CHALLENGE by passivemoonlight (minor changes have been made.)
previously posted on BJFic (dot) net
A/N: This is my first QaF fic, and I'm kind of proud of how it's turning out. Since it was a challenge (on BJFic (dot) net) the basic plot is laid out already. I read this one and couldn't resist. I think I've seen it done before, but whatev. Mine will be fun and unique. So please review! Makes me a happy camper!
Josie's on a vacation far away
Come around and talk it over
So many things that I wanna say
You know I like my girls a little bit older
I just wanna use your love tonight
I don't wanna lose your love tonight
I ain't got many friends left to talk to
Nowhere to run when I'm in trouble
You know I'd do anything for you
Stay the night - but keep it under cover
I just wanna use your love tonight
I don't wanna lose your love tonight
Try to stop my hands from shakin'
Somethin' in my mind's not makin' sense
It's been awhile since we've been all alone
I can't hide the way I'm feelin'
As you leave me please would you close the door
and don't forget what I told ya.
Just 'cause you're right - that don't mean I'm wrong
Another shoulder to cry upon
I just wanna use your love tonight
I don't wanna lose your love tonight
Yeah
I don't wanna lose your love tonight
I just wanna use your love tonight
I don't wanna lose your love tonight
I just wanna use your love tonight
I don't wanna lose your love tonight
lose your love
yeah
lose your love
I don't wanna lose your love tonight
-Your Love © Midtown from the CD "Punk Goes 80's"
Chapter 1- Things That I Wanna Say
With one last look over at Brian, secretly praying he'd do something, anything, he let Ethan drag him away. Come on Brian, prove them wrong. Prove me wrong. Show me you feel something, Justin thought desperately. But, as usual, Brian didn't do anything, not for him. Yeah, he took him in, but only because he felt guilty. If Chris Hobbs hadn't bashed him that night, Justin knew that he wouldn't have been living with Brian. He had said on more than one occasion that he wanted the blonde out of his life, Now here's your chance, thought Justin.
He allowed Ethan to pull him out of Babylon before pulling his arm and causing both of them to stop. "Look, Ethan," he began. "What is it now?" asked Ethan. "Are you going back to him again? After he just showed you that he doesn't care for you? What the hell is your problem?" Justin sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I'm not going back to him, not after that." He said, and pulled his hand away when Ethan grabbed for it again. "But I'm not going with you either. It… it wouldn't be fair, to either of us. I don't love you Ethan, and I never will. I love Brian, but seeing as the feeling will never be returned, I need… time, to get over him. And I can't do that with you. I'm sorry."
Ethan gave him a little smile. "I guess I can understand, Justin. If you need time, I'll give it to you. But… we can still be friends, right? You're an amazing person, Justin, and if Kinney doesn't see that, that's his problem. I won't let you go Justin. And when you're ready, I'll be here waiting." Justin smiled at him. "Of course we can still be friends. And thank you for being so understanding, Ethan. And I'll let you know when and if I'm ready for something between the two of us."
"That's all I ask for," Ethan told him, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss. "I just needed one more to tide me over," he told Justin with a grin, earning a laugh. "I'm going to stay with Daphne, so if you ever need anything, just give me a ring," he said with a smile. "Of course, now I have your permission to hit you up for money." Justin laughed again. "What money?" They both shared another laugh. "Well, I'm going to go prostrate myself at Daphne's feet. See ya later."
"Thank you sooo much for letting me stay here, Daph. You are a goddess." Justin said again. "Justin, I love you, but shut the fuck up. You're my best friend. Why wouldn't I let you stay here? Now shut up, really. I have to study."
Justin flopped down on Daphne's bed and stared at the ceiling. He'd been trying to put Brian out of his head all night by thinking of other things, but here in the silence, occasionally broken by the turning of a page or scratching of a pencil, he couldn't keep the thoughts from coming.
Brian was such an ass. Doing that right in front of him. It was one thing to know that Brian tricked, it was another all together to see it happen. And seeing it made him feel like shit. Like he wasn't enough.
He knew, god he knew, that Brian didn't do relationships, or love. He'd heard it from everyone. All the time. And Michael. With his: "It's only a matter of time before Brian throws you away. You're never gonna be anything to him, except the trick who wouldn't leave. You're nothing." They were all sooo nice to him. Not.
And frankly, Justin was sick of it. He was sick of being everyone is this little group's emotional punching bag, the person they took it out on when something happened, or for any reason, really. He was tired of Michael always putting him down and telling Brian every little thing he did just because he wanted to get in Brian's pants and never had.
And he was sick of Brian always being a coward. Everyone always expected the worst from him, and it wasn't right and it wasn't fair, and yet, he gave it to them. He always lowered himself, made himself look like the bad guy, all because that's what they expected. He never stood up for himself, never showed them that he was capable of being a nice person. Of course, he did on occasion, but no one ever noticed, and he never made them. Never went out of his way to make them know that he cared.
And then he let them walk all over him. Lindsay always asking for money for Gus, but hardly ever letting Brian see his son, and letting Melanie say whatever she wanted about Brian. And Brian never stopped it either.
Sure he had money and a good job, but that was it. And know he didn't have Justin either. Because Justin was sick and tired of it all. Brian had made his choice, and so had he. And, as Brian had once told him, there was no turning back.
Justin really didn't want to go to work today. Not with them there. Michael and Debbie and everybody else in the 'we worship Brian Kinney' group (okay, so maybe he was just a little bitter). He had no idea how they'd treat him after last night, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be pretty. He hoped they'd just stay out of it, it was his life after all, not theirs. But when had he ever known them to stay out of anything? The answer: never.
"Hey Daph! Can I borrow your car? I have to get to work!" He stuck his head in her door as she mumbled, "Go ahead." She was still in bed, her covers bunched up on the floor, her pillow at her feet, and lying half off the bed. He laughed a little, remembering all the times they had shared a bed as kids. He had usually ended up in the blanket's current position. "Thanks a bunch Daph! I'll be back at five! Then we shouldgo see a movie or something." Daphne mumbled something that no one would be able to decipher. "I'll take that as a yes."
He grabbed her keys and ran out to her car. By the time he got to the diner, he was ten minutes late. He ran in and grabbed his apron from behind the counter and tied it on. "You're late," Kiki said, coming up beside him. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that. Daphne broke her only alarm clock by kicking it off of her end table. I think she was dreaming about Jackie Chan or something." He went over and clocked in. "There you are Justin! I was about to call!" yelled Debbie. "Sorry Deb! Daph broke her alarm clock. I set my phone, but forgot that I had turned down the volume. Thank god I was hungry, or I would've never woken up." Debbie laughed. "Yeah, that stomach of yours could wake up anyone, Sunshine! But wait, you stayed at Daphne's last night? What about-"
Justin smiled. "Ethan? We decided, well, I decided that it would be better if we just stayed friends for now. I need some time to get over certain… things." Debbie just smiled. "I understand, Sunshine. I heard all about what happened last night. Over and over and over. But, unlike some people, I'm not taking sides. I think it's for the best that it's over. Neither of you can give the other what he needs."
Justin just smiled and what over to take orders. Yeah, he thought, I can't give Brian what he needs 'cause I'm not a heartless shit. He looked up from taking orders as the bell rang over the door. In walked Michael. Great. Just great. Michael sneered at him and sat down. Justin just rolled his eyes and got back to work. "What can I get for you today?" he asked the men sitting at the table. The bigger of the three bent his head to get a view of Justin's ass and then looked back at him. Justin just smiled. "Sorry, gents, but that is not on the menu. Can I interest you in something that is?" The men ordered and Justin went back to give the order to the cook. On his way back to give table one refills the man that had looked at his ass gave it a real hard pinch.
Justin jumped a little and turned to glare at the man. He didn't notice when the bell rang again and Brian walked in. "I already told you that you can't have that. So if you touch it again, you'll find out what it's like to give yourself head. Don't touch me again." He finished his journey to table one as Debbie called out, "You tell 'em Sunshine!" He poured the coffee and then stalked back behind the counter, giving the guy another warning glare. Joy, he thought to himself, mood swings.
He put the coffee down and flung himself into a seat at the counter, waiting for the ding of the bell to tell him his order was ready. Kiki gave him a sympathetic glance and went to take Michael and Brian's orders. Deb came over and gave his shoulder a squeeze before sitting down next to him. "Want to talk about it?" she asked. "Not really, there's nothing to talk about. One minute I was in a great mood and the next I feel like ripping someone head off." Debbie chuckled. "I gathered that, considering what you told him." It took Justin a minute to get it. Then he smiled. "Oh. Head. I get it now." Debbie patted him on the head. "See, I knew I could get a smile out of you yet. Now, get to work, Sunshine, you won't make anything sitting around," she told just as the cook rang the bell.
He walked over to get his order and took it to the table. "Listen, Man," the guy who pinched him began, "Sorry 'bout that. I just thought that, well, now that you're not with Kinney anymore-"
"You thought I'd let you pinch my ass? Well sorry, pinching my ass isn't the way to get to me. I'm sure you could have though of something a tad more, tactful to get my attention. I'm not now, nor have I ever been, just a piece of ass. And I don't take to kindly to people treating me as one." He heard Mikey snort when he said that and threw a glare in his direction. "Sorry buddy," the guy said, bring Justin's attention back to him. "I didn't know." Now it was Justin's turn to snort. "What, that I have better morals than that? Please, spare me," he said and walked away.
He was going to take the new customers at table one's orders when Mikey grabbed his arm. "What the hell do you want?" he asked through gritted teeth. "Well," Brian started, and Justin had to take a deep breath and then looked at him. He wasn't scared. "I thought that this was a restaurant, and restaurants usually serve drinks, and I need a refill." Justin walked calmly behind the counter and returned with the pitcher of water and poured some into Brian's cup. Just as he was turning away again Mikey grabbed his arm again. "What the fuck are you doing here?" he spat. "Well," Justin began, changing his voice as if he was talking to a three year old. "I believe that this is a restaurant and restaurants have waiters. And oh! Would you look at that," he pointed to his name tag. "I'm a waiter. Imagine that." Mikey looked as if he was about to explode. "Now," he said, pulling his arm away, "I have work to do. Rent doesn't pay itself."
Mikey seemed to recover. "I thought that your little boyfriend would pay for rent. Aren't you living with him?" Mikey sneered. Justin just laughed. "Unless Daphne has suddenly grown a dick, she's not my boyfriend. Not that it's any of your business, but I don't have a boyfriend. And here I thought you followed me around to report my actions to some higher power." At this he looked pointedly at Brian. "It would seem, Mikey, that you are not doing your job. So shut up and let me do mine." He turned back to the customers. "Sorry 'bout that. Can I take your order?" He flashed his 'sunshine' smile at him. "Honey," said the first drag queen, "you are too good to be letting that boy talk to you like that. If he bothers you again, just say the word. It's times like this that heels come in handy." 'She' said. The other two nodded their agreement. "Thank you ladies, I'll keep that in mind. Now our special today is-"
An hour later, Justin flopped down into a chair behind the bar, taking a swig of the water that Debbie had poured for him. They'd been surprisingly busy today, and he'd been working non-stop since he got here. He vaguely noticed Brian leave and Mikey glaring at him. "Hey Sunshine! Can you take out the garbage?" Debbie called. "Sure Deb!" He went back and grabbed the five bags of trash and took them out to the dumpster. He looked up and saw that Mickey had followed him out. "What the fuck do you want, Michael? You got what you wanted. Brian's not with me anymore. But I have news for you. You're never going to get in his pants. Never." Michael glared at him again.
"Why the hell are you even here?" he asked again and Justin rolled his eyes, tossing another bag in the dumpster. "No one wants you here anymore, hell, no one ever wanted you here. We just put up with you for Brian's sake. And after what you did last night you have the nerve to come back? Just get the hell out our lives!" Justin turned and looked at him. "Michael, let me tell you something. You have no fucking right to tell me what to do. It's my life and it's my business where I go and what I do. Not yours or anyone else's. And you only speak for yourself, and guess what? No one cares what you say! You're pathetic, Michael! You've got the maturity level of a twelve year old, if that! You work at the fucking Q-Mart and read comics and are obsessed with someone you will never get, not the way you want. So grow the fuck up Michael. And get a life while you're at it."
With that Justin spun on his heal and walked back into the diner. "Yeah well, what do you think you are? You're the one who followed him around when he said he didn't want you! You practically stalked him!" Justin spun around again and got in his face. "And I got him. Many times. So shut the fuck up."
Michael flustered for a bit before running into the diner after him. "You know what! I wish that Brian had never even met you! Or at the very least he should have just left you bleeding on the floor of that car garage!" And suddenly it seemed very quite in Diner, as opposed to earlier when you couldn't hear yourself think. Now everyone was silent, staring at Michael, open-mouthed, most in horror. The silence was shattered by a glass falling to the floor, breaking into hundreds of tiny pieces. "Fuck!" yelled Justin, bending down to pick up the pieces, his shaking hands getting sliced by the shards. A hand on his back caused him to jump, cutting his hand again.
"Sunshine, honey, why don't you go home for the day. Kiki and I are fine on our own. You don't need this honey. And don't listen to a fucking word my fucking son says. Someone needs to knock him down off his high-horse, and it's gonna be me!" she yelled in Michael's direction. Justin stood up, still shaking, and took off his apron, hanging it back up. "Thanks Deb," Justin said, looking down. Of all the things Michael could have said, he had to bring up that again. Well, it seems that Brian's heartless shit training has paid off, Justin thought savagely.
He left just as Deb started cutting into her son, starting with: "You heartless shit! Where did I ever go wrong with you, huh? What possessed you to say such a thing to Sunshine? Jealousy? Well I've got news for you-" And he was out the door, in his- Daphne's car, ready to do some serious planning for the future.
