Small Town

Part 19

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After Brian recovered from Justin’s stellar blowjob, he turned to his boyfriend and said, “I’m really sorry about my dad arranging the date.  And on Friday night.”

“I was so freaked out that it didn’t even register that it was for Friday, OUR Friday,” the blond said sadly.  He didn’t want to make Brian feel worse than he already did and tried to hide his disappointment but he wasn’t very successful at it.

“I know.  But, I…I can’t do anything about it,” the brunet replied, sounding completely defeated.

Justin didn’t want Brian to think about what his father had done.  How shitty he’d treated him.  It made his stomach turn just thinking about the sound of the older man’s voice as he confronted Brian.  Mentally shaking himself, Justin smiled as he thought of the perfect solution.  “Brian,” the blond said excitedly.

“Yeah,” the older man replied, slightly confused by his lover’s sudden enthusiasm.  After their perfect night had been completely obliterated by his fucking father and his schemes to get ahead, he wished that he could stand up to the prick, maybe knock some sense into HIM for a change.  Yeah, that would definitely be a nice turn of events.  If only….

“Brian!”

Turning towards Justin, coming out of his fantasy, Brian smiled, a little embarrassed at being caught drifting off.  “Yes?”

“I was thinking, our night doesn’t have to be ruined after all.”

“I told you, I’m sorry, but I have to go out with Granger’s fucking niece and make nice for Jack.  You heard the asshole yourself,” the brunet said, getting angry again at what his father had done.

“Brian…Brian,” Justin said, placing his hand on his lover’s arm to get his attention and keep it.  “I know, and even though I’m not thrilled with the fact that you’ll be going on a date with someone else, I’m at least glad that it’s a girl, so I don’t have to worry about her stealing you from me.”

“Sunshine,” the older man said lovingly as he ran his thumb across the full, lower lip of the beautiful man beside him.  “You don’t have to worry about that, no matter what.  You have my heart.  You always will.”  Brian was sure of that.  It was one of the things that he’d been sure about for a long time.  Loving Justin from afar and now for real was something that he knew he was meant to do.  The blond was it for him.  He’d waited all his life to feel the way he did with the amazing man and he doubted that he was strong enough to give himself to anyone else if Justin ever left him.

“Brian,” the blond purred, and as usual, it had the desired affect on his lover.

“Ahh, Justin, you’ve gotta stop doing that,” Brian groaned, his head spinning with desire for his boyfriend from one simple, little word.  He smiled knowing that he wouldn’t want it any other way.  Receiving one of the blond’s blinding smiles in return, Brian sat back and finally relaxed, knowing that no matter what shit he had to deal with from his family, he had Justin.

The blond rattled off his plan for Friday night as Brian listened and agreed that it was perfect.  What a team they made.  Together, they could get through anything.

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Justin received some unpleasant news when he got home from school on Thursday.  He wasn’t able to see Brian that evening because his mother was making dinner and had invited his grandparents. 

He ate quickly, hoping that he’d be able to leave, but was politely informed that he would be staying in for the night.  No debate.  The blond was not very happy and made that fact quite clear as he stomped around the house brooding and by answering his parents and grandparents with one-word answers when they spoke to him.

“Would you like some more roast, Justin?” Jennifer asked.

“No.”

“How is school going, dear?” his grandmother asked.

“Fine.”

“Have you sent out your applications for the universities that you’re interested in attending next year?” his grandfather asked.

“Yes.”

“There’s really no need for him to have sent more than one out, Dad.  He’s going to Dartmouth, just like I did.  Isn’t that right, Justin?” his father asked with a huge smile on his face.

The blond had no answer to that one.  Not even one word.

He knew that his father wanted him to follow in his footsteps.  To go to Dartmouth, just like he had, and move head-first into a long and boring business career, like he did, but that wasn’t what Justin had planned at all.  He wanted to go to a school for artists.  That’s all he’d ever wanted to do.  Art was a part of him.  A part that he knew he couldn’t ignore.  He was smart and would probably thrive in the business world, but that held no interest for him.  So, as his father sat at the dinner table staring at him, along with the other members of his family, he said nothing.  There was nothing to say.

“Well, how about dessert?” Jennifer asked in her most pleasant voice, needing to break the tension that had settled around the room.

“That sounds wonderful.  Here, let me help you with it, dear,” Justin’s grandmother said as she followed Jennifer into the kitchen.

“Excuse me, I’m going to visit the little boy’s room,” Justin’s grandfather said and left the table.  He could feel a storm brewing between his son and grandson and didn’t want to be a part of it.  He’d had his own battles to fight with his own children and he wasn’t about to go to war again.

“Molly, please go see if your mother needs any help,” Craig told his daughter.

“But Daddy, Grandma’s in there and…”

“Molly, go,” Craig barked.

“Fine, I’ll go, but I never get to do what I want to do, I always have to do what YOU say, and what everyone else says…” Molly mumbled as she headed into the kitchen, dragging her feet along the way.

Turning to his son, Craig said calmly, “Justin, what was THAT all about?”

Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, Justin said, “Dad, I know you want me to go where you went, and I appreciate that, but I’m not you.  I’m me and I have to do what’s best for me.”

“What the hell does that mean?  Why wouldn’t Dartmouth be what’s BEST for you?” Craig asked, completely stunned and confused by this sudden news.  He’d been planning for his son to attend his alma mater the boy’s entire life.  It was something that he thought his son would want to do, not only to please him but for himself.  It was a great school and it would get his business career off on the right foot having his degree from such a prestigious school.

Justin knew it wouldn’t be easy and that’s why he hadn’t said anything yet.  He was waiting until he got his acceptance letters, which were due to come in a few weeks, to have this whole confrontation.  But, it was happening now and he would just have to get it all out in the open.  “Dad, I don’t want to go into business, like you did.  I…I’m an artist and that’s what I want to study.  Art.  I want to get my degree in that.”

“What the hell kind of joke is this?” Craig asked furiously, then calmed down when he saw the frightened look on his son’s face.  “Justin, yes, you are very talented, but drawing and painting, well, they’re hobbies, not a career.  You need to have a business degree so that you can make something of your life.”

“I can be an artist and make something of my life, Dad,” the blond said defiantly.  He hated the fact that his father thought his art was just ‘playtime’. 

“No, you can’t.  YOU are going to Dartmouth and that is the end of that.” Craig bellowed, standing up and pushing his chair back so abruptly that it toppled backwards. 

That’s when Jennifer, Molly and the grandparents came rushing back into the dinning room.  All of them shocked by the commotion that was going on between the two men.

“Dad, please, I can’t…” Justin started, only to be cut off by his father’s intolerant voice.

“Soon you’ll get your acceptance letter to Dartmouth.  I’ve already spoken to Bill Conley, who’s on the board and I know that you got in.”

“You WHAT?” Justin asked, stunned at this new information.

“Justin, relax, I didn’t bribe anyone.  You got in on your own merit.  I just happened to find out about it a little early, that’s all,” Craig said, looking across at his wife who had a look between shock and pride on her face.  He knew she didn’t like it when he did things that weren’t completely on the up and up, but he also knew that she was happy that their son had been accepted.

“Dad, you can’t make me go.  I won’t go.  I can’t go,” Justin said, starting off determined but slowly fading to pleading by the end.

“I can and you will.  End of discussion,” the older man said before walking out of the room.

Justin felt utterly defeated.  He slumped down into his chair and cradled his head in his hands.

“Justin, are you okay?” Jennifer asked softly, coming up behind him.

“No,” Justin replied meekly, back to the one-word answers.

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