Chapter 6

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Brian

"I totally blew it," says Mikey.

"Don't worry, there are still plenty of creepy old men out there that would love to get in your pants." I look across the store to the guy behind the counter. He's pretty hot, for a comic store clerk, that is. The goofy backward baseball cap needs to go, though. I let Mikey drag me here today because he's feeling down about his date with Dr. Dave, the chiropractor. Comic books seem to be his therapy. So pathetic.

"He wasn't that old. And he wasn't creepy. He was nice. My first doctor."

"Chiropractor," I retort, while still making eyes at comic guy.

"That counts. I think."

Comic guy comes over. "Uh, we got in the new Cat Woman."

"Cool," exclaims Mikey. Comic guy and I share another look and then he turns and walks away. Mikey continues his story. "He takes me to this really nice restaurant and I behave like a fucking idiot. Dressed up like some slick asshole."

"Hey, that was my twelve hundred dollar leather jacket."

"It wasn't me," he retorts. "You know why? Because, I'm nobody. That's my problem." I'm still eyeing comic guy as I move around the display case. "Are you even listening to me?" Mikey whines.

"I tune out self pity," I respond. "It makes my dick soft. Wouldn't want that," I say, without taking my eyes off comic guy. "Would we?"

"Forget I said anything," Mikey says in a resigned tone. Comic guy clears his throat and waves some goofy toy at Mikey. "Oh, wow, look," he exclaims. "It's the new Electra Doll. I'm going to buy this for Gus."

"No, don't," I protest. "I don't want a gay kid." I smile at him.

"He's being raised by two lesbians. "He picks up the doll and waves it at me. "He's going to need a feminine influence. Besides, it'll be a collector's item."

"Well, I'll take it," I offer. "I'm going over there."

"Well, I'll go too," he answers earnestly.

"No," I say, giving a meaningful look to comic guy. "You're going back to the doctor. Tell him you want to give it another try."

Michael moves his eyes between me and comic book guy, gives me a disgusted look and leaves. I lean forward over the counter and move in for the kill.

==================================================================

Justin

So Liberty Avenue is Daphne and my new favorite hangout. She thinks it's fun and interesting and I, well, like I said before, it's liberating for me to get out of Suburbia, but mostly, I'm always on the lookout for Brian.

It's a sunny Saturday and Daphne and I stop to look at some jewelry a street vendor is selling. "Does your mom know you're out buying jewelry?" Daphne asks.

"She's totally cool with everything," I reply. "Or at least, she's pretending to be because she's afraid I'll run away and become a hairdresser." And it's true. Mom and I have been doing good. I'm so relieved she seems to be accepting of me. Dad, well, I have a feeling he's going to be a different story.

"I hate you," Daph replies. "My mom's such a bitch and I haven't even given her a reason yet."

"How about these?" I hold up two bracelets to show her.

She makes a face and shakes her head. "They're totally queer."

"Shut up!" I reply, a little harsher than I mean to be. She's going to have to watch the words she throws around when she's with me. I get over myself and put the bracelet on her wrist. "They're a symbol of our friendship."

"Okay, thanks," she says.

I look at her sheepishly. "Actually, I don't have any money. I had to buy a new fake ID." She rolls her eyes and reaches into her purse. "Look," I say as I point across the street. "That's them. Brian's lesbians." I leave her and head across the street. "Hey, hey," I call out to the two women. “How's it going?"

The blonde one, Lindsay, I think, looks at me. "I'm sorry, do we know you?"

"I'm Justin. Brian's…friend. I was there the night Gus was born. I named him."

"Ohhh," I can see the recognition in their eyes. "Right," replies the dark haired one. "So, when Gus ends up pumping gas, we'll have you to thank."

I'm not sure what to make of her comment and Lindsay just laughs. Daphne walks up, thank God. "This is Daphne," I say.

"Hi," she says. "I'm not a lesbian, but I'm a big fan." They just stare at her and I want to hide under a rock.

I change the subject. "He's gotten so big already," I say, looking at the baby.

"Well, you would to, if all you did was sleep and eat all day," replies the brunette. What was her name? Oh, yeah, Melanie, I think.

"He does," snarks Daph.

I ignore her. "He's like, the cutest baby I've ever seen. If you ever need a babysitter…"

"Don't say that." Lindsay points at me. "Unless you mean it."

"And if you need any help carrying stuff to the car." I look at their bags and Lindsay immediately puts them in my hands. "I'd be glad to be of assistance."

"Wow, you're good for a thousand and one uses," comments Melanie. I'm not sure if I like her or not. I know Brian doesn't, but then he pretends to not like me either, so I'll have to make my own decision on Melanie.

"I'll see you later?" Daphne calls after me as we make our way towards their car.

"I don't know," I reply. I feel kind of bad leaving her there, but Brian's lesbians and his son? It's too good of an opportunity to pass up.

==================================================================

Brian

Melanie opens the door and I hold up the toy Mikey bought. "I got something for Gus."

Mel grabs it and laughs. "That's so sweet. We'll call Michael later and thank him." Bitch.

I hear Lindsay talking with someone in the living room. "How long have you been drawing?"

Then I hear an all too familiar voice answer. "My mom bought me crayons when I was still in the crib; I never stopped."

I walk in and sure enough. It's blond boy. Sitting in the munchers' house, on their living room floor, like he owns the place. "What's he doing here?" I ask, pointing at him.

"We ran into each other on the street," Mel snaps as she takes Gus from Lindsay.

"It was like this weird coincidence," adds Justin.

"I bet," I say as Mel rushes by me with the baby, not even letting me get a peek. Cunt.

Lindsay takes the sketchpad Justin's been holding and starts flipping through the pages. I make my way over to a chair and have a seat. "You know, these are good," she says to him.

"That's what my mom says," he replies.

"Lindsay's an art teacher," Mel calls from where she's changing Gus at the table.

"For someone your age, you have an amazing feel for the human form."

"I've noticed that myself," I add, tossing a stuffed animal at him.

"Look at this," Lindsay gushes.

Justin gets a slightly panicked look on his face. "Oh, don't show him."

Of course, she ignores him. "Hmmm," she says as she holds up the sketch, waggling it back and forth.

Shit! It's a picture of me, naked, and apparently asleep. Wow. He captured my cock perfectly. Lindsay's right. He is good. "When did you draw that?" I ask.

"When you were asleep," he answers. Who knows what fantasies he was cooking up in his pubescent brain while he was watching me sleep.

Mel walks over and looks at the picture. "Ah, circumcised. Just like I thought," she snipes.

"You know there's going to be an art show at the GLC," Lindsay jumps in before that can of worms is opened again.

"What's that?" he asks.

"The Gay and Lesbian Center," I explain. "A safe haven for fags who can't get laid."

"You know," Mel starts. "It might be good for you to get out and meet some nice young men," she emphasizes young and looks right at me, "For a change." I really do hate her sometimes.

"Melanie and I are on the board," Lindsay continues. "Would you like to have your work in the show?"

"You mean people seeing my stuff?" Justin asks.

"Yeah," she replies.

"That'd be intense, but, yeah," he smiles.

"Good," I reply, "give him some activity so he'll stop stalking me." I toss another animal at his head.

"Don't flatter yourself," he laughs as he throws it back at me.

Mel and Lindsay laugh. "We like Justin," says Mel, "Justin can stay."

"We'll make sure everyone comes," Lindsay adds. "Including you." She looks at me.

"Bitch," I mouth to her.

Great. First Deb, and now the lesbians. Everybody fucking loves this kid. Just fucking great.

==========================

"Twenty-seven minutes on my nipples. I clocked it," exclaims Mikey as he leans against the weight bench regaling Ted, Emmett and I about his night of sex with Dr. Dave. "I mean, I expected him to know what to do with his hands, cause that's his business, but he has the most talented tongue. Every time I came…"

"Every time?" interrupt Ted and Emmett in unison.

"He would just keep on going." Mikey smiles. "Licking me, everywhere."

"I once knew a guy who could tie a cherry stem into a knot with his tongue," says Emmett. "I was afraid to let him blow me."

"Twenty-seven minutes," chimes in Ted. "Was that thirteen and a half on each nipple or…"

Mike leans into him. "Sixteen right, eleven left."

I'm getting bored with this conversation. "Yeah, that's probably how long it takes him to get it up."

"I wouldn't know. I never saw it when it was down," retorts Mikey.

Oh, gag me. "Another Viagra success story," I reply.

"So are you bringing him to Woody's tonight?" asks Emmett.

"He's not really into the bar scene," Michael replies.

Sounds like fucking dud to me. "Well, what is he into?" I ask.

"His life."

"Like the guy I met," interjects Ted.

"You met someone?" I ask.

He nods. "He's very nice, very intelligent, very interesting."

Sounds fabulous. "Is he a top or a bottom," I ask, trying to get to the interesting part.

"You know," says Ted. "Not everybody judges people by your criteria, okay. Roger and I…"

"Roger?" I mock him.

"Roger and I have decided to get to know each other before we have sex," he continues.

Give me a fucking break. "What do you think you are, lesbians?" I ask him.

"It's like 'The Mirror Has Two Faces,'" gushes Emmett. Oh, Christ, here we go. "No, no, it is, because Barbra plays and unattractive professor; no offense," he says aside to Ted, "who, uh, marries Jeff Bridges because neither one of them can handle sex. But, of course, Barbra gets horny because, hello, Jeff's such a dreamboat, so, um, she hops on a Stairmaster for like two minutes, eats a carrot stick and then poof; she's gorgeous." Lord, I can't help but laugh at him. "Then," Emmett continues, "she comes in dressed like the hooker from 'Nuts,' and of course Jeff is going to fuck her and then," he starts to get teary, "and then they, uh, dance in the street."

"And she still wasn't nominated," cracks Ted.

I stand up. "You know, you do it right away or you don't do it at all." I move over to Mikey and put my hand on his shoulder. "I'm happy for you, Mikey." And I am. I think.

==================================================================

Justin

I can hear Daphne yelling at me from downstairs, again. Jesus, all right, I hear you. I come running down. "You don't have to yell. I heard you the first time. And I don't know when I'll be back," I say to my mom as we hurry out the door.

"Justin," I hear her yell after me, but I don't bother to acknowledge her.

Daph drives me to the Gay and Lesbian Center on Liberty Avenue. She's going to help me get my art ready for the show.

We're sitting on the floor framing my pictures and she looks up to the woman who is hanging them on the wall for me. "You're really good at that," Daph comments.

"Thanks," replies the woman, who I'm guessing is a lesbian. "I like you guys' bracelets."

"Ohh, they're just for friendship, I mean, he's not my boyfriend or anything."

"I figured," she replies.

My head shoots up. "You can tell I'm gay?"

"Well, you're here, aren't you?" Oh yeah. Duh, Justin. She climbs down her ladder. "I'm heading on down to the diner to get a soda. You want to come?" she asks Daphne.

"Sure," answers Daphne and she stands up.

"What are you doing?" I ask as I put my hand on her shoulder. "She thinks you're a lesbian."

"Well, can't I be one of the cool people too?"

"You're a freak," I say to her. She may be a freak, but thank God, she's my freak. I don't know what I would have done without her through all of this.

She just grins at me and runs out.

"You know you have real talent," Lindsay says as she approaches.

"Really?" I ask.

She nods. "You should develop it, maybe go to art school."

"I've been thinking about that." Fuck. I would love to go to an art school.

"If you ever need a recommendation."

"Thanks," I reply, then spend the next few seconds trying to work up the nerve to ask what I really want to ask. "Do you think Brian's gonna come?"

She gets that same look on her face that Debbie gets when I talk about Brian. "Don't expect too much from him, okay?"

"What's too much?" I ask in hesitation.

"Anything at all," she says almost apologetically. "Justin, you'll have lots of relationships with lots of interesting people. I know you don't believe that right now, but you will."

"I just want him to see his picture framed, that's all. "I'm lying to her and I think she knows, but she doesn't say anything. I'm grateful to her for that.

==================================================================

Brian

"Where the fuck have you been?" I spot Mikey sitting at a table at Woody's and head over, sitting myself on his lap.

"Brian, this is David," he says pointing to the man across from us.

"Oh, fuck me. The new beau," I say. Honestly, I'm a little bit high, but don't tell Mikey.

"I've heard a lot about you," says David.

"I've heard a lot about you, too," I reply, looking at Mikey. "Sixteen right, eleven left."

"Excuse me?"

Mikey shoots me a dirty look. "Nothing," he says to David. He looks back at me. "You're tweaked. What are you on?"

So much for not telling Mikey. "Uh, E, K, GHP." I lean my forehead against his. "Most of the letters on Sesame Street."

"You're gonna get dehydrated taking all that shit. I'm going to get you some water. Beer?" he asks David.

"Sure," he answers as Mikey gets up.

I sit in his vacated seat. "You've got him well trained," David says to me.

Okay, what the fuck? I don't fucking like this guy already. "He takes care of me and I take care of him," I reply. "So, Doc, do you fuck all of your patients?"

"Well, if you're referring to Michael," he replies. "I released him from my care, before we went out together. What about you? What do you do?"

"Advertising."

"Well, you must know a thing or two about screwing people, yourself."

Ooh, such a clever fucker. "Yeah, I could do it in my sleep."

"I bet you could."

"You know, Dave," I say conversationally, "what's weird about you meeting Mikey…"

"Mikey?" he asks, but I ignore him and continue.

"Is that we usually meet guys together."

"And they usually end up with you."

"The lucky ones."

"Debatable," he says.

Asshole.

Mikey comes back. "So, what did I miss?" he asks as he starts to hand David his beer.

"Nothing special," Dave replies as I grab the beer out of Mikey's hand and move away from the table and on to Babylon to find my entertainment for the evening. I know it will be a fuck of a lot better than what Mikey's got going on. Stupid, doctor fuckhead.

==========================

The next morning, fucking Lindsay shows up at my door, waking me up and nagging me about the fucking art show at the center. Lucky for her she has Gus with her so I don't throw her out. She so knows how to play me. Bitch. So now, here I am making her breakfast.

"I told you. I'm not going," I say as I dump some cereal in two bowls.

"I promised him you'd be there," she whines at me.

"Well, don't make promises I can't keep." I open my fridge and pull out the milk.

"Hey, don't be a shit. I'm trying to clean up some of your mess."

Why the fuck is it my mess? I dump the milk into the bowls, none too carefully. I'll show her a mess. "He's the one that threw himself at me," I retort. "I've been trying to get rid of him."

"Tell it to the judge," she says, grabbing a paper towel to mop up the milk.

"When did you start sounding like your girlfriend?"

"It's time you became part of the community."

Oh, fuck, not this community shit again. "Just because I fuck guys does not mean I'm part of some community and it doesn't mean I have anything in common with someone else who does." I dump sugar into my coffee.

"You know it's more than that. We need to take care of each other."

"I don't need to take care of anyone, and I don't need anyone to take care of me."

"One day you might."

"Fuck groups!"

"I thought you did."

"Occasionally, but it's by invitation only."

==================================================================

Justin

A guy plays the piano in the middle of the room and people mill around drinking wine and chatting. It's my first art show and I'm kind of nervous.

"Did you see this?" Daphne comes over with the brochure. "They're charging one hundred dollars for every one of your drawings. You could be rich."

"It's charity. I don't get to keep it."

"Oh." She makes a face. "But, still." I look past her to the door. "And would you stop watching the door!”

Lindsay and Melanie come up on either side of me. "Everyone loves your drawings," gushes Lindsay.

Melanie is eating. "Did you check out the food?"

"I'm not hungry," I reply.

"Okay," she says, "how about the cute guys? There's some right over there." She points. "Just about your age."

I don't want cute guys my age. I want…and then I see him. Brian. He looks so hot in his black sleeveless shirt. "He's here," I say as I turn away and pretend I don't notice him.

"Hmm," says Mel, "yipee." She and Lindsay move away.

"Well, aren't you going to go over there?" says Daphne.

"Are you crazy?" I ask her. She looks at me like maybe I am.

==================================================================

Brian

Lindsay comes at me and I try to hide but it's too late. "Thanks for coming," she says as she gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"Whatever," I reply. I spot Mikey and his doctor. I'm sure this kind of thing is right up old Dave's alley. "Where's the back room?" I ask her as I move off toward the bar before I have to talk to the happy couple.

A few minutes later, with a glass of red wine in my hand, I spot Justin and move in behind him. "The famous Artiste," I say.

He turns around, pretending like he didn't know I was there. Like he hasn't been watching my every move since I got here. "So, did you see my stuff?" he asks.

"No, I had to get a drink first." Too bad there's nothing stronger than wine to get me through this boring nightmare.

"It's over there. "He points. "In case you're interested."

He so wants me to be interested, and I guess if I'm honest with myself, I really am. When I saw those sketches at Lindsay's the other day, I truly was impressed with the kid's talent. I notice Mikey is standing by Justin's work. David eyes me and moves away from him so I leave Justin and head over to my friend. Of course, Mikey is looking at the nude Justin did of me while I was sleeping.

"Psst," I say to get his attention.

He looks at me and smiles. "I think the artist has taken some liberties," he teases.

"It's a perfect likeness," I reply.

"Come on," he says. "It was never that big."

"Hey, you haven't seen it in a long time."

"I haven't seen 'Gone with the Wind' in a long time either, but I know it's still three and a half hours." He's such a bitch. "By the way," he continues. "I heard you hit on David last night."

"I couldn't have been that high."

"You were, and you did."

"I was testing him. I wanted to see if he'd drop you the first chance he got."

"Yeah, right!"

"Aren't I always looking out for you?"

"You're just jealous because somebody finally thinks I'm hot, or something."

Fuck, he is so pathetic. Just because I would never fuck him, he thinks nobody wants to. "You are hot or something. I've been telling you that since you were fourteen, but you won't believe me." I kiss him gently on the lips.

==================================================================

Justin

Oh, shit. My mom's here. I head over to the door to try and intercept her before she can come in. "You can't stay. You have to leave," I say as I grab her and try to pull her out the door.

"Now Justin, don't be mean. I kept my end of the bargain, now, I would like to see my son's work. I won't embarrass you, I promise."

Yeah, right. Famous last words, Mom. Great, here come Lindsay and Melanie.

"Justin, is this your mother?" asks Lindsay.

"Hi, I'm Jennifer." Mom holds out her hand and Melanie shakes it.

"Melanie," she says.

"Lindsay," says Lindsay as she shakes Mom's hand as well, hanging onto Gus with her other arm. "You know, your son's remarkably talented," she continues. "You should be very proud."

"Well, thank you," she turns to look at me. "I am." I smile back at her. She just keeps surprising me. "And what a beautiful baby," she gushes.

"His name's Gus," says Lindsay.

"Actually, Justin's the one who named him," adds Melanie.

"Really?" asks Mom. "That was his teddy bear's name.

"Ohhh!" exclaims Lindsay.

"Oh, a teddy bear," snarks Melanie.

"Mom," I say with warning in my voice. Christ, I can't believe she just told them that. I really loved that bear though.

"Um," Mom tries to recover. "Are you the mother?" she asks Lindsay.

Oh, God, here we go. Shut up, Mom. Shut up, now!

"Uh, yes," says Lindsay, but we're raising him together.

"Well, that's wonderful," answers Mom. "I've never met lesbian mothers before. I mean I read about yo…them, in the papers, all the time," she trails off and I want to crawl under a rock…again.

Well, at least Lindsay and Melanie are being gracious. "Seems like there's always some judge in Alabama trying to take our kids away." Melanie smiles.

"That's why I married a lawyer," comments Lindsay. They chuckle and Lindsay kisses Mel on the cheek. Mom looks decidedly uncomfortable. "Have you seen the art?" Lindsay finally asks her.

"Not yet." She turns to me. "Where's your stuff, honey."

I silently point her in the right direction, not trusting myself to speak to her at the moment without causing a major scene. Not to mention how she's going to react when she sees some of my drawings, well, one drawing in particular. Mom smiles at us and walks off.

It must be obvious what I'm thinking because Melanie puts her hand on my arm. "She came. That's huge."

I'm not so sure. Is it always going to be so hard?

Lindsay hands Gus off to Melanie and leads me over to meet some people. I'm trying really hard to not think about my mom, who I know is looking at my stuff right now. Suddenly, I feel a strong arm wrap around me. "Who's that guy you drew?" Brian asks as he practically sticks his tongue in my ear. Lindsay and her friend wander off, leaving the two of us alone.

"Just some pervert that picked me up one night," I reply tartly.

He smiles and kisses me, with tongue. I don't know why he's being all nice and affectionate here, but fuck, I'll take it. Brian makes me forget about my mom completely. Not good.

==================================================================

Brian

Ah, out of the stuffy GLC with its pretentious, dickless fags and dykes that probably have bigger dicks than most of the fags. I'm back in my domain, Babylon. The guys and I have retreated here to try to put the images of vagina sculptures out of our minds.

"Admit it," Emmett calls to Ted of the loud music. "You missed all this."

"The rampant narcissism? The sleaze? The drug use?" he replies. "I don't think so."

"So, why'd you come back?" asks Dr Dave.

"When I figure it out, I'll let you know," Ted replies.

I look up and see Daphne and Justin dancing happily toward us. "Oh, look," I comment, "It's the cast of 'Zoom'."

"We're celebrating," Daphne retorts cheekily. "Justin sold some of his art today."

"The one of you," Justin chimes in, "naked."

"Who would buy that?" asks Mikey.

"Probably some desperate queen who's always pined for you," says Emmett.

"Ah, Ted," I say. "How thoughtful." I clink my bottle against his.

The opening notes of ABBA's 'Dancing Queen,' begin and Mikey's face lights up. "Oh my God, I used to love this song." He ducks under the scaffolding he was standing behind and swigs down the last of his beer, handing the bottle to David.

"Then, let's dance," I say as I hand my bottle to him as well and lead Mikey onto the floor.

Okay, I admit, it was kind of an asshole thing to do. I know the good doctor was planning on dancing with him, but there's something about this guy that just fucking rubs me the wrong way, you know?

I'm dancing with Mikey and take an E tablet then put another one on my tongue, offering it to him. He moves away, but I just follow him. "Did anybody ever tell you you're a bad influence?" Mikey laughs.

I don't answer, but pull him in for a kiss, transferring the E into his mouth. He doesn't fight me.

By the next song, Mikey is flying high. Another guy approaches us and Mikey takes off his silver cowboy hat, placing it on his own head. After a few minutes, Dr. Dave comes up, wrapping his arms around Mikey and placing the hat back on the guy's head. I'm reminded of a tomcat spraying his territory. Hopefully Dr. Dave isn't a piss queen, I worry. I think I must be pretty fucking high right now, too.

"Wanna dance?" Mikey asks Dave.

"No," he answers.

"Well, what do you want to do?" asks Mikey, still moving to the music with David plastered to his back.

"Take you home," responds Dave.

Mikey gets a goofy smile and starts to lead him out of the club. David turns around and shoots me a look. Yeah, definitely a tomcat.

I turn back to cowboy hat guy. He puts his hat on me and we start to dance.

==========================

Even later that night, I've met up with comic store guy back at my loft. We're in my bed and he's busy under the sheet, making his way south. He comes back up and he's still got that fucking baseball cap on. He takes if off and puts it on my head. I let him and then push him back down to my cock. As he's blowing me, all I can do is stare at my new picture. The one I bought at the art show. The one of me naked.