Michael sat down with a sneer on his face that informed everyone that it wasn’t one of his best days.  Brian moved the page of the newspaper away from his line of view for a moment to look at his friend.  He sighed and folded the paper before he put it on the table.  

“What’s wrong?” Brian asked.

Ted and Emmett had been looking at the man waiting for Michael to say something.

“Nothing,” Michael muttered.

Brian rolled his eyes and grabbed his newspaper once again.  He wasn’t going to beg Michael to share his troubles.  He didn’t even care what was going on because he knew it had to do with Michael and Ben relationship again.

“Oh honey,” Emmett said.  “Tell us.”

“Maybe we can help,” Ted told his friend.

Brian grabbed his cup of coffee and shook his head.  By staying out of it they could help more than they thought.

“Is just that Ben wants to move,” Michael said.  “And I don’t want to.”

“Why not?” Emmett asked.

“It’s my home,” Michael pointed out.  “He says that we have outgrown the apartment.”

“I think you have,” Ted said.  “Maybe moving out to a new place is not such a bad idea.”

“Maybe,” Michael whispered.  “I should talk to him.”

“You do that,” Brian said.

“What do you think?” Michael asked.

Brian shrugged.  “It’s not my problem.”

Michael sighed.  

“Our Michael has grown up so much,” Emmett said throwing his arm around Michael’s shoulders.  “He’s in a mature relationship and making big decisions.”

Ted smiled at that.  Michael grinned as he looked at Emmett.

“Relationships are easy,” Brian commented.  He knew that if he had a boyfriend, not that he would ever have one, he wouldn’t have any problems at all.

“What would you know about relations, Mr. I don’t dates or do boyfriends I only fuck and leave them?” Emmett asked.

“I have watched you guys,” Brian said as he put the cup of coffee back in the table.  He licked his lips and smiled.  “It’s easy.  And you’re always making a big deal out of everything.”

Michael glared at Brian.  “Fuck you.  You don’t know the first thing about having a boyfriend.”

“I could have one if I wanted to,” Brian pointed out.

Emmett started laughing.  “Yeah right.”

Brian licked his lips.  “I could.”

“No, you couldn’t,” Ted told him.  “I mean if you wanted you probably could have anyone you want but it wouldn’t work.  They would run for the hills in less than twenty four hours.”

Brian thought about it and smiled at Ted.  “Want to bet?”

Ted arched a brow. 

“Come on,” Brian said.  “Let’s make it interesting.”

“How did we end up talking about you?” Michael asked annoyed.

“How much money are we talking about?” Ted asked.

Emmett arched a brow and looked from Ted to Brian. He didn’t think the guys were talking seriously but maybe he was wrong.

Brian shrugged. “I say five thousand dollars.”

“Nice pocket change,” Ted commented.  “Ten thousands.”

“Teddy,” Emmett protested.

“Deal,” Brian told him.  He fixed his tie not believing what he just bet; it surely was going to be interesting.

“For a whole year,” Ted told him.

“What?” Brian asked.  “Are you nuts?”

“Well, a relationship can survive for six months with sex alone,” Emmett pointed out.  Then he frowned not sure why he was adding to the fire.  He cleared his throat and shrugged when Michael kicked him under the table.

Brian glared at Emmett.  “Fine.”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” Michael said.  “Brian, don’t do this.”

“I won’t lose,” Brian told him.

“And we pick the guy,” Ted pointed out.  “Because you won’t trick us mister.”

“I have to like him at least,” Brian told them.

“We can go to Babylon and see what we find tonight,” Emmett suggested.

Brian got up and smiled at them.  “I’ll see you guys at Babylon then,” he told them and walked away.

“I can’t believe this,” Michael said.

“That he got up and didn’t pay for his food like he has done so many times?” Ted asked shaking his head.

“Come on,” Michael groaned. “Have you guys lost your mind?”

“I know he won’t make it,” Ted told Michael.  “It’s Brian we’re talking about.”

Emmett shrugged.  “We’ll see what happens; after all, stranger things have been known to happen.  But my aunt Lou Lou always said, watching is not the same as doing.  Besides if nothing else it will be fun to see the king of Liberty Avenue finally realize he’s not all powerful and all knowing.”

***

Brian walked into Babylon with a pair of faded black jeans and a white wife beater.  His hair looked like he just came out of bed.  He smiled when he saw the guys at the bar.  He walked to them and grabbed Emmett from behind.  “Did you find my victim yet?”

Emmett laughed.  “I think you’re the one that’s going to be suffering here.”

Brian let go of Emmett and asked for a beer.

“Brian, you still can get out of this,” Michael pointed out.

“I think this is crazy,” Ben said.  He couldn’t believe it when Michael told him what the guys were up to.  “Think about what you’re doing.  Say you do win, you’re only going to end up breaking some guy’s heart in the process.”

“But then what else would be new?” Brian asked smirking.

Ted rolled his eyes.  “Okay, how about him?”

Brian looked at the guy.  “No, but I’ll be right back.  For a blow-job tonight he might just do.”

Emmett laughed as Brian walked away towards the trick.  “This is going to be anything but easy.”

“Ted, you should stop this,” Michael said.

“Are you nuts?” Ted asked.  “This is going to be great.  You haven’t said anything to anyone, right?” he asked as he looked at Emmett.

“My mouth is sealed,” Emmett assured them.

After a while Brian came back.  He asked for a stronger drink.

Michael and Ben were on the dance floor.  Emmett was pointing guys left and right and Ted kept shaking his head and when he liked someone Emmett wouldn’t agree.

“Could you two make up your fucking mind?” Brian asked irritated.

“Oh him,” Emmett said.

“Yeah,” Ted agreed.

“No,” Brian told them.  “I don’t think he’s hot enough.”

“Hey,” Michael said as he came back with Ben.  

“Okay, how about him?” Ted asked.

“He’s definitely hot,” Emmett said as the red head passed by them.

“I already fucked him,” Brian informed them.

Michael rolled his eyes.  “You guys are never going to find someone he likes that he hasn’t fucked already.”

“Think about this, guys,” Ben said yet again.  “It’s wrong.”

“Him,” Brian pointed at a tall brunet.

“No,” Emmett and Ted told him.

Michael smirked at his friend.  “You’re so fucked.”

Brian rolled his eyes and turned his back on them.  He asked for a beer and wondered what the fuck he was thinking.  It wasn’t like he needed the money; he’d just been bored.

“Brian, don’t do this,” Michael said.  “I mean, you don’t need the money.”

“I might need it,” Ted pointed out.

“You don’t need it either,” Michael spat out.  “Jesus, you have lost your minds.”

“What if we make this bet more interesting?” Ted asked suddenly.

Brian arched a brow.  “How so?”

“Let’s double it,” Ted said.  “How do you like that?”

Brian licked his lips. 

“Scared?” Ted asked grinning.

“Ted!” Michael shouted.  “Have you lost your fucking mind?”

“Done,” Brian said.

“But you have to give him presents and woo him off his feet.  You have to be very romantic,” Ted said smiling.

Brian frowned and thought about how hard it could be.

“If you guys fight you do have to do anything in your power to get him back or you lose,” Ted told him.

Brian sighed.  “Fine!”

“Okay,” Ben said. “I’m not going to say anything else to you two.”

“Are you sure about this?” Emmett asked.

Ted nodded.  

“I’ll help you guys find someone then,” Michael said.  If Brian wanted to play with fire then he would teach Brian that things weren’t that simple.  He would find someone that was hot enough and wanted a relationship.  Someone that wanted romance, presents, picnics, surprises from his lover, etc.  It would drive Brian crazy and it would teach him a lesson.

Brian raised his drink and only smiled.

***

Brian stretched his neck and looked around.  “Deb, coffee!”

“Hold on to your pants,” Debbie told him as she went to get it.

“Brian,” Emmett said rushing to the brunet.  “We got it.”

“You got what?” Brian asked.  “The secret to get a bigger dick; I really don’t need it.”

Emmett sat down shaking his head.

“We found the perfect guy,” Ted told him as he sat next to his friend.

“But I haven’t seen him,” Brian pointed out.

“But you will,” Emmett said.  “He’s coming here to meet you.”

“Why?” Brian asked.

“We told him to come,” Ted informed him.  “Michael was the one that found him.  In one of those sites were you meet other guys.  Michael said that this guy would be perfect for you.”

“We wrote him an email as if it was you and he answered,” Emmett said.  

Brian used his tongue in cheek expression.  “I don’t have time for this.”

“There he is,” Emmett said excitedly.

“What do you say?” Ted asked.  “Yes or Nay?”

Brian turned around and looked at the blond that was taking his coat off.  He licked his lips and looked back at the guys.  “Disappear.”

“We’re gone,” Ted said getting up quickly with Emmett.

“Oh,” Emmett said as he came back to the brunet.  “His name is Justin Taylor.  He’s twenty four, an artist and he likes to take walks under the moon.”

“Fuck off,” Brian hissed.

“Brian?” Justin asked.  “Brian Kinney,” he said and smiled widely.  “God this is crazy.”

“Sit down,” Brian said.

Emmett waved at the blond before he was gone. He wanted to stay, maybe sit in another booth and try to hear what was going on but Ted was pulling him towards the exit.

“One of my friends,” Brian informed him. 

“Right,” Justin said.  “So?” he said and chuckled.  “I’ve never done this kind of thing.  I mean people get killed meeting strangers on the net,” he said and laughed nervously.

Brian grinned.  “I haven’t done this either,” the brunet informed him.  He licked his lips and stared at Justin’s.  They were so full and rich and all he wanted was to kiss them.  Then he moved to Justin’s eyes and he cleared his throat when the intensity of them assaulted him.

Justin bit his lower lip.  He knew that Brian was staring at him and it was making him nervous.  “My friend made me log on to that site.  It was crazy.  I did it because I wanted her to leave me alone.  I have received a lot of emails from a lot of guys but I usually ignore them,” he said.  He knew he was babbling and he wished he could stop it but each time he got nervous he would start talking and talking and talking.

“And why didn’t you ignore me?” Brian asked.

Justin sighed.  “I thought I would give it a try.  I can’t stay hiding away from the world even thought I did swore I would never date another person.”

“And the real reason as to why it was me that you made this thoughtful decision now?” Brian asked raising a brow.

Justin laughed.  “You’re really hot.  So, even if it’s a one time thing it will be worth it,” Justin said seductively.

Brian smiled widely.  “I think we can have something more than a one time thing.”

***

Brian looked at his watch and frowned.  Justin was supposed to have gotten there already.  They decided to meet each other at the diner.  Brian was frowning not sure what he was feeling.  He could feel butterflies on his stomach and he wasn’t sure why.

“Brian,” Ben said as he sat down.  Michel and the rest of the guys were there as well.

“Ted said that you agreed to go out with Justin,” Michael said.

“You picked him,” Brian said.  “So I thought I should give it a try.”

“What did you do?” Ben asked Michael.

Michael shrugged and looked at Brian.  “You still can stop all this nonsense, you know.”

“I think I’m going to be doing a lot of shopping with all that money I’m getting from this,” Brian pointed out.

Ted rolled his eyes.  “You won’t last, Brian.”

Brian smirked.  “We’ll see.”

Emmett smirked.  “This is so freaking crazy.  It’s fun.”

“It’s not,” Ben pointed out.

“Who wants what?” Debbie asked.

“I want French toast,” Emmett told her.

“I already ate,” Ted told them.  “Thanks anyways.”

“Cereal,” Ben told her with a smile.

Debbie smiled and nodded.  “I know what you want, baby.”

Michael smiled at her.  “Thanks Ma.”

“What do you want?” Debbie asked as she looked at Brian.

“I don’t want anything,” Brian told her.  “I’m waiting for...my boyfriend.”

Debbie looked at Brian like he was nuts.  She put a hand on his forehead and pulled it back quickly.  “Are you sick?”

Brian grinned at her.

“I think my heart stopped for a second.  I swear to god it did,” Ted told them.  He grabbed Emmett’s hand and tried to make the man touch his chest.

“Stop it,” Emmett told him.

“Feel my heart,” Ted protested.  “Feel it.”

Brian frowned as he looked at the two friends.  “You two are still fucking behind each other’s back?  I thought you guys had learned your lesson.  Or is it that you like dating a junkie and you just couldn’t live without a flaming queen?” the brunet said and then grinned.

“Stop it,” Michael hissed.

“Fuck you, Brian,” Ted shouted.

Emmett glared at the brunet.  “Don’t be an ass.”

Ben sighed.  “Jesus Christ.”

“Back to the boyfriend issue,” Debbie told them.  “What the fuck is he talking about?”

“It’s true, Deb.  Brian Kinney has a boyfriend,” Emmett said somewhat somberly.

“There must be something wrong with the food,” Debbie said.  “Oh shit, I’m dreaming again,” she said and looked quickly at herself.  “I’m not naked.”

“You dream of being naked while attending us?” Ted asked frowning.  

“It’s called a nightmare,” Debbie informed him.  “And this talk about...well I’m just surprised.”

Brian chuckled and shook his head.  He was having fun with the current situation.

“I’m going to get you guys your breakfast,” Debbie said and looked at Brian.  “I’ll bring you some aspirin or something.”

Brian laughed out loud.  “I think you need the aspirin Deb.  I have never felt better.”

“You didn’t tell us what happened?” Ted asked.  “Yesterday.”

Brian licked his lips.  “We talked about each other.  He talks a lot.  It’s fucking annoying.”

Ted smirked.  “You don’t say,” he loved Justin already.  He knew Brian wouldn’t last long.

“So, did you fuck him?”  Michael asked.

Ben frowned not wanting to know.  He refused to be part of their bet.

Brian didn’t answer.

“Of course he fucked him,” Ted pointed out.  “Justin is sex on legs and Brian...well, he can’t keep his dick in his pants.”

“So?” Emmett asked.

“So what?” Brian asked Emmett.

“What’s going to happen now?” Ted asked.  “I want details.  He’s the one we picked and you did agree on him being the one.”

Brian licked his lips and shrugged.

“Stop being so secretive and tell us,” Emmett demanded.  

“But boys,” Brian said as he got up.  He saw that Justin had gotten there and was walking towards them.  “This is not one of my tricks.  This is my boyfriend you want me to tell you all the sordid details.  And like me, his life is none of your fucking business.”

“Hey, Bri,” Justin said with a big smile.  “Hey guys.”

“Hi,” Ted said.  “I’m Ted.”

“Emmett,” the tall man said.  “We saw each other yesterday.”

“Right,” Justin replied.

“I’m Michael and this is Ben, my partner,” Michael said.  “I’m Brian’s best friend.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Justin told them as he put an arm around Brian’s waist.  “I’m Justin.”

“Brian is smitten with you,” Ted said.

Brian glared at the man.

Justin smiled and looked at Brian, “Good thing because I like him pretty much too.”

Brian bent down and kissed Justin.  “How did you wake up?”

“Great,” Justin purred and got closer to Brian.

“Let’s go,” Brian whispered as he pulled on the blond to get out of the diner.

“So it’s on,” Ted said.

“I have a feeling that this is not going to end up that well,” Emmett told them as he grabbed his cup of coffee.

“And you figured that now?” Ben asked shaking his head.

Michael shrugged.  He wanted Brian to learn something from all this craziness.  Ted only smiled thinking that he would win the bet.