I Will Remember You

Chapter 7

~ The Cruise, Day Four, during the night ~

Song: "Save The Last Dance For Me"

People moved out of the way, gazing at the two men who dared venture onto the dance floor together. The music changed from the upbeat rhythm to a slow, softer sound.

*You can dance*

*Every dance with the guy who gives you the eye*

*Let him hold you tight*

The two men faced each other, moving to the slow beat, not yet touching, feet moving gracefully side to side. Brian removed the white silk scarf from his neck and slowly draped it around his lover's.

*You can smile*

*Every smile for the man who held your hand*

*'neath the pale moonlight*

Sliding his hands the length of the silk, Brian wrapped one arm around Justin's waist, pulling him closer. Their free hands found each other's in a loose clasp as they moved together to the music. Their faces were only inches apart, searching each others eyes. Brian smiled, feeling the joy of holding this man in his arms. Justin dropped his head back slightly and laughed with delight at having the man he loved here on this important night.

*But don't forget who's takin' you home*

*And in whose arms you're gonna be*

*So darlin' save the last dance for me*

The others in the room faded into the background for the two lovers as they danced around the floor, in perfect tune with each other. Brian felt as if his heart would burst with joy. He could hardly contain the smile that kept creeping onto his face.

*Mmmm, Oh I know*

*That the music's fine like sparklin' wine*

*Go and have your fun*

Justin laughed with delight as Brian lead him in a turn, the scarf whipping slightly to the side. Pulling Justin close again, Brian moved their hips in a figure eight, up then down.

*Laugh and sing*

*But while we're apart, don't you give your heart to anyone*

The two moved around the dance floor, so perfectly in time, as the other prom goers looked on. No one else dared to dance, completely enthralled with the pair that had claimed the floor as their own.

*But don't forget who's takin' you home*

*And in whose arms you're gonna be*

*So darlin', save the last dance for me*

Brian lead in Justin in a series of turns, with Justin spinning in the center, smiling with happiness as Brian walked around him.

*Mmmmm*

*Baby don't you know I love you so*

*Can't you feel it when we touch*

Justin felt his breath quicken as he looked into Brian's eyes and saw love there. He almost faltered at the enormity of it. Brian loved him. How had he never seen that before?

*I will never never let you go*

*I love you oh so much*

*you can dance*

*You can carry on till the night is gone*

*And it's time to go*

Justin ran his hand down the front of Brian's jacket until he reached the front button. Unfastening it, he slowly moved his hands back up the inside of the garment. Their mouths only a breath apart, Justin pushed the coat off of Brian's shoulders, moving close as if to kiss, then moving away with a small, teasing smile.

*If he asks*

*If you're all alone, can he take you home*

*You must tell him no*

Sliding around to stand behind his lover, Justin continue to pull the jacket down until only Brian's hands were left trapped. Brian dropped his head back, his smile showing how much he enjoyed Justin's subtle tease. Justin check brushed Brian's ear as he finally freed Brian's hands from their bonds.

*Cause don't forget who's takin' you home*

*And in whose arms you're gonna be*

*So darlin', save the last dance for me*

Justin turned and tossed the no longer needed jacket to Daphne, who stood watching, enjoying her best friend's moment of joy. Justin turned back to Brian and gave him a mischievous smile, placing the scarf around his lovers neck again.  

Brian led Justin in another series of turns, the expression on his face proud; as if to say to everyone that this was his man.

*Cause don't forget who's takin' you home*

*And in whose arms you're gonna be*

*So darlin', save the last dance for me*

Brian pulled him close again, close enough that their bodies were pressed together. Then Brian slowly dipped Justin backwards and just as slowly, pulled him upright and close again. Brian picked his lover up slightly off the floor and began spinning them both in a circle. Caught up in the moment, Brian caught Justin's mouth with his own as they spun in place.

*Mmmm*

*Save the last dance for me*

Oblivious to the rest of the room, the two men continued to kiss, hands sliding up each other's back, pulling closer. Drinking each other... tasting each other.... So lost in each other.

*Mmmm-hmmm*

*save the last dance for me*

They pulled apart, both smiling with pure joy. Knowing that this moment would be theirs forever.

*Mmmm-hmmm*

*save the last dance for me*

Brian pulled back slightly, holding both Justin's hands in his. He swung him gently across the floor, then lead him back out the way they entered.

*Mmmm-hmmm*

*save the last dance for me*

They entered the parking garage, singing and dancing.

Justin laughed "Did you see their faces?"

"Yeah, we gave them a prom they'll never forget. "Brian responded

Brian swung Justin around until his back was against the Jeep. He stood in front of him, looking into his eyes.

"Me neither." Justin replied, a slight tremor in his voice. "This was the best night of my life."

"Even if it was ridiculously romantic" Brian smiled softly.

Looking into each other's eyes, they moved slightly closer, pausing as if to imprint this moment on their brains forever. Unable to delay any longer, Brian captured Justin's mouth again in a soft, sweet kiss. Needed just a bit more, they kissed again, slightly longer, but just as tender.

Brian replaced the scarf around Justin's neck and said softly, "Later."

As Brian backed away, his hand trailed down the scarf, twisting it slightly around his hand. "Later" Justin replied, smiling enough to light up the room.

Justin laughs and floats away, his heart flying. Brian open the jeep door and gets in. He looks into the side mirror and smiles as he watches Justin walk away, playing with the ends of the scarf.

Suddenly, Hobbs is there, bat in hand. "Justin!"

Brian runs toward them, but he wasn't fast enough. Justin turned, a smile still on his face, as the bat connected.

Brian fell to his knees next to Justin's unmoving body, blood pouring out onto the cold, hard pavement. "nononononononono..... God!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brian woke abruptly, sitting upright with sweat pouring down his face. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was.

Michael heard Brian call out in his sleep and moved over to comfort his friend. The look of pure terror on Brian's face was emphasized by the moonlight coming through their porthole. Michael started to reach out, but hesitated, unsure if Brian was truly awake yet or not.

"Brian?" he said softly. "It's Mikey, Brian. Can you hear me?"

A voice reached into the nightmare that still had Brian in its grip. A voice that held comfort and security. A voice that had been there through all the nightmares of his teenage years. Mikey.

Slowly, Brian reached out for his friend, needing some sort of contact to ground him and bring him back from that dark place he was lost in.

"I couldn't stop him." Brian voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "It happened so fast... there was so much blood..."

Michael slowly moved closer, wrapping his arms around his friend, knowing exactly what had invaded his dreams. "It's over now, Bri. It's all over. Justin's fine."

Brian stiffened, suddenly angry. "How do you know that? He fucking disappeared! He took off with some twink he'd only known for a couple of months to who knows where. How does anyone know if he's ok or not?"

Michael had heard his mom says something about Justin moving down south. She must have heard that from Jennifer. But this was the first he'd heard of his leaving with someone else. "I'm sure his family is keeping tabs on him, Brian. They wouldn't let him just take off like that without at least knowing where he was."

Brian wasn't so sure. "I tried to find him." He said softly. "She wouldn't tell me where he was... She said it was all my fault that he'd been hurt." Brian tried to keep the tears from falling. He was still feeling the intensity of that dream. She was right. He hadn't been fast enough. He shouldn't have gone to begin with. It never should have happened.

Michael guessed the 'she' was Justin's mom, Jennifer. "She was upset, Brian. People say and do strange things when they're hurting. It wasn't your fault. You can't blame yourself."

The rest of what Brian had said finally registered with Michael. "You tried to find Justin? When? Why?"

Brian took and deep breathe then exhaled, trying to calm himself. "After I went to New York. When I realized that I still loved him." Then so softly that Michael had to strain to hear. "When I realized that I couldn't live without him."

Michael sat back, stunned. He'd never heard Brian talk like this about anyone. Michael felt his chest tighten. He knew where Justin was. Should he tell Brian? He couldn't stand to see his friend in pain, but there it was as plain as day. It wasn't fair. No matter what he did, Brian was going to be in pain, all because of that damn twink!

"And now it's too late." Brian continued. "I let him slip away and now he's found someone else."

Michael remembered that there was another boy, besides Tee and Rick, with Justin that first night. He wondered if this was the boy Brian was talking about. Well, if Justin had found someone else, then Michael definitely wasn't going to tell Brian that he was here and have that thrown into Brian's face.

Looking over at the clock which read 4am, Michael thought that day four was off to a very rocky start.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Justin woke to a dark room. He could hear his cabin mates softly breathing nearby. He looked over at the clock. Almost 4am.

He'd had that dream again. The one where he danced with the tall, dark man who looked into his eyes with so much love he could barely breathe. It always ended the same. A voice called his name, then everything went black.

Feeling the need to relieve himself, Justin managed to stumble into the bathroom. Pulling the door almost closed, he fumbled for the light.

Returning to his bed once finished, he heard a soft voice call out. "Jus? You ok?" Tee knew Justin seldom woke up during the night. Especially when he'd only gone to bed a few hours beforehand.

"I'm fine, Tee." He replied softly.

"Did the dream guy come back?" Tee knew him a little too well.

"Yeah... same old, same old. Never leaves his calling card." Justin sighed, crawling back into his bed. "Night, Tee."

"Night, Jus. Sweet dreams."

'Sweet dreams, indeed.' Justin thought to himself.

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