The Touch

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 “Deb, can I talk to you about my work schedule?”

 

“Sure, anything for you, Sunshine.  Just let me get the napkins so I can refill these,” she said, pointing to the dispensers lined up on the counter.

 

The diner was almost empty so Justin started to wipe down the tables. Michael was sitting at the counter slurping his soup and it was driving Justin crazy.

 

“So what did you want to talk about?”

 

“I wanted to know if I could work a double shift on Saturday?”

 

“I don’t see why not. Do you need the extra money?” Deb asked. She worried about him now that he was a poor college student.

 

“Sort of, but it’s going to be a hard day anyway. Better to keep busy. So how about twelve to twelve?”

 

Michael raised his head. He couldn’t help but hear their conversation.  Poor kid, he thought.

 

“That’s fine, honey. Could you get another case of napkins from the storage room? There wasn’t enough in this one.”

 

“Sure and thanks Deb,” said Justin, giving her a kiss on his way out back.

 

Watching him leave, Deb turned to Michael, “What’s so hard about Saturday?”

 

“Mom!” Michael gasped. “I’m sure you remember what happened a year ago, Saturday.”

 

Thinking for a moment, she gasped, “THE PROM.”

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“What are you doing on Saturday?” Michael asked.

 

“I have a lunch meeting with a client and then I am coming here.”

 

“What about after your work out?”

 

“The usual go home, pay some bills, and then go to Babylon. Why? Do you have something in mind?”

 

Emmett and Ted looked at each other and moved to another part of the gym. They whispered speculating to themselves if Brian felt anything or realized Saturday was the anniversary of the bashing. Ben unfazed just kept jogging on the treadmill.

 

“We are going to spend the night at the diner.”

 

“Why?”

 

“As a show of support to Justin. He decided to work and stay busy, but Ma didn’t want him to be alone. So we are taking decks of cards and board games for a games night.”

 

“Sounds,” Brian paused and decided to keep his snide remark to himself, “nice of you. Who is going to be there?”

 

“Me, Ben, Ted, Em, Ma, Carl, Jennifer, Daphne, Lindsay, and Mel. You should come. You shouldn’t be alone either.”

 

“What about the fiddle-fuck?”

 

“I don’t know. Maybe but…”

 

“Don’t worry, Mikey, I won’t be alone. I was actually trying to figure out how to avoid all of you, anyway.”

 

Michael nodded, knowing the day would be harder for his friend then he was letting on.

 

Justin moved around the diner. He had been fairly successful at keeping busy. When there was a lull in the customers, he would join his friends and family at one of their tables. If someone saw him getting pensive, they would call him over to their game for an opinion or to settle a dispute.

 

The evening went by faster than anyone expected. While they all kept an eye on Justin, they were also thoroughly enjoying their respective games. By nine o’clock, Daphne was distracted by the time that was approaching. She watched her best friend closely and could tell he was getting more uncomfortable.

 

At exactly five to ten, the bell over the door jingled and everyone turned to see Brian. He looked like he had been sleeping or fucking. It’s hard to tell with him. While they all stared at him, he only saw Justin. Slowly making his way over to the blond teenager, he stopped just inches from him.

 

“I had to see you,” Brian said quietly.

 

“I know. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get out of here and go find you.”

 

Brian’s shaking hand reached up to Justin’s forehead, pushing the hair away from the scar. He ran his finger over the raised flesh. Justin clutched Brian’s hand. The older man tenderly kissed the scar and then straightened to meet Justin’s gaze.

 

“Thank you,” he whispered.

 

“For what?”

 

“For being the strongest, bravest person I know and for fighting to come back from what happened.” Then Brian placed a soft kiss on Justin’s forehead. Justin closed his eyes savoring the tenderness.

 

“I should be thanking you. You saved my life, more than once, actually.”

 

“What time are you finished here?”

 

“Midnight.”

 

“I’ll be home.”

 

“Alone,” he added quickly. “If you want to talk, call me or whatever.”

 

He left just as quickly as he entered.

 

No one moved. They looked to each other and then to Justin. Staring after Brian for several moments Justin took a deep breath before he went to the back of the diner. Wow! He really cares about me, he thought. That touch spoke volumes. He is hurting too. No surprise. Why didn’t I realize his love? Another deep breath and a sigh passed his lips as he remembered the love.

 

“I’ll take out the trash,” he told the cook loud enough for everyone else to hear.

 

After a minute, the cook nodded to Debbie. Sure that Justin couldn’t hear them, they all talked at once.

 

“Wow.”

 

“That was so sweet.”

 

“This is so hard for him too,” said Michael.

 

“Maybe some of us should have been with him tonight,” agreed Lindsay.

 

“He never would have allowed it,” sighed Michael.

 

“If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it,” said Ted.

 

“I would,” offered Daphne. “You should have seen them at the prom.” She smiled at the memory. Flashing through her mind was how Brian pulled Justin to the floor and started dancing, how they looked into each other’s eyes, and how Brian caught him with his scarf. The thing that kept repeating in her mind was the mind blowing eternal kiss that said it all. Everyone stared at her realizing they had never asked about the events before the bashing of that fateful night. 

 

“I bet they were beautiful,” said Emmett.

 

“Oh, Em, you would have cried. It was THE most romantic thing I’ll probably ever see. It was like time stopped and they were in an old black and white movie.”

 

“Fuck, he really does love him,” gasped Ethan.

 

“Ethan, I tried to tell you,” responded Daphne with sympathetic eyes.

 

“I know Justin loves Brian. I’ve always known that,” Ethan said. “I just didn’t believe that Brian really loves Justin.”

 

“Just because they love each other, it doesn’t mean they should or can be together,” said Jennifer.

 

The cook coughed and everyone returned to the tables before Justin made his way back into the diner.

 

After a few minutes, Ethan finally caught Justin’s attention. “Justin, can I talk with you.”

 

“Yeah, what about?”

 

“Let’s go in back for privacy.”

 

“Okay, but anything can be said in front of the family.”

 

“Okay. Justin, you made a mistake.”

 

The blond looked confused. He glanced at the table. “I must be more distracted than I thought. What did you order?”

 

“No. The mistake happened three weeks ago.”

 

Their eyes locked, an unspoken understanding passed between them.

 

“I…” Justin shook his head. “I don’t know what to say. Sorry sounds hollow, but I do mean it.”

 

“It’s okay. I think deep down I knew. We both did. You needed a break, not me.”

 

“I really do like you. We could even be happy together, but you deserve better.”

 

“You’re right, I do and so do you. Make him give it to you. Don’t settle for less. He loves you, even I could see it tonight.”

 

Justin smiled. “Thank you,” he said and kissed the curly haired boy for one last time.

 

Ethan returned the smile. “Go,” he said softly.

 

“Deb, I have to…” said Justin, but he stopped when he saw the family smiling at him.

 

“GO!” They all answered at once. Michael was holding the keys to Ben’s car in an outstretched hand.

 

The teen took off his apron, grabbed the keys, and rushed to the door. When he opened it, he rushed right into a well-toned chest.

 

“What took you so long, Sunshine? I’ve missed you. Let’s go home.”

 

 Justin smiled and jumped into his lover’s arms for a passionate kiss. He threw the keys over his shoulder, as the door closed behind them.

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