Reviews

Both the guys had come home late that evening. Each had eaten elsewhere, so their evening together began in front of the flames of their fake fireplace.

Brian began the conversation. "Are you going to tell me whatever secrets Hunter told you today?" he surprised his blond companion by asking.

"What makes you think Hunter told me any secrets?" Justin asked in return.

"You know I had dinner with Michael and Ben," Brian smiled at him, "You were working with Mikey on Rage this morning weren't you? Hunter came in and tried to get you off by yourself. He thought Mike wouldn't notice but it's hard to pull anything on a guy as sharp as Mikey. So he figured you and Hunter had some secrets."

"You don't think Hunter was hitting on me, do you?" Justin laughed.

"What would he want with you when he already has a really young hottie like Malcolm," Brian teased, "But I'm thinking I know what was going on. I'll bet Hunter was complaining because they're nagging him about the trip to Cincinnati even though you thought you had that all patched up and taken care of. Right?"

"Wrong," Justin stated emphatically. "When I fix things they stay fixed, Honey," he continued, "But you might be right about a little secret. I need to tell you what it is because I want to know what you think, but I don't want you to run to Mikey with it right away."

"I can't promise anything like that," Brian replied, "Unless it's really something Mikey doesn't need to know. I don't want to be part of any trick being pulled on Michael."

"Not unless you're the one pulling it," Justin laughed. "He's probably going to find out about this soon enough, Sweetheart" Justin promised, "Hunter told Ben and he has some concerns too. Hunter likes me since I fixed up Cincinnati and he thinks I'm smart so he wanted to know what I thought, and I just have to get your take on the situation."

"OK, Twink," Brian acquiesced, "Shoot."

"Brian, Malcolm told Hunter that the producers at the little theater where Mikey broke his leg were so pleased with Mikey's performance that they want to offer him a lead in their next show," Justin revealed. "Malcolm thinks they're right about Mike being a natural actor, but he's not too keen on having Mikey around all the time. Hunter and Malcolm think Michael can be a kind of a wet blanket for their relationship if he's there all the time."

"And so they want to deprive the world of the next Laurence Olivier?" Brian mused.

"Who?" Justin wanted to know.

"Forget it," Brian advised with a laugh, "But you said Ben knows about this. What does he think?"

"Hunter said Ben's not all that keen on the idea," Justin informed Brian, "Ben thinks Mike has a tendency to go off the deep end sometimes. He's afraid that Michael will get so tied up in the acting that he'll forget everything else. That could be Rage too so I am also involved. And since Mikey likes to rehearse his lines with you, you have a stake in this too. And we're talking a large role."

"You don't have to try to frighten me into helping you if I can. Ben is probably right about Michael, Kiddo," Brian admitted, "But what could we do about it anyhow?"

"Malcolm could try to talk the producers out of asking him, Brian," Justin suggested. "Hunter thought maybe they should just tell the producers that Michael wouldn't be interested."

"Without telling Michael at all?" Brian replied, "Sounds like lying to me."

"That's what it sounded like to me too, Bri," Justin admitted kind of dejectedly.

"And have they thought of what might happen if they did something like that and Mikey accidently found out?" Brian questioned. "That could put a real crimp in the Hunter-Malcolm romance, I would think."

"I don't think Malcolm and Hunter have even thought of that, Bri," Justin wondered. "That's why I need to talk these things over with you. You really figure stuff out. I guess there's not much anybody can do then."

:"There is probably nothing you should do. It's not up to any of us to decide about Mikey's acting. That should be his decision." Brian smiled at Justin. "But now it's my turn to tell you something that's a little bit of a secret too, and it just might ease the problem that you guys have," Brian told him.

"I'm all ears," Justin replied with some enthusiasm.

"That's no different from always," Brian jibed, taking a light tap in the ribs from Justin who snuggled closer as if to better share Brian's secret."

"The truth is," Brian continued, "Mikey wanted to get me away from Ben tonight to get my opinion on something. Those producers have already contacted him about a role in the next play."

"Oh God, Brian," Justin was astonished, "It's too late to do anything anyhow. But maybe I'm kind of glad it turned out this way. I was feeling guilty about the whole thing. Mikey could turn out to be a real acting discovery. He would be great in roles like Colin Farrell plays."

"Who?" Brian asked.

"Never mind," Justin responded, "Is it OK with you if I get a hold of Hunter or Malcolm and call them off before they do something stupid? They're just going to have to live with Mikey the actor."

"Did I say I was finished/" Brian wondered, "Sorry if I did because I'm not."

"I'm sorry, Honey," Justin apologized, "You know me. I tend to get excited easily."

"I do know you, Baby," Brian laughed at him, "And I do know you get excited easily." That earned Brian another light jab to the ribs and a broad grin from Justin.

"Honey," Brian went on, "Mikey wants to turn down the part. He thought he was good in the last play but he doesn't want to do any more. He would have turned down those producers already but he doesn't want to disappoint any of you guys. He's thinking of doing it just to please you. He wanted me to help him figure out how to tell everybody."

"What did you tell him?" Justin asked breathlessly.

"I told him that I wanted to talk it over with you first but that I thought he should just level with everybody and that they'd understand if he didn't want to do any more theater," Brian told him.

"You wanted to talk it over with me?" Justin asked.

"Yeah," Brian said, "You have good judgment every once in a while and I wanted to see what you thought."

"I love you, Brian," Justin gushed. "You are such a great guy. I sometimes wonder what I ever did to deserve you."

"Me too," Brian agreed smugly.

"We can discuss that matter in just a minute or two," Justin retorted, "But can I please call Hunter and warn him not to do anything for now?"

"I guess you better," Brian agreed.

Justin dialed Hunter's cell phone and was glad to hear Hunter's voice answering. "Hey Hunter," he announced, beaming an arch smile at Brian, "Good news. I've got your problem solved."

Return to Fireside Chats