"Can you b-believe that?!" Michael sputtered in outrage.
"Actually, yes I can. I'm going home, Michael. I need to think." With that said, Ben left the diner.
Debbie sat down in the booth, across form her son. She wanted to know what had happened. And, she wanted to know, now. "Michael, start talking."
Michael sighed. He knew that when she used that tone of voice, it was in his best interest if he did what she said. "I was just telling the truth. He took that twink, Emmett's cousin, home last night. Them I go over there this morning, to see if he was coming to the diner, and Justin is still there! They're drying each other off.
"So, when we were all sitting here, I just told Brian that he didn't do boyfriends. And, I wanted to know why he had brought Justin and his friend here. I derserve to know what's going on. I'm his best friend!"
Debbie held Michael's eyes as she shook her head. "Michael, I can't believe that you said that. I used to think that Brian was keeping you from being happy, from having a boyfriend. But, he's been accepting of Ben. He was just looking out for you, I know that now. But, he also deserves his own life.
"And, if he ever decides to enter into a relationship, that's his choice. You should be happy for him."
"But, Ma, Justin's deaf!" Michael said the word deaf like it was a disease.
"So what? For Brian to stand upto you and leave, he must really like Justin." Sighing, Debbie laid her right hand on top of Michael's folded hands. "Honey, if you don't get your head out of your ass, you're liable to lose Brian. And, Ben. Right now, you need to get the apartment and talk to Ben." Debbie walked away, to go wait on a table, leaving Michael alone in the booth.
Michael got up, and left. 'Ma's right. I need to talk to Ben. I can't lose him, I love him.' But, even, as he thought that, Michael knew that if Brian ever gave him the slightest sign that they would be together, he would dump Ben and go to Brian. And, he couldn't help but hate himself for that.
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All was silent, in the jeep, as Brian, Emmett, Daphne, and Justin headed toward Emmett's apartment.
They all knew that Justin was angry, but they could also tell that he was hurt. When Brian parked the jeep, they all got out. Making sure that Justin was looking at him, Brian spoke. "Justin, Michael was being an idiot. He had no right saying what he did."
Justin nodded and signed, Is there somehwhere we can talk? Alone?
At Brian's questioning look, Daphne elaborated. "He wants to talk to you, alone."
Brian nodded. "We'll got to my loft."
"Justin, I'll see you later. Bye." Daphne hugged Justin and headed toward her parent's car.
"Are you okay, baby?" Emmett signed and spoke. Justin just nodded. "Alright. Will you be home tonight?"
Justin didn't know how to answer, so he looked to Brian for an answer. Brian said, "I'll have him home tomorrow." "Don't worry, Emmett, I'll keep him safe," Brian added with his trademark smirk.
Emmett nodded, gave Justin a hug, and headed upto his apartment.
About twenty minutes later, Brian pulled upto the loft's building and parked his jeep. Justin and Brian headed upto the loft in the elevator, in silence. Brian was still fuming at Michael. But, he did hope that everything could be resolved. A sixteen year friendship would be a terrible thing to lose. For a moment, Brian couldn't belive that he was willing to risk Michael's friendship for the blonde. But, there was something about Justin. He felt a connection with him after one day that he had never felt with anyone.
After they were in the loft and seated on the couch, Justin grabbed a pad of paper and a pen. A few minutes later, he handed the pad of paper to Brian.
Brian, I really do like you. I want to know where this is going. Was I really just a one-time fuck?, Brian read.
Without thinking, Brian started writing. No, but I don't know if I can change. If I want to change. I like tricking.
Justin read what Brian wrote with half happiness and half disappointment. He wanted Brian. And, he wanted Brian to want him. Only him. But, he also knew that he had to be realistic. Maybe, he could put up with Brian's tricking.
He wrote on the paper, and handed it back to Brian. Okay. I can handle the tricking, if you want to be with me. I want to be with you, Brian.
Reading what Justin wrote, Brian felt a surge of happiness and a surge of panic. Should he see Justin regularly, now? He knew that he was Justin's first, so he figured that Justin's infatuation with him was because of that. He knew that Justin would leave him when someone younger and better came along. But, for some reason, his mind wasn't communicating with his hand.
Alright. Just don't expect too much from me, got it? read Justin. Justin smiled his sunshine smile and nodded. Brian couldn't help it, he leaned down and captured Justin's lips with his own.