"Brian."
"Whaaa-at?" Brian growled, half asleep. Provided no answer, he rolled back over, losing his head under his pillow and drifting back to sleep. He felt someone tugging, tugging, tugging at the corner of his pillow, trying to free it from the weave of arms and the back of Brian's head.
"Brian wake up. It's ten-o-clock." Justin teased, wearing his best shit- eating grin.
"FUCK.... You." He hollered as Justin got the pillow free and began to pummel him with it. "What the fuck do you want from me? I am tired..."
"That comes from old age and too much dick."
"Of remarks like that. Namely-what was I going to say? Oh. It is Saturday. I want to sleep. I deserve to sleep. You will let me sleep. And let me help you get this straight... for lack of a better word... There is no such thing as too much dick. Now get the fuck out of my room and leave me the fuck alone!"
"You can be such an asshole sometimes." Justin complained sourly. He began to walk away from Brian's bedside halted by fingers curled through his belt loops. Brian pulled hard, making Justin sprawl backwards and on top of him. They kiss, Brian holding onto the back of Justin's head as though he never wanted the kiss to end. However, as is Brian's custom, he pushes Justin away, smiling nastily like one would after stealing a lolly from a toddler.
"Morning kisses." Justin's nose wrinkled up. Brian didn't care, though. The look in Justin's eyes said that he was bluffing. Justin got up, grabbing a hold of one of Brian's ankles, jerking him off of the bed, and although the bed was rather low set, he hit the floor with a satisfying thud. "I need you to take me to my mom's. My big sister is visiting. I kinda wanna see her." Justin was unmoved by the usual 'tiger-grinning-at-prey' expression waxing across Brian's handsome face, yet surprised at the lack of reprimand from removing Brian from comfort.
"Shit. Another Taylor? Christ... *yawn* well, I guess I don't see why not. Umm... we're going to shower first though."
"We?"
"We."
~/~
"When is he getting here, mom?"
"Mmm... He's with Brian right now. I'd say. God, I don't know." Jennifer laughed.
She and her eldest daughter, Kayla, took a seat in the living room, Jennifer immediately turning on the television to break the sudden silence. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Kayla was shifting her position, and fumbling with things... Movement that was completely uncharacteristic of the typically pleasantly calm Kayla Taylor.
"Kayla, what's the matter?"
"I'm sorry, I'm getting nervous... I mean... I don't know how he's going to be after having sustained such a severe head wound." Kayla stood, and began to pace.
"Oh, honey he's perfect aside from having a bit of trouble drawing."
Jennifer hopped out of her seat at hearing Brian's jeep pull up into the drive. Both she and Kayla went outside to greet them, Kayla's eyes instantly gluing themselves to Brian's features.
"He's mine." Justin mouthed over to her. She smiled sheepishly and walked forward to introduce herself.
"You must be Brian Kinney. I have heard way too much about you... it's a pleasure."
Brian, being a perfect gentleman, leaned forward and took the hand she put out to shake, and gently kissed the back, bowing like some sort of royal figure, or nobleman.
"Cut that shit out, you're making me gag." Justin balked.
"Now, Justin, he's just being nice!" Jennifer cut in.
"Okay. This is where I make my departure, folks. Mikey and I are gonna go to Woody's for a while."
Justin smiled and waved as Brian got in his car, backed out of the driveway and parted ways with the Taylors.
Justin and Kayla approach each other for a much-delayed hug.
"I am so glad to see that you came through just fine."
"Me too, sissy."
"Oh my god, mom he still calls me sissy." She sniffed sarcastically.
The three of them enter Jennifer's home and prepare for a day of catching up with lost time.
~/~
"Heyyy Mikey, what's going on?"
"Brian, I have some really disconcerting news."
"Augh. Long word, bad news... What's the matter?"
"That little asshole, Chris Hobbs, the one who tried to make like a piñata with Justin's head..." Brian's recollection and the cue for Mikey to continue is signaled by his repetitive 'on with it' hand motions, "anyway, he's done with his community service and has been dismissed by his P.O."
"So? I really don't think he'll bother with Justin again. Out of sheer morbid curiosity, why?"
"He's been caught more than once coming up to Mom's house in his shitty beat up duster. What else would he be doing there?"
Brian opened his mouth only to be interrupted with a very firm: "No, Brian. Not to apologize." An annoying trilling cell phone ring tone became very apparent to Mikey and his brow furrowed in vexation.
"No shit. Hold on- it's my cell... yes?"
"You and Michael need to get the hell over here now!" 'Deb' Brian mouthed. "What's the rush, ma?"
"Don't be cute you little prick and just get here!"
Even Michael cringed when he heard his mother declare loudly: "NOW!"
"Home or liberty, Deb?" Brian asked, his tone offering up an aire of surrender. She answered and Brian gave his exodus, a simple 'we'll be there, g'bye'.
"C'mon Mike. Your mom-."
"No need to explain. When she uses the Brian McPrank voice, I know it's time to run home, tail between legs and all."
They both got up, Brian wearing something less than a smile.
"Brian McPrank. You are never gonna let me live that down, are you?"
"How do you live down gluing my mother's ass to the toilet seat? C'mon. We can't keep her waiting any longer than we can handle listening to her."
Together they leave Woody's and get into Brian's jeep, heading toward his mother's house.
~/~
"Vic? Did you see who did this?"
Deb and Vic stood outside their quaint little house staring down the word 'faggot' that had been freshly spray-painted in a dainty shade of pastel pink across the front door.
"Well who the hell do you think did this Deb?"
"He wouldn't dare." Deb warned, anger lighting up her eyes... in the bad way.
She began to get weepy as Brian and Mikey pulled into the drive.
"Michael, look! Look what some little asshole did to my house!" She said, pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing at her eyes.
"Is everyone okay?"
"Aside from that fucking Chris Hobbs. That little bastard is gonna lose his balls one at a time if he ever comes around here again!" Deb fumed.
"I'll get the garden shears." Mikey joked. "Okay mom, I'm gonna run to the Big Q real quick and get some turpentine. Brian, would you stay here and watch things for a few... and can I have your keys?"
"Considering what happened to my last Jeep... I dunno."
"Okay, we're even Brian. Gimme the goddamn keys."
Brian threw the keys and proceeded to usher the remaining two inside, and if Chris Hobbs was lucky, to hide all the sharp instruments from Deb.
~/~
"Mom... Can I borrow the car?" Kayla asked. She had awoken chipper, her face fresh from a genuinely good night's sleep, however her conquest had not been forgotten. Her intentions were soon to be revealed.
"You look pretty this morning, honey... Where am I going today? Oh! I need to help Deb with the next PFlag© meeting... Umm, if you can drive me to her house, I don't see why you can't use the car."
"Okay. That sounds like a plan." Kayla smiled brightly. She refused to be argumentative, knowing that these moments with her family were narrowing to their last...
The night before, having trouble sleeping, Kayla found a few high school yearbooks in some of Justin's extra things that he had left with his mother for storage. She found the one from his senior year and flipped right to the index.
"Let's see... a, b-c-d-e-f-g...h. H-a...H-e...H-l? Ahh, here it is. H-o... Hobbs, Christopher... So that's what you look like."
... Kayla and Jennifer were on their way. Deb and Kayla had never met, and so according to her mother's wishes, they were to meet on what would turn to be one very inauspicious day.
They rounded the corner and turned onto Deb's street, coming to a screeching halt when Jennifer exclaimed:
"Shit! Sweetie-Sweetie stop the car. We're here."
"What's the problem?"
"Gay bashers. Dammit. What a way to start the day." Jennifer opened the car door and got out, outstretching her arms to an approaching and miserable- looking Deb. "Deb, what happened?" Kayla parked at the curb while the two talked.
"That little mother fucker has been set free! He has finished his community service and his P.O. sent him on his merry little hell-wreaking way. I can only assume it was him that left this little masterpiece."
Jennifer studied the markings and stood silent, her heart beating like Tito Puente had crawled into her chest and started a drum solo. "No. It can't be. He was supposed to have been on community service for longer than that... and his parole officer can't just send him on his way. This is bullshit! Okay. No more of this. Is there anything I can help you with, honey?"
"Mom?" Kayla said timidly.
"Oh how rude of me. Debbie Novotney, this is my daughter, Kayla Taylor."
"Nice to meet you sweetie. I'm sorry it's under such shitty circumstances. Your mother here has been a lot of help with sunshine."
Kayla looked puzzled. "Justin, hon." Jennifer stated.
"No, it's nothing. I understand. It was nice meeting you." Kayla smiled, only something different occurred. Although she had fooled her mother, and although she had fooled Justin, her little sister and even Brian, Deb had seen the constraint and misery behind her smile.
Kayla turned and began to head down the path and to the curb where her ticket away from the awkwardness sat ready to take her anywhere.
~/~
Kayla went to the strip: The place in Pittsburgh where all the hottest gay clubs were. The nightlife. however it was nearly noon and from stories Kayla had heard, Chris and his remaining friends walk the strip and taunt passers by.
She parked the car, got out and secured it, and checked her hair, make-up and clothes. She walked down the already busy sidewalks, admiring the fronts of leather shops and the bright neon lights and rainbow decor surrounding the club entrances.
Before she was even halfway down the strip, who did she see coming toward her with three of his friends but Chris Hobbs himself? She noticed the solid eye contact he made with her, and the way he blushed when she winked. Already she had caught his attention. Maybe Justin was right about him being nearly retarded.
As they passed, she heard him say his good-byes to his friends, and soon they were walking side by side.
"Hi."
"Hi." She greeted somewhat coldly.
"I saw you looking at me, the only girl on this strip that was looking at me so I only assumed that you were straight."
"Of course. There is no other way."
To her internal disgust, Chris beamed proudly at that statement. Even saying it should have made her teeth rot.
"I'm Chris Hobbs."
"Kayla." "Kayla---." He hesitated, waiting for a last name to come about.
"I just met you, Chris. Last names come later."
"Fair enough." He smiled and his eyes began to sparkle.
"I've gotta run, but I was wanting to know if you wanted to hook up later tonight." -I had better win an Oscar for this performance- She thought.
"Sure. You kinda beat me to the punch."
An all too ironic cliché.
"Whaaa-at?" Brian growled, half asleep. Provided no answer, he rolled back over, losing his head under his pillow and drifting back to sleep. He felt someone tugging, tugging, tugging at the corner of his pillow, trying to free it from the weave of arms and the back of Brian's head.
"Brian wake up. It's ten-o-clock." Justin teased, wearing his best shit- eating grin.
"FUCK.... You." He hollered as Justin got the pillow free and began to pummel him with it. "What the fuck do you want from me? I am tired..."
"That comes from old age and too much dick."
"Of remarks like that. Namely-what was I going to say? Oh. It is Saturday. I want to sleep. I deserve to sleep. You will let me sleep. And let me help you get this straight... for lack of a better word... There is no such thing as too much dick. Now get the fuck out of my room and leave me the fuck alone!"
"You can be such an asshole sometimes." Justin complained sourly. He began to walk away from Brian's bedside halted by fingers curled through his belt loops. Brian pulled hard, making Justin sprawl backwards and on top of him. They kiss, Brian holding onto the back of Justin's head as though he never wanted the kiss to end. However, as is Brian's custom, he pushes Justin away, smiling nastily like one would after stealing a lolly from a toddler.
"Morning kisses." Justin's nose wrinkled up. Brian didn't care, though. The look in Justin's eyes said that he was bluffing. Justin got up, grabbing a hold of one of Brian's ankles, jerking him off of the bed, and although the bed was rather low set, he hit the floor with a satisfying thud. "I need you to take me to my mom's. My big sister is visiting. I kinda wanna see her." Justin was unmoved by the usual 'tiger-grinning-at-prey' expression waxing across Brian's handsome face, yet surprised at the lack of reprimand from removing Brian from comfort.
"Shit. Another Taylor? Christ... *yawn* well, I guess I don't see why not. Umm... we're going to shower first though."
"We?"
"We."
~/~
"When is he getting here, mom?"
"Mmm... He's with Brian right now. I'd say. God, I don't know." Jennifer laughed.
She and her eldest daughter, Kayla, took a seat in the living room, Jennifer immediately turning on the television to break the sudden silence. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Kayla was shifting her position, and fumbling with things... Movement that was completely uncharacteristic of the typically pleasantly calm Kayla Taylor.
"Kayla, what's the matter?"
"I'm sorry, I'm getting nervous... I mean... I don't know how he's going to be after having sustained such a severe head wound." Kayla stood, and began to pace.
"Oh, honey he's perfect aside from having a bit of trouble drawing."
Jennifer hopped out of her seat at hearing Brian's jeep pull up into the drive. Both she and Kayla went outside to greet them, Kayla's eyes instantly gluing themselves to Brian's features.
"He's mine." Justin mouthed over to her. She smiled sheepishly and walked forward to introduce herself.
"You must be Brian Kinney. I have heard way too much about you... it's a pleasure."
Brian, being a perfect gentleman, leaned forward and took the hand she put out to shake, and gently kissed the back, bowing like some sort of royal figure, or nobleman.
"Cut that shit out, you're making me gag." Justin balked.
"Now, Justin, he's just being nice!" Jennifer cut in.
"Okay. This is where I make my departure, folks. Mikey and I are gonna go to Woody's for a while."
Justin smiled and waved as Brian got in his car, backed out of the driveway and parted ways with the Taylors.
Justin and Kayla approach each other for a much-delayed hug.
"I am so glad to see that you came through just fine."
"Me too, sissy."
"Oh my god, mom he still calls me sissy." She sniffed sarcastically.
The three of them enter Jennifer's home and prepare for a day of catching up with lost time.
~/~
"Heyyy Mikey, what's going on?"
"Brian, I have some really disconcerting news."
"Augh. Long word, bad news... What's the matter?"
"That little asshole, Chris Hobbs, the one who tried to make like a piñata with Justin's head..." Brian's recollection and the cue for Mikey to continue is signaled by his repetitive 'on with it' hand motions, "anyway, he's done with his community service and has been dismissed by his P.O."
"So? I really don't think he'll bother with Justin again. Out of sheer morbid curiosity, why?"
"He's been caught more than once coming up to Mom's house in his shitty beat up duster. What else would he be doing there?"
Brian opened his mouth only to be interrupted with a very firm: "No, Brian. Not to apologize." An annoying trilling cell phone ring tone became very apparent to Mikey and his brow furrowed in vexation.
"No shit. Hold on- it's my cell... yes?"
"You and Michael need to get the hell over here now!" 'Deb' Brian mouthed. "What's the rush, ma?"
"Don't be cute you little prick and just get here!"
Even Michael cringed when he heard his mother declare loudly: "NOW!"
"Home or liberty, Deb?" Brian asked, his tone offering up an aire of surrender. She answered and Brian gave his exodus, a simple 'we'll be there, g'bye'.
"C'mon Mike. Your mom-."
"No need to explain. When she uses the Brian McPrank voice, I know it's time to run home, tail between legs and all."
They both got up, Brian wearing something less than a smile.
"Brian McPrank. You are never gonna let me live that down, are you?"
"How do you live down gluing my mother's ass to the toilet seat? C'mon. We can't keep her waiting any longer than we can handle listening to her."
Together they leave Woody's and get into Brian's jeep, heading toward his mother's house.
~/~
"Vic? Did you see who did this?"
Deb and Vic stood outside their quaint little house staring down the word 'faggot' that had been freshly spray-painted in a dainty shade of pastel pink across the front door.
"Well who the hell do you think did this Deb?"
"He wouldn't dare." Deb warned, anger lighting up her eyes... in the bad way.
She began to get weepy as Brian and Mikey pulled into the drive.
"Michael, look! Look what some little asshole did to my house!" She said, pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing at her eyes.
"Is everyone okay?"
"Aside from that fucking Chris Hobbs. That little bastard is gonna lose his balls one at a time if he ever comes around here again!" Deb fumed.
"I'll get the garden shears." Mikey joked. "Okay mom, I'm gonna run to the Big Q real quick and get some turpentine. Brian, would you stay here and watch things for a few... and can I have your keys?"
"Considering what happened to my last Jeep... I dunno."
"Okay, we're even Brian. Gimme the goddamn keys."
Brian threw the keys and proceeded to usher the remaining two inside, and if Chris Hobbs was lucky, to hide all the sharp instruments from Deb.
~/~
"Mom... Can I borrow the car?" Kayla asked. She had awoken chipper, her face fresh from a genuinely good night's sleep, however her conquest had not been forgotten. Her intentions were soon to be revealed.
"You look pretty this morning, honey... Where am I going today? Oh! I need to help Deb with the next PFlag© meeting... Umm, if you can drive me to her house, I don't see why you can't use the car."
"Okay. That sounds like a plan." Kayla smiled brightly. She refused to be argumentative, knowing that these moments with her family were narrowing to their last...
The night before, having trouble sleeping, Kayla found a few high school yearbooks in some of Justin's extra things that he had left with his mother for storage. She found the one from his senior year and flipped right to the index.
"Let's see... a, b-c-d-e-f-g...h. H-a...H-e...H-l? Ahh, here it is. H-o... Hobbs, Christopher... So that's what you look like."
... Kayla and Jennifer were on their way. Deb and Kayla had never met, and so according to her mother's wishes, they were to meet on what would turn to be one very inauspicious day.
They rounded the corner and turned onto Deb's street, coming to a screeching halt when Jennifer exclaimed:
"Shit! Sweetie-Sweetie stop the car. We're here."
"What's the problem?"
"Gay bashers. Dammit. What a way to start the day." Jennifer opened the car door and got out, outstretching her arms to an approaching and miserable- looking Deb. "Deb, what happened?" Kayla parked at the curb while the two talked.
"That little mother fucker has been set free! He has finished his community service and his P.O. sent him on his merry little hell-wreaking way. I can only assume it was him that left this little masterpiece."
Jennifer studied the markings and stood silent, her heart beating like Tito Puente had crawled into her chest and started a drum solo. "No. It can't be. He was supposed to have been on community service for longer than that... and his parole officer can't just send him on his way. This is bullshit! Okay. No more of this. Is there anything I can help you with, honey?"
"Mom?" Kayla said timidly.
"Oh how rude of me. Debbie Novotney, this is my daughter, Kayla Taylor."
"Nice to meet you sweetie. I'm sorry it's under such shitty circumstances. Your mother here has been a lot of help with sunshine."
Kayla looked puzzled. "Justin, hon." Jennifer stated.
"No, it's nothing. I understand. It was nice meeting you." Kayla smiled, only something different occurred. Although she had fooled her mother, and although she had fooled Justin, her little sister and even Brian, Deb had seen the constraint and misery behind her smile.
Kayla turned and began to head down the path and to the curb where her ticket away from the awkwardness sat ready to take her anywhere.
~/~
Kayla went to the strip: The place in Pittsburgh where all the hottest gay clubs were. The nightlife. however it was nearly noon and from stories Kayla had heard, Chris and his remaining friends walk the strip and taunt passers by.
She parked the car, got out and secured it, and checked her hair, make-up and clothes. She walked down the already busy sidewalks, admiring the fronts of leather shops and the bright neon lights and rainbow decor surrounding the club entrances.
Before she was even halfway down the strip, who did she see coming toward her with three of his friends but Chris Hobbs himself? She noticed the solid eye contact he made with her, and the way he blushed when she winked. Already she had caught his attention. Maybe Justin was right about him being nearly retarded.
As they passed, she heard him say his good-byes to his friends, and soon they were walking side by side.
"Hi."
"Hi." She greeted somewhat coldly.
"I saw you looking at me, the only girl on this strip that was looking at me so I only assumed that you were straight."
"Of course. There is no other way."
To her internal disgust, Chris beamed proudly at that statement. Even saying it should have made her teeth rot.
"I'm Chris Hobbs."
"Kayla." "Kayla---." He hesitated, waiting for a last name to come about.
"I just met you, Chris. Last names come later."
"Fair enough." He smiled and his eyes began to sparkle.
"I've gotta run, but I was wanting to know if you wanted to hook up later tonight." -I had better win an Oscar for this performance- She thought.
"Sure. You kinda beat me to the punch."
An all too ironic cliché.