"Big Man On Campus" - Chapter Thirty-Four
Continuation of my AU fic. Brian is now a college student; Justin is still in high school.
Rating is NC-17; QaF characters are not mine.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Justin slumped in his seat as he half-heartedly watched his classmates on the dance floor. He shouldn’t have come tonight; it was clear that Brian was not going to show. What had he been thinking, inviting the older boy in the first place?
He felt Daphne squeeze his hand, and looked across the table and gave her a weak smile. Her eyes were filled with sympathy. Justin looked away, angry at himself for being so obviously pathetic.
He was about to suggest to her that they leave, just go back to her house and play video games, when she grabbed his hand again. “Justin,” she cried excitedly, “look!”
Across the room stood a vision so glorious, it took Justin’s breath away. Brian, resplendent in a dark suit and tie, surveyed the crowd like a prince gazing at his subjects. As he moved across the floor, the crowd parted to let him through, girls and boys both gawking at him as he passed by.
When Brian reached the table, he blinked in surprise upon seeing Justin, all dressed up. Justin stood up, beaming. “You came!” he said, smiling.
Brian smiled back. He noticed Justin’s date and said to her, “You look hot, Daphne. I’d fuck you.”
“You, too, Brian,” she replied, giggling.
Brian reached out and took Justin’s hand. “Come on,” he said.
“Where are we going?” Justin asked, still grinning from ear to ear.
“What do you mean? We’re gonna dance.” Brian turned to Michael (whom Justin had not even noticed was there until that moment) and told him, “Watch this.”
“You’re crazy,” Michael said, but Brian was already leading Justin away.
Oblivious to the stares and scowls of the other students and faculty, Justin was aware only of the tall, handsome man before him. As if in a dream, he allowed himself to be led to the dance floor and swept into Brian’s embrace.
The two of them began to move gracefully across the floor, as if they’d practiced their moves beforehand. The music - some hokey old-timey song - filled the room and seemed to speak right to Justin’s heart:
“Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never never let you go
I love you oh so much…”
“I can’t believe you actually came here,” he said to Brian.
“It was Mikey’s idea,” Brian replied with a shrug, but his expression told the truth.
Justin threw back his head and laughed; he felt giddy, on top of the world, and very much in love with life. So, when Brian bent down and kissed him full on the mouth, in front of everyone, he didn’t think twice about it. He kissed Brian right back, and reveled in the undeniable love emanating from his man.
He’s my man, Justin thought, humming happily against Brian’s warm mouth. He’s all mine.
The song ended, and once more Brian took the other boy’s hand, this time leading him off the dance floor. It was only then that Justin noticed, out of the corner of his eye, the other kids staring at them. But nothing could spoil his euphoria.
“Where’re you going?” Michael called after them, as they breezed past. He shot a look at Daphne, who could only shrug in response.
Brian pulled Justin out of the gymnasium and into the hallway. “Where are we going?” Justin asked, giggling.
“Well,” the older boy replied, “you wanted to relive your first Homecoming, didn’t you?”
“So, we’re going out to smoke?”
“For starters.”
Brian brought them outside and around the corner of the school, out of sight of the main entrance. If an angry mob suddenly materialized, they could run to Brian’s car.
They leaned against the brick wall and exchanged smiles. Then Brian retrieved a cigarette from his jacket and lit it. He took a puff and passed it to Justin.
“You know,” Justin said, exhaling smoke, “if we were really re-enacting that Homecoming, Michael would be out here with us.”
“I’m doing some selective editing,” Brian replied. He moved closer and took the cigarette from the blond boy’s fingers. “I want to be alone with you.”
“Oh.” Anything else Justin was about to say was quickly forgotten, when Brian began to kiss him again. The older boy’s tongue explored Justin’s mouth expertly, making Justin moan. Brian was such a good kisser; it made him a little jealous to think of all the other boys Brian had been with in the last two years. Does he kiss all of them the way he kisses me? he wondered.
Brian pulled away, just enough to lean his forehead against Justin’s as they tried to catch their breath. “Thank you,” Justin said softly. “Thank you for being here.”
“Don’t get all lesbonic on me now,” Brian said.
Justin smiled and bit his lip. He took a deep breath before saying, “I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do after graduation. I’ve applied to the Institute of Fine Arts. I want to be a professional artist.”
“So, you’re staying in Pittsburgh?” Brian asked, his expression inscrutable.
“Yeah, if I get in.”
“You’ll get in. I’ve seen some of your stuff; you’ve got real talent.”
“Thanks, Brian.” Justin put his arms around the older boy and leaned over for another kiss. “I’ve got an idea; let’s take our dates home and then go someplace and fuck.”
“Where do you have in mind, Sunshine?” Brian asked, raising his eyebrow.
Suddenly, there came a shout: “Justin! Brian!”
“That’s Daphne,” Justin said with alarm. He and Brian quickly ran back around the corner, and saw Daphne and Michael coming down the sidewalk. “What is it?’ Justin asked.
“We’d better get out of here, now,” Michael said.
Brian didn’t wait for any further explanation. “Come on,” he told the others, and headed for the parking lot. “You got a car, right?” he asked over his shoulder to Justin.
“Yeah, my mom’s,” the younger boy answered.
“Meet us at Mikey’s house,” Brian told him, and gave Justin the address.
“What about your mom?” Justin asked Michael.
“She’s working,” Michael replied. “She won’t be there.”
The pairs ran to their respective cars and jumped in. “What the hell happened back there?” Justin asked Daphne, once they were on the road.
“Some kids started harassing Michael,” Daphne replied. “They threatened to beat him up if he and Brian didn’t leave.” She paused for a second, before adding, “Then they started saying stuff to me…about you.”
“Like what?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “A group of them surrounded us and practically chased us outside. I was scared to death.”
Justin reached over and grasped her hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” He was sick to stomach, thinking about those obnoxious kids, threatening his friends. “It’s okay now; they’re not going to catch us.”
Once at Michael’s house, the four of them sat in the living room and looked at one another awkwardly. Brian removed his jacket and tie and sat close to Justin, his arm around the younger boy. Justin sighed and leaned his head on Brian’s shoulder.
It was Daphne who broke the silence. “You guys looked amazing, dancing together,” she said to Brian and Justin.
“Yeah, I didn’t know you could dance like that, Brian,” added Michael.
“It was awesome,” Justin said dreamily, smiling up at Brian.
Brian grinned back. “Even if it was ridiculously romantic.” He leaned down and gave Justin a brief kiss on the mouth.
“What am I gonna do on Monday?” Justin asked, his voice filled with misery.
“What do you mean? You’re going to go to school,” replied Brian.
“I can’t face those assholes,” Justin said angrily. “Not after what they did to Daphne and Michael.”
“You can, and you will,” Brian told him. “You’re going to finish high school, go on to college, and make something of yourself.”
“Brian’s right,” Michael said. “Don’t let those bastards ruin your life.”
“You’ll be okay, Justin,” Daphne added. “I’ll have your back.”
Justin smiled weakly at the three of them. He hugged Brian tightly and wished with all his heart that he could stay right there, in that cozy little house, until summer came around again.