CHAPTER 9 - BURN BABY BURN...DISCO INFERNO...AND DRUNK IN LOVE

BRITIN - EARLY DAWN

MASTER BEDROOM

BRIAN

After he insisted on being dropped at the no man’s land between our two homes and walking from there, I rode back home and contemplated what just happened. It was a nice kiss, nice but restrained at first and then it changed, especially with the introduction of tongues. I could hear my suppressed groans and wondered if he could. When he pulled back, it took everything for me not to step forward and snatch him back into my arms. His eyes flashed with hurt and annoyance...he is going to be a bossy bottom. Although, I have no problem finding out what he’s like as a top.

My horny thoughts had a cold bucket of Adam poured on them when his text came through. I should’ve blocked him a long time ago...like seconds after I kicked them out of the house in what they were wearing...sweat and cum. I, at least let them finish, then I had the bed burnt! And then had the ashes sent to his workplace, with a note saying, this is now our relationship. I tried not to think about him much after that because it was like a stab to the heart, but every time I did see him around town, the pain and humiliation hit me in waves all over again. At first, I thought I had misread his text. So I read it again twice…

Start of flashback

OUTSIDE OF BRITIN - COUPLE OF HOURS EARLIER

God, I thought I was arrogant... well I am, but I am arrogant about the things I know to be true. I am good at my job. I wouldn’t be in this affluent position if I wasn’t. I am good looking. I am 9.5 by 2.5 and have never had any complaints! But this! I call Cyn. “Hey, where are you? You sound cheerful. Ah, Woody’s, okay. Look, I thought you would like to hear something amusing; Bri hey babe! Guess who?! Though, you won’t need to guess as I know you. You haven’t deleted my number. So I have caved and peaked; it is gorgeous! I don’t deserve you and I am truly sorry about that little slip up. I am coming home to you. Where should we meet so that we can start our life anew? Axx. Cyn, stop threatening my D&G! Of course, I am not going to do that! Yeah, will do that. Will take my latest baby for a ride. Bye, Cyn.

After I hung up, I swapped bikes. Pathetic schmuck that I was, I got us matching ones, and started to head out when another text came through so I replied with Woody’s...

End of flashback

I look across and can still feel his finger in my mouth even after all this time has elapsed. Then I have a thought and look at my sent texts and my face starts to warm as my suspicions are confirmed. He sent them to himself and not Daphne. I did wonder why he had that little smile on his face!

VIC AND DEBS’S HOUSE - MID MORNING

LOUNGE

DEBS

I glare at Vic as he snickers at the goose egg that Michael is now sporting atop his head. “So as I was saying! I found out a bit more about him. He has been cheated on and left heartbroken. You, my dear darling son, are the one that can fix his broken heart. Vic! Stop snorting like that! It’s undignified and undermining! You should be encouraging Michael. Did you give Cynthia my number?”

“Why does she need your number?” Michael frowns.

“So that I can find out everything about him, thus giving you an advantage over anybody else that has designs on him.”

“Like that Flaky Fairy, for instance. He needs to back off!”

“Who are you talking about, sweetheart?”

“I don’t see why you are bitching about Justin, when you have David…”

“David? Who’s David?” My head swivels between the two of them.

“He’s the chiropractor to the Iron Men and has made…”

“But is a lot older than me and he is no Brian! I mean he’s nice and all but…”

“But schmut, he’s a doctor! Has there been any interest, Vic?”

“Oh, just a bit.” He smirks. “But you would need to speak to Michael about that. Now, I’m going to see Emmett. We have our first delivery to the mansions today.”

“Ooh, so exciting! Who is in the other mansion? Have we found that out?” I sigh dreamily.

“At least, it won’t be the Flaky Fairy. God, Ma, you should see this guy; he is such a show off!”

“Justin? Wait, are you talking about the Justin that Cynthia mentioned yesterday?” I query. “Why would he need to back off and…”

“He can’t back off as much as you would like him to, Michael. He’s partnered with Brian, just like you are partnered with David!”

“Can someone please speak in English?!” I holler, completely exasperated.

“Basically Sis, Cocks and Asses were chosen and opposites from each were partnered up. Brian and David, though I am not sure why he’s on that team, are Cocks and Michael and Justin, or the Flaky Fairy as Michael bitchily quips, are Asses. Though, I think Justin is a more of a Cock.”

“Rubbish! He’s no more a Cock than I am!” Michael sneers.

“Too easy!” Vic snarks and reaches for his coat. “Michael, answer me this? Has Brian even looked at you ever since you met him? I mean…”

“Yes, he has…”

“With anything other than surprise, annoyance, contempt or pity?”

“Why would he look at my Michael like that?!” The more I hear of this Brian, the less I like him.

“The surprise comment is twofold. First, when he took on Chyna and then whenever they are in a group and Michael speaks, it’s almost as if he forgets he’s there. Annoyance, this again is a Chyna thing...because of him being lazy and arrogant, he got them extra exercises; contempt, because let’s face it, it is an easy emotion for people to feel for you, especially when you don’t own or apologise for your behaviour. As for pity, well that’s obvious when you injure yourself, as he would be a cold hearted bastard if he didn’t show at least a modicum of empathy. But he also pities you because you want him...and he knows that.”

“Sounds like he’s going to string you along, sweetheart. Maybe you should concentrate on David. He sounds much more attainable and reliable and…”

“No! I want Brian and I am going to get Brian! And I’m going to do it with or without your help or your pathetic attempts at support, Uncle Vic!”

“And where do you intend to conduct your liaison dangereuse? Because, it won’t be here!”

“And why not?” He demands.

“Well...if you keep speaking to me like that, you’re going to be finding somewhere else to live, now won’t you?”

“I’m going to bed. I’m tired.” He snipes and stomps upstairs.

“Vic, come on, don’t be like that.” I cajole. “We’ve always spoken fully and freely to each other!”

“Yeah, but there is a difference between speaking fully and freely to each other with politeness and speaking fully and freely to each other when you can more than afford the deposit on a new place. I’m pretty sure he has more than that $18 grand squirreled away!”

“Oh yes, I had forgotten about that! Thanks, Vic!!” I bridle, all romantic thoughts and notions forgotten. I look around the room and spot what I’m looking for. Striding over to his bag, I rifle through it and find his wallet. “So this David, what do you know about him?”

VIC

Gotcha! Now for some embellishing! I lean over her as she logs onto his computer. “How do you know his password?”

“What else is it going to be other than his hero Captain Astro and his birthday?” She sighs. “I told you. And I am assuming that his bank login details are the...seriously, he’s a hacker’s wet dream! Let’s see here.” When the balance is displayed, we both go quiet. “I think he needs to start paying rent directly, don’t you?”

“Absolutely, including the rent he owes you, Sis. He has over $30K in there!” Ten minutes later, she has set up a direct debit and has paid herself back.  “So are you going to say anything to him?”

“No. But, he must have gotten more money in compensation when he had that accident at the Big Q than we thought, Vic. Hey, don’t look like that! It was investigated and it was an accident…”

“Than we thought? It has nothing to do with what we think and everything to do with what we were told. And just because on record it was an accident, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a deliberate and orchestrated occurrence. Michael at the end of the day is my nephew but I, unlike some folks, are not blind to his faults. If there is a way of getting out of something, he will find it. Note how anytime you ask him to do anything at the diner, he’s always in pain from the accident. But when I tell him to do it or suffer a consequence, that same pain is miraculously gone. Sis, you’ve always coddled him to the point of crippling; it’s what he’s always counted and played on. But now you see for yourself that he’s treating you like he treats everyone else.” I point to the screen again. “Let the boy become a man. And he won’t become a man if you try and steer him in Brian’s direction. Brian is a playboy when all said and done. You’ve heard of the list, right?” She nods. “Guess who tops the snog and fuck ones…”

“So, David is…” She begins.

“If you are wanting sophisticated and suave, then he’s your man. I think he would be good for Michael and will polish him up a bit. You know, nurture his cultured side, bring him a bit away from the comics and the action figures. Brian is a good looking rich man, it’s true. But having come out of what he’s come out of, and you wanting for Michael what you know is best for him...it will only lead to heartache for Michael if he continues to pursue Brian.” I pause a couple of minutes. “And you don’t want that for your son, do you?”

She nods slowly in understanding and I leave her to work her own brand of Novotny magic to get Michael the man of her dreams, not necessarily his!

BABYLON - THURSDAY, NEARLY MIDNIGHT

CHYNA

Well, it’s been a week of dullness. Brian, Cynthia and Ted were on lockdown with meetings with Daph, wrestling their IT into the 21st century. There’s been no chance to announce in class because we’ve not had one, but I have told everyone that they have to be there on Sunday or else!

But it’s time for them to get their freak on. I have been watching the pair of them and something has clearly happened, but what?

I look across at the group that has now formed and sadly, this does include a recovered Pinchpenny as well as Basilisk, who has slimed up to join them.

Dream looks across at me helplessly as still they dance apart. So annoying! Time to bump this up a notch.

“Babylonites! Your attention please, I have an announcement and a request! The announcement, first... There won’t be a King of Babylon contest in three months’ time. Now, just a minute before you start to burn me at the cross, listen up! There will be another competition. The Studs of the Silver Staff. Ah, that got your attention, didn’t it?! So, as you know, the finalists for Kings of Babylon are always taken from my class. That said, the current class attendees, the Cocks and Asses, you know who you are, will be competing in a tandem pole dancing contest in Babylon instead. And because of the brevity of the outfit, skill and dexterity required in this, there will be a prize...an all expenses paid first class trip to Australia for the winning pair.“ I step back as the whooping and hollering begins. “I mean it has to be Australia when the dancers are going to be wearing this…”

“And only that…” I look across at Brian and then Justin. Both have a definite not going to happen expressions on their faces. “...on their bodies but they will be allowed a masque, something like this…” I indicate that the guy should put it on and the entire club goes quiet.

“Which will afford the participants a bit of mystique...the mask is optional. If you want to be out and proud then so be it, but an air of mystery would be good too, no? Now onto the request. It’s one...from, he prefers to go by the name of Desperado and this is to the Eagle; oh now that sounds like a challenge...Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough. Now everyone eyes front and on me...he wants to know, Eagle, if you accept? All you have to do is nod…challenge accepted!”

I put the song on, and although everyone is dancing, I know they are asking who are Desperado and the Eagle?

DAPH

I head to the bar desperate for some water and Justin follows. “So who do you think they are?!” I ask excitedly. He shrugs. “Aren’t you curious? Maybe it’s that guy with the Eagle tattoo?!”

“Too obvious!” He shouts back.

“And too childish!” Basilisk snarks, having not moved one inch from the bar. He and Pinchpenny have been nursing a bottle of water each all night, except, of course, when someone else is buying the drinks!

“I agree, David, only the desperate and pathetic would do that!” Pinchpenny sneers.

I catch the admiring glance all three of them give Brian as he comes off the floor with Emmett. He’s grinning. “So we’re going to do this then?!” He demands chuckling.

“What’s going on?” Justin asks...finally speaking to him, for fuck sake!

“You know the SFA list? We’re trying to figure out who on there is Desperado and who is the Eagle. I mean, it takes a certain amount of bravery to throw down a challenge like that. Wonder what his song is going to be?”

“I completely agree, Brian. A little bit of old fashioned courtship is nice these days with all the technology that we have.” David smarms, but Brian is too busy looking at the list with Emmett to hear him.

“Okay, so we can cut anyone below the top 10 on each list.” Emmett declares.

“Why?” Justin frowns.

“They have been voted for their fuckability and allure. The ones below have been voting for themselves…” Emmett replies with conviction, which elicits more frowning. “...to push themselves up the list, but no doubt there is something in place that stops that.”

“There wasn’t, but there is now. This is a true representation of what people think. Wowsers, Brian and Justin are tied for top spot on both S and F. Funny, have you two actually done anything? Your first night does not count, Brian.”

“Nope.” Justin says quickly and Brian shakes his head.

“Funny how you are fuckable on paper, but not in real life!” Michael snipes. “I mean you, Justin; not you Brian, obviously!”

Flaring of David’s nostrils, duly noted!

“Real smooth! However, you two still top the A-list on paper and the only conversations you’ve had in real life tonight have been with each other. Not one person has approached you. Whereas those two get hit on the moment they hit the floor…” I assert. “...the bar. The bathroom. People try to call them into the backroom. The general area of Pittsburgh.”

“Okay Babylonites, we have a counter challenge from Eagle to Desperado...he says play Hot Stuff for the Hot Stuff and bring it on!”

My ears were still ringing an hour later from the cheer that went up!

“Don’t forget to put the CD on!” I yell at Justin as we made our way drunkenly to the car four hours later.

“I won’t!” He hiccups. “Have to send him to beddy byes, with his wonderful green eyes!” He croons as he slides into the car. “Does...doesn’t think am respons...no repuse...ugly. Sucked fin...fin...this!” He waves his hand at me. “Jude night, am in lobe...make him better!” He mumbles before curling up into a small ball and passing out!