Two more days until Thanksgiving break… thank God. Groaning, Justin rolls off the bed and onto the floor. He had been up all night finishing his midterm project… and hoping that perhaps Brian would call. Of course, Brian didn’t call. But Justin didn’t mind too much, he had learned not to expect much from Brian. It’s progress though… I mean, he was happy that I wasn’t fucking Travis… that’s SOMETHING at least. As hopeful as Justin was, he didn’t want to focus all his attention on Brian. I’m not going to let him hurt me again. Fuck that. Standing up, Justin stretches his arms and staggers to the bathroom. Only two more days…

******

“Do you have any fuckin’ idea what time it is?” Brian mutters into the phone.

“It couldn’t wait!” Mikey exclaims on the other end of the line.

“Fuck… what is it?” Brian groans, refusing to open his eyes.

“Ben came back.”

“Whoopie.”

“I’m not done!” he whines.

“What the fuck is it then?”

“He has a surprise for me.”

“Great, I’m going back to sleep.”

“No! Brian, wait!!”

“What?” Jesus Christ, Mikey…

“He says that he’s going to give it to me after Thanksgiving dinner… isn’t that romantic?”

“Nauseating.”

“I can’t wait! Brian, you have to come to my mom’s now, you just have to!”

“Why the hell do I have to be there?” he groans.

“Because it’s important… what if it’s something serious?”

“Then pick up a copy of Pittsburgh Bride,” he deadpans.

“Brian! This is no time to be joking! This is a big deal.”

Brian snickers, “So tell me, are you going to wear white?”

“Brian!”

Sitting up, Brian glances over at the clock on his night table. “Look, whatever the fuck Ben is going to give you… what’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is that I don’t know if I’m ready for something like this.”

Rolling his eyes, he groans, “Shit, Mikey, you guys are fuckin’ attached at the hips as it is.” Standing up, he staggers to the bathroom.

“But I don’t know what to say to him…”

“Yes, no, maybe… whatever the fuck, Mikey. You don’t even know what he’s planning to give you. It could be some stupid artifact he thinks you’ll like or some shit like that.”

“I know, but…”

Brian can hear his alarm begin to go off back in the bedroom. Fuck, I wasted five minutes when I could’ve been still sleeping. “But nothing, Mikey. I gotta go. We can talk about this at the diner.”

“Okay…”

“Bye, Mikey.”

Hanging up, he stares at his reflection in the mirror. Fuck. I need some coke. He had wanted to call Justin last night, but in the end he couldn’t bring himself to. Not yet… I can’t let him think that I missed him or some shit like that… fuck, am I really thinking shit like this?… what’s wrong with me? So instead of succumbing to his feelings and just calling Justin, Brian went out instead. He didn’t remember much, not after the third or fourth E tab he took that night. But somehow, as always, he managed to make it back to his loft in one piece.

“Wake up, Kinney,” Brian tells his reflection. “You have to go to work and be brilliant.” Glancing at the phone still in his hand, he wonders if he should call Justin. Maybe we can meet for…? Fuck, Kinney! Snap the fuck out of it!

Turning on the faucet, Brian splashes cold water onto his face. He was not going to call Justin, no way in hell.

****

Putting on his jacket, Justin checks the mirror one last time before leaving for class. Maybe I should stop by the diner?… No way, if Brian is there he’ll think I’m chasing him down or something. No way, it’s HIS turn to do the chasing, not mine. Smiling to himself, he likes that idea. Grabbing his schoolbag, Justin heads out the door.