It had been a month since Justin's and Brian's first date, and they seemed to be doing great in Brian's opinion. Except for one thing. Justin seemed to be keeping something from him. Spotting Justin sitting on the couch, he walked over to him. He was determined to find out what the problem was. Since it was nine, at night, everyone was either in their rooms or lounging around and watching television. Putting his hand on Justin's shoulder, he leaned down and spoke into his ear. "Let's go outside." Justin followed him without question. Neither one noticed the person that was following them. Walking outside, on to the back porch, Brian lead Jusin to the porchswing. Sitting down, they both stared at the full moon and stars that littered the night sky.

"It's beautiful," Justin whispered. Brian nodded his agreement, the whole time looking at Justin. When Justin noticed him staring, he asked, "What?"

"I was just thinking about how it's you that is beautiful." Justin blushed but smiled in delight. Turning serious, Brian continued. "Justin, we need to talk."

Looking at Brian with fear in his blue eyes, he asked, "About what?"

Trying to ease Justin's fears, Brian kissed him. A couple of minutes later, they broke apart in need of some air. "Sunshine, I've noticed something. This past month has been great. But I feel as if you're keeping something from me. Frankly, it worries me. I just want to know that you're alright. And you know that you can talk to me about anything at anytime."

"Not about this," sighed Justin as his eyes looked at the ground.

Gently tilting Justins head up, so hazel eyes could lock with blue, he asked, "Why not? What's the matter?"

Justin sighed and could see the worry and... love... in Brian's eyes. He knew that Brian deserved to know what had happened. Jusin didn't feel guilty, he just worried about anyone finding out about what he had done. Making up his mind, he spoke. "Alright, Brian, I'll tell you. But I know that you're going to look at me differently afterwards."

Brian shook his head, but stayed silent. After a couple of minutes of silence, Justin began his tale. "My father Craig was a great man. He loved my mother, Molly, and me. He always told us, always showed us. But, then, when I was fifteen... he died. Killed in a car wreck. Mom had to work two jobs just to keep food on the table and the rent paid. I offered to get an after-school job, but she wouldn't hear of it. She wated me to have time to be a teenager and study... her words not mine. Well, when I was sixteen, she met Harley. He became my stepfather. I know that some of the reason she married him was so she would have help providing for Molly and me. He was okay when they were dating. But when they married... he became a differen man. An asshole. He would drink like a fish and, early on in the marriage, Molly and I started seeing mom with bruises on her face.

"I knew how she was getting them, although she would always deny it. A few months later, he started coming after Molly and me. Trying to beat us. I would always take whatever punishment he had planned for Molly... I had to protect her. I always tied to protect mom, too. Of course, that resulted in me getting beat pretty badly. But as long as he was leaving Mom and Molly alone, I could stand it. "Well, a couple of days before we came here, it got... bad. Really bad. He was drunk and on the warpath. And, all because his football team lost the damn game! He sarted beating mom. I tried to stop him! But it was no use. I had to take Molly and hide when he started hitting us. He was like an animal! As we hid under my bed... I made a vow to myself that night. I vowed that Harley would never be able to hurt my mom, my sister, or me ever again."

Justin paused to take a deep breath as he felt tears starting to brim in his eyes. "The next morning," he continued, "I followed him to the nearby resevoir. I had a bottle of liqour and a kinife. I told him that he was never going to hurt us again. He laughed. Laughed! Told me that he would do whatever he damned well pleased and that I would shut up and mind my own business. We were toe to toe and I told him that he wouldn't be going back home. He raised his hand, to hit me, and I topped him by grabbing his arm. I called him a son of a bitch and told him that I wasn't his son. Then, I... stabbed him. Once.

"He fell back into the water, stunned. Before he could catch his bearings, I grabbed his hair and held his face under the water. I can't tell you how long I held him under... All I kept thinking about was all of the times that he had hurt my mom and sister. And me. After a few minutes, he stopped moving. I could tell that he wasn't breathing. I poured the liquor all over him and dropped the botle on the ground. I even wiped my prints off of it. I wanted it to look like an accident.

"The police showed up later that day, saying they had found him. They ruled it an accident. Said he had too much to drink and must've fallen in. I couldn't believe that they hadn't seen the stab wound or the mud on the living room carpet. I got lucky. I didn't know that he had left everything to his sister and hadn't changed it after he married mom. Then, his bitch of a sister had her lawyer tell mom that we had to move! I hadn't planned on that. But I don't regret killing the bastard... and I know that sounds bad. I just regret that mom and Molly are homeless because of me."

Justin wiped a few stray tears off of his face as he finished talking. Justin saw Brian swallow hard and look away. Sighing, Justin said, "See. I knew you wouldn't be able to look at me in the same way."

Quickly turning back to face Justin, Brian shook his head. "That's not it. I'm not looking at you any differently. If anyone can understand why you did what you did, I can. Believe me. I'm just sorry and so damn angry that you, Jennifer, and Molly had to go through that. As far as I'm concerned the fucking bastard got what he deserved!" Justin sighed in relief at hearing Brian's words. Brian leaned down and captured Justin's lips with his own. Neither noticed a smiling figure quietly slip back inside the house.