Brian locked up the loft, set the alarm and headed for the train station. He liked working in the city and the bars of Liberty Avenue, but there was something that he loved about the loft when he first saw it after college. The high ceilings and the industrial feel were so appealing to him. The train was very convenient, a fifteen minute ride to the bars, and he never had to worry about driving drunk (or high). He smiled to himself when he thought of his exploits of the night before. He'd fucked another trick in the back room of Babylon. Nice ass, but he talked too much.The train arrived on time and soon he was heading to downtown Pittsburgh.

There he is again. The young man sat in his usual spot. The same spot he'd inhabited for months since the start of the school year. He was blond, with bright blue eyes that averted nonchalantly every time Brian looked his way. Today the kid was sketching on the drawing pad in front of him, which was not unusual. Brian decided to sit a distance away and pretend to be fascinated with the newspaper.

Sure enough, the blue eyes were scanning him again. They rode for ten minutes that way, playing their game. Brian noticed the school blazer and pegged the kid at mid-to-late teens. He found his features fascinating and loved it when he furtively looked in his direction. If he was only fifteen or sixteen, he was too young to fool around with, but that didn't mean he couldn't admire the scenery. A couple of days earlier they'd passed each other in the aisle of the train and Brian could smell the young man's sweet innocent smell.

There was something different about the kid today, more confident. He'd held his gaze a little longer. Finally, the lady sitting next to the kid got up. After weeks of watching him, Brian decided to take the opportunity to slide into the seat next to him. Immediately, the sketch book was closed and the kid was looking out the window. Time to find out more about him.

Brian spoke softly. "How's it going?"

The kid glanced at Brian for a second. "Fine, thanks." He was soon looking out the window again.

Brian knew that the kid usually got off the stop before Brian's, so he had to act fast. "Aren't you going to show it to me?"

The kid looked mildly shocked. "Excuse me?"

Brian smiled, realizing that his question could be taken two ways. "You've been drawing me for ten minutes. Can't I at least look at your work?"

"It's not done. I'm not … it's not ready." The kid appeared nervous.

Brian had to say something to win him over. He pulled out a business card. "My name is Brian. I work in advertising and I work with a number of artists. I know and appreciate a good sketch, believe me."

The kid studied the card and then looked into Brian's eyes. Beautiful blue eyes.

The kid said, "Sorry, I'm just wary of bullshitters. I get enough of that at home and school. Honesty is the best."

"I promise to be honest with you." Brian leaned in to whisper. "And I never break a promise."

The kid smiled appreciatively. "OK. I guess so." He nodded at the drawing pad. "It's kind of rough." The kid took out the sketch pad and showed Brian the drawing he'd made of him. "My name's Justin, by the way." He offered his hand.

"Thanks, Justin." Brian shook his hand and then turned his attention to the drawing. It was an incredible likeness. He began to flip to other pages. There was a little protest from Justin, but he forged ahead. "These are great. You're very good. How old are you?"

"Seventeen. I'm a senior at St. James Academy."

"Are you going to study art in college?"

"I'd like to."

"You should." He smiled as he flipped to drawings of naked young men and details of the male form. "Interesting."

Justin blushed. "Hey, when the only models you have are unsuspecting guys in the locker rooms at school." He shrugged a shoulder as he hurriedly put the sketch pad into his backpack, preparing to depart the train.

"I sense there's more than an artistic fascination going on." Brian gave him a little shove with his shoulder. "Am I right?"

Justin looked at him and looked away nervously. "Maybe."

"You said you'd be honest. Don't worry, Justin. I'm the same way."

"You're … "

"Gay. Nothing to be ashamed of, and, normally, nobody's business unless I'm fucking them at the time." Justin snickered. "But, well, I don't want you to feel like you're alone."

"Thanks. Yeah, it's tough. My parents don't know. My best friend, Daphne does, and this other guy, Dean."

"Your boyfriend?"

Justin smiled and then tilted his head. "Not really. We met a few weeks ago at a college recruitment thing. He's in college at Mellon, but at break he's transferring to a college in California."

"Is he hot?"

Justin licked his pink lips. "Hot enough." He stood to go to the door for his stop.

Brian stood up as well. He got a smile on his face and sniffed along Justin's cheek. He whispered into his ear. "You fucked him, didn't you? Recently."

Justin looked surprised. "That's too weird. It was last night. How the hell…?"

"I thought something was different about you today."

"Now you're freaking me out." Justin laughed. "Next time, Brian."

"Next time."

Brian watched as Justin departed the train and walked to school. The kid was fuckable, but he decided he'd be too rushed to try to score with him on a ten-minute train ride. No, Justin would be just a bit of morning sunshine added to his day. That, and a cup of coffee, would be enough to get his blood pumping.

3/1/2001

~ ~ ~ Brian ~ ~ ~

After their first official meeting, Brian would often sit with Justin on the train. It got so that Justin would put his backpack on the seat next to him until he saw him approaching.

Brian didn't know why he enjoyed the young man's company so much. Justin was talkative at times, but also seemed to sense when Brian wasn't in the mood for conversation. They found that they had a lot of things in common and often enjoyed a laugh or two. Justin was much more intelligent than Brian considered most teenagers. It wasn't very often Brian met people who could match his wits, no matter their age.

This day, however, Brian wasn't in the mood for laughing, or smiling. He still sought out the company of his young friend, though.

"Good morning, Brian." Justin said brightly.

"Yeah. 'Morning." Brian grumbled.

They rode in silence for a while, and then Justin said. "I didn't see you the last couple of days. Were you out of town on business again?"

"No. Death in the family."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"His time had come."

"Who's that, then?"

"My old prick of a father died of cancer."

"I'm so sorry, Brian."

"I told him a while back that I was gay. I wanted him to know before he died. He told me that I should be the one dying, not him."

Justin gasped. "He didn't."

Brian looked out the window. "Asshole."

There was a lull in the conversation. Justin cleared his throat and took a breath. "My father doesn't get any awards, either, you know. We have that in common. He can't accept that I'm gay. When I told my parents last month he threatened to send me off to boarding school. I told him more butt fucking goes on there than he realizes and that it wouldn't change anything … I'd still be his queer son."

Brian looked at Justin with a sense of, what was it, pride or wonder? Here was a kid at eighteen years old who had the guts to tell his parents he was gay. Brian hadn't told his father about his own sexuality, until recently, because he'd just felt it wasn't any of his business. Brian wasn't sure he'd ever tell his mother. But there was a certain amount of admiration for Justin to have the balls to come out to his parents at such a young age. He smiled, for the first time in days, and asked, "What did your father say to that?"

"He just stood staring at me with his mouth open. I left. I've been crashing at Daphne's, or I just sneak into my parent's place late and leave early. I'm avoiding them. Who needs them?"

"You're only eighteen. You still need them. Is your mom OK with your little announcement?"

"She's getting there. She's trying to understand. She wants me to go to prom with my friend Daphne, though, just to enjoy the last of my senior year. Rite of passage and all that." He paused. "What do you think?"

"Well, you get to get all dressed up, go out with your best friend, see all of the guys all cleaned up and hot, dance all night." Brian shrugged. "Might not be a bad evening."

"It'd be better if I could take a guy." Justin smiled. "If I could take you."

Brian laughed. "My dress is at the cleaners."

The train reached Justin's stop. He turned to say, "Too bad. You don't know what you'd be missing." He looked coyly over his shoulder as he left the train.

Summer/Fall 2001

~ ~ ~ B/J ~ ~ ~ B/J ~ ~ ~

Justin decided to go to prom and danced with Daphne all night. As Brian suggested, he enjoyed looking at the other guys that were dressed hot.

That summer Justin got a job in an art supply store in the advertising district. Brian had seen the 'Help Wanted' sign in the window and told him about it. Justin enjoyed working there and, of course, riding the train every day with Brian. They'd share a laugh and talk of sexual exploits with other guys. They learned a lot about each other and grew closer all the time. There were inside jokes, insightful comments and genuine caring.

All summer they got off at the Gateway stop and went their respective directions.

For his part, Brian was glad to see his young friend and share their usual morning chat. It definitely brightened his day and he found his affection toward Justin growing every day.

In the fall, Justin started at Pittsburgh Institute for Fine Arts. His parents finally came to terms enough with his homosexuality that they paid his way. There were a few 'while you're under my roof' speeches from his father, but Justin endured them if it meant that he'd get college paid for. He adjusted to college life rather well. The PIFA stop was back at the same one Justin used for St. James. Brian would still see him every morning, saving him a seat on the train.