New Account

Part 1

In case you've neglected to commit the first part to memory—didn't know there'd be a quiz later, did you? —`New Kid' followed 14-year-old, high school freshman Brian's adjustment to his new school, his befriending Michael and his first love who was a senior named Keith White. Though the boys were in love, the affair ended badly with Brian being dumped. Years later, in the present, Brian was surprised to have Keith walk into his office as a potential client. In fact, he had looked up Brian to renew their acquaintance, using his account as a way to meet fact to face. Brian is with Justin and back at Vanguard. It's after Season 3 and Keith, a nice guy, by the way, is willing to wait for his chance.

This story is the result of a request from a reader who wondered what happened after the first story ended.

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Brian had a meeting scheduled with the executive board of Multitech for Monday. It would be held at their headquarters in Silicon Valley out in California and he had flown in Saturday at Keith's suggestion. The two of them could iron out some questions about the campaign and Brian could get a tour of the operation without constant interruptions.

Reluctantly, he had agreed to the trip.

He was uncomfortable with the situation and he disliked being put in a position where he felt out of control. Keith had called Gardner directly, bypassing Brian, to request that Brian come out to California to meet with his top people and outline the ideas behind the new ads. Vance had agreed that Brian would go out and had accepted Keith's generous offer to have him stay at the house rather than in some hotel. In fact, Gardner was probably happy to be saving the thousand or so dollars the hotel would have cost the company, not bothering at ask Brian if had any objections with the arrangements.

That in itself had pissed him off. He resented being treated like a Goddamned flunky.

When Brian had said that he would prefer not being in the position of having to accept the man's hospitality and that he felt it would blur the line between client and provider, Gardner had said that he was being foolish. They were all adults and Mr. White hardly seemed the type to press an advantage. The man was married, for the love of God, had been for over a decade. Vance had added, somewhat snidely, that he doubted if Brian was his type.

Yeah, right.

Besides, he suspected that Brian could take care of himself.

Christ.

He had been complaining so much about the meeting in California for the past couple of days that Justin had wondered what Brian's real objection was to the trip—it wasn't like he didn't travel all the time for his job.

Brian wasn't about to tell him that he and Keith had a history that went back as far as his friendship with Mikey, let alone that Keith had been his first lover. Justin would likely have pulled a drama queen moment for the history books, either that or he would have feigned indifference while actually tearing himself up behind a mask of WASP manners. He was adept at the catchall "I'm fine."

Not knowing the back story, but realizing that there was more going on that he was aware of, Justin had decided to just play it cool and hope that whatever was bothering Brian about this client would simply blow over. It actually occurred to him to wonder if there was something going on between the two men—and then dismissed it. And he sure as Hell wasn't about to ask Brian.

Justin and Gardner didn't know that Keith had already told Brian that he'd filed for divorce and that he was willing to wait until the relationship with Justin had run it's course. In fact, he had said that since he'd already waited fifteen years, a couple more wouldn't matter all that much.

He had told Keith that he wasn't interested in dredging up the past, that they were history, over, done. He had come right out and said that he was happy with Justin, that they were happy together and that the most Keith could hope for was—maybe—friendship.

Keith had said that he would wait. There wasn't any hurry. He just wanted to know if the chemistry they'd had when they were younger was still there and as far as he was concerned, it was—in spades.

What a fucking mess.

Finally, there really wasn't anything he could do about it other than tell Vance everything and he wasn't about to do that. He had simply gotten on the plane to LAX and was now in Keith's guest room, changing into jeans and a casual but decent shirt to join the wife—Patty—out by the pool for drinks. She had met him at the gate, saying that it was nicer than sending a driver and had chatted non-stop during the drive to their home.

She was an attractive woman and reminded him of a younger version of Jennifer. She obviously spent a lot of her time and energy on trying to look good and succeeded in a slightly overdone sort of way. She was intelligent, well read and used to entertaining. She seemed the perfect corporate wife who obviously adored her husband.

She told him that Keith had mentioned they had been in school together and she was dying to ask him all sorts of questions about what he was like back then. Keith denied it, but she just knew that he had probably dated the homecoming queen or the head cheerleader or one of the class beauties. That would be Keith's style, he'd never settle for less than the best.

In fact, that was one of the things Keith had told him years ago after they had made love. At the time it had made him cry with happiness.

As soon as she realized what she had said she had the grace to blush and laugh. If she had any idea that her husband was gay—or at least bi, she gave no indication of it.

She likely had no idea that her husband had taken Brian's virginity when they were in high school or that they had vowed undying love to one another for almost a year.

Either she was incredibly naïve, which seemed unlikely, or a damn good actress.

They had no kids and she had confided that she'd had three miscarriages. After she asked he had, reluctantly, brought out a photo of Gus, which she had exclaimed over.

Keith was expected in about an hour. His wife had no idea that the two men had both secretly kept track of one another all these years. Patty sure as Hell had no idea that Brian was there as part of Keith's plan to win him back.

The woman suggested a tour of the house, probably as a way to pass the time. Mentally shrugging, Brian agreed.

Not surprisingly, the house was a showplace. Brian remembered the awe he had tried to paste over with cool the first couple of times he had gone to Keith's childhood home. It was his first introduction to how the other half lived and he had never forgotten how it had affected him to be accepted in a place like that—and more importantly, by a family like Keith's. He also had never forgotten their kindness to him and the closeness between them, the fact that they actually liked each other and enjoyed one another's company. Keith's parents had even offered to take Brian in when they had found out about the abusive nightmare of his home life.

He had fantasized that he would live in Keith's room—or just down the hall. He would go to school everyday and come home and there would be people who would ask him how he was and what had he done and how was the math test? They wouldn't be drunk and he wouldn't get hit anymore. They would let him eat a decent dinner and care about what he had to say. Then he would go upstairs where he would be able to call Keith to tell him about his day and ask Keith about his. They would tell each other everything and then on vacations when he came home they would pretend that they were like brothers in front of everyone but at night they would make love.

When Brian graduated from high school he would go to some school close to Keith and they would be together.

They had it all planned, it would be perfect.

They were in love.

But then they had been discovered and Jamie had threatened to tell everyone. Keith had become angry and frightened and he had ended it that night.

Nothing Brian had said, nothing he could do would change Keith's mind and all contact had abruptly ended—until he had walked into Brian's office two weeks ago.

Shit.

And now Keith wanted to try to pick up where they had left off.

The pisser was that Brian wasn't sure what he wanted to do about it.

He had Justin.

He loved Justin, Damnit and Justin loved him. Justin loved him almost the same way he had loved Keith all those years ago.

What a fucking mess.

He had thought about refusing the trip or simply making some excuse.

Christ—all Gardner needed was to hear that his partner had a major account handed to him so that the CEO could get back in his pants.

Perfect.

Of course, on the other hand, Gardner would likely have no problem with that so long as the checks cashed without problem.

So here he was, being polite to Keith's wife who might not know that her husband of over ten years was about to ditch her for the man sitting next to her. It was now Saturday; he'd be here through Monday.

Let the games begin.

Patty had gone on about how perfect their life together was, how happy they were and he was everything that she had ever hoped to find in a man. That had lasted for the hour or so until Keith showed.

He walked out to where we were sitting by the pool, shook Brian's hand, welcomed him and settled in between the guest and his wife. Between the two wives—past and future as far as he was concerned, his conversation was casual, he was as gracious as anyone could hope and no one gave anything away about what they really thought.

Dinner was about the same. Brian was taken to a local Thai place with excellent food and the usual social niceties were observed. When they were finished and back at the house Brian could reasonably plead jet lag as an excuse to get away to the guestroom. He read quietly to himself after a call to Justin to let him know that he had arrived safely and that everything seemed fine. Justin, pleased that Brian would think to call him, told him that three of his paintings had been selected for the big student show, as many as any one student was allowed and that the weather was supposed to get terrible. The snow that had been threatening all day was just starting and feet were expected. Brian should make sure to call before he tried to get home on Monday—the storm was predicted to last at least two days and the airports could be screwed up.

Damn. Yes, he'd be sure to check. How was he? Fine, it was in the mid-seventies. He'd call tomorrow—be careful with the snow.

The next day, Sunday, the two men drove over to the complex that housed Multitech. It was closed and no one would be there to bother them, they could roam at will, take as much time as they needed.

Brian was impressed with what he saw. Keith's company was starting to rival Dell in the semi-custom home computer market. They had a growing reputation for quality, service and decent prices. Their hiring policy was completely nondiscriminatory and benefits were generous.

The physical plant was a bright, well-designed space with human needs taking priority. Each workstation was personalized and Brian had to smile when Keith told him that every employee was given their birthday off with pay.

It was the sort of thing that Justin would like.

When Brian asked Keith why he did that he was told that when Keith had learned—years ago—that Brian had never celebrated a birthday it had stuck with him. Everyone should be special at least one day a year—this was just a little payback for the shit Brian had been through.

Brian just looked at him as he walked on.

Keith had every reason to be as proud of the place. Everything about it was impressive.

The tour and another going over of the ideas took the better part of the day, with Keith throwing in several excellent thoughts of his own that would be included.

Finally feeling ready for the next day with the senior staff, the two men headed back to the house when Keith turned off the main road, detouring to a local park.

"Do you mind? I like to walk here."

"No, whatever you want. It's your football."

They got out of the parked car, strolling along a well-tended path through a small wooded area, finally finding a large grouping of rocks to sit on.

"I'm sorry that you're angry I had you come out here, I'd like to clear the air."

"It wasn't necessary for me to fly across the country for this, Keith. We both know that and I don't know what you hope to gain by having me stay with you and your wife. All it's doing is make me feel sorry for her."

"She asked to meet you. She knows how I feel about you, Bri. She knows about our history together."

Brian gave Keith a look. "Are you shitting me? You fucking told her and then expected us to all have a nice dinner together? What—you fuck her while I sleep down the hall? What the Hell are you playing here? You know I'm with someone."

"I didn't try to set you up, Bri. She knows about us and wanted to meet you. Patty knows it's over between us, she knows the divorce will be final in a couple of months—she just wanted to meet you."

"Why? To check out the competition?" Keith saw the look on Brian's face.

"She told me last night that she understood why I couldn't let go of you."

"Damn nice of her to give her blessing."

Keith shrugged. "I guess that's what it is in a way."

Christ. "Keith, I told you that I'm with someone."

"I know that and if I thought that you'd be happy with him long term I'd back off, but you'll outgrow him sooner or later."

"Keith…"

"Right now he flatters your ego—a pretty boy who adores you."

"Justin is more than that." There was no answer. "Why did you wait fifteen years to try to get a hold of me?"

"I was afraid that you'd hang up on me after the way I treated you."

Shit. They might as well clear all the air, not just some of it. "I waited for you for three years. Three fucking years. Then I forgot about you."

"I don't believe that. I saw the look on your face when I walked into your office. You may not love me anymore, but you sure as Hell didn't forget me."

Brian was becoming exasperated. "Whatever. What the fuck did you think would happen out here? That I'd leave the guest room unlocked and you could sneak in? That we'd get a room somewhere? Jesus, Keith. I'm not fourteen anymore."

Keith knew this was the wrong way to go with Brian. He wouldn't be pushed. "No—I just wanted to be able to talk and…"

"See where we stand?"

"Yes, be friends again." They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. "Tell me about Justin." For a moment he thought that he was going to get a real answer about the boy. He was wrong.

Brian stood up, turning to go back to the car. "I'm not going to do this with you. You want me to handle your fucking account, fine. You don't, that's fine too. I'll stay through the meeting on Monday and then I'm going home. If you want to contact me, you know where I work."

"Brian, wait…"

"I'll even stay at your Goddamned house so that we don't have to give a lot of explanations to Vance and your wife about what's going on, but we've been finished for years. I've gotten way the Hell over it." He started walking. "You should do the same."

The ride back to the house was silent. At dinner Brian let Patty steer the conversation into neutral ground. Later that night, around one in the morning, he was sitting on one of the lounge chairs by the pool. The house was dark, the pool lights off. He assumed that his hosts were asleep.

The conversation that afternoon—the entire visit and being with Keith again had brought up feelings and memories that he'd spent almost two decades trying to bury.

It wasn't just that Keith had dumped him—though he later understood that it had been done for his own good—it was the way it was done, as painfully as possible and seemingly without remorse or regret.

He now knew that wasn't true. Keith had pushed him off a cliff, cut off all contact to stop the gay rumors that were starting concerning the two of them. Leaving for college in a couple of months, Keith didn't care for himself. He was worried that Brian would cave under three years of innuendo, snide comments, possible physical attack and ostracism, especially since Keith wouldn't be there to help him through it.

His plan has largely worked. Brian had Captained both the Soccer and Track teams, made the honor society and received the scholarships he needed to get to a good school.

He had also rebuilt the defensive walls that Keith had broken down. Until Justin came along years later, he had never admitted to himself that he loved anyone other than platonically.

Keith hadn't forgotten him, had only hurt him because he had genuinely believed that it was for the best. Keith had loved him as much as he had loved Keith, maybe even more if that was possible.

And Brian knew that he had been lying to Keith when he told him that he'd gotten over him, that he'd forgotten him. In truth, a week hadn't gone by that he hadn't thought about Keith. Not a single Goddamned week since he was fifteen years old. He couldn't hear the name `Keith' without a pang. He couldn't watch a soccer game, see the number twenty-seven, Keith's old number, without it hurting.

As much as he loved Justin, Keith was still in his brain. The question now was whether being aware of him had become simply a habit or was it unfinished business that needed to be resolved?

Shit.

And where did this leave Justin?

Shit.

It didn't help that Keith had become a beautiful man, that he was still intelligent, well spoken and had a kind heart.

It was the old cliché; the one about never forgetting your first love. Much as he didn't want to admit the fact, the feelings that he had for Keith were old and ghosts, but they were still there.

"You alright?"

Keith appeared at the foot of his chaise. It was a dark night and he couldn't really make out his face, just his voice.

"Couldn't sleep, that's all. You?"

"I couldn't sleep either." He sat on the chair next to Brian. "Look, I know you're pissed about how I got you out here, but—shit, I just wanted to see you, see if we still had the connection that we used to."

That was why Brian had, reluctantly, agreed to get on the plane in the first place. He'd resented being blindsided by Keith just walking into his office. Yes, he'd been angry at being manipulated, but he could have refused.

He was curious about whether of not anything was left.

"I meant what I said, Bri. I won't push this if you don't want it. The truth is that after all this time, I wouldn't want you if you weren't sure about it…fuck…I'm in the middle of a divorce and up to my ears at work. I don't need any more crap right now. Like I said, if there's a reason to, I'll wait, but I don't want to jump if we don't know what we're doing."

The two men lay without speaking for a few minutes, just thinking, watching the sky. Brian finally broke the silence.

"Do you remember that night we spent at your grandmother's?" It was the night that fourteen-year-old Brian had been really introduced to sex, it was the first night he'd slept with another man, well, with another boy.

"Of course I remember."

"Before we got into bed we were flirting and kissing, but I wished we could just skip the warm up and just get past all the awkwardness and past all the uncertainly and just love each other."

"I felt the same way. I wanted to make love to you but I didn't know how you'd react." He heard the smile. "You were only fourteen years old. I almost felt like a child molester."

"I was scared to death but I knew that I loved you and that I wanted you, even though I didn't really know what that meant then."

"I thought that if I could get you through the first night with hurting you, you'd be alright. And you were a very mature fourteen year old." He heard the slight laugh.

"Yes, I guess I was, at that."

The silence was back as they both thought back to the night they became lovers. "I still feel that way, Bri. I still wish we could get past the crap and—you know."

No answer.

"Bri?"

"You were the first person who ever called me that. No one else had ever cared enough to give me a nickname." The silence was back for a bit. "What happened to your parents? Are they still alive?"

"They retired to Boca about five years ago. They're fine—you know, they really did want to move you into the house. My Dad in particular liked you. He kept telling me that you were smarter than all of us put together. I think he wanted you to become another son."

"How would he have felt about me becoming a son-in-law?"

"…After I told them I was gay—and that was only a couple of years ago—they would have been fine with it."

No answer. At one time Brian had wanted that more than almost anything.

"Are you hesitating because you're simply unsure or because you don't want to hurt Justin?"

For fifteen years this had been an unfinished chapter in his life. For fifteen years he had wondered what would happen if they were to see each other again. For fifteen years he had lived with Keith at the edge of his thoughts and often in his dreams.

"Yes, to both questions. And I—care about him."

He heard Keith sit up, lean across the two feet separating the loungers and take his hand. "Alright. But give me a chance, at least. OK?" His knuckles were kissed.

Almost unconsciously he caressed Keith's jaw before gently pulling his hand away.

Standing, he paused for a few seconds, started to say something then stopped, turned and walked into the house.

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