Going the Distance

Chapter 14

By the time Brian, Billy and Ben pulled up outside Justin’s house, Brian had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He really wanted to talk to Justin; try to figure out what was going on with them, but being with the others was going to complicate things. Brian was lost in thought and didn’t notice the look that passed between Ben and Billy before Billy jumped out of the car.

“I’ll go get him,” he called as he made his way to the door.

Brian sighed, almost in relief while he watched Billy go.

“Brian,” Ben said from the back seat. “Do you think that after dinner…we could maybe go somewhere so Billy and I could be alone?”

“You and Billy?” Brian asked a little surprised. He saw the attraction between them when they met but didn’t expect to hear Ben’s request.

“Yeah, you don’t mind, do you? I mean, he’s you cousin and all. If you’d rather I didn’t…”

“No, it’s okay. I guess I never really thought about you and Billy having much in common. But sure, there’s a place out off the highway where I’ve taken Justin before. We can go there.” Brian smiled at the thought of Billy and Ben falling for each other. He liked Ben a lot and would love to see him happy with someone.

“Thanks Brian, I appreciate it.”

When Billy and Justin got in the car, Brian reached out and pulled Justin in for a quick kiss, but once their lips made contact, all the love and passion they had for each other took over as they devoured each other in the back seat. Ben and Billy saw their connection and smiled at each other silently. Their plan wasn’t going to be hard at all.

Everyone had a good time at dinner. Billy regaled Justin and Ben with stories of when he and Brian were younger, while Ben and Justin shared a few things that had happened since Brian’s move to Pittsburgh. Brian feigned indifference, but he enjoyed listening to his cousin and friends getting along so well, even if it was at his expense. He really wanted Billy to move to Pittsburgh. It would be nice to have family close by.

After dinner, Brian gave Ben directions to his and Justin’s place and they all chatted on the short ride. Once they were parked and out of the car, Brian led Justin away so that Billy and Ben could be alone. Once they were out of ear shot he explained everything to Justin.

“So you think Billy and Ben are interested in each other? That’s cool. Maybe that will help encourage Billy to move here,” Justin said, disappointed that it wasn’t just Brian who wanted to get Justin alone. It was killing him to feel the distance growing between them.

“That’s what I’m hoping for. I’d love to have Billy living here,” Brian agreed.

After that, Brian and Justin settled into an uncomfortable silence, both of them wondering what was happening between them. Finally Justin couldn’t take the awkwardness between them anymore and knew he had to ask the one question that had been plaguing him for the last few weeks.

“Brian, what’s happening with us?” he asked softly.

“I don’t know, Justin. I was going to ask you the same thing,” Brian sighed, relieved that the question was out in the open.

“Look, if you’re sorry that you asked me to live with you next year, don’t worry about it. I won’t hold you to it.”

“What?” Brian exclaimed, surprised by Justin’s words. “Justin what are you talking about? I wouldn’t have asked you to live with me if I didn’t want you there.”

“But then what’s wrong? You’ve been acting really strange ever since you asked me,” Justin replied.

“I’ve been acting strange? How would you know? You’ve been so busy with all your tutors that I’ve hardly seen you. It’s like you’ve been avoiding me. I thought that maybe you’ve decided that you didn’t want to move in with me,” Brian admitted shyly.

“I haven’t been avoiding you,” Justin insisted before noticing Brian’s skeptical look. “Okay, maybe I have been, but not for the reason’s you think.”

“What other reason’s are there?”

“Brian, when I met with my tutors, I told them how important it was for me to catch up with everyone else my age. I’ve missed out on so much and I need to be able to take care of myself. I need to have a job so that I can move out with you when you’re ready. They told me the best way for that to happen is to practice as much as possible, so that’s what I’ve been doing. Every night Daphne’s been coming over and helping me study. She quizzes me on my math skills and helps me with my reading. That’s why I haven’t been around much lately. I want to be ready to live with you,” Justin explained.

“Why didn’t you say so? I could’ve helped you study. I’m not stupid, you know? I’m in college, remember?” Brian was beginning to get irritated.

“I know, Brian. That’s the problem. I was embarrassed,” Justin told him honestly.

“What? Embarrassed of what?”

“Brian, you’re a freshman in college and I’m reading at the second grade level. I didn’t want you to hear me stumbling over See Spot Run,” Justin sighed in exasperation.

Brian stared at Justin in disbelief for a moment before replying. “What did you think I would do? Laugh at you? Justin, you’ve been blind for most of your life. I never expected you to pick up War and Peace and begin reading. Truthfully, I don’t care if you never learn to read. I love you for who you are, not what you can do. You’re the one who has all these expectations of what you think you should be doing right now, not me.”

“But you have so much going on right now with school and work, not to mention what just happened with your parents. The last thing you need is to have to tutor your dumb boyfriend.”

“Okay first of all, you’re not dumb and I don’t ever want to hear you say that again. Second of all, all I want to do is spend time with you, whether it’s going to a movie or listening to you read See Spot Run,” Brian insisted, before adding, “besides, that happens to be my favorite book.”

Justin laughed at Brian, feeling a little ashamed by the way he shut Brian out. “So, you still want us to live together next year?”

“If I was living in my own apartment right now, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation,” Brian assured him with a smile. “You’d already be living with me.”

“I’m sorry Brian. From now on, I promise to tell you everything,” Justin said, turning serious. “I love you, you know.”

“Care to prove it?” Brian teased.

“Most definitely.”

Ben and Billy quietly crept out of earshot, pleased with the reunion of their two favorite people.

“I guess that takes care of that,” Ben said once they were far enough away.

“Yeah, they just needed a little push. The Kinney’s are known for their stubborn pride. Apparently Justin has a little touch of it, too,” Billy agreed.

“They’re in for a long ride, but I’m sure they’ll make it okay. It should be interesting to watch,” Ben laughed. “Now all we have to do is wait around for them to finish reconnecting.”

“Well, there’s no reason to let them have all the fun,” Billy replied as he pulled Ben in for a kiss.

It was a clear night and as the moon shone down, two couples lost themselves in the cool evening air; one couple reaffirming their connection and one starting their own.



Seven years later…


Brian paced the small waiting room for the hundredth time, wondering where Justin could be. He called his cell phone over an hour ago but the blond had yet to appear. While he was pacing, he thought back to the last seven years and couldn’t help but smile at everything that had happened in those years.

Once Justin regained his sight, he took the world by storm, throwing everything he had into learning all he needed to know to survive in the world. Within a year’s time, he was enrolled in the local community college, transferring to Carnegie Mellon two years later, and graduating with a degree in Education. He now was employed with Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, teaching children with disabilities how to manage in the world. He and Brian had moved in together after Brian’s first year as planned and they’d been together ever since and were stronger than ever.

Billy transferred to PIFA for the winter semester, having fallen for Ben almost immediately. The two of them were still together and were regular guests in the house that Brian and Justin purchased the year before. Billy was just starting to make a name for himself in the art word and Ben was a professor at Carnegie Mellon.

Brian had graduated from Mellon at the top of his class and was now the top ad executive at the Ryder Agency. The money he made plus the bonuses for bringing in all of the top clients was what helped finance the home that he and Justin had purchased.

The biggest event that changed their world was when Justin and Brian had met Lindsay. She was a lesbian that Justin had met when he was doing volunteer work at the GLC. She and her partner had become very good friends with Brian and Justin over the years, which was why Brian was pacing the waiting room to begin with. He was waiting for Lindsay to give birth to his son; something that he never imagined would happen to him. In fact, when Lindsay approached him with the request, he immediately refused, but Justin had different ideas. He’d always wanted to be a father, but had become sterile during his childhood illness; another side effect that went along with his lost vision. He told Brian that by him having a child with Lindsay; it would be the closest thing to having a child of his own. Brian finally relented, unable to refuse Justin anything. Now, nine months later, Brian was beginning to regret his decision. So many thoughts raced through his head, the most disturbing one being his fear of becoming just like his own father. He never wanted to subject his son to the harsh life that he’d been raised in. His thoughts were interrupted when Justin came running through the doorway.

“Sorry Brian, I got here as fast as I could. Did anything happen yet?” Justin asked, trying to catch his breath.

“Not yet, but I’m glad that you’re here. I was beginning to worry,” Brian said as he took Justin in his arms.

“Brian, I told you before; we’re in this thing together. Lindsay and Melanie already agreed that our son was going to have two mommies as well as two daddies. If it wasn’t for the traffic on the interstate due to an accident, I would have been here sooner,” Justin reassured him, finding it endearing that Brian worried so much.

Before Brian had a chance to respond, Lindsay’s doctor walked into the room with a smile on his face. “Brian, Justin, your son is here and he and Mom are doing just fine. Follow me and I’ll take you to them.”

Justin reached out and took Brian’s hand and together they walked down the hall to meet their son. Once they were inside the room, nothing else mattered except for the little bundle that Lindsay held in her arms.

“Come say hello to your son,” she said, her eyes damp with tears.

Brian took a deep breath before walking towards the bed and taking the child from his mother’s arms.

“Hey Sonny Boy, welcome to the world,” he cooed as he looked down at when he considered the most beautiful baby in the world.

Justin stood back and watched Brian in awe, loving him more than he even thought possible. He smiled as he thought back to the day he first signed online, thinking that his dreary life was about to change. Little did he know how much things would change. Brian was his life; his world and he wouldn’t go back and do anything differently. He was right where he wanted to be and life was good. There were some bad times over the years, but none of them out-weighed the good and now that little baby Gus was there, things could only get better.

“Okay Dad, it’s your turn,” Brian said softly, bringing Justin out of his thoughts.

Justin’s heart skipped a beat as Brian placed their son in his arms. “God, he’s beautiful. Just like his Daddy. I love you Brian.” Justin looked up with tears in his eyes, only to find Brian’s eyes damp as well.

“I love you, too,” Brian replied before softly kiss Justin and then his son.

Yeah, life was good.

The end
12/22/04

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