I Will Remember You

Chapter 14

~ Confrontations ~

The Day after the Wedding

The wedding was finally over, much to Justin's relief. He had walked his mother down the isle and 'given her away'. Even he had to admit that she had looked beautiful (something you don't normally think about your mother being). The happy couple had left for two weeks in Greece this morning. Justin and Molly would be spending one more night in the Pitts before heading down to Carolina. Molly would be flying back after their Mom returned.

Seeing as how it was her last day home for awhile, Molly had opted to spend it at a girlfriend's house. Tee had left the blue Saturn parked outside the house the night before and Justin promised Molly he'd drive her over to her friend's house after breakfast. There was a note attached to the steering wheel that Justin assumed Tee had left, so he stuffed it into his pocket to read later.

Since the family was planning to be out of town for a couple of weeks, there hadn't been much food left in the house. Molly insisted on trying a little bagel shop that she'd heard about that was on Liberty Avenue. At first, Justin had hesitated to take his sister there, not sure if she realized what could be in store for them there. He should have known that was the very reason she'd chosen the place. Their mother had tried to insure her daughter led a very sheltered life and Molly was just as intent on not.

Fortunately, it was rather tame this early in the morning. Not at all like it would be once night fell. Molly, however, watched wide-eyed at the same-sex couples walking around quite opening together. Even a few casual kisses as couples parted for the day's work.

Justin had just sighed as she tried to hide her obvious interest in what was going on around her. He realized that they hadn't spent much time together outside their mom's house. And he would have never have felt comfortable bringing a guy home with him. At least, not last summer when he'd lived here. He briefly wondered how he would feel about it now? That is, if there were someone to bring home. Tee didn't count, especially now that his mom knew all about that situation.

They had ordered bagels and coffee (Molly had insisted on trying some) and were just sitting down when in walked Emmett and Ted. Justin was beginning to wonder if they went everywhere together.

Emmett and Ted were just as surprised to see Justin and his little sister at the bagel shop as he was to see them. They had decided to forgo the diner this morning, hoping to avoid another run-in with Brian and/or Michael. "Hey baby, and how are you doing this fine day? Now don't tell me this is that little sister of yours." Emmett gushed. "Hardly so little anymore."

Molly smiled. "I remember you." She said. "You were at the hospital when Justin got hurt last year."

Justin was little surprised. First that Molly would remember them and second, that they had been there. He had little memory of all the people that had paraded through his room those first few days after he woke from the coma.

"Of course we were, sweetie. That's what friends do." Emmett replied.

Molly invited the duo to join them for breakfast, which they did. Since Em has been unable to get anything out of Brian the day before, he thought maybe Justin might be a little more forthcoming. Of course, he'd have to tread lightly with the young lady present.

"So, how did you enjoy Babylon the other night, baby." Em asked innocently. "We kind of lost track of you after you went to dance."

Molly perked up. She'd heard of Babylon from some of her friends at school. "Is that were you went the other night? I saw your note to mom saying you'd borrowed the car." She pouted a bit. "Too bad I'm to young. That sounds like fun."

Justin gave his sister a hard stare. "I don't think so. The last thing I want is my bratty little sister hanging around while I'm trying to pick up guys."

Em had to laugh at that. Apparently, Justin wasn't too overly protective of his little sister. She seemed to be fine with his being gay, and like a lot of young women, seemed to find it rather fascinating. A fag-hag in the making.

Molly's eyes lit up, "So, did you pick up anyone? You didn't bring them home did you? Mom would have had a fit, you know."

Em laughed again as Justin rolled his eyes and said. "Like I'd tell you if I had. And, no, I wouldn't have brought anyone home. I didn't want to give mom a heart attack on the eve of her wedding."

Molly sobered for just a moment, "No, we have dad to do that for us."

Justin winced, while Em wondered what had that man had been up to now. Decided a change of subject was in order, Em commented casually. "It's too bad you disappeared so soon. Another old friend came in later that we could have introduced you too. He seemed disappointed that he missed you."

Ted gave Em a strange look as if wondering what he was talking about. Em sighed to himself. Ted was a great friend, but subtlety was not his forte.

Justin seemed to be concentrating hard on his bagel, "I think I may have seen him in the back… behind the dance floor." Justin caught himself in time. He didn't have a doubt that his too bright sister would either know what a backroom was or would hound him to death to find out.

Em nodded, understanding what Justin didn't say. Nothing like running into your ex while he's getting his dick sucked (or you getting yours). "So, how did the wedding go? I'll bet it was just beautiful!"

While Molly launched into an animated account of the wedding, to which Emmett listen raptly, Justin found his thoughts drifting back to two nights ago. He could still feel those eyes boring into his. Just thinking about it was causing him to get hard and he shifted slightly, trying to get more comfortable.

As Molly wound down and conversation lagged for moment, Justin found himself asking, "Em, that friend we were talking about earlier. I didn't really get a chance to say anything to him. You wouldn't happen to know where he's staying, would you?"

Emmett wasn't too sure about the wisdom of that, but before he could demure, Ted decided to be helpful and named the hotel Brian was at.

They finished up their breakfast and Justin excused himself and Molly saying he was suppose to be dropping her off at her friends shortly.

As soon as they had left, Em turned to Ted, shaking his head. "That boy's going to be walking into the lion's den if he goes to see Brian." Then to himself, he added, 'what I wouldn't give to be a fly on that wall.'

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After dropping Molly off, Justin drove to the park and sat watching the kids out playing early before it started getting too hot. He hadn't really planned on asking where Brian was staying. He wasn't even sure what he would do now that he knew. Should he go see him? What would he say if he did?

'Excuse me, but I've been having these dreams about you for the past year and just wanted to see if you were really as hot as I dreamed you.' Yeah, that made a great pick-up line.

How about, 'Remember the other night when you practically fucked me with your eyes? I was just wondering if you'd be interested in the real thing.' Yeah, he liked that one. Definitely good for getting laid, but not much else.

Why was he even contemplating seeing this guy again? What did he hope to gain from it? Did he really want to risk hearing that all he had been was a backroom trick? Or was he afraid to hear that Tee wasn't?

Thinking of Tee reminded him of the piece of paper he'd found in the car. He pulled it out and read the short note.

* Justin, taking the bus home. Left you the car so you and Molly could get back. Tee *

Justin wasn't sure what to make of that. But he did decide that all this sitting around was driving him crazy, so he got in his car and just started driving. At least the AC worked well. Before he knew it, he was outside the hotel, parked with the engine still running.

Finally, he decided that it would at be easier on the car if he turned the engine off. But then if started getting warm, so he decided he'd just walk inside and cool off. Once he was in the lobby, he decided that he might as well try calling up to Brian's room. He'd probably already be out anyway.

The desk clerk placed the call for him and Brian answered on the second ring. "Yeah."

Justin didn't know what to say. He really hadn't expected him to be there. "Uh, it's Justin. I, uh, was wondering if, uh, we could, uh, talk." Oh great, Justin. He thought to himself. He's going to think you're brain damaged, too.

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When Brian heard Justin's voice on the other end of the line, he was stunned. Why was the kid here? What did he want?

Well, only one way to find out. He gave Justin the room number and hung up.

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Justin handed the receiver back to the desk clerk and asked where the elevators were. Once inside and heading up, he began to have serious misgivings about what he was doing. Stealing himself, he tried to put on the confident front that usually served so well. He wouldn't let this man get to him this time.

Brian opened the door on the first knock. Shaking himself mentally, Brian stepped aside and motioned the blond in. He assumed Tee had told Justin about getting thrown out the other day and this was an attempt to salvage whatever plan it was they'd been hatching. He decided to play it cool and see where this lead. "What can I do for you?"

Justin meet those hazel eyes unflinching this time. He wanted answers that only Brian would be able to give him. On the way up, he had decided that a direct and honest approach would be the best way to deal with Brian.

Justin smiled slightly, a little nervous, "As you probably know, I don't remember much of my life before I took a bat to my head." He noticed that Brian winced at that. "There are bits and pieces though that I do remember, but I'm not sure if they're real memories or just dreams that I've made up along the way." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I was hoping that you might help me clear some things up."

Brian looked puzzled, this wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but maybe it would answer some questions he had as well. "Go on."

Justin was encouraged, "I guess the main memory I have is of you and I dancing. I think it may have been at the prom, just before I was bashed." Justin gave Brian a quizzical look as if asking him to confirm or deny it.

Brian debated how to answer the question. Finally, he decided that a straight answer would suffice. He nodded, "Yes, we danced at the prom."

Justin sighed. That didn't give him much to work with. He hated the idea of saying how he'd felt in those dreams, only to find out that it was all a dream. "You weren't my date. Why?" Maybe that would give him a clue as how to proceed.

"Why what?" Brian asked, not sure what the question was.

Seeing that Justin looked confused, he clarified. "Why wasn't I your date? Why was I at the prom? Why were we dancing? Which 'why' did you intend to ask?"

"Why were we dancing?" Justin wanted to know what kind of relationship they had had. What had they been to each other? It was a difficult question to ask without sounding really dumb.

Again, Brian decided on a simple answer, "You asked me."

Justin was a little surprised, "I asked you to dance?"

Brian couldn't see that this was getting anywhere and he was beginning to get uncomfortable with the direction this was going. He still felt guilty about showing up there that night. "You asked me to come to the prom. I asked you to dance." He said shortly.

Well, at least that did get him somewhere. There must have been something going on between them for him to have asked Brian to the prom. "Were we lovers?"

Brian snorted at the question, "We fucked."

Justin was a little taken aback by that. That didn't fit in with his dream at all. But, then again, it certainly did fit in with what had happened the other night. "Just like you fucked Tee?" Now where had that come from?

Brian smirked. So now they were getting to the real reason Justin was here. He had actually sounded a bit jealous. Maybe he hadn't known about his little friend's extra-curricular activities. "I don't think the answer to that will clarify any of your memories, now will it?"

Justin looked away, angry with himself for having asked that. He decided that honesty had gotten him this far. "I guess I thought there was something there that wasn't. I was kinda hoping I was wrong."

Brian was confused again. This was another turn he wasn't expecting. "And how does my fucking Tee relate to a dance we had over a year ago?"

Justin looked down at his hands, and said softly. "If you were able to love Tee and not just fuck him, then maybe… once… you really did love me…like I saw in my dream." He couldn't bring himself to look at Brian.

Brian felt his heart constrict. He couldn't believe that Justin remembered that. Of all the things he could have remembered, why did it have to be that. He wanted to reach out and pull the man in front of him close. Hold him and never let him go. If only he could make his arm move…

Taking the dead silence as a rejection, Justin suddenly stood up. "I knew I was wrong when I saw you the other night." He turned and faced Brian again. "There was nothing in your eyes then but lust; not for me, not for the trick you were fucking, not for Tee either, I bet."

Brian sucked in a quick breath, taken by surprise by the sudden attack. The arm that had almost reached out was snatched back. "I believe in fucking, not relationships, kid. I tried to teach you that, but you were a slow learner."

Justin's eyes, and heart, hardened. "I guess that's why you and Tee get along so well. He already believed in that."

"He's a smart kid." Brian smirked again. "Not that it matters anymore."

"What do you mean? Because he went home?" Justin didn't understand that last comment.

Brian wondered if Justin really didn't know. "Because I got tired of his games and threw him out."

Now Justin was really confused. "Games? What games are you talking about?"

Brian was getting a little tired of this and wanted to wrap this up. He was supposed to pick Gus up in just a little bit. "Whatever game it was that the two of you were playing. Pretending that you didn't know me. Him pretending that he didn't know you. Whatever it was you were up to, it's over now." Brian glanced at his watch. "And now it's time for you to leave. I have a previous engagement in half an hour."

Brian walked over and opened the door, indicating that he expected Justin to leave. As he walked by Brain, Justin stopped and looked up at the taller man, his eyes like ice. He had not appreciated being accused of playing games when he had tried his best to be honest from the time he'd walked into the room. "How would Tee have known that we knew each other when I couldn't even remember your name? Its not like he could see into my dreams, now is it?"

With that, Justin walked out. Brian shut the door and stood with his hand on the doorknob, realizing that what Justin had said was true. He'd always prided himself on reading people. He had to in his business. Before Mikey's statement the other day, he would have sworn that there was no subterfuge in Tee's friendship. Just as he was sure that there had been none in Justin today. Perhaps it had been just a cruel set of coincidences that had brought them all together.

Reaching a decision, Brian headed out the door and down the stairs. He made it out the front door of the hotel in time to see the blue Saturn that Tee usually drove exiting the parking lot with Justin behind the wheel.

As Brian watched Justin drive away, he thought to himself, 'So much for no apologies, no regrets'. He realized that he now had two people to apologize to. He wondered if either of them would accept it.

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