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The Drifter - Chapter Three

"God, I need a fucking cigarette so bad," Brian says as he comes out of the bathroom with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Justin wonders why he didn't notice until now the absence of the constant smoke that had surrounded the man when they had met at the diner.  "Yeah, what happened?  You were chain-smoking yesterday."

"I didn't want to offend your parents."  Brian moves across the room to get his jacket.  The night has cooled at least ten degrees since sundown.  "I noticed that there's a decent stretch of roof out that window," Brian points to the peaked roof that faces the main house, "so I will probably be spending a lot of time out there smoking.  I don't want to stink up this room."

"My mom will be happy about that."

Brian lights his cigarette as they exit the guesthouse door.  They walk down the stairs and head toward the Mercedes, which looks black in the dark.  

"This is your car?"

"Well, no.  I share it with my mom, but she doesn't drive much."

Brian is quiet while he finishes smoking his cigarette.  He extinguishes it on the bottom of his shoe and puts it into his pocket.  He notices Justin looking at him strangely, so he explains, "If it's my responsibility to keep the grounds looking nice, I'm not going to throw cigarette butts all around."

Brian twirls a fresh cigarette between his fingers during the quick five-minute drive from Justin's to Daphne's house.  He has the cigarette ready to light as soon as they pull up to her front door.

Justin stays near the car with Brian to wait for him to smoke his cigarette.  "How long have you smoked?"

Brian exhales his drag into the air above his head.  "Since I was about sixteen.  So…" Brian calculates, "about seven years."

"I've smoked pot, but that's about it."

"That's good.  It's a filthy habit.  I started out smoking the butts in my dad's ashtray."

"Gross!"

Brian laughs.  "Yeah, now that I think about it.  Now I can't even smell that brand of smoke without getting nauseous."

"It's weird.  I know you smoke, but I can't smell it on you."  Justin shrugs.  

Brian puts out the cigarette and shoves it into his pocket with the other butt.  "You ready?"

"Your pockets are going to be full if you keep that up."

"I'm hoping there's an ashtray inside."

"There will be.  Most of my friends are potheads."  Justin walks in the direction of Daphne's front door.  "Do you smoke pot?"

"Yeah.  I get along with potheads very well."

"Good."  Justin rings the doorbell.  A smiling teenage girl, who can only be Daphne, answers.  She is petite and seems bubbly.  She hugs Justin and drags him inside, never registering Brian's presence.  

Brian glances around nervously at the foyer's furnishings.  Much like the Taylor home, Daphne's house is tastefully decorated, but accented with darker woods and brighter colors.  Following a stream of quick conversation between Daphne and Justin, she finally locks eyes with the stranger.

"Oh, my god!  I'm so sorry.  I didn't know Justin was bringing someone."  She offers her hand to Brian, who shakes it politely.  "I'm Daphne."

"Brian.  Nice to meet you.  I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, especially not such a gorgeous creature as yourself.  Where did you find him, Justin?"

"At the diner," Justin replies uneasily.

"You still go to that greasy spoon?"

"Absolutely.  Best apple pie in town."  

"If you say so…" Daphne shrugs.  "Well, come on in.  Everyone's in the living room."

Justin leads Brian into the foyer and down a hallway, which leads to a large, open room.  There is an expansive sofa with four teenagers sprawled upon it, a gigantic flat screen TV, and a vast entertainment system.  Along the back wall, there are multiple sliding doors and windows that appear to lead to a deck.  The windows and doors are wide open, and there is a deliciously cool breeze blowing in.  Even with all that ventilation, Brian can still smell the lingering odor of pot smoke.  

Daphne comes up behind Brian to introduce him to her four friends on the couch.  Brian, having an excellent mind for names, commits each name to his memory.  He meets Tim, Sophia, Jaime, and Brad, who immediately offer him the next bong hit.  Justin sits himself down next to Brian, which makes him the next in line for the bong.  

Things and events quickly degenerate to fits of laughter, loud music and an array of munchies.  Justin has left Brian's side to dance with Daphne in front of the TV.  Between hits from various bongs, pipes and blunts, Brian watches Justin swiveling and swaying to the slow and bluesy, hip-hop beat.  With the marijuana haze clouding his mind, he is unable to focus on anything but the slow grind of Justin and Daphne's dancing.  He recognizes their dancing as the entirely platonic, yet utterly sexual and tantalizing, gyrating of two people who have been friends for so long that they are completely comfortable with the other's bodies.

Sweaty and panting, Justin and Daphne soon collapse back onto the couch with their friends.  Brian can feel the heat radiating from Justin's leg, which is pressing against his.  

"You guys are great dancers," Brian comments.

"Thanks," Justin responds.  "We've been dancing since we were little kids in elementary school."

"You should get up and dance with us!" Daphne exclaims.  At his look of reluctance, she says, "C'mon.  It'll be fun!" and prods him into action, practically dragging him off the couch.

"I don't really dance that well," he protests to no avail.

"Don't worry.  Justin will teach you.  Won't you, Justin?" she says winking at Justin.

"Uh, of course…yeah," he stammers.  He gives Brian some basic guidance on how to move his hips and arms to the beat.

"Just watch Justin's hips, Brian.  You'll get it."

Honestly, Brian's eyes have not left Justin's lithe body, and Daphne has noticed.  She watches Brian lick his lips seductively before mumbling, "Uh huh."

"That's it," Daphne coaxes.  Brian and Justin seem to be getting closer and closer as they continue to dance.  Daphne is a little disappointed that Brian appears to be interested in her best friend, but her happiness for Justin far outweighs her jealousy.  Brian is hot, but Brian <i>and</i> Justin together is pure sex appeal.  She can't help but wonder if Justin even realizes how appealing the two men look together:  Brian, dark and catlike, and Justin, all sunshine and light.  Justin is so involved in the music that he doesn't even seem to register that Brian is so close.

Tim interrupts their dancing by tapping Justin on the shoulder and pushing a blunt under his nose.

"Um, no thanks.  I have to drive."

"OK.  How about you?" he asks offering the blunt to Brian.

"Sure."  He pulls the blunt toward himself and takes a long drag.  He hasn't smoked pot like this in a long time.  Most of the stuff he had smoked in Georgia wasn't this good.  The people he had smoked with in Georgia were construction workers like him who couldn't always afford the good stuff.  He can now feel an incredible all over body buzz from the weed.  He knew he was high as soon as he started to enjoy dancing.  Or maybe it was just that Justin was so close to him.  

Justin stands in front of Brian to get his attention.  "We have to go soon.  My curfew is 1:00."

Brian exhales a storm cloud of smoke at Justin.  "Whenever you're ready."  He laughs as he watches the blue wisps twirl in the air between Justin and him.

Justin shakes his head and snorts, "You are soooo stoned!"

"I know," Brian half-smirks.  "And now you get to drive me home!  I like having a designated driver."

"Let's stand outside before we get in the car.  We both reek of weed."

Brian grabs his almost empty beer and follows Justin outside with his half-smirk still in place.  He looks around the deck that seems to wrap around the entire house.  "Wow.  Are all your friends rich?"

Justin, feeling uncomfortable about the turn of the conversation, answers carefully.  "We all go to the same school," he explains.  "The only times I meet people who are not from this neighborhood are at work and at the diner."  He pauses quickly before adding, "I've met some great cool people at the diner."

"Yeah," Brian says reaching for a cigarette, "Ida's really cool."

"I meant you, asshole."  Justin pushes Brian's shoulder playfully.

"Watch out.  You'll break my cigarette!"

They both smile widely at each other.  Brian's smile fades.  "I'm glad I met you."  He looks away to light his cigarette.  "Not just because of the job."  Brian raises his eyes to meet Justin's.  "You're a good person, Justin Taylor."

Touched by Brian's kind words, Justin braves a quick hug.  It's awkward for a second as Brian adjusts to the show of warmth that has always been lacking in his life.  He leans against Justin's smaller body, inhaling the scent of his golden hair, and kisses the top of Justin's head affectionately.  

Justin's feels his heartbeat speeding away and realizes that his quick hug has turned into something more for him.  Not wanting Brian to suspect anything about his sexuality, he pulls away.  Justin catches sight of Brian as they separate and swears for a second that he sees something of his own feelings mirrored in Brian's face.  Whatever he saw, Brian hides it too quickly for Justin to consider what it might mean.  <i>Must have been the pot,</i> Justin reasons.

"Let's go.  I have ten minutes to get home."

Justin follows him back into the house to say goodbye to everyone.  Daphne finally lets them leave after Justin promises to bring Brian back again.  Daphne cannot wait to get Justin alone tomorrow to interrogate him about Brian.  She knows that she hasn't imagined the longing looks that Brian was giving Justin.

Brian collapses into the passenger's seat of the Mercedes.  He reflects on everything that has happened today.  He has gone from sleeping in the woods to living in a posh guesthouse.  As Brian wonders why someone would be so nice to him, he gazes at his benefactor as he drives them both home.  The gentle swaying ride soon rocks him to sleep.  He's somewhere between sleep and awake when his mind wanders.  He replays scenes in his head of Justin and Daphne dancing.  That scene moves into one where he's dancing with Justin, close and grinding against each other.  His dick begins to get hard, and he sighs and shifts in his sleep.

Justin looks over at Brian when he hears his contented sigh.  <i>I can't believe he fell asleep during a five-minute drive!  He must be exhausted.</i>  It has been a busy day for both of them, and Justin is starting to feel his own weariness creep into his mind and body.  Justin is relieved to see his front gate.  He pushes the button to open the gate and drives in.  

Brian doesn't hear Justin's first few attempts to wake him.  Justin softly calling his name becomes worked into this half-dream he's having.  His hands are roaming all over Justin's body as they continue to dance.  

"Brian?" Justin calls quietly.  He has now moved around to the passenger's side to try to wake Brian.  For just a five-minute ride, he is sure knocked out!  Justin leans in closer to Brian until his lips are close to his ear.  "Brian?" he says again.

"Mmm…Justin…," Brian moans.  Brian's eyes finally flutter open, and he is rewarded with a blinding smile from Justin.  Brian half-reaches his hand out to touch Justin's face, to kiss him.  All at once, he remembers where he is, what he's doing, or rather what he should <i>not</i> be doing, and pulls his hand away before making contact.

Brian looks up to see Justin studying him intently.  "You OK?"

"Yeah, yeah.  I'm fine," Brian rises from the passenger's seat and reaches for a cigarette.  "Sorry, I guess that pot really knocked me out."

"We've both had a busy day."

"Yeah."  Brian fishes out his lighter and ignites the end of a cigarette.  "I am fuckin' bushed!"  Brian yawns loudly stretching his long frame to its limit.  He reaches around to close the car door.  

"I bet you can't wait to get to that bed."

Brian turns and stops his first drag halfway questioning whether Justin suspects anything or not.  Assuming that he meant it as an innocent comment on his previous accommodations in the woods, he smirks and laughs.  "Yeah, a real bed."

Glancing at his watch, "I have to go in now," Justin announces.  "Have a good night.  Sweet dreams."

"Thanks, you too," Brian responds.  Brian has no doubts as to who will be the star of his own sweet dreams.  Brian adjusts his growing erection while he watches Justin's pert ass as he walks away into the house.  Justin gives a wave from the door just as he closes it.

Brian stands in the driveway for a few moments, finishing his cigarette and lighting another.  He slowly walks up the stairs to the guesthouse and lets himself in.  He sets his keys on the table nearest the door and swiftly heads for the front window.  He opens the window, pushes up the screen, and climbs out onto a small piece of the garage's roof.  He had scoped this spot out earlier while he was taking his shower before dinner.  

From his perch, he gazes out toward the house.  He sees a dim light come on in the upstairs, front bedroom closest to him.  He stares as Justin paces across the spacious room.  He watches Justin pull off his shirt and toss it across the room.  Justin brushes back his long hair with his hands, a move that Brian has become all too aware of.  Brian's conscience gets the better of him, and he turns away from watching Justin undress.  <i>This is definitely an invasion of privacy.</i>  Brian puts out his cigarette and stands up.  As he steadies himself before climbing back through the window, he catches a glimpse of Justin in only his underwear.  His eyes rake over the creamy skin on Justin's back, the shaggy blond hair, and his firm bubble butt.  

"Fuck," Brian mutters aloud to himself as he's ducking through the window.  "This kid is gonna be the death of me."