High School Reunion

Chapter 2

* * *

“Hey, Michael,” Justin said as he entered the comic book store. He and Michael had arranged to meet there and hash over some ideas for the next issue of Rage. The store was open but not usually busy until later in the day. It was empty except for Michael, as Justin walked in.

“Hey, Boy Wonder, I’m surprised you made it here so early,” Michael said with a grin.

“It’s after ten,” Justin said looking at his watch. “Hardly early.”

“I thought Brian would be fucking you into the mattress until at least noon.”

“I do have other things to do when I come to Pittsburgh, you know,” Justin laughed.

“But nothing nearly as important,” Michael reminded him.

Justin smiled. He had to admit that nothing was more important than Brian and the time they could spend together when he came to Pittsburgh. Sure they fucked … a lot, but they also talked and planned for the future. Things were going all right for Justin in New York, but he hated being away for such long stretches. He wasn’t at all sure that the results were worth the time he and Brian had to spend apart. However, he had promised to try it for a year and see how it went. So far they had gotten through the first six months with frequent weekend visits from Brian, and a few weeks spent in Pittsburgh by Justin. They could weather the rest of the time Justin had promised to stay in New York, but at the end of that time Justin knew he was coming home one way or another.

“Earth to Boy Wonder,” Michael was saying.

“Oh, sorry, I zoned out,” Justin said.

“Yeah, where did you go?”

“Just thinking,” Justin hedged.

“Should we throw around some ideas for the next issue?” Michael asked, getting a clear vibe that Justin didn’t want to talk about whatever had caused him to drift away.

“Yeah, let’s get started.”

Michael got them each a coffee from the back and they sat down on the sofa.

“Have you got any ideas about what this issue should include?” Justin asked as he pulled out his sketchbook and Michael organized his pad and pencil.

“No, I was kind of hoping you might,” Michael admitted.

“Um … well, something did occur to me.”

“What’s that?”

“Rage and Zephyr going to their high school reunion.”

“What? Are you serious?” Michael asked incredulously.

“They do have alter egos who live in the real world,” Justin explained. “If they met up with some of the homophobes they had to deal with in high school, Rage could use his mind powers to help them see the error of their ways.”

“Where is this coming from, Justin?” Michael asked with a frown.

“Brian got an invitation to his high school reunion. Did you get one?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you going?”

“Why the fuck would I want to go back there?” Michael was clearly not amused.

“You sound just like Brian.”

“Are you surprised?”

“I thought he would want to show those bigots what a success he is. You too. You could take Ben.”

Michael snorted not unlike Brian had. “Neither Brian or I had a very good time in high school. Being gay wasn’t much fun back then. But it would have been a lot worse for me if Brian wasn’t there.”

“He … looked after you?” Justin asked.

“As much as he could. I was always smaller and less assertive, so they picked on me more. But Brian got his fair share of persecution too.”

“Persecution?”

“That’s what it seemed like at the time,” Michael said sadly.

“I guess it’s always the same. That’s pretty much how I felt at St. James once they knew I was gay.”

“You mean after that morning you arrived in the Jeep with “Faggot” painted on the side?” Michael smiled ruefully at the memory.

Justin laughed humorlessly. “Yeah, that would be the day they knew for sure, not that they didn’t suspect it before.”

“Would you want to go back to a reunion at St. James?” Michael asked.

Justin looked thoughtful for a moment as he mulled over his answer. “Yeah, I would go to a reunion … if only to prove to them that I’m alive and doing just fine,” he declared.

“That’s a great attitude,” Michael said with a genuine smile of admiration for Justin and what he had lived through. His life was such a testament to fighting back.

“Thanks … but I would want Brian to go with me,” Justin added.

“So they could remember that dance at your prom?”

“Yeah, I’d like them to remember that. I’d like to remember it too.”

“I always forget that you have no memory of that night. It seems such a part of our lives.”

“I know. I always feel funny when people talk about it and I have nothing to contribute to the conversation. It seemed like such a … defining moment. But I don’t remember any of it.”

“Someday…”

“Yeah, maybe someday.”

“Anyway,” Michael said deciding they better leave that line of discussion for another time. “You really think a high school reunion for Rage is a good idea?”

“I do, and I think that Brian … and you, should go to your own reunion. It could be like research for the comic.”

Michael laughed. “I don’t think Brian will buy that excuse for going. Hell, I don’t even buy it.”

“Come on, Michael, I think it would be good for both of you to go to the reunion and face your … persecutors.”

“So they can give me a wedgie or tie me to the flagpole in front of the fucking school?” Michael asked incredulously.

“Take Ben and nobody would dare touch you,” Justin suggested.

“Hm, that’s true. Nobody would want to mess with Ben,”

“The gentle giant, but we don’t have to tell them how gentle he really is.”

“And you’ll be protecting Brian of course,” Michael chuckled.

“Hey, I can scratch eyes out with the best of them,” Justin declared with a laugh.

“I just bet you can.”

“So you’ll go?” Justin asked.

“I … I don’t know. You make it sound … interesting.”

“It would be. I want Brian to face those assholes. They’ll be green with envy when they see him … and you.”

“You think so?” Michael asked screwing up his face.

“I do. So, how about it?”

“I’ll have to ask Ben.”

“Then ask him, no, convince him to go,” Justin pleaded.

“Why is this so important to you?” Michael wanted to know.

“I don’t know,” Justin admitted. “Ever since I saw that invitation I’ve felt like it was something that Brian was meant to do.”

Michael shrugged. “How are you going to talk him into it?”

“I don’t know that either, but I want your support. If he knows you’re going, that will give me something to build on.”

“Okay, I’ll clear it with Ben.”

“Great, and I’ll start some sketches for our high school reunion edition of Rage.”

Michael shook his head. “I guess I better get to work on the details of the story.”

“Thanks, Michael,” Justin said as he gathered up his belongings and stuffed them in his messenger bag.

“Don’t thank me till this is all over. I have a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach where this is concerned.”

“It’ll be fine,” Justin assured him as he pulled open the door of the comic shop. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow and see how you made out with Ben.”

“I always make out with Ben,” Michael grinned mischievously.

“I just bet you do,” Justin said happily as he walked out the door.

 

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