Meant To Be

Chapter 8

The next day, Justin had been moved up from busboy to waiter after one of the boys didn’t show up for work. The money was better, but the new position kept Justin so busy that he barely had time to breath much less think about what he was going to say to Michael. He couldn’t believe it when Debbie told him his shift was over. Before he could even get his apron off, Michael was walking in the door.

“Hey Justin, are you ready to go? I thought we could go meet the guys at Woody’s.” Michael said, giving Justin a soft kiss.

“Oh, we’re going to meet the guys? Uh…okay, just let me get my things.” Justin replied, heading into the backroom. He knew that there was no way he’d get a chance to talk to Michael with Ted and Emmett there. Now he would have to wait to tell him about the fact that they should just be friends. A small sense of relief washed over him. As much as he wanted to be honest with the man, he really hated to have to tell him that he didn’t feel what Michael was feeling as far as their relationship was going. Justin was getting his things together when his cell phone rang. He grabbed his cell phone and glanced at his caller ID before answering.

“Hey Daph.” he answered.

“Hey Justin. I got your message, what was so important that you needed me to call you right away? Is something wrong?” She asked, wondering what it was that had caused he best friend to call and leave a frantic message on her voicemail.

“I need a favor. I’m going out with Michael tonight, and I need you to pick me up at Woody’s around 9 o’clock.” Justin stated, hoping that she wouldn’t ask any questions. He should have known better.

“Why? Michael and his friends can’t give you a ride home?” Daphne asked, sensing something else going on.

“They would, if I asked them to, but I need you to do it.” Justin replied.

“I don’t understand. Why do you need me when they can just drop you off? I have a project to do tonight and you know how my mother feels about…”

“Daph, when you pick me up, I need you to drop me off at Brian’s.” He said resigned, knowing she was going to have all sorts of questions now. Justin hadn’t talked to Daphne since he and Brian were together, and he didn’t have time to get into things now, with Michael waiting for him.

“Brian’s? Why would you need…wait a minute? Justin, what’s going on?” She asked, trying to figure out what happened since she last talked to Justin.

“Look, I can’t talk now. Michael is waiting for me. Please, just pick me up and I’ll fill you in on the way to Brian’s, okay?” Justin asked desperately.

“Alright, alright, I’ll pick you up at 9 o’clock. What choice do I have? I’m dying to know what you’re up to.” She laughed.

“Thanks Daphne, I owe you one.” Justin replied, grateful to have her as his best friend.

“You owe me more then one, Taylor. I’ll be outside at 9 o’clock, you better be out there waiting for me.” She laughed.

“I will, and thanks again. You are the best!” Justin exclaimed.

“I know.” Daphne chuckled before disconnecting the call.

‘Okay, that’s settled.’ Justin thought as he made his way back to Michael.

Later that night, Justin found himself looking at the clock every five minutes. He was starting to get worried about going to see Brian. Their phone conversation kept replaying in his head and Justin wasn’t sure whether Brian meant what he had said or if it was the alcohol talking. His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Michael talking about Brian.

“I don’t know what’s going on with him. Something has been bothering him for weeks, and he won’t tell me what it is.” Michael said to Emmett and Ted.

“Michael, Brian is a big boy. He can take care of himself. If there is something wrong, he will fix it, he always does.” Ted replied, hating the way Michael was always so fixated on his friend.

“I agree with Teddy. Michael, you have to stop spending your life trying to help Brian, and start helping yourself.” Emmett told him.

“I know, but he’s my best friend, and he seems different. He’s doesn’t go out as much anymore. When he is out, his mind is always off somewhere else. It’s just weird to see him like this. Then, there is still the trip he took unexpectedly. I just wish I knew what was going on with him.” Michael sighed.

Emmett looked over at Ted with a smile, not wanting to share his thoughts.

“What? Do you know what’s bothering him?” Michael asked, noticing the look pass between the two men.

“Well…no one really knows what’s going on with Brian, but it sounds to me like he could be seeing someone.” Emmett chuckled.

“Emmett, this is Brian we are talking about. He doesn’t see people except for in the backrooms, you know that. It’s got to be something else. Maybe it’s just work, he is trying to make partner, ya know.” Michael replied, not wanting to believe that Emmett could be right. “Besides, if he was seeing someone, why wouldn’t he tell me?” He added.

“Because he’s Brian. Maybe he just wants to see how things go before the whole world knows that the Liberty Avenue Stud is as human as the rest of us.” Ted offered, not sure if he believed what Emmett was suggesting.

“Exactly! Now, why don’t we all just let him work it out on his own? If he is seeing someone, it’s a big step for him. We wouldn’t want to ruin things by making him feel like what he’s doing is wrong.” Emmett suggested, hoping that he was right. Brian may never admit it, but everyone needed someone in their life, Brian Kinney included.

“Whatever, but I still don’t think that’s what it is.” Michael mumbled, not wanting to think about Brian having feelings for someone else.

Justin just sat there through the whole conversation, listening to the guys discuss Brian, knowing that he was the reason for Brian’s behavior. He glanced at the clock again, thankful that it was 9 o’clock.

“Michael, I have to get going. Daphne is picking me up out front.” Justin spoke as he got up.

“Already? I was hoping we could play some pool or something.” Michael replied. He felt bad spending so much time talking about Brian instead of talking to Justin, trying to get to know him better.

“I’m sorry. She needs some help with a project she’s working on.” Justin said, feeling guilty for lying.

“Oh, okay, I guess. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Michael said, getting up and giving him a kiss.

“Yeah, call me tomorrow. Bye guys!” Justin said as he walked out of the bar.

When Justin got outside, he saw Daphne parked out front. He got in the car, preparing himself for the line of questioning he knew was going to be thrown at him.

“Okay, spill it! Why are you leaving Michael to go to Brian?” She asked.

“The other night, I was supposed to meet Michael at Babylon, but he had to cancel because of family stuff. I ended up running into Brian. We got drunk and danced. The next thing I knew we were at his place. God Daph, it was incredible. I never felt that way with Michael. The next morning, things got weird and I left. He called me last night and we talked. All I know is that, as bad as we feel for going behind Michael’s back, we can’t seem to stay away from each other.” Justin replied.

“Justin, what are you going to do? You can’t keep going behind Michael’s back. You need to tell him.” Daphne told him.

“I know. I was going to tell him that I just wanted to be friends tonight, but he wanted to hang out with the guys. I don’t know Daph, I guess I’ll just have to see what happens. Turn right up there. He’s in the building on the corner. Anyway, I’ll talk to Brian and see what happens tonight. Maybe he changed his mind already. He was drunk last night; maybe, he didn’t even mean what he said.” Justin explained.

“Justin, alcohol is a truth serum, it gives people the courage to tell others what they feel. You better come up with a plan B.” Daphne suggested as she pulled up outside the loft.

“Thanks Daph, I’ll call you tomorrow.” He said, getting out of the car.

“You’d better. Have fun!” She exclaimed before driving away.

Justin stood outside, trying to get the courage to go in. He saw someone coming out of the building and used the opportunity to go in without having to announce himself. As he made his way up the stairs his heart started racing at the thought of seeing Brian again. As foolish as it sounded, Justin had missed him. He knocked on the door and was surprised at how quickly it had opened.

“Hey.” Brian said, taking a step back to allow Justin to walk through.

“Hey.” Justin replied, walking into the loft on shaken legs. Seeing Brian, he saw a look of uncertainty on his face, and wasn’t sure of what was going to happen. Maybe, he had second thoughts about what he had said the night before. Maybe, Brian decided that what they were feeling wasn’t enough to cause his friend the pain he was sure to feel by what was happening between them. “Is something wrong?” He asked, afraid of what Brian’s answer might be.

“Not anymore!” Brian exclaimed, before pulling Justin to him and covering his mouth in a deep kiss.

Justin parted his lips and took Brian’s tongue into his mouth, pushing his doubts out of mind. He knew that no matter what, this was where he belonged.


End of part 8
7/01/01
 

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