Learning to Love (11/?)
By Carol M.
Here's some more. Enjoy it folks!
Brian awoke the next morning to the sounds of pans being slammed together. He crawled out of bed and staggered down the stairs in his robe, his hair sticking up in all directions.
"What the fuck is going on down here?" he asked when he reached the kitchen. Debbie and Vic were busy slaving over the stove, cooking a variety of dishes of which the very thought of made Brian's stomach roil.
"It's called breakfast. Ever hear of it?" answered Vic.
Debbie hit him in the shoulder. "To Brian, breakfast is a cup of black coffee and a blowjob."
"Why Deb, however did you guess?" said Brian sarcastically as he sat down at the kitchen table. Debbie set a cup of hot coffee right under his nose. "That takes care of the coffee. What about the blowjob?"
"Looks like you're starving today, kid," said Debbie with a large smile.
"What the hell is all this?" asked Brian, glancing at the packages of meat and piles of carrots and potatoes on the counter. "Looks like more than the usual bacon and eggs for breakfast."
"This is breakfast," said Vic, tossing a bag of donuts at Brian. "This is dinner," he said as he motioned to the other food.
"We're throwing a small dinner in your honor," said Debbie. She unwrapped one of the packages of meat and threw it in a pan.
Brian raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me, what dinner?"
"It's a thank Christ he didn't die dinner," said Debbie.
Brian started to protest, but Debbie stopped him.
"Save your breath, you're not changing my mind. We are having a nice home cooked meal with our friends and family to celebrate the fact that one of our more…infamous members is still alive and breathing. And I don't want to hear another word about it," said Debbie firmly.
"If you wanted to give me a party so bad, why didn't you throw it at the leather bar? The food and company is much more to my liking," said Brian.
"Unfortunately, semen and watered down liquor won't be enough to feed 12 hungry people," said Debbie.
"Twelve?" said Brian. "Who's exactly on the guest list for this glorious little shindig?"
"Michael and Ben, of course," said Debbie.
"Of course," he said with a nasty smile.
"Lindsay, Melanie, Gus, Ted, Emmett," continued Debbie.
"And who are the two mystery guests?" asked Brian, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Well I invited Jennifer, but she can't come on account of some fancy business dinner she's having with some real estate broker," said Debbie. "She sends her love."
"Oh…well…be sure to give her a big hug and kiss for me," said Brian smartly. "Now are you going to tell me the last two contestants or do I have to guess?"
"Justin and…your mother," said Debbie hesitantly.
Brian nodded knowingly. "When were you planning on telling me?"
"I'm telling you now," said Debbie defensively.
Brian sighed in annoyance. "Look, if this is some cheap ploy to get Justin and I back together, it's not gonna work. Like I said before, he's out of my life for fucking good," said Brian. He pressed his lips tightly together and ran a hand through his messy hair. "And don't even get me started on my cunt of a mother."
Debbie clicked her tongue and then sat down at the kitchen table, taking Brian's hand. "Look, you and Justin might not be a couple anymore, but that doesn't mean you still don't care about one another. Sunshine has been a huge part of your life for the last two years. You can't just shut that off." Brian raised his hand to protest but Debbie pushed his hand back down to the table. "No matter how hard you try," she finished. "He was just as worried about you as the rest of us and he deserves a chance to see that you're alright for himself. Wouldn't you if you were in his shoes?"
Brian rolled his eyes.
"And as for you mother, she just wanted a chance to apologize for not seeing you in the hospital," said Debbie.
"Sorry's bullshit," said Brian in a harsh whisper. "Words don't change a god damn fucking thing."
"Maybe not," said Debbie. "But at least she's trying to do the right thing."
"That would be a first," said Brian. "Joan Kinney wouldn't know from doing the right thing even if you shoved it up her ass."
"Well, we'll just try and put that image out of our minds, won't we?" said Debbie as she stood up from the table and gave Brian a pat on the shoulder. "I want you on your best behavior."
"Aren't I always?" said Brian in a sweet tone. "I need a cigarette," he said as he slowly and painfully stood up.
He staggered towards the staircase when Debbie abruptly cut in front of him, blocking his path. "I'll get them."
Brian sighed. "I don't need you fucking waiting on me."
"I also don't need you keeling over on the stairs," she said firmly. "Where are they?"
"Black bag, side pocket," answered Brian in defeat.
Debbie nodded and ran up the stairs.
As he waited for his cigarettes, Brian observed Vic humming and dancing in place while he cooked dinner. A small smile played across Brian's lips.
Vic chose that exact moment to glance up at Brian. "What?" he asked when he saw the look of amusement on Brian's face.
Brian chuckled and shook his head. "No, it's just with everything you've gone through, here you are singing and dancing in the kitchen without a care in the world. It's just pretty fucking amazing, that's all."
"The minute you let the simple pleasures in life pass you by is the minute your life is over. It's not about strength. It's about having the courage to live, no matter how fleeting or shitty your days might be," said Vic with a smile.
"Ain't that the fucking truth," said Brian under his breath.
The pound of footsteps caused Brian to look at the staircase. "Nice try kiddo," said Debbie as she made her way down the stairs. She held two joints and three white tablets in one hand and an opened pack of cigarettes and a lighter in the other.
"Jesus, what are you? A fucking luggage screener for PIT?" asked Brian as he snatched the cigarettes and lighter out of her hand.
"I've got x-ray eyes. Nothing gets past me. You best remember that, Kinney." said Debbie.
"Alright, alright," said Brian. He gave Debbie an innocent little boy smile and then stepped out the front door, his cigarettes in hand. He took a few steps out the door and then sat down on the front step, quickly lighting up a cigarette. He took a sharp inhale that he held in until he could barely breathe. He then blew the smoke out in a sigh, dreading the night to come.
TBC