BRIAN

I left Kinnetik for my weekly lunch with Blake. After he left Ted, I found Blake in Babylon with his old dealer and yanked his ass away. I took him to the loft and made coffee for us. I was determined to find out what he was thinking. After that I started calling to check on him and let him know he could come to me if he felt the urge to ruin his life. What I didn’t expect was that Blake was really someone I could talk to without feeling like I was always defending my life. We started having lunch every week after that. Blake is part of what made me pull away from Michael’s constant need to know everything about me, because Michael treated him like crap for reasons only Michael seemed to know. I’ve been disappointed in Ted and Emmett for following Michael, and Blake became the only person I really talk to outside of Lindsay and Mel.  I went to the usual table and sat down, Blake came in, looking worried.

“So how’s the world of the addicted?” I ask him.

“Good, two people just completed the program and I helped them get resumes ready for the two companies you got to offer them a chance at  jobs.” He tells me like a proud parent.

“If you get an artist, send them my way.” I tell him.

“Brian, Emmett came to see me.” He tells me.

“To tell you about Justin?” I ask.

“Yes, and then I unloaded on him.” He tells me.

“Blake, none of what happened should have.” I tell him.

“Thanks for stopping me.” He tells me quietly.

“No one should make you get to the point where all you have worked for gets destroyed. What did Emmy Lou want?” I ask him, changing the subject before he starts thanking me again.

“He was acting as if you dating Justin is a crime. It was hard not to tell him to go suck Michael’s dick.” He tells me.

“I’m sure that when Michael finds out, I’ll have him and Deb up my ass.” I tell him.

“Sounds like Emmett and Ted will be joining in on the party.” He tells me.

“Then they’ll be partying alone, and I’ll ban them the way Michael wanted me to ban Justin for dancing in my club.” I tell him.

“I heard it was Justin that Michael was accusing of trying to steal Ben.” He tells me.

“Justin didn’t realize that signing up for Ben’s class meant being harassed.” I tell him.

“So when do I meet the guy who's the bomb waiting to blow Liberty Avenue apart?” He ask laughing.

“You can meet him this weekend, we’re taking Gus so the girls can have a free weekend.” I tell him.

“How are you doing?” He asked.

“I’ve never been happier, and it’s only been a couple of weeks.” I tell him.

“Let him know that if he needs to talk, I’m there. It’s a minefield that I’ve already walked.” He tells me.

“Justin’s already been in the field, but I’ll let him know.” I tell him.

“I wanted to ask a favor.” He tells me, hesitating. 

“Blake if you need something, ask.” I tell him.

“I need to get the rest of my things, and I’m not ready to face Ted yet.” He tells me.

“I can go there and get everything if you need it.” I tell him.

“I’m still looking for an apartment, so it’s not like I need everything, just the stuff my mom left me.” He tell me.

“There’s a loft available in my building.” I tell him.

“Which I can’t afford.” He tells me.

“It’s one of the smaller ones, I was already planning to buy it. I can make it in your price range.” I tell him.

“You know, I will never get how everyone sees you as the asshole.” He tells me.

“I am an asshole to people who piss me off, but you’ve never managed it.” I tell him.

“I wish there was a way to work things out with Ted, but it’s like he’s forever part of the ‘Michael Shitty Friend Society’.” He tells me.

“Which will have him in the unemployment office if it affects my relationship with Justin.” I tell him.

I answered my phone when I see Lindsay on the line. “Hey, everything okay with Gus?” I ask her.

“Gus enjoyed being the star pupil, but you need to rein in Ted and Emmett.” She tell me.

“What the hell did the idiots do now?” I ask, as Blake shakes his head.

“They were eating at the restaurant Justin and I went to and came over. I don’t think they expected Justin to say anything. When he did, they took off.” She tells me.

“Justin okay?” I ask.

“He didn’t seem to care, but right now it’s just Ted and Emmett.” She tells me.

“I’ll handle it, thanks for telling me.” I tell her hanging up.

“You know, I’ve only know you for a few years but even I know not to fuck with someone you care about.” Blake tells me.

“I have a feeling Ted and Emmett are about to figure out what you’re smart enough to already know.” I tell him as he pays for lunch. “I’m serious about the loft.” I tell him.

“I’ll think about it, I just don’t want to take advantage of one of the few friends I have.” He tells me.

I called Justin on my way back to Kinnetik to let him know Lindsay called me. 

“Brian, don’t fire Ted because he doesn’t like me.” Justin tells me.

“I won’t have anyone treating you like shit.” I tell him.

“There’s a whole world of people who won’t like me, are you going to fight them too?” He tells me.

“Why not, sounds like my kind of job.” I tell him, smiling.

“Look, just tell Ted if he has a problem with me, that the easy answer is stay away from me.” He tells me, hanging up after making dinner plans for us with the girls.

I walked in and could see Ted knew he was about to hear what I think.

“My office.” I tell him leading the way.

“Brian.” He protests.

“MY OFFICE IF YOU WANT TO STILL WORK HERE.” I yell when he didn’t move.

“I’ll apologize, but you can’t expect me to be nice to someone that tried to hurt our friend.” He tell me.

“You want to know why you're not fired yet?” I ask him. “Because Justin asked me not to, he asked that I just inform you that if you want to keep acting like an ass to him, that you stay away from him. Although, I think having to order you out of the building when he visits isn’t how I see you being able to work for me.” I tell him.

“Brian, we were just surprised to see him with Lindsay.” Emmett tells me from the door.

“So are you here to support Ted or are you here to end your business relationship with Kinnetik?” I ask.

“You would… I mean… Brian.” Emmett stutters.

“I think the fact that Justin would tell me to not do what I should, which is get both of you the fuck out of my life, says more about him than either of you. You two think you have the right to judge someone you’ve never met for something he didn’t even do. How does that makes you better people than the assholes who would hang us from a tree for being gay?” I ask them. “I’m beyond disappointed in people I know to be better than this, and unless you two straighten out your attitudes toward Justin, consider yourselves people I don’t want around me.” I tell them.

“Shit, do you think he’d be willing to listen to me grovel?” Emmett asks me.

“Not if you don’t mean it, or you are only doing it because you're worried about your jobs.” I tell them.

“He means this much to you?” Ted asks me.

“What he means to me doesn’t excuse you, but yes he does.” I tell them. “Ted get to work and when I say work, it means not calling Michael or answering calls when Michael gets pissy because I won’t answer him. Emmett, you decide if you want to lose Kinnetik, because Justin will be attending business events, but you won’t be throwing them if Justin is a problem for you.” I tell them.

EMMETT

Walking out of Kinnetik, I realized what I could be losing by judging Justin without evidence. I went to Carnegie and waited in Ben’s office for him. Ben walked in with a student, but asked the guy to wait outside while he talked to me. I watched as Ben smiled at the guy and didn’t like what I was seeing, but it wasn’t like he was flirting.

“What brings you here?” Ben asks sitting behind his desk.

“I need to know about Justin.” I tell him.

“He graduated, so it shouldn’t be a problem for Michael anymore.” He tells me, frowning at me.

“Ben, was Justin really doing what Michael said?” I ask.

“What has you asking?” He evaded.

“I want a straight answer because I stand to lose an account over Justin.” I evaded as well.

“It wasn’t really anything, he was just around.” Ben tells me hesitantly.

“Because he was a student taking your class, or because he wanted you?” I ask.

“It really doesn’t matter, since he’s no longer taking my classes.” He tells me getting up to open the door.

“It does matter, because I kind of shit all over him for something he possibly hasn’t done. Which means I’m a person I swore never to become, so fucking answer the question.” I tell him, not moving.

“He didn’t do anything, Michael just assumed and I didn’t correct it.” He tells me.

“Why would you do that?” I asked, wondering how I thought Ben was so mature.

“Because Michael finally stopped acting like I was second to Brian.” He tells me.

“No, now you're in line with us and Michael for the ‘Asshole of the Year award’, which Brian will give with a slam of every door in his world. Think Michael is going to think you’re first when he can’t get to Brian?” I tell him, leaving his office and pulling out my phone.

“Mel, can you tell me where to find Justin?” I ask.

“Nope, because I won’t help the campaign against him.” She tells me, hanging up without another word.

“Mel, I want to try to show him I’m not the person he thinks I am.” I hurried to get out when I called back.

“I’ll tell him, but right now you have another blonde on the warpath, so I’m saving my marriage by not helping you find him. I’m really saddened by what you and Ted are doing.” She tells me.

“I can’t speak for Ted, but I’m ashamed that I let Michael convince me of something that never happened.” I tell her.

“When did you figure that out?” She asks me.

“When I made Ben tell me the truth.” I tell her.

“I wish my friend Emmett well, but lately I haven’t seen him, because my Emmett wouldn’t have judged someone without a fair hearing.” She tells me, hanging up.

TED

My phone was driving me insane, fifteen calls in an hour. Is this what he does to Brian? The answer was yes, since I’ve sat next to him when he did shit like this. I went to turn it off but looked at the picture of Blake and I, and dialed Blake.

“Ted, did you need something?” Blake asked when I didn’t say anything.

“I need to know what I have to do to get you to come home.” I tell him, swallowing my pride.

“I don’t know anymore, it hurts that I can’t be with you, but I can’t have someone in my life that makes Crystal sound like a way to cope.” He tells me, sounding upset.

“I should have…” 

“Should is a what you say when you didn’t do something.” He tells me.

“I love you, help me figure out how to make us work.” I tell him.

“It won’t work, because I won’t ask you to give up friends for me, the way your friends want you to give me up.” He tells me.

“What do you mean by that?” I ask him.

“Ask Michael about Ian. It’s who he’s been trying to get you together with.” He tells me.

“He just wanted to introduce me to potential clients.” I tell him.

“Bye Ted..”

“Blake don’t, please... talk to me.” I tell him.

“Ian works as a bank teller, how would he be a potential client?” Blake tells me.

“Michael said Ian was a banker.” I tell him.

“Michael says things in a way that you can’t say he lied to you, but it’s there if you would see it. You want to know what it would take for me to give you a chance, it would take you not believing the gospel of Michael Novotny. I need to get my things, can I do that without you showing up? I have alternate plans with someone if you don’t want me in the apartment by myself.” He tells me.

“So you’ve started see other people?” I ask, dying a little.

“No, I found out I had a friend that I never knew I had. He kept me from doing something that would have landed me back to where I was when I met you, and he’s willing to help me if I need him. It’s nice to be able to depend on someone to be there for me.” He tells me, slapping the truth on the table.

“Blake, it will be different this time.” I tell him.

“How? When you already played Michael to Justin? It seems you’ve learned how to shit all over someone the way Michael does.” He tells me hanging up.

“So Ted, I thought you understood phones were only being used for business?” Brian tells me, standing at my door.

“How does Blake know Justin?” I ask.

“He doesn’t yet, but I’m willing to introduce Justin to someone who will at least get to know him before opening his mouth and spewing garbage on Justin.” Brian tells me.

“You’ve been talking to Blake?” I ask.

“Yes, you see, I wanted intelligent conversation, and strangely enough Blake can converse without sounding like a spiteful teen.” He tells me. “Which really makes me question why I ever thought you were intelligent.” He tells me, walking away.

DEB

Michael was complaining that Brian had Cynthia hang up on him when he called. I decided that it was time for Brian to stop this shit. I was waiting outside the loft when Brian pulled up with some guy. He was adorable, but then Brian always went for the lookers. When he looked up from the guy he frowned at me.

“Brian, I need to speak with you.” I tell him, smiling at his trick.

“Busy Deb, maybe later.” He tells me, handing the guy his keys.

“Brian, you need to give me a moment, then you can fuck the guy into the mattress.” I tell him laughing.

“Justin, I’ll be up in a minute.” Brian tells him.

“You got his name, that’s a new one.” I tell him, and wasn’t expecting the glare.

“Deb, I don’t have time for what’s wrong in Michael’s world. I don’t plan on placating Michael or you, and I would like it if you wouldn’t say that shit in front of Justin. He’s not a trick, but someone I want a chance to see what we could be.” He tell me.

“If you were serious about Justin, then why haven’t you brought him around?” I asks him.

“Because your son has been harassing him, and I won’t put Justin in Michael’s line of fire again.” He tells me.

“How could Michael be doing anything to him, when he doesn’t even know he exists?” I ask him.

“Oh he knows, he just doesn’t know Justin and I are together. I have to go, so go play with your son, he’s about to figure out that he isn’t the center of my world.” He tells me, walking into the building.

Walking away, I was confused at why Brian wouldn’t even introduce me to Justin. I got home to Michael sitting in the kitchen, complaining to Carl and Ben about Brian.

“Who’s Justin?” I ask.