Advice

"Brian? You have a call on seven."

"…Who is it?"

"A Ms Taylor."

That was odd; Justin's mother usually went out of her way to avoid him. Either she had gone mad or something was seriously fucked. He leaned forward, pushed the button that would put the call on speaker. "Jennifer? Is something wrong?"

"Hi, Brian? It's me, Molly. Are you busy or anything? I sorry to bother you at work, but I didn't want Justin to know I was trying to get a hold of you, I could call back if you want, it's OK."

This was odd; Molly had never called him, ever, about anything. They got along well, and he had helped her with her soccer-giving advice, going to a couple of games and offering pointers-but she had never called him before. "No, it's fine. I was just taking a break. What's on your mind?" In fact he had a pitch with a new client in about ten minutes.

"…Could you maybe come over here when you're finished with work tonight?"

"I, well, yes I suppose I could. Is something wrong?"

"No, everything's OK, I just wanted to ask you something, if that's alright. I sort of need some advice on something."

"I should be finished tonight about six-thirty, so I could be at the condo around seven or so. Is that too late?"

She sounded relieved, like maybe she had been afraid that he would refuse to meet with her. "No, that would be great, thanks, Brian. I'll see you later. Really, thanks a lot."

The connection broken, Brian leaned back in his chair, wondering what Molly could possibly need to talk to him about. Soccer? No, the season was over. Problems with Jennifer? Maybe, but if that were the case he'd hardly be the person to talk to with his track record concerning parents.

He had no idea what she wanted, none. Maybe she thought she was a dyke, maybe she was pregnant, maybe she wanted to run away from home. Mentally shrugging, he forced his attention back to the new line of pet accessories they were supposed to be making irresistible to the American public.

At quarter after seven Brian parked his car in front of Jennifer's townhouse, noticing that her car wasn't in the driveway. Molly answered the bell within seconds; apparently she had been waiting for him.

"I'm sorry I'm late, the traffic was backed up."

Shrugging that it didn't matter, she took his cashmere coat, running her hands over the soft fabric and carefully hanging it up. She seemed nervous, now that he was here. She led him into the living room, sitting on one end of the couch in front of the burning fireplace. He sat on the easy chair opposite.

"My Mom isn't here. She said something about showing a house tonight. Is that alright?"

He smiled at her, kindly, as he would at Gus. "You're safe with me, I think she knows that."

"Do you want something? I could get you a soda or something." She was stalling.

"No, I'm fine, thanks…was there something you wanted to talk to me about, Molly?"

She hesitated, blushing. "Um, you know a lot about guys, don't you? I mean, you and Justin seem like you both, I don't know, know what you're doing, right?" She didn't meet his eyes.

Whatever he expected, this wasn't it. "I, well, I guess so. What do you want to know?"

She seemed to gather her nerve. "If you like a guy, how do you know if he likes you back?"

Oh, that was it. She liked some boy at school or in the neighborhood.

"There aren't any hard and fast rules, a lot of times it's just a feeling you get-you see the look on his face or he might make a point of coming over to talk with you." He shrugged a little. "You just sort of know." He was keeping a straight face, he knew all about boys. "I guess you've found some guy you like, right?"

"…Yeah."

He took a look at Molly, blushing beet red against her freckles. They'd known each other, peripherally, for almost four years now and he knew that she'd had a crush on him since the beginning but he hadn't really noticed that she wasn't a little kid anymore. She was fourteen now-or was she fifteen? She had grown a figure, she was smart and she had Justin's smile. With that strawberry blonde hair and those blue eyes, she was turning into a knockout.

"Is he someone in your class?"

"He's in the school, but he's a junior and I'm just a freshman. I see him at lunch and sometimes they combine the girls and boys gym classes, I see him then-and study hall. We have the same study hall on Wednesdays."

"Do you think that he might like you?"

She blushed again. "I think, maybe, I don't know. My friend, Laurie asked his friend David and David asked Ryan if he liked me and he told Laurie that he thinks that I'm cute." She was the color of Santa's jacket by now.

High school. God, it was Hell no matter how you sliced it. "Have you ever talked to him?"

"Well, just in a group. A bunch of my friends saw him with a bunch of his friends at the mall last weekend and we all ended up at the food court at a couple of big tables."

Hell, it was Hell. "Did you talk to him?"

"He sat down next to me and he…" The blushing was becoming frightening. "He made David get up so he could sit next to me, then he gave me some of his fries. After that we all walked around together and he gave me and Laurie a ride home."

"Did he tell you that he'd call you or any of that?"

She shook her head, disappointed.

"Girls used to call me all the time when I was in high school, it's not a big deal. Have you tried that?"

She looked at him in horror before she realized what he had just said. "Girls called you? But-what did you tell them? I mean, didn't they know that you're gay?"

"…I wasn't really out then. I'd give them the English assignment or tell them what math problems were due and say that I'd see them the next day in class." He saw her look. "It's easy, call him and ask him to help you with your science or history or something. Unless he's a complete asshole, he should respond to that."

"But, did you, when girls called you? Did you take them out?"

He smiled without hurting her. "Molly, I'm gay. I'm gay now and I was gay then. I helped them with their math and told them I'd see them in class."

"But did you think they really needed help with their assignments?"

He did laugh at that. "God, no. They wanted my bod."

"But you're gay-what did you do?"

"I answered their questions and told them I had to go finish my other homework or take a shower or something."

"Hey Brian-did you have a boyfriend in high school? I mean, Justin had you, but did you have one?"

He was going to blow off his answer, make something up or lie but then thought, fuck it-why not tell her? He nodded.

"Did you hold hands and all of that romantic stuff? How old were you?"

"I was a freshman, he was a senior. He was the captain of the soccer team and he sort of took me under his wing as soon as he figured out that I was gay, too. I think that was about the second week of school-we'd just moved and I was one of the new kids, didn't know anyone."

"And he became your boyfriend? Were you older than me?"

"I was just fifteen when Keith and I hooked up, but I'd already…" He'd spoken without thinking and stopped himself.

"You'd already had sex?"

Brian nodded again. "Well, sort of."

"Brian? Were you in love with him?"

He hesitated. This was a tough one for him, always had been, always would be. Finally… "I thought that I was, with Keith, I mean. I guess I was."

"But he wasn't the first one you ever-the first guy you, you know, did it with?"

Another nod. "The first one didn't count. He was the first one who mattered. You haven't gotten laid yet, have you?"

The blush had begun to fade, that brought it back. "Can you tell?"

"I just sort of figured."

"Do you think I should?"

Jesus, why would a teenaged straight girl ask him about whether or not she should get laid? Dear God, let Jennifer walk in right now.

"Because I think if I went out with Ryan, I mean if he asked me, he'd sort of expect that we would-you know." She looked right at him. "Do you think I should?"

"Maybe you should ask Daphne about this. She's a girl and would know more about this sort of …"

"I know, but you know more about guys than anyone I know and, well, I thought you would know better about how they think about these things."

Yeah, right, sure he did. Uh-huh. Shit, just jump in here. "Well, first of all, if you call him, you set the tone and the rules, so keep that in mind. Secondly, if he wants to just get laid, he's probably an asshole and you can do better." Was that HIM saying that? God. "And third, if you're not sure you want to do this, wait until you are sure. Oh, and if you do, make sure you have rubbers and use them."

She was positively scarlet at this point. "I won't get pregnant." She was studying the carpet intensely.

"…You don't want to get sick, either, Molly."

"Oh…that."

There was an awkward silence while neither of them could think of quite what to say next. Finally Brian broke it. "So, do you think you'll call him, or talk to him in school?"

"I guess…but he probably doesn't even really like me. He was probably just flirting or something." Teenage Hell.

He smiled, a small smile. God, things never changed. "Maybe, but you won't know if you don't talk to him."

She grinned suddenly. "What did you say to Justin the first time you saw him? How did you get him?"

Screw it. "He told me he wasn't doing anything special and I told him I could change that."

She burst out laughing. "God, you sure did."

Before he could answer they heard the front door opening. "Molly? Are Justin and Brian here?" Jennifer came up the stairs to the living.

"No, just me and I have to be going."

Surprised to see him, she asked, "Is everything alright? Molly, did you have a problem, are you sick? Is Justin alright?"

God, mothers. "Everything is fine, Jenn, Molly just had some questions about her soccer. I told her I'd be at the next game." Molly looked gratitude at him.

Jenn was smart enough to know she was being hosed but let it go. For now. "Oh….are you hungry? Have you eaten?"

"Justin is waiting for me, but thanks anyway." He reclaimed his coat. "Molly, let me know when your next game is, OK? If you have any questions before that, give me a call."

She smiled her thanks at him, Jenn wondering what was going on, but deciding not to ask. Yet.

* * *

Two days later Brian was working on another series for Liberty Air at the loft when Justin answered the phone. "Brian? It's for you. It's Molly." He handed over the handset; Justin could only hear one side of the conversation. He made no secret that he was listening.

"…Tomorrow? That's great…No, a movie is perfect. It's neutral ground, it's dark and there are other people around…Hey, don't worry about it, his hand will probably be sweating, too…No, that's good-another couple will take the pressure off you having to carry all the conversation…yes, call me, let me know how it goes. Later."

"…Brian? What was that about?"

His attention already back on the monitor, he answered distractedly. "Molly is going on her first date, some football jock she has a crush on."

"Why the fuck was she calling you about it?"

"I gave her advice."

"You're so full of shit."

"I am completely shitless, now fuck off so I can get this done."

* * *

The next Monday he was at his desk, going over the Frito-Lay storyboards and typing copy to match the campaign when Cynthia buzzed him. "There's a call for you on line five, Ms Taylor." A slight pause. "She says that she knows you."

Nodding he hit the conference button, still typing.

"So, how did it go?"

"God, Brian, it was so great. He even asked me to go to the Christmas Dance with him and I'll be like the only freshman there. He's so amazing."

"He try anything?"

"God, Brian. Well, sort of. OK, maybe-I mean, he sort of kissed me." He could hear her blushing through the wires.

"He any good? You think he might be my type?"

"Brian…God! You leave him alone, you've already corrupted a high school student and my parents are still pissed about that."

"Best thing I ever did."

"Dad doesn't think so...are you coming to the game on Thursday?"

"Home or away?"

"Home at four o'clock…and Ryan said that he'd be there. I told him about you and he said he wants to meet you. Will you come?"

"Why the fuck does he want to meet me?"

"God, Brian. I told him you're amazing and he wants to maybe intern at your company next summer. He's going to try to suck up to you."

He laughed, this was too damn easy. "Tell him the position's been filled."

"God, Brian…you're completely gross. Will you be there?"

"Thursday."

"Good."

* * *

Four-thirty on Thursday Brian was standing on the sidelines watching the game. He'd left work early, much to Gardner's displeasure and had just arrived, it was the second quarter and the score was tied three all. Jennifer was across the field, along with a gaggle of other soccer parents and Molly was playing defense. From what he could see the teams seemed pretty evenly matched and were both playing alright, if a little sloppily.

Returning her wave, he saw Jennifer make her way over to him. She greeted him, then, "Brian, what are you doing here?" It was clear that she wasn't pleased. Now, he knew she didn't really like him, but this bordered on rude-unusual for Jenn.

"…Molly asked me." Oh, Christ, now what?

"Look, Brian, I'm sorry but I think it would be better if you didn't stay for the rest of the game."

Christ. "Why's that?"

"Craig said he's coming and I don't want things to get unpleasant with the children here."

Perfect, his favorite person, but the prick was the kid's father and this was probably the first game he'd shown up at in a year or more. "Fine. Tell Molly that I couldn't stay." He turned to go back to the car and came face to face with the father of the year.

"Jesus, Jenn, what the Hell is this pervert doing here?" He was standing less than two feet away. At least he was keeping voice down, so far.

"Craig, just calm down. Molly asked Brian to come so he could watch how she's playing. He used to play soccer in college. Didn't you get a scholarship, Brian?"

"I don't care if he invented the Goddamned game. I don't want him here-He raped Justin then almost got him killed. Isn't that enough? Does he need to ruin Molly, too?"

"He didn't rape anyone." Jennifer's voice was pitched quietly, bringing no more attention to them than they already had. "Justin-has always said that it was consensual and you know that as well as I do."

"And I gather you're the one who told her to call that boy? What were you thinking, for the love of God? You do know that she's only fifteen, don't you?" He'd turned his attention back to Brian who declined to answer. "That's too young for what they're thinking of."

Fuck this, he wasn't about to engage with this bullshit. "Tell Molly that I couldn't stay." He started back to his car but Craig grabbed his arm.

"You stay away from my daughter, do you understand me? I may be too late to keep Justin away from you, but I'll be Goddamned before I let you get her, too."

He pulled his arm out of Craig's grip. "She's not my type."

"I wouldn't put it past you-what is it they call you? The biggest whore in Pittsburgh?"

"Craig!"

He looked over at Jennifer standing behind Brian. "You must have heard, Jenn. Even if he's convinced Justin that doesn't matter, at least I cared enough to do some checking on this son of a bitch. How the fuck you can let him anywhere near either one of those kids is beyond me."

Brian started to say something but was cut off.

"In fact I was thinking about petitioning for custody to get them away from the bad influences they're subjected to living with you." He was bluffing and they all knew it, but the words still hit a nerve and the three adults stopped and stared at one another for several long moments.

"And don't think I don't know what kind of an influence you've already had on Justin-going to those clubs, drinking, drugs. For God's sake, he was working as a, a 'dancer'…isn't that what they call it? Hustling, dancing on top of a Goddamned bar, having men paw at him. Christ! Men were stuffing money down his crotch. And sex…God, don't even get me started."

They were drawing attention, Craig's voice had become loud enough to force the other people watching the game to turn and stare. One of the school officials came over, asking them to either keep it down or take it elsewhere. None of them noticed that half time had been called. Molly had walked over to where they were standing, a teenaged boy with her. They were holding hands.

"Dad? Brian is here because I asked him to come today. This is Ryan. Ryan, these are my parents and this is Brian." He was a tall, slender boy and resembled a younger, less formed version of Brian. Of course, Jenn thought to herself, Molly would look for another Brian, a straight one. Craig stopped speaking to stare. He probably thought the boy was Brian's younger brother or something.

They exchanged strained pleasantries, the boy looking at both Brian and Craig as though making comparisons between the two. Brian making an excuse, left, but not before kissing Molly on the cheek. Craig assumed it was a dig intended for him.

He was partly right.

Later that evening Brian was working on his laptop at the loft, Justin was working on his graphic computer and music was playing in the background. He'd seen no reason to upset Justin with an explanation of the afternoon encounter and Justin knew nothing about it.

The phone rang. Justin answered. "Hello? Oh, hi…I'm fine, I have that end of semester project about half done…this weekend, I guess…Sure, he's right here…Brian? It's my Mom, she wants to talk to you."

"Hello?…No, I'm fine. Did anything happen after I left?…Good. Molly's OK?…Tell her that I'll be there next time…Saturday? That's fine…At the school again, yes…No. That's not a problem." He hit the 'off' button and turned his attention back to his computer.

"Brian?"

He answered without looking up. "I told your mother that I'd be at Molly's next soccer game."

Realizing from the tone of voice that there was no point in attempting to further the conversation, Justin mentally shrugged and went back to work.

Brian at Molly's soccer game? Well…whatever.

Saturday morning was a nice one, warm and sunny and Brian was at the school field for the game start, coffee in hand. Jennifer was in a folding chair she'd brought and Ryan, the new beau, was on a blanket beside her. Walking over, Brian greeted them and sat beside the boy-they really could have passed for brothers. Molly brought the coach over for an introduction and it turned out that she had been at Penn while Brian had played varsity for the school. In fact, she remembered him and was about to ask him something when she was called to start the game.

The game went smoothly, Molly playing well. Her coach made her way back over to Brian sometime in the second period, asking if he would be good enough to let her know after the game what he thought of the way the girls were playing and he agreed that he would. Jenn spent most of the time chatting with several of the other parents and Brian had the distinct feeling that Ryan wanted to talk to him about something.

"Molly told me that you live with her brother."

There didn't seem to be anything to say to that. Brian just looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"She says that her father tried to kill you a couple of times because he blames you for Justin becoming a fag. That true?"

"Is what true? That he tried to kill me a couple of times of that it's my fault that Justin is queer?"

The boy, that's right, his name was Ryan, sort of shrugged, embarrassed. "Whatever."

"Craig totaled my car with me in it and he tried to cave in my ribs with his foot. And I suppose that he blames me for Justin, too." Brian watched the boy while he spoke. He wasn't much younger than Justin, maybe a year or two and he seemed reasonably bright. "Do you have problem with it?"

"You being gay? Nah, I don't give a fuck. Justin always seemed like he was OK." He was picking at some of the blades of grass, nerves, likely. "He'd have been a homo even if he'd never met you, that's what Molly thinks, anyway. You agree?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"Besides, Molly told me that there's nothing to worry about with you guys-she says that you're no more interested in me than I am in you and so why would you try to grab my ass when you have Justin's for the taking."

"Yeah, well, I guess we just aren't each other's type."

"Well, there you go. No point in breaking a sweat about it then. Molly said that you're a partner at Vanguard."

Brian nodded. "She told me that you were going to ask me about an internship, that right?"

"I was, yeah, but if it would be weird because of Molly and her brother, that's OK."

"Are you interested in advertising specifically?"

"Well, no, not really. Ok, sort of. I'm interested in the psychology of marketing. I was thinking of a double major in psychology and business."

"Want to go into HR?"

"Excuse me?"

"Human Resources."

"Oh, no. I thought that if I could understand why people want certain things, I would be worth more to some company."

The kid seemed to have something on the ball, no pun intended. Well, OK. "…Tell you what. You have your school fax me your transcript, teacher's recs and all that sort of thing, then come see me next week. Say, Wednesday after school-four o'clock should give you enough time to get there. We'll talk and I can show you around if you'd like." He fished in his pocket, coming up with a business card that had the needed numbers.

"Oh, wow Really? That would be awesome."

"No problem."

Jenn wandered over closer to where they were sitting, listening. "After the game's over, would you two like to join us for lunch? My treat."

"I was going to meet up with Justin, but thanks, anyway."

Jenn tried to decide if Brian was being tactful, which seemed unlikely or if he really was meeting her son. "Why not call him and see if he'd like to meet up with us. We could pick him up if that would be easier."

The call was made; the agreement was that Justin would meet them at the local Outback Steakhouse at two as soon as he got off his diner shift. Ryan wandered off to visit with some friends, leaving Brian and Jenn sitting together. She was very obviously not saying something; finally Brian mentally shrugged and decided 'what the Hell'.

"What?"

"I just, well, it's good of you to do it of course, but why are you spending so much time with Molly and this boy?"

"She called me. She asked me to be here."

"I know that, but why are you…"

"I like Molly and Ryan is harmless enough."

"Well, yes, but…"

"I like soccer."

"I know, but you must have other…"

"And it doesn't hurt to bring in a new intern who's interested in what the company does."

"You might give him a job?"

Brian's attention was focused on the field where a goal had just been scored against Molly's team. "I said that he could meet with me, have his transcript sent to the company and we'd talk about it. I didn't promise him anything."

They were quiet for a minute as the play continued on the field.

"Craig is threatening to get his lawyer involved if you continue to see Molly. He says that you're a bad influence."

"I'm sure he does." He turned to look at her, trying to get a read on her. "You know that his threats are bullshit, that there're no grounds for anything. His lawyer will tell him the same thing."

"I know that, it doesn't make it any more pleasant."

"I take it that you think I'm a bad influence, too or you would have told Craig to screw off."

She inhaled audibly. "I think that you're probably completely harmless as far as Molly is concerned, but I still think that you'll hurt Justin. Brian, I don't want to hurt you, but to be honest, I've thought that since the first day I learned your name and I have no reason to change my opinion."

"Because that's what Debbie told you. Well, fuck you."

Jenn actually looked shocked. People didn't talk to her like that too often. He continued in the same controlled voice.

"I may not be your idea of a perfect son-in-law or some shit like that, but I think that the last couple of years the pros have outweighed the cons."

"You've been a tremendous help-I don't know what I would have done without you after Justin was hurt, but, Brian, you have to know that…"

"That he wouldn't have been bashed if I hadn't been there? That his life would be easier if he hadn't met me?"

"Brian-there have been a lot of cons and you know that as well as I do."

Damnit. He started to say something, changing his mind before he got the words out.

"Please, you know that I'm grateful for all you've done, but there are problems now that didn't exist a couple of years ago and…"

He stood looking down at where she was sitting. The exchange had been kept low key, no one was paying attention. "That first night, when we first met on Liberty Avenue, have you ever thought what might have happened if he hadn't met me?"

"…I have, yes. If he had met someone his own age, he would be…"

He shook his head slightly. She had no idea. "He wasn't looking for someone his own age." That was all he said. There was no point in going further; the look on her face was enough. That hadn't occurred to her.

"…What was he looking for?"

"He wanted to get laid." Brian softened slightly, more than Jenn would have thought he was capable of, under the circumstances. "He was seventeen and wanted to see what it was like, that's all, and he wasn't looking for another kid to show him how it's done."

"And you showed him."

Shit, he was tired about going around the same fucking block with this again. "Your daughter called me because she wasn't comfortable talking to you about dating or sex. You might want to do something about that before she does something she shouldn't." God, did he just say that? "Maybe if Justin could have gone to you a couple of years ago he wouldn't be with me, so back off, Mother of the Year."

"Brian…That's not what I meant."

"Sure it was." He was ready to go. "Justin is out of your control and for that matter, Molly probably is, too, but if she was my kid I'd sure as Hell let her know that she doesn't have to go to someone like me if she has a problem." Just then his cel rang. "Yes?…I'll be there in about twenty minutes." He snapped it closed and left with one last pointed look at her. "Tell Molly I couldn't stay."

Later that night, around ten thirty Justin answered the phone at the loft, handing off to Brian. He took the call up in the bedroom, talking quietly so that her brother wouldn't hear. After about ten minutes he came back down to where they had been sitting together on the new couch. In two minutes Justin couldn't stand it anymore.

"Is she alright?"

"She's fine."

Another couple of minutes passed with only the TV making noise.

"…Jesus, Brian, a little information, please."

"It's looks like it's going to rain tomorrow afternoon."

"Fucker."

"Your mother and Molly had a talk this evening and Jenn decided that I'm not completely the Antichrist, despite what your father has been telling her."

"Uh-huh. And what was this based on?"

"Common sense." Justin raised an eyebrow. "And I suspect that she had a conversation with your father. My guess is that he didn't compare well."

"What is all this shit you've been talking about with Molly the last couple of weeks?" Justin snugged himself closer to Brian. "She after your bod?"

"Some kid in her school is after hers and she wasn't sure what to do about it."

Justin raised his head, staring at Brian like he'd just started speaking Martian. "And she asked you about how she should handle it?"

"Yup."

"…And? Hello?"

"And I think they're going steady. Maybe they're pinned. I think she's wearing his school ring on a chain around her neck and next she'll be borrowing his varsity jacket and making a chain out of gum wrappers for him. Do the girls still make false eyelashes out of their boyfriends hair?"

"…Gross." Justin took a beat. "You're serious."

"Yup. Right again, Boy Wonder."

"My sister asked you for help with her love life?"

"Who better to ask?"

"…Jesus, don't even get me started on that one. And what the fuck did you tell her?"

Brian took a moment to look at Justin, gauging his reaction. "I told her that if she liked the guy she should let him know and then she should be careful. And if he tried any shit I'll cut his nuts off for her."

The smile started, not the full wattage, maybe half of it. "And what if someone tries some shit with me?"

"I'll cut his nuts off."

The smile revved up a couple of watts. "And what should I do if someone tries some shit with you?"

"Suck me off."

"…I shouldn't cut his nuts off?"

"I can do that myself. You take care of my nuts, I'll take care of yours."

"Deal."

"Deal."

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