Kindred Love

A Bit Of A Crush, Actually

Justin Taylor sat at his computer and had a huge smile on his face as he looked at the screen.

"Hey honey, what's got you so smiling so big?" Jennifer asked as she kissed her son on the cheek.

"It's an e-mail from Brian. He was just telling me about his Aunt Debbie and Michael and how great they are. He seems to be really happy there," Justin said, his smile faltering a little.

"I know you miss him," Jennifer said sincerely. Justin nodded his head.

"He was my best friend, Mom. I know I've got Daphne, but it's not really the same," Justin said sadly.

"Well, I wasn't going to say anything until your father came home from work, but you seem so down, that maybe this will help," Jennifer told her son. He looked up at her in wonder.

"Your father and I have been talking it over, and we decided that if it's okay with Brian's aunt, we'll let you visit him in Pittsburgh this summer for a few weeks," Jennifer said. Justin face immediately brightened up.

"Oh my God! Really?" Justin asked excitedly. Jennifer nodded with a smile, and Justin jumped in her arms, hugging her. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Justin screamed. Jennifer couldn't stop smiling, and knew that she and Craig had made the right decision.

"Hey, it's bad news for me. You're leaving me all alone to deal with your father and Molly. With the two of them ganging up on me, I don't stand a chance," Jennifer sighed.

Justin laughed and kissed his mother's cheek. "I love you, Mom," Justin said affectionately.

"I love you too, sweetie. What am I going to do without you for so long? We've never been apart," Jennifer said with a sad smile and her eyes slightly glistened.

"Mom, it's not for another few months," Justin said.

"I know, but it will be here before we know it," Jennifer said. She kissed the top of his head.

"I can't wait to tell Brian. We're supposed to meet up on Instant Messenger tonight," Justin said excitedly.

"Tell him I said hi," Jennifer reminded Justin as she walked out of the room to go check on Molly.

Later that night....

SoccerKidPitts: Hey, blondie, what's up?

ArtFreak4ever: Actually, I have some exciting news!

SoccerKidPitts: Really? What?

ArtFreak4ever: Mom said that if it's okay with your Aunt Debbie that I can come visit you for a few weeks in the summer!

SoccerKidPitts: Are you serious? That's awesome! Aunt Deb already said that she would like you to come visit, so I already know that she's okay with it.

ArtFreak4ever: I'm so excited. I wish it were summer now! :/

SoccerKidPitts:Yeah, me too. It will be here soon enough, though. It's only a few months away. It will be fun hanging out again.

ArtFreak4ever: Yeah!

SoccerKidPitts: How's crazy Daphne?

ArtFreak4ever: She's good. She asks about you all the time.

SoccerKidPitts: Is she still brokenhearted over me? ;)

ArtFreak4ever: Not really. She's been crushing on this new boy she met at school.

SoccerKidPitts: Well, it's just as well... Hey Justin?

ArtFreak4ever: Yeah?

SoccerKidPitts: Never mind. It can wait. Anyway, I have to finish up some homework, but we can meet on IM again tomorrow, if you're free.

ArtFreak4ever: Yeah, around the same time. Goodnight! Later!

SoccerKidPitt: Later. :)

Justin smiled to himself after he signed off. He thought about how great it would be to see Brian again. He made his way to his bedroom, and picked up his sketchpad that was laying on his desk and started flipping through it.

Justin's parents had recognized his artistic talent as early as age 6, and because they knew he loved it so much, they had encouraged him to develop his skill by putting him in art classes outside of school. Taking these classes had steadily increased his talent, and his drawing was rapidly growing better each time he did it.

He continued flipping through his sketchpad until he came upon Brian's face. He had drawn that picture by memory. He had remembered Brian's expression when he had held Molly for the first time and had decided to draw it. His face had been so joyful and full of love.

Justin smiled at the drawing of Brian, and ran his fingers across it, as if touching it would somehow make it come to life. He looked longingly at the face, and though he knew it was a bit silly, he bent down and kissed it, then hugged the pad to his chest.

Justin had known for a while that he was gay. Young or not, he knew that was who he was. He really liked Brian, but their friendship meant so much to him, that he didn't want to risk saying anything about being gay or having a crush on his best friend. Those were his two best kept secrets.

He knew that he needed to tell Brian that he was gay sooner or later. He didn't want to lie to him about who he was. He was mostly afraid that Brian would think he was disgusting or would stop talking to him.

Justin set his sketchpad back down on the desk. He climbed into his bed, and sighed as he lay his head down on his pillow. Brian continued to occupied his thoughts until he drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, watcha got for lunch today?" Daphne asked as she and Justin sat at a table in the school cafeteria. Justin took each item out of his lunch sack and set them in front of him.

"Chicken salad sandwich, carrot sticks, Oreo cookies, and a Snapple Ice Tea," Justin told his friend. "What about you?"

"Turkey sandwich, a banana, some Fritos, jello pudding, and apple juice to drink," Daphne answered.

"Want to switch sandwich halves?" Justin asked.

"Sure, and if you share your cookies, I'll share my Fritos," Daphne smiled. Justin smiled back at her and nodded.

"So I talked to Brian last night on Instant Messenger," Justin said casually.

"Really? So what's happening with my ex-boyfriend?" Daphne said with a grin. Justin laughed at his friend.

"He's good. I told him that my mom said that I could go visit him this summer."

"Aww, man! I want to go! No way would my mom let me though," Daphne said with a frown.

"Yeah, I wonder why. You're a wild child!" Justin teased.

"Whatever," Daphne said biting into her turkey sandwich half. "So when are you going to get a girlfriend?" Daphne asked.

"What?"

"Come on, Justin. Do you like anyone? You can tell me," Daphne said with a smile.

"Not really," Justin said, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Well, I happen to know that Rachel Dixon likes you," Daphne informed.

Justin frowned. "She does?" he asked.

"Yeah. She told me that she is looking forward to your 13th birthday party, this Saturday," Daphne said.

"Hmm," Justin answered.

"What's wrong?" Daphne asked.

"Nothing, I just don't really like her like that," Justin said.

"Oh." Daphne said and continued to eat her lunch.

Daphne had no idea; Justin really didn't like Rachel Dixon like that - or any other girl. At that time Rachel chose to come over to their table. She was a petite girl, with long blond curly locks and light brown eyes.

"Hi Justin," Rachel giggled and sat next to him.

"Oh, hey, Rachel," Justin said in a less than enthused tone, and continued to eat his lunch.

"You know, Oreo cookies are my favorite," she told him. She seemed to be batting her eyelashes at him.

"Is there something stuck in your eye?" Justin asked. Rachel stopped batting her lashes and laughed nervously.

"You're so funny!" she responded and then started giggling again. Justin frowned at her and then handed her an Oreo.

"Here, have a cookie," he said. Anything to shut up that annoying laugh of hers. Rachel took the cookie like Justin was giving her gold.

"Thanks!" she said. Justin nodded. "I can't wait until Saturday," Rachel smiled.

"Yeah. Okay, see you then," Justin said, trying to get rid of the girl. Rachel frowned and then gave another little giggle.

"Um, okay. I'll see you later," she said, getting up from her seat.

"Bye," Justin answered, not even looking in her direction. Rachel walked away, her blond curls bouncing as she moved. Daphne turned to Justin and laughed.

"What?" he asked.

"You are so mean," Daphne said.

"I don't mean to be, I just don't want her to think I like her back," Justin explained.

"If you don't like Rachel, then why did you invite her to your birthday party?" Daphne asked.

"I didn't. My mom sent out the invitations. She thought it would be more fair if I invited the whole class so no one would be left out."

"You know, a lot of boys think that Rachel is pretty," Daphne pointed out.

"I didn't say she wasn't pretty. I said I didn't like her in that way," Justin said, getting frustrated. "Can we not talk about her anymore?" Justin asked, annoyed.

"Okay, okay. Geez. I won't bring up 'you know who' anymore," Daphne said.

"Good."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Craig, honey, can you go pick up the cake for me?" Jennifer asked her husband, as she was setting everything up for Justin's birthday party.

"Sure. Do you need any help with that?" Craig asked as he saw Jennifer hanging up a banner that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN on it.

"No, I got it, thanks. Oh, and can you pick up some helium balloons while you're there at the store? They sell them close to the entrance where you walk in, right next to the bouquets and house plants," Jennifer told Craig. He smiled at his wife, turned her around to face him, and dramatically dipped her.

"Anything for my wife!" he said, giving her an enthusiastic kiss. Jennifer giggled at her husband's silliness as she kissed him back, and felt him lift her back up.

"You can't keep kissing me like that Mr. Taylor, or we're bound to wind up with another new member of the family," Jennifer warned.

"Well, that wouldn't be so terrible, would it?" Craig asked.

"Yeah, easy for you to say! You didn't just lose a bunch of pregnancy weight," Jennifer said.

"I think you're cute with it," Craig told her, kissing her neck.

"Now I know you're nuts, Taylor," Jennifer said shaking her head. "You better get out of here before I have you committed to the loony bin," she told him.

"Geez, you pay a woman a compliment and she wants to have you sent to the wolves," Craig sighed and started for the door. Jennifer laughed and swatted his behind for good measure.

Justin was watching from the top of the stairs and smiled. He liked to make a big deal of his parents grossing him out with their lovey doveyness around him, but really, he didn't mind it. In fact, he admired it. He wanted to have a loving relationship just like his parents had, when he was older. He felt so fortunate to have parents who loved each other so much and loved him and his sister.

Justin walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where his mother had started to prepare the snacks for the party guests.

"Hey, birthday boy," Jennifer smiled sweetly at her son.

"Hey, Mom," Justin said and came over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her tight. Jennifer stopped what she was doing, to hug her son back.

"Justin, is everything okay?" Jennifer asked as she pulled away from Justin and touched his cheek with her hand.

"I want what you and dad have some day," Justin said quietly. Jennifer sighed and smiled.

"Honey, I'm sure you'll find the right person and have a wonderful relationship. You have plenty of time to find her, though, sweetie," Jennifer said.

Justin frowned at the mention of a "her" in his future. He wanted so much to tell his mother his secret, but he didn't know how he was going to do it. It definitely wasn't the right time yet. He would just have to wait it out until he was ready, and when he felt his parents were ready.

The phone rang, and Jennifer went to answer it. Justin listened to his mother talk to someone on the line.

"Hi, honey! How are you?... I'm so glad... Sure, he's right here. Take care sweetie," Jennifer said and handed the phone to Justin.

"Brian is on the phone," she told her son, and saw his face light up, as he took the phone from her.

"Brian!" Justin said excitedly.

"Hey, Justin! Happy birthday," Brian said.

"Thanks," Justin smiled.

"Let me guess. You're mom invited the whole class to your house for a big birthday party," Brian said laughing.

"Yep. I think there will be about 25 people here this year" Justin said.

"I wish I could have been there for it," Brian said sadly.

"Me too. I'll be seeing you in a few months though," Justin said. Just saying that out loud made him feel better.

"Did you get my gift?" Brian asked.

"Yeah! I just got it this morning. Thanks for the new sketching utensils and pad. They're actually better than the ones I've been using. I started taking this new art class after school at the center, and I know that the stuff you got me will come in handy. My sketchpad was almost finished, too. Thanks so much," Justin said sincerely.

"I'm glad you like it," Brian said. There was a slight pause. "Listen, Jus, I know you're busy getting ready for the party, so I'm going to let you go now. I just wanted to call and say happy birthday, and... I miss you," Brian said.

"I miss you too," Justin said with a tear in his eye. Brian had no idea how much. "Thanks for calling me," Justin said.

"Have fun today," Brian said.

"All right...later," Justin said, remembering Brian's words at the airport. It's always later; never goodbye.

"Later," Brian said and hung up.

Justin hung up the phone and sighed. He really couldn't wait until summer. For now though, he would try to enjoy his birthday.