VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 15:26:52 03/14/02 Thu
Author: Lara
Subject: 16 hugs a day

16 HUGS A DAY


Lance scowled as he stood up, using his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. “It’s about damn time,” he muttered. The tow truck bounced along and finally pulled over.
“You call for a tow?” The man’s Mississippi twang reminded Lance of all the reasons he was glad he had moved to Florida.
“Yeah. My engine was making weird noises, then it just died.”
“Okay, then. We’ll hook ya up, get ya back to the shop, and then on the road in a jiffy,” the man said. “You can climb on in if ya want.”
Lance rescued his cellphone, laptop and briefcase from his car, then climbed into the tow truck. The truck was dusty but neat, and a sticker on the dashboard caught his eye. “Sixteen hugs a day,” Lance read out loud.
The man got Lance’s car hooked to the truck, then climbed behind the wheel. “We don’t get many calls from Triple A,” the man said. “Even though we’re the only repair shop within a hundred miles. People are just smart enough not to get stranded ‘round here, I guess.” He looked at Lance. “I saw yer not from around here?”
“No. I’m from Mississippi, yes, but I live in Florida.”
“I see.”
“What does this mean?” Lance pointed to the sticker.
“Ah. My daughter put that on there. She said that everyone deserves sixteen hugs a day. They don’t gotta be real hugs…just doing something nice for someone you care about.”
“Oh,” Lance said.
“She seems to think it would solve the world’s problems,” the man said, shaking his head. “Ya got kids?”
“No,” Lance replied.
“Wife?” Lance shook his head. “Too bad. You’re a handsome boy, son.”
“Thanks.” Lance blushed and looked out the window.

The repair was actually relatively minor, and the man had Lance’s car ready in less than two hours. “How much?” Lance asked.
“On the house. You just make sure to have a safe trip back to Florida.”
“But…sir…”
“Consider this one of your sixteen hugs.” The man smiled at Lance. “Get a move on.”
“Okay. Um, thank you.” Lance got behind the wheel of his car and pulled away. He saw the man waving in his rear view mirror, and he honked his horn.
Lance spent most of his drive thinking about what the man had said. He didn’t give hugs often; he wasn’t a touchy-feely person. He had become this hardened shell of the boy he was before joining NSYNC. He thought about that through most of Alabama, where he finally stopped for the night. As he checked into the hotel, he realized that he was almost sorry about that part of his personality. He decided to change that as soon as he got back.

“Lansten!”
“What time is it?” Lance opened one eye. “Ten? Chris, do you realize that I spent the last two days in a car, in the South, alone?”
“I missed ya!” Chris said cheerfully, and Lance sighed. “I need a favor.”
“Chris…” Lance began, then remembered his vow to himself. If he was going to be earning any hugs, he sure had to give some. “Sure. What can I do for you?”
“I actually need you to look over some contracts for me,” Chris said softly. “I…uh…Dani and I aren’t talking again.”
“Sure.” Lance sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Gimme time to shower and get dressed…I’ll stop and pick up some lunch on the way.”
“Wow, Lance, thanks!” Chris hung up the phone. Lance dragged his tired self out of bed and stumbled to the shower.

“Hey there,” Chris said, smiling as he opened his door. “Great to see you.” He started to hug Lance, then pulled back. It was an unspoken rule that Lance didn’t like hugs.
Lance put down their Chinese takeout and smiled. “Hi, Chris.” He pulled Chris into a big bear hug. He wondered why in the world he hadn’t done it more often. Chris was great to hug. Soft in all the right places, and his body tucked up against Lance’s just right.
“Hi,” Chris said. Lance thought he felt Chris inhale deeply, but he was sure he was imagining things.
“I’m all yours today. What can I do for you?” Lance said.
“Well, some dishes need washed,” Chris teased. “The contracts are in the kitchen.”
Chris led the way into the kitchen. Lance picked up the contracts and started to read them as Chris dished out their lunch and poured some iced tea. “These are pretty self-explanatory,” Lance said.
“I know, but I wanted someone smart to look them over, to make sure,” Chris said.
“Chris, you’re very smart,” Lance said, and the pleased look on Chris’ face told him that he had just scored hug number three.
They read over the contracts and Lance convinced Chris that everything was how it should be. Chris sighed and stretched. “Well…I’ve monopolized your afternoon, so I’ll let you go.”
“I’m having a nice time,” Lance said. “If you’re kicking me out, then I’ll go, but…”
“No!” Chris said quickly. “I like having you here.”
Lance took a good hard look at Chris for the first time in years. Weariness was behind the kind brown eyes, and there was a weight on Chris’ shoulders that Lance hadn’t noticed before. Lance wanted to just hold him until that weight lifted. The thought scared him. “Chris…are you okay?” Lance whispered.
“Sure, why do you say that?” Chris gave Lance an odd look and cleared away their plates.
“No reason,” Lance said. He got up and walked up behind Chris. “I just worry about you.”
“You never worried before,” Chris said quietly. Lance made him turn around.
“I’m worried now.”
“Oh, my knee’s just bothering me…and this whole thing with Dani…ever since I came out to her, she’s been kinda bitchy.”
“I can understand that,” Lance said. He looked Chris in the eye. “I’m here for you, Chris. For anything. Even just a hug.”
“But you hate hugs,” Chris blurted.
“Not from you,” Lance said before he thought. Chris blushed pink.
“I…I…you don’t have to say that just because I decided I’m bisexual, Lance,” Chris said nervously. “I mean, it’s not that contagious.”
“I want to hug you, is that a problem?”
“No,” Chris said. Lance pulled him into an embrace and felt Chris sigh. He liked it, and he knew Chris did, too.
“I’m here for you,” Lance said again. “Any time.”
“Okay,” Chris said.
“I like hugging you,” Lance said softly, stroking Chris’ head. “And I’ll do it anytime you want.”
“Thanks,” Chris whispered, not sure what to think.
“And I’m gay,” Lance whispered back. Chris pulled away to stare at him. “I never felt the need to tell you guys, but I’m telling you now.”
“Oh,” Chris said quietly.
“So…maybe I can hug you whenever I want?” Lance asked softly. “Like, if I ever need to.”
“If you absolutely feel the need to,” Chris said, but he grinned.
“I’m not sure what I need anymore,” Lance said with a sigh. “But I think maybe you can help me find out.”
“I’d like to try.” Chris put an arm around Lance’s shoulders. “Let’s sit out on the deck.”
“Okay.” Lance followed Chris out and they sat on the porch swing. Chris cuddled up in his arms, and suddenly Lance felt the hard shell around his heart begin to crack. “Sixteen hugs a day,” Lance said softly.
“Hmm?” Chris asked drowsily.
“Nothing,” Lance said. He settled Chris more comfortably against him and pushed the swing with one foot.
THE END

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Post a message:
This forum requires an account to post.
[ Create Account ]
[ Login ]
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.