Nope, still don't own House, just the OCs, as usual.

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December, 1983

"Hey, Julian." Kay's cheerful voice cuts into my thoughts as she barges into my apartment.

I groan internally. It's a good thing she hadn't done that about three hours ago, when Greg and I were rolling around the floor of my living room. She never would have recovered from the shock.

"Hi, Kay." I sigh and shut off the tape recorder. "What brings you here?"

"Greg's band is playing tonight." She chides me. "Did you forget?"

As a matter of fact, I had. I'm sure Greg had said something at some point, but I was having a hard time remembering. "No, of course not." I lie. "Matter of fact, I was about to go get ready right now."

"You'd better hurry up." Kay tells me with a note of exasperation. "If we get there before eight, we won't have to pay cover."

I check my watch. It's nearly six-thirty now. I quickly gather up my notes and books and set them aside, heading into the bathroom for a quick shower.

Kay's been remarkably cool about her breakup with Greg. I don't think she's aware of just how deep things have gotten between Greg and me. Matter of fact, I know she isn't. She's still trying to set me up with anyone she can think of.

"Did you call Mark?" She hollers as I finish my shower and make my way back to my room.

"Sorry. Forgot." I call back. Truthfully, I wasn't interested in Mark. He was a pretentious art student whose whole life seemed to revolve around the Ann Arbor art scene. I'm all for expanding my cultural horizons, but I'd like to talk about my own interests, too. Believe it or not, I do have some.

Kay pokes her head into my room as I'm buttoning up my shirt. "You lie." She tells me.

"So why did you ask?"

"Just wanted to see what you'd say." She glares at me. "Makes me think there's other things you've been lying to me about."

Something clutches at me, but I quickly scold myself. Kay and Greg are long over. Besides, Greg and I aren't exactly dating. We're just having mutually satisfying sex with a side of something like friendship, as close to it as Greg allows, anyway.

"It doesn't matter." Kay tells me. "Your life, your business. I just want you to be happy."

"I am happy." I tell her. "I don't have to have someone in my life in order to be happy."

Kay lets out a little 'hmph'. "More lies. Come on, let's go. It's going to be a madhouse."

I follow her out, enjoying the relative warmth of the evening with only a denim jacket. It's been an oddly warm December, and I can't help but feel grateful. Normally by this time I'm already sick of snow and cold. When I graduate, I'm getting as far away from Michigan as I possibly can.

We arrive at the bar, pushing our way to the bar for a pitcher of beer. Kay cuts a wide swath, shoving her way through and yelling at anyone who gets in her way. Her brash personality works to our advantage as we find a table near the front.

The band is just setting up, getting ready to warm up and do their mic check. I spot Greg and give him a little wave. His eyes go a little wide at the sight of Kay, but he returns the wave.

Kay waves back, thinking it was meant for her. Who am I to destroy her illusion? They're still friends, after a fashion, although I know that Kay would like nothing better than to rekindle their previous romance.

If only she knew. I smile slightly to myself and pour a beer.

"Do you think he's seeing anyone?" Kay asks me.

"Who, Greg?"

"Yeah."

I shake my head. "I think you really just need to let him go."

She narrows her eyes at me. "And I think you know something I don't."

"And I don't think it's any of your business." I counter, pouring her a beer and handing it to her.

She lets the subject drop and we move on to other topics before the lights go down for the first set.

Greg's band is good. Nothing spectacular, but they're enjoyable to listen to, and Greg can really go on that guitar. I never realized how talented he really is. When we get together, there's not a lot of talking going on.

"Wow, they're really good." Kay whispers to me, echoing my thoughts.

I nod, continuing to drink my beer and watch the band. My focus is mostly on Greg. Even as he plays, his expression remains serious, his fingers dancing easily over the strings, completely in his own world. When the crowd whoops and hollers after his solo, he barely seems to notice.

The crowd increases as the set goes on, and when the lights come up after the set, I'm surprised to see others have joined us at our table. I assume they're friends of Kay's.

"Julian." Kay puts an arm around me. "Meet Kenneth. Kenneth, Julian."

"Hi." I nod absentmindedly, almost automatically programming myself to not be interested. "Nice to meet you."

"Same." Kenneth flashes me a warm smile and extends a hand. I do the same, feeling his fingers wrap around my hand. They're long and bony, his grip warm and strong.

"So." He continues. "You're a med student?"

I nod. "Second year."

Kenneth nods in return, his eyes never losing contact. "So it won't be long and I'll be able to call you Doctor Julian, right?"

"Morris." I blurt out for no good reason. "I'll be Doctor Morris."

"Doctor Julian Morris." Kenneth looks thoughtful as he tries out my name. Something about the way he says it sends little shivers through me. He nods and smiles approvingly. "I like it."

I let out a nervous laugh, playing with my beer glass. "Uh…thanks? I guess?"

Kenneth chuckles in return, a deep, mellow sound that only serves to reinforce my nervousness. "Sure."

Kay pats me on the shoulder and rises from her chair. "I'll be right back. Hopefully the bathroom lines aren't too long."

I panic slightly when she leaves. I have no idea what to say to Kenneth, how to start up any kind of conversation with him. I almost wonder if it's worth it, considering how poorly things have gone with all the others Kay has attempted match me up with.

"They're pretty good, aren't they?" Kenneth nods toward the small stage.

I sigh a little internally in relief. "They are."

His eyes scan the stage, where the band is setting up again. I turn to see Greg strapping his guitar around his neck, playing a few notes and tuning up the instrument.

"Guitar player's kind of cute." Kenneth throws out casually.

"He's a friend of mine." I answer sharper than I intend, some odd possessive urge rising in me.

"Oh." Kenneth's eyebrows shoot up. "Just a friend?"

I'm not sure how to answer that, and I suddenly feel conflicted. Revealing the true nature of things between Greg and I could only cause problems. On the other hand, I'm reluctant to give Kenneth any sort of opening.

Finally I sigh and nod. "Yes, just a friend."

Kenneth nods in reply, seemingly relieved. My brain scrambles a little. Surely he's not going to try to hit on Greg? I try to imagine Greg's reaction to that.

"I'm glad to hear it." Kenneth tells me. "He looks like he could kick my ass."

I'm a little baffled. It must show on my face, because Kenneth lets out a little laugh. "If I'm going to pursue you, I'd rather not deal with any jealous boyfriends."

I feel my face heat up. The idea that someone is not only interested in me, but is willing to admit it in public is almost overwhelming.

He rises and slides into the seat that Kay vacated, casually resting his arm on the back of my chair. "What are you doing after this?"

I choke. I don't have a real plan. Most likely I'd go home and wait for Greg to show up, if he was going to show up.

I glance up at the stage, and Greg catches my eye. His eyes narrow slightly before he returns to tuning up his guitar, turning away to talk to the drummer.

Finally I find my voice. "I…I don't know yet."

Kenneth laughs again, the deep tone almost vibrating against my ear. "Don't worry. We've got the rest of the night to figure it out."

I swallow hard, willing my hardening flesh to just behave already. I know Greg and I aren't officially anything, but I can't help but feel as if I'm cheating on him. It's a terrible feeling.

Kay returns just as the lights start to go down, complaining about the impossibly long lines to the bathroom, oblivious to what has transpired while she was away. I can't help but feel a little relieved as the lights go down and the music starts again. My decision has only been delayed, I know that. Eventually I'm going to have to give Kenneth an answer.

The sad thing is, I want to go off with Kenneth. He seems open, willing in a way that Greg never is and most likely never will be. However, I owe it to Greg to talk to him, to get an idea for what is going through his mind. His reaction will go a long way toward helping make a decision tonight.

I chide myself, realizing how silly I sound. This isn't a life or death decision. I'm simply in the rare position of being caught between two men, one that I'm already sort of involved with and one I wouldn't mind trying to get involved with.

I don't have any frame of reference for this situation. It's never happened to me before, mostly because I've been too damned afraid for too damned long to even try to get involved with someone.

Before I know it, the set is over and the lights are coming up again. Kenneth's arm is still looped over the back of my chair, and when I turn my head, he's grinning at me like a fool.

I quickly rise to my feet, nearly knocking over the chair in the process. "I've got to go." I tell him, and I can see the disappointment cloud over his eyes.

"Sure." He nods before gesturing to Kay for a pen. She digs one out of her purse and hands it to him, and he scribbles something on a napkin, shoving it in the pocket of my shirt. "Call me."

With that he's gone, weaving his way through the crowd, and I'm left a little stunned. I pull out the napkin and smooth it out in my hand, studying his tidy numbers, his precise lettering.

"So?" Kay nudges me. "You are going to call him, right?"

"Maybe."

She huffs irritably and folds her arms over her chest. "Of course you are. You need this. You need to get out, do stuff, date, get laid, for Christ's sake."

I'm tempted to tell her that I'm getting laid on a regular basis, but decide against it. "Right, I know."

Kay rolls her eyes. "All work and no play…"

"…means I graduate on time and achieve my dream." I tell her firmly.

She shakes her head. "I'll meet you at the car."

Kay leaves, and the bar is starting to clear out. The band is still on stage, packing up instruments and breaking down the sound system. My heart pounds in my chest as I approach, not sure how to handle things.

"Hey." I manage to get out.

Greg turns from his guitar case, nodding at me. "Hey."

I take a deep breath. "What are you doing tonight?"

He narrows his eyes at me. "Why?"

I shrug. "I don't know. Thought maybe you'd like to…get together."

His expression hardens, and he bends down so that we're almost face to face. "Don't you already have plans?"

"What? Oh, no." I shake my head. "That guy…I just met him tonight. Kay introduced us. You know how she is."

Greg nods. "She still doesn't know. Because you still haven't told her. Because you're a chicken shit."

I don't understand what's going on. I thought Greg wanted to keep things undercover. That's the whole reason I haven't said anything. I'm protecting both of us. "Me? What about you?"

Greg snorts and shakes his head, rising and returning to pick up his guitar. He looks down at me with an expression that almost resembles a sneer. "Go find your little queen. I've got other things to do tonight."

I'm stunned, but I'm not sure whether to be hurt or not. I almost want to explain things, explain that I had no intention of going off with Kenneth, but I know that's not entirely true.

I'll be damned if I let my emotions show. "I've got to go. Kay's waiting for me."

"I'm sure she's not the only one waiting for you." Greg snaps.

Realization dawns on me. "Greg, if you don't want me to go, I won't."

Greg rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "Just go. We didn't have anything going on anyway."

"But…"

"I said…" Greg speaks slowly, with mock patience. "There's nothing between us." His face is a hard mask, unreadable. "See you around."

I'm rooted to my spot, trying to understand what's just happened. Did Greg just break up with me?

Of course not. I snap out of my thoughts and move toward the exit. Breaking up would imply that we were together to begin with. Which, as Greg is so kind to remind me, we weren't.

I dig into my pocket for the napkin and find a nearby pay phone, dropping in a quarter and dialing Kenneth's number. He answers on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Kenneth?" I curse myself for my fit of nerves. "Hey, it's…um, it's Julian. From the bar? With the band?"

There's a long pause, and I find myself holding my breath until he lets out a short laugh. "Of course. Doctor Julian Morris. To what do I owe the honor of this phone call?"

I take a deep breath. "Just wondering if…you still wanted to…you know…"

I'm fumbling for words, and the silence on the other end isn't helping. Finally Kenneth breaks the silence with a nervous laugh. "Now, I want to tell you that I was not waiting by the phone. However…" His voice drops to a low, soft tone. "…I'm very, very glad you called."

I silently sigh in relief. "I'm glad I did, too."

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