Ten blocks into his journey, and suddenly the idea of going over to his surrogate mother’s house at this time of night seemed ludicrous. Not only would he be waking them up, both Deb and Vic, but also they’d get the added bonus of hearing about his never-ending drama with John. He was sure that they’d get a kick out of that. And Brian. He was definitely not in the picture, no more running over there, not if Justin could help it. Brian had been a persistent voice in the back of his head now more than ever. Questioning everything he did with John, questioning why he was there in the first place. And to that Justin couldn’t really give an answer anymore. He wasn’t in school, he was almost twenty, no direction, no goals, and to top it off an abusive, controlling, demanding husband that didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him. All in all, it was turning out to be an even worse year than the one before it. This situation with John needed to be resolved and fast and Justin knew that he would have to be the first one to make a move because John sure as hell wasn’t going to. This destructive pattern the two of them had wasn’t healthy for either of them. Mentally or physically. But the question was how to stop it, was he going to leave John? Was that the real question, and the one immediately after that would be if John would really let him. He had no pretensions that this split was permanent, John would be hounding him as soon as he got over himself. Over the Brian thing. Something that Justin was now regretting, despite the comfort and warmth it had given him at the time. John’s relationship was easy compared to the complicated mess that was his and Brian’s. Neither knew what the other one wanted, what they themselves were doing. Just a dance that neither could figure out quite the right moves to. Justin closed his eyes and sighed, leaned up against a post and shoved his hands toward warmth. It was almost as if fate was giving him a hand when he reached his own into the pocket of his coat. He felt the cool thick paper and it took him a minute to really remember why it was there in the first place. He pulled the small card out, and standing under the aid of a street light, he read it. “Vincent Oliveri.” He hadn’t even thought of the man after Vermont but by some cosmic coincidence he had found his card, a cell number scribbled on the back. He mind wasn’t taking the time to think of the consequences of his actions, but his body was telling him that it was cold, and his heart was telling him to stay far, far away from both Brian and John. Looked like their was only one choice left. And he had just enough change to make it. He didn’t let himself think about it. Pick up the phone. Read the card. Dial the number. Insert the correct amount of change. Ring. Ring. Wait. “Hello?” He sounded high and their was a familiar thumpa-thumpa behind his voice, must have had the phone on vibrate. Justin naturally guessed Babylon, if he was in Pittsburgh, if he was still even in the country. “Uh…this is Justin, we met in Vermont.” The thumpa-thumpa died down in its intensity and Justin can hear him say ’excuse me’, mind’s eye see him pushing through a throng of bodies to the door, outside where the cool air bites into hot skin. His hand started to scratch a sticker off the phone booth. “Yes! Yes! The blond…I remember you, yes. Are you still in Vermont?” Out of breath, and talking quickly. E, maybe? Maybe just a natural high, Justin can remember those, nights dancing just for the hell of it, bones so tired and fatigued that even laying face down on the loft’s shower floor didn’t help them. “Uh, no actually, Pittsburgh.” “Now, that’s interesting. I’m working for an advertising agency here, doing some proofs for an acquaintance of mine.” His mind naturally guesses Vanguard, naturally Brian Kinney. And he knows he’s probably right. His luck's no good now and Pittsburgh holding this many queers he’s slept with is deeply disturbing. “Really.” A beat is missed and Justin could have guessed the next question on Vincent’s lip before he even thought about asking it. “Why’d you call me?” He’s not hesitant because he already knows the answer and Justin won’t play it up to be something it’s not. “Why do you think?” “So soon after your commitment.” Vincent admonishes and switches the phone to his other ear, wishing he had checked out his coat. “What a mockery you‘re making out of the blessed union.” “Yeah…“ Justin scoffed, and heard him laugh in reply and smiled before he could help himself. Definitely E. “Where are you?” An hour later and Justin found himself on the glitter covered floor of Babylon. And if he pushed through the haze of drugs and alcohol provided by the very giving Mr. Oliveri he would be able to remember how he got there. He'd know how after a fight with John had led him here, shirtless and high and with Vincent Oliveri sucking on his neck like his life depended on it. But then again, what was thinking when there was just this pleasant half-feeling, this floating, this numbness. Brian dancing, pain management, John’s half smile, fists, buckles, shushed whispers in the dark, whimpers, screams. Deep thoughts gave away and he was blanketed with the bliss of ignorance.