Wait
by Helen

Chris was looking for Lance because he wanted to ask him if he wanted to grab something to eat with them after the soundcheck was done. JC and Justin were having trouble getting their headsets the way they wanted them, and Lance had been the first to say that his was fine, and had then wandered off. Chris had checked the green room, and the bathroom, and found the vending machines, and was just starting to get a little worried, looping back around to the dressing rooms, although there was no reason for Lance to be there.

He could see a sliver of light under the door, and knocked before pushing the door open to see some guy holding Lance against the wall. They weren't even really doing anything, just kissing, one of Lance's hands on the back of the guy's head, fingers splayed, and Lance pulled away when the door opened, but his eyes were dazed, and his shirt was unbuttoned far enough that Chris could see that his faint flush spread from his cheeks to his waist.

"Chris—" he said, voice raw, and Chris jerked out of the doorway, turning on his heel and walking quickly down the hallway, trying to keep himself from breaking into a run. He'd just turned the corner when he heard footsteps behind him, and Lance shouting, "Chris—" and then he really did run, broke into a jog and turned the next corner into a narrow hallway.

"Chris, wait—" Lance said urgently, coming up behind him close enough to grab his arm and turn him around.

"What?" he said, yanking his arm free, stumbling back a step.

"Chris," Lance said again, this time quietly. He pulled his shirt closed, and buttoned it. Chris leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms, staring at the floor.

"I'm sorry," Lance said.

"What for?" Chris said. "It's a free country, after all." Lance didn't say anything, and Chris barked a laugh and continued, slightly louder "If it were against the law to make it with people in dressing rooms, we'd all be in trouble—"

"I wanted it to be you," Lance said quietly, interrupting him.

"What?"

"I wanted it to be you," Lance said, lifting his eyes. He swallowed. "And I waited. I did. but you wouldn't. you just. you wouldn't."

"Lance," Chris whispered.

"I. fuck." Lance said, closing his eyes and tilting his head back against the wall. Chris wrapped his arms more tightly around himself.

"So who was that guy?" he asked.

"Just some guy," Lance said. "Another guy who wasn't you."