Diffrent Path

Different Path

Chapter 16 ….


A few hours later they had showered and gotten dressed. They were walking down the street. Brian had his arm slung around Justin’s shoulders and the blonds’ arm was around Brian’s waist. They were laughing at something as they pushed open the diner door.

“BRIAN!” Mikey’s shrill call made the whole diner turn to look at the door. Brian and Justin looked very good. They were dressed in clothes bought during the trip. Brian was in jeans and a silk shirt, his hair well-cut and perfectly mussed. He also looked well-rested and tan. Justin was wearing a dark-blue pair of jeans and a baby-blue silk t-shirt. His hair was also paler from time in the sun and his skin had a healthy glow.

“Nice announcement, Mikey… so much for being discreet.” Brian drawled as he moved into the diner, pulling Justin with him.

The happy greeting from friends filled the air as the couple moved deeper into the room. Mikey pulled Brian into a hug, chatting away while Emmett pulled Justin into a seat at the booth.

“So Baby, tell me all about it! Was it insanely wonderful?”

“Yeah it was. We went to Rome, Florence and Venice...” Justin smiled at Brian who took a seat beside him. “It was so hectic and relaxing. The art classes were so much fun!”

They ordered breakfast and Justin told the gang of their trip in vivid words. The young man glowed, making the others feel happy for him but at the same time they felt insanely jealous.

Justin leaned into Brian; laying his head on the older man’s shoulder. Closing his eyes in bliss the older man leaned down and kissed Justin’s hair.

They made such a sweet image. They closed their eyes and took a deep breath before looking back up at their friends.

“So what else did you do? All work and no play make Sunshine and Brian dull boys.” Emmett said with a big grin as he leaned forward on his elbows.

“Oh we went clubbing in Rome and Venice. We went to this great jazz festival in Florence and city tours in all three cities. We went to this great Italian place in New York, and then a show. After that we went clubbing.” Justin told of their trip in vivid description, never giving any details but still giving the impression of a trip of a lifetime.

Later that afternoon Brian and Justin were finishing up a late lunch discussing Justin having dinner with his mom that evening. The blond wanted Brian to come along arguing that they had such a good time the last time.

“I like your mom, Sunshine but I like my limbs where they are. Remember to tell her you’re moving back in with me…” He laughed and pulled the blond into his arms. “And she is scary your mom… I mean it!”

They kissed gently, both still chortling slightly. As they separated they heard the loft doors slide open. Brian handed Justin the car keys.

“Take the jeep. I was planning on working so I don’t need it.” The older man ignored the newcomer and leaned down and kissed Justin goodbye. “ Drive safe.. “

Justin smiled brightly and winked up at the older man.

“Later!” Brian looked up and his eyes followed Justin’s path to the loft doors. Only when the blond closed the doors did he turn his attention to Mikey.

”What the fuck is going on, Brian?” Michael shouted as he was left alone with Brian in the loft. The blond that he mentally labelled ‘the intruder’ had left. The irritated Italian glared at the hazel-eyed Irishman who was his best friend, or so he had thought.

“Justin is moving back in to the loft. We are moving him this weekend.” Brian said, faking obviousness. He knew very well that that was not what Mikey meant. The darker man felt his anger, resentment and jealousy boil over.

“What!! No, I mean what the fuck is going on with you taking that boy to Europe for a fucking MONTH!” By the end of that sentence Mikey was gesturing wildly and pacing in front of a mildly amused Brian.

“Why the fuck would you want to encourage him to believe that you really care! For fucks sake Brian, now he will never leave.” As Mikey continued ranting, working himself up even more when he got into Justin moving into the loft again. Brian lost the last bit of patience that he had.

“Have you considered the good friend that you are to me?” His voice was heavily laced with sarcasm and behind it a healthy dose of anger, as he cut off Mikey’s rant. His voice became louder as he continued, “That I do not want him to leave, that I want him here with me, always. That when I wake up with him in the morning, the new day does not feel like a bad thing?”

He stood and walked over to the stunned man in the middle of his loft.

“Mikey you are my oldest friend, my baby brother and I owe you a lot. But Justin is my focus, my drive and my ambition. He makes me want to be better, strive for more, for greater things. That night when you pulled me down from the rafters, I realised something. Something that I would have taken to my grave had you not gotten there in time. I am in love with him. “

He smiled a smile so beautiful and endearing that it melted away all of Mikey’s anger, but in its place flooded sadness and despair. The small man turned on the spot and walked out of the loft. He did not say good-bye. He just left.

Brian sat down on the sofa. Picking up his cell phone, he dialed a familiar number.

“Deb, expect your son soon…. Yeah mom, I had to lay it down pretty harsh. .. I am sorry that I had to, but how else would he see? Hopefully...yeah I will.. Bye.” He sighed deeply and lay down on the sofa closing his eyes, a stray tear rolling down his cheek and for the first time in years he prayed. He prayed that his best friend that he had depended on for so long would understand.


Justin bounced down the stairs to the jeep, got in and drove over to his mothers’. He was amazed that Brian had allowed him to take the jeep. He had to admit that he had dreaded taking the bus to his mom’s.

Turning into the driveway he switched off the engine and got out. Locking the jeep he headed toward the house to meet his mother who opened the door with a smile.

“Justin! You’re home! I though you weren’t getting home until tomorrow.”

“Yes well, Brian arranged it like that so we would have some time to decompress...” Justin kissed his mothers cheek and passed her into the small house she had bought after the divorce from his dad.

“The house is beginning to look great.” He said as he took a seat in the kitchen.

“Yes, I just have two rooms left to do… the guestroom and your room of course…” Jennifer said as she took a seat opposite her son. Sharp, blue eyes easily caught the wince on her son’s features.

“What is it Justin? You can’t stay at Debbie’s all year!” Justin straightened in his chair and smiled at his mother.

“That is absolutely right, but I am not moving here…” He stood and went to the fridge grabbing a bottle of water, and took a seat after handing his mom one as well. “I’m moving back in with Brian.”

“What! Absolutely not!” Jennifer stood, slapping her palms down on the table. “I will not have you move in with that man…”

“It’s final, mom. I’m only telling you because I wanted to share the wonderful news. I am eighteen. There is nothing you can say.” Justin spoke calmly, never raising his voice. It was an approach that he had found was very effective during the trip in calming Brian down. It had become second nature.

“I – I guess not…” Jennifer sat down and looked at Justin. For about a minute she just looked at him. “When did you grow up? I never noticed.”

“No, I guess not…” Justin smiled and winked at her. “How about we cook lasagne? Debbie taught me!”

Justin stood and pulled his mom with him. They spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying their time together cooking, Justin telling her about their trip. He gave a lot more detail to his mom, knowing that she needed to hear it and she could keep her mouth shut.

“It looks like you two had the time of your life.” Jennifer said with a smile as they started clearing away the dishes after dinner. Molly was at their dads’ for the weekend. Justin smiled as he grabbed the plate and handed it to his mom.

“Yeah, it was amazing and I learned so much from Jilla.” The boy’s eyes were shining with happiness. Jennifer looked into them and found herself feeling glad that Brian was in her son’s life. That feeling surprised her and that must have shown on her face.

“What is it, mom?” Justin laid his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes.

“Yeah. I’m ok, Justin. Just surprised by my thoughts.” She smiled slightly. “I was worried at first, really worried, but now I’m glad you have Brian in your life.”

Justin’s eyes widened while he took in his mothers words. He threw his arms around the stunned, blond woman hugging her hard and kissing her cheek. “You mean that, mom?”

“Yes Justin, you’re so much happier now than you were around the time you met. Your eyes shine, Justin. How can I not be happy for you?” She smiled and pointed her finger at Justin.

“But if he hurts you I will hurt him, ok sweetheart...” They smiled at each other before heading into the living room to watch a movie.


Justin crept into the loft around midnight. The loft was dark and he really hoped that Brian was there and not out clubbing. He hung up his coat and placed the car keys on the bar counter.

He headed up the steps to the bedroom, a smile curling his lips as he saw Brian dozing in bed.

“You’re home…” His words made Brian look up and spot him. They smiled at each other before Justin headed into the bathroom, to undress and brush his teeth, leaving the door open so they could talk.

“Yeah, I’ve got a meeting first thing tomorrow.” Brian said. He sat up in bed waiting for Justin to come back out of the bathroom before he continued.

“Besides, it’s no fun without you… Did you have fun with mother Taylor?” He lay down and held up the covers for Justin to get in.

“Yeah, it was good,” He lay himself down on the bed. Feeling Brian snuggle up close behind him he whispered.

“She’s happy for us...” The tightening of Brian’s arms was all the answer he needed.

“I love you too Brian….”