Just Us - Part 6

"We're home," Justin called out, closing the door behind him. 

 
"I'm in the living room," his mother called out. 

Molly and he made their way up the stairs and into the room.

"Did you guys have fun?"  Jennifer asked them, rummaging through a box on the couch.

"Yeah...the monkeys were really cool," Molly exclaimed.  She and her brother spent a day at the zoo. "And we rented movies."

"Yeah, we got...uh...Shrek, Spy Kids, oh, and of course...102 Dalmatians...again."  Justin put the stack of DVDs on the coffee table.

"But those puppies are just so cute," Molly said.

"We'll have dinner soon...go wash up," Jennifer told her daughter.

As the little girl disappeared in the bathroom, Justin said, "You do realize that this is a ploy to get you to buy her a dog, right?"

His mother smiled, "Yeah, I'm trying to ignore it for as long as I can."

They both laughed.

"What's all this?" he asked, pointing to a few boxes lying around.

"Oh...uhm...just some of your dad's stuff...I thought I'd finally go through what's left."

Justin's smile disappeared. 

He dropped into one of the chairs. 

"So, do you have plans for the weekend?" she asked.

"No, not really," he turned on the TV.

"How are things with Andrew?"

It's been over a month since he and Andrew broke up, but the only person who knew about it was Daphne.  He knew that if he told his mother, Debbie would know automatically and if Debbie knew, everybody on Liberty Avenue would be informed as well.  And he didn’t think he was ready for that.  Things with Brian didn’t change much.  There was less weirdness between them, they hung out at Woody’s and Babylon, but that’s about it.  The finals were coming up and he was busy finishing up his projects, not leaving too much time to obsess about the situation.

"He's ok," he lied.

"Things are ok?  You don't talk about him that much anymore."  In fact she couldn't remember the last time she saw Andrew or heard about him.

"Yeah, fine," he switched the channels.

~~~

The class was over and Justin was in the process of putting away his things.

“Justin Taylor?” he heard behind him.  He turned to see a young woman.

“Uh…yeah.”

She smiled at him and offered her hand.  “I’m Natalie Banks.  Kevin Riley’s assistant.  We spoke on the phone a few times.”

“Oh, right,” he shook her hand, “Hi.”

“We need to discuss a few things.  Do you have a moment?”

“Yeah, sure.” 

He stuffed his sketchbook into this backpack and followed her out of the classroom.

~~~

Brian saw him sitting on the steps before he even parked.  As he pulled up, Justin stood up.  Trying to act indifferent, Brian got out of the Jeep and walked around.

“Hey,” Justin said.

“Hey,” he said opening the passenger side door, “What’s up?”

“Uhm…remember Kevin Riley?”

“Uh…yeah…the gallery owner, right?”

Justin nodded, sort of surprised that Brian actually listened to anything he said. 

“Well, the three pieces that he took with him…they sold…all of them.”

“You had any doubts?” Brian smiled at him.  He turned to take the grocery bag and take out from the seat.

“He wants to do a whole show…just my stuff…in New York,” Justin dropped the last bomb. 

“Wow,” Brian said turning around, “That’s…that’s great.  Congratulations.”

Justin beamed a smile at him.  “Thanks….Uhm…I thought that…you know…since it was you…I mean…if it wasn’t for you…I’d probably wouldn’t even be drawing right now…I thought…maybe you’d wanna celebrate with me…go to Woody’s or Babylon or something.”

Brian looked at him, then down at the bag in his hands.  “I have a better idea.”

~~~

“I feel like I ate a cow,” Justin said, getting out two bottles of beer from the fridge.

“I’m pretty sure I ordered chicken,” Brian replied from the living room. 

Justin stuck his tongue out at him, walking over to where Brian was lounging on the floor. 

They’ve done this all the time when Justin lived there…shutting off the phones and the doors, moving the coffee table, laying on the floor, eating take out, and watching TV.  It ended with either Justin getting inspired and drawing Brian for the gazillionth time or sex…Usually both.  Brian smiled to himself, remembering Lindsay’s comment about him not being able to pose for that drawing…if she only knew how many times he had to sit, stand, or lay…clothed or not…usually in spite of a huge boner…watching Justin drawing him…which really didn’t help much with the boner situation.  For some reason Justin drawing him was a huge turn on for him. 

Kneeling down, Justin handed Brian his beer, then he himself stretched out on the floor, his head on Brian’s stomach.  

“So, two weeks, huh?” Brian asked. 

“Yep…my own show…in two weeks,” he still couldn’t believe it.

“Isn’t it kinda soon?”

“I guess…but Natalie said that most of the arrangements are done, so…” he took another sip of his beer.

“What about school?” Brian asked.

“Well…for three of my classes we had final projects…and I’m pretty much done with them…and for the art history class I just have a research paper to write which I can do in New York and just e-mail it to the teacher.”

“And next year?”

Justin shrugged, “Don’t know yet.  I’m sure I could find a similar program in New York.”

Brian was grateful that Justin didn’t see his face at the moment.   He took a deep breath, willing his feelings not to betray him.  Trying to keep his voice as normal as possible, he asked, “You’re not coming back?”

Justin turned his head to look at him.  No matter how hard Brian tried Justin could see everything he was feeling…what they were both feeling.  They stared at each other for what seemed like forever. 

Their reflection in the TV screen of turned caught Justin’s eye.  Suddenly, get got up and almost ran towards the kitchen where his backpack was. 

”Whatta hell are you doing?” Brian growled, getting up. 

“NO!  Don’t move!” Justin yelled out, pulling his sketchbook out.

“Justin.”

“I said don’t move,” he came back with sketchbook and box of charcoal. 

Realizing what he was doing, Brian moaned, “Oh, no…not again.”

Justin settled down on the floor once again.  “Oh, stop.  You know you love it.”

“Love what?  Not being able to move for hours?  Or feeling like my dick is gonna fall off?”

“You want some cheese with that whine, Mr. Kinney?”

Brian made a face at him.  Justin laughed as he watched Brian settle back down and then went to work. 

~~~

Over an hour later Brian was getting impatient.  

"Are you done yet?"

"No."

"Come on, let me see," Brian moved in his direction.

"Hey, don't move."

"Let me see," Brian tried to pull the sketchbook from him.

"No...it's not finished yet...Brian," he tried to pull away, but Brian was 

more than a match for him.  Yanking the sketchbook out of Justin’s hand he 

looked at the drawing...and froze.  He was looking at the two of them a 

little earlier today...laying on the floor...staring at each other.  The 

drawing was absolutely hypnotizing.  Even though it was far from being 

finished, somehow Justin captured what they were feeling at the moment...

the longing, the hurt, the lust, the love...it was right there on the paper.

Brian put the sketchbook down and looked at Justin.  In his eyes he saw the 

same emotions he saw in the drawing.  He leaned in, kissing him tenderly, 

but passionately.  

They moved slowly...savoring every moment, every touch, every kiss...both 

afraid that it could be their last time together.

Afterwards they laid together...neither able to sleep...or pull away...arms 

and legs wrapped around the other's...not wanting to let go...afraid to let

go...taking in this moment...trying to store it all in memory...in case...

in case it never happened again.

It felt like eternity and at the same time a very short moment when Justin 

finally pulled away. 

"I have to go," he said getting up, "My flight leaves at 10 in the morning 

and I'm not even packed yet."

"Do you need a ride to the airport?" Brian asked, watching Justin pull his 

pants on.

"Nah...Kevin ordered a limo."

"Of course he did," Brian murmured under his breath.

Justin was pulling his sweater on, his back turned.

"You're not coming to the opening, are you?"  Justin asked him suddenly.  

He turned around, his eyes meeting Brian's.  They stared at each other, 

both 

knowing the answer.  

Justin walked up to where Brian still was, kneeling next to him.  Brian 

raised himself up on his elbows.  

Justin leaned in and kissed him.  

Pulled away.  

"Wish me luck," he whispered.  

Smiled.  

Got up.  

Left.  

Brian watched the door close behind his lover.  

"Good Luck," he said.

Go to Part 7

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