Chapter Seven

"I just … I can't believe she's gone," Justin said. Brian nodded, running his fingers through Justin's soft blonde hair. He was sitting on the corner of the couch, and Justin was lying down, resting his head in Brian's lap.

"I know," Brian glanced around the living room, trying not to think about the events of the past day. But trying not to think about it would be like trying not to look at a huge elephant in the room.

He had found Justin's friend Daphne behind the bushes in the backyard, in a puddle of her own blood. Somebody had slit her throat. The local cops suspected that whoever did it was hiding behind the bushes, and when they saw her, they grabbed her from behind and slit her throat, not giving her any time to make any noise. Justin had taken this really hard, as was expected.

He hadn't really spoken much since he had found out what happened. Brian would never forget the look on Justin's face when he turned around and saw Justin standing in the window.

Michael came into the room, and sat down on the chair next to the couch. He turned to Justin.

"Hey, Justin … Daphne's mother just called with the funeral arrangements. They decided that since you're not permitted to travel, that they'd fly out here and have a ceremony here, instead. Since you were her best friend," he informed the other men. Justin looked at Brian.

"Well … I really want to go," he said. Brian glanced over at Michael, and then he looked back at Justin.

"I don't know if that's such a great idea. I mean, the person who … uh … killed Daphne might be there," he said. Justin sighed.

"If I don't go, then this person's won. Daphne was my best friend since I was like, four years old. I have to go," he argued.

"Fine. We'll go. Me and you. You are NOT to leave my side. Not even to go to the bathroom," Brian said. Justin smiled his first smile in 24 hours. He leaned up and placed a soft, gentle kiss on Brian's lips.

"Thank you," he said.

------

Justin and Brian arrived at the wake ceremony, and Justin looked around. He immediately saw Daphne's mother and headed over to her, Brian following him.

"Mrs. Chanders?" he called. She turned around and Justin was struck at how much Daphne looked like her mother. He choked back a sob, holding out his arms when she hugged him. "I'm so incredibly sorry," he whispered as she clung to him.

"Oh, baby, don't be sorry. It's not your fault," she said, and pulled away from him. He reached up and wiped a tear.

"It is. If I had just insisted that one of us met her at the airport …" he trailed off.

"Then one of you would most likely be dead as well. Justin, sweetheart, it is NOT your fault," she insisted. Justin rolled his lips into his mouth and nodded as she leaned in and kissed his forehead. She stood up and wiped her eyes, and then saw Brian. "Who is this?" she asked.

"Oh, this is Brian. Brian Kinney. He's my … uh … boyfriend," Justin said, turning to look at Brian. He wasn't sure that he wanted everyone knowing that he was there with his bodyguard. Brian just nodded and held out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Chanders. I'm sorry it's under such dismal circumstances," he said. She nodded.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Kinney. I'm always telling Justin that he needed to find himself a nice man to settle down with," she smiled.

"Please, call me Brian. Mr. Kinney makes me feel old," he smiled as well. "I'm really sorry for your loss," he offered. She nodded.

"Thank you, Brian. Justin, why don't you go find Mr. Chanders? I know he wanted to see you," she said. Justin nodded, and gave her another hug before heading off to find Daphne's father.

"She's a nice woman. This must be killing her," Brian said. Justin nodded, staying silent.

Neither of them saw the person sitting in the corner, his eyes following them walking around the room.

------

Justin was standing with Brian at the refreshment table, sipping a can of Pepsi. He was holding tightly onto Brian's hand as Brian conversed with some random person. He saw someone who seemed to be watching him out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to look at them.

There was a kid, looking no more than 18 years old, sitting in a chair, watching him. When Justin looked over, the kid looked down, and then glanced back up. When he saw that Justin was watching him, he smiled shyly and waved. Justin smiled and waved back, and the kid stood up.

"Hi, my name's Joe, I'm such a big fan of yours," the kid said when he reached them. He seemed really nervous. Justin just smiled nervously.

"Thanks very much," he said.

"So, did you know Daphne?" Joe asked, and then looked down, obviously embarrassed. "Well, duh, of course you knew her, you're here," he said. Justin smiled.

"Yeah, we've been best friends since we were four. How did you know her?" he asked.

"Oh, we went to medical school together. She's such a great girl, I'm so sorry it had to end this way," Joe said, sadness clouding his features. Justin smiled.

"I know what you mean," he said, letting go of Brian's hand and turning to face this guy.

"You look like you need a hug," Joe said. Justin kind of tensed at the thought of this person touching him.

"Um … no, that's okay," he said with a polite smile.

"Oh, come on. Just a hug," Joe said, holding his arms out and reaching for Justin.

"No! I said no!" Justin cried as Joe wrapped his arm around him. Brian heard Justin's cries and turned to see some guy bothering Justin, then touching him. He went into protective mode, pulling out his cuffs and tackling the guy. He tackled him to the ground, pulling his arms behind his back, cuffing him.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law," Brian started the standard speech, arresting the kid. He called over the undercover cops that he had placed there, and they took over from there. He moved over and wrapped an arm around Justin.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Justin just had his arms wrapped around himself, and nodded.

"Yeah … I think so. He just kind of creeped me out," he said.

"Well, they'll question him at the station … find out if he's The Fan," Brian told him. Justin nodded.

"Can we just … get out of here?" he asked. Brian nodded, wrapping an arm around Justin's shoulders.

"Yeah. Come on, let's go," he said, leading Justin out of the funeral home.

------

Later that night, Brian and Justin sat together on the sofa. Justin was writing in his journal, and Brian was reading his Harry Potter book. The telephone rang, and Michael came into the room, picking it up.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Justin Taylor, please," the voice on the other end said.

"Just a minute," Michael said. He put his hand over the receiver. "Justin, telephone," he said. Justin stood up and went over, taking the phone from Michael.

"Hello?" he said. He heard some heavy breathing, and was about to hang up when he heard in a really creepy whispered voice:

"You got the wrong guy."

End Chapter Seven
07-31-05