High School Reunion

Chapter 13

* * *

Brian looked at the two men who accompanied Buck. “Do they need to be here for this discussion?” Brian asked. He would rather not have them part of what seemed about to happen.

Buck shook his head. “Wait outside, and don’t let anyone else in,” Buck ordered the two men.

The bruisers shrugged and stepped outside. Brian watched them leave. He breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t sure what Buck wanted with him this time, but he hoped it didn’t involve a head and a toilet. If Buck wanted to take him on, Brian felt he had a much better chance with Buck on his own, rather than with three men to face.

“So what’s this talk that we need to have?” Brian asked when Buck didn’t say anything.

“It’s kind of about my hand, as I said.”

“You want an apology, you got an apology,” Brian replied. He hoped the quick apology might diffuse whatever Buck had planned for him. “However, you do know that you deserved what you got?”

To Brian’s amazement, Buck nodded. “I know,” he said.

Brian started in surprise and then stared into Buck’s eyes. “I didn’t expect to hear you say that.”

“What did you expect?”

“I thought you wanted to dunk my head in the toilet again or … kick the crap out of me. Especially when you came in with those two goons.”

Buck laughed. It sounded genuine and not threatening at all. Brian felt himself relax a little bit. “They’re just here to make sure you don’t brush me off again.”

“What do you intend to do?” Brian asked.

“I merely want to talk to you.”

“You’ve said that several times.”

“And you’ve managed to elude me every time I tried.”

“I … I guess I wasn’t ready for what I thought you were going to do.”

Buck looked Brian up and down. “Slamming my hand in the locker door was your most memorable high school moment?” he asked out of the blue.

Brian remembered the form he and Justin had filled out and sent to the organizing committee of the reunion. “Um … yeah, it was all I could think of.”

“It was pretty memorable for me too.”

“I bet,” Brian replied feeling a drop of fear form in his stomach once again.

Then Buck smiled. “I had a good laugh reading your answers to that questionnaire.”

“You did?”

“Yes, and you have nothing to fear from me, Brian. I want to thank you.”

“Th…thank me!” Brian blurted out. That was not what he was expecting at all. “What the fuck for?”

Buck laughed again. “You thought I was out to get you, didn’t you? Payback!”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“I harbor no grudge about what happened, although at the time I would have killed you if I’d had two good hands to strangle you.”

“Why this change in attitude?” Brian asked.

“I’ve had fifteen years to come to terms with what happened.”

“And what did you decide?” Brian wanted to know. He was curious.

“I thought I was going to be a hotshot football star before you broke my fingers. I had actually had a couple of scouts come and look at me.”

“I … didn’t know that,” Brian said softly. He must have ruined Buck’s chance to get a scholarship or even to play pro ball. So why was the guy thanking him. Brian frowned as he tried to figure out where Buck was coming from.

“Nobody knew,” Buck explained. “We kept the scouting thing on the QT. I didn’t want to brag and then look like a fool if nothing happened.”

“Makes sense,” Brian agreed. He would have done the same thing. In fact he did, only he had soccer scouts looking at him. “So what happened?”

“I was a lousy student back then,” Buck admitted. “I thought I was hot shit and didn’t need to worry about schoolwork at all. The scouts told me that I was a pretty good quarterback, but they made it clear they had seen better. My grades pretty much dropped me out of the running for scholarships. I just couldn’t compete.”

“And then I broke your fingers,” Brian supplied.

“Yeah, and I had some hard choices to make. I knew I wasn’t getting a football scholarship, and my parents had already told me they wouldn’t pay for my education if I screwed around.”

“I thought you went to university?”

“My clients certainly hope that I did,” Buck laughed. “I’m a lawyer.”

“A lawyer?” Brian asked his eyebrows going up in surprise.

“I see you didn’t know. After you broke my fingers, I did some real soul searching. I knew I needed a career. I wanted to be a success, and obviously that wasn’t going to be in football. I talked to my parents, and good Catholic people that they are, they agreed to send me to Cabrini College in Philadelphia. I got my academic act together, and then went to Duquesne for law.”

“Good for you, Buck,” Brian said.

“I thanked you before, because I would not be a lawyer now, if you hadn’t broken those fingers.”

“And I wouldn’t have broken your fingers, if you hadn’t shoved my head in a toilet.”

“Touché,” Buck laughed. “I would have probably been a drunken failure like Joel, if I had gone on the way I was going. I really thought I was going to be a football star. That happens to such a small percentage of the guys who even get a football scholarship. Those broken fingers made me reassess my whole life. And I’m pretty happy with how things turned out. So, thank you. That’s all that I wanted to say.”

Brian shook his head. “I’m … astounded. But, you’re welcome.”

“Good,” Buck grinned. “I’d like you to meet my wife. We have two great kids.”

“I have a son,” Brian said proudly.”

“I know. I read it on that very informative form you filled in.”

“Of course,” Brian smirked.

“Tell me, what does Rage stand for,” Buck asked pointing at Brian’s name tag.

Brian chuckled, but before he could answer, there was a disturbance outside the washroom door.

“You can’t go in,” a harsh voice said.

“I’m going in. Get out of my way.” There were sounds of a scuffle. “Brian, are you in there?” It was Ben’s voice.

“He has to be in there,” Justin said. “Maybe he’s hurt. We’ve looked everywhere else.”

“You can’t go in,” the first voice repeated.

“I’m in here, Justin. I’m fine,” Brian called out.

“Thank God,” Justin’s voice came back to him through the door.

“Guys, let them in. You can go back to the party,” Buck called as he strode to the door and pulled it open.

Justin, Ben and Michael rushed in.

“What’s going on?” Michael asked.

Justin made his way to Brian and wrapped his arms around his partner. He looked into Brian’s eyes to be sure everything was all right. Brian nodded and smiled, feeling Justin relax against him.

“I’m sorry if I worried you,” Buck said. “I just really needed to talk to Brian in private.”

“But we’re done now,” Brian said.

Buck nodded before exiting the washroom.

“What the hell happened in here?” Ben demanded. “Those hulking brutes wouldn’t let us in.”

Brian had to chuckle at Ben’s description. “Nothing happened,” Brian said calmly.

“Then why were they outside keeping us out?” Michael asked.

“We needed some privacy,” was all Brian said.

“He didn’t try to…?” Michael pointed to the toilets.

Brian shook his head. “No.”

“Which one was it?” Michael asked looking into the stalls. “I always wondered.”

“It was upstairs in another washroom,” Brian said brusquely. He didn’t want to think about his head being stuck in a fucking toilet. “Let’s get out of here.” He kept his arm around Justin’s waist as they walked out of the washroom.

“Do you want to go home?” Justin asked.

“Naw, I’m waiting with bated breath to see the crowning of the new king and queen,” Brian snarked.

“Um, maybe we should go home now,” Justin replied, remembering what he and Michael had done with the ballots.

“Stay, Brian,” Michael wheedled as he and Ben came up behind them. “It’s more fun when you’re here.”

“That’s me,” Brian said tongue in cheek, “more fun than a barrel of monkeys.”

They made their way back inside to their table. Ben and Michael went to get some punch. Brian was waiting for the third degree from Justin when Buck Hansen walked over, accompanied by a striking woman with black hair.

“Brian, this is my wife, Nadia. Nadia, I’d like you to meet the man who had a lot to do with me becoming a lawyer.”

Brian stood up, and shook Nadia’s hand. “Yeah, he wants to sue me.”

Nadia and Buck smiled. Justin looked back and forth between them. He so wanted to know what was going on, but he knew Brian would clam up if he asked.

“Nice to meet you, Nadia,” Brian was saying. “This is my partner, Justin Taylor.”

Nadia shook Justin’s hand and then she smiled. “JT and Rage she said, glancing at the name tags. “That’s perfect! Are you the one who created Rage?” she asked.

“Yes,” Justin smiled. “Along with Michael Novotny, Zephyr. He’s over there,” Justin added pointing to Michael.

“I have a younger brother who’s gay. He loves your comic,” Nadia said. “He has shown me several issues. It’s quite … something.”

“That it is,” Justin laughed. “I hope it didn’t shock you too much.”

“No, and it helped Jason tell me that he was gay,” Nadia added.

“That’s great,” Justin said with a big smile.

“I see Jerry waving at me,” Buck said. “I think they want to announce the new king and queen.” Buck hustled off.

“It was nice meeting you both,” Nadia said, before she turned and went back to her table.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Buck said loudly into the microphone. “If I may have your attention.” There was a murmur and rustle as people returned to their tables and settled down to listen. “We are ready to announce the results of the new king and queen of the prom.” There was a smattering of applause. “If Janet and Keith would come up here, we’ll get them to crown their new counterparts.”

Janet and Keith made their way over to Buck. Each wore their crown.

“Apparently there were as many nominations tonight as there were for the original king and queen. I hold in my hand the long awaited results.”

“He should have been a sideshow barker,” Brian mumbled.

Justin held his breath, wondering if Brian had won, and what Brian would do if he had.

“The new queen of our high school reunion is … Mary Beth Braunsweiger, now Mary Beth Dalrymple.”

A stunned Mary Beth made her way to the front where Janet placed the crown on her head. She kept mumbling thank you and how unexpected this was, but everyone could see how pleased she was to have been selected for prom queen.

“The comments that accompanied your nomination were quite interesting, Mary Beth,” Buck said. “Most had to do with what a fine looking woman you are, but many wanted you to know that Joel’s foolish actions did not reflect on you.”

“Thank you all so much,” Mary Beth said sincerely. There was a big round of applause for her.

“And now,” Buck continued, “our new king is … Brian Kinney.”

Brian looked at Justin who refused to meet his gaze. Michael was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Ben looked sympathetically at Brian.

“Brian Kinney, please come forward,” Buck requested.

Brian stood up and with a glare at the people at his table he went to the front of the gym. Keith took off his crown and moved to place it on Brian’s head. Brian leaned back just out reach of Keith’s hand that held the crown. He seemed determined not to let Keith set the crown on his head. Justin cringed, hoping there wouldn’t be another incident involving Brian.

“Don’t muss the hair,” Brian said with a smirk. “You have no idea how long it takes to get this carefully rumpled look.”

Everyone laughed and Buck slapped Brian on the back. Then Brian allowed Keith to carefully place the crown on his head.

“Would you like to hear why you were chosen king?” Buck asked Brian.

“I can hardly wait. I can’t imagine why I’ve been selected for this … honor.”

Laughter once again followed his comment.

Buck smiled at Brian. “The comments ranged from ‘he’s hot’ to ‘he’s so successful’ to ‘he has a wicked sense of humor’.”

“Please, I’m going to get a swollen head,” Brian smirked. “Even if all those remarks happen to be true.”

“You already have a huge ego,” Michael called out, earning an appreciative round of laughter.

“Would the king and queen please select their partners for the first dance of their reign?” Buck said.

Brian glanced at Mary Beth who looked thoroughly frightened at the prospect of having no one to dance with or even worse, having Joel suddenly appear once again.

“Shall we?” Brian asked taking Mary Beth’s hand.

She smiled at him and took his hand. Brian proceeded to waltz her around the floor. After a minute other people joined them.

“Thanks, Brian,” Mary Beth said. “I thought I was going to be humiliated when I didn’t have anyone to dance with.”

“You’re welcome. I couldn’t leave you standing there by yourself.”

Mary Beth chuckled. “Will Justin be jealous?”

“Justin’s always jealous, but he pretends not to be.”

Mary Beth laughed as the song came to an end. “Thanks again,” she said as another man claimed her for the next dance. Brian watched them move away.

“May I have this dance, your highness?”

Brian turned and looked at Justin. “I think that can be arranged.” He pulled Justin against him and they started to move together.

“That was nice of you to dance with Mary Beth,” Justin whispered.

“I couldn’t leave her without a partner. Are you mad I didn’t come get you?”

“No, I like what you did.”

“Jealous?”

“Me, never!” Justin laughed.

“You are so full of shit.”

“So are you,” Justin chuckled.

“I know … but they don’t,” Brian said gesturing to the rest of the gym.

“It’ll be our secret,” Justin replied and Brian nodded knowingly. “Have you enjoyed your high school reunion?”

“It’s been … all right,” Brian said tongue in cheek.

“Just all right? Even since you’ve been crowned king?”

“The crown did muss my hair.”

Justin laughed. “You look beautiful. You always look beautiful.”

“At least in your eyes.”

“Always in my eyes,” Justin said sincerely. Brian leaned in and gently kissed Justin’s lips. They continued to dance until Justin had to ask, “Are you going to tell me what went on in that washroom?”

“When we get home.”

“Home,” Justin thought. He could wait till then. His smile was brilliant as Brian led him in their dance.
 

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