One Time - 1. Chance Encounter

Joseph dug his fingers hastily into his pocket, rummaging around to find the crinkled up bills that he knew were buried in there. He had definitely grabbed them off the table by the door before he had left the house, right? He stood up on his tip-toes, trying to stretch out his blue jeans so it would be easier to slip his fingers inside - he had been growing so much lately - and finally found purchase on the bills as far down as it was possible to go into his pocket.

 

Memories of his mother’s ribbing about getting him a wallet for his birthday rang particularly loudly in his head at that very moment.

 

He produced the bills and handed them to the attendant, picked up his two bags of groceries, and walked out to his bike chained up outside. It was a clear blue day in Miami, blue in a way only South Beach could be. The blue waves lapping under a blue sky against the endless stretches of beach upon which thousands had taken the opportunity to enjoy today.

 

As Joseph pedaled away from the supermarket, a twinge formed deep in the pit of his stomach. Today was the day he had told himself that he would do it. Today was the day he would tell his mother, if for nothing other than the respect he had for her raising him alone all 15 years of his life. His friend Sandra had been very supportive at school and stood by his decision to tell his mother. It had been a secret for so long, sometimes Joseph felt it would simply telegraph across his face or mannerism spontaneously, and people would just “know” all of a sudden.

 

Today he would tell his mother that he was going to audition for show choir.

 

He knew she disapproved of his singing, his boyish voice having only recently started to settle into a teenager’s tenor. She felt his love of music might overshadow other more important goals in life and prevent him from having the life she desired for him - one she had never been able to financially provide.

 

But he was going to do it. He was going to sign up for the audition, march into that school auditorium, and make it onto the show choir. The choir was a select ensemble of between 12 and 16 members that did combination singing, dancing, and some theater dashed in for good measure. While it was largely about the music, a little choreography and some lines of dialogue went a long way toward impressing an audience in a different way than simply being in a touring concert choir. Show choir was where Joseph felt he should be, where he wanted to be. Where he would be.

 

Oh yes, and he had the most vicious crush on Alex, one of the boys already in show choir. Joseph was gay, you see, but there was no way he was going to let anyone know about that anytime soon. Except for Sandra, of course - she was his best friend. And Alex, if he ever asked while they were alone in the halls above the auditorium where nobody went after school hours. Not that Joseph ever thought about that…

 

Protruding from his left pocket were two white earbuds connected to his cellphone, currently streaming a Pandora playlist of popular songs. Katy Perry sounded through the earbuds, giving soundtrack to the ride from supermarket to home.

 

'Baby, you're a firework. Come on, let your colors burst. Make 'em go oh, oh, oh, as we shoot across the sky, oh oh!'

 

It had been an early release day from school, the last real school day before exams and Christmas vacation. Of course, the weather was a balmy 81 degrees in South Florida, and all of the northern population of humanity had descended on summer's last oasis beaches. Tourists and snowbirds were one of the disadvantages of living in paradise.

 

The wind tugged at his jeans and graphic t-shirt with Skrillex’ triple-slash logo across the front. His dark-brown hair was cut short - but not so short that the breeze could not tug at it - or Alex’ fingers run through it, hehe - and his skin was of tan complexion. Like what seemed to be most of the kids in his class, he was of Hispanic descent, last name Tapia. His mother had come to the United States from Ecuador just before he was born.

 

Now, a visa to the United States was not something to take lightly. Much more sought after was a residency card. Through many trips to the US Embassy in Quito, many phone calls, many favors of friends, the Tapias had received their residency approval to move to the United States - the same year Joseph's father Eduardo Tapia was required to perform military service in Ecuador.

 

The plan had always been for them to reunite in the USA after his mandatory two-year service. Things were quiet with Ecuador’s neighbors lately, and the chance of there being any serious military action was slim. Joseph did not have to imagine too hard that his parents’ last night in Ecuador was a memorable one. Because it lined up perfectly with when he must have been conceived.

 

Two months later, while writing a letter to Eduardo to tell him she was pregnant, she received a Skype call from relatives still living in Ecuador. Her husband had been killed by drug traffickers near the Colombian border. He would never know that he had a son.

 

Joseph had heard the story of the tearful service in their hometown of Guayaquil from his mother, who flew down there to attend to his funeral arrangements. Seven months later, Joseph was born in Miami, the first official US citizen in their family. Over the years, his growing up American overshadowed his family’s grieving and they all moved on.

 

All of this went quickly through Joseph’s mind as he pedaled down Lincoln Road past all the small outdoor cafes and shops. South Florida paradise living was in full swing and as he got into the heart of the district, he had to slow down to go around the large throngs of people making their way around this mid-afternoon. He decided to skip the crowds and cut over to the next road, so he shot between two decorative potted palm trees and went into the cross alley. The alley had a number of dumpsters and other items strewn about - while not being completely messy.

 

What he did not see was the door that flew open right in front of him, his front wheel ramming into it and sending him flying over the handlebars.

 

Mid-flight, Joseph’s body became entangled with the hooded individual that had barged out the door so quickly. Joseph's cellphone and earbuds flew, the figure's shades flew another direction, Joseph and his surprised assailant both flew yet more. When everything (and everyone) clattered to the ground, Joseph was completely stunned and was trying to quickly come to grips with what just happened. A quick check of his limbs revealed they were all still there and nothing seemed to be damaged.

 

He noticed the hooded person who came out the door getting up and start to pat off the dust.

 

Joseph reached forward to touch the hooded shoulder, “Hey, are you okay?”

 

The hoodie whirled and looked back at Joseph through a single popped-out lens of his Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. Joseph was briefly stunned, taking in the whole picture, his arm still outstretched toward the figure. Light skin, deep brown eyes, full lashes, slightly bushy brown hair, maybe 16 or 17 years old, all hidden behind a black inconspicuous hoodie and half a pair of Dolces.

 

Why did he look so familiar…?

 

The hooded boy sprung into action, “Hey, I’m sorry I ran into you, but is that your bike?”

 

Joseph was taken back again by that voice...so familiar…

 

“Uh, yea, it’s my bike...I was on my way home…”

 

Joseph finally noticed the groceries scattered all over the alleyway asphalt. Most of the boxes looked still closed...maybe it was salvageable…

 

“Can I borrow it?” the hoodie boy asked.

 

Joseph was speechless yet again, “Uh...why?”

 

The hoodie boy reached out and took hold of Joseph’s shoulders. As he came closer, Joseph really took in his features and a single phrase swam out of the confusion in his mind - he’s really cute… before he was spun toward the doorway through which hoodie boy had emerged. In the kitchen beyond, he saw several men wearing suits that appeared to be looking for something intently in the kitchen. The kitchen staff were all standing back, looking confused.

 

Hoodie boy spoke, “They’re looking for me. Where can I bring it back?”

 

“I’m right around the corner, 1609 Lennox…” Joseph stammered.

 

Hoodie boy grabbed the bike by the handlebars. “1609 Lennox, got it. See you soon!” He righted the bike and placed his feet on the pedals, pushed off with his left foot and started to pedal furiously toward the next street over. There were shouts of surprise and alarm from in the kitchen, and Joseph turned just in time to see three large men in suits push past him into the alleyway. They shouted after the kid with the hoodie, but the bike disappeared with him around the corner and out of sight.

 

Clearly exasperated, the tallest of the three men turned and looked down at Joseph through blackened shades. “Did he talk to you? Where did he say he was going?”

 

Joseph just stared back, alarmed and intimidated by the three men now towering over him.

 

The man sighed while reaching up and fidgeting with his tie knot as if he were annoyed. “Hablas Ingles? Nada?”

 

Now his turn to be annoyed, Joseph’s voice wandered back, “Of course I can speak English, come on…”

 

The man leaned in closer immediately, “Then where did he go?”

 

“I don’t know! He took my bike…” Joseph was about to launch into a tirade, but the man interrupted him.

 

“So you’re saying he stole your bike?”

 

“Well, I didn’t exactly say he couldn’t take it…”

 

The man threw his hands up and gestured the other two goons inside. “Dammit…”

 

The door slammed shut, leaving Joseph once again alone in the alleyway with his scattered groceries.

 

What had just happened?

 

---

 

Joseph tiredly flopped himself down on his bed, the distant hustle and bustle of Friday night on South Beach drifting to him through the open window mixing with the buzzing cicadas in the tree grove on the corner. At the extreme edge of his aural perception he could hear the waves rolling onto the sand from the Atlantic ocean. He and his mother shared two rooms rented upstairs from the tenants currently living at that address. The tenants did not ask for much money, and electricity and wifi access was included, so Joseph and his mother had been living there for almost a year now. His mother’s English was still coming along, even after 15 years in this country. Despite her ability to understand English and speak it well enough, the thick accent was off-putting for many employers. She had to find work wherever she could, and they got by on whatever she made.

 

Laying on the bed, Joseph replayed all the events of that afternoon in his mind. From his picking up the groceries his mother had left a list of to running into that boy to losing his bike to salvaging most of the groceries and finally getting home to do his homework. He reached up and pulled off his shirt, tossing it into the basket in the corner of the room, then placing his hands folded onto his smooth, flat stomach.

 

That face...that voice...so familiar, why could he not place them with a name?

 

He reached over and grabbed his smartphone off the bedside table, plugged in his earbuds, and pulled up his Pandora playlist. Fortunately his phone's protective casing had absorbed most of the shock of being flung clear of his jeans earlier that afternoon. It would be a few more hours until his mother finished the late shift at the printing company, might as well listen to some music.

 

At the first instant of the first notes of the first song immediately after pressing “play” Joseph sat bolt upright in bed, his mind playing all of the previous events in a blur of fast forward, pausing on the face he had seen looking back at him. He knew who it was!

 

The song continued to play as Joseph breathed rapidly trying to tell himself that it had really happened. The vocals began after the opening riff, all so familiar having heard them thousands of times before:

 

'For you I’d write a symphony, I’d tell the violins it’s time to sink or swim, watch ‘em play for ya...'

 

---

 

To say Joseph was tired in the morning would be...incorrect, actually. Despite having gotten almost no sleep all night, Joseph was completely wired in the morning. His mother noticed the pep in his step and made a face at him while she cracked some eggs sizzling into the skillet. “Mijo, what are you so peppy about? Your mother was working all night, your energy is making me crazy.”

 

Joseph failed to hear her through the earbuds playing his new Pandora playlist. One exclusively dedicated to Justin Bieber. The progression of his thoughts the previous night had gone from star struck to doubtful that it ever happened to it really did happen to wow, he was cute…

 

Overnight, that itch had developed deep in Joseph’s core whenever he clearly pictured Justin’s face. The tickling feeling inside that he got whenever he passed Alex by the school lockers. Joseph knew that this crush was serious. After his mother had come home, and she had checked to make sure he was okay, he began to feel a new sense of hope.

 

Justin Bieber knew where he lived! He had told him, right? He had told him correctly, right? What if Joseph had been speaking incoherent babble in shock of what had happened? The entire conversation between him and Justin began to be warped by doubt. What if he never saw him again? He had been face to face with Justin Bieber, randomly, on the street, and would never see him again?

 

The roller coaster of emotions had kept Joseph up all night. But he had decided through it all that he had correctly relayed his address to the superstar...which meant maybe he would come to return the bike!

 

He ate breakfast in silence, earbuds playing through all of Justin’s hits, his mother looking on inquisitively the whole time. She looked like she wanted to push him to tell her what was going on, but she had to go in to work again for another shift. She decided she would really get on his case when she got home for dinner that evening and left.

 

Joseph was so lost in his thoughts, he barely realized how much time had passed with there was a knock on the door. His heart skipped a beat, his breathing became rapid, his mind began reeling with the possibilities. Was Justin Bieber standing outside his house? Did he just knock on his door to see him?

 

A second knock motivated Joseph to get up from the table and walk across the room and down the stairs to the front door to the apartment. There was no window on the door and the peephole was long-since shattered. His sweaty palm closed around the doorknob and he took in one last breath before twisting and pulling the door open.

 

The look on Sandra’s face as she saw his strained expression was a mixture of “Are you okay?” and “Okay, spill whatever it is you’re not telling me…”

 

---

 

Sandra scooped out the last bit of rice pudding with her spoon and licked it clean, letting the sweet treat roll around in her mouth as she pondered everything she had just heard. “You’re sure?”

 

Joseph nodded excitedly, “Completely, it had to be him!”

 

Sandra swallowed, momentarily put out that it was the end of her culinary enjoyment for the moment. “And...you said he stole your bike?”

 

Joseph searched for the words to answer, “Well, he kind of asked for it first. I didn’t really say he couldn’t take it, but he kinda didn’t give me a chance to… I told you, he was in a hurry to get out of there!”

 

“And you think he’s coming back to your house? You gave him your address?”

 

Joseph shifted around from his sitting position on the couch to lean toward her across the armrest. “I’m sure of it! I remember telling him where I lived and he told the address back to me…”

 

Sandra licked the back of the spoon, spotting a few stray bits of rice pudding lingering there, “What if he doesn’t come, and you don’t get your bike back? What will your mom say?”

 

Despite his momentary high of excitement in imparting his whole tale to his best friend, there was a moment of serious doubt that flitted through his consciousness. What if Justin never showed up? What if he had, in fact, stolen Joseph’s bike?

 

The clock chimed noon in the corner, causing Sandra to turn to look at it and Joseph to snap back out of his thoughts. Sandra looked apologetically at Joseph. “I have to be at my dance class in about thirty minutes.”

 

Joseph nodded silently, saddened that she couldn’t stay there and wait with him.

 

She picked up her pack of clothes off the floor, slung them over her shoulder, and moved toward the stairs down to the doorway. Pausing at the landing, she turned. “Don’t get your hopes up, Joe. Even if it really was Justin Bieber, why would he care about somebody like you?”

 

Joseph’s face must have betrayed the hurt at her words, because her expression went from worry to apology, “Not what I meant, Joe. Just...the kind of people I’m sure he surrounds himself with, he’s more likely to just mail you a check for the bike or completely forget it ever happened. I just don’t want you sitting here doing nothing all day then moping around when he doesn’t show up. I’ll call you tonight as soon as I can.”

 

Joseph acknowledged what she said but did not meet her gaze. His mind was racing again. Perhaps she was right...the whole memory began to distort again, doubt creeping into the images of what had really happened…

 

A knock on the door startled him into reality once more. What did Sandra leave here? Joseph thought to himself. He glanced over at the clock in the corner of the room and it read twenty minutes to two. But Sandra left right after noon…

 

Joseph pondered the loss of time, finally agreeing to attribute it to his daydreaming, as he walked down the stairs and pulled open the door. Sitting on the short walk to the road was his bike, propped up on its kickstand. Leaning ever so slightly on the handlebars was the most beautiful dream Joseph could ever have imagined. The hoodie was still there, as were a new pair of sunglasses with both lenses intact, and there was a smile etched onto those gorgeous lips of his. Joseph nearly staggered trying to catch his breath from the magnificent beauty in front of him.

 

“You...you’re…” Joseph couldn’t seem to speak.

 

Justin’s smile got even wider as he stood up. “Yea, I am. Hey, you really saved my ass back there at the restaurant. They were watching me when I made my move to escape, and in my hurry I threw the door open and…” he gestured toward Joseph, who thought the motion was the most fluid move he’d ever seen in his life, “...I ran into you. Kinda literally… When I saw you had a bike, and I knew they were right behind me, I had to take the chance. 1609 Lennox right?”

 

Joseph could not believe what he was hearing. Justin Bieber was...talking to him? The last photo he had seen recently of Justin was of his earlier days, with his hair splashing across his forehead in his signature style, his boyish looks making him appear younger than he actually was. This Justin was different. The hair was almost exactly the same, but somewhat more mature, the face longer and more like a teenagers. The hoodie was large and hid most of his body, but Joseph couldn’t help but let his eyes start to wander down Justin’s torso before realizing what he was doing and snapping back up to that million-dollar smile.

 

“Right, no problem. What...I mean...why were you trying to get away?”

 

Justin pointed toward the door with his chin, “Mind if we take this conversation inside? Being outdoors is a bit conspicuous if you know what I mean…” He glanced furtively around, but the street appeared deserted.

 

Joseph finally registered what Justin was asking and snapped into action, “Right, yea, come on in. Take the stairs on the left…” He grabbed the bike and pushed it quickly up against the house, snapping the lock into place as Justin went past him and started up the stairs. Joseph may have imagined it, but he felt there was a rhythm and cadence to the footsteps as they sounded against the hollow wooden structure. Justin’s beat of life, he thought to himself…

 

Closing the door behind him, Joseph took the stairs two at a time to find Justin touching the clock in the corner delicately. “Nice clock, I like the wood.”

 

“My mom brought it from Ecuador, her father made them.”

 

Justin turned to regard Joseph with a smile. “Ecuadorian, huh? Cool. Never been there, yet. By the way...what’s your name?”

 

Justin Bieber just asked me what my name is...he’s about to know my name… “Uh...my name’s Joseph, actually, Joseph Tapia. Well, I mean, my friends call me Joe...for short...and stuff…”

 

Justin nodded, looking like he was committing the name to memory. “Awesome. Pleasure to meet you Joe. I really dig the decorations in here…” His eyes flitted over several wooden carvings of animals and a knitted quilt that was thrown over the armchair in the opposite corner. Joseph’s mother had sewn it in her youth...

 

There was an awkward pause as Justin continued to take in the room, from the single two-seat couch to the small television to the two Ecuadorian paintings Joseph’s mother had bought. Eventually, the superstar singer’s eyes landed back on Joseph and the smile came back onto his face, “You look terrified! Calm down, I’m actually here to offer you something…”

 

Joseph’s heart leapt into his throat, a million possibilities flying through his mind. What could it be? Did Justin feel a connection between them at the restaurant? What if he asks, would Joseph even say yes? What would he tell his mother? Nobody but Sandra even knew that he was gay, what if it became public? What if Justin wanted to be his boyfriend?

 

“I have a show in Miami tonight and I’d like you to come as my guest...to thank you for letting me borrow your bike.”

 

The spinning in Joseph’s head came to a sudden halt, “Oh, uh, sure. I...have to ask my mom first, though…”

 

“Sure, cool, is she here?” Justin looked around expectantly.

 

“No, she’s working, actually. But I can call her…”

 

“Awesome, let me know what she says.” Justin sat down on the couch and looked up at Joseph with an expression of inquiry and patience and faint traces of mirth.

 

Joseph turned and walked into the kitchen, separated from the living room by a wall shared by the sink on one side and the television on the other. As soon as he lost eye-contact with Justin, his entire body let out a giant exhale. He had not realized he had practically been holding his breath the entire conversation. Justin Bieber was in his house! He was sitting on his couch! Sandra would never believe this! Oh my gosh, what should I tell Sandra? Oh my gosh, what am I going to tell my mom to get her to let me go??

 

With a shaky hand, Joseph reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his phone, slowly fingering through to his mother’s contact information and initiating the call. He placed the phone up to his head and heard the steady thrum of the first ring. What if she did not answer? Sometimes she had her hands full at the printing company and could not answer…

 

The second ring thrummed through the phone and Joseph bit his lip. Half of his brain wanted her to answer so he could continue this dream to its conclusion, but half his brain was afraid she would say no. The third ring sounded halfway before it was cut off with silence. His breathing stopped. Was it her voicemail? Did she pick up?

 

“Mijo, que paso?” his mother’s voice came through the phone.

 

“Oye, mama, I...uh...I got some tickets to see a show tonight with...uh...Sandra. She got the tickets and she invited me. We...uh...I needed to ask you if I could go...tonight…”

 

There was a pause on the other end, “Which show, mijo? And Sandra is going?”

 

“Si mama, Sandra is going. It’s...a show in Miami. Some singer is going to be having a show, she got two tickets. She...uh...wants to go over there early and maybe get something to eat at McDonald’s…” While the facts of the statement were an accurate portrayal of Sandra and his eating habits when they were together, the idea of Justin Bieber and Joseph Tapia walking into a McDonald’s together just did not seem appropriate given the star’s status.

 

“I don’t know, papi, I was going to cook tonight. I put down the carne y el arroz esta cocinando… And I don’t know if I want just you and Sandra downtown late at night by yourselves...”

 

Joseph’s eyes darted for the first time to the lights on the rice maker to his left, noticing it had finished its cycle and was at the “warm “setting to keep the rice fresh and ready to eat.

 

Joseph set his jaw in a determined manner. “Mama, eso esta importante. I really want to go, please?” There was no way he was missing this show no matter what…

 

He heard a sigh from the other end of the phone, “Okay, okay mijo, but you call me when you get there and call me again when you leave. Be safe, papi, and say hi to Sandra for me.”

 

Relief flooded Joseph’s veins. “I will, mama, gracias.”

 

“Chao, mi amorcito,” his mother clicked off the line.

 

Joseph tightened his grip on his phone, excitement and possibility flooding his being. He had not felt this excited since, well, ever. He was going to be Justin Bieber’s personal guest to his show tonight! Justin Bieber who was...oh right, he’s waiting on the couch.

 

Justin to looked up expectantly from his seated position as Joseph bounded back into the room. “What did she say?”

 

Joseph held up the phone in victory, “She said I could go.”

 

Justin’s face lit up with a genuine smile as he stood up enthusiastically, “Well, let’s get going. I have a car waiting on the corner. Are you going to go dressed like that?”

 

For the first time, Joseph looked down to see what he had been wearing. A Saturday was not a particularly dressy day for the Tapia household so he was wearing a worn out T-shirt and a ratty pair of shorts. His lack of response only prompted Justin to smile wider. “Don’t worry about it, we’re about the same size, right?” His eyes traveled up and down Joseph’s body, making him feel very exposed all of a sudden in the living room of his own house. “I think I have something that’ll fit you. Let’s go, we gotta roll!”

 

Joseph pocketed his cellphone, grabbed his house key off the table by the door, locked the door behind them, and set off following Justin - who had replaced his hoodie on his head - out to the street and to the left. Sitting on the corner was a black Cadillac Escalade with darkly tinted windows. Justin walked up to the passenger’s side and pulled open the back door.

 

A man and a woman boiled out of the vehicle almost before he could get the door fully open. The man was wearing a tight blazer over a bright orange t-shirt and slacks, his hair spiked upward in a faux-hawk with thick-rimmed glasses on his face. He appeared to be of Asian descent, but he spoke in a way that would leave no doubt as to his sexual orientation. “Oh my god, Justin, we are going to be late! I understand you need to make your personal stops and all, but for goodness sake, we have to get over to the venue right now. And please tell me you washed your hair this morning?”

 

The woman was more silent, but appeared to be checking to make sure he was okay. She was the first to notice Joseph standing there on the sidewalk awkwardly kicking at the pebbles nearby. She turned to him with a clearly forced smile, “Oh, he’s not signing any autographs right now, dear, we’re in a hurry to get to the show tonight.”

 

Justin finally spoke up and pushed past the Asian man to get a word in, “No no, Shayna, he’s with me.”

 

Shayna turned back around to regard Joseph with a very serious expression on her face. “Oh.” A few more moments of awkward staring and she hitched her head toward the vehicle. “Alright you two, no time to argue, we’ve got to move.”

 

Justin went in first and slid across the black leather rear seat of the Escalade, Joseph hesitantly climbing in and sitting beside him. Shayna and the Asian man both filed into the middle row of seats and pulled the door closed behind them. The car began to move so suddenly, Joseph was momentarily rocked backward. In a moment of panic, he fumbled around for a seat belt and accidentally pulled at Justin’s hoodie. The hoodie pulled off of his head, allowing his gorgeous hair to be seen fully. Justin laughed and reached across Joseph, grabbing the seat belt and handing it to the poor flailing boy. “Careful, we’re in a bit of a hurry.”

 

Joseph took the seat belt and fastened it, embarrassed by what had just happened. The Asian man immediately turned and started talking to Justin in a rapid-fire manner. Some bits about makeup and clothes and hair products that Joseph did not really comprehend. He did notice, however, that Shayna was eyeing him out of the corner of her eye.

 

Joseph tried to not make eye contact, but could feel her gaze on him the entire ride.

 

Crystal clear South Florida water was on both sides of the road as they drove across the MacArthur Causeway linking South Beach to mainland Miami proper. Joseph watched as the tall buildings of Miami’s skyline grew larger as they approached. Out the left windows, he could see the American Airlines Arena where he knew to be their destination. Finally reaching the shore again, making a left onto Biscayne Boulevard that runs along the bayfront, they pulled into the Arena’s entrance. Standing there on the corner were a large group of girls waiting to gain access into the property, signs and t-shirts bearing Justin Bieber’s likeness. Justin stood up and leaned forward across the seat, “Hey hey, roll down the window!”

 

The window was taken down and Justin stuck his head out. One of the girls spotted him as they turned into the Arena and started to scream, pointing frantically at the car. Justin waved at the group of girls as they all started to run full-bore after the vehicle, but had to stop at the security checkpoint. Officers were doing their utmost to keep the screaming fans from boiling past.

 

Justin pulled his head back into the car, a smile on his features. Joseph too had felt the rush when he stuck his head out. How jealous would any of those girls be to know that he was sitting right here in the car with Justin? What would they do to trade places with him? Probably more than let him borrow their bike, Joseph thought with a smile.

 

“What are you smiling about?”

 

Joseph noticed that Justin was looking at him and his smile vanished, “Oh, nothing…”

 

“Not going to tell me huh? We just met and already you’re keeping secrets from me?”

 

“No, that’s not…”

 

Justin did the completely unexpected. Joseph had no idea it was coming and had no time to prepare for it. Justin Bieber threw himself onto Joseph in the back seat of the car. As Justin’s fingertips found Joseph’s ticklish ribs, Joseph found himself screaming in enjoyment. He squirmed, but was restrained by the seat belt he had so fastidiously put on earlier. Justin was not marred by any roadblock and his assault was merciless. “Keep secrets from me, will you? How about under threat of torture?”

 

The tickle attack ceased and Justin flopped back down on his side of the vehicle as the car entered the underground parking structure that ran under the arena. He and Joseph were both still giggling from the struggle, Joseph breathing heavily from his futile attempts to suppress his assailant.

 

Joseph stole a glance forward toward Shayna to see no trace of amusement whatsoever on her features. The Asian man was - for the first time since they had met - silent and smiling at the whole scene. The car came to a halt and somebody opened the door from the outside. Shayna and the Asian man exited first, then Joseph, with Justin bringing up the rear.

 

Several security officers were there in the dim underground parking garage. Sunlight streamed in from the somewhat distant entrance through which they had come, bringing with it the distant sounds of screaming fans and the occasionally clear “Justin!”

 

The group climbed into the service elevator and for all was quiet on the ride. Joseph took in the whole scene. Standing there, in the elevator that countless other celebrities and sports stars had ridden in, standing not two feet from Justin Bieber -the Justin Bieber - and his staff and security guards. He felt the urge to pinch himself and figure out if this was a dream or not.

 

There was no opportunity to continue dreaming as soon as the doors opened, because right outside the tranquil elevador interior was what appeared to be pandemonium. Men and women were bustling back and forth carrying lights and equipment through the hallway. Several men with large headsets with boom microphones were gesturing and giving instructions to subordinates to prepare myriad elements for the show that night. Ladders, tools, sound equipment, people, and a small group of whom Joseph was fairly sure were backup dancers all bustled to and fro in the busy hallway. And the exiting group from the elevator pushed Joseph right into the middle of it.

 

A man that appeared to be in his mid to late thirties came walking up briskly and put his arm around Justin’s shoulder, “Justin, you are late, where on earth have you been? Nevermind,” he gestured to the Asian man that had ascended the elevator with Joseph, “Rob, please get him into makeup as soon as possible, then we need to ship him over to wardrobe. We have time for a runthrough of one or two songs before the meet and greet…” Everyone seemed to know what to do and started to move away, leaving Joseph standing there in the middle of a sea of activity.

 

A mild panic set in, Joseph not knowing what he should do, or if somebody was going to ask him for some kind of pass to be in this area. Was he supposed to wait somewhere or should he just get back in the elevator and head back outside? Was the reverie over? Despair began to creep into Joseph’s consciousness as he felt the push and weight of all the people around him moving with purpose.

 

And out of the throng, Justin’s face darted around an intervening shoulder, “Hey, you’re supposed to come with me. Don’t get carried away by the crowd, now!”

 

Justin reached out a hand and touched Joseph’s shoulder. There was almost a zap of tactile electricity that shot through Joseph’s body as soon as the singer touched him. The idea that there was nothing but thin fabric stopping their bare skin from meeting gave him chills as he felt himself being pulled alongside Justin through the crowd. They finally made a left and exited the torrent of bodies into the relative calm of what appeared to be a dressing room.

 

Justin gestured toward one of the styling chairs nearby, “Sit down, Joseph. Relax for a second, they’ve gotta make me look pretty.” His smile was genuine and easy-going as he sat down in the adjacent chair, Asian man Rob walking up quickly with a light skin-toned cream. A second stylist walked up with some gel and styling accoutrements for hair, starting to slather some into Justin’s gorgeous brown strands.

 

Rob began applying the cream to a few spots on Justin’s face and began to rub them in with a soft spongy wedge, “So, I heard that you were a bad boy again yesterday, Justin. What gives? Where did you go this time?”

 

Justin chuckled, “Just had to get away, see some sights. I was feeling smothered again, you know?”

 

“Oh, I know, babe. We all get that way sometimes…” Rob’s face was very animated and sympathetic to Justin’s plight. His hands were doing very precise work on Justin’s face even while talking. “Somebody told me you stole a bike, is that true?”

 

Joseph caught Justin’s eyes looking at him and started, again almost feeling exposed under the singer’s gaze. “Nah, I just borrowed it. I returned it right before i sent you guys the address to come pick me up.”

 

Rob pursed his lips and shook his head in disapproval, “Mm, baby, they are going to lock you down if you don’t stop pulling that disappearing act. At least you always show up for shows, but you give Shayna a heart attack every time. You should’ve heard her at the show coordination meeting this morning…” He whistled for emphasis. “It was a doozy.”

 

Justin was looking over at Joseph again. “It was worth it…”

 

With his hair and makeup done, Justin was hustled into the adjacent room. Joseph followed and stood inside, needing a moment to take in all the racks upon racks of clothes against every wall. Shirts, pants, jackets, vests, hats, shoes, all arrayed toward the center for easy browsing. Joseph walked around the whole room, one hand idly playing across each of the articles of clothing as he walked by. All of it appeared to be signature “Justin” looks. Justin just watched as Joseph moved around the room.

 

Eventually, Justin spoke, “I need to have something on for the rehearsal and meet and greet first, then change for the actual show.”

 

Joseph suddenly felt embarrassed being in what was obviously the changing room, “Oh...should I, uh, wait outside?”

 

“Naw, it’s fine. We need to find something for you too, right?” Justin said as he reached up and pulled off his hoodie. Joseph was rewarded with a brief glimpse of the singer’s abs as the hoodie pulled on his shirt slightly. All too soon, the shirt fell back into place and Justin tossed the hoodie onto a nearby chair. “What do you think? Maybe something from over here…”

 

He strode across the room to a rack of dark-colored yet classy graphic t-shirts with matching dark jeans and popping white shoes. Joseph walked over to stand next to the singer, who was intently eyeing each shirt on the rack. Justin reached forward and plucked two similar shirts from the rack. One was black with an intricate design pressed onto the front in a deep dark purple that swirled around and migrated onto the back of the shirt. The other was simpler, but still black, with multicolor short lines making their way diagonally from right hip to left shoulder.

 

“Which one do you think?” Justin looked at Joseph for an answer.

 

It was difficult to try to picture Justin wearing either of those outfits, as Joseph’s mind was preoccupied with that glimpse of the singer’s abs he had received moments earlier. “Uhm, I suppose that one…” he pointed to the purple-swirled shirt. He had always been partial to deep purple hues…

 

Justin nodded. “Cool, I like that one too…” he tossed the second shirt to Joseph, who clumsily caught it as it hit him. “That one is for you.”

 

He was going to get to wear Justin Bieber’s personal shirt? Surely this way too good to be true.

 

And just as Joseph thought it could not get any better, Justin Bieber took off his shirt carefully, making sure not to accidentally ruin his hair styling. Joseph was greeted by a beautiful view of Justin’s creamy white skin and marginally-defined abs. Joseph was hopelessly mesmerized. Justin then put both his arms through the new black shirt and just as carefully inserted his head through the top, minding his hair once again.

 

Justin noticed that Joseph had not moved since catching the shirt. “Come on, put it on. I want to make sure it fits right…”

 

All of the enjoyment up to this point vanished at the prospect of having to undress in front of Justin Bieber. Not that he felt he had anything to be ashamed of - Joseph knew that his body was lean and trim, and most girls told him that his skin color was beautiful - but, it was Justin Bieber! Right there, looking at him.

 

Joseph smiled and reached down to fumble with the edge of his t-shirt, still stuck in a rut of indecision and growing embarrassment. Justin gestured and spoke laughingly, “Come on, don’t be a chicken, take it off!”

 

Hesitantly, Joseph reached up and grasped the shoulders of his shirt, lifting upward and sliding it off of his frame. As the shirt came free, his eyes found Justin’s looking at him. As if he did not feel exposed previously… Justin gestured again, “Now the new shirt, try it on.”

 

He had almost forgotten that he even had another shirt, due to his terror at having to remove his clothes in front of that gorgeous singer. He hastily pulled it over his head and found it fit pretty nicely. The singer walked up and reached out, straightening the seams and dusting off the shoulders. “Seems to fit okay…”

 

Joseph nodded, eager to get this over with. Justin’s grin seemed to change perceptions, turning mischievous. “Now we just need some pants to go with that shirt…”

 

Joseph’s eyes widened significantly, oh gosh…

 

Justin consulted his wardrobe rack and selected two pairs of dark jeans, one cut skinny for him and a more regular cut for Joseph. He brought the two pairs back to Joseph and handed him the regular cut. Right there, Justin started to unbuckle his belt.

 

Joseph swallowed hard, not daring to believe what was about to happen.

 

The superstar hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his blue jeans and tugged, sending them sliding gracefully down his slender legs and onto the floor. He stepped out of the jeans and stood there for a moment in just his shirt and a pair of deep red mid-thigh length boxers. The patterning on the boxers and the fall of the fabric helped to mask any real definition, but it was close enough that Joseph felt the need to drink something cold, or run away screaming, or tackle Justin and start kissing him. Or just stand there gawping like an idiot.

 

Justin laughed and pulled up his new pair of jeans, holding snuggly to his legs and riding low on his hips. He fastened the overly large belt buckle after tucking in the bottom of his black shirt and he looked just like the celebrity that Joseph had seen in countless photos and publicity videos.

 

But now was the moment of truth. Joseph was not sure if he could drop his shorts in front of his latest - and most certainly strongest - celebrity crush. There was a beat or two of silence as the two boys stared at each other, each wondering what the other would do next.

 

Justin spoke first, “So, let me run across the hallway to get my microphone and in-ears wired, I’ll be right back.” He walked briskly across the room, pulled open the door - letting in the hubbub from the madhouse of activity outside - and exited. The door quietly closed with a soft click behind him.

 

Joseph exhaled with relief, quickly taking off his shorts and putting on the pair of jeans he had been given. Not knowing how long it would be before the singer came back, he began to look in earnest around the room. There was a full-length mirror in one corner, and as Joseph looked at himself in it, he smiled at how fresh, hip, and chic he looked. If only he could afford designer clothes like these...his mother would be mortified to see him wearing them, knowing it would simply fuel the itch to own such things in the future.

 

In another corner there were some flowers and some letters from fans. Joseph let his fingers slide several aside before one caught his eye. It was a pencil-drawing of Justin’s face surrounded with hearts and a message written in immaculate cursive across one corner. “I will always love you, Justin! You inspire my art, so I wanted to inspire you! Wave at me from the stage! -Jenna”

 

Almost every piece of fan mail in the stack had various offers of girlfriend, marital, or other relationship status from girls all around the Miami area. Pushing aside the last few, Joseph’s fingers brushed the bottom letter that had a clearly Photoshopped image of Justin Bieber sitting on a couch in a simple living room with a boy of 12 or 13 sitting next to him with his arms wrapped around the singer. A large red heart was Photoshopped onto the image around the two of them and Joseph felt his pulse begin to accelerate looking at the image.

 

A gay boy had sent fan mail to Justin Bieber? And it had ended up in his dressing room?

 

There was a click as the door opened and the activity sounds outside came in once more with Justin. He was wearing a headset microphone that was currently bent upwards away from his face, presumably for comfort while walking around backstage. He also had earbuds in each ear to hear the music properly. Joseph hurriedly brushed the letters back into a stack, hoping that the singer had not seen him looking at the bottom picture. If Justin had noticed, his voice betrayed no knowledge, “Are you ready? We have a sound check at the stage in five minutes.”

 

The trip down through the crowds to the backstage area was uneventful, but interesting as Joseph took in all the sights and sounds of people all around him. Moving behind the stage, he saw all the lights and supporting structures that held up the massive platforms on which Justin would be performing in just a few hours.

 

Justin turned and put his hand on Joseph’s shoulders once again, guiding him up the stairs to one of the stage’s wings. The view from there was incredible, with the stage expanding outward to Joseph’s left with a variety of raised platforms on which the live band stood and the empty American Airlines Arena rolling into the distance to his right. The place was massive, doubly perceived as such since Joseph had never actually been inside. The thousands and thousands of empty seats under the overhead flood lights seemed to go on forever. Illuminated advertisements ceaselessly scrolled along wrap-around LED screens that plastered the entire interior circumference of the arena. And in a few hours, it would be filled to the brim with ecstatic screaming fans.

 

Joseph wondered if the boy who had Photoshopped the picture would be in attendance…

 

Justin wandered out onto the stage where the rest of the band was waiting, high-fiving the guitarist and talking briefly with the keyboardist. After a few moments of talking and checking the microphones, Justin walked to the center of the stage and his backup dancers gathered around him.

 

As Joseph looked on, Justin looked straight at him from the center of the stage, and...did he just wink? Joseph was sure he just winked at him…

 

The guitarist began to pluck the opening riff, and Joseph smiled knowing which sing it was when Justin’s opening vocal came in. “Oooh! Oooh!”

 

Joseph found himself singing along - something he’d never do in front of Sandra, of course, what self-respecting boy publicly liked Justin Bieber, even a gay boy at that. The song launched into the first verse.

 

'You know you love me, I know you care, just shout whenever, and I’ll be there…'

 

They went through the entire song, Justin moving and bouncing around at the center of the stage, the band jamming through the choruses and riffs, the backup dancers moving in time with the music. Ever so often through the performance, despite there being so many flashing lights and sounds and things to look at, Joseph would have a feeling he was being watched and look toward the boy singer on stage. But each time, Justin would simply be executing his signature dance moves and swagger on stage.

 

As the song drew to a close and the band went into a massive buildup finale for the song, Joseph looked behind him. Standing next to a large mixing console at the foot of stairs was Shayna, and she was looking right at him. Her gaze lingered far too long, even after Joseph met it, but she eventually looked away, her face completely unreadable. She disappeared behind the stage as the song drew to a close.

 

The small gathering of crew and musicians applauded after his song ended and Justin took a few moments to talk to the sound technicians about his earbuds sound perfect. Once they finished, Justin walked straight back to the side of the stage, breathing heavily and a look of enjoyment on his face. “So what do you think, huh? You like it?”

 

Joseph gave his own little private applause to the singer, who laughed at the gesture and reached out to touch Joseph’s shoulder once more, steering him back toward the backstage area. As they rounded the corner to go back into the halls, Shayna was standing there and her eyes appeared to be locked onto Justin’s hand as it guided Joseph in the right direction. Her gaze made Joseph shiver slightly and wonder what it was she was thinking. Somehow...he sensed that she knew about his crush on Justin, and that she disapproved.

 

The two boys entered a green room that already had a number of band members and backup dancers inside eating small choices off of the buffet table. The table was littered with fruits, vegetable platters, some small chicken wings, cold cuts, cheeses, and a variety of fruit juices, bottled waters, and other items that Joseph could not identify. Justin grabbed a baby carrot and exaggeratedly whipped it to the side as he bit off half. He then flopped down into one of the plush loungers toward one of the room.

 

Joseph was amused by the gesture, but was far too nervous to even dare touching any of the food on the table. He sat down next to Justin and looked out into the room, taking in the scene and camaraderie that was displayed by all those involved in the tour.

 

“So what do you think so far?”

 

Joseph turned to face the singer and caught him looking right at him, smile on his face like it had been practically since the superstar had shown up at his front door a few hours earlier. Joseph returned the smile, noticing that some of his uneasiness at being in the presence of super-stardom was beginning to ebb. After all, Justin Bieber was just a normal person under it all, right? A normal person with millions of screaming fans everywhere he goes…

 

“It’s...a bit overwhelming. I’ve never actually been to a concert before…”

 

Justin turned so that he was facing the other boy, the lower half of his leg almost touching Joseph’s. Joseph felt an almost magnetic attraction to slide his leg over ever so slightly so they would touch, but he fought the urge. Too many people watching, too many potential awkward questions. Fortunately, Justin spoke, “Well, in about 15 minutes I have to go do a meet and greet with a bunch of lucky fans that won contests and stuff. That lasts for about a half hour, then it’s backstage to get ready for the show. Gonna come up out of the stage into this awesome ball thing,” he indicated the shape of a sphere with his hands, “it’s pretty cool.”

 

“I can’t wait to see it. Your songs always come up on my Pandora playlists” Joseph chuckled in reply.

 

Justin made a sarcastically comical face, “Well, good to know people still listen to my music…” The two boys laughed. “So, Joseph…I mean Joe...what do you do? What are you into?”

 

Besides you? Joseph grinned. “I’m actually trying to get into my school’s show choir. I sing, well, I like to sing...I’ve never had any training or anything…auditions are right after Christmas break.”

 

Justin seemed genuinely interested, “Wow, that’s actually cool. Have you done much singing before?”

 

Joseph squirmed slightly, “No, not really...my mother was never big into the arts...she doesn’t really know I’m auditioning yet…”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry about that. It’s cool that you love to sing though.” He made his sarcastic comedy face again, “I do too, how crazy is that?” Joseph laughed with the other boy once again. “I’d...love to hear you sing sometime…”

 

Joseph started, completely caught off guard. “What? Me? No no, I…”

 

Justin reached over and took Joseph’s hand that was warding off the suggestion, stilling it. “I insist. After the show, I want to hear you.” Joseph barely heard the words, his mind was reeling from their skin-to-skin contact, even if it was only by hand. His entire body tingled with sensation.

 

“O...okay…”

 

Justin’s smile returned in full force, again making Joseph melt. “Awesome. I’ve got to go meet some crazy girls but I’ll tell Rob to come and get you for the show. Any of the production team that wants to watch the show has a private box, I’ll tell them you’re allowed to watch there too.”

 

Joseph was not used to being so showered with kindness. “Thank you...thank you very much, for everything…”

 

Justin stood up, “Hey, letting me borrow your bike was huge, you don’t even know. It’s the least I can do. And hey…” he looked right into Joseph’s eyes, “...you seem pretty cool. I’ll see you after the show.”

 

And with that, Justin Bieber walked out of the room, leaving Joseph sitting there on the couch in a sort of afterglow from the intimate contact they had shared, however briefly. A few minutes later, Rob came in, spotted Joseph sitting on the couch, nabbed and ate a celery stick on his way across the room, and gestured down to the boy, “Hey, I’m supposed to take you up to the box to see the show. Are you excited?”

 

All of Rob’s movements seemed to be in pantomime they were so extravagant and flamboyant. Joseph actually found it slightly endearing and playful. The two of them made their way through the hallways to a small private elevator that took them up to the club level. The first box next to the stage was stocked with security officers and other production members for the show. Rob and Joseph took two seats right next to the railing, looking down on the enormous stage. Already, the arena was beginning to flood full of people. Every single doorway leading down into the massive bowl of seats was streaming with people. Flashes of cameras, glowsticks, home-made t-shirts, screaming girls, excited-but-tired parents, and the occasional boyfriend hoping to score kudo points all swam in front of Joseph, who was still having trouble conceiving so many people being in one place at one time.

 

The sheer number of people coming into the arena seemed to give the event a meaning, some kind of significance. Such a gathering of people could not be for nothing right?

 

For music, Joseph pondered. It was for the joy of music.

 

Rob crossed his legs and folded his oversized sunglasses into his blazer front pocket, “So what’s your story, hon? How did you get into the good graces of our star child?”

 

“Well, we sort of ran into each other yesterday on Lincoln Road...it was…” Joseph remembered that Rob seemed aware of Justin’s escape antics. “...it was when he was trying to, you know, get away. He opened the back door of one of the restaurants as I was riding my bike past it and we sort of collided.” He clapped his hands together for emphasis. “He kind of used my bike to get away from his security, and he returned it this afternoon.”

 

Rob grinned at the recollection, “Well, I don’t know what it is with you two, but he has been an absolute wreck the last few weeks on tour. I’m pretty sure he has lost weight from not eating. The stress of being on the road all the time starts to get to you, and we’ve been all over the US of A in the last few months, honey. We’re in the home stretch, just a few more shows and it’s break time until March. Up until today we were worried he wasn’t going to make it that long.”

 

Rob smiled down at Joseph. “Something about you cheers him up. It’s nice to see him with some pep in his step again, I could tell as soon as you two came up to the car this afternoon.” A sort of realization started to creep across Rob’s features. The change in demeanor made Joseph worried. “Oh my gosh, maybe he has a…” Rob’s eyes regarded Joseph’s figure in a once-over. “Well, I couldn’t blame him, you’re adorable.” He giggled. “Sadly, as far as we all have been led to believe, he doesn’t swing that way honey.”

 

Joseph blushed and immediately felt stifled in Justin Bieber’s own clothes. Rob’s face genuinely transformed to surprise, “Oh dear me, you are so cute, I had a feeling. You are just so adorable!”

 

And that was the end of that conversation. Rob turned to face the arena just as the lights dimmed and all the fans began to scream. Joseph was left with those last few lines from Rob ringing in his head. Did Rob realize about his huge crush on Justin? Was Rob being serious when he said that Justin was straight? Of course he was, Justin Bieber being anything but straight was absolutely ridiculous.

 

To open the show in Miami, Sean Kingston took the stage to thunderous applause. Joseph had heard one or two of his songs before, but was not terribly familiar. What he really wanted to see was Justin Bieber performing… As Sean Kingston’s set came to a close, Joseph’s heartbeat began to accelerate.

 

The crowd began chanting Justin’s name over and over like a mad frenzy. Joseph almost felt himself pulled into the energy of it all, but remembered he was surrounded by people who had seen this countless times previous on this tour, people who would probably think it was odd. Not Rob, Joseph thought. Rob almost seems like he’d be amused by it. It was almost enough to make him join in.

 

Finally, the thunderous bass sounded, the lights began to flash, lasers flashing out into the arena. A huge roar built up in the audience all at once, forcing a smile onto Joseph’s face from the infectious energy. He leaned as far forward onto the railing as he could without leaving his chair, wanting to drink it all in. He let the roaring wash over him, and felt the deep bass resonating out from the stage rumble his very core. How had he never been to a concert before? The feeling was indescribable.

 

Finally, smoke filled the center of the stage and from Joseph’s side-on viewing angle, Joseph saw the superstar rise out of the smoke and into a large metal ball in the center of the stage. The smoke settled and the arena got even louder as they spotted their idol. Justin looked so small on that stage, but somehow, Joseph did not feel like there was such a distance between them. His eyes were locked onto Justin’s form as the boy began to sing:

 

“My friends say I’m a fool to think that you’re the one for me, I guess I’m just a sucker for love, ‘cause honestly the truth is that you know I’m never leavin’, ‘cause you’re my angel sent from above…”

 

The sights and sounds of the concert boomed around Joseph as it went on, singing and dancing a spectacle to the eyes and ears. At one point, Justin vanished from the stage and reappeared in a floating metal heart suspended above the audience playing guitar live. Joseph clapped just as loud as everyone else, and felt that Rob was latching onto his energy and clapping along with him. The rest of the concert was an absolute blast, all the way through to their encore song, Justin’s biggest hit.

 

The familiar setup with the dancers brought a smile to Joseph’s face as he remembered the rehearsal hours earlier. It was the song that he felt the most connection with, one he had experienced right from the side of the stage, not thirty feet from Justin himself.

 

“Baby, baby, baby oh! Baby, baby, baby oh!, Baby, baby baby, oh! I thought you’d always be mine, mine!”

 

Joseph and Rob jumped up and down in time with the music and, honestly, nobody else in the private box seemed to take note or care. Perhaps Rob was always the one exuding the most energy at each show. Somehow, Joseph would not be surprised to learn that.

 

As Justin took his final bows and disappeared through the back of the stage away from the screaming throng of fans, Joseph felt exhausted. The smile was firmly planted on his face however, and he turned to look at Rob, who was also on his feet hollering at the stage as loud as any fangirl in the audience. Joseph laughed and Rob turned and gave him an enthusiastic hug. “Great show, right babe!?”

 

Joseph nodded in agreement and Rob turned back to holler at the stage again.

 

When the two of them went back downstairs to the backstage area, Rob led Joseph straight into the green room. As the door opened, Justin was standing there tapping away at his cellphone next to the buffet table wearing the long-sleeve black shirt, black jeans, chain, and red shoes he had been wearing at the close of the show. As their eyes met, Justin’s face lit up and he immediately put the cellphone on the table and walked toward Joseph and Rob.

 

Rob advanced first, “What a fierce show, babe! You were amazing out there, better than Greenville and Greensboro combined!” The two of them embraced, Justin slapping Rob’s back in a hearty hug. After they separated, Rob moved aside and Joseph stood there awkwardly, suddenly being put on the spot to say or do something to congratulate the superstar. Rob seemed to be watching intently to see what would happen.

 

Justin started laughing out loud, “What the heck, man? Come here!” He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Joseph’s shoulders. The move was a surprise, and Joseph was stunned for a moment overwhelmed by the realization that he was hugging Justin Bieber - before he realized he actually wasn’t hugging back, and wrapped his arms around the star in return. Their similar heights meant their faces moved right next to each other, just over each other’s shoulders. It was not quite the same kind of embrace that had been imparted to Rob, not a backslapping friendly congratulatory embrace. Joseph felt they were pressed together, arms around each other, and it seemed to last slightly longer than was necessary.

 

Justin pulled back and moved his hands to Joseph’s shoulders, still beaming. Behind his eyes, there seemed to be whirling thoughts. He turned to Rob, “I want an after party!”

 

Several cheers went up from people nearby in the room, encouraging the idea. Rob was actually surprised, “But, Justin, honey, we don’t have anything scheduled. We haven’t had an after party since Montreal a month ago, and we have to be on our way to Tampa tonight!”

 

Justin’s eyes never left Joseph’s. “Come on, after that incredible show, we need one. Find someplace here in Miami, we’re going.”

 

More cheers went up around the room.

 

Somehow, Joseph just felt he was automatically invited.

 

The convoy of concert performers and musicians popped a few blocks over from the American Airlines Arena to the side entrance of Club Space, where they were allowed in and taken to the upstairs VIP area. The entire area had been reserved for them, undoubtedly last minute, undoubtedly at some expense to kick out the other patrons that had already been there. The lights were flashing and dance music was pounding throughout the venue as the party was just getting ramped up from ladies and their boyfriends coming over from the concert that had just ended.

 

Justin and Joseph found seats at a table right near the railing looking down over the dancefloor that was already packed with patrons. People were moving and gyrating to the beat of the music pounding through the sound system, the live DJ at one end of the room grooving to the music with his headphones hanging off one ear. The rest of the concert performers were scattered around the VIP area and the private bar. A scantily-clad woman walked over to the two boys on the couch with a tray and several glasses of some kind of beverage on it.

 

The woman recognized Justin sitting there and walked slightly faster to get there sooner. She set the tray down, unloaded the drinks, and leaned in between the two boys, “Oh my gosh, Justin, would you mind if I got a photo? My daughter went with her dad to your concert tonight and she would go crazy if I got a picture with you!” She felt around for her cellphone, but could not seem to find it. “Just...one moment, I cannot seem to…”

 

Justin laughed and turned to Joseph. “Hey, let me see your cellphone, Joe.”

 

Confused, Joseph pulled out his phone and handed it to the pop star. Justin toggled it into camera mode, enabled the flash, and motioned for the girl to come closer. She pressed her cheek up against Justin’s, Justin held the phone at arm’s length, and he snapped the picture onto Joseph’s phone.

 

Upon checking that the photo was satisfactory, Justin asked her for her number. She rattled it off and he sent her the photo. She smiled at the two boys again. “Thank you so much! By the way, the drinks are on him.” She pointed across the room to the VIP bar. Rob was leaning against it looking at them, and he gave a two-fingered wave.

 

Joseph regarded the pop star with confusion. “Why did you need to use my phone for that? Why would I want a picture of a waitress at a club with you?”

 

The singer just chuckled. “If I’d sent it from my phone, she’d have my number. And that’s just not something I can give out at will…”

 

“Oh, but you can give her my number? I see how it is…” Joseph pouted, but only for show. “So...even if she can’t get your number, can I?”

 

Justin turned his body fully in the seat to regard the other boy. “You’re asking me for my number now?” Joseph nodded, arms still folded in mock affront. “We’ll see how this evening pans out. I’ll decide later whether or not to give it to you.”

 

Joseph playfully shoved the singer with annoyance.

 

Justin leaned forward and picked up the one of the two glasses that was bubbling slightly. He took a whiff of the drink and crinkled his nose before taking a tentative sip. “Yea, it’s champagne.”

 

Joseph looked at the twin glasses. “Why would he be buying champagne for you? You’re like, what, 16?”

 

The singer just looked up with a mischievous smile, “You know what they say, age is just a number. When you get blessings, sometimes you just gotta live a little.” He tilted the glass back and took a generous sip of the beverage. The distorted look on his face after swallowing it made Joseph laugh genuinely.

 

“I’m not sure if I want to try it seeing your face.”

 

Justin smacked his lips. “It’s not that bad, just has a kick taste to it.” He knocked back another gulp, again smacking his lips. He picked up the second glass and thrust it toward Joseph. “Go ahead, try it! One won’t kill ya.”

 

Joseph slowly raised the glass to his lips, feeling the bursting bubbles fizzing on the surface. Justin looked on expectantly, waiting to see what he would do. Joseph thought the look on his crush’s face was adorable, and smiled before tipping the glass’s contents into his mouth. The first thing that he tasted was what he assumed to be the alcohol, which had a dry and slightly sour flavor to it as it hit his tongue. But it was accompanied by a slight sweetness that he did not expect from the first fumes picked up on by his nose. Upon removing the glass, he also acted on the urge to smack his lips.

 

Justin was grinning like a hyena watching him drink the liquid. “Not bad, right?”

 

Joseph got the last remaining drops to go down his throat before answering. “No, not bad at all.” The two laughed together and finished their drinks. Joseph began to feel a slightly euphoric feeling deep inside, almost as if he felt the urge to just relax and not be so tense in the presence of pop royalty. Did alcohol get to work on your system that quickly? He was not sure, he had never had it before.

 

The DJ shouted into the microphone, “Little Justin Bieber just finished his show over at the Triple-A, any Bieber fans in the house!?” A loud shout ran through the room in response. Joseph felt the urge to shout with them, and did. Justin just giggled.

 

“This one is for all you Bieber-licious people out there in Miami!” The opening synth strains of “Somebody to Love” began to pound through the sound system. Joseph felt the music start to make him bob his head and move his shoulders in time with the rhythm. Maybe this alcohol stuff was not all bad…

 

As the vocals came in, Justin looked straight at the other boy and began to sing along with the recording.

 

'For you I’d write a symphony, I’d tell the violins it’s time to sink or swim, watch ‘em play for ya. For you I’d be, woah oh, running a thousand miles, just to get to where you are. Step to the beat of my heart.'

 

As the song built to the chorus, Justin stood up and assumed one of his choreographed positions. 'I just need somebody to love!' Justin began to move with the music, his eyes locked onto Joseph’s, who started singing too. He reached out his hand and pulled Joseph to his feet, the two of them singing together, 'I don’t need too much, just somebody, somebody to love!'

 

The two boys, hand in hand, were dancing around the table by the balcony railing, singing at the top of their lungs along with most of the patrons on the lower level dance floor. Rob looked on from his spot by the bar, happy to see Justin look far more energetic and joyful than he had in weeks. There was something about that Joseph that brought it out of him.

 

Shayna also looked on at the two boys dancing and singing to each other, her expression as unreadable as ever. As the song came to a close, she decided enough was enough and started the walk across the balcony toward them.

 

Justin finished the song with a complex vocal flourish while holding up Joseph’s hand as if he were singing only to him. Joseph felt so alive and confident at that very moment, feeling the energy being passed between their hands as they were locked together. The song segued into the next track, but neither of them felt the desire to move. Justin’s eyes seemed to be searching Joseph’s face for some kind of sign as he spoke, “I’m...really glad I met you, Joe. I haven’t had this much fun on tour in a while…”

 

The two boys just looked at each other at eye level for another few moments before Shayna burst between them, breaking their grip apart, her back toward Joseph. “Justin, I need to speak with you outside. Right now.”

 

She walked toward the side door that led to the rooftop. Justin looked apologetically at Joseph and shrugged. “When the boss says go, I go. I’ll be right back, I promise.” Their eyes stayed locked for a few more moments before Justin turned to follow Shayna across the balcony and out the door. Rob watched the whole thing transpire and began to move toward the doorway as well.

 

Joseph sat down on the couch, still on a euphoric high from both the alcohol and the knowledge that he had just been serenaded by Justin Bieber. Whatever became of this night, he knew he would cherish that memory forever. Take that, “One Less Lonely Girl.”

 

Quietly, Rob pushed open the doorway to the rooftop to see Justin and Shayna standing about twenty meters away by the perimeter wall. The Miami skyline towered above them, twinkling in the late night, the sounds of cars driving past and honking in the distance as the city bustled along that Saturday night.

 

Shayna looked at Justin, who still had a grin on his face. “So are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Between you and that boy. That boy that you just show up with out of the blue after going missing all night long, just like the last three weeks straight. Do you even know him?”

 

Justin smiled. “I didn’t before, but I’m starting to.”

 

Shayna placed her fingertips on her temples. “Okay okay, Justin, let me spell this out for you. People talk, people make things up, people start rumors, and that’s all they stay: rumors. But if somebody were to get just the right picture in what seems to be a compromising situation, they not only make millions but your career gets trashed, do you understand me?”

 

“Yea, yea, I know, I’m always careful…” Justin kicked some stray pebbles with the toe of his red sneakers.

 

“You don’t seem to be listening to me, Justin. I don’t know what’s going on between you and that boy, and frankly I don’t care, but as your tour manager and as somebody who has a large vested interest in your well being, I am telling you to drop it.”

 

Justin’s face hardened. “What do you mean, ‘drop it?’”

 

“I mean tell him goodbye, and never see him again.”

 

“Why?” Justin’s features now morphed into anger. “I just...I like having him around, okay? He makes me feel happy, he has this way, it’s just cool, okay? I like it.”

 

“Justin, I cannot stress this enough, what you’re doing is dangerous.”

 

“Why, why is it dangerous? I’m just hanging around at an afterparty with a friend I met in Miami, what’s so dangerous about that? Rob freakin’ ordered us champagne, I didn’t see you come storming over to scold me for underage drinking!”

 

Shayna waved a finger in Justin’s face. “It will stop, and it will stop now. End it. Believe me, I’m doing this for your own good.”

 

She turned so quickly, Rob had nowhere to hide. He threw his hands up alarmedly, waving them from side to side, looking around for a place to duck into, but realized that he’d been caught. Shayna walked up to him and leaned in close to his ear so he could hear the dark nuance in her voice. “I cannot fathom why you are encouraging this, but I demand you end it. Now. Your job depends on it, got it?”

 

She continued walking and disappeared through the door back into the club. Rob took one look at Justin. The superstar had his head bowed, hands in his pockets, kicking the pebbles around the flat rooftop. With a sigh, Rob turned and slowly opened the door to do what he knew had to be done.

 

Joseph was still sitting on the couch. He had been watching the doorway almost the entire time Justin had been gone, so he saw that Rob was walking straight toward him. Joseph smiled, but noticed that Rob - for once - was not smiling or overly animated. “What’s up, Rob? Is everything okay?”

 

Rob seemed to fumble around for words for far too long before he glanced nervously toward the door, shot a glance toward Shayna sipping a cocktail at the bar, and turned back to Joseph. “I’m here to take you home.”

 

Joseph sat up straight with surprise, “What? Why?”

 

The poor Asian man sighed. “I’m sorry, rules are rules. We have to get on the road soon to go to Tampa for our next show. Justin doesn’t want you to walk home on your own, so I’m going to drop you off.”

 

“But...why...isn’t he going to say goodbye?” Joseph was very confused at the whole situation. Things had been so happy just minutes earlier, what was happening?

 

“No, hon, we have to go now.” Rob gently but firmly pulled Joseph to a standing position and started toward the exit. Joseph looked furiously over his shoulder at the door to the rooftop, trying to will it to open with his mind, trying to send a message to Justin right on the other side. If he could open the door right now, he’d see that Joseph was being led out, and he would run over and tell them it was a misunderstanding. Just like before! He had never gotten Justin’s number! Panic started to set into the pit of Joseph’s stomach, panic that he had been wrong all along. What if...what if Justin had truly just wanted to break even on borrowing the bike earlier. Now that Joseph had a good time, it was time for it to be over. No, that couldn’t be true, when they were singing together...when they were touching…

 

Joseph found himself in the back of the black Escalade, driving across the MacArthur Causeway back toward South Beach and away from Justin. He turned and looked out the back window at the receding Miami skyline. His eyes suddenly stung, and he blinked rapidly to try to make the sensation stop.

 

As they pulled in front of 1609 Lennox, Joseph was completely numb to sensation. Rob had to guide him out of the car and onto the short walk to the front door. Joseph realized that he was still wearing Justin’s shirt and jeans, and he turned to Rob, hands idly playing at the seams of the shirt. Rob took a heaving sigh, “Just keep them, honey. I’m sure Justin won’t mind.”

 

Joseph felt the stinging sensation in his eyes again. Rob fought the urge to give the poor heartbroken kid a hug. He nodded, turned around, got back into the SUV and drove off into the night.

 

After standing there for what felt like hours, Joseph turned, unlocked the door, walked up the stairs to the living room, and found a handwritten note from his mother attached to the single illuminated lamp. “Had to work an extra shift tonight, why did you not call me? I am very upset, please call me IMMEDIATELY when you read this!”

 

Joseph touched each of the pockets of his jeans - well, Justin’s jeans - but was surprised that he could not find his phone. The numb feeling took over though, and he did not even have enough energy to be exasperated. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed the wall-mounted unit. It had been months since they had used the house phone, but it was included in their rent. He dialed his mother’s number and she picked up on the first ring.

 

She scolded him over the phone for never calling her all evening, he explained he was very sorry for not calling but that he was home safe. She grounded him for the next three days and told him to go to bed.

 

As soon as he had undressed and neatly folded Justin’s clothes onto the dresser beside his bed, he laid down tiredly onto the bed and stretched out fully on the comfortable sheets. His face lying on the cool pillow, the tears struck him hard and fast, and flowed with muffled sobs until he fell asleep.