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TED

 

I came to work early, because testing Brian is not a good idea. Of course he was already here, but I figured having the financials ready would at least make up for the shit yesterday. Although, me having to listen to Michael bitching all the way to Deb’s house, I'm sure was payback.

 

I sat up last night wondering if he was right about why Blake packed up and left me without a word. I keep hoping he’ll call me so we can solve whatever it was that made him leave. I just don’t understand how everything seemed to be okay, then he leaves.

 

I had all the notes ready to bring to Brian, when I saw him walking out with a guy. Where do I know that guy from? I waited until they were out in reception to see what they were doing. Brian was practically fucking the guy against the wall by the front door, and shit, anyone but that guy. Before they saw me I went back to my office, all I could think was the blond shit was going to find out that Brian wasn’t going to want him around when Brian finds out who he is.

 

I gather everything to go to Brian’s office, ready to explain to him exactly who the guy was. Walking in to see Brian looking happy just made this worse, knowing I'm about to change his mood.

 

“Ted, when did you get here?” He asks.

 

“I came in early to make up for yesterday. We need to… you need to know something.” I tell him. 

 

“Is there something wrong with the financials?” He asks. 

 

“No, everything's exactly where we expected them to be.” I tell him. 

 

“So this is about you watching me say goodbye to Justin?” He asks me. 

 

“If it's that blond asshole you're talking about, then yes.” I tell him.

 

“No, I was talking about my boyfriend, who you seem to know so well that you think calling him an asshole is appropriate.” He tells me.

 

“Brian, that’s the guy that Michael told us about. Remember, the one that keeps trying to steal Ben from Michael?” I tell him.

 

“Since Ben and Michael are still together, I don’t see any problem.” He tells me.

 

“So you're going to bring the ass… Justin around, when he caused so many problems for Michael?” I ask.

 

“I’m going to attempt to have a RELATIONSHIP with someone who I’m interested in. I don’t see why MY RELATIONSHIP should be causing you to think ‘Brian needs to be talked out of it’. While we’re on the relationship idea, why not call your ex and ask him why he left you? I think that should be more important than possibly continuing this conversation, which could end with you needing a job.” He tells me.

 

I got up and left before I said anything else. I have a feeling I was skating on thin ice. I stayed in my office most of the morning to avoid pissing him off further. Emmett showed up and told me we needed to go to lunch, but not at the diner. 

 

“Do you think we sometimes say shit that hurts other people?” Emmett asks me, looking upset.

 

“Everyone does, I mean think about the way Brian used to talk to us.” I tell him, thinking that for me, Brian was still talking to me that way.

 

“He never said anything that was malicious, just in our face with the truth. I went to see Blake last night, and he kind of gave me a ‘Brian in your face truth’.” He tells me. 

 

“Did he say anything about why he left?” I ask him. 

 

“He made it clear why he felt he had to.” He tells me. 

 

“He found someone else, didn’t he?” I ask.

 

“I don’t know if he did or not, he didn’t say. He left because he got tired of the way we treated him, and because if Michael called you, you took off.” He tells me.

 

“What did you do to Blake?” I ask, angry.

 

“The same thing you and Michael were doing. I mean, the night when Michael kept introducing Blake to everyone at his house party as the ex crystal queen, none of us stopped Michael. We even laughed when Michael said Blake working at the center would be like a crystal reunion for him. The thing is, at the time, I laughed to try to make it seem like a joke.” He tells me.

 

“When did Michael say that?” I ask him.

 

“You were talking to Ben behind us.” He tells me.

 

“I wouldn’t have laughed at something like that.” I tell him, pissed that Michael would even say it.

 

“Well there were other times when Michael said things and no one ever defended Blake from the shit Michael would say.” He tells me.

 

“Like Brian almost tore my head off over the guy he was with this morning.” I tell him, not saying who.

 

“Ted, don’t say anything, because Brian pretty much told me, any friendship would be over if I hurt Justin.” He tells me.

 

“Don’t you think it’s strange that Justin is seeing Brian, after the shit with Ben. What if he is just trying to be around Ben?” I ask him.

 

“Why would he want Ben, if he had Brian?” Emmett asks.

 

JUSTIN

 

Lindsay showed up with a resume and a book of sketches. Daphne came in and looked then offered her a job. We were both ready to have more than us doing everything.

 

“Do you have time for lunch?” Lindsay asks me, as Daphne gets the packet for employment for her.

 

“Sure, and while we eat you can fill me in on anything we need for Gus.” I tell her.

 

“Gus likes simple things like the park or kicking a ball around. So just give him attention and you'll be fine.” She tells me. 

 

“Did Brian tell you we were going to be staying at my house?” I ask. 

 

“No, but Mel and I know we can trust Brian with Gus, so he was probably going to tell us when he picked him up.” She tells me. 

 

“You guys seem to be working the three parents thing well.” I tell her. 

 

“A lot of it has to do with Mel and Brian deciding that Gus needed parents not bickering over insignificant things. I had to stop sitting around trying to play peacemaker, and tell them both that loving Gus was all that mattered. I was half the problem, because I let Brian help with things and didn’t tell Mel. So we agreed to sit down and discuss anything together if it involves Gus. So it was a long road to where we are now, but it works for us.” She tells me. “Shit, I hope Michael isn’t here.” She tells me, looking at two guys staring at us.

 

“Who are they?” I ask.

 

“There friends of Brian and Michael. Hopefully they’ll give you a chance before making a decision.” She tells me leading us to a table away from them.

 

“You and Mel seem okay with me, and really, that’s all I care about. I mean, I’m going to be involved with Gus.” I tell her.

 

“Justin, Brian would never bring someone who he wasn’t serious about around Gus, so now that he finally has, I want to know the person who broke through the walls around his heart. I’ve been waiting years for someone to make my best friend happy.” She tells me, smiling up at the two guys. “Justin, Emmett and Ted, this is Justin, guys.” She tells them, almost warning them.

 

“We’ve met, you know the night you showed up at Babylon.” Emmett tells me.

 

“In case you don’t, it was when you ran away from Michael.” Ted tells me.

 

“I didn’t run away, I just decided that a night in jail wouldn’t be as fun.” I tell them.

 

“Stalkers tend to end up there.” Ted tells me.

 

“Ted, knock it off, or maybe after lunch I’ll stop by and tell Brian about the welcome you're giving Justin.” Lindsay tells him.

 

“No. I’d love to hear how I’m a stalker. I thought I was attending school, but Michael seemed to think that turning in an assignment was hitting on my teacher. Which I would get if I was even the slightest bit interested in his husband, but you know, I just don’t get what makes Ben so irresistible. He’s good looking, I’ll admit that, but that’s really all there is. I like a man who faces his problems, not runs around making excuses for why his husband followed me all over campus for days, saying shit that I could sue his ass for. So because Michael matters so little in my world, I asked that he be told to stay off campus, not sent to jail for stalking me.” I tell them.

 

“Michael said…” Emmett stopped when Lindsay glared at him.

 

“Michael says a lot of things, and a lot of it seems to be only true in Michael’s mind.” Lindsay tells him.

 

“Is there some reason you two don’t think for yourselves?” I ask.

 

“I’ve always thought for myself.” Emmett tells me.

 

“You haven’t  proved it to me, when apparently you’ve already decided I’m whatever Michael told you I am. So I’ll save you the trouble of pretending you like me, don’t, because I couldn’t respect you for not giving me a chance before knowing who I am.” I tell them.

 

“Both of you need to think really hard, before you end up unemployed Ted, and you run to Michael and Deb to gossip, Emmett.” Lindsay tells them.

 

“Why would Ted be unemployed?” I ask her.

 

“Because Ted works for Brian, and should know Brian well enough to know that he wouldn’t give him a raise for this performance.” Lindsay tells us.

 

“If Ted’s good at his job, it shouldn’t matter that he doesn’t like me. I’ve worked with plenty of people who would stab me in the back while shaking my hand. It never stopped me from doing my job.” I tell her.

 

“I guess we’ll see you later Lindsay.” Emmett tells her, walking out with Ted.

 

“They aren’t bad people. In fact Emmett is usually really friendly, and Ted’s boyfriend left him recently, so I think they’ve been trying to relive their twenties again.” She tells me.

 

“I’m not going to let anyone treat me like I have to earn their approval. I tried that once with my father, and it just left me miserable.” I tell her.

 

“It’s just, Brian will cut them off if they do anything like that again.” She tells me.

 

“Why? If they don’t like me, it’s not Brian’s problem.” I tell her.

 

“Justin, when Brian wants something, anything that gets in his way, becomes roadkill.” She tells me.

 

“You had to say that when they were delivering the food.” I tell her, looking at my meatball sandwich.

 

“Well, it wouldn’t be any worse than watching Michael eat. Someday I’m going to explain to him what a napkin is for and possibly let Gus show him how to use a fork.” She tells me, laughing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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