Happy New Year, Sunshine

Justin sat on the sofa in his tiny apartment in New York. He looked around, noting the secondhand furniture and the dingy walls. He really should paint, walls, not pictures. But he hadn’t thought he would be here for so long. It was almost a year since he had left Pittsburgh, and … Brian. Brian had made it clear that he should take every opportunity that the Big Apple had to offer. That included men as well as artistic endeavors. He had gone out clubbing a few times, had fucked a few guys, but clubbing was expensive, and none of the guys was Brian. His art was going okay, but he couldn’t say he was terribly successful, certainly not as successful as he had hoped to be.

Justin sighed as he remembered the art show that he had exhibited at. He had three paintings in the show along with five other artists, none of them well known. That meant the show didn’t get a lot of attention. It had taken place last month, and he supposed it was a modest success. He had sold a painting and had got a couple of commissions from the show, but money didn’t last long in New York, even though he scrimped wherever he could.

He had at least twenty paintings that were finished or partially finished, but no show was on the horizon. He didn’t know how much longer he could afford to stay in New York. He was getting firsthand experience of being a starving artist, both literally and figuratively.

Justin could hear the laughter and music coming from the apartment next to his. It was New Year’s Eve, and his neighbor Trevor was throwing a bash. He wondered why they didn’t go to Times Square. That was supposed to be the place to be on New Year’s Eve. Justin had thought about going to Times Square, but he didn’t like the idea of being in that huge crowd all by himself. If Daphne or … Brian had been here, he would have enjoyed going with them. But on this New Year’s Eve he was all alone.

He heard a loud pop from next door. Maybe that was a champagne cork, but that seemed pretty extravagant for the kind of place he and Trevor lived in. More likely it was somebody stumbling against the wall, in all likelihood drunk as a skunk.

Trevor was okay as a neighbor. He worked on a computer help desk for some company. He made a little more money than the poverty line, but not much more. Trevor was straight, but that was okay, because it was no big deal to him that Justin was gay. They talked occasionally and even shared a pizza every now and then. Trevor had invited him to his party, but Justin hadn’t been in the mood. He knew straight couples would be dancing and making out. It was unlikely that anyone gay would be there. Justin didn’t want to be all by himself when everyone else had someone.

Justin glanced at the clock. Twenty minutes until midnight and a new year. He wondered if the next year would be any better. Maybe coming to New York had been a big mistake. Lately Justin hadn’t felt the same inspiration for his paintings that he had had in Pittsburgh. If only…

No, he wouldn’t go there. He said he’s give it a year. That was only a few weeks from now. Maybe he could make himself a success in the time remaining. Once his year was up, he knew he didn’t want to stay here.

There was a knock on his door. Justin felt his heart soar. Could it be…?

He leapt off the sofa and ran to the door, quickly opening the four locks he used for security. He yanked the door open.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” Justin replied his face falling with disappointment.

“Are you sure you don’t want to join us for the countdown?” Trevor asked cheerfully.

“Um, yeah, I’m sure. I just wouldn’t be good company.”

“I brought you a beer.”

“Thanks,” Justin said taking the bottle that Trevor held out to him. “Your party sounds like a big success.”

“Yeah,” Trevor said with a sheepish grin. “I provided the space, and everyone brought the booze and snacks, so it worked out pretty well.”

“Happy New Year,” Justin said taking a sip of the beer.

“Same to you. Feel free to come over if the spirit moves you.”

“Thanks.” Justin closed the door and locked the locks. He walked slowly back to the couch and sank down on it. For a split second he had thought… No, it wasn’t going to happen. He needed to face the truth. This was his life. This was what he had to look forward to, every day, from now on. He took another drink of the beer and let his head fall back on the sofa. He closed his eyes hoping that would stop the tears that were threatening.

“Happy New Year to me,” Justin mumbled, only there was nothing happy about it at all. He couldn’t remember when he had felt so alone, so awful.

He wasn’t sure how long he stayed like that with his eyes closed, when there was another knock on his door.

“Fuck!” he muttered. “Trevor, I told you I’m not coming to the party,” he called out.

There was no response from beyond the door, and the knock was repeated, louder this time. Justin shook his head, but didn’t get up. The knocking came again, longer and more insistent.

“Trevor, I’m not going to the party, so fuck off,” Justin said. Finally he stood up and walked towards the door, as the knocking continued. Wearily he pulled back the locks and opened the door.

“B…Brian,” he stuttered.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Brian said with that crooked grin that Justin loved so much.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. Are you going to invite me in?” Brian asked.

“But…”

“I know, Sunshine,” Brian replied as he brushed past Justin and moved into the apartment. He carried a bottle of champagne in his hand. “I decided I’ve waited long enough. I … I miss you.”

“Oh, Brian…” Justin began, the tears welling up again, but for a very different reason.

“I want you to come home … if you’re ready,” Brian whispered in his softest voice.

“Home,” Justin repeated, like the word held some sort of magic, and it did.

The two stared at each other, saying so many things with their eyes that words could never express.

Just then the countdown began from the party next door. “Ten, nine, eight…”

Justin walked towards Brian. Brian opened his arms and enveloped his Sunshine in a warm embrace, kissing the top of the blond locks.

“Seven, six, five…”

“Why now?” Justin whispered.

“Four, three, two, one!” There were shouts, cheers noisemakers from next door and from down in the street.

Brian leaned down and captured the lips that he had been missing for so long. The kiss was a toe-curler, making them both instantly hard. “I need you,” Brian whispered into Justin’s ear when the kiss ended and the noise died down. “Isn’t there some rule that who you kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve is the one you’ll be with for the next year?” he asked with a smirk.

“Next year? It’s for the rest of your life,” Justin declared with a blazing smile.

“So be it,” Brian replied with a happy grin.

“I love you.”

“I love you too. Happy New Year, Sunshine.”

And it would be … for both of them.
 

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