CHAPTER NINE

"Okay," Deb said, snapping her gum and marshalling her troops. "Michael, you cover the bars, the gym and the baths. If anyone gives you any shit about putting them up, you tell them to find somewhere else to eat because they won't be getting served at the diner anytime soon."

"Don't worry, Ma, I'll take care of it." Michael glanced down at the roll of posters he was carrying. "I hope there's enough, because Ben is going to put some up at college and I need one for the shop."

Deb patted his cheek. "If there isn't, we'll just run off some more." She handed another roll to Daphne. "You and Jen go south – Lindsay, we'll take the north side."

Daphne shot a quick look at Jennifer as they walked away from the others. She had always been a little in awe of Justin's mother for her cool, imperturbable air as well as her immaculately groomed appearance, but Jennifer showed little of either today. Her hair was roughly tied back with loose strands falling over her face, and without make-up she looked much older. Her eyes were haggard from lack of sleep. "How's Molly?" Daphne asked.

Jennifer gave her a brittle smile. "Too young to really understand," she replied. "She knows that Justin is missing, but she's already got used to that."

Daphne nodded. "And what about you?"

"Coping." Jennifer stopped at the first street lamp. Daphne unrolled a poster and held it in place, while Jennifer pulled a roll of tape from her jacket pocket and attached it firmly. She took a step backwards and gazed at Justin's face, prominently displayed. Then she took a gasping breath. "Oh, my God, I can't believe I'm doing this. Oh God, Daphne…" Her voice broke as she began to sob.

"Oh … Mrs. Taylor … I mean, Jennifer…" Daphne reached out hesitantly to put her hand on the older woman's shaking arm. "Look, let's go and get a coffee, huh?"

"No!" Jennifer's voice rose hysterically. "We have to get the rest of the posters up, we have to…"

"Half an hour more won't make a difference," Daphne said soothingly although she was pretty close to tears herself. "Just let's go and sit down for a minute." She tugged gently at Jennifer's arm, and eventually succeeded in leading her back to the diner. She settled Jennifer at a vacant table and ordered two Lattes, and then watched sympathetically as Jennifer dug out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Daphne," she gasped. "It was just … seeing his face on that poster … it made it all real…"

"I know." Daphne patted her hand. "I feel just the same."

Jennifer twisted her handkerchief distractedly. "I can't believe we're going through all this again! As if it wasn't bad enough the last time! What has he done to deserve this … what have I done?"

Daphne looked up as the waitress delivered their coffees and smiled her thanks. Then she turned her attention back to Jennifer.

"I knew I should have stopped it," Jennifer continued. "Debbie herself told me that man would hurt my son, and Heaven knows he's proved it enough! I should have found a way to make Justin understand!"

"Um, not the Justin I know, you wouldn't," Daphne smiled, shaking her head. "Nobody ever made Justin give up on something he wanted, and boy, did he want Brian." She suddenly realised that probably wasn't the wisest thing to have said. "Oh, look, I'm sorry … I didn't mean…"

Jennifer waved her hand. "No, no Daphne. It's alright. I understand what you're trying to say." She lifted her coffee to her lips with trembling hands. "I just feel that I should have done more to protect him. I'm his mother, for f… Goodness' sake."

Daphne sipped her own drink. "Justin never wanted to be protected, not from himself or anybody else. He believes in making his own mistakes."

"And I wonder where he learnt that?" Jennifer snapped.

Daphne sighed. "Look, Mrs… Jennifer, I know how you feel about Brian. I'm not saying that he isn't a total and utter shit-head a lot of the time, because he is; but he really does love Justin, maybe even as much as Justin loves him. You saw how he was after Justin got bashed … he was a complete wreck at the hospital."

"That was mostly guilt," Jennifer sniffed angrily.

"Maybe that's so, but that's not all there was to it," Daphne replied. Suddenly it was very important to her that Jennifer should understand. "You see, I was there. At the prom. I'm the only one who saw how they were together; how they laughed, how totally wrapped up in each other they were. It was like the rest of us didn't exist … only Brian and Justin doing it their own way, and fuck the consequences." She felt her face grow hot. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to swear. It's just that I'd never seen Justin like that, and as for Brian … he was happy. That's how I know. That Brian really loves him. Because Brian isn't a happy person."

Jennifer was looking at her wide-eyed. "Why didn't I notice you were growing up so quickly?"

Daphne laughed. "For the same reason you didn't notice Justin!" She reached out and clasped Jennifer's hands. "Listen, I am sure that Justin's alive. It's a best friend's privilege to know things like that. And when he comes back, I am so going to kill him for putting us through this!"

Jennifer squeezed Daphne's fingers in return, and managed a watery smile. "If you can believe that, sweetheart, then so can I." She swallowed the last of her Latte and stood up determinedly. "Now, let's go and get those posters up."

As Michael hurried through the door to Woody's. he was jostled by a big guy coming out. He dropped the posters and the rubber band holding them snapped so that they spilled over the floor. Cursing under his breath, he stooped to gather them up.

"You really are pathetic, Mikey," said a voice in his ear.

Michael jumped upright. "Bri! What are you doing here?" He took in Brian's outfit; jeans and leather jacket. "Why aren't you at work? And why the fuck haven't you been answering my calls? I must have left, like, a gazillion messages!" He took in Brian's dishevelled appearance; the two-day's worth of stubble, the dark circles under his eyes. "Are you sick? You look like shit."

Brian didn't answer. Instead he picked up one of the dropped posters and gazed at it. After a moment he handed it to Michael, who rolled it back up with the others. "Your mom's idea?" Brian asked quietly.

"Uh huh." Michael struggled to tie the snapped band back together. "We're putting them up everywhere." He followed Brian back to the bar. "You want to help? I mean … since you're obviously doing nothing. And like I said, why aren't you at work?"

Brian picked up the beer that he'd been drinking. "Vance decided I could do with a holiday." He smiled bitterly. "Some personal time."

"Oh." Michael looked at him, a worried expression on his face. "Emmett told me about the other night at Babylon."

Brian shrugged. "Telephone, telegraph, tell an Emmett."

"He's worried about you, Bri. We all are."

Brian caught the bartender's eye and gestured him to get a beer for them both. Then he turned to look down at Michael. "That's funny, because the last time I saw him it didn't seem that my welfare was at the top of his agenda." He paid for the drinks and handed a bottle to his friend. "Or anybody else's."

"That's not true!" Michael protested hotly. "Justin was the one who cheated! And then he does this Poor Little Innocent act and everyone feels sorry for him and forgets what a manipulative little shit he is!" He swallowed a mouthful of beer indignantly.

"Michael," Brian said evenly, "Justin didn't cheat on me. He was free to do what he wanted, we both were. I've already explained this to you."

"It wasn't the same, and you know it! He should have been honest with you."

Brian shrugged. "Maybe. But I'm the one who told him if he wasn't getting what he wanted, to go out and get it someplace else. I can hardly blame him for doing just that, now can I?"

Michael wasn't listening. "And now here you are, a fucking mess just like you were after he got bashed, only now it's worse because you're getting in fights and in trouble at work and it's all the fault of that little … "

"Michael!" Brian's voice cut him off sharply. "I. Do. Not. Want. To. Hear. This." He deliberately took hold of the neck of Michael's sweatshirt, twisting it and pulling him closer. "I'm warning you. Do not interfere in something of which you have no understanding." His eyes held a threat that was unmistakable, and when he released his grip Michael took a shocked step backwards. "Now you go back to putting up your posters. Although, I must say that, given the way you feel about Justin, I can't see why you're involved." He smirked. "I guess you must be too afraid of Mommy to say no."

Michael stared at him wide-eyed. "Just because I don't like what he did doesn't mean I don't care about what's happened to him," he protested.

"Whatever." Brian turned dismissively back to the bar.

Michael drew himself up. "I know you're going through a hard time right now, Brian," he said quietly. "I just want you to remember, I'm still your best friend. If you need me, you know where to find me."

Brian made no answer. He didn't even look round when Michael left.

TBC