Justin Taylor Always Gets What He Wants

“You aren’t mad about the party, are you, Bri?” Justin asked as soon as the guys got themselves settled in front of their blazing but fake fireplace. “You seemed to be having a really good time last night…”

“Now why in the world would you think I’d be mad about the party, JT?” Brian half-smiled as the kid, “Especially since I seemed to be having such a good time – and you can always tell how I’m feeling – because you know me so well …”

“Oh oh, Kinney,” Justin concluded, “So you are mad …”

”Nope,” Brian insisted. “There’s always room for a St. Patrick’s Day party in January. Hardly anybody has them then …”

“But you know Brandon is like – a silent part-owner of Harp and Shillelegh – and that’s Pittsburgh’s best Irish pub - and so they can’t close up for a private party near March 17 – and he wants to have a private St. Patrick’s Day party for his friends– and he wants to come to our party at Gino’s on March 17 anyhow – and his party last year was a big success and …”

“And so a tradition is a-building. This one was an even better success than last year’s was, Sweetheart,” Brian continued. “It was such a good party that I could actually believe you helped – at least a little - with the planning…”

“Well maybe I did help out a bit, Bri,” Justin smiled at him. “But you wouldn’t be mad about that. You know how I am, …”

“Yep,” Brian admitted. “I know you pretty well. Maybe you’d like our own St. Pat’s party to be a bigger affair …”

“No, Brian,” Justin protested. “Never. I want our party to be just what it is. That’s special because it’s ours. I don’t want our party to be like Brandon’s and I don’t want Brandon’s to be like ours either – unless you do …”

“Nope,” Brian grinned. “I like our affair just the way it is but, I guess if you wanted something else … maybe that’s what I’d want too.”

“Gee whiz, Brian Kinney,” Justin cuddled himself closer to Brian. “That’s probably the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me …”

“You saying I don’t say very many romantic things to you, eh?” Brian tightened his grip on the twink next to him.

“Well when I think about it, maybe I could say that, Bri,” Justin ran his hand through Brian’s hair, “But it isn’t what I’m saying right now …”

Brian seemed to get an idea of what Justin was actually saying right then – and the conversation paused while they contemplated the exchange.

“It’s just that I was surprised about some stuff at the party, Baby,” Brian eventually returned to the conversation. “I think you had to expect I’d be surprised …”

“Yeah, I did, Bri,” Justin smiled. “I did plan for you to be surprised. You’re not mad about that, are you? I’m sorry …”

“Hey, Taylor,” Brian reminded him. “I told you I’m not mad about anything. I did have a good time at the party – surprises and all - but maybe I do have a few questions though – like how did you arrange to have Rickshaw and Robert there. Those guys are real celebrities now and …”

“Well, Robert is still on his holiday break from Toronto – he goes back next week,” Justin explained, “And Rick and Shawn had a week off while they put that murderer in the other plot on trial – and they said they’d like to see us - and this party was on the schedule – so I thought it would be fun to surprise you – nobody else knew either – not even Brandon and Jason - just me.”

“Well how did you get them in from the airport, Baby?” Brian sought details.

“The airlines and hotels know how to do stuff for celebrities, Bri - and they are three hot guys right now,” Justin informed him. “They smuggled them off the plane and into a cab and through the back entrance at the hotel. Nobody in town will ever know they were here. And they’re already safely back in New York.”

“Hey, JT,” Brian laughed, “There were like 80 people at that party and just about every one of them wanted their picture taken with our TV stars. You think they’re not gonna spread the news and show those pictures to everybody they know. Actually, Brandon got a call from some guy at Channel 2 today about rumors …”

“Well I guess I knew it would get out, Bri,” Justin admitted. “But the guys are safely out of town now so it’s OK. You aren’t mad that I didn’t tell you they were coming?”

“Geez, Baby,” Brian grinned, “You sound like you’re mad that I’m not mad. I guess I could get mad if you wanted me to – I always want Justin Taylor to get what he wants …By the way though – I was wondering - what did you tell our New Yorkers when they asked you about their current set of problems?”

“They didn’t ask me about any problems, Brian,” Justin was a little taken aback, “And come to think of it, I think they did say they wanted to come to see you …Gee whiz, Kinney . ..”

“Maybe they didn’t get the chance to talk to you, Baby,” Brian theorized. “With the crowd and all …”

“Yeah, they did too, Kinney,” Justin said, “And they didn’t mention any problems either.”

“Guess they figured I had solved their problems then,” Brian presumed with a sly grin

“OK, BK,” Justin figured it out – or pretended to, “I’ve got it all now. You’re mad about something and you’re making up this advice crap to get back at me. That’s really mean, Bri. Well I’m not gonna ask you about what they supposedly asked you either. So there.”

“Good enough, Taylor,” Brian agreed too quickly for Justin, “Suits me. Cause I have a couple of other questions for you. I wasn’t like – expecting to see our guitar virtuoso, Roger Dowdell, at the party – and nobody had mentioned to me that he was teaching Jason to play the guitar – and now Mikey’s talking about taking lessons. I’m gonna end up the worst guitar player in the group. Guess you’ll be signing up too …”

“Gee whiz, Brian, Honey,” Justin consoled him. “You’ll always be the best guitarist in the world as far as I’m concerned. Not that you ever want to play. Getting you to play the guitar is just about the greatest challenge I have with you. And I’m not gonna try to learn to play either – unless you want Roger to work with us both … You know, of course, the New York guys were very impressed with Roger’s playing. They’re going to spread the word in New York so we may be losing Roger too …”

“We won’t be losing Roger, Baby,” Brian laughed. “We’ll just be gaining another world-famous celebrity on our list. …Looks like Eric, the wannabe boy-friend, is making some progress with Roger though. Wonder if he’ll be going to New York too if Roger does?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised at all– taking good advice always pays off - but, you know what, Bri,” Justin interposed. “You seem to be in a lot better mood now and I do need to ask you something – cause I promised. OK? Gus said that maybe …”

“It’s OK with me, Sunshine,” Brian interrupted with a laugh. “If Gus wants to take guitar lessons, that’s OK with me. If you and Gus and Mel and Linz wanted him to have lessons, it wouldn’t matter what I thought anyway. Justin Taylor always gets what he wants.”

“If Justin Taylor always gets what he wants, Honey,” Justin hypothesized thoughtfully, “And that same Justin Taylor wanted to know what the New York guys talked to you about…”

“He could find out, I guess, Sweetheart,” Brian replied coyly. ”Yeah he could. If he really had his heart set on finding out, he could - but what I was really thinking we should do right now is …”

“Well like,” Justin leered at him. “Justin Taylor does want to know all of those details – every single one - like – tomorrow – or the next day…”

And as Brian had very correctly observed earlier, Justin Taylor always got what he wanted.
 

Return to Fireside Chats