BRIAN 

“What does my friendship with Michael have to do with Jacob?” I ask him. 

“I didn’t want Michael involved in Jacob's life.” He tells me. 

“What would have been the big deal about Michael being around Jacob?” I ask him, confused. 

“I didn’t want Michael involved in Jacob's upbringing.” He tells me. 

“Why would Michael have anything to do with it?” I ask him, not understanding why he thinks that. 

“I figured that since you and Michael were together, you'd expect me to let him be involved in Jacob’s upbringing.” He tells me, clearly annoyed that I’m still questioning him. 

“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask him. 

“You fucking Michael.” He snapped.

“Again, what are you talking about?” I ask him. 

“I left because I didn't want to have to be told you wanted Michael. “ He tells me. 

“Where did you get the idea I wanted Michael?” I ask him. 

“Most likely when I watched you and him all over each other in the comic shop.” He sneered.

“You saw that?” I ask him. 

“Anyone walking by would have fucking seen it. I've spent the last twelve years trying to unsee it.” He tells me. 

Suddenly Justin leaving makes sense, but only if he didn't stay around to see me leave.

“It wasn’t what you thought.” I tell him. 

“That's what people say when they get caught, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I left and got on with my life, so you don’t have to worry about breaking my heart.” He tells me.

“Can I explain?” I ask him. 

“It's too late for an explanation, it was too late when you didn’t come home that night.” He tells me. 

“Justin…” He stops me.

“I got it, you wanted Michael. I mean I should have clued in when you could tell Michael you loved him but couldn’t say it to me. Maybe I should have clued in when we said no kissing on the lips but you still kissed Michael on the lips, but then I wanted to believe you wanted me, not him. Although, you both could have not fucked around behind Ben and my backs, but then we weren’t very important to either of you, were we? Shit, you know what, never mind, you’re here about Gus, so can we just try to stay on the subject of your son?” He asks me.

“You ARE going to let me explain, because I lost my other child for something that never fucking happened.” I tell him.

“I don’t have to let you do anything but help me get Gus to understand that you do give a shit about him.” He tells me.

I realize that Justin isn’t going to listen to anything I say. Part of me wonders if he should, it wasn’t innocent, but it wasn’t what he thought. 

Michael was acting like the fact that I fucked Ben before Michael even knew him was the end of the fucking world. So when I went to the shop, I thought that he would stop me. He acted like it was about Ben, not me, but when I started treating him like I would any trick, he seem to think it was a green light. I kept going, waiting for him to stop me. I finally pulled away and walked out of the shop, because he wasn’t going to stop. Michael and I haven’t been the same since, he is still angry at me. 

After Justin left, Michael started showing up all the time. He took my new Justin-less life as a sign that I wanted more. Maybe if I had told everyone the truth, Michael would have stopped thinking that Justin was gone because I wanted him, which I didn’t. Michael and Ben broke up, when Michael told Ben what almost happened. Ben told me that he hoped that Michael and I would be miserable together. I tried to tell Ben that I just wanted Michael to stop acting like he and I cheated on Michael. 

“No, instead you and Michael cheated on Justin and me. You both deserve what you got, because the minute you two started kissing each other, you cheated on us.” Ben told me.

“It didn’t mean anything.” I told him.

“It must have to Justin and it does to me. I don’t have time to play games with two people who never got past being fourteen year olds.” Ben told me.

“Have you seen Justin?” I ask him.

“If I do, I’ll let him know you and Michael are total fuck ups and he was smart to get out, before he ended up the loser.” He tells me.

Ben walked out of my loft and left Pittsburgh. Deb told Michael and me that we needed to figure out what we wanted before we hurt another person with our stupid games. Michael decided that if I wouldn’t commit to him, we were through. I accepted that because I don’t love Michael. Now I know that what we did had consequences. I lost Justin and the chance to know Jacob.

“Brian, what is going on with you and Gus?” Justin asks me.

“Mel and Lindsay moved to Canada, with Gus and Mel’s child Jenny. For a while I was still a part of Gus’s life. I don’t know what happened with Mel and Lindsay, but in the end they started fighting again and I was told to stay away from Mel’s family. When I still tried to see Gus, she got a Cease and Desist order, saying that I was not legally allowed to see Gus. My lawyer has been trying to find a way for me to see Gus without ending up in jail.” I tell him.

“You can’t be around Gus at all?” He asks me.

“No, I could get in trouble for being here.” I tell him.

“You need to leave, Brian.” He tells me.

“Justin, I need to make sure Gus is okay and I want a chance to get to know Jacob.” I tell him.

“Brian, if Mel finds out you were here, and is still acting like a bitch, because that is what she’s doing, you won’t be able to help Gus.” He tells me.

“What am I supposed to do, head back to Pittsburgh and forget all this?” I ask him.

“I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but give me a way to find them.” He tells me.

“What are you going to do?” I ask him.

“I’m going to go to Canada and surprise the girls. Is the order only for you?” I ask him.

“Yes.” I tell him.

“I guess you and I are going to take Jacob and Gus to Pittsburgh, then I’m going to go find out why Mel and Lindsay haven’t bothered to call me. I’ll get my mom to watch the boys, and for now you stay away.” He tells me.

“You want me to stay away from my kids?” I ask him.

“You can’t be around Gus, and if you start trying to get to know Jacob, it could hurt Gus.” He tells me.

“Justin, we still need to talk about what happened.” I tell him.

“Like I said, it’s too late.” He tells me.

“I won’t let it be too late.” I tell him.

JUSTIN

Why am I getting involved in this? I should have just taken Gus and Jacob to my mom, and told Brian to go home. Instead we all get on a flight the next morning and he stays with us until we got to my mom’s house. Brian stayed outside while I dropped the boys off. I told him I could get to the airport on my own but he said that he was going to take me. My mom was thrilled to see Jacob and curious about why I had Gus with me.

“He ran away from home.” I tell her.

“How did you get him?” She asked me.

“I’m where he ran to, he thinks that no one else wants him.” I tell her.

“Shouldn’t you tell Brian about this?” She asks me.

“He knows, but Mel could have him arrested if he’s near Gus.” I tell her.

“How did he take finding out about Jacob?” She ask me.

“Jury is still out on that one.” I tell her.

“I still don’t understand why you left. I did what you asked and didn’t tell him, but you should have.” She tells me.  

“I didn’t want him to stay because of Jacob. I needed a chance to grow up and Brian would have kept taking care of everything.” I tell her.

“Justin, he didn’t deserve what you did to him.” She tells me.

“After I find out what’s going on for him, he and I can talk about Jacob. I just need you to make sure no one knows Gus is here.” I tell her.

“It’s not like I see any of them anymore. With you gone, we lost touch.” She tells me.

“Please don’t tell Daphne about this, because she thinks I should stay away from Brian.” I tell Mom.

“What didn’t you tell me?” She asks me.

“A lot Mom, but right now it doesn’t matter.” I tell her.

I give Jacob a hug goodbye and walk to Gus and let him decided if he wants me to hug him too. He walks into my arms.

“Gus, he cares.” I tell him.

“Why can’t he come into your mom’s house?” He ask me.

“That’s what I’m going to find out.” I tell him.

I go out to Brian’s car and we head to the airport. I hope the girls are looking for Gus because if not, Brian would have one hell of a case for neglect.

“Your flight doesn’t leave for a couple hours.” Brian tells me.

“I need to get something to eat anyway.” I tell him.

Brian follows me into the airport restaurant and orders coffee. I got a sandwich and drink and sat with him.

“Can you at least tell me where you went after you left and how you ended up in New York?” He ask me.

“I got on a bus and left, I was in Chicago for a while. My mom helped me get into college and was there with me when I had Jacob. I got a job working on Ad copy to support Jacob and I. I was offered a job in New York making twice what I was making in Chicago so I moved. I was still painting and started making the rounds until a gallery offered me a show with three other artists. I was able to quit Ad work and paint full time.” I tell him.

“You became an Artist after all.” He tells me.

“It took about five years but I no longer have to work on anything but painting.” I tell him.

“Too bad you don’t still do Ad work, I could have used your help when I started Kinnetik.” He tells me.

“You own Kinnetik?” I ask him.

“I started it a few years after you left.” He tells me.

“I’ve heard good things about the company, congratulations on it. I guess I better get through security check out. I’ll call you after I talk to Mel and Lindsay.” I tell him.

“Call me when you land.” He tells me.

I start to walk away and he pulls me back to him. 

“Justin, when you get back, you are going to listen to me.” He tells me.

“Does it really matter anymore, it’s been twelve years?” I ask him.

Instead of answering me, he puts his hands around my head and kisses me. I didn’t kiss him back because I couldn’t do this with him again.

“I won’t be the kid who let you jerk him around again.” I tell him.

“Then stop letting me get away with it.” He tells me as I walk away.