I added a new character in this chapter born after the series ended. I'll probably explain her more as the story progresses. Also, Austin will probably show up next chapter if not, then in chapter 4. Comment and enjoy =). Mostly the same but still changed it's part of the larger change so don't crucify me please.
Justin sat miserably behind his desk still dreary from the events of the previous night. Since then he'd gotten over 25 calls and voicemails from Andrew, all of which he ignored. He found himself contemplating everything that happened and all the signs that led up to it. All of the times Andrew would answer the phone out of breath or would come home slightly disheveled after a late "rehearsal". Deep down Justin knew he should have seen what was going on, but didn't want to admit it to himself. He continued his loathing while staring at his vibrating phone until knocked out of it by Marc.
"Hey what's up kiddo?" chimed Marc. Justin spun his chair to face him, earning a horrified screech in return. "What happened to you? You look; ugh I can't even put words to it."
This was most likely attributed to Justin's uncharacteristic visit to tragic town. He'd overslept the night before after being up till 3 getting drunk and crying. As a result he had dark circles under his eyes that could rival Pete the Pup's and he had no time to iron anything. To add insult to injury Andrew had taken the hair gel with him the night before so Justin had to contend with a disheveled mop on his head without any means of taming it.
Justin responded with a dissatisfied grunt and glaring eyes.
Marc cringed and stepped back. "That was uncalled for."
"When you pimp out your friends and tell them they look like shit this is generally the response you get."
Marc rolled his eyes and swatted the air. "Oh you're still on about that. It wasn't personal it was just business. Besides it isn't like we haven't had you do morally questionable or legally gray things before. Plus I heard you won him back over, so that's big Wilhelmina kudos."
"That's just peachy keen." He said acrimoniously.
"What's going on with you? I haven't seen you this catty since Beyoncé told the world she was tired of being her own competition and retired. "
"Not much just work."
"That doesn't sound like you're avoiding anything?" Marc sat down on the assistant's desk and started toying with one of the miscellaneous items on it.
"It's nothing I don't wanna talk about it." Suarez replied morosely.
"Come on it can't be that bad and it'll feel better to talk about it."
Justin gave a heavy sigh before spilling. "Andrew cheated on me and I kicked him out."
"Oh." Marc responded awkwardly. "So does that mean you two are over?"
"I don't know. I still…" Justin took a deep breath. "I'm not sure if I could ever trust him again."
"Well if it counts I never liked him. I always thought you could do better."
"What should I do? I haven't been this confused since I came out."
"Weren't those the days, you were barely hatched from the gay egg. Now here you are a full grown rooster with the rest of us. I wish I knew what to say, but I don't."
"How about get back to work." Wilhelmina offered as she walked pass.
The two of them both jerked in surprise at the familiar voice of their overseer and the sound of her thousand dollar shoes tapping ever closer. Immediately they both stiffened and prepared to return to their stations.
"Marc, get me those layouts by 12 and Justin I want you in my office to discuss Giardini." She commanded.
The two immediately complied.
On her heels Justin stood expectantly for her to start speaking. "I heard you re-acquired Giardini?"
"Yeah I did. He should be expecting your call to set up a conference."
"Good" she said with satisfaction in her voice. "I hope it wasn't too much the ordeal."
"It could've been worse."
"I take it then that you didn't sleep with him."
"No, thank God. I was able to keep my pride and dignity." He pointed out pleased.
"That's a shame we could've used that to our advantage later. No matter we've got him for now so I suppose you did well enough, even if it was the bare minimum."
"Gee thanks Wilhelmina that means a lot." He remarked. Wilhelmina raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"Is there a problem?"
"Not really, I've just had some stuff going on that's all."
"Snap out of it then, this is not the place for your family life to be mixed in. You need to keep your head in the game. You got that." Justin nodded in confirmation. "I'm glad we both understand each other. Now deal with that quickly."
Justin stood puzzled until he followed Wilhelmina's eyes behind him and stared into Andrew's face on the other side of the large glass window that separated them. Andrew stared back, flowers in hand and a pleading look on his face.
"Ay Dios freaking Mio, what is he even doing here?" Justin fretted.
"I take it he's the issue."
"Yeah I threw him out, and he's been calling me since."
"Good, I never cared for him anyway; I know his type, no ambition whatsoever ad they get in the way of those with any. Now please get him out of my office and try not to make a scene."
Justin hastened his way out toward his awaiting ex, quickly moving him away from his boss' office and to the meeting room for more privacy.
"Why did you come here, I'm working right now and I don't have time for this."
"I just wanted to talk to you about last night you never gave me a chance to explain things."
"What is there to explain?" Justin snapped. "You cheated on me in my own bed and lied right to my face. Then you got caught and I kicked you out."
"I'm so, so sorry for sleeping with him, it meant nothing, he meant nothing."
"You're wrong it did mean something, to me. I trusted you and you just threw that all away. Had it been a onetime thing I might forgive, but you did this for months. What's worse is I found out by him falling out of my closet." He accused.
"I didn't want to hurt you. It was a mistake, a stupid mistake and I don't deserve you at all." He said with genuine remorse. "Can you ever forgive me, just one more chance?"
He tried to move closer to Justin, but was held at bay with an outstretched arm.
"I don't know if I can right now. But please, I think it's best if you go, I have to get back to work."
Andrew sadly handed him the flowers and made his way out of the conference room, leaving behind a sad air for Justin to wallow in.
Many hours later Justin was at the front door of his grandpa's house preparing his best poker face as to avoid questions from his family. As much as he loved them he didn't like them being in his business the way they often liked to be. With his best smile he opened the door and was ambushed by the outstretched arms of his mother.
"Oh my poor baby, are you ok?"
"What, yeah why wouldn't I be?"
"I heard about you and Andrew. Mama's here for you." Justin shot the other 3 members of his family a pleading look. Understanding the familiar signal Bobby gently plied his wife off of him.
"Wait who told you?"
"So it's true." Grandpa chimed in.
"Who told you guys?"
"Marc did." Hilda interjected.
"Oh course he did and I bet he neglected to tell you how he pimped me out the same day."
"That was just business." Hilda reasoned. Bobby nodded in agreement. Justin stared at his parents with his mouth open, made speechless by their casual indifference.
"Are you kidding me right now? I was raised to value my pride and dignity."
"Never mind that Justin, I want to know about you and Andrew." Hilda snapped.
"How are you holding up?" Bobby offered.
"I could be worse." Justin breathed.
"What happened, what did he do?" Hilda questioned.
"I'd rather not talk about it." At this the rest of the family threw in their two cents.
"I said it before, you can't trust those actor types they're all trouble. They never know when to separate the real world from reality."
"I never liked him much." Bobby responded.
"Me neither he was too handsy for my liking, like the rest of us even weren't here, no respect." Ignacio threw in.
"He wasn't that cute either." His younger sister added.
When the barrage upon Andrew and the stories about their week were done, they sat and ate together as they did on every first Friday. When the meal was done Justin went to the kitchen to wash dishes, with his sister, Sylvia, following right behind him.
"So why did you two break up."
"It's none of your business."
"Did one of you cheat?"
"Don't you have homework or something to do?"
"It's Friday, who gets homework on Friday? So, did someone cheat?"
"Adults do and that's adult business." He retorted with irritation in his voice.
"So one of you did cheat then, I can't believe you'd do that Justin."
"Excuse me, but I've never cheated on anyone."
"He cheated? I can't believe it."
"Shut it imp, it's none of your business." He hissed.
"You're the better looking one though; I thought only the attractive one in a relationship cheated." She said truly astonished.
"Who told you that?"
"No one did, but it just makes sense. How can you be less nice looking and a cheater? I mean if he was pretty I could understand cause you'd have a lot more people to choose from, but if you're regular looking and with someone that looks way better you probably won't find anyone else that nice looking that'll ever want to be with you. Maybe it's cause I'm young, but that's just stupid to me."
At this Justin had his first real laugh all day.
"I don't get it either kid." He giggled. He could feel his phone vibrate for the 30th time in his pocket and ignored it as he made his way out of the kitchen with his sister in tow.
TBC
