tone. Lance and Chris grunted in response, on the other hand Joey and JC who stood contemplating the scene.
"Now you know how it feels" JC commented flashing a grin.
"Shut up" Chris exclaimed from across the court.
When they ran out of time they headed for the Viking ship as Chris had insisted at first. They all sat in the seats of the boat, except Lance who had opted to get into the small jail. But as soon as the ride began to start Chris got cold feet at the last moment and had no choice but to stay until the boat stopped as he screamed. Justin, JC raised their arms in enjoyment of the ride, while Joey tightly gripped one of JC's hands.
While they took a short break after experiencing the adrenaline rush, they bought some cotton candy and sat down on a small bench, Justin was not exhausted and asked if he wanted to ride the Ferris wheel. None of the four wanted to, but seeing how animated Justin was, they decided who would be playing rock, paper, scissors.
JC groaned and walked along with Justin, after waiting several minutes in line, for JC they were more like an eternity, they managed to get on the huge ride and sit in the seats, rather JC was the one sitting. Justin was contemplating the views as if he was a kindergartner, when they reached the top Justin looked in all directions, both up where he could see the stars and down where he could locate the mini Lance, Chris and Joey sitting waiting for them.
"The views are beautiful" Justin muttered without looking away.
"Yeah" JC yawned.
Justin wondered if this was what the trolls' perspective was like when they rode on his shoulder.
As soon as they got off the Ferris wheel, tiredness and sleepiness hit Justin hard, he wasn't quite clear if it was caught by JC's sleepiness or because it was so late. They both approached the others and Justin noticed that Chris was just as tired, it would be strange if it was only because of the screams he made on the Viking ship.
"Well if you guys want to stay here go ahead, but I'm going back to the hotel" JC said.
"I'm tired too" Justin replied.
"Cool, you guys can take this old guy out of here" Joey dragged Chris towards them. "Me and Lance are going to hang out for a while longer."
"Good, don't be long come back" JC felt the weight of Chris's head laying on his shoulder.
Justin, JC and Chris walked out to the fairgrounds and headed to the parking lot where there car was parked there.
***
When they arrived they had to climb the stairs holding Chris, the boy looked so tired and disoriented he looked as if he had drunk a whole bottle of tequila.
"God, Chris what's wrong with you?" Justin said releasing his grip on Chris as he stood facing him in the doorway to his room. "Well I'll leave you to grandpa."
"I'm not that old" They both laughed at Chris's response and how he again dropped his head on JC's shoulder.
"Today was fun" Justin commented.
"I think it was the only fun we've had since we got here" JC replied.
"Not that you had fun at that party."
"It wasn't bad, I like the parties here in Germany only this time it wasn't to my taste."
"You could have come back by yourself"
"Yeah sure and left the others getting drunk" Justin laughed in response and pulled out the key.
"You guys are the best thing that ever happened to me" The tone in which he said it was a little sad however he retained a calm expression.
"What's that for now?" JC looked at the young man with a raised eyebrow.
"It's because I love you guys so much okay" The older man smiled and put his hand on Justin's shoulder.
"We love you too and I want you to know that you can count on us."
Justin nodded flashing a small smile.
"Good night guys" The younger one replied already walking in the door.
"Get some rest."
JC looked at Chris for a moment and headed for their rooms.
***
Justin closed his eyes as soon as he felt his head lay back on the pillow, the bad memory, the guilt and all the emotions came again but this time the discomfort in his body had loosened a little. Justin couldn't tell if it was because of that great distraction, the laughter, the good vibes, his friends or JC's words.
It made him feel a little better though.
"Justin..."
"Justin!"
The teenager woke up in a daze when he was awakened by her voice calling him in his sleep. Slowly he opened his eyes revealing a small figure in front of him, it looked very familiar.
"You woke up! Now Justin listen to me!"
Justin's mind went blank as he saw who he had in front of him, this can't be it's not true, the young man said repeatedly as he continued to stare in bewilderment at the only gray troll he knew.
"Branch?! I-is that you...? Are you here?"
"Yes it's me!"
"But... How did you manage to-"
"I'll tell you later" Branch interrupted him "The others couldn't escape, I need your help."
Justin was quiet for a moment trying to process that Branch was actually in front of his eyes. He felt like the first time they had met, confused, perplexed.
"We must rescue them and your band's career."
***
Chris felt himself being shaken desperately, he turned back with a frown and found Joey with an expression full of alteration.
"Do you know what time it is?" muttered Chris annoyed.
"That doesn't matter, Justin's not here!"