Chapter 5
Dez started to carry a water bottle around, he was convinced that being an alcoholic was much like being a bad dog. So he had taken to squirting Austin in the face until he put down his wine glass. Or squirting cold water in his face and honking a horn to aggravate his hang over, if Austin was able to sneak in a couple of drinks. Ally surprisingly didn't defend Austin from the attacks, agreeing that it will reprogram Austin's mind to associate alcohol as bad.
Ally had developed a habit of her own. She would constantly pop out of nowhere and show Austin a brochures for an addiction recovery center. Austin really didn't want to go to one, because he knew it would end up all over the tabloids if he did.
Austin sighed as he relaxed into his couch, strongly fighting the urge to get up and have a glass of wine. He knew his friends only meant well, but they really weren't helping. This was hard.
"How are you doing Austin?" It was a slight relief to hear Trish's voice.
"Oh Trish, hey, please tell me you have good news."
Trish gave him a smile. "Well if you think no news is good news then yes. I just came to see how you're doing. That and Ally wanted me to babysit while her and Dez go run some errands."
"I haven't had a drink in a week, don't they trust me just a little?"
"Nope." Trish said with a giggle and sat down next to him. "So you enjoying your free time?"
"I'm detoxing right now, It's not much of a vacation. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with the stress of work while I'm doing this."
"I think everyone is proud of you for it, though."
"Yeah and they are trying to be helpful."
Trish nodded, and turned to watch the TV. "You know it wouldn't hurt if you needed extra help, and went to a rehab facility."
"I don't want that ending up in the tabloids. You of all people should understand what that could do to me."
Trish shook her head. "Don't worry about your career, for once take care of yourself."
"That's hard to do when you're in the public eye."
"I can try and keep it undercover, if you really feel you need it."
This time Austin shook his head. "I'll be fine, thanks though."
It's then that the apartment door swung open revealing a rather cheerful Dez. Ally was right behind him and both were carrying bags of groceries.
"Just got a phone call from the editor, they are doing their final review and will soon be done. Won't be long until the premier." Dez put down the bags on the kitchen counter, and then grabbed Austin up from the couch. "You'll be my date won't you?"
Austin smiled, and was about to confirm that he wouldn't miss it for the world when Trish interrupted.
"Date? What are you guys talking about?"
"Oh, Trish doesn't know." Ally slapped her hand over her forehead. "Austin and Dez are officially a couple, isn't it great?"
"No!" Trish shouted. "What do you mean a couple? Like in, gay couple? Do you know what that will do to your reputation?"
"What do you mean reputation; there is nothing wrong with being gay." Austin defended.
"I'm not saying there is, for an average person. Austin your whole fan base is teen girls and young adults that love you. They love the idea of a straight Austin Moon that they can fawn over and dream about meeting, and falling in love with you!"
"Trish it really isn't a big deal." Ally said quietly, not feeling very comfortable with the situation unfolding.
Trish took a deep breath and relaxed. "Ok, this is fine. I'm sorry Austin I don't mean to be insensitive, but you understand right? The girls love you, how do you think they would react to you being gay. Your whole fan base would disappear."
"You don't know that!" Austin said outraged. "What you expect me to keep Dez a secret?"
"Austin please think rationally, at least for now keep it quiet. It's not good for publicity."
"I can't believe this Trish. You are assuming that my whole fan base is homophobic! And I highly doubt that."
"But you will lose some fans, and you know that the celebrity news media will make a big deal out of this!"
Austin glared at Trish for a long time, before Dez touched his shoulder. "This is what I was worried about Austin, are you sure you are ready for this."
"Yes, I don't want to hide. I'm sorry Trish, but I really don't care what happens. I'm trying to make my life better, and I think Dez is part of my recovery."
Trish let out a sigh. "Ok, but at least try to keep it under wraps until Dez's movie premiere. I'll try and prepare for the amount of interviews and public backlash that will come. I'll see you tomorrow, and I'm happy you and Dez found each other, by the way." With that Trish took her leave.
"I didn't think she would react like that." Ally muttered.
"I understand were she's coming from, but we'll be fine. Right, Austin?" Dez asked cheerfully and gave Austin a kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah we'll be fine." Austin felt exhausted and he could really use a drink right about now, but he'd have to fight the urge. He needed to recover. It's one thing if the word gets out that he's gay, and a completely different thing if the media finds out he's an alcoholic too.
.
.
Austin sat on his bed feeling rather alone. Dez was checking his e-mails, but he said he'd come to bed soon. Austin was a little nervous. He wanted to live free, but it was still scary to think what could happen to his sales and career once the word got out that he was guy. Trish had scared him and for the first time Austin didn't have alcohol as a crutch to lean on.
He thought of the successful gay celebrities he knew, and there were quite a few, but his circumstances seemed so different from theirs. He wouldn't know how things would turn out until him and Dez went public.
The door to Austin's bedroom opened and Dez stepped in with his usual smile. "I thought you'd already be in your night clothes. Why are you sitting in the dark?" Dez turned on the light, and Austin squinted his eyes.
"I'm just thinking about how I could really use a drink." Austin was surprised when cold water was squirted in his face. He sputtered and wiped water off his face. "I'm not going to drink, jeeze."
"You're doing really good I don't want you to slip." Dez set the water bottle on the night stand and sat next to Austin. "It'll be alright, don't worry too much."
"I don't know Dez, Trish kind of scared me. She had a lot of good points."
"We'll do this together, I'll support you, Ally and Trish will too. Trish is just worried but she'll do her job and manage the backlash. Everything will be fine. In the mean time we can focus on each other and not worry about being outed until my movie premiere."
"When will it come out?"
"It'll still be a couple of months, so don't worry. I'll be here with you the whole time, so we can enjoy each other's company before shit hit's the fan." Dez seemed calmed and collected and it calmed Austin as much as a glass of wine would.
Dez leaned in to kiss Austin on the lips, and Austin gave in easily. Austin closed his eyes and relaxed, letting all the worry of the day wash away.
.
.
Austin was playing the piano softly, trying to lose himself in the tender melody. Dez was taking a phone call in the office, and since Dez was his alcohol substitute, Austin felt nervous without the redhead next to him. He won't touch a glass of wine, but he really wanted to. He was supposed to be on vacation, but this was the most stressful vacation he'd ever had.
Ally sat next to Austin on the bench and started to play the high keys along with Austin's low keys. The man smiled and looked at his best friend.
"How are you holding up, I still have brochures for rehab, if you're interested."
"I'm fine. I think I'm doing pretty good. I don't want any more publicity than needed. I'll do my rehab here."
"I'm proud of you, I think things are really turning around." Ally says with a big smile on her face. The two took their hands away from the piano, and looked at each other.
"I'm really glad you're my friend Ally."
"Sure thing buddy!" Ally hugs the blond who laughs at her response.
"So when are you and Dez going to have a real date?"
"I don't know, when my urge for drinking dies down enough that I won't order a glass of wine. Besides Trish want' us to keep it low key for now."
"That doesn't mean you can't go out. As far as the public know it's just two friends having a good time. As long as you don't hold hand and kiss no one will be the wiser."
Austin nodded with excitement, "I guess that's true. I'll look around see if there is something to do. Maybe dinner a movie. I wonder what I'll wear."
"You should be thinking about going out, you guys should get in as much private time before the movie premiere. If you have a solid relationship before you get exposed, nothing will tear you guys apart."
