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CHAPTER FIVE

 

TALKING BOOK

(Brian's Day- May 10th 2005)

 

Very Superstitious, writings on the wall

 Very superstitious, ladders bout to fall

 Thirteen month old baby , broke the lookin' glass

 Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past

 When you believe in things that you don't understand

 Then we suffer

 Superstition ain't the way*

 

It had been a long time since Brian had felt the level of annoyance as he had in the moment he'd gotten off the phone with Cynthia. It wasn't her threat of quitting- she'd been doing that for years probably as often as he'd threatened to fire Theodore. It was a standing joke between the three of them but it was only evoked in the most serious of circumstances. Michael and Lindsey's bullshit constituted as ‘serious circumstances.' Then to make matters worse, they had blatantly and unapologetically interrupted what was supposed to be a pleasant morning interlude by barging into his old loft where his new potential friend, fuck-buddy, or more lives now. Coincidence, yes but too much-definitely!

 Overlooking the unobstructed view from his Squirrel Hill condo, Brian thought of the brief but informative conversations he'd had with Blue; one via text messaging. The fact that he'd even done that was still a surprise to him- a pleasant one but a surprise nonetheless. He'd learned two very important things: he was intelligent and he wasn't a scared little faggot. He still believed what Cynthia had said about Blue but he was glad the man knew how to defend himself if he had the advantage. Brian laughed out loud thinking of the slender man he'd held last night wielding a broomstick on Michael no less. Mikey must have gotten quite the surprise but it served him right. Brian knew he should feel bad for saying that but it did. He sipped his coffee thinking about how many unwarranted and uninvited times Michael Novotny had shown up at his loft while he was balls deep in someone or just finishing believing that he had a right to usher people in or out of his apartment. 

At first, it was fine especially after he was done because it got the trick out faster and they were not tempted to think of spending the night. But after awhile, Michael had begun to act as a jealous housewife and Brian had gotten the distinct feeling on more than one occasion that Michael was pissed because he couldn't trade places with the chosen few who had graced Brian's bed. Although he was unhappy with Blue having to deal with his baggage, he couldn't be sorry that he had dealt with it the way he had.

 

Very superstitious, wash your face and hands

 Rid me of the problems, do all that you can*

 

As he showered he had another laugh out loud moment as he thought of Blue calling him an asshole. The guy had balls! But he couldn't deny the truth of his words. Perhaps he should have at least told Michael and Lindsey that he no longer owned the loft but honestly, it was none of their business. He'd only been back in town for a week and he was sure that if not for Debbie and Vic's intervention, they would have put out an APB on his whereabouts. With the help of Jennifer Taylor, he'd found the three bedroom condo which had a doorman and no one would be let up without his expressed permission. The fact that the building had a pool and state-of-the-art gym was also a plus. He missed his house in Westchester but living on the twenty-fifth floor definitely had it's advantages. And entertaining Blue on the balcony would also be an advantage. 

He rinsed the soap off thinking of how the slender man felt in his arms. Even though he was a head taller, the shorter man was literally the perfect height. Brian recalled how he'd risen on his toes the night before to initiate the heart stopping kiss and it sent shivers down his spine thinking how much he wanted the younger man. He stopped himself from taking the thought further though because first things first... he had to take care of Michael and Lindsey. He was determined not to return to Pittsburgh the way he'd left it.

 

Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong

 You don't want to save me, sad is my song*

 

An hour later, Brian walked into the Liberty Diner, a man on a mission. He took a moment to look around realizing that in all the years he'd been gone from Pittsburgh, one place truly remained the same. The colorful decor brought back good memories as well as bad but it was just as woven into the fabric of the man Brian had become as deeply as Ryder Advertising was. 

He looked around, nodding to those he knew and absorbing the whispers around him. A ghost of a smile graced his sensuous lips as he heard his former moniker ‘The Legendary Stud of Liberty Avenue' bandied about. He wasn't ashamed of his past; how and why should he be? That title made Brian feel untouchable during a time in his life when he absolutely needed to be. It kept him centered and focused on his career while it numbed a deep-rooted pain, although to most of his family it did anything but. Sure Vic understood why Brian was the way he was better than anyone; the rest oblivious and only seeing that which they wanted to or that he allowed them  to see on the surface. For Michael, it was a way to be one of the "cool" kids but for Brian it was a way to hide in plain sight. No one, not even those who he considered family, really knew Brian Aiden Kinney and that was just fine with him.

 

A mop of blond hair momentarily caught his attention but the sound of his name basically being screamed and him being pulled into a bear hug caused him to re-focus on the task at hand.

 

"Hey Deb. New pot of coffee up?"

 "Just brewed. How are you settling in?"

 "Okay except for a few mishaps but other than that, everything is on schedule."

 "My pissy son was in earlier." She gave him a knowing look. "He was complaining about the new owner of your old loft."

 "Really?" Brian was hard-pressed not to laugh. He knew it would give away too much of his privacy. Besides he liked being able to keep the knowledge of Blue to himself. "Where is he anyway? Cynthia and Ted said that between he and Lindsey, they're ready to quit."

 "That bad, huh?" She shook her head. "Well you know you brought it on yourself. If you had just told them where you live..."

 "I will but when I'm ready, Deb not because they feel like they're owed anything. They're not."

 "Who's not owed anything?" The voice behind him asked.

 "You, Mikey," Brian answered honestly. "How have you been?"

 "Lindsey and I was by your place this morning," Michael said by way of a return greeting.

 "That's impossible since I've been home all morning."

 "Yeah, about that..."

 "Yes, Michael?"

 "Some twink was there."

 "Oh?" Brian took note of Michael's wrapped hand and almost laughed. "What happened to your hand, Mikey? You and the Professor engaging in rough sex now?"

 "Ha ha, Fucker. No that's what I'm trying to tell you. Your fucking twink hit me with a goddamn broomstick," Michael said indignantly.

 

His loud voice caused all movement and conversation to cease for a few moments as Brian just shook his head and sipped his now lukewarm coffee. When everyone noticed that Brian wasn't going to respond immediately, the action resumed but Brian couldn't stop the thought which filtered in his mind since the conversation with Deb was interrupted. Same old Mikey.

 

Brian cleared his throat a moment before he began to speak. He also took a deep breath to calm the last nerve which Michael's attitude of entitlement was tap dancing on."First, he's not 'my twink' and secondly what were you doing at my old place?"

 "I saw your Jeep in the parking garage and thought you were at home."

 "Michael, what aren't you understanding? I don't live there; someone else does. I sold the building nearly four months ago." His voice was as gentle as he could make it under the circumstances. Debbie eyed him as she passed to take care of another customer. He knew her look was counseling him to employ patience but she really had no fucking idea how hard it was in that moment.

"So that little asshole was telling the truth?"

 "Apparently," Brian said while thinking Pot meet kettle.

 "So if you don't live there, where are you staying?"

 Brian couldn't help the smirk which appeared. "Somewhere in Pittsburgh."

 "You know what I mean, Asshole," Michael said annoyed at Brian's evasion.

 "Well it's the truth."

 "Briannnn," Michael whined. When he noticed that his tone of voice wasn't going to get him the result he craved, he said, "Fine keep your secrets," Michael said petulantly but then brightened immediately. "Hey why don't we go out tonight? Woody's and then Babylon to celebrate the return of the great god Kinney, huh?"

Brian took one look at the puppy-dog eyes and wished he was still in hiding. Fucking Cynthia. "Okay, fine, sure, Mikey. But I have to work in the morning so I won't be out all that late."

"But Brian, tomorrow's Sunday," Michael complained.

"Yes and just because it's Sunday doesn't mean I don't have things to do." Getting out of the booth, Brian said, "I'll see you at Woody's at eight." Brian moved off, waving to Deb in the process.

"Okay. I'll call Ben and Em. Too bad Ted isn't here. It would be just like old times."

 

Brian, turned, smiled and said nothing. Not quite, Michael. Not quite.

 

When you believe in things that you don't understand

 Then you suffer

Superstition ain't the way*

 

As he walked out, he looked around for the wealth of blond hair he'd seen earlier. Mentally shaking himself, he thought about the odds that they would actually run into each other without plans in place.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Very superstitious, nothin' more to say

Very superstitious, the devil's on his way*

 

"Hey would you slow the hell down already? My legs can't move that fast, Justin!" Daphne complained.

"Come on, Daph, move faster before he catches us."

"Who? Who the hell is chasing us?"

"Remember this morning? The fool who entered my apartment was talking to the other guy who had come in not too long before that."

"Yeah and?" Daphne looked at him confused once they stopped in the park at the end of the Liberty Avenue. She had never been so happy to see a bench in her life.

"And didn't you hear the whispers, Daph? That was the Brian. The same ‘Brian' whose loft I now live in. The same fucking Brian who just happens to be my boss come Monday morning."

"Holy shit. And that little whining man claims that the gorgeous hunk of gay porn wet dreams as his best friend?"

Justin nodded but couldn't help but laugh at her description of Brian Kinney. Leave it to Daphne to come up with an apt catch phrase. If Justin were honest with himself, he would admit to momentarily drooling and thinking that maybe they had met before. But he'd chalked it up to having secret fantasies about what Aiden looked like. "I swear I have the worse fucking luck sometimes."

"Why would you say or think that, Justin? The guy was wrong to enter your apartment, key or not. It wasn't his. And even if Brian was there, I doubt he would have been happy at being intruded upon either."

"Okay, say you're right about that part, Daph, I still hit his best friend with a broomstick for fuck's sake."

 She chuckled. "Based on how annoying he sounded, I probably would have paid good money to see it happen."

 "Daph can you be serious?"

 "Okay, okay Blue, say he does find out it was you. It was on off hours and has nothing to do with your work or work ethic. End of story."

 "I hope so but I would know how I would react if someone did that to you," Justin said pointedly.

 "I know you would try to destroy them but I really do doubt anything will come of it. Relax, okay? You're always so on edge. Are you trying to get prematurely gray or give yourself a heart attack?"

 "No, Daphne. I just can't relax until everything is taken care of."

 She nodded knowing what everything entailed. "Has your mom found a buyer for the company yet?"

 "She's in negotiations with a potential but until she's able to offload it and until the contract expires, I'm still not safe."

 "Then you have to work your ass off to build and establish your role in Kinnetik before they can think to move against you. The last thing Connor and Brandon will want is a scandal and all their dirty little secrets coming out. That's bad for business- yours and theirs."

 "You're right, Daph. I just..."

 "I know, Jus. I know you get scared but so far we have planned for every eventuality. You have to let yourself relax or everything you're fearing is going to come to pass. Think positively! You have a job, they are in Milan and you are not in New York anymore. In fact you're probably in the last place anyone would think to look. Plus you're having a 'like' affair." She gave the universal signal for air quotes, smiling all the while.

 Justin laughed. "A like affair? Yeah, I guess I am. Aiden is a nice guy- at least so far anyway."

 "Yeah, Dude, you are seriously in like with Aiden. Do yourself a favor and just go with it; have fun with it for as long as it lasts. Look for the worse but expect the best."

 He hugged her close. "You know you make one helluva therapist, Daffy."

 "I'll accept my payment in pizza, popcorn, beer and vegging out at your place for the remainder of the afternoon."

 He laughed. "You're on!" And they walked the remaining three blocks to his place.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Brian arrived at what he termed affectionately- and not so affectionately- Muncher Mansion. It was probably the meeting he dreaded the most, not only because it was Saturday afternoon and Melanie bitch lawyer extraordinaire was home, but because although there was a world of difference between Lindsey and Michael, their tactics were similar. Only Lindsey was a bit more subtle and not afraid of using his love for Gus against him.

 He rung the bell and waited, mentally preparing himself for the wealth of insults to be expertly delivered by Mel. It had been a long time since he'd spoken directly to her. He knew from Ted that she usually called at the behest of Lindsey. Regardless he still appreciated the type of person she was- the no nonsense, take-it-or-leave-it, all-or-nothing type in life and in a courtroom. So it was with a grudging respect that he greeted her when she opened the door.

 

"Jesus Christ, what rock did you crawl out from under?"

 "Nice to see you too, Mel. Sorry about the apparent wake up call. I forgot bats usually sleep during the day," Brian said in response. "Lindsey around?"

 She moved to the side to let him in. "She should be back any minute. She took Gus to get a haircut and pick up the groceries. You want some coffee?"

 "Don't mind if I do."

 

He took a seat on the sofa looking around the living room. There were several art pieces hanging around including a Justin Taylor original. He moved closer to the piece to examine it a bit further. Whereas the one he had shipped from the New York office filled the onlooker with hope, the one he looked upon titled Soon filled him with a sense of foreboding although he couldn't understand why.

 

"Interesting, isn't it?" Melanie asked bearing two cups of coffee as she reentered the living room.

"Yes. I have one or two of his paintings myself," Brian said. He actually owned five but Melanie didn't need to know that. "Why did Lindsey pick this one?"

"She didn't. I did."

"Melanie, I didn't know you were an art lover."

"Surprise, Asshole." She smiled over the rim of her cup. "It's not that I'm an art lover per se but when I got this one, Lindsey and I... well let's just say we were going through a rough patch and had split up for a little while."

"I didn't know but you're alright now, right?" He looked from her to the painting and back again noting the hesitation before she answered.

 "Yeah. Yes, we're okay."

 

He nodded even as he wondered what had gone wrong between them. Melanie and Lindsey had been together for ten years with one short breakup that he'd known about. But when he left they were stronger than they had ever been especially after Gus' birth. Truth be told, they may never had found their way to each other if it wasn't for him introducing them while he and Lindsey were still in college. Melanie was just finishing law school and had just gotten a job within the legal department of Carnegie Mellon. It was right after Lindz and him had gotten drunk and had sex after she'd gone through a bad break-up with one of Brian's soccer teammates. He knew he was gay but Lindz was conflicted about herself. She liked men but she was also attracted to women so Brian began to set her up on dates with them. Melanie was the one that won her over.

 

"Good but Mel if you're not happy...'

"Brian, it was just an off-time. I was working insane hours and Lindsey was under her own brand of pressure."

"And so you bought this dark painting?"

"It isn't dark. It's...honest and raw." The shades of gray, black, red, stark white and hints of navy all combined to bring the hidden images to life. "You know, if you look closely, you see things in the silhouettes within the swirls of the painting. It's almost like getting a sneak peek into a novel which has yet to be finished."

"I noticed that in a few of his other paintings. The boy is really talented. I'm glad I got him."

That caused her to sit up. "What exactly does that mean, Brian?"

"Calm down, Mel and get your head out of his ass," Brian said in his usual tongue-in-cheek fashion. "I mean that come Monday morning, he's the new Art Director for the Pittsburgh office." He nearly laughed at her audible sigh of relief.

"Well it looks like you'll be making one helluva investment," she said. He was stopped from answering at the sound of the door and a high pitch squeal.

"Daaaadyyyy." Brian braced himself for the miniature human missile aiming straight for him.

"Hey there, Sonny Boy. What have you been up to?"

"Mommy took me to get cut."

"Cut? I see no cuts." Brian blew into his neck causing Gus to wiggle and laugh. To him the best thing Pittsburgh had to offer was the little boy giggling in his arms.

"No, Daddy. My hair. See?"

Brian played along. "Oh now I see. You got a haircut and I have to say, I like it."

Gus preened under his father's praise. "Can you play trucks with me?"

"Maybe a little later but first I have to talk with your Mommy."

Melanie took her cue. She recognized the look Lindsey leveled on Brian which he ignored in favor of Gus. "Come on, Honey. Milk and cookies await us in the kitchen."

 

Gus cheered as Melanie threw a look back while following him.

 

"Hello Wendy."

"Don't you ‘Wendy' me, Brian."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" he asked although he already knew. 

"Why haven't you told anyone you sold the loft?"

"Very simple question which deserves an equally simple answer, Lindsey. It wasn't anyone else's business."

"Not even mine? The mother of your child? I don't have the right to know?"

Brian thought a moment before answering. "No. Not really, you don't. You have all you need from me and more. Let's cut the shit and not pretend this is about Gus. This is about yours and Michael's need to feature me in some fantasy the two of you have cooked up in your heads. A role that I am not willing to play anymore. So no, right now there is no need for you to know where I live. It is enough that I still support Gus and have regular visitation with him. That's all that matters."

"But Brian-"

"No, Lindsey and that's my final word on that. Now you can stop calling Cynthia and Ted. Oh and you and Michael can stop running all over town trying to locate me. Michael told me about your little adventure of hide and seek this morning."

"So you really don't live there anymore? You always loved the loft. It was your home."

"That's right, Lindz, it was. I outgrew it and honestly, I wouldn't want it back even if I hadn't. I wouldn't even be back in Pittsburgh if my business needs didn't make it convenient to be so."

"Okay, Brian, I get it."

"I hope so, Lindsey because this is a conversation that shouldn't be happening. I don't want to have it again. Gus is my business with you; my personal life is not."

Gus came back in the room just then. "Ready, Daddy?"

"Sure, Sonny Boy." And he picked Gus up heading up the stairs for a fun afternoon with the only one in his life whose opinion mattered.


Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass

Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Later that Evening- Woody's

 

Emmett stepped into the bar which had been the source of many laughs and some heartaches for him. It was where he'd first met Godiva, a drag queen of outstanding renown and an even better person. She was his first friend when he'd landed in Pittsburgh finally managing to escape his queer-hating hometown of Hazelhurst, Mississippi. His second friend who had turned out to be the truest of them all was one Brian Kinney. Throughout the years, he was the one constant in Em's life. Ups, downs, good times and bad, Brian was the most honest person he'd ever met, the most dependable and the best at insulting people who really didn't understand they were being insulted until hours after the fact.

As Emmett spotted him sitting alone at the other end of the bar, he marveled at Brian's ability to never age. Of course in the world according to Brian Kinney he should have been dead at thirty but to Emmett he'd never looked better at thirty-five. He was still lean and fit, possessed an air of dominance that would make even the strongest queen obey and looks that made one stare even without meaning to. But there were other changes which the casual observer would overlook, the quiet maturity he wore and the lack of self-destructive tendencies he'd formerly indulged in. As Emmett stood just watching, Brian had turned down five tricks as he sat typing on his cell phone, a little smile ghosting at the corners of his mouth. Yep being away from the Burgh definitely wrought some changes in the once-reckless man, Emmett just wasn't sure they were all ready for them.

 

"I was wondering when you were going to show up," Brian said by way of greeting.

"Nice to see you, too, Brian," Emmett said, big smile in tact. "So where have you been hiding yourself?"

 Brian looked around with that classic sardonic smirk firmly planted. "Who says I've been hiding?"

Emmett laughed. "Oh come off it, Brian. I know you've been hiding and up until last night at the benefit for the GLC, no one had seen head nor hair of you."

"How do you know I was at the benefit?" Brian was most curious to know.

Emmett huffed out a breath while keeping his smile in tact. This wasn't the first time he and Brian played a solid game of evasion but Em wasn't going to let him get away but so much. "First, no one wears Armani the way you do, as if they designed a suit with just you in mind."

"Aw, thanks, Emmy Lou. I'm truly flattered."

Emmett continued ignoring the sarcasm. It was always expected when engaging with Brian. "Secondly, no one-even blind people- could have missed the immediate attraction between you and the blond man you bumped into. The picture you two made standing in the middle of the bar traffic could not be missed. And third, let's talk about that stunning and sensual make out session in the middle of the dance floor. The air literally sizzled around the two of you and radiated outward to us mere mortals. Personally, I'm surprised you didn't drag him to the backroom which probably means something."

 "Oh alright, I was there for a bit with Cynthia. You can't tell anyone, Em."

Emmett looked at Brian- really looked at him- and he could tell that there was more to the story of the blond than met the eye. He didn't get a chance to respond although he gave a slight nod of his head to let Brian know that Em would keep his secret. He almost laughed aloud at the nearly audible sigh of relief Brian let out. "By the way, thanks for the start-up funding for Auntie Em's, Brian. Vic and I couldn't have done this all without you." He watched as Brian shook off the comment. Emmett would never understand why Brian refused to acknowledge his gift for helping his friends.

"It was nothing, Emmett. Just don't fuck it up like Michael seems to be doing with Red Cape. But then again, you couldn't do that."

Em saw his opportunity to bring Brian up on a few more situations before Ben and Brian's best friend arrived. "Speaking of Michael... you know he and Lindsey have been asking all over town if anyone had seen you."

Brian rolled his eyes and signaled for another double Beam. "Yeah, I know. He even managed to get hit with a broomstick this morning for his trouble." At Emmett's puzzled look, Brian filled him in on the conversation he had in the diner with Michael which resulted with him being in Woody's.

Emmett laughed so hard he began to hyperventilate. "Serves him right, Brian." But then he sobered. "I have to tell you, he has been an obnoxious little fuck since you left. Always whining and complaining about how you never keep in touch and that all the information he receives on you is second-hand because you've found the time to call Deb, me or Vic. Lindsey says the same but I know that you've been in touch with her more because of Gus and don't think Michael hasn't expressed his displeasure because of it."

Brian again shook his head. "This is why I was apprehensive about coming back in the first place, Emmett. I'm not sure how much Deb and Vic told you about my decision to take the job in New York..."

"They told me all of it and what they weren't able to Ted did. I hope you don't mind that," Emmett said a little worried how Brian would react.

 "No, I don't, Emmett. I would have preferred to tell you myself but... Anyway, Lindsey was always pitting Mel and I against each other. It happened so much and so often that Mel and I could be saying the exact same thing but it would turn into an argument anyway. Then there was the inconvenience of having them cockblock whenever the mood suited them, which was especially often in Michael's case."

 "You know, even though I didn't like David and thought he was a pretentious, pompous asshole, he was right about Michael's obsession with you. Many times it was like your conquests were his, too. Teddy and I used to talk about how he was jealous of the trick but at the same time envious and proud of you."

 Brian nodded. "And that's the thing, Em. I didn't encourage it. In fact I told him he needed to find his own life many times. Yes I expected him to be there as my best friend during the really important moments like if I needed his support from dealing with Joan or Claire-- fuck who wouldn't?-- but I never expected his childhood infatuation to extend into adulthood. Between him and Lindsey it became exhausting. On one hand, they both held out hope for the same thing- a relationship that would never fucking happen since I hate those and what they represent. I would rather be with someone because I want to be, not because I'm fucking stuck there. Then on the other hand, everything in their world would remain rainbows and unicorns as long as I continued to live within the scope of their ideals for my life. I needed something different so I went out and got it."

 Emmett couldn't help but smile. Brian had finally gotten the revelation of what he had seen Lindsey and Michael do to Brian for so long. Both used different tactics of manipulation to control Brian's behavior and the outcome or resulting consequence to suit them. Melanie had also seen it but when she brought it up to Lindsey, a huge argument would always ensue. The last one almost broke them up for good. The best part was that Lindsey's continued obsessive behavior couldn't be directly blamed on Brian since he was in New York and not taking all of the numerous calls from Lindsey, many of which Gus was used as a cover instead of the actual reason. "Well may I say that whatever your reason for leaving was, it worked, Brian."

"It did, Em but the two people who need to see it and accept it won't."

"Well if they can't or won't accept it, Brian then that's their problem. You keep living your life and look fucking fabulous doing it. Okay, Baby?" He threw his long arm over Brian's shoulder which for a moment Brian embraced him back. That is until they were interrupted.

"Sorry we're late," Michael said glaring at Emmett's proximity to Brian.

Brian noticed and pulled Emmett even closer when the taller man began to shift away. "Nice of you to show, Mikey. Who's you're friend?"

"Brian this is Ben Bruckner, my boyfriend."

"Oh the infamous, Professor Ben Bruckner. I've heard a lot about you."

"All good, I hope," Ben responded.

 

Brian shook Ben's hand while holding onto Emmett primarily out of spite for Michael. Here he was with his boyfriend and feeling territorial over another man. Behavior like that left no room to wonder why Brian generally abhorred commitments. Besides, he also knew that he had fucked Ben before, a fact Ben also knew by the guarded look on his face.

 

"So what exactly are you a professor of, Ben?"

"I teach Gay Studies over at Carnegie Mellon."

"Is that how you met dear old Mikey?" Brian was definitely curious. Michael Charles Novotny wasn't the most studious man on the planet. But then again, there was a doctor...Go figure.

"Ben actually came into the store looking for an array of comics."

"Well you went to the right place. If it's one thing Michael knows, it's the men in tights," Brian said.

Emmett and Ben laughed but Ben confirmed Brian's assessment. "He was absolutely helpful for the lecture and he even managed to be the guest speaker for my class when we were studying Homo-eroticism in Literature."

"Yeah, it was great," Michael said smiling up at Ben.

"Well I think it's time for another drink," Emmett said. He himself couldn't understand the attraction between Michael and Ben.

"Yeah, Em," Mikey said. "And I think we should toast to the return of the King of Liberty Avenue. Life hasn't been the same around here without you, Brian." He sighed in wistfulness and pleasure; took a sip of his beer before asking, "So who's going to be the lucky trick tonight?"

 

Michael was oblivious as always but Ben and Emmett caught a glimpse of disappointment which entered Brian's eyes before he downed his drink without raising his glass. The sad revelation Brian had just then was that eventually it was going to come down to Michael's wants of what he considered normalcy versus Brian's need to reinvent his own definition of ‘normal.' And Brian could already see the end of the road was drawing near.

 

When you believe in things, you don't understand

 Then you suffer

 Superstition ain't the way*

 

 

 

*Superstition- Stevie Wonder

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