Liberty High School

9:00 AM

"Why Brian, are you saying you think I'm beautiful?"

Brian locked eyes with Justin's as he took in the question, or more importantly, the meaning behind it. That was definitely flirting. Brian's heart fluttered just for a second as he considered a flirtatious response. He wanted to answer "yes", actually he wanted to answer, "Hell yes". He wanted to say anything that would open the door for him to kiss the smirk off those full rosy lips. Then the realization of where he was sunk in and the lump of fear clogged his throat and he couldn't be sure if Justin was sincere or setting him up. He opted for a safer approach to test the waters.

"You? I think you're pristine" he exclaimed with false enthusiasm so it could be interpreted as sarcasm if he needed it to be.

"Pristine?" Justin repeated, uncertain if that was a compliment or insult in Brian's disturbed mind.

"Yes you're not the only one that reads; pristine as in unspoiled, untouched…virginal?"

"Fuck off. I'm not…pristine" Justin responded with a mixture of embarrassment and anger; protesting too vehemently for it to be true statement.

"Really? So you're not a virgin then?" Brian stated silently rejoicing he had found Justin's Achilles heel.

"Then you've actually been with a…" Brian said pausing for the effect, "…girl?"

"That's none of your business" Justin responded infuriated and more flustered than he would have liked.

He was technically not a virgin in the traditional sense; he and Daphne had sex last summer when he first suspected he might be gay. Justin had barely gotten hard enough for penetration to be technically possible and neither had finished before he lost it all together. He didn't say anything to her about his secret afterward but he suspected she knew what the cause of the problem was and was waiting for him to confess in his own time. She never brought it up again and neither did he. It was the defining moment for Justin to accept who he really was and for that reason he still considered himself a virgin since he had not yet been with a man.

"C'mon Blondie, just admit it, you're a virgin" Brian insisted "Have you even had your dick sucked?"

Justin grew indignant at the extremely personal questions; "Fuck you Brian" Justin yelled shoving him on the shoulder.

Justin wasn't used to being picked on and he was ill-prepared for quick responses. Even worse, Brian's questions were a double edge sword. He was fairly popular so if he admitted that he was a virgin and, in fact, had never had or given a blow job; the group might wonder why not. There were plenty of willing girls if a guy was in the market. If he lied and said he had; Brian might think he was straight.

Brian leaned in so his breath was warm on Justin's ear and his words were heard by Justin only, "Is that an offer Sunshine?"

Justin sucked in his breath at the unmistakable meaning. A million questions raced through his mind: Was Brian really gay? Did he know Justin's secret? Did everyone know?

Brian pulled back and bit his lower lip scared shitless by the emotions coursing through him. He wanted this boy. He licked his lips thinking of just how much he desired him.

A wave of anxiety stemming from letting anyone know he was gay clouded his judgment causing Justin to misinterpret Brian's gesture. Justin thought back to Brian's earlier sarcasm, relentless teasing and bravado and just couldn't risk it. He first instinct was to slap him but he refrained. What would be more queeny than that? So he stood up suddenly, scraping the wooden chair against the linoleum floor and clenched his fist clueless as to what his next move would be.

Brian retreated at Justin's reaction and regrets consumed him. He presumed he had been wrong about Justin's orientation. This wasn't the first time Brian had made such a mistake. It was always a risk to flirt or make your true feelings or intentions clear; he rarely made the effort and now he remembered why.

"Calm down princess" Brian said forcing an uncomfortable laugh, "so you popped your cherry already? Good for you. I'm sure you get lots of pussy from the drama chicks"

Ben oblivious to the hidden subtext of Brian and Justin's innuendo felt Brian was taking this too far and needed an attitude adjustment. "Knock it off Brian" he warned forcefully, "you want to fight? Fight me. Two hits- me hitting you; you hitting the floor"

Brian sized Ben up and backed down. He was a smart-ass, he was a tough guy, but one thing he wasn't was crazy. Ben could destroy him and even if Justin wasn't interested; he didn't relish the thought of being humiliated physically in front of him.

"Okay, okay" Brian surrendered putting his hands up; "sorry if I upset your boyfriend delicate sensibilities." Brian made a show of returning to his table, stepping on tip toes around Ben and placing his hands defensively over his head, dodging an invisible punch as he went.

He sat back down in his chair and slumped over. Ben sat back down as well not sure why he felt compelled to defend Justin. He had just been so angry lately ever since his father started him on these supplements. It was the reason he was here today; the result of a rash decision that Ben couldn't even remember consciously making. He just felt out of control of his emotions, his temper, and his life. Ben glanced over at Michael and Ted's side of the room questioning if he would give up everything; his talent, his popularity, his parents just to stop the tremendous pressure he felt to be a winner. Sometimes he felt more like a racehorse than a person. Good for only one purpose.

Michael drifted off to a daydream only semi-aware of the silence that settled over his previously stroppy classmates. He dreamt he was a different person, someone more like Brian or Ben; someone interesting. The only thing interesting about Michael to his peers was his being gay. He wanted to be a bad-boy, a risk taker but he would never be that. His mother needed him too much and she had made being the proud mother of a gay son so much a part of her identity that it forced Michael to be the proud gay son she needed. It wasn't that he wasn't proud exactly; he just didn't feel the need to be so obvious. He could pass as straight if he wanted to; it was exhausting, sure, but so was having his mother as his only real friend. Even guys like Ted were too intimidated to be thought gay by associating with him. He was lonely, really lonely and depressed.

Ted sat watching Justin once again. At first he just observed him admiring his style, his confidence and in particularly his quick-wit against Brian. Now he studied him as he ran his fingers through his hair and smoothed his clothes repetitively almost in a self-soothing manner. Ted smirked noticing how much he was primping and he wondered if Brian's insinuation might be true and Justin was doing this for someone's benefit.

A sudden noise of the door opening broke the respective thoughts of the young men. They all expected to see Horner's unsympathetic face but instead in walked the school janitor. He walked to the trash and pulled the bag from the receptacle without a word and then looked up noticing the boys for the first time. His eyes fixated on Michael who was turning a shade of blush.

"Oh, hey Michael. I didn't expect you to be here" he said.

"Hey Uncle Vic" Michael responded sheepishly, "It's a long story"

Michael admired his uncle, he had such a good heart but he hadn't wanted to advertise he was related to the janitor. It certainly would do nothing to improve his situation.

"He's your uncle?" Brian sneered with a huff.

Vic looked contemptuously at Brian. "Yeah, something wrong with that?"

"No, it's just Theodore here is interested in the custodial arts. How does one become a janitor?"

Ted shook his head wanting no part of harassing a man who looked like he had a hard enough life already. There was nothing wrong with making an honest day's pay for an honest day's work.

Vic glanced at Michael's horrified look. He loved his nephew and didn't want to cause him any additional heartache so he opted not to highlight his training in the culinary arts and his experience as a sought-after chef in one of the best restaurants in New York. That was his past. Now he was a janitor and grateful to be alive, healthy and working.

"Listen you piss ant" Vic warned, "You treat me like I'm invisible. You think you're better than me because I empty the trash? You wouldn't believe what I know about you, all of you. I hear your conversations, I read your discarded notes and I have access to your lockers. If I were you, I would be nicer to the janitors at this school."

Brian was unprepared for Vic's strong response. He was just trying to get under Michael's skin to see what made him tick since Justin seemed to have Ben's attention. The effort backfired big-time. The janitor's warning hit too close to home. It occurred to Brian it might be a threat to 'out' him, he did have incriminating evidence in his locker; nothing big, but a picture of Patrick Swayze without a shirt tucked behind his books would be hard to explain.

He retreated into himself as Vic finished his task and moved his cart up the ramp. "Oh and by the way" Vic turned and motioned upward above the book shelves, "That clock is ten minutes fast" he added with a laugh.

The group groaned in unison and fell silent again as they individually agonized over the long day ahead. Brian watched the clock tick away ten minutes without anyone saying a word. 9:51, 9:52, 9:53….

A song popped into his head and at first he rolled the melody around his brain until it had to escape his lips…"duh dudda dut da…" he hummed quietly to the rhythm of the song.

Recognizing the song, Ted heard the lyrics play in his head, "I like the nightlife…" and he started humming along with Brian to the Alicia Bridge's hit.

Michael joined in, followed by Justin and Ben until they were all whistling and humming in unison. Just as they all prepared to hit the high note at the end of , … I got to boogie on the disco 'round" they were interrupted once again.

All of the noise abruptly stopped as Mr. Horner reentered the library. He had heard them from the office and couldn't believe it. This plan was working, it was actually working….