Ready to Wear

Justin and Brian were sitting in the darkened loft with just the fake fireplace blazing in front of them. Ghostly shadows flickered against the walls providing the exact right atmosphere for the discussion that was about to take place.

"It's time we made our final plans for Halloween, Brian," Justin was telling him, "It's just around the corner and it's going to be big for us this year."

"We don't have to go to the costume party at Babylon if you don't want to," Brian replied, "I just thought it would be fun."

"There's no reason not to go, Honey," Justin responded, "If you think it will be fun, it probably will be. We don't get there very much any more. Just as long as we get over to Gus' to spend the early evening with him. We promised Mel and Linz we would be there, and I know you want to see Gus in costume, and so do I."

"Well what'll we wear?" Brian wondered, "We both have Easter Bunny costumes. Maybe we should both go as Easter bunnies."

"No sale, Sweetheart," Justin answered, "Two Easter bunnies is at least one too many. We have a Santa Claus suit available that fits you though so we could go as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. That would go over big at Babylon, I bet."

"And it would probably scare Gus too." Brian opined, "But you know I was only kidding, don't you?"

"Yeah, I knew you were only kidding. So was I.," Justin said, "But, Honey I have something to tell you, and I'm not kidding. I want you to think about it before you say anything, OK?"

"Shit, Justin," Brian told him, "Even you can't mess up Halloween." Then he added, "I'm not going to be sorry I said that, am I?"

"Do you remember that you told Lindsay that you would wear whatever costume Gus would like you to wear?" Justin asked Brian.

"Vaguely," Brian answered cautiously.

"Well," Justin continued, "Gus wants you to come as his favorite character, SpongeBob SquarePants."

"Who in the hell is SquarePants SpongeBob?" Brian cried.

"You were supposed to think about it before you said anything, Brian. You promised." Justin told him, "And it is SpongeBob SquarePants." Then Justin continued, "Brian, Honey, you have a way of mixing up people's names if you don't like them. Of course, I know it's deliberate on your part, but sometime I wish you'd tell me why you do it?"

"I didn't promise anything, and I mix up people's names just because I don't like them, or maybe just because I'm mad at them," Brian groused.

"You know, Brian," Justin smiled. "It makes me happy to know that. It proves you liked me from the first night we met. You didn't get my name wrong at all. You just forgot it entirely."

"I didn't forget it at all and you know it," Brian replied.

"Well what does it mean when you pretend to forget people's names?" Justin asked, "I'd really like to know that."

"Well I'm not telling. You can't make me either." Brian laughed.

"Just as well," Justin laughed with him, "This way I can make up my own interpretation and that will satisfy me completely."

"You know, Jordan, you have an irritating way of changing the subject," Brian pretended to pout, "But who is this SpongePants SquareBob anyhow?. And I'm going to get that name wrong even if I do like him."

"You're just not attuned to pop culture, Honey," Justin said, handing Brian a photo, "I knew that so I just happen to have his picture right here. What do you think?"

"This wasn't Gus' idea." Brian screamed, "It's that damn Melanie. She pretends we're friends now but deep down, she really hates me. Nobody could like this character."

"Actually, he's very well-known, Bri," Justin disagreed, "He's very popular with kids but he has a considerable adult following as well. Lots of adult meaning in SpongeBob SquarePants. He's bound to be big this Halloween. You certainly won't be the only SpongeBob SquarePants walking the streets this year."

"I'm not going to be any SpongeSquare BobPants at all. I'm not going to make a fool out of myself. I have my dignity to consider." Brian insisted.

"OK, Brian," Justin told him, "But Gus is going to be very disappointed. Linz said he's been telling everybody that SpongeBob SquarePants is coming to see him on Halloween night."

"Rent the damn costume," Brian gritted his teeth. "That was a really unlucky night when I met you and Gus both, but I guess I have to live with it now. Go rent the damn costume."

"Brian, Honey," Justin informed him, "I already did. Couldn't take a chance on them running out. It's in the clothes closet in an unmarked bag so you can try it on any time you want to."

There was a period of silence which ensued, lulling Justin into a false sense of security that the worst was over.

They were just enjoying themselves being together when a thought occurred to Brian.

"Shit, Baby," he told Justin, "I can't go to Babylon dressed as SquareBob SpongePants. I don't want Mikey and Ben and Ted and Emmett to see me. It's bad enough to have Mel and Lindsay laughing at me."

"By the time you get to Babylon, Sweetheart," Justin informed him, "It will be too late for that. Those guys and Debbie and Vic will be at Gus' when we're there. But I do think you better change costumes before we go to Babylon anyhow. That would be smart."

"Maybe, I should just go to Babylon naked with a hood over my head," Brian complained.

Justin laughed, at least partly in sympathy. "I don't think that will work, Honey," he told Brian, "Everybody will recognize you right away."

Brian had to laugh too. He knew it was funny even if the joke was on him. "Maybe we should go as Batman and Robin," Brian suggested, "Rumor has it that there was a gay connection there."

"But I want to wear the same costume both places," Justin objected, "And we can't go see Gus as SpongeBob SquarePants and Robin, can we?"

"By the way, Sweetheart," Brian wanted to know, "You haven't mentioned your costume. Who are you planning to be for Halloween?"

"I was thinking maybe Superman," Justin offered tentatively.

"Oh," Brian figured, "You're going to be Superman and I'm going to be BobSquare SpongePants. I guess you think that's fair."

"Brian, Honey, " Justin protested, "You're Superman every day. I just get to be Superman for Halloween. That's not so bad, is it?"

"Justin Taylor, you are a manipulating little pain in the ass," Brian complained, "And more than a little sneaky too."

Justin moved over and kissed Brian. "Thanks for telling me you love me," he said to Brian.

"Is that what I did?" Brian asked with surprise in his voice.

"Sure," Justin answered, "Didn't you get my whole name right?"

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