Unbrotherly Love

Part 1

Meeting The Kinneys

Justin grumpily thumbed through his rack of clothes in his bedroom closet, looking for the most hideous shirt he could find. He was not having any luck, until he reached the very end of the rack, and spotted the winner, smirking as he stared at it for approval.

"This should make a great first impression," Justin said aloud to himself.

He shed off the shirt he was currently wearing and slipped into the ugly one. It was a long sleeved button-up silk shirt with thick mustard yellow and deep burgundy vertical stripes. It was the ugliest shirt he owned. His Great Aunt Martha made it for him for his birthday last year, and it had been in his closet ever since.

Justin examined himself in the mirror and smiled. He knew this was going to annoy his mother, but well, that was the point. He slipped on a pair of brown corduroy pants, which made the horrible shirt look impossibly worse. He ran his fingers through his longish blond, silky, hair. He would keep that looking nice, at least. He groaned when he heard a knock on his bedroom door.

"What?" he answered. The door opened, and his mother Jennifer Taylor, walked in.

"Justin, I need you to come downsta - what are you wearing?" Jennifer grimaced, as she looked at what Justin had on.

"What? You don't like it?" Justin asked with a straight face. It took everything in him not to laugh at his mother's expression.

"Damn it, Justin, I don't have time for this. Jack and his son are going to be here any minute." Jennifer barked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Mom. I think I look good," Justin said looking at himself again in his full length mirror.

"Justin, if I remember correctly, when you received that shirt from Aunt Martha, you said, and I quote, 'This is the f-ing ugliest shirt I have ever seen in my entire life,' end quote," Jennifer said accusingly at her son.

"Well, I changed my mind," Justin told her. Jennifer let out a frustrated sigh.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing. I know you're not happy about Jack and I dating, and you're not crazy about meeting him, but you're just going to have to deal with it and stop thinking about yourself for once. Now, get out of that ridiculous shirt and put something appropriate on, now," Jennifer told him sternly with a face that said she meant business.

Justin rolled his eyes at his mother, and crossed his arms in front of him. Just then they heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it!" Molly, Justin's younger sister yelled from downstairs. Jennifer gave her son one last warning look.

"I'll see you downstairs," she said, and left his room to meet her guests. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw that Molly had already opened the door, and the two people she was expecting were standing in the doorway. She smiled as she made eye contact with the taller, older, man.

"Jack," she said, greeting them at the door. She continued to beam at him.

"Hey, Jen," Jack replied, returning a smile. Jennifer turned her attention to the handsome boy standing next to him. He was tall, almost as tall as his father. He had auburn hair with hazel eyes. He stood looking at her with a nervous smile.

"And you must be Brian," Jennifer said.

"Yes, ma'am," Brian replied.

"Oh, please call me Jennifer. Come on in, you guys," she told them, stepping aside so they could enter her home. They all walked into the living room, and sat down on the L-shaped sofa.

"And you've already met my daughter, Molly," Jennifer said, smoothing her daughter's blond hair back from her face.

"Hi," she smiled at them shyly. Jack smiled at the little girl.

"Hey, Molly, it's nice to meet you," he told her.

"Justin will be downstairs any minute," Jennifer explained, keeping her eyes on the staircase.

"Can't wait to meet him," Jack said.

On cue, Justin appeared at the bottom of the stairs and walked towards them, sporting the hideously ugly shirt. Jennifer frowned when she saw her son, knowing he was enjoying pushing her buttons.

Brian saw Justin, and immediately covered his mouth to keep from laughing, as he took in Justin's attire. They made eye contact, and Justin raised his eyebrow at him. This guy looked familiar to him, and he tried to place where he might have seen him before. Whoever he was, he was gorgeous. He almost regretted putting on the world's ugliest fucking shirt. He knew how silly he must have looked. He definitely didn't expect Jack's son to be this hot.

"This is my son, Justin," Jennifer introduced with a strained smile. They all stared at Justin in silence, until Jack stood up and reached his hand out to greet him.

"Justin, nice to meet you. Jennifer has told me so much about you," he said politely.

"I'll bet," Justin replied.

Brian frowned at the blond. He could tell that the other boy didn't seem particularly happy that they were there.

"Justin, why are you wearing that ugly shirt?" Molly asked.

Brian laughed out loud at the comment, and Jack cleared his throat at his son and gave him a warning look. Brian once again had to put his hand over his mouth to keep from smiling. He just couldn't help it. He had never seen a shirt so horrendous in his life. There was no way someone would ever wear a shirt like that except to make a point. He shook his head, understanding the game Justin was playing.

"Molly, don't be rude," Jennifer told her daughter. Molly just frowned at her mother.

"But Mom, he's never wore a shirt like that before," Molly pointed out.

"Hey, a person's got a right to his own taste, right?" Jack said, winking at Justin. The blond only frowned at him in response. Jennifer kept on her WASP face, even though she wanted to wring her son's neck.

"Um, can I get you guys something to drink?" she asked.

"Sure, I'll have some Iced Tea, if you've got it," Jack replied. Jennifer nodded.

"And for you, Brian?" she asked.

"Whatever soda you have is fine," he replied, trying not to look at Justin. He knew if he looked at him again, he would laugh, and he didn't want to upset his father. He knew that this was sort of a big deal for him. Jack had wanted him to meet Jennifer for some time now, but they had wanted to wait until it seemed their relationship was more serious.

"All right, I'll be right back. Justin, could you help me, please?" Jennifer asked. Justin nodded, and walked with her into the kitchen, leaving Jack and Brian to get better acquainted with Molly.

As soon as they rounded the corner and got into the kitchen, Jennifer grabbed Justin by the elbow.

"Justin Craig Taylor, upstairs, and change, now," Jennifer growled.

Justin sighed and nodded in defeat, seeing the anger and embarrassment in his mother's eyes. He felt guilty about that. He didn't want to hurt his mother. He just didn't want her dating some guy. He didn't need a new father.

Jennifer and Craig had been divorced for a little over a year now. Justin still hadn't given up on the idea of them getting back together, even though his father had already moved in with a new woman. His mother had dated several men since the divorce, but until now hadn't been serious about anyone. Justin knew that his mother really liked Jack, and it made him nervous. They saw a lot of each other. Justin wondered just how serious things were getting between the two.

A few minutes later, Justin rejoined them in the living room, having changed into the sky blue shirt he had been wearing earlier. Brian's eyes raked over him. Now that the ugly shirt was no longer there to distract him, he could see that Justin was actually really attractive. The blue shirt he was now wearing was definitely a huge improvement, bringing out the blue in his eyes, and looking nice next to his porcelain skin tone.

They all looked at Justin, all of them noticing that he had changed his clothing. Justin felt uncomfortable with their staring, and decided to say something. He knew what they were thinking.

"I decided it was too hot for long sleeves," he told them. Jack just nodded his head, and smiled.

"So, Justin, I hear you attend St. James Academy, as well. Do you and Brian know each other?" Jack asked, as he looked from Justin to his son.

Justin turned to look at Brian, and suddenly a look of recognition came across his face. He knew now where he had seen him before. He had noticed Brian one day when he went to one of Daphne's swim meets. He was on the boy's swim team, and he had looked hotter than hell with his lean, slightly muscular body, in a speedo.

"Um, I've seen him around campus, but we've never spoken," Justin replied. Brian looked at him.

"Oh, yeah, don't you hang out with that girl, Daffy?" Brian asked. Justin frowned back at him.

"It's Daph-ney," he corrected.

"Oh, sorry," Brian said, smirking "Do you hang out with that girl, Daph-ney." Brian said, overemphasizing the name, as Justin had.

"Brian," Jack said with a warning tone.

"Jack, it's okay. Justin was being rude. He was just reacting to him," Jennifer said giving her son a knowing look. Justin only looked at her for a moment and then looked away.

"I wasn't offended," Brian assured Jennifer, and then smiled at Justin. He really wasn't. If Justin wanted to throw little tantrums and give him attitude, he could bring it on; but now he would know that Brian wouldn't just sit there and take it and not give it right back. He guessed that Justin was just being overprotective of his mother.

"I guess I'll have to try harder then," Justin said sarcastically, with a smile to match. Brian smiled back and rolled his eyes. They all watched the two boys' interaction curiously.

"Uh, Justin, why don't you show Brian around? Maybe take him out to the backyard to see the pool and hot tub. Maybe you boys could even go for a swim sometime," Jennifer suggested.

Justin didn't say anything. He just stood up, and waited for Brian to follow, not able to resist checking out his ass as he bent over to set his can of soda on the coffee table. Brian followed him out of the living room, through the kitchen, and out the sliding glass door to the backyard.

"I'm glad your Mom suggested going outside. I really wanted a smoke," Brian told the blond, as he reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, getting one out and lighting it. Justin looked at him in surprise. Brian noticed the way Justin was looking at him, and smirked.

"What? You want one?" Brian offered, holding up his Marlboro box.

"Uh, sure," Justin answered, taking a cigarette out of the box and handing it back to Brian. After lighting it and inhaling, he watched Brian carefully. The boy seemed so confident and comfortable in his own skin.

"Does your dad know you smoke?" Justin asked. Brian nodded.

"Yeah. He's not really too happy about it. He quit about a year ago. He won't tell me I can't do it though. He says it's my decision," Brian answered, exhaling smoke. "What about your Mom?" he asked.

"She has no fucking clue about anything about me," Justin replied. Brian nodded.

"I figured," Brian said. Justin raised an eyebrow at his comment.

"Oh, and you do?" he smirked. Brian just laughed a little.

"I didn't say that," he replied. "You're kind of uptight. You really should relax. I don't bite... too hard," Brian said, sticking his tongue in his cheek. Alarm bells went off for Justin, and he stared at Brian, a little thrown off by his comment and his confession behind it.

"You don't know anything," Justin said, slightly blushing. He looked away from Brian and took another drag of his cigarette.

"I know that you were checking out my ass a minute ago," Brian smiled. Justin turned red with embarrassment.

"Fuck you, I did not!" he said.

"You know, you're kind of feisty. I kind of like it, actually. At least you're interesting," Brian said.

"Whatever," Justin said grumpily. He was surprised that Brian had picked up on his being gay. He was also surprised that Brian had seen him checking out his ass. "You know, you don't have to make nice with me just because your Dad likes my Mom," Justin told him.

"Um, in case you haven't noticed, your Mom is way into my Dad too. Or have you been too busy rebelling and throwing hissy fits to see it?" Brian said. Justin frowned at Brian.

"Of course I've noticed. It doesn't necessarily mean anything though. She's had tons of boyfriends. It never works out," Justin said.

"Yeah, and I'll just bet that none of them ended as a result of getting away from you," Brian said raising his eyebrow at the blond. Justin didn't deny it. He took another drag from his cigarette before answering.

"Look, it doesn't matter. My Mom and Dad are going to get back together," Justin said matter-of-factly.

Brian put out his cigarette, and then looked at Justin sympathetically. He remembered when he used to think the same thing about his own parents.

"Justin, I hate to break it to you, but your parents are not going to get back together," Brian said quietly.

"You don't know what you're fucking talking about," Justin spat.

"Okay. How long have they been divorced?" Brian asked.

"A year," Justin replied crossing his arms in front of him.

"Has your Dad moved on?" Brian asked. Justin didn't answer him. "I guess that is a yes," Brian said.

"Don't you ever shut up, mister know-it-all?" Justin snapped.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help you. I don't want you feel disappointed when your little fantasy of Mommy and Daddy getting remarried doesn't come true," Brian said.

"Just fuck off. Like I said earlier, you don't know shit," Justin said.

"You think I don't know shit? My parents have been divorced for 5 years. I have at least a dozen friends whose parents are divorced as well. And guess what? None of them have gotten back together. They have reasons for not staying together. Do you really think that your parents' problems could go away just like that?" Brian said.

Justin looked away from Brian again. As much as he didn't want to realize it, the other boy had a point. Justin knew he was probably right. He just hadn't been able to admit it to himself yet. He knew that his parents had a lot of problems that weren't likely to go away. Still, admitting it didn't make him feel any better the situation.

Brian saw the look on Justin's face, and reached out and put his hand on Justin's shoulder.

"Hey, I didn't mean to --" Brian started to say, but Justin interrupted him.

"Don't touch me!" Justin yelled, shoving Brian's hands off of his shoulder. He dropped his cigarette to the ground and stomped on it, putting it out, and then tossed it into the nearby trashbin.

"Justin, I'm sorry. I'm didn't mean to hurt you," Brian said.

"Just fuck off and leave me alone," Justin said angrily, and turned around to go back into the house.

"Justin, wait..." Brian said, following him. The blond ignored him, rushing into the house and running up the stairs to his room, slamming the door behind him once he got there.

Brian put out his own cigarette and threw the butt into the trash, and quickly hurried back into the house after Justin. He went to the living room and saw that Justin wasn't there, and then turned to notice his dad, Jennifer and Molly staring at him questioningly.

"Brian, what happened with Justin?" Jack asked.

"Uh, he got upset," Brian said quietly. Jennifer looked down.

"I'm so sorry, you guys. Maybe this was too soon. Justin is still having a really hard time accepting that his father and I are ready to move on," Jennifer told them.

"Yeah, no kidding," Brian mumbled. Jack looked at his son suspiciously.

"Brian, did you say something to upset Justin?" Jack asked.

"Well, I didn't mean to. I just tried to... oh never mind. It doesn't matter. I told him I was sorry, but he still ran away from me," Brian said. He really did feel bad. He knew how it was to feel depressed about having a broken family. Hell, he had a sister too, and their family had been torn apart.

"Uh, Jennifer. Maybe we should call it a night," Jack suggested.

"Jack, no. You don't have to leave..." Jennifer said disappointedly.

"Jen, it's no problem. We'll do it again some other time. Give Justin a little more time," Jack said softly. Jennifer nodded sadly. They all stood up and walked to the door.

"I'm sorry," Jennifer whispered again, as Jack gave her a hug.

"Don't worry about it, honey. I'll call you later," Jack said, and kissed Jennifer softly on the lips.

"Brian it was nice meeting you," Jennifer told the boy.

"You too, Jennifer," Brian smiled. He looked at Molly, got down to eye level with her, and tickled her in her side, making her giggle. "You too, shorty," he teased. They left, and Jennifer turned to her daughter and sighed.

"I like them, Mommy," Molly said quietly. Jennifer smiled back at her daughter.

"Me too, sweetie. Me too," Jennifer told her. She wondered what went on between Justin and Brian. She hoped whatever had happened could be resolved, and that eventually Justin would come to like Jack and his son. The more time she spent with Jack Kinney, the more she liked him. She was falling for the man, and quick. She hadn't felt this way for a man since the "happy days" with her ex-husband, Craig. She hoped that Justin would come around soon, because she planned on having Jack in her life a lot more.