Boys of Liberty Ave.

Chapter 5

Authors note: This is a continuation of my thoughts on how it could possibly play out. While it is likely that this type of relationship would never work I'll make sure it does. I don't do sad endings.

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Brian watched as Justin walked out of his life most likely for good. Tears ran down his face. He wanted to run after Justin but how could he. He caused Justin so much pain, making him deny who he is. Brian sobbed quietly into his hands. He felt someone lay a hand on his shoulder. For a moment he thought it was Justin. When he looked up he was startled to see Daphne. He recognized the girl Justin always hung around.

"Brian."

He roughly brushed away his tears. Daphne sat where Justin had sat just moments before.

"Can we talk?"

Brian took a deep breath. "I just want to be alone."

"Well tough, you're going to hear what I have to say anyway. See, that's your problem; you don't really want to be alone. You want to be with Justin but you just can't get past the self loathing can you?"

Brian shot her a look. "Fuck! All right fine, I do want to be with Justin but I've fucked it all up. I've been such a bastard to him. He'll never forgive me. He's given me so many chances and I've fucked up each and every time. I deserve to be miserable."

Daphne rolled her eyes the two drama queen's deserved each other.

"Do you love him? Is he worth fighting for?"

Brian looked over at her with tears in his eyes and nodded. "I'm not like him, I'm not brave. I think he's the strongest person I know. Just the thought of telling my parents terrifies me."

"Well, if your parents really loved you they'd get over it. Besides you're going off to college in the fall. Look at it this way; it's better to be hated by your parents than miserable for the rest of your life."

"It doesn't matter, Justin is gone. He'll never forgive me, not after what I did to him. God, I can't believe I hurt him."

"Yeah, I should be kicking your skinny ass up and down the track field but I'm showing great restraint here."

Brian choked out a laugh at the thought.

"Don't think I can't do it either. Listen Brian, love gay or straight is complicated, messy and most of all painful. I think you got that part down. If you give up then you really will lose him. You have to decide what's more important, your reputation or Justin."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I'm doing this for Justin. God help him he loves you. Now you're going to have to earn his love."

Daphne walked to the parking lot. Brian broke down sobbing in utter misery.

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When Justin entered the house his parents were waiting for him. His father called out.

"Justin can I have a word with you?"

Justin leaned against the kitchen counter. He looked nervously at his mother. She gave him a small smile.

Craig cleared his throat. "Well, that was some speech."

"Look I'm sorry. It wasn't planned. I've just had everything bottled up inside for months and I just exploded. It felt like the right thing to do at the time."

Craig sighed, "I'm not going to pretend that I'm all right with it cuz I'm not and I don't think I ever will be. I realize that I can't tell you how to live your life. You're a man now and what you do is your business. So we'll just leave it at that. While you still live here I expect you not to parade your lifestyle around."

Justin ground his teeth. "Fine, really that won't be a problem anyway."

"How did you get that bruise?"

"I really don't want to talk about it."

Craig shifted uncomfortably. "Are you seeing that Kinney boy?"

"Yes, but I don't think I'll be seeing him anymore. Can I go to my room now?"

Craig nodded. "Sure."

Justin headed up to his room and flopped down on his bed. He bunched up the pillow, tears streaming down his cheeks.

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Brian entered the house as quietly as he could. He hoped he could make it up to his bedroom without running into his father.

Jack called out, "Brian, get in here; we need to talk now!"

By the sound of his voice he knew this wouldn't be good. His dad was furious.

"I want some answers and I want the truth. You've been lying to us for God knows how long. Did that Taylor boy stay the weekend with you?"

Brian flinched. "Yes, I'm sorry I lied."

"Why did you lie?" Joan asked.

Brian's voice was almost a whisper. "Sometimes the truth is harder to accept."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jack growled.

Brian swallowed back the bile in his throat. "Justin and I have been seeing each other, I'm gay. I lied because I was afraid to tell you but I was also afraid to admit it to myself."

Joan made a choking noise. "No, Brian, don't be silly. You're not gay, you can't be."

"How dare you upset your mother! We raised you right; you got the best education. You're going to college in the fall."

"That doesn't change anything. I'm still gay."

"I don't think you realize the consequences. Do you think you'll be able to get a good job if every one knows you're a faggot? Get out of my sight; you make me sick."

Brian rushed to his room. He shook with anger and fear. He stood by the window looking out over the town wishing he was far away from there. Brian wrapped his arms around himself wishing they were Justin's.

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Two weeks passed by. Both Justin and Brian were miserable without each other. Justin moped around the house and Brian holed up in his room as much as he could avoiding his parents. Finally Brian made the decision to call Justin. He couldn't stand living like that anymore. He had to try to get Justin back no matter what. Brian called Justin's cellphone. When he heard Justin's sweet voice on the phone he was suddenly nervous.

"Hi," Brian said tentatively.

Justin was stunned; he never expected to hear from Brian again. "What do you want?"

"Can I see you?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

There is silence on the phone for a minute.

Brian pleaded, "Please, we need to talk. I… I need you."

Justin's voice was as cold as ice shards. "What about when I needed you? I don't recall you caring very much. You just expect me to come running like a faithful dog. Why should I even bother?"

"Please." Justin could hear the tears in Brian's voice. Justin sighed.

"When?"

"Can you come now?"

"Fine, where?"

"The park."

"I'll be there."

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Brian was sitting slumped on a bench in the corner of the park. Justin watched him for a moment. He had never seen Brian look so miserable.

"Hi," Justin said quietly.

Brian slowly looked up. "Hi."

"Well I'm here, start talking."

Justin sat down on the bench next to Brian but made sure there was a large gap between them.

"Justin, I've missed you so much."

"Have you now?"

Brian took a deep breath. "Tell me it's not too late. I want us to be together again. I don't want to lose you."

Justin crossed his arms over his chest. "Maybe you already have."

"I fucked up big time." There were unshed tears in his voice.

"Bri, listen to me. I can't keep doing this with you. I let you in, you push me away. You care more about what your friends and family think. You fucking hurt me in more ways than one."

Brian looked at Justin. "I'm so sorry. Please believe I never wanted to hurt you. I promise I'll never ever do anything like that again. I panicked; I know that's no excuse. If I could take it all back I would. Can we work this out?"

"I don't know."

Brian looked at Justin with tear filled eyes. "Can you forgive me for being so stupid and hurtful?"

"In time."

Justin wanted to pull Brian into his arms but he curbed that impulse. He had to ask, "What did you tell your parents?"

"I told them, I had to. Dad wanted the truth."

Justin was shocked that Brian would actually go that far. "What did they say?"

"Well my mom's in denial, apparently according to her I can't possibly be gay. Dad's furious with me. They really haven't spoken to me much since. Dad thinks I'll ruin my future but I don't want a future that doesn't have you in it."

"I don't know, Bri. I'm sick of being your dirty little secret. I won't hide anymore."

Brian shifted on the bench. "I'm not asking you to. I'm not gonna lie. I'm terrified but I'm more scared of losing you. If you're by my side I'll prove beyond a doubt that I love you with all my heart."

Justin smiled slightly. "I really hope you mean that, Bri."

Without thinking Justin put his arm around Brian. Brian leaned into him. They sat there quietly for a moment. Brian reluctantly got up. "Let's get out of here."

As they left the park Brian tentatively held out his hand. Justin smiled one of his sunny smiles and took his hand. They walked down the street together; several people saw them which caused Brian to squeeze Justin's hand a little tighter.

"It's a start," Justin said.

Justin stroked the back of Brian's hand with his finger soothingly. Brian pulled Justin under a lamp post.

"Things will be different this time around."

Justin nodded. "I think for now we should take things slow. Last time we went too fast. I think that was half the problem. We just went way too fast. The night of the dance when you came to my house you were drunk, scared and confused. I still feel like I took advantage of you even though I asked if you wanted to."

"Justin, you didn't do anything I didn't want to do." Brian smiled shyly "How about tomorrow we have our first date? We kinda skipped over that last time."

Justin's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Yeah, what did you have in mind?"

Brian tilted his head to the side. "I'll think of something."

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Justin paced in his room waiting for Daphne to come over; he needed his best friend. Daphne entered the room and flopped down on the bed. "So what's the big emergency?"

"I have a date…. with Brian."

Daphne smirked, "So details and leave nothing out."

"Well he called."

Daphne grumbled, "About time."

Justin arched a brow. Daphne mimed zipping her lips.

"We met at the park. He told his parents. They didn't throw him out so it's going as well as can be expected. He held my hand and the world didn't end so the plan is we're going to take it slow. He's taking me out on a date this afternoon, which is why you're here. You have to help me pick out something nice to wear.

"Just so I'm clear you're going out on a date with Brian in public?"

Justin's smile lit up the whole room. "Yes, our very first date."

"Brian doesn't care if he's seen with you?" Justin put on a hurt look. Daphne threw a pillow at him. "You know what I mean. What if you run into some of his friends?"

Justin picked up the pillow and hugged it. "He knows he'll lose me for good if he fucks up one more time. I think he's sick of hiding just like I was but he's still scared." Justin opened his closet. "What should I wear?"

Daphne laughed, "I don't see how it'll matter. Halfway through the date you'll be ripping each other's clothes off."

Justin tried not to laugh. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'll just go in the nude, save a lot of time. Be serious, Daphne."

"Well, what are you two going to be doing on this date?"

"We're having lunch together, I think."

"Then just wear something casual. You don't want to look like you're trying too hard." Daphne bounced up off the bed. She flipped through Justin's closet. She pulled out a pair of faded jeans and a tight little blue tee. She handed her selection to Justin. "This should make him drool."

Justin set the clothes on the bed. He gave Daphne a pointed look.

"What? I'm not bothering you."

Justin put his hands on his hips. "I need to get ready for my date."

"I'm not stopping you," Daphne said innocently.

"I'm not going to put on a strip show, Daph."

"But I just got comfortable." She gestured to the bed. She caught the 'I'm warning you' look. She let out a long suffering sigh. "Fine, you big prude, I'm leaving."

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Justin tried to distract himself while he waited for Brian to pick him up. He couldn't contain his excitement and yet at the same time he was nervous. Justin knew it was ridiculous to be nervous. They had been intimate with each other for two months. Now they were starting over fresh. This was the all important first date complete with jitters.

Brian knocked on the door. Justin's heart was in his throat as he saw Brian standing there looking incredible. Brian presented him with a long stemmed red rose. Their hands brushed together when Justin took it. Justin put his rose in water. When Brian held out his hand Justin eagerly took it.

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They ended up at the Liberty Diner. They ordered the typical teen meal of burgers and fries. Brian insisted on paying. He was determined to do things right this time. The couple fed each other bites of lemon squares. They got a lot of attention in the diner but Brian didn't react to it. Justin tried to convince him it was because they were both so devastatingly handsome.

Brian was getting used to holding hands with Justin. The more he made himself make the effort the better he felt. If Justin's bright smile was any indication the date looked to be a success. Brian pulled Justin into his arms for a quick kiss. Neither of them saw Chris come to a grinding halt. Chris' hot temper bubbled to the surface.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

Justin's passion filled eyes quickly dimmed into fear. Brian stepped in front of Justin to protect him.

"Why the hell are you hanging out with this little queer? From the look of it he was trying to molest you."

Brian knew Chris would explode and there was nothing he could do about it.

Chris fumed with rage. "You're a fucking faggot, aren't you?"

"Chris, you're a fucking idiot. Let me pick words you might understand. I like dick, I like sucking dick, and most of all I like getting fucked by dick. As long as I'm around you're going to leave Justin the hell alone."

Chris punched him in the jaw. Brain didn't defend himself. Chris punched him again. He could hear Justin screaming. Chris started kicking him viciously in the stomach and chest.

Chris screamed, "You fucking faggot!"

Justin fell to his knees and covered Brian's body with is own, protecting him from further abuse. Justin waited for the punishing kicks to come but they didn't. Someone had pulled Chris away from them. Brian laid there battered and bleeding. Justin gently cradled his head in his lap.

"Brian, are you all right?"

"I'm fucking fabulous." He chuckled which turned into a cough. His ribs were tender and his jaw was quickly turning purple. His lip was bleeding. Justin helped him slowly to his feet; Brian was a bit dizzy. Justin held on to him tight. Somehow Justin got Brian all the way to his house. Jennifer gasped when she saw the boys.

"Justin, what happened?"

"Chris Hobbs," Justin spit out bitterly.

Justin got Brian up to his room. Brian was leaning on him heavily. He maneuvered him over to the bed, got him to lay down and propped him up with pillows. Justin sat next to him on the bed.

"Why didn't you fight back? You could have seriously kicked his ass."

Brian groaned, "Don't make me laugh. Part of me thought he wouldn't really hit me." Brian shook his head sadly. "He was never my friend."

"You should rest. I'm going to talk my parents into letting you stay the night. You're in no condition to move."

Justin found both his parents in the kitchen.

"How is Brian?" Jennifer asked with concern.

"He's pretty beat up. Can he stay the night?"

Jennifer nodded, "Of course he can stay, that poor boy."

Craig grumbled, "Fine, you can set up a cot in your room to sleep on."

Jennifer picked up the phone. "I'll call his parents and let them know what happened."

Justin went back to his room. He had no intention of setting up the cot. Justin wanted to be able to feel Brian next to him. He gently pulled Brian into a sitting position. As gently as possible he removed Brian's shirt. Justin gasped at the dark bruises on Brian's stomach and chest.

"Some first date, huh?" Brain murmured.

"It was the best, up until you got yourself bashed."

Justin slowly unbuttoned Brian's pants. Brian groaned but not in pain.

"Are you going to take advantage of me in my weakened condition?"

Justin smiled a little, "Nope."

Brian sighed, "Pity."

Brian lifted his hips so Justin could get his jeans off. Justin tucked Brian into bed. He quickly undressed in a corner of his room. He slowly eased his weight on the bed. Justin didn't want to jostle Brian around and cause him more pain.

"You take such good care of me, Justin."

"Consider it one of the perks of being my boyfriend."

"Love you."

"I love you too, Brian, so much."

Justin spooned up against Brian but was careful of all the bruises. Sometime in the middle of the night Brian woke up. He carefully got up. Justin was awake instantly.

"What are you doing?"

"I have to piss."

Justin was up and at his side instantly. "Let me help you."

"I don't need help." Brian was a bit unsteady on his feet. He took one wobbly step forward. Brian grimaced, "Ok maybe I could use a little help."

Justin gently rubbed his back. "I'll just walk you there and back. I don't want you to fall and hurt yourself."

"Nope, wouldn't want that," Brian agreed.

Justin led him to the bathroom and back with out any mishaps. When they got into bed they snuggled up to each other.

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The next morning Justin had breakfast with his parents. They let Brian sleep in. It was nearly noon when Justin brought up a tray for Brian. There was even a small vase with a few flowers from his mom's garden. Justin had thought it was a nice added touch. Brian was still asleep so he set the tray on his nightstand. He stood there gazing at Brian while he slept. He stroked Brian's face till he woke up. Brian stretched and winced at the pain in his ribs.

"Morning."

Justin smiled, "Actually its afternoon, babe."

"Why did you let me sleep so long?"

"You needed the rest."

Justin put the tray on the bed. There were bagels, juice and fresh pieces of fruit.

"Do you need anything else?" Justin asked.

"Your company while I eat."

Justin sat cross legged at the foot of the bed watching his boyfriend. When Brian was finished Justin inspected his bruises. Justin pulled the sheet down to Brian's lap. The bruises were a dark purple color.

"That bastard."

Brian took his hand and squeezed gently. "They'll heal."

Justin leaned over and lightly kissed Brian's chest. Brian's chest was too tender and sore. Brian flinched in pain.

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok." Brian captured Justin's lips in a sweet kiss. Brian dressed somewhat awkwardly with Justin's help.

Justin's mom drove Brian home. Justin sat in the backseat with Brian. They held hands the entire trip. Jennifer glanced at the boys and smiled. She could clearly see the love they had for each other. Justin walked Brian to the door.

"Take it easy, baby."

Brian smiled. "I will; I'm hoping you'll visit me."

"Count on it," Justin smiled brightly.

Justin lifted up on his toes and kissed Brian sweetly. He went back to the car where his mother was waiting. When Brian entered the house his mother ordered him up to bed after seeing the condition he was in.