Hey guys. This chapter is unbeta'd (for now) until my betas get back to me. I felt bad about the long wait ... so I just went ahead and posted anyway. And I do apologize for the long wait. My life's just been one crazy event after another, and I'm just trying to get back into a normal routine of things, and it hasn't been easy. BUT ... enough of MY whining, and here's the chapter.
Chapter Eight
Gus came home from CMU with a big smile on his face. He went to Kat's classes with her, and then she showed him around the campus. They ate lunch in the cafeteria, and then they hung out in her dorm for a few hours. Gus finally glanced at her clock around 9:30pm, and told her goodbye. He couldn't wait to go back and hang out with her again tomorrow. He fell back on his bed and smiled at the ceiling. Jeff came out of the bathroom in a towel, just out of the shower.
"Whoa, G-man, where've you been?" he asked, going to his suitcase and pulling out a pair of pants, pulling them on. He sat on the bed next to Gus.
"I met the most … amazing girl today," Gus said, glancing at Jeff. Jeff raised a brow.
"Oh really? That's what you said when you were dating whats-her-face freshman year. She was the 'most amazing girl'," Jeff said, using air quotations.
"Well, Kat's more amazing than Sarah was."
"What about Julie the beginning of sophomore year? She was supposedly pretty amazing, too."
"Better than Julie."
"How about Jessica? End of sophomore year?"
"Shut up, Jeff," Gus said, a smile on his face. Jeff laughed.
"I'm just reminding you that I've heard 'the most amazing girl' before. Like, six times before," Jeff said. Gus rolled his eyes.
"Shut up. I mean it this time," Gus insisted. Jeff held his hands up.
"Okay, okay. She's the most amazing one."
"She's my guide at Carnegie Mellon. I went to her classes with her, and then we hung out for a few hours. I only left when I did because I realized how late it was." Jeff smiled.
"Aww … Gussy's in loooooooove," he teased. Gus hit him with a pillow.
"Shut up, stop teasing me," he smiled. Jeff nodded, clearing his throat.
"My mom called me today," he said, changing the subject.
"Oh yeah? What'd she say?"
"She said that she thinks its time for me to come home. And I think she's right. Your dad offered to buy me a plane ticket, and I'm going home tomorrow," Jeff was looking at the bedspread. Gus glanced at him, biting his lip.
"I think I'm going to stay here," Gus said. Jeff nodded.
"I figured you would," Jeff smiled. "And now with your most amazing girl here, I'm almost certain you'll stay here," Gus smiled. "I'm gonna miss you, Gus," Jeff said with a smile. Gus sat up and hugged him.
"There's always e-mail, Jeff. And Dad, Justin, and Alex love you, I'm sure you'll be welcome to visit anytime."
"I know, Justin already told me that," he smiled. Gus pulled out of the embrace.
"I love you, Jeff. You're such a great friend … thank you so much for doing this with me. I probably would have chickened out," Gus said. Jeff laughed.
"Yeah, you probably would have," he teased. Gus smiled. "And I love you too, man." Jeff said, getting up and stretching. "Now, help me finish packing all my shit," Jeff insisted. Gus laughed, getting up to help his friend. They spent the night awake, just talking and laughing, spending time with one another before they were separated.
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When Gus got home from CMU the next day, Jeff was gone. Sadly, Gus laid down on his bed, glancing at the empty chair where Jeff's suitcase was the night before. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Kat's number that he got today.
"Hello?" She answered. Gus smiled.
"Hey, Kat … it's Gus," he said.
"Gus, hey, what's up?"
"Did you want to do something tonight? Go somewhere maybe?"
"Like, a date?" she asked. Gus rolled his lips into his mouth, and then shrugged.
"Yeah, sure, why not? Like a date," he said.
"Yeah, sure. Did you want to pick me up, or meet me somewhere?"
"I can pick you up. I'll be there around 7, that sound good?"
"Yeah … I'll see you at 7," she said. "Oh, Gus?" she asked.
"What?"
"This is casual, right? I'm not going to have to dress up?" she asked. Gus laughed.
"Yeah, casual. What you had on today is fine," he smiled.
"Okay. See you at 7."
"Later," Gus said, and hung up.
Gus stood up and looked at his reflection in the mirror and made a face. Opening his closet, he pulled out and tried on about six different shirts, finally settling on the one he had on in the first place. He went into his bathroom and shaved again, then put on some cologne. Heading downstairs, he stopped in the kitchen and saw Justin and Alex there.
"Gussy!" Alex called, jumping off the chair and running up to him, hugging him around the legs. He laughed, hugging her back.
"Hey, kiddo," he said with a smile. She glanced up at him and sniffed.
"You smell like papa," she said. Justin raised a brow.
"Cologne, huh? Going somewhere?" he asked. Gus nodded.
"Yeah. If it's okay with you, I was going to go meet up with Kat. Maybe go to a movie or something." Justin shrugged.
"Hey, you're 18. Do whatever you want," he said with a smile. Gus nodded, sitting down on a stool.
"Gussy … how come you're still here?" Alex asked. Gus glanced up at Justin, who shrugged.
"Why, do you want me to leave?" he asked. Alex shook her head.
"No … you're my friend. I was just thinking that maybe your daddy and papa and mommy missed you," she said, tilting her head to the side. Ah, the innocence of childhood. Gus smiled.
"Well, Alex," he said, reaching down and picking her up, pulling her up into his lap. He felt that it was time. "You know how Justin's your daddy?" Alex nodded. "And Brian's your papa?" she nodded again. "Well, Brian's MY daddy.”
“My papa is your daddy?” she asked. Gus nodded.
“Yep. You know what that means?” he asked. Alex shook her head. “It means I’m your brother,” he said. She didn’t seem to grasp what that meant.
“No, you’re my friend, Gussy. Not my brother,” she said. Gus looked at Justin for help.
“It’s true, sweetie. Gus is your big brother,” Justin said. Alex looked at Justin.
“Really? Daddy, when I told you that I wanted a brother, I didn’t mean a big boy. I meant a baby,” she said. Justin smiled.
“I know, baby,” he said. Alex looked at Gus.
“So you’re staying here with me forever and ever?” she asked. Gus smiled.
“We’ll see, Al,” he said. Alex nodded, hugging Gus’ neck. “Do you want me to be your big brother?” he asked. Alex nodded.
“Yeah! You’re my bestest friend, it’s so awesome,” she said. Gus smiled. Alex jumped down off his lap and ran to the playroom. Justin laughed.
“She’s too young to understand what this all means. All she knows is that now she’s got a big brother,” Justin shrugged. Gus nodded.
“I know. It’s alright,” he said. He bit his lip. “Justin, can I ask you something?” Gus asked.
“Sure, what’s up?” Justin asked.
“Did you know when you met my dad that you loved him?” Gus asked. Justin nodded.
“This is probably so corny, but yeah. I loved him the minute I laid eyes on him,” he admitted. Gus laughed.
“Come on, that doesn’t really happen,” he said. Justin nodded.
“Yes, it does. It happened to me,” Gus smiled. “Why do you ask?” Justin asked.
“Well, I was just wondering.”
“This doesn’t have something to do with Kat, does it?” Justin asked. Gus laughed.
“Maybe. Speaking of … I’m supposed to meet her soon.”
“Well, don’t let me keep you. Have fun, behave!” Justin said. Gus laughed.
“Behave?”
“You’re your father’s son. I have to say behave,” Justin smirked. Gus laughed, rolling his eyes.
“See ya later, Justin,” he said. Justin smiled.
“Later,” he said, shaking his head. Was Pittsburgh ready for a straight Brian Kinney?
-----
Gus got out of his car and smiled at Kat, who was sitting on the doorstep of her dormitory.
“Hey,” he said. She smiled.
“Hey,” she repeated.
“What’s going on?” he asked. She shrugged.
“My roommate’s boyfriend is over and they’re making out hardcore in my dorm. I figured that it was safer out here,” she smiled. He laughed.
“Sorry,” he apologized. She shrugged.
“Don’t worry about it, not your fault,” she said. “So what did you want to do tonight?” she asked. He shrugged.
“Well, since we can’t hang out in your dorm room, we can go to my house,” he suggested. She shrugged, pulling her long blonde hair into a pony tail.
“Sure,” she smiled, standing up. “Do you want to drive, or do you want me to follow you in my car?” she asked. He shrugged.
“My house isn’t far from the campus. I can drive,” he said. She smiled, getting into his car. He got in as well, starting it up and driving back to his house. They joked around and laughed in the car and Gus smiled when Kat’s hand ended up inside his.
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“Whatever, Kat, you’re crazy,” Gus laughed, turning the car off. He smiled when he saw Brian’s ‘vette in the driveway. He heard Kat’s low whistle.
“Wow. That is a *nice* car!” she said. Gus laughed, nodding. He didn’t notice the car parked across the street.
“That’s my dad’s. He’s kind of a label queen,” Gus laughed again. She smiled, following him up to the door. He opened it with his key and went inside. Kat whistled again.
“This is a nice place,” she complimented, looking around. Gus nodded.
“They have good taste,” he said. He hung up her coat and called out to his dads, as he started thinking of them. “Dad! Justin! I’m back!” he called, looking in the kitchen. It was empty. “Hmm, that’s strange. Justin’s usually cooking something,” Gus said. Kat shrugged.
“You think they’ll be mad that you just brought me over?” she asked. Gus shook his head.
“No, not at all. They’re really laid back,” Gus said. As they neared the living room, they heard Brian’s slightly raised angry voice. “Uh-oh,” Gus said, going into the living room, followed by Kat. Gus gasped and his mouth dropped open. Brian and Justin glanced at the doorway.
“Gus!” Brian said, surprised to see him. Gus glared at the other occupant of the room.
“Mother, what are you doing here?” he asked, glaring at Melanie.
End Chapter Eight
10-12-05