Chaos Theory

In principle, a random act thousands of miles away can have influence over you, affect you in some way. A butterfly flapping her wings in the jet stream over a rain forest of South America influences the weather in New York or Pittsburgh. A sweet young innocent blond takes a chance, takes a stroll then stands under a street lamp, a random act. A dark sultry man steps out of club and happens to glance up, spies the young blond and walks over, the affect.

Random acts that are some how tied together to form fractal patterns of light and color, chaos, such as the lives of Brian and Justin.

It was a particularly dismal day in the Pitts, the butterfly influenced the clouds to break open and flood the citizens of Pittsburgh and the community of Liberty with rain. Seemingly endless rain. It was Springtime and it should be getting warmer and yet it remained cold, dank, dismal.

Brian was working on a new campaign to be presented in a few days, he was in full ad exec mode. No one dared to call, except for Mikey. No one dared to bother him, except for Mikey. No one dared to bug him about how hard he was working or that he wasn't eating and that he drank too much coffee and smoked to many cigarettes, except for Justin.

The ad exec was tired, pissed but finally satisfied with the look of the ad and fuck the client if he didn't like it cause Brian was brilliant. Brian needed to get out of the loft, walk around, clear his head but the damned butterfly and the rain.

"FUCK, is this rain ever going to stop?"

He stood by the window and looked out hearing the din, the rain beating against the pavement, smoking his last cigarette, drinking the last of the coffee.

"FUCK, now I have to go out."

He dressed, putting on something warm, grabbed his keys, jacket and headed for the door.

Shopping, he hates shopping but coffee and cigarette just like condoms and lube, were the staples of his life. He drove to the market.

*********************************

Brian didn't notice that his little excursion into the domestic side of Liberty Avenue was observed by two of his nearest and perhaps dearest. Vic and Em were also at the market purchasing the ingredients for their next party. Emmett was about to "you hoo" Brian but something made him stop. He motioned to Vic and the men stared with amazement. Oh there was nothing unusual about the pounds of coffee in his basket or the carton of cigarettes. Nor were they phased by the boxes of condoms or the variety of sizes of the tubes of lube. The amazing thing was the large bouquets of roses. One red and one white.

They watched Brian head for the check out. Yup, he bought the flowers, his other necessities and walked out. Em and Vic couldn't believe what they saw. As they paid for their groceries, Emmett took out his cellphone.

"Teddy you'd never guess what I just saw Brian do."

"What, he finally bottom for a bear?"

"No, Ted and ew, that's just wrong, no, he bought flowers, roses actually, two huge bouquets of roses."

"Roses? Em, this is Brian fuckin' Kinney you're talking about, isn't it; why would Brian buy flowers, let alone roses?"

"I don't know Teddy, maybe he's gonna romance a certain little blond twink we all know and love."

"Emmett you still live in your own little world don't you. Brian would never do that unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Maybe he fucked up big time again."

"Or fucked someone big time."

"You don't think he's gonna do something rash like propose?"

"I honestly don't know Teddy, they were awfully big roses."

"Hmm, I gotta go Em."

"Okay, talk to you later."

"Does he have any idea if Brian's up to something?"

"Not a clue Vic."

"Come on Em we have a party to plan."

"Gotcha."

*********************************

"Michael!"

"Hiya Ted, what brings you to my humble store, you into comics now?"

"Hardly, just wanted to know if Brian's up to something."

"Brian? Why, did something happen? Did that little shit cheat on him again?"

"No, no, it's just Emmett saw Brian buying bunches of roses that's all."

"Roses? What the fuck for?"

"I don't know, just wondering if you knew anything; maybe he's going to propose to him."

"Brian propose? Propose what, to who?"

"Michael...and that's whom?"

"Whatever, and Brian would never do that, he doesn't believe in marriage and certainly not for himself or Justin. No, they're probably a present for someone, you know like a sick friend."

"Yeah, could be, oh well. See ya later a Woody's?"

"Yeah, sure Teddy, bye."

*********************************

"Ma"

"Hi baby."

"Is someone sick?"

"Who's sick honey?"

"I don't know, someone that Brian knows."

"Michael what are you talking about?"

"Ted told me that Brian was buying a lot of flowers for someone."

"Brian buying flowers you're kidding right? He'd never buy flowers unless...Michael have you seen Sunshine lately?"

"Justin? No, why?"

"Maybe he's sick."

"Why would Brian buy flowers for him even if he is sick?"

"Michael you know I love you honey but sometimes you're as thick as a pound of mozzarella."

"Huh?"

"Never mind now I gotta get back to work."

*********************************

"Vic, Emmett this looks wonderful."

"Thanks Mel, we aim to please."

"Well this luncheon for the Gay Lawyers Association may bring you some more business."

"I'm all for that; Melanie have you heard anything about Brian and Justin?"

"Shit, what did the asshole do now to the poor kid?"

"Nothing yet, we were wondering if Brian was planning something."

"Planning something?"

"Yeah, you know, like a wedding."

"Emmett you need to stay out of the hot kitchen for a while, Brian doesn't do weddings, he doesn't even do boyfriends unless their someone else's."

"Melanie you know the two of them have gotten really close lately."

"I know Vic but Brian married, I..."

"Mel, you do know something don't you."

"Not really, I mean I didn't think anything of it at the time."

"What, WHAT?"

"He and Lindsey were talking the other day, you know those two share things."

"Yeah, yeah?"

"They stopped talking as soon as I walked in but I thought I heard him say something about a proposal and a commitment."

"I knew it, I just knew it, he's gonna ask Justin to marry him."

"Emmett don't jump to any conclusions."

"Vic's right, Em, don't do or say anything."

"Melanie's right, even if by some miracle Brian Kinney decides to settle down if we interfere he'll do the exact opposite and Justin may get hurt."

"But it doesn't hurt to plan a party, just in case."

"I guess not."

"Good, let's see, what should we make?"

*********************************

"Ben, he's my best friend, Teddy thinks he's gonna pop the question to Justin; why wouldn't Brian talk to me first?"

"Michael it's private, just between he and Justin, now leave it alone, leave them alone."

"Okay, I will for now."

"Good."

*********************************

"Hi Jennifer."

"Hi Deb, what brings you all the way over here?"

"Is everything okay, I mean, you're okay, Molly, Justin?"

"Debbie, Molly and I are fine and you see Justin more that I do. Why do you ask?"

"Well it's just that I haven't since Sunshine for a few days."

"Debbie what are you saying, is Justin alright?"

"I don't know."

"What makes you think something's wrong with my son?"

"Emmett saw Brian buying lots of flowers, Michael thought they were for a sick friend."

"I'm calling him. Damn, no answer at the loft and he must have turned off his cell. Let me try Daphne. Daphne, honey it's Jennifer Taylor, no I'm fine, uh Daphne have you spoken to Justin lately, no? Oh nothing, no I'm sure nothing's wrong, okay, sure, just tell him to call me; bye. Well that's strange, she hasn't heard from him either and they talk almost every day. Deb I'm getting a little worried."

"Me too, come let's go find Brian."

"Okay"

*********************************

"Hi Brian."

"Hi Cynthia."

"Ooo what's the occasion?"

"Nothing really, went shopping."

"Ran out of coffee again?"

"Something like that, I saw these and well you've been, uh, you always put up with my, oh fuck it, HERE!"

"Why Brian Kinney if I didn't know any better I'd think you were almost human."

"Yeah, well don't spread it around I might loose my edge."

"Never happen; who's the other bunch for?"

"I thought I'd take a ride out to the cemetery, he..."

"Say no more Brian I understand. Look everything's under control here. I got your email with the latest changes for the pitch, I'll have the art department do the mock ups and we still have a couple of days to iron out the kinks but from what I can see there won't be any. So go, take the day off, there's nothing going on that we can't handle or reschedule."

"Thank you Boss."

"Go asshole, while I'm still basking in the afterglow of these beautiful flowers."

"Thanks Cyn, later."

"Later Brian."

*********************************

"Well Jack I'm not sure why I'm here and I sure as hell don't know why I got you these. You certainly don't deserve them. The truth is that there's a lot of more important people in my life that deserve these. Debbie for one, and Linds, she's always been there for me. Cynthia, god what that woman puts up with, I'm surprised she hasn't poisoned my coffee. And Justin, he deserves a whole fucking florist full of flowers if it wouldn't kill him, shit all those allergies. I almost fucked it up Jack, almost but he stuck with me. We might make it this time. Anyway here you go, wait, you don't get all of them, I think he can handle one."

"What can I handle Brian?"

"Hey, how'd you find me?"

"Cynthia"

"She just has to stick her nose in where it doesn't belong."

"Brian she was a little concerned that's all. She called me saying something about flowers and the cemetery."

"I don't know Sunshine, I guess I was feeling a little weird. You know I can't stand all this rain and I've been working on the new ad and I saw these flowers at the market and..."

"It's okay Brian, you don't have to explain to me, he was your father."

"I know I don't but sometimes my life has a way of becoming..."

"Chaotic?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"So what can I handle?"

"One of these; you deserve them a lot more than he ever did; one won't make you sneeze much."

"Thank you Brian and you say you don't do romance."

"I have my moments."

"Yes you do, now how ‘bout we get out of this rain big boy and have a few moments at the loft."

"Hmm I like your thinking."

"Thought you would."

"Bye Jack, I guess you didn't beat all the love outta me after all."

"Come on Brian let's go home."

"Right behind ya."

"Aren't you always."

*********************************

Somewhere in a rainforest a butterfly finds a mate, fulfilling her destiny, she lays her eggs then dies. The sun comes out in Pittsburgh.

*********************************

"Brian would you stop that noise I'm trying to sleep."

"I'm not doing anything."

"Then who's doing all that banging?"

"Shit, someone's at the door."

"Fuck, a disgruntled trick?"

"Smartass, maybe one of your posse friends; don't you hide under the pillows, if I have to get out of bed then so do you."

"Brian"

"And stop whining, if you start whining like Michael, great lay or not you'll be out the door on your fine ass."

"Okay, ok."

"Brian open the door!"

"Where is he Brian?"

"What have you done to my Sunshine?"

"So when's the big day?"

"What are you going to wear?"

"Come on let's party!"

"Justin, honey are you sick, we brought soup."

"He doesn't need soup, we brought champaign."

"I have hors d'oeuvres."

"Turn on the music."

"Music? Where the thermometer, Justin you look pale."

"WILL EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!"

"Now you Theodore, start talking and tell me what the fuck is going on here."

"But Brian."

"Shut up Mikey; Ted."

"Ah, well."

"Spill!"

"Emmett saw you buying flowers and he thought you were going to propose to Justin."

"Okay, now Debbie."

"Michael told me about the flowers and thought they were for someone sick, none of us has seen Sunshine for a few days so I thought he was sick and holed up here."

"Uh huh."

"Justin will you please tell these crazy people that I haven't proposed to you and that you're not sick."

"He hasn't proposed, yet, and I'm not sick."

"Now, you heard it all for yourself so if you don't mind I taking my very healthy not yet fiancé back to bed."

"But Brian we brought all this food and soup and champaign and decorations; what should we do with all of it?"

"You really don't want me to answer that Linds, do you?"

"Asshole"

"Why thank you Mel, as always the sensitive voice of reason."

"Look Brian, we're all here and everyone's fine we might as well celebrate that."

"Fuck, okay, go on, just give us 15 minutes to shower and put on some clothes."

"YEAH"

"YIPPEE"

"HALLELUJAH"

"Who needs clothes?"

"Teddy?!"

"Come on Sunshine we need a shower; what am I gonna do about those people, they're gonna drive me crazy."

"So what else is new?"

"And you'd marry me, get legally bound to me and that out there, talk about chaos."

"Brian for almost four years that chaos out there has been all I've known, this is my life, our life."

"Yeah, thank the gods."

*********************************

Somewhere half way across the globe an avalanche of rocks tumbles down a mountain cutting off the flow of water of a small stream. A warm breeze wafts through the streets of Pittsburgh. A jeweler starts to polish his vast choices of wedding bands.

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