Is This the End?

Chapter Seven

“What are you talking about, Ma?” asked Michael.

“Daphne said that he decided that he needs a new start and went with his cousin to Las Vegas.”

“Hmm,” hummed Michael. “Well, good.”

“Michael!” exclaimed Emmett.

“What?! He hurt Brian. He cheated on him, then left him! I think it’s great that the little leech is finally out of our lives. In fact, like I said before, Brian should have left him in that parking garage.”

That was it. The final straw. Brian had had enough. “Michael! Stop it!”

They all looked at Brian in shock. This was the first time that Brian had spoken to Michael in such a tone.

“Brian, I—“

“Don’t Brian me, Michael! I have had enough of you trash talking Justin. He did not cheat on me. He had every right to leave. There were never any locks on our doors. And, I swear if you ever say what you just said a moment ago, no one will ever find your body. Do I make myself clear?”

All Michael could do was nod. Everyone could tell that Brian was completely serious. Brian slid out of the booth and stood up. He started to turn around, then stopped. Before anyone could react, Brian spun back around and punched Michael so hard that he fell sideways out of the booth. Brian didn’t wait around. He turned around and walked out of the diner.

After he had gotten into his jeep, he looked at the knuckles on his right hand. They were already starting to swell. He had been so furious at what Michael had said. He still was. He started his jeep and drove to his loft. ‘What am I going to do?’ he asked himself as he drove. He couldn’t believe that Justin had left. He hadn’t blamed Justin for falling into Ethan’s arms. He had only blamed himself. He just hadn’t been able to tell Justin the three words that Justin had longed to hear. He didn’t know if he could, now. “Maybe I should just leave Justin alone and let him start his new life,” he mumbled to himself as he parked his jeep in front of his loft’s building.

 

*****

Justin was sitting in the back of the car as Nick drove. He was excited about heading to Las Vegas, but he was also scared. The only time he had ever been out of Pittsburgh was when he had had his little drama queen moment and had run away to New York. He didn’t know what he was going to do in Vegas. The only two people he was going to know were Nick and Greg. It was going to be a new start, though. It was what he needed. He couldn’t help but smile as he started thinking of all of the adventures that were awaiting him. Plus, no one in Vegas was going to know him. He could re-invent himself. Start living life on his terms. Giving a decisive nod, he relaxed. ‘Vegas, here I come!’ he thought.

*****

THREE DAYS LATER

Justin unpacked his last suitcase in the guestroom of Nick and Greg’s house. He hadn’t seen what Vegas had to offer, yet, but he was going to find the hottest gay club and dance the night away. Changing into a pair of black jeans that hugged his bubble butt and a tight white t-shirt, he walked into the living room. He saw Nick and Greg sitting on the couch, waiting for him. They needed to unwind and relax, before they met back up with Grissom and the rest of the crime lab the next night.

“Ready, J?” asked Greg.

“Oh yeah!” Justin exclaimed as he rubbed his hands together.

An hour later, they were walking through the doors of a club called Destiny. It looked a lot like Babylon, Justin thought. He immediately felt like he was home. He could already feel his body wanting to move to the beat and he could feel the eyes on him.

“I’m going to go dance,” he said.

“Okay. Be careful,” said Nick.

“Always,” replied Justin before he disappeared into the crowd of gyrating men.

He didn’t know how long he had been dancing before he felt a body press up close behind him. Arms went around him. He almost panicked at having a stranger so close, but he pushed it down. He took a deep breath and turned around with a smile.

The man was very handsome. He was tall, easily two heads taller that Justin. Justin could tell that the man had a great body. He also had a nice smile and nice brown eyes. “My name’s Brent. Yours is…?”

“Justin.”

“Well, Justin, nice to meet you.”
 

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