"You've got to be freaking kidding me."

"It's only for a little while, Joe."

"I don't care how long it is. We just got started on this damn tour. How can the bus be broken already?"

"This kinda thing could happen at any time."

"Jesus, Bass. I really don't need to hear your 'look on the bright side' speech, okay?"

"Fine," replied Lance with a touch of offence. "Look, Joey, I…"

Lance was interrupted by their approaching driver. "Looks like it won't be more than a coupla hours, fellas. The other bus is gonna keep heading to the venue. They're about 25 minutes ahead of us anyway, makes no sense for them to double back."

"Swell," mumbled Joey. He flicked his eyes towards Lance who was surveying their surroundings with a small smile on his face.

"Please tell me you're not actually happy about this fucking situation. Christ, we're in the middle of god-knows-where-America, population 4 people and 600 road kill. What the hell are you smiling for?"

"It's quiet here," Lance replied, evenly. "It's been ages since I've been near a cornfield."

Joey took in the wide expanse of golden sheaves that seemed to stretch out for miles. "And you're excited about this because…"

Lance merely raised his eyebrows.

"I mean, call me crazy and all, Bass, and maybe it's because we don't have any cornfields to speak of in Brooklyn, but I don't see the attraction."

"They remind me of family. My cousins used to live near a gigantic field like this. We'd play in it for hours on end when I used to go visit."

Joey eyed Lance warily, then laughed. "Yeah? I saw that movie. The one with the blond kids who live in the corn and come out to kill people?" He continued giggling. "Come to think of it, Lance, you could have starred in that movie."

Lance ignored Joey, the look of nostalgia not leaving his face.

"All right. I give. What the hell can you do in a cornfield?"

Lance gave Joey a sly look. Then lightning fast, he pushed past him playfully and yelled "catch me if you can!" over his shoulder before disappearing completely among the cornstalks.

Joey stood slightly dumbfounded for a moment, then deciding he really had nothing better to do, traipsed into the field after his best friend.

"Where the hell are you, Lance? I swear to God above that when the bus is fixed I'm not waiting around if you get lost in here."

A voice came from somewhere near him on the right. "C'mon, Joey, lighten up!"

Joey lunged in the direction of Lance's voice only to be met with an "Aw. You were so close," coming from his left side. The field was fucking with his perception of things badly and Joey wasn't so sure he liked it all that much.

"Okay, how come you can see me but I can't see you? S'not fair!" yelled Joey in a lighter tone. This was kind of fun.

"Years of practice," said Lance from behind him. Joey whipped around once more only to find nothing at all.

"Okay, tell me this, smartass. What do I get if I catch you?"

"Hmm…you'll have to catch me to find out," was Lance's reply. He was right in front of Joey again.

Joey spun around in circles for a few more minutes, jumping at every little noise he heard. Then, realizing how stupid he must look he stopped, frozen in spot, trying to use all his sense to locate his bandmate. All he could see, however, was the green and gold of the corn. All he could hear was the wind rustling through the fields.

Finally, he heard a snigger behind him and he lunged, surprising himself when he actually came made contact, almost knocking Lance off his feet.

"Ow, Joe."

"Victory!" Joey cried.

Lance struggled to get out of Joey's grasp. "No way," said Joey, holding tight. "There's no way you're going anywhere. That was creepy, man."

"Aww…was Joey frightened of the big scary field?"

"No, doofus. I said it creepy, not scary."

"It's a phobia, not a fear."

Joey chuckled, then they were both silent. Joey noticed almost immediately when the atmosphere changed. Everything became quiet, still intimate. The breeze flittered gently through their hair.

Joey knew the signs. All those moments on the bus when goofing around or serious talks would suddenly shift. He couldn't really explain it, Joey just figured it was bound to happen when two people practically lived on top of each other 24/7. He didn't contemplate it much.

He looked down at Lance, slightly embarrassed to note that he was still holding onto him. Lance had stop struggling ages ago.

"You, uh never told me what I would win if I caught you."

Lance actually blushed. Joey thought it was endearing.

"What do you want?"

"I think we both know."

Lance gave Joey a grin and the next moments were lost in a mix of sweet lips and warm tongues.

After a while, Joey pulled away, breathless, but laughing. "I hope this isn't what you did with your cousins when you played. I mean, I know you're from Mississippi and all "

Lance swatted him then kissed him again.

"Shut up, Joe."

~end~