The prom-the aftermath

From the parking garage on, Brian's POV

"Later" I said this to him as I left, we had made plans for him to come over later. God he was so beautiful, and I loved him so much, and I was going to tell him that, tonight.

He said "Later" and gave me one of his trademark Sunshine smiles. Then I knew why Debbie had given that nickname.

I got in my Jeep and looked through the rearview mirror at him, unable to take my eyes off that beautiful blond angel. Then I saw him. Hobbs coming after him with a bat. I got out of the car and ran towards him, I screamed his name to warn him, "JUSTIN!!" He turned and smiled and before I could get there Hobbs swung and Justin fell to the ground.

I slowed down, but only enough to grab Hobbs and whack him in the nuts with the bat he had dropped. As soon as he was down I ran back to Justin and fell to my knees. He was lying there on the cold cement blood dripping from his head. I grabbed the first thing I could, that damned white scarf, and pressed it to his head to try and slow the bleeding. It didn't work and I opened my mouth to call for help but no voice came out. I realized Justin needed me so I found my voice and screamed, "HELP SOMEBODY HELP ME!!" A dozen or so kids came running in, when she heard who it was Daphne freaked and pushed her way to us. She stood behind me, shocked, I handed her my cell and I told her to call 911. She did as I asked when she was done she tried to move closer to him but I just held him tighter to my chest like if I let go he would die, and I wouldn't let that happen, he wasn't going to leave me, not now.

The ambulance showed up and the EMT's ran to Justin's side. They told me to let go, and I did, but I wouldn't leave his side, so I grabbed his hand and followed the gurney in to the ambulance. In one hand I held Justin's to my heart, in the other I had the scarf, pressed now to my head. I was sort of pleased to see, before the car doors were shut, Hobbs was still writing in pain but no one paid him any attention. I wouldn't let go of Justin the whole ride to the hospital. Daphne was following us in my Jeep. I couldn't take my eyes off Justin's face, even bloodstained and bruised, in my eyes, he was still the most beautiful man alive.

When we got to the hospital, I let go of Justin's hand for a second so he could be taken out of the car. I got out last, still holding the scarf, and rushed to his side to hold his hand for as long as I could before I was told I could come no further. I found a seat in the hallway near the ER at which I could sit and wait. The ambulance had lost Daphne in all the traffic, but she would get there. As I was sitting I had time to think. I thought about tonight and the dance we shared. It was ridiculously romantic. And ridiculously stupid. I couldn't help but blame myself. I thought that if I hadn't gone to his fucking prom, Hobbs wouldn't have snapped. That at the most, Justin would be pissed at me for turning his prom invitation down, not fighting for his life in a hospital room. Shit, I am a monster, I hurt the only man that I've ever loved before I could even tell him.

I called Mikey, turns out he was at the airport about to join David when his cell rang. It was the most painful conversation I have ever had.

"Brian?"

"Hello Brian are you there?"

I swallowed and said three painful words

"Justin got hurt"

"What do you mean hurt?"

"I went to his prom, we danced. I kissed him in front of everybody. We went out to my car. He had to take Daphne home, so I got in my car and he walked away. I checked my mirror and saw that asshole Justin told off in the street, Hobbs coming after him with a bat. I tried to save him Mikey but it was to late Hobbs smashed his head in and now I'm sitting in the emergency waiting room with a bloody tux on and he's in surgery."

He was the one who broke the very long silence. I had just said everything I needed to and didn't plan on talking the rest of the night.

"I'm coming don't move an inch, I will be there I promise.!!"

I didn't plan on moving an inch, not until I heard the words I needed to hear. I needed to hear the words, 'Justin is alive, and will be ok'. So I sat there for 3 days waiting for those words to come, but they never did. When his mom showed up she had me escorted from the premises, it took 4 men to throw me (literally) out of that hospital. I was told I could not come back to see him, that his mother had made it a rule. Well I never really was one for rules anyway.