Not Like All The Others

JUSTIN’S POV

The sound of clattering plates bounces off the walls of Debbie’s kitchen, mixed with the voices of the gang as they all add their opinions of Emmett’s latest story. I look over to Lindsey, sitting next to me.

“I’m taking a tour of PIFA tomorrow.” I tell her. She looks over at me and smiles.

“That’s a good school. I’ve taught a few classes there as a sub. Have you applied yet?” she asks me. I nod my head.

“Yeah. I did a little while ago. Now I just have to wait for word from them.” She reaches over and squeezes my shoulder reassuringly.

“I’m sure you will.”

“I hope so.”

“Well, good luck and have fun tomorrow.” She takes a bite of her food before continuing. “Speaking of art, the GLC is having an art show in about a month. Do you want to be in it? As good as your work is I’m sure I could get you a spot.”

“Really that’d be great Linds. Thanks.” I love that Lindsey has so much faith in my work. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel even better when it comes from Brian who is currently pretending to listen to the conversation going on with the rest of the table but I know that he is still listening to me at least a little bit.

“No problem sweetie. Just start going through your stuff and pick out some pieces to put on sale.”

“Okay.” Lindsey reaches into her purse and pulls out a flier for the art show with everything I need to know on it. I fold it up and slip it into my pocket.

“So, are you staying with Brian again tonight?” she asks me.

“I don’t know. If he doesn’t mind then probably. I’m not really ready to spend a lot of time with my family right now, considering everything that has been going on.” I explain to her as I stare down at my plate. I move my food around with my fork but don’t eat anything. Being reminded of what’s going on with my family kind of ruins my appetite.

“You know your parents are probably worried about you. If I had a child that hadn’t been home in over a week I certainly would be. Maybe you should stop by and see if they have calmed down any.” she suggests.

“Maybe.” I turn back to the conversation at the table. I feel Brian squeeze my leg under the table and I smile. I reach my hand down and put it over his.


BRIAN’S POV


I sit and stare at Emmett, pretending to listen to what he is saying, but I am actually more interested in Justin and Lindsey’s conversation. What the hell does she mean does he think he’ll get in? Of course he will. He’s brilliant. I’m glad that she offered him a spot in the art show. He’ll be the best one there. In case you haven’t noticed I m very supportive of his art. I suppose by now Justin’s parents probably are a little bit worried about him. But I just don’t feel right leaving him there when his father hit him. I remember how that used to feel and if I drop him off there and it happens again this time I won’t be there to stop it from going further. Maybe I’ll make him stay there tonight but make sure that he knows to call if he needs me. For anything. Justin looks back to the conversation and I reach under the table and squeeze his leg. He reaches under the table and covers my hand with his. I turn my attention back to the rest of the gang, squeezing Justin’s hand every few minutes throughout dinner.


On the way home from Deb’s house I continue to think about what Lindsey said. “You know, you should probably stay at your house tonight.” I say to Justin. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. He looks over at me and I can tell he is trying to hide his disappointment.

“Are you trying to get rid of me already?” he asks, trying to sound like he is joking.

“No. I’m not trying to get rid of you.” I reassure him. “I just think Lindsey might be right about your parents being worried. I really don’t want to get charged with kidnapping or anything.”

“So you were listening.” A big smile lights up his face. Okay so I’m busted big deal.

“Yeah I was. So what do you say?” I ask, trying to get us back on the topic at hand.

“I don’t know. I don’t really want to be stuck in the house with them after what my dad did.” I can understand that feeling.

“Well how about if I promise that if anything happens you can call me and I’ll come and get you? Okay? Besides you need to get some more clothes for the next weeks worth of stay at my house.”

“Alright.”

I drive to Justin’s house and pull up to the curb. He hesitates before getting out of the car. When he finally does he looks back at me and waves before walking inside. I pull away from the house and head home. I walk into my loft and slam the door shut. I strip down and get in the shower, letting the hot water relax my muscles. I get out and dry off then crawl into bed making sure to set my phone on my nightstand in case Justin calls. I try not to think about how empty my bed seems to feel tonight.


JUSTINS POV


I’m not five feet into the house before my parents set in on me. I can already tell how tonight is going to go but I want to be strong for Brian so I guess I’ll just tough it out.

“Justin where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you.” My mom asks. Or should I say she shouts. Although I know being a smart ass and antagonizing right now probably will not help the situation I still can’t help doing it.

“Where do you think I was at?” I answer her, making sure my parents know full well where I stayed just from the sound of my voice.

“You were with him.” comes from my father. It is a statement. Not a question. “Justin, he is too old for you. Why can’t you date someone your own age?”

“Because I don’t want to. Because I’m not in love with somebody my age, I’m in love with him. Because I’m old enough to decide what I want to do with MY life. I am almost 18 years old. Stop treating me like a fucking child.” I scream at them and the stomp up to my room. I slam the door, get undressed, and go to bed. The sooner I am asleep the sooner tomorrow will be here and the sooner I can go back to Brian’s.


JENNIFER’ POV


Thank god he finally came home. I know he probably doesn’t believe it but I was so worried about him. Craig is pissed that he stayed with Brian. I’m just glad he didn’t sleep on the street. I guess I sort of suspected that was where he was anyway. I go upstairs to see if he is asleep yet. Maybe he’ll be more open to conversation if Craig isn’t in the room to express his opinion of Brian. All that succeeds in doing is making him defensive. I push open the door and peak my head inside. All the lights are off and he’s in bed.

“Justin.”

He doesn’t answer. I walk into the room, using the light from the hallway to see. I pick up the clothes that he has tossed onto the floor and start to fold them. I see a piece of paper sticking out of the pocket of his jeans. I pull out and unfold it to see what it is. It’s a flier for an art show. It has the start time and date as well as another date and time that has been circled. It is when the artists are supposed to bring in their work the day before the show so that it can be put on display. Justin must have a place in the show. I wish he had told me. I’m so proud of him. I want to go to the show and see my son’s work but the way things have been lately I’m not sure that I would be welcome. Maybe it will be a good time for us to work things out between the family. I take note of the time and date then I tuck the flier back into his pocket and lay his pants on top of his dresser. I leave the room, shutting the door on my way out, and walk back down stairs. I sit on the sofa next to Craig.

“I think that Justin is going to be in an art show.”

“Okay.” is all he says. He supports Justin’s art and is as proud of him about it as I am but right now he is still mad. And if there is one thing I know about my husband, it’s that he is stubborn when he sets his mind on something. I wonder if he has realized that he is where Justin gets it.

“We should go to it.”

“What for? He obviously has no problems with us not being around. Shit Jen he hasn’t been home in over a week. Do you actually think he wants us there?”

“Yes I do. And I want to be there for him. I want to see my son’s work and I know you do too. At the very least you should go to make up for the way you have been acting lately. Let him know you still care about him.” His head snaps up from the paper he has been reading. A look of disbelief is on his face.

“So protecting my child from a pedophile is bad parenting now?” he asks like I’ve lost my mind.

“No. But Justin is hardly a child. He’s right about that fact. And I honestly think that Brian may actually care about Justin. Other wise I doubt he would have let him stay for as long as he has. And I know Justin cares about him. I may not be comfortable with the age difference but I want Justin to be happy.”

“I want him to be happy too but…” I cut him off.

“But you want him to be happy with someone his own age. Right?” I finish for him.

“Yeah, what’s so wrong with that?” he asks.

“Nothing. Except for the fact that, right now, the person he’s happy with isn’t his age.” I get up off the sofa and move to stand in front of Craig. “The art show isn’t for another month. Think about it okay. He may not show it but I know he would love for you to be there.” I walk out of the room and go to bed.


JUSTIN’S POV


I lean back in my chair in the Visitors’ Center of PIFA, looking at all the other people waiting for the tour to begin. This morning I made sure that I woke up, and left before my parents woke up so that there would not be another confrontation. I walked to the diner and ate breakfast. Debbie wasn’t working. I’m kind of glad since I’m not sure I could have handled her that early in the morning. When I finished it was still a little too early to go to PIFA so I walked to a park near Liberty Avenue and just sketched and people watched for a while before I pulled out my cell phone and called for a cab since the school was too far away to walk. We’ve been waiting for the guide for about twenty minutes when he finally shows up and lets us know that it is time for the tour. He walks into the center of the room and introduces himself.

“Hi everyone. We are about to get started. I’m Ethan Gold and I’ll be your guide today.”

You can tell by his voice that he isn’t happy about having to spend a Saturday showing everyone around, even though he tries to hide it. He quickly glances over us before his eyes stop on me. His mood suddenly seems to improve slightly. Is he checking me out? Before I have a chance to ponder it much more a teacher walks over to him and tells him to go ahead and start. He nods his head and our group starts to follow Ethan through the school.


The tour takes about an hour and by the end of it I’m even more in love with the school then I was before I got to see it. I definitely want to go here. As everyone files out of the doors to the parking lot I pull out my phone and call for another cab. I lean against the door waiting for it to pull up.

“Hey.” A voice calls out from behind me. I turn around to see the tour guide jogging up to me. He moves in front of me and smiles. He holds his hand out to me. “Hi, I’m…”

“Ethan, our tour guide. Justin.” I say introducing myself. Country club manners firmly in place, I reach out and shake his hand.

“So, I saw you during the tour and I was wondering if you wanted to go out some time? You know have dinner or something.” He asks me. I guess he was checking me out earlier.

“I have a boyfriend.” I tell him even though I’m not sure Brian would like the classification. Oh well he doesn’t have to know I said it. He looks upset then shrugs and smiles.

“Oh well then we can just go out as friends. Is that cool?” he asks, sounding hopeful. I think about it for a minute before nodding my head.

“Yeah I guess so. As long as it’s just as friends.” I tell him. Although I still get the feeling that he is hoping for more he will just have to deal with it. The only friend I have that is my age is Daphne. It will be nice to have someone else I can relate with.

“Alright great. Well here’s my number. Call me when you’re free okay.” He writes down his number on a sheet of paper as I see my cab pull up behind him. He hands it to me and I stuff it in my pocket.

“Ok I will. Bye.” I shout behind me as I head for my cab. I tell the driver to take me back to my house because I know my parents won’t be there right now. My mom and dad usually go and see a friend of theirs on Saturday. I pack a bag of clothes and return to the cab still waiting for me outside. Then it’s time to go back to Brian’s.