Justin crept out of Ethan's room as quietly as he could. The flat was silent. The world was silent, the sun was barely up and it would be hours before any self-respecting student raised their head. He shut the door as silently as possible and tiptoed down the corridor to the front door.

"Hey," hissed a voice and Justin froze. He didn't want to have to confront Ethan or have to explain that it really hadn't meant anything and that he'd been angry.

"Don't ignore me Justin! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Justin frowned. That wasn't Ethan's voice, it was Daphne's. He turned around and saw her face blurred in the darkness.

"How could you do that to him?" she demanded, pulling him into the kitchen area.

"Do what?"

"Use him like that. You're supposed to be his friend."

"No, he's your friend," Justin scowled. "To me, he's just a fuck."

"How dare you? He really likes you."

"So?"

"So … he deserves better. I know Brian hurt you but that's no reason to turn into an asshole. And anyway, I can see why Brian might be angry."

"What?"

"Well, think of it from his point of view. You sleep with him and then demand an extension on your assignment. He probably thinks you were using him."

Justin's heart sank. "Shit, do you think…"

"Probably."

"I might go and see him."

"Now?"

Justin checked the time. It was three thirty in the morning but Justin had a feeling that Brian might work on club-boy time. Three in the morning might be Justin's best chance of catching him.

The rickety elevator seemed to take forever and the whirring of the cogs were so loud in his ear drums it actually started to grate on him and his teeth gritted together. He didn't have time for this, he just needed to see Brian and apologise for being a jerk to him.

Eventually, the sliding blue door came into vision and Justin grinned to himself as he pulled the door of the elevator up and got out. He hammered on the door like a madman, something he seriously regretted when Brian pulled back the door, looking more than a little furious.

"What the fuck do you want?" he demanded. His bangs were sticking to his forehead a little and his skin was sheen with sweat. He was only wearing trousers and Justin just stared for a moment as he realised what he'd walked in on.

"I, er…." He fumbled, "I was just coming to apologise."

"It's almost four in the morning."

"I know, but" Justin laughed breathily, "no time like the present, right?"

Brian just raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Am I disturbing something?" Justin asked, trying to pear over Brian's shoulder.

"No Taylor, you're timing is impeccable," growled Brian as his trick appeared down the stairs from his bedroom and strolled towards the door to let himself out. "We'd just finished," he smiled.

"Great, so can we talk."

"No."

"What? Why?"

"Because we," he said, using his arm to push Justin out of the way as another man strolled into the loft, "have just begun."

"What is this? Justin asked, "have you got a waiting room?"

"Something like that," smirked Brian. "Now … leave me alone, I'm busy." He went to shut the door.

"Wait," Justin cried.

Brian halted so the door was only half closed. He said nothing but he looked at Justin, letting him know it was his time to speak, though he already looked like whatever Justin decided to say would bore him.

"I didn't want you to think that I'm using you to get better grades."

"Using me?" Brian scoffed. "It's okay Taylor, you couldn't use if you tried … you're not that good." Brian saw the hurt look on Justin's face and breathed out slowly, rolling his eyes, before adding, "not that you'd need to anyway. You're one of the best students in that class. You'll pass with or without that assignment."

"So why were you so angry before?"

"Because I was your lecturer before. Outside that room, I couldn't give a shit if you hand your work in on time and I don't care if you pass."

"So when we're outside that room, what are we?"

"Nothing," Brian answered simply. "Now, why don't you get back to that Ian boy. I'm sure he's missing you." And with that the door shut the rest of the way.

Brian pressed his forehead against the door and let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"Everything okay?" his new trick asked.

Brian turned around and looked at the man; short, dark hair, black jeans and a pinstripe shirt. He had a sophisticated business look and dark brown eyes. He wasn't really the kind of guy Brian fancied at the moment so he answered,

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"You're not naked."

Daphne was woken by the smell of fried eggs and sausages filling her flat. She could hear the hissing and spitting of frying bacon and the kettle heating up to make coffee. She pushed open the door and saw Justin slaving away over the stove.

"What the…?"

Justin span around and shot her his famous smile, before returning to the pots and pans.

"I'm cooking breakfast."

"I can see that."

"I used your pots, I didn't think you'd mind."

"No, it's fine," Daphne said. "Just, why are you cooking?"

"Thought I'd do something nice for Ethan."

"Justin," she warned. It wasn't fair of Justin to prey on Ethan's feelings like this. Ethan really, really liked Justin. Justin was all he talked about when he wasn't around and when he was around Ethan just became like a love struck teenage girl, giggling and trying to show off. He wanted Justin's attention and love but Daphne knew Justin couldn't give it to him whilst Brian was still in his life. But here he was, cooking breakfast after spending the night.

"Is it such a crime to do a nice thing?"

"No. But it is a crime to lead someone on when you like someone else."

"I'm not leading him on."

"You are! Why are you even doing this?"

"I …."

"Is it to make Brian jealous?"

"No," Justin lied but he knew he wasn't fooling Daphne. "Fine, yes. I just have to have him."

"And risk your education, your future, your friends?"

"He's worth it," Justin said determinedly.

"No one's worth that."

"He is."

"Whatever, just don't hurt Ethan."

"I won't. He's getting what he wants out of this anyway."

Daphne just shook her head in disbelief. She hadn't know Justin very long but she could believe he was capable of this kind of plotting and deception. Brian seemed to be having a horrible affect on him.

"End it," she hissed and they just stared defiantly at each other until the door opened and Ethan walked in. Suddenly, Justin flipped into doting, wonderful boyfriend material and started plating up the food and putting it on the table along with a mug of coffee and a glass of orange juice.

--

Justin kept this act up all the way to class. He asked Ethan to walk with him to the lecture and, of course, the violinist jumped at the chance. Daphne almost killed Justin when he drew Ethan in for a searing kiss just as Brian appeared. As soon as they drew apart Justin smirked at Brian, who was unlocking the door to the lecture theatre.

"I hope that face means you have your assignment for me, Taylor."

"You said it had to be in the end of the week. You said it wasn't important."

"I've changed my mind."

"You're such an asshole!" Justin shouted, everyone around them gasped but Brian just raised his eyebrow and Justin could see by the strained expression on his face that he was really enjoying himself. He could hear Ethan hissing in his ear, telling him to shut up. He could see Daphne shaking her head disapprovingly in the corner of his eye but his focus was on Brian, who was just staring back.

"If those are your feelings Taylor, perhaps your situation would be better if you looked into changing courses."

"Then you wouldn't be my lecturer anymore?" Justin asked trying not to sound too excited, did that mean he and Brian could be together? Brian just nodded and Justin was about to grin and run to change his major when Daphne stepped in.

"Don't do anything radical. This is your future, Justin. You don't want to throw it away over your personal feeling towards the lecturer."

"Your friend has a valid point, Taylor."

"Could I discuss this with you later?" Justin asked.

"After the lecture," Brian promised, opening the door up and allowing the class to file in.

--

It turned out changing classes wouldn't change their personal situation at all. Brian just said that if Justin wasn't in his lectures they wouldn't have to see each other again, which might be better for both of them.

"I didn't realise our former relations were such a problem for you," Justin had stated.

"There're not," Brian had replied. "But you seem angry and distracted in this class. And as your personal tutor I don't want to see you fail."

"You just want me out of your lesson because you don't like the fact that you want me."

Brian raised his eyebrows mockingly. "You think a lot of yourself, don't you Taylor?"

"I know I'm right. Well, I'm not leaving this lecture just to make things less awkward for you."

"Fine, then get the assignment and your reason for it's lateness in by the next time I see you or I really will fail you."

"Okay," Justin nodded and as he reached the door he turned back to say, "I was thinking, my reason for the piece being overdue … would extracurricular activities with my tutor be a good enough reason?"

Despite himself, Brian smirked.

"I thought you might approve," Justin smiled before leaving.

--

They were sat in the union. Daphne was chatting away about something that Justin knew he should probably be listening to but wasn't. He really had too much on his mind, like the way Brian had looked at him just before he'd left the lecture theatre and the way Ethan's hand kept brushing against his own. Ethan, it seemed, had no problem at all with sickeningly sweet levels of affection. He kept twirling Justin's hair or putting his head on his shoulder, constantly touching him for no reason other than he was there. Justin could feel Daphne glaring at him but it wasn't as though he was encouraging the actions, he just wasn't actively discouraging them, which was exactly what he said to Daphne when Ethan went to get a round of lemonade.

"I thought you decided to stop things with Ethan."

"No, you decided that. Anyway, I think you're right about Brian. I can't even concentrate because I'm obsessing over every smile and every sideways glance he gives me. So, I've come to a decision," he beamed.

"And?"

Just then Ethan returned and the two plunged into silence, not that Ethan noticed, he just cuddled up close to Justin and started talking about how rude the person behind the bar had been.

"That's your big decision?" Daphne scowled after Justin told her on the way back from the union.

"You don't approve?"

"Of course I don't approve. It's one of the stupidest things you've ever said."

"I thought you approved of mine and Brian's relationship."

"It's not a relationship and making things official with Ethan isn't going to make it so."

"That's the point. I need to forget about Brian before things get really messed up."

"Things already are really messed up, Justin. Ethan's not right for you, you know that."

"He's fine for me," Justin growled.

Daphne, of course, had been right. Ethan was okay, almost sweet in a way. He was constantly leaving Justin little presents and cards expressing his never ending love. He would show in everyway he could how much he loved Justin and the artist in him loved the romanticism. He liked being wined and dined and fussed over but somewhere deep inside him, he knew it wasn't enough.

Friday rolled around pretty quickly and Justin waited after the lecture to hand in his assignment. He almost choked on the immediate feedback Brian decided to dish out.

"You'll get bored of him."

Justin just stared in disbelief before saying very slowly and very deliberately, "not that it's any of your business, Ethan and I are very happy together."

"For how long?"

Justin's face screwed up into an angry scowl and Brian had to watch as Justin walked out of the class. He watched him join Daphne and that scruffy excuse for a man Ian or Ethan or whatever his goddamn name was; Brian really didn't care. He'd had a stressful week and had just wanted to relax this evening but now it looked like he was going to marking Taylor's goddamn assignment all afternoon so he submit it for official checking before seven. That way, Brian could throw away the excuse slip and Justin wouldn't lose any marks for it being late. He sighed and began to mark.

--

By the time Brian got home that evening, he was set to kill. Dean Vanguard had been on his case over some poppers that had gone missing from the confiscated items at reception. Brian wasn't about to apologize for taking them, they'd have only been trashed otherwise and he wasn't the kind of man to let good drugs go to waste. He opened a beer and downed the lot before deciding he needed to go out. He rang Michael, Ted and Emmet but they all had to be up early for work the next morning. Working on a Saturday, how … pathetic. It was times like this that Brian knew he'd made the right career choice. The only problem was he couldn't go out alone, not him, Brian Kinney. He liked an audience to see him pulling the hottest guys in the Pitts. Unless … well, he could go to the baths. In fact, that was exactly what he needed tonight, a quick fuck with no obligation to the other person. He pulled on his jacket and went out.

--

The baths always disgusted him, not that it ever stopped him from going back. It was full of trolls and men who simply wouldn't get laid in the real world but this wasn't the real world, this was the underhand world where love and attraction had nothing to do with anything, it was purely about shooting your load and moving on. Even for the baths, the crowd was poor tonight. Brian couldn't find anyone even remotely attractive. He was thinking of trying somewhere else when he spotted him, a twink in the corner of the room, he was sucking off some average guy that maybe blind drunkenness could make attractive but Brian could tell by the look on the man's face he was punching above his wait with this trick.

As the twink stood up, Brian made his way over and put his hand out on the slender, pale shoulder. Bringing their bodies together, he whispered in the twink's ear,

"How about you let me do something for you now?"

Brian felt the twink grin and he took a step back so the other man could turn around. And as the face was revealed, he snorted with laughter.

"Well, well, well …. I did not expect you here … Taylor."

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