Chapter 13

23 Months Post-513

Justin continued to paint, although some days it was difficult to get started. Several months after he left Pittsburgh, he'd finished a particularly difficult piece. As he stood back to look at the finished product, he flipped his phone to call Brian, but then remembered that they weren't speaking and called Sean instead.

"Hey."

"Hi. What's up? Everything ok? You don't usually call in the middle of the afternoon."

"I'm good. I just finished my painting and wanted to tell someone."

"Oh. Okay. Well that's great."

Justin looked at the painting and admired his work. "You know, Sean. I don't really know why I'm still doing this."

Sean put down the paper he'd been half-reading and gave Justin his full attention. "What do you mean?"

"I came to New York to make a name for myself, but I always thought I'd return to Pittsburgh and Brian when I was successful. But Brian threw me out."

"What has Brian throwing you out have to do with your success?"

Justin walked around the canvas, seeing it from different perspectives. "I wanted to show him I could do it, be the best homosexual I could be. I wanted him to be proud."

"But you're not here because of Brian," Sean reminded him.

"Not exactly. He pushed me to come here, to try, so I left Pittsburgh."

Sean paced the little room he was in, trying to stop himself from telling Justin the truth. Taking several deep breaths, he found his calm voice and said, "You're not a success because of Brian. You're a success because of your talent. Brian has nothing to do with it."

"Part of me knows that. I think that is why I'm trying so hard to paint these pieces for the exhibit. In the back of my mind, I'm hoping that Brian will magically show up and we'll talk and…"

"You are fucking amazing, Justin Taylor! The man threw you out of his home and told you to fuck off in front of your entire family, yet you'd welcome him with open arms if he walked into your show." Sean was gesturing wildly with his hands, even though no one could see his frustration.

"You don't understand. Brian does not do things spur of the moment. Every move, every conversation is thought out. He doesn't let things just happen."

"So, what he did in Pittsburgh, throwing you out doesn't matter."

"Oh, it matters. I won't crawl back to him. He will have to come to me. He made that abundantly clear. It would be a cold day in hell before I would step into his Loft unannounced."

"So what… you'll just always wait for him?"

Justin sighed, acknowledging the truth despite how lesbianic it sounded. "I guess. I'm hoping that I won't have to wait a long time. I miss him. This is just a little glitch in the Justin/Brian show."

"I will never understand you."

"Probably not. Only Brian really gets me and I get him. I'm onto him and he knows it. I'm painting in the hopes that this show will be spectacular, and even if he doesn't show for this one, maybe the next one or the one after that."

"Won't you miss your family?"

"I'll go back to Pittsburgh, just not go to the places that Brian would be. I respect the man enough to stay out of his way until he invites me back in."

"This conversation is giving me a headache. I'd like to see the painting. Can I come down to the studio?"

"Sure. I think I'm done for the day."

b23 Months Post-513/b

Sam made his weekly visit to Justin's studio, and Justin unveiled several new pieces that he completed in the last week.

"These are spectacular, Justin. I'm glad you came back to New York to paint. With each successive show, you're making great strides. I'm betting that your next show will be solo." He beamed as if he was the sole reason that Justin was a success.

"Thanks, Sam. Your support has been invaluable. I have a few pieces I still want to work on, but do you think I have enough?"

"I think what you have here is sufficient, but if you finish additional ones before the show, then we can pick the pieces you like the best."

"I'll finish this last canvas and then I'll start on the commissions."

"That will be perfect. I know Mrs. Sorkin is anxious to have your painting for her living room. All of Pittsburgh society will be envious."

"I hope you're right, Sam. How many people are we expecting at the opening? I'm still amazed that people are coming to see my work. I'm so used to going to other artists' openings. I'm so excited."

"We've sent invitations to at least 30 critics and twice that number of patrons. I'm hoping to have at least 75 people for the opening. That doesn't include your family. Are any of them coming for the show?"

"My mom is coming. Sean won't be there. He's leaving for Europe next week. I don't know if anyone else will be able to make it, being so close to the end of the school year. I hope a few of my "family" will be able to come," Justin said as he silently included Brian in that wish.

"I'll look forward to seeing them again. I'll see you next week. Keep working on the paintings."

b23 Months Post-513/b

Brian closed the door to his office and pulled out his phone, dialing '7' for Sean.

"Hello Brian."

"Hello. I bought my ticket today," he informed Sean.

"So you're coming."

"I told you when the time is right, I would. I keep my word."

"Okay."

"He needed to be away from me, not worrying about my health. He needed to be free to paint and create."

"So, you're just going to waltz back in and expect him to take you back?"

"He's free to do as he chooses. I'm not chasing him or forcing him. I'm proud of him. He's got his show and I want to see the artist that he's become. I knew he could do it and now he knows that he can too."

Sean sighed loudly. "You two deserve each other. He's not even really mad at you. He told me that he would wait for you."

"You told him," Brian seethed.

"No. He talks about you. In one of our conversations, he said that he hoped one day you would realize that he had made it, was a great artist and then you'd let him back in your life."

Brian heard Sean's words and smiled. Justin had understood Brian, but he knew there were things to work out. While Justin had understood, he was probably still mad and hurt by Brian.

"I'm planning on it. See you in a few weeks." Brian closed his phone.

When Brian got home from Kinnetik, his body thrummed with the excitement of seeing Justin again and visions of their hot reunion danced across his mind. iTime to celebrate. In one month, I will be at Justin's opening and three hours later, I will be sticking my cock into his tight ass./i

Dressing for Babylon, he was in a great mood. He had a few drinks before he arrived and tonight he was feeling on top of the world. Seeing Mikey and the gang at the bar, he greeted them with a large grin, ordering everyone drinks on him.

"You're in a great mood, Brian," Emmett observed at their friend's generosity. "I'll have a Cosmo," he said, turning to the bartender.

"Good to see you, Brian. You're looking well rested," Ben remarked as he eyed the man; the dark circles that had been very evident a few months ago were gone.

"Well, I must be off." Brian eyed a trick on the catwalk. "Later, boys."

"He seems happy. Maybe he and Justin are talking again. I know he misses him, even if he won't admit it," Ted remarked.

"It's about time," Emmett said as he looked around, hoping Brian had not made his way back to the bar.

Several hours passed before they saw Brian again.

"Hello, boys. Having a good evening?" Brian asked as he wrapped his arm around Michael's neck and nodded to Ted and Emmett.

"You're tweaked, Brian. What have you taken?" Michael asked as he looked into Brian's bloodshot eyes.

"A little E, some special K and a few drinks," Brian slightly slurred his words as his body swayed to the music. "Bartender, I need another drink. Give me a shot of Beam." Brian turned to the bartender, setting his glass on the bar as he pushed it to the man.

The bartender filled Brian's glass and he drank it down in one swallow.

"Another," Brian demanded.

The bartender filled Brian's glass a second time and Brian drank it quickly.

"I see someone I must do," Brian said as he eyed a muscular brunet on the dance floor. He turned and sauntered onto the floor, stopping in front of the tall brunet. His body danced to the music as he ran his hands up and down the man's torso and whispered in his ear, "Wanna go to the back room?"

His friends watched as once again Brian Kinney, Stud of Liberty Avenue, returned to his playground.

The End

Author's Note: This is the end of this story. If you would like to read about their reunion, it can be found in "Pain Management" - 1st chapter posted now