Justin and Daphne walked into the Liberty Diner, seeing the rest of the gang sitting at their usual booth. They walked over as room was made for them to sit down.
"Even on your day off, you can't stay away from the diner, Wonder Boy," joked Michael.
Justin gave a slight smiled. He had been working at the diner for two years, since he was sixteen. He had gotten the job when he got kicked out of his house. When his parents had found out that he was gay, they had thown a fit and had forbid him from seeing his younger sister Molly. Two months later, they moved and he hadn't seen any of them since. Debbie and her brother Vic offered him a room at their house and he's been there since.
"What's with the glum face, darlin?" asked Emmett when he noticed the puffy eyes and the sad look.
Justin sighed. "Eric broke up with me last night. He said that he was tired of waiting for me to be ready to have... sex," Justin said with a slight blush. "He's been seeing someone else for a couple of weeks. Evidently, he can get everything he wants with the new guy."
"Sorry, Justin." Michael's partner Ben said, with a sympathetic look.
Justin and Eric Kripke had met at Woody's three months before and had hit if off. They had started dating and had been together ever since. The whole gang had tried to be supportive of their relationship, but none of them liked Eric. They just tolerated him for Justin's sake. They all felt that Justin could do a lot better. Eric just wasn't good enough for their Sunshine.
"It's his loss. He's a fuckin' idiot," stated Brian.
Justin looked at Brian and gave him a genuine smile. Next to Daphne, Brian was his best friend and could always make him feel better. He had met Michael and Brian when he had stated working at the diner and living with Debbie. Debbie was Michael's birth mother and Brian's adoptive mother. He had instantly gotten along with both men and had met the rest of the gang through them. From what he had learned from Brian, he had been adopted at the age of eight. His older sister Clair had gotten hit by a car and had died. His birth parents were dunks and abusive. He had told Justin that he had learned what love was from the Novotny's.
Justin hated thinking about what Brian had went through, but he was glad that he had been taken in by a loving family. He had to admit that Brian was extremely sexy, but felt that Brian was out of his league. He knew that Brian could have any man that he wanted, and most of the time did. So, he settled for being just friends.
Hearing his name, Justin shook his head and looked up from the table. He saw all of the concerned looks. "You okay, Sunshine? I've been tying to get your attention for five minutes," said Debbie.
Jusin looked sheepish. "Sorry, Deb. I was thinking."
"Well, what do ya want?"
"Oh, um, just give me a double cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate shake."
As Debbie smiled and left to put in his order, Emmett said, "I wish I could eat like you do and keep your figure."
"Don't we all?" laughed Daphne.
"PIFA all set for next month?" asked Ted, trying to change the subject.
Justin nodded. "Yeah. I'm just glad that I got the scholorship."
"Why wouldn't you?" asked a very pregnant Lindsay. "You're a great artist."
Justin couldn't help but blush at the compliment. "Thanks, Linds. So, are you excited that the baby's a boy?"
"Yeah. Mel and I didn't really have a prefrance. I'll just be glad when he's here."
"You and me both, babe," Melanie told Lindsay before giving her a small peck. Justin smiled at them. He couldn't wait for LIndsay to give birth. Brian was the father. He had agreed to do Melanie and Lindsay the favor, on the condition that he could retain parental rights. Melanie had written up a contract where all three of them would be able to have parental rights and Justin was glad. He couldn't wait to see the baby. He just knew that he was going to look like Brian.
"So, who's up for Babylon, tonight?" asked Michael.
Everyone, even Daphne, agreed, except for Jusin. "I don't know..."
"Come on. I know that Eric broke up with you and you're heartbroken, but you need to have some fun. Take your mind off of him. Please," Michael pleaded.
Justin thought for a few minutes. He had spent all of the night before and half of the day cryng over Eric. Maybe Michael was right. Maybe going to Babylon would do him some good. He nodded. "Okay. I'm in."