A Star is Born

Justin got home a few minutes before Brian did. He just had time to check the phone messages when Brian entered.

"We got a phone message from Mikey, Bri," he said to Brian who was removing his coat. "He's coming over to talk to us after dinner."

"I wonder what that's all about?" Brian remarked.

"He said it was about Hunter and Malcolm," Justin continued, "I knew this was going to happen. I guess Malcolm has found somebody else and ditched Hunter. That was a sure thing eventually."

"But we thought it would be coming a lot sooner than this," Brian replied, "They've been together almost a month. That's enough time for Malcolm to have four boyfriends. Hunter should be congratulated for establishing such a long term relationship with Malcolm."

"Somehow I don't think that will be any consolation for Hunter," Justin smiled, "But I wonder what Mikey wants us to do about it."

"There isn't much we can do about it, is there?" Brian concluded, "I don't think you have that much influence on Malcolm. Now if it were me we were talking about."

"Cut it out, Brian," Justin interrupted, "You know I love you and always want the best for you, but I'm tired of your insinuations, and this is not about us, it's about Malcolm and poor Hunter."

"Well," Brian decided, "Let's wait till we hear what Mikey has to say."

That's what they did. They had other matters to discuss over dinner and the subject of Mikey's visit was not mentioned again. Shortly after they got the dishes into the dishwasher, an agitated Michael appeared on their doorstep.

"We warned you about Malcolm, Mikey," Brian told their visitor as he was hanging up his coat.

"And I even talked to Hunter about it," Justin added. "It was bound to happen and we wonder why you're surprised."

"You did not," Mikey protested, "This came right out of the blue. Ben and me were shocked, and we're not sure it's a good idea at all."

"Well, there's not much you can do about it. Malcolm doesn't stick with one guy all that long," Brian pointed out.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. You told me that a hundred times," Michael responded, "That's why we think this is so crazy."

"Wait a minute, Mikey," Brian suggested, "You're not making any sense. What exactly are you talking about?"

"What the hell do you think I'm talking about?" Michael complained, "I'm talking about Malcolm convincing Hunter that he should be an actor. Didn't I say that on the phone?"

That sent Brian and Justin into a laughing fit "Now what the hell are you two nuts laughing about. This is a serious matter and you dopes are standing there laughing about it. Sometimes I don't get you guys."

"We're sorry, Mikey," Justin answered, still laughing, "But you didn't say what the problem was on the telephone and we assumed that…."

"That Malcolm had ditched Hunter," Michael finished Justin's sentence for him. "No such luck," Michael too had a smile on his face now, "They're as hot and heavy as ever. But Ben and me thought Malcolm was good for Hunter until this."

"And just what is this?" Brian wanted to know.

"He's got Hunter into some play over at your Institute, Sunshine, and now Hunter wants to transfer to the Performing Arts High School and study acting." Michael explained, "That's what this is."

"Well Malcolm is certainly into dramatics, " Justin admitted, "But maybe Hunter will like it too. Maybe he'd really like to be an actor."

"What'll happen," Mikey groused, "Is that Hunter'll switch into dramatics just because of Malcolm. Then Malcolm will disappear and then where will Hunter be? Why does Malcolm have to get everybody into a play? He even got you on stage, Brian."

"That he did," Brian agreed, "In a manner of speaking."

"But you did it because you wanted to," Mikey stated, "And Hunter's doing it only because he loves Malcolm."

"Actually, I only did it for love too, Michael," Brian corrected him, "Just not for Malcolm." Brian looked over at the smiling Justin, expecting a complaint which did not come. Justin was too moved to object. So Brian went on, "But if you want us to, we'll talk to Hunter and to Malcolm, and see what we can do."

"Yeah, Mikey," Justin added, "We'll do what we can. I'll talk to Malcolm and we'll both talk to Hunter. Hunter can't change schools till next term at the earliest so maybe the situation will work itself out. He may hate acting after the play Malcolm's got him into now."

"I guess there really is no hope for a quick solution to this," Mikey opined.

"Probably not," Justin told him, "But time in on our side. Things can change with Hunter and Malcolm in the next few months, and if they don't by then, the situation won't seem as scary then as it does now."

"I think you're right, Boy Wonder," Mikey replied. "I'm glad you're on my side. We'll just give this a little time and see how it works out. I think that was what Ben wanted to do anyhow."

"But, let me give you a little warning, Michael," Brian interjected, "Watch out for Malcolm yourself. I heard him mention that he thinks of you in an Arthur Miller, or maybe Eugene O'Neill, play."

"Me. In a play?" Michael responded, "On stage? I don't think so, but I bet I could do it. I have great comic timing."

"Which is exactly why Malcolm sees you in an Arthur Miller or Eugene O'Neill play," Brian assured him.

"Well I doubt if I'd have the time for it, what with the comic book store and Rage and all. But thanks for warning me, Brian. I'll think about it. You can be mean sometimes but mostly you're a good friend," Mikey answered, still a bit surprised.

"Thanks, Mike. That means a lot to me," Brian told him as Mikey put on his coat and made his departure.

Justin lit the fireplace suppressing a wry grin. He didn't say anything till he and Brian were seated on the floor watching the darting flames.

"Brian Kinney," Justin declared flatly, "I'm a failure. After all the work I've done on you, you are still the meanest man in the world. How could you do that to Mikey? You never heard Malcolm talking about putting Mikey on stage."

"Well maybe I read minds like you do, Baby," Brian defended himself, "Furthermore, I think I did more to take Mikey's mind off the problem he had than you did. I don't think he was thinking about Hunter when he left."

"No, he wasn't," Justin admitted, "He was seeing the spotlight shining on him."

"And when Mikey becomes a great star of stage, screen and TV, Sunshine, we'll look back on this night as that magic time when a star was born," Brian told him.

"Cut it out, Bri," Justin had to laugh. "I'm beginning to think this is pretty funny too. You're making me feel as evil as you are."

"Do you feel bad about that?" Brian asked.

"No," Justin answered, "And that's what scares me."

"Good," Brian told him. And Justin decided he had no further argument.

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