Coming Out

Chapter 37

When Justin called the airlines he found out that the earliest flight out wasn’t until late afternoon, not putting them in Pittsburgh until almost midnight. He didn’t want to waste a whole day traveling, unable to see Brian. Just as he was about to hang up and try another airline, the woman on the other end stopped him.

“Sir if you think you can make it, we have a couple of seats left on a fight taking off at 11:10 tonight. How far are you from the airport? Do you think you have enough time to make it?”

“Hang on a second,” Justin told her, turning his attention to Jeff. “They have a couple of openings on an 11:10 flight tonight. That would put us in Pittsburgh at around four in the morning our time, which would be seven there. We could go to the house and sleep for a couple of hours while everyone does their thing and be up long before dinner. What do you say?”

“Let’s do it. Who needs sleep anyway?” Jeff chuckled. He couldn’t believe he was jumping on a plane to Pittsburgh at a moments notice. He was really going to miss Justin once he was gone.

Justin smiled as he got back on the line. “Well take two seats, please. Thank you so much for your help.”

Once the reservations were made, Jeff started packing his clothes while Justin called Brian back. He told him that he couldn’t get a flight out until late in the afternoon and that he would take a cab to the house so he didn’t have to go out so late. Brian tried to argue with him, but Justin was adamant about not being picked up. Once he was off the phone, Jeff looked at him in confusion.

“Why didn’t you tell him we’d be there in the morning?”

“Because right now Brian could use a surprise. He doesn’t have classes on Fridays and knowing Marty, I’m sure he’s not going to be working tomorrow. I thought I’d sneak into his room and give him a wake up call,” Justin explained with a gleam in his eyes.

“Gotcha,” Jeff replied with a laugh.

“Now let’s get moving. I don’t want to miss our flight.”

Justin and Jeff landed in Pittsburgh shortly after seven. Since they didn’t have to check their baggage, they made it out of the airport and into a cab in thirty minutes. Justin was so excited to see Brian that he didn’t stop talking through the fifteen minute ride to the house. As the cab pulled up, he saw his father getting into his car to go to work.

“Dad,” he called as he jumped out of the car, leaving Jeff to grab his overnight bag.

“Justin, what are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming in until late tonight,” Craig replied as he hugged his son. Secretly he was thrilled that Justin was transferring back after just one semester at Brooks. He missed having his son close by.

“I wanted to surprise Brian. The only other available flight was late last night so Jeff and I decided to forgo sleep and spend the night traveling. Is Mom awake?” Justin asked, taking his bag from Jeff once he joined them. “By the way, this is my roommate Jeff. Jeff, this is my father, Craig.”

Craig extended his hand to Jeff and said hello before turning back to Justin. “Yeah, she’s in the kitchen having a cup of tea. Molly’s already off to school and Brian’s still sleeping. I think he had a bad night. I heard him getting up and down a lot.”

“Good, I want to surprise him. I’d better let you get to work. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay, nice meeting you, Jeff. And Justin, it’s good to see you again,” Craig said, smiling at his son.

“You too, Dad,” Justin replied. “Come on Jeff.”

Justin entered the house quietly and led Jeff into the kitchen. “Good morning, Mom.”

Jennifer was standing at the sink with her back to the door when she heard her son’s voice, causing her to spin around in surprise. “Justin, what are you doing here?”

“I live here, remember? Jeez, I’ve been getting that a lot lately,” Justin teased as he hugged his mother. “We took a late night flight instead of waiting and missing out on a whole day.”

“I’m so happy to see you,” she gushed. “And you must be Jeff. I’ve heard so much about you. Welcome to Pittsburgh.”

“Thank you Mrs. Taylor. And thanks for letting me stay here. I really appreciate it,” Jeff said as he shook her hand.

“Please, call me Jennifer. Are you boys’ hungry? I could fix you something to eat.”

“That’s okay Mom. We’re both pretty tired. I think we’ll just go upstairs and try to sleep for awhile,” Justin said, suddenly feeling pretty exhausted.

“Oh, I’m sure you are. I can’t believe you traveled all night. Where are you going to put Jeff? Do you want me to get the roll away from the attic?”

Justin took a deep breath before telling her of his plan. “No, that’s okay. He can just stay in my room and I’ll stay with Brian.”

Jennifer saw the hesitation in Justin and smiled inwardly. As much as she hated to admit it, her son was growing up and she knew that more often than not he found his way to Brian’s bed during the night anyway. She didn’t think that putting them in the same room for the weekend would really matter. In fact, she and Craig had discussed it the night before and already planned on the sleeping arrangements, but she wasn’t going to give up too easy. She would rather tease him a little first. “Justin.”

“Oh Mom, what’s the big deal? Where do you think Brian slept when he came to Brooks? It definitely wasn’t on a roll away. Besides, you’ve already traumatized us with your no sex in the house lecture. The only thing we’ll be doing in there is sleeping,” Justin assured her, feeling a little guilty for the lie he was telling.

“I don’t know. I mean, what would your father say?” she replied, winking at Jeff when Justin looked away.

Jeff saw the look in Jennifer’s eyes and knew she was purposely giving Justin a hard time. He was beginning to think he’d like it at the Taylor house.

Justin sighed and looked away before glancing back just in time to see the look that passed between her and Jeff. He quickly realized that he was being teased and couldn’t help but laugh. “Thanks Mom.”

“Now go on up and get some sleep. You both look exhausted. We’ll talk more when you wake up.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Jeff followed Justin through the house and up the stairs, impressed with his surroundings. The Taylor home was a beautiful place, obviously filled with love and happy memories. His childhood wasn’t as bad as he figured Brian’s to be, but he could see the difference between what he had and what Justin did and felt a little pang of envy.

Justin pointed out the bathroom and Brian’s room before taking Jeff into his room. “Well, this is my room. The dresser in the corner is empty if you want to unpack your things. The remote is in the night table drawer if you want to watch a little TV before you fall asleep. If you need anything else, I’ll be right down the hall.”

“I think I’m all set. Thanks for bringing me here with you. Your parents seem like cool people.”

“They are, just don’t tell them I said that. Good night Jeff.”

“Good night,” Jeff replied with a smile, hoping that Justin realized just how lucky he was.

Justin quietly made his way back down the hall and into Brian’s room. Seeing Brian asleep in his bed, the sunlight beginning to filter in through the curtains, Justin was once again startled at his boyfriend’s beauty. He gently placed his bag in the corner and stripped down to his underwear before climbing in bed beside the sleeping form.

“Hey sleeping beauty. Got time to wake up and give your boyfriend a welcome home kiss?” Justin said as he ran his hand across Brian’s chest.

“Justin?” Brian mumbled.

“Is there another boyfriend that I don’t know about?” Justin said in mock anger.

“There’s nobody else but you,” Brian replied with a smile as he forced his tired eyes open.

“Good answer,” Justin laughed as he kissed Brian softly.

“What’re you doing here? You weren’t supposed to be here until tonight,” Brian asked as he wrapped his arms around Justin.

“Well, if you want I can always leave and come back later,” Justin teased.

“Not a chance, Sunshine.” Brian began running a hand down Justin’s back, stopping when he slipped inside his underwear and found his target.

“Now, now, there’ll be none of that,” Justin said as he reached behind and pulled Brian’s hand off his ass. “Not now, anyway. I’ve been traveling since 10:30 last night my time. As much as I love you, I need to sleep. I was hoping that we could sleep together.”

“That’s the best offer I’ve had all week,” Brian replied sleepily as he settled Justin in his arms and drifted back off to sleep.

Brian woke up a few hours later, and as much as he wanted to wake Justin up and welcome him home properly, he decided to let him sleep. Quietly slipping from his bed, he dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and made his way downstairs. He entered the kitchen to find Jennifer there putting away the bags of groceries she just bought.

“Brian, how’re you feeling today?” she asked when she noticed him enter.

“I’m okay now that Justin’s home,” he replied sheepishly. “I can’t believe the little shit traveled all night just to be here with me.”

“Why can’t you believe it? You’d do the same thing for him,” she pointed out.

Brian smiled at her reply, knowing that it was true. “Yeah, I would. Here, let me help you with those.”

Together they finished putting the groceries away, and then Jennifer insisted that Brian sit down while she made him something to eat. While he was waiting the phone rang and Brian got up to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Brian…its Mom.”

Brian could hear the deep sadness in his mother’s voice and felt a twinge of sympathy for her. After all, she just lost her husband. “Hey Mom, how’re you doing?”

“As well as can be expected, I guess. The house seems so empty now that it’s only Clair and me,” Joan sighed, fighting back the emotions that were trying to escape. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart. There was too much to do. “I was calling to let you know that the service for your father will be tomorrow night at seven. When Jack got sick and it was apparent that he wasn’t going to get any better, he made all the arrangements so I didn’t have to do them myself. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to be there, so…”

“I’ll be there,” Brian said, cutting off the rest of her words.

“Thank you, Brian. That means a lot to me,” she replied.

“I’ll…uh…see you tomorrow night. Good bye, Mom.” Brian hung up the phone before she had time to say anything else and sat back down at the table.

Jennifer saw the tension in Brian build as he spoke to his mother on the phone and felt sorry for him and what he was going through. “Are you alright, Hun?”

“Yeah. Jack’s service is tomorrow night at 7:00. I told my mother that I’d be there.”

“You’re a good boy, Brian. Would you like Craig and me to be there?” she offered.

Brian was surprised by her offer. “You didn’t even know Jack, and Craig sure as hell didn’t like him. Why would you want to go to his service?”

“You’re right; Jack Kinney wasn’t one of our favorite people, but you are and we’d be there to support you. Think about it and let us know.”

“I’d like you to be there,” Brian replied quickly. He didn’t have to think about it. He wanted his family there with him if they were willing.

Jennifer smiled at him. “Then we will be.”

Justin woke up feeling a little disoriented and quickly realized that he was alone in Brian’s room. A glance at the clock showed that it was mid-afternoon. He had slept for almost six hours. He dragged himself out of bed and threw on some sweats before making his way down to his own room. He knocked softly and peered in to find Jeff watching TV.

“Hey, have you been up long?”

“Not too long. I wasn’t sure if anyone was home since it’s so quiet and I didn’t want to go walking around by myself. I figured you’d come get me when you woke up,” Jeff replied as he shut off the TV.

“You could’ve gone downstairs. I’m sure somebody’s home,” Justin assured him. “Come on; let’s go find something to eat. I’m starving.”

“I’m sure you are,” Jeff teased as he followed Justin out of the room.

As Justin walked into the living room, his eyes immediately locked with Brian’s and he couldn’t help but smile. “Hey beautiful,” he greeted as he plopped down on the couch next to his boyfriend.

“Hey Sunshine,” Brian replied as he leaned in and placed a quick kiss on Justin’s lips. “Hey Jeff.”

“Hi Brian, how’re you doing?”

Brian looked over at Justin and smiled. “Better now.”

Jennifer walked in a moment later and stopped short when she noticed Jeff and Justin. “Oh, there you are. I was beginning to think you were going to sleep all day. What would you like to have for lunch? I went shopping earlier so there’s plenty to eat.”

“Thanks Mom, but actually I think I’d rather order a pizza. I haven’t had a slice from Anthony’s since the summer and my mouth is watering just thinking about it,” Justin grinned.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll go order it now. Jeff is there anything special you want on your pizza?” she asked.

“Not really, whatever you get is fine with me.”

Once Jennifer went back to the kitchen, Jeff turned to Justin. “I knew it the moment I met you. You’re a spoiled little brat aren’t you,” he teased.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Brian laughed, stopping Justin’s reply. “He’s Mommy and Daddy’s little boy and uses it to his advantage.”

“Brian!’ Justin exclaimed in horror.

“Relax Sunshine, I still love you,” Brian assured him.

The boys spent the next half hour talking about all the ways Justin was spoiled while Justin tried defending himself. When the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the pizza, Justin gave up the losing battle and went to answer the door. He brought the boxes into the living room just as Jennifer walked in with plates and napkins.

“The first person who gets pizza on the rug has to steam clean the whole room,” she teased.

“Unless it’s Justin. He can do no wrong,” Brian teased.

“Mom,” Justin whined. “Tell them that I’m not spoiled.”

“Sure Honey, whatever you say,” Jennifer replied with a smile.

“That’s it, I give up. I’m going to eat my pizza upstairs,” Justin huffed, reaching for a plate. He squealed when he felt Brian grab him and pull him down into his lap.

“Oh knock it off. It’s all part of your charm,” Brian said as he nuzzled Justin’s neck.

Justin couldn’t stay angry when Brian was holding him in his arms, so he dropped a quick kiss on his lips before jumping up and reaching for the pizza. He was starving and wasn’t going to let anyone keep him from food.

The rest of the afternoon and evening flew by quickly and by ten o’clock Brian and Justin were curled up together laying on Brian’s bed while Jeff was lounging on the floor. They had been talking about school and what their plans were for the next couple of years.

“So, you guys are really going to move in together?” Jeff asked during a lull in the conversation.

“Jeff, we already live together. We have for over a year, remember?” Justin replied with a chuckle.

“Yeah, but this is different. Now you guys are just living in the same house. If you get an apartment, you’ll actually be living together. Sleeping in the same bed, sharing expenses; it’ll be like real life.” Jeff was almost envious of the relationship Brian and Justin had. It was what he’d always wanted with Haley; a complete and total commitment.

“True, but I think we’re ready. We’ve been through so much already and still managed to stay together. Besides, what could be better than waking up every morning in the arms of the man you love?” Justin said smiling as Brian’s arms tightened around him.

Jeff hesitated before asking the question that had been on his mind more and more in the last couple of months. “Guys, what’s it like to…uh…kiss another guy?”

“What?” Justin exclaimed, jumping up out of Brian’s arms. “Where did that come from?” He felt Brian reach out and pull him back down to him.

“I was just…you know, curious. Never mind. Forget I asked.”

“It’s more animalistic,” Brian said, trying to fill the silence that settled over the room. “It’s more passionate and demanding. Kissing a girl can be soft and gentle but when you kiss a guy, it’s as though the need is more extreme. Does that make any sense?”

Justin was now even more horrified. He was beginning to feel as if he was in an alternative universe. “You’ve kissed girls? Like really kissed them?”

“One, back in the seventh grade. Her name was Jessica Bloom and we went to the Sadie Hawkins dance together. You know the dance where the girls ask the guys out. We were dancing the last dance of the night together and everyone around us was kissing so we kissed, too,” Brian explained, laughing at the memory that played in his head.

“Did you enjoy it?” Justin asked curiously.

“What do you think? I’m here with you, aren’t I?” Brian teased. “But it wasn’t that bad, I guess. Her lips were soft and warm. I remember that much. Other than that, she really didn’t do much for me. When I got home, I brushed my teeth twice and jerked off in the shower to images of the football team in the locker room. Does that answer your question?”

“Yeah, it does,” Justin answered before turning his attention back to Jeff. “So, have you been thinking about kissing a guy?”

“I’m not really sure. I never thought much about it before we started rooming together,” Jeff replied honestly.

Brian didn’t like his answer. “Jeff, Justin’s already spoken for,” he warned.

Jeff laughed out loud at Brian’s reaction. “Relax there, killer. I wouldn’t think of hitting on your sunshine. It’s not so much Justin, although anyone with eyes can see that he’s hot. Remember when you were out at Brooks for that long weekend and I walked in on you both when you were practically going at it?”

Brian and Justin both smiled at the memory. They’d been so wrapped up in each other that they didn’t know Jeff was there until he called their names.

“Well,” Jeff continued. “I remember thinking that I should back out of the room and leave you two alone, but you looked so hot together. Ever since then I’ve been thinking…about…oh, I don’t know what I’ve been thinking. I know I love Haley, and I loved being with her. I never raced to the bathroom to brush my teeth after kissing her. It’s just that…lately I’ve been feeling like I might be missing out on something.”

“Wow, I’ve been your roommate for a couple of months now and I had no idea. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“I guess I was afraid to. I was raised to be a straight boy. I wasn’t even exposed to gay people until I was in my senior year of high school. In my house, gay people were considered disgusting and were the butt of jokes at the dinner table,” Jeff sighed.

“I can understand that, but what about Shane? You could’ve talked to him. I was scared to death to come out until I met Brian. Once I knew he was gay it seemed so much easier,” Justin told him.

“But that’s the thing. Am I coming out? Could I be gay just because I think the sight of you and your boyfriend together is hot? Maybe it’s just you two. Maybe I just have some weird fascination with you and Brian?” Jeff was becoming even more confused.

“Well, there’s one way to find out?” Brian spoke up.

“What’s that?” Jeff and Justin asked in unison.

“Tomorrow after the service, why don’t we take a trip to Babylon?”

“Brian, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I’ve never even been there but from what you told me…”

“What’s Babylon?” Jeff asked, interrupting Justin.

“It’s a gay dance club; wall to wall, half naked men bumping and grinding to the music. If nothing else, it will let you know if your fascination is just with Justin and me or all men,” Brian explained.

“Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt,” Jeff replied softly.

“Brian, are you sure you’ll be up for it after the service?” Justin asked with concern.

“Jack’s dead. What better way to honor his memory that a trip to Babylon? Trust me, I’ll be fine,” Brian assured him.

“I guess it’s a date then,” Jeff said. “Just promise me that you won’t leave me alone while we’re there. I’m not sure if I’ll feel real comfortable in a place like that.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you,” Brian promised.

“Alright then, I’d better go to my room and leave you two alone. You’ve hardly had a moment to yourselves since we got here. Good night, guys.”

Once Jeff was gone, Justin turned in Brian’s arms so they were facing each other. “Are you sure taking him to a gay club is a good idea?”

“Why not? It will definitely help him decide what he wants. There’s not a gay or bi-sexual man on the planet that could resist Babylon. If he’s even semi interested in men, it’ll be obvious tomorrow night.”

“What if he finds out that he likes it there?” Justin was beginning to worry about his friend.

“I guess it depends on where he wants to go from there. Relax Justin, Jeff’s a big boy and nobody’s going to make him do anything he doesn’t want to do. We’ll go to Babylon, have a good time, and see what happens. Now enough talk about Jeff. I’ve got more important things on my mind.” As Brian spoke, he started slowly running his hand down Justin’s chest until he found his target.

“Jeff who?” Justin whispered, as he felt Brian’s hand wrap around his cock. Tomorrow could take care of itself. All that mattered at that moment was Brian and their lovemaking.

Jeff closed himself in Justin’s room and lay down on the bed, the conversation with Brian and Justin replaying in his head. He’d been a little nervous bringing up the subject but felt better having it out in the open. Maybe now he’d be able to work through some of the emotions he’d been experiencing lately. He really hoped that their trip to Babylon would clear things up one way or another. He was tired of walking around feeling so confused all the time.


End of part 37
03/04/05

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