I lied
He heard them before he saw them, but he didn't realize.
He was taking the corner and there they stood, laughing, kissing, and talking.
He got spooked and hid behind a newspaper stand. "Pathetic" he thought, so he stood up to see Justin walking away, turning around again to smile at Brian. This stunning smile that just blows you away.
He was busy watching Justin walk away so he didn't notice Brian approaching him.
"Hard to see him walk away, isn't it?"
Ethan made a sudden movement in surprise, but Brian was standing right in front of him.
He grunted in response. Brian laughed shortly, but turned serious and said sharply "Find yourself some other boy to stalk."
And with that he walked away.
But suddenly Ethan came out of his shock and followed Brian.
"Wait, Kinney!"
Brian turned around, half annoyed, half amused. Ethan could see what they all saw in him, his expression was appealing.
"I didn't mean me"
Ethan shook his head.
"Never. I just wanted to ask you something. When you talked to me, in the park, you said you don't want him back. But when we broke up it only took him five weeks to get back together with you. "
He sounded sad, and after all this time, still hurt. Brian couldn't help but feel sorry for him, for a minute.
He raised his eyebrows questionably.
"Yeah. So what?"
Ethan hesitated.
"How did he change your mind? You said, you didn't want.."
Brian interrupted him shortly.
"I lied."
He said it simple and in a matter of fact way, like he couldn't really believe that someone could question that.
But it hit Ethan.
He had believed him like he had believed Justin. And now it struck him: They both had lied to him.
He felt humiliated and stupid.
"You were out of the picture, he said he was over you, he said you couldn't give him what he wanted, he said…"
Brian shook his head.
"Ethan, listen to me. Are you listening?"
Ethan looked at him irritated. Who the fuck did he think he was?
"Yeah, I am listening."
"You gave him what he thought he wanted. But the moment you fucked up, he realized it was full of shit. Every promise you made him, every sweet word you whispered to him was meaningless the moment you lied to him. I never lied to him. So I still meant something. An artist always does his best work when he has someone he loves to inspire him? You were right. Only that it was me. I gave him the job, remember? I am sorry for you, that you lost him, because I know what it feels like. But take my advice for the future: Speak less, mean more."
And with that he was gone. Ethan stood there, dumbs trucked and just watched him walk away and with him the idea of him being the asshole.
Brian fucking Kinney never lies or cheats or promises something he can't keep.
Brian fucking Kinney.