Don't Throw Bouquets At Me

The weather outside was warm but the fake fireplace blazed in the loft with Brian and Justin seated in front of it. The heat was turned off though so the guys could get the benefit of the flickering flames without any heat emanation. It was the best of both worlds.

"The Summer Little Theater is putting on 'Oklahoma' next month, and Malcolm is going to direct it," Justin told Brian. "It will be his first real try at directing."

"And you're telling me this for some reason, I guess," Brian replied.

"Because I thought you'd want to know," Justin sounded affronted. "Why else would I be telling you?"

"I don't know," Brian told him, "But sometimes when you wait till the fireplace is lit to tell me something, there's more to it than you're telling me."

"That's mean of you to say that, Brian," Justin defended himself. "Why shouldn't I tell you something? Don't you want to know what's going on?"

"That's exactly my point," Brian laughed. "I do want to know what's going on. Do they want me to play Curly or do they just want me to coach Mikey who will be playing Curly?"

"None of the above, Mr. Know-It-All," Justin laughed back at him. "They don't want you to play anything at all. It's all cast already except for Jud in case you want to volunteer for that role. Maybe you should. You'd make a great Jud."

"Jud doesn't get the girl," Brian responded. "Why would I want to be Jud?"

"Jud's mean and you can play mean pretty well, Honey. But you only want to play roles of guys who get the girl?" Justin snuggled up to Brian. "I didn't know getting the girl was that important to you at all."

"Cut it out, Twink," Brian ordered. "I don't want to play any role as you well know. But if I did want to be in it, I'd want a better part than Jud. And I still think you're leading up to something, and that's what I'm waiting for."

"Darn it, Bri," Justin complained. "You act like you don't trust me."

"It's just that when people want me to find out something they think I won't like, you always get the job of telling me," Brian explained, "And you always wait till the fireplace is lit, like I'm somehow weaker when the fireplace is lit and you can get away with stuff. I guess you're getting ready to tell me that you are going to be Curly. If you want to be Curly, go ahead. I'll come to see you."

"Geez, Brian." Justin complained. "I'm not going to be Curly. I don't know why I ever tell you anything at all, but if I didn't, you'd complain about that too. You're tough, Kinney, but I guess I love you anyway."

"Well why not just tell me what the surprise is and get it over with," Brian smiled at him. "Maybe that would be a good idea."

"Abelard is going to come in and play Curly," Justin admitted.

"Abelard?" Brian wondered. "Abelard can sing?"

"You knew Abelard could sing," Justin insisted. "He takes voice lessons. You knew that. If he didn't like football so much, I think he'd transfer out of Ohio State and maybe come here to study voice at the Institute, or maybe back home at the University of Cincinnati. Anyhow, he has the time off from school and he's coming here to do 'Oklahoma.' He'll be in town for more than a month."

"I think that's great," Brian smiled at Justin. "Abelard can stay here with us while he's in town. I'm glad you got to like Abelard. He can stay here with us."

"He can not, " Justin gritted his teeth. "You're just trying to get me riled up, Kinney, and you aren't going to succeed. Actually Abelard is going to stay with Malcolm. I do like Abelard but he's not going to stay here."

"Seems to me like you are a little bit riled up though," Brian grinned. "I don't see why you would be so against Abe staying here with us."

"You wouldn't want Abelard here any more than I would," Justin claimed. "And you know it and you know why, and I am not riled up, not in the least."

"I can see that you aren't," Brian told him, smiling unconvincingly. "You are a very hard guy to get riled up."

"Well, if anybody could do it, it would be you," Justin smiled back at Brian.

That seemed to conclude the conversation about the play and the visit of Abelard in Pittsburgh. The guys just sat watching the flames and cuddling in silence as they liked to do.

It was Brian who restarted the talking. "You know, Baby, you are right," he began. "Sometimes I guess I suspect you have ulterior motives when all you really want to do is tell me the news. I'm going to quit being so paranoid. Next time you want to tell me something, I'm going to let you tell me, without suspecting you of anything at all."

"Don't worry about it, Bri," Justin responded. "I guess I'm just a bit oversensitive, and you're right. Sometimes I do try to get you to do things you might not want to volunteer for. You have a right to be suspicious sometimes."

"Nah," Brian assured him. "It's me who's oversensitive. I know if there's something you want to tell me, you'll tell me. I don't really mind."

"You don't?" Justin responded.

"Nah," Brian repeated. "I don't mind."

"Well there is something else I guess I should ask you then?" Justin continued.. "Did you know that all along?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Brian claimed.

"Actually, Malcolm is a little bit afraid of working with Abelard," Justin told him. "You know, brothers and all. Malcolm is sure Abe will be great in the part but he's afraid Abe might be a little problem, you know, listening to Malcolm and that kind of stuff."

"And so?" Brian wanted to know.

"And so Malcolm was wondering if you would help out with Abe," Justin confessed. "Abe thinks you're the greatest guy in the world and he'd listen to you even if he wouldn't listen to Malcolm."

"Help out?" Brian repeated.

"Just talk to Abe if Malcolm needs some help getting him to do what he's supposed to, Bri," Justin explained. "You're the only one we know Abelard will listen to."

"Just like you're the only one Brian Kinney will listen to, I guess," Brian concluded. "But OK, I'll help out with Abelard if I can. You win. Just don't let everybody know how easily you can twist me around your little finger."

"That's not true at all, Brian," Justin retorted. "It's just that we do things for each other. You know I do anything you want me to do and I don't think you're twisting me around your little finger."

"Well don't tell anybody anyhow," Brian repeated.

"Why not?" Justin wanted to know.

"People will say we're in love," Brian told him.

"They already do, Bri," Justin informed him, "And I think they're right.

"Maybe so," Brian agreed.

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