The Right Fork

"You know I hate that kind of stuff, Baby," Brian was complaining to Justin as they sat on the floor in front of their couch, facing their fake fireplace, "Why didn't you just tell Mikey we couldn't go?"

"Because we should go," Justin said. "I was asked only because Mikey really wants you there. They're honoring Ben but it's Mikey's night of triumph too and he wants you to be part of it. He needs you to be part of it and he deserves to have you be part of it."

"So I'm supposed to sit through a bunch of boring speeches to see Ben get some award for good teaching, just to please Mikey," Brian responded.

"That's about it," Justin told him, "But you know it's a lot more than that too, Bri. Ben is our friend and he's being honored as one of the ten best teachers at CMU. We ought to be there to let him know how proud we are of him. And you know it would mean a lot to Michael to have you there too."

"Why doesn't he take his mother?" Brian asked.

"Maybe he will," Justin answered, "But that's not the point. Whether Debbie is there or not, he wants you."

"I don't think so," Brian reasoned, "He probably wants you there to see that he uses the right fork. You and Ted got him ready for that weird dinner party at Dr. Dave's, and he doesn't want the CMU crowd to know what a yokel he is. Tell him to take Ted and then he won't need you."

"Brian, Honey," Justin had his turn to complain, "You are getting exasperating. It is up to you to decide if you'll go or not. I just wanted you to know how I felt about it."

"I'll bet you told him I'd go to the damn thing," Brian accused him.

"I did not," Justin retorted, "And I now am officially exasperated, so this discussion is closed."

But the discussion was not closed. Brian squeezed the kid, pulling him even closer. "We both would have a better time that night sitting here, just the two of us," Brian tempted him. "I can absolutely promise you a better time."

Justin had to smile. "I know that and I agree with you," he told Brian, "But that is not an option. I told Mikey I would go. But I could be available any other night you pick."

"And what if I insist that it be the same night as Mikey's big bash," Brian wanted to know.

"Then you'll have to get somebody else. I just won't be able to attend," Justin told him. "Unless, of course, you can hold off your party till I, or we, get back from Ben's celebration. I sure would like to attend both parties but I have to go to Ben's"

"I guess the honeymoon is over," Brian groused.

"What honeymoon?" Justin laughed as he asked.

It was a while before the subject was reintroduced and it was Brian who returned to the sore subject. "Who all from our gang is invited to this shindig?" he asked the kid.

"As far as I know it would just be Mikey and Ben, you and me, and Hunter and Malcolm," Justin answered, "There was some kind of limit on how many people each of the honorees could ask, so we should feel honored that they asked us."

"Well I don't feel all that honored," Brian retorted, "And they better sit you between Mikey and Hunter because I don't think Hunter will know any more about the right fork than Mikey."

"But Malcolm will, Honey," Justin reminded him, "Malcolm comes from the cream of Cincinnati society, so Hunter won't need me. I figure Mikey wanted me seated between you and him."

"I know one fork from another, Twink," Brian retorted, "And I'm good with spoons too."

"I know that," Justin laughed, "You always pick the right fork. But Mikey knows I always want to sit next to you. It would be awful not sitting next to you."

"Then why aren't you ordering me to go?" Brian wanted to know.

"Because I never order you to do anything, Brian Kinney," Justin defended himself, "You are certainly old enough to make your own decisions. And whatever you decide to do will be the best thing. You have to decide for yourself what to do."

"It's like I'm at the fork of a road then," Brian mused.

"Cut it out, Bri," Justin requested, "I'm tired of this subject. Let's just sit here a while."

Brian agreed that might be a neat course of action but destiny intervened in the form of a visitor. There came a knock to the door and Brian invited Michael to enter without rising from his position on the floor.

"Ben said I should stop by and issue the invitation to his dinner to both of you," Michael began. "I already mentioned it to Justin," he told Brian "And I asked him to tell you about it, but Ben said I should ask you both. You know I'm not good with this social shit. I want Justin to sit next to me so I use the right fork, Big Guy, but you can sit on the other side of him. I bet you wouldn't come otherwise. I know how you hate these social occasions."

"I guess I could tolerate sitting next to the kid," Brian laughed, "I sit next to him a lot. But how could you think I wouldn't come otherwise? Do you think I'd miss seeing Ben get honored? And it's your night of triumph too, Mikey. Do you think I'd miss that? What kind of friend do you think I am?"

"Well you've always been a pretty good friend," Mikey admitted, "But not always too dependable. You're more dependable since you've got the Boy Wonder here."

"I have to admit that I'm glad the Boy Wonder is here, Mikey," Brian responded, "But I sure don't need his help with this. I can't believe you would think I wouldn't want to be with you and Ben on this great occasion. Justin and I were just talking about how much fun we plan to have that night."

"Probably after the dinner at CMU," Mikey laughed.

"Geez, Mikey," Brian wondered, "When did you become Michael Novotny, the big cynic? You can tell Ben 'Congratulations' from us and we'll be there next Wednesday. We're looking forward to it."

"Except that the dinner is on Thursday," Justin interjected.

"I guess I'm so eager to go that I wanted to get there a day early," Brian explained.

"I love you guys," Michael told them, "But, you know, sometimes you give me a headache. I better get out of here. I'll see you before the party."

After Michael left, Justin just sat there kind of staring at Brian.

"Well?" Brian asked him.

"I love you, Brian Kinney," Justin smiled at him, "But sometimes you give me a headache."

"Rest you achy head right here on my shoulder," Brian prompted him, "That will make it feel better. You knew all along I'd take the right fork in the road. I'm good with forks."

Justin was a happy kid. It wasn't long before he felt himself falling asleep leaning close against Brian. He liked to do that and he was pretty sure Brian liked it too. Before he closed his eyes though he grabbed Brian's hand. "The honeymoon is not over, Bri," he told him, "Not by a long shot." That made Brian happy too.

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