Lost and Found - Part 2
New York, July 2004
Justin opened the door after he heard another knock.
“Andrew?!” he exclaimed in joy, a huge smile on his face. “What are you doing here?” he pulled the other man into a hug.
“I got a call from Kevin saying that he wanted to introduce me to some people, so here I am. Thought I’d stop by, see what you’ve been up to.”
Justin showed him in and shut the door.
“How long are you in town for?” he asked.
“Uhm…a few days…three…maybe four,” Andrew replied, dropping into one of the chairs.
“Great. I can show you around town,” Justin said, sitting across from him.
“Can’t wait.”
“You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” Justin smiled again.
~~~
Pittsburgh, March 2004
He had the most horrible day and just wanted to get home as soon as possible. Walking around the corner he ran into somebody.
“Oh, excuse me,” he said without even looking up.
“Justin?”
“Andrew?…Uh…Hi.” Somehow the two of them managed to avoid each other since they broke up.
“Hi.”
“How have you been?”
“Good. You?”
“You know…good.”
There was an uncomfortable moment between them when another young man walked up to them.
“Andy, I forgot my book in the car,” he said.
“Steve, this is Justin. Justin – Steve,” Andrew introduced them.
Justin smiled and shook the other man’s hand. “Hi.”
“I think we had computer graphics together,” Steve said.
“With Fridricks?”
“Yep. How did you do in that class?”
“Pretty good actually,” Justin said.
“Yeah. I was horrible at it. I think I’ll stick to the way people have been drawing for thousands of years.”
The three of them laughed.
“Well, it was nice to you meet you,” Steve said.
“Yeah, you too.”
“I gotta go get the fucking book before I’m late for class again,” Steve said to Andrew, kissed him and walked away.
“Andy?” Justin asked when Steve disappeared from their view. He knew that only Andrew’s parents called him that.
Andrew smiled shyly. “Yeah, well, you know.”
Justin smiled as well. “So, things are ok?”
“Yeah. Things are good.”
“I guess I’ll see you around some time,” Justin said.
“Yeah. See ya around.”
~~~
“So, how old is he?” Tyler asked.
The two of them were sitting in Brian’s office working out the details of the layout.
“Twenty-one,” Brian replied without looking up from the computer screen.
“Wow.”
“What?” Brian leaned back in his chair.
“Isn’t he a bit too young?”
“He’s the most mature person I know,” Brian repeated Justin’s words. “Most of the time, anyway,” he added with a smirk. Sometimes Justin did act like a twelve-year old. “Now can we please stop discussing my love life and get back to work so that we can actually get out of here some time today.”
“Holy shit,” Tyler exclaimed.
“You surprised that I’d rather talk about work than sex?”
“No. I’m surprised you actually have a love life to talk about. In college we weren’t even allowed to say ‘love’ around you. Now look at you.”
“Now look at me what? I’m still the same person. Only…”
“Only now you have a boyfriend.”
Brian grimaced. He hated labels. He and Justin both did.
“I’m with somebody, yes.”
“Wow.”
“Would you stop saying that?” Brian said annoyed.
“Wow,” Tyler said on purpose as Brian threw his pen at him.
They both laughed. Then Tyler got serious. “Have you ever thought about us?” he asked, catching Brian off guard.
The two men stared at each other.
“There was never any us,” Brian said, hating that he sounded harsh.
“Yeah, but at the same time…there was. We wouldn’t admit it, but there was…something.”
Brian took a deep breath. “Ty…”
“Sorry, I know. It doesn’t make a difference now. Besides, you’re with somebody.”
Brian looked away and took another deep breath.
“Ok, let’s get back to work,” Tyler said, putting on a smile.
Brian sat up and directed his gaze at the monitor once again.
“I have,” he suddenly said, very quietly, almost whispering.
“What?”
“Thought about us,” Brian looked at him.
~~~
Justin stood next to Michael at the bar. Even though he trusted Brian, Justin still had a feeling that there was something that Brian wasn’t telling him. In fact there was a lot that Brian wasn’t telling him. The only thing he knew was that Brian met Tyler through Lindsay and that the three of them were very close friends throughout the four years of college. Then Tyler moved away and that was that.
Justin watched Tyler put his hands around Brian’s waist and pull him closer. They were grinding against each other…completely oblivious to the rest of the world around them. He’d seen enough. He put his drink down and began to walk away.
He was putting his jacket on as he walked out the door, when he heard Michael’s voice behind him.
“You don’t like him?” Michael said, more as a statement than a question.
Justin turned to him. “I don’t know him.”
“Well, I do. And I still don’t like him.”
Justin smiled slightly.
“You mean you knew him before?”
“Yeah. When I visited Brian in college. And a couple of times he and Linds brought him here.”
“And?” Justin inquired, needing more information on this stranger that Brian seemed to really care about.
“And nothing. He was hot. And he was arrogant as hell. He was perfect for Brian.”
“Did something happen between them?”
“Not according to Brian.”
“But you don’t believe him.”
Michael just shrugged his shoulders in response.
Justin looked away.
“Look, don’t let him do that to you,” Michael said.
“Don’t let him do what?”
“Make you jealous. Create problems. He’s good at it. Don’t let him.”
“Are you talking about Brian or Tyler?” Justin asked.
“Both.”
Justin nodded and then walked away, leaving Michael standing in front of the club.
~~~
Startled, Justin looked at the open studio door.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you,” Andrew said.
“What are you doing here so late?” Justin asked, standing up.
“I was just finishing up some stuff,” Andrew said. “You?”
“Uh…hiding,” Justin looked away.
“Had a fight with Brian?” Andrew asked.
Justin shook his head, “No. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“Just…stuff.”
It was obvious to Andrew that Justin was upset. He took a few steps closer to him. “You wanna talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“You wanna get a cup of coffee?”
Justin looked at him, considering an offer. He smiled, “Sounds good.”
~~~
“So, you’re really making it in the big times now,” Andrew said. They were on their second cup of coffee.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“How does it feel?”
“Like I’m swimming against the current,” Justin said honestly. For some reason he couldn’t talk about this with Brian or anybody else.
“What do you mean?” Andrew asked confused.
“Just…drawing…my art…it’s such a small part of it all. All the PR crap…that’s the pain in the ass.”
“Do you know how many people would kill to have that pain in the ass?”
“I know. I’m not complaining,” Justin said, then smiled. “Or maybe I am.”
Andrew smiled as well.
“You know, Kevin’s always looking for young artists. If you want me to show your stuff to him…”
“You serious?” Andrew’s face lit up.
“Of course I am. Your stuff is incredible.”
“That would be great.”
“Cool,” Justin took another sip of his coffee.
”So, what’s going on with Steve?” Justin asked, changing the subject.
Andrew blushed and looked away, “Uh…you know.”
“Serious?”
“Not sure yet. No. Well…maybe.”
Justin laughed.
“What?” Andrew asked, confused.
“You really like him,” Justin said.
Andrew smiled at him, “Yeah, I guess I do.”
“I like this,” Justin said, still smiling.
“What?”
“This. Us. As friends.”
Andrew nodded. “Yeah. I guess we make better friends than lovers.”
Justin looked away, feeling guilty for how he treated Andrew when they were together.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Andrew said, realizing why Justin fell silent suddenly.
“I know.”
“And it’s not like the sex wasn’t great.”
Andrew’s shot at cheering up Justin up worked. They both laughed.
“I’m sorry,” Justin said, his face turning serious again.
“I know,” Andrew replied.
~~~
Justin shut the door behind him and made his way into the bedroom. All the lights were off except for the lights in the bedroom. He quietly pulled his clothes off and got under the duvet and laid on a side, his back turned to Brian’s sleeping form.
He felt the bed move a little and then Brian’s lips on his neck.
“Where did you disappear to?” Brian asked.
“Just had to get out of there,” Justin replied.
Brian pushed him onto his back. He stared into Justin’s eyes.
“I thought we had plans tonight.”
“You were busy.” It sounded like an accusation.
Brian rolled off of him.
“Sorry,” Justin said, looking at him.
“I told you…”
“I know. I didn’t mean it like that,” Justin said. He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more…Brian or himself.
Justin moved closer to him and put his hand on Brian’s cock. “So, what do you wanna do tonight?” he whispered seductively.
Brian smiled at him. “Surprise me.”
~~~
Brian and Justin stood to the side, watching Michael, Ted, Emmett, and Tyler play pool. Justin was practically purring as Brian’s lips traced the back of his neck.
“Christ, you two’ve been together for how long? And you’re still going at it like rabbits?” Ted made a face at them.
“I think it’s so sweet,” Emmett said. “They’re so in love.”
Justin beamed at him as Brian’s lips moved on to his earlobe.
“Yeah, sweet. Makes me wanna puke,” Ted said.
Justin spun in Brian’s arms, covering Brian’s wondering lips with his own as their friends rolled their eyes.
“Hey, Justin.”
Justin pulled away from Brian and turned around to see Andrew and Steve coming towards them. He waved at them, not noticing the not so happy look on Brian’s face.
“Hey,” he said as they approached the group.
“You guys remember Andrew,” he said turning to the rest of them.
“Guys,” Andrew said. “Brian,” he said, turning to Justin’s lover.
Brian forced a smile, “Andrew.”
“This is Steve,” Justin introduced Andrew’s companion. Then pointing to each person separately, he introduced them to Steve.
Brian didn’t like what he was feeling as he watched as Justin talking to Andrew, smiling, laughing at the bar while waiting for their drinks.
~~~
“You want me to do what?” Brian was fuming.
“Why is it such a big deal?” Justin asked.
“I don’t do double dates.”
It wasn’t enough that Justin didn’t tell him about Andrew. Now he wanted for the four of them to become best buddies. There was no way that was going to happen.
“It’s not a double date.”
“The fuck it isn’t. We’re gonna be sitting in some little dinky restaurant with your little twinkie friends. Not to mention that you fucked one of them.”
“Oh, so this is what it’s about? Andrew?”
“No, it’s not what this…”
“And you should be the one to talk,” Justin cut him off.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you and Tyler.”
“I never fucked him,” Brian said, looking straight at him.
“Bullshit.”
Brian looked away.
Justin walked up to him, “How many times?”
Brian looked down at him, sighed, bit his upper lip.
“Brian.”
“Once.”
Justin searched his face for any sign that he was lying.
“What happened then?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Brian turned around.
“Yes. It does. He’s back in your life.”
“So what?”
“So…I need to know,” he wasn’t backing down.
“We fucked. That’s it. We fucked and then we became friends. That’s what both of us wanted. That it!” He shouted. “Satisfied?!”
Justin stared at him for a moment, then turned around and went into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him…leaving Brian standing alone in the middle of the loft.
~~~
“Where’s Sunshine?” Debbie asked him as she poured coffee.
“With his new best friend,” Brian said, bitterly.
She put the coffee pot down and gave him a stern look.
He looked up, “I don’t need another lecture, Deb.”
She sat down across from. “How about advice then?”
He exhaled and looked at her, expectantly.
“You know better than anybody how hard it was for Justin when Daphne died. It’s still hard for him. Losing his best friend like that. Somebody he cared so much about. Somebody he could trust. Somebody who knew him well. Justin needs that. He needs somebody he can talk to.”
“What the fuck am I? His deaf roommate?”
“Somebody he can talk to about things he can’t talk to you about.”
“Like what?”
“Like you.”
Brian snorted out a nervous laugh.
“And if he found somebody he can talk to, somebody who understands him, somebody that he can trust, you should be happy for him.”
With that, she stood up. “Now, do you want something to eat?” she asked.
Her words sinking in, he shook his head. “No. I’m late for something.” He stood up, threw a couple of bucks on the table and left the diner.
~~~
“I’m sorry Brian couldn’t make it,” Andrew said.
They were sitting a booth in an Italian restaurant Andrew picked.
“Yeah, he had a late meeting that he couldn’t get out of,” Justin lied.
“That’s a shame. This restaurant has the best pasta in Pittsburgh,” Steve said.
“Maybe we’ll do this some other time,” Justin said, trying to hide his disappointment.
“I don’t think you’ll have to,” Andrew said.
Justin followed his gaze to the entrance and saw Brian walking through the door.
Justin watched, surprised, as Brian sat next to him in the booth, gave him a peck on the cheek and said hi to Andrew and Steve.
“What are you doing here?” he was finally able to ask.
Brian gave him a confused look, “I thought I was invited.” He bit his lip, hoping that Justin would accept this apology.
They stared at each other and Justin smiled, letting him know that they were ok. Brian smiled back at him. Then he turned to the other two men sitting across from them.
“So, what’s good here?”
~~~
Pulling his lips away from Justin’s just for a moment, Brian pulled the door shut behind them. Turning around, he encountered Justin’s mouth once again. Justin frantically started to take Brian’s sweater off.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since you walked into the restaurant,” Justin panted.
“You mean, we could have been here fucking three hours ago?” Brian asked, pulling Justin’s shirt off his lover and throwing it on the floor.
Justin smiled at him, his arms around Brian’s neck. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For coming tonight.”
Brian leaned in and kissed him.
“I had to sit through dinner with your ex. I think you owe me a little bit more than a thank you.”
"Bitch…bitch…bitch," Justin mumbled, punctuating each
word with a kiss, each one lower down on Brian's chest.
Continuing even after he had finished talking, Justin slipped easily to his knees, his fingers working the button of Brian's jeans. He looked up at Brian, his eyes filled with lust.
“You’re right. I do,” he said, pulling Brian’s jeans down.
By the time they made it to the bed, both of them were completely naked. Justin was lying on top of Brian, devouring his mouth.
Pushing himself up a little, Justin began to attack the rest of Brian’s body with his tongue…kissing his neck, his chest, liking his nipples. He rolled his tongue down Brian’s chest and stomach…stopping to lick Brian’s belly button as he stroked his cock.
“Aaahhh,” a moan escaped Brian’s lips. He ran his fingers through Justin’s hair. Justin looked up at him, smiled. Brian pulled him up so their lips would be on the same level, covering Justin’s mouth with his own…then working his way down Justin’s neck and shoulders.
Suddenly, Justin took his hands and pinned them down, with his own. Brian laughed at that, both knowing that it wouldn’t require any effort at all on Brian’s part of overpower him.
“It’s supposed to be payback, remember,” Justin said, smiling. “Don’t move.”
He let go of Brian’s arms and returned to what he was doing before he was rudely interrupted, his hand sliding up and down Brian’s thigh as his tongue worked its way down Brian’s body once again.
Go to Part 3