Brian's court appearance for the assault charge was two days away, and Justin was worried. Ethan had needed to go to the hospital, and the boy Ethan had been cheating with was a witness. Justin couldn't see how Brian would be able to defeat the charge, and he was feeling desperate. Desperate times called for desperate measures. So Justin signed on to AIM with Ethan's screen name. He knew that Ethan would never back down, not for anything, since his pride was involved. Justin had left him and had cheated on him, and he wanted to make both Justin and Brian pay. He wouldn't stop until he had done just that. Ethan's new boyfriend, if that's who he was now, could be swayed, Justin believed. But in order to make that happen, Justin would need to lie and deceive. Justin was a terrible liar and hated to even attempt it, but he'd do anything to make the assault charge go away.

Justin sat on the couch, his computer on his lap, tapping his fingers nervously on the keyboard as he waited for someone, Justin hoped the new boyfriend, to contact him. He didn't have to wait long. A minute later a window popped up.

fiddlerlover222 (2:00:00): I thought you were practicing.

musicalgenius (2:00:10): I'm taking a break.

fiddlerlover222 (2:00:40): Oh. Cool. So can I come over?

musicalgenius (2:01:00): I'd rather you didn't.

fiddlerlover222 (2:01:10): Why?

musicalgenius (2:01:30): I have other plans.

fiddlerlover222 (2:01:40): What kind of plans?

musicalgenius (2:02:00): Look, it's been fun, but I'm seeing someone else.

fiddlerlover222 (2:02:10): What????

musicalgenius (2:02:25): I'm seeing someone else.

fiddlerlover222 (2:02:50): But I thought you loved me.

musicalgenius (2:03:00): I thought I did, too…

fiddlerlover222 (2:03:10): But….

Unbeknownst to Justin, Brian had come home early from work and was now reading over Justin's shoulder. Justin jumped nearly a foot when Brian reached over, pushed Justin's hands away, and started typing. Justin wasn't sure what to do. Did Brian understand what he had been attempting? Was he trying to help?

musicalgenius (2:03:40): I'm back with Justin.

Justin smiled. Brian was quick on the uptake.

fiddlerlover222 (2:03:55): What??? Why?

musicalgenius (2:04:20): I guess I love him after all.

fiddlerlover222 (2:05:40): But you said that he was a bad fuck, that he was boring! That you never loved him. That when you started dating, it was like taking a puppy home from the pound, that he was unconditionally devoted to you without your having to do anything. That you could kick him and he'd still follow you around, lick your hand, and beg for affection.

Justin paled. He felt sick. He'd known that his and Ethan's relationship was unhealthy from the beginning. By the second year, it was mostly about convenience and codependence, but how could Ethan be so callous and cruel? Justin had thought that, once upon a time, Ethan had truly loved him. Justin had loved Ethan, even if he had not been in love. He'd assumed that Ethan had felt the same way.

Rob's cruel assessment of Ethan and Justin's relationship, and of Justin, shocked Brian a little, though it shouldn't have. He knew firsthand how cruel people who were supposed to love you could be. Somehow, Brian had always believed others' 'rationale' for their mistreatment of him. He had believed that something intrinsic to his nature made him unlovable. But Justin…well, it was hard not to love him. Brian had found himself falling for the boy right away. That first night, though he wouldn't have phrased it that way then. So Brian hesitated. Then he clenched his jaw and started to type once more.

musicalgenius (2:06:50): Why would I want to give that up?

fiddlerlover222 (2:07:20): But, I mean, you said I was the best fuck you'd ever had, that I gave the best head!

Brian snorted, "Not fucking likely." That brought Justin back from the dark place Ethan's words (though coming from the new boyfriend's mouth) had taken him. He actually smiled and blushed a little (which, in turn, caused Brian to smile). Both their smiles turned into grins when Brian started typing again.

musicalgenius (2:07:50): He's learned a lot from that old guy.

fiddlerlover222 (2:08:00): Old guy? You mean Brian?

musicalgenius (2:08:10): Yeah.

fiddlerlover222 (2:08:25): Wait, you fucked him again??

musicalgenius (2:08:30): Yeah.

fiddlerlover222 (2:08:55): Why would he ever go back to you?

The implication was not lost on Justin or Brian. Brian smirked, and Justin giggled. And when Brian traced Justin's earlobe slowly with his tongue and then started licking and sucking on his neck, right at the pulse point, Justin began to pant and, then, closed his eyes and whispered huskily, "Why indeed?" Unfortunately for Justin, right after that, Brian started typing again.

musicalgenius (2:09:20): What the fuck does that mean?

fiddlerlover222 (2:09:40): Well, Brian's hot. Plus, he treats Justin well. I saw them together. They looked really happy.

musicalgenius (2:10:10): If you like him so much, you should date him.

fiddlerlover222 (2:11:50): I'm not saying that…I just..I don't get why Justin would go back with you. You stole his savings. You taped him sucking you off and everything. Plus, I think he knows you were cheating on him with me.

musicalgenius (2:12:10): We've been together three years. He loves me.

fiddlerlover222 (2:12:30): I love you! And you said you loved me!

musicalgenius (2:12:45): I thought I did. I was wrong.

fiddlerlover222 (2:13:20): Brian won't let you be with him.

Justin tensed up with anticipation, and Brian grinned. Here it was. The money shot. Justin was kind of relieved that Brian had come home early. He wasn't sure he would have had the stomach for all this.

musicalgenius (2:13:50): Pretty soon, Brian will be moot.

fiddlerlover222 (2:14:10): What do you mean?

musicalgenius (2:15:23): The assault charge. He broke into my apartment and put me in the hospital. My lawyer says that he'll do time for sure. It might only be 30 days, but that's long enough to take him out of the equation. You know how Justin is. He's scared of his own shadow. How long can he stay away if he has no one?

fiddlerlover222 (2:16:50): Wait…Justin hasn't even said he wants to be with you, has he? Did you even fuck him again? Or are you just hoping that you can get him back by getting Brian out of the picture? Is it like the glue on the Simpson's? Do you only want Justin back because someone else wants him? You thought little enough of him when you were living together…but now that a hot guy wants him, you want him, too? What the fuck does that make me? What was I to you?

musicalgenius (2:17:10): Nothing. A fuck.

Unaccountably, both Brian and Justin shivered. Like someone had walked over their grave.

fiddlerlover222 (2:17:30): A fuck? Then why did you say you loved me?

musicalgenius (2:18:50): Jesus! Get it through your head. You were good for a quick fuck or blowjob. Always available when I could sneak away. If I had loved you, I would have dumped Justin and asked you to move in. But I didn't. You were my side action. Nothing more.

fiddlerlover222 (2:19:30): You fucking asshole! You stupid fucking asshole! I'll fucking bury you!

musicalgenius (2:19:50): What the hell are you talking about?

fiddlerlover222 (2:20:30): I know where the rest of the tapes are! And the assault charge would be dismissed if I retracted my statement. I'll say you pushed me to lie. They could charge you for that shit!

musicalgenius (2:20:50): Just try it! I'll say you're only retracting because we had a lover's quarrel.

fiddlerlover222 (2:21:10): We'll see who they'll believe! We'll see.