"Getting Better" - Part 7
Justin faces the music.
This is a "Nowhere Man" Flashforward -- "Getting
Better -- Part 7."
Features Justin Taylor, Professor Minton, Marshall
Meyers, Ethan Gold.
Rated R and contains no warnings or spoilers.
Summary: "The PIFA Treatment." Pittsburgh, February
2004.
Disclaimer: This is for fun, not profit. Watch "Queer As
Folk" on Showtime, buy the DVDs, videos, and CDs. Read
the stories and enjoy.
By Gaedhal
"Why didn't you tell me about your situation earlier,
Mr. Taylor?" Professor Minton inquired, sitting back
in his chair. "It might be easier for you just to drop
my course. Or I could give you an extension on this
first project, but then the next one will be coming up
soon and it seems that you will just fall farther and
farther behind in your work."
"That's why I wanted to speak with you, Professor
Minton, and explain what's going on," said Justin,
nervously. He squirmed in the chair as Professor
Minton frowned at him. This guy wasn't about to cut
him any slack at all! "I don't want to drop this course!
I really don't! And I don't want ask for an extension,
either. But I wanted you to understand why I was
having trouble with the assignment. I didn't want
you to think that I don't care about your class or
that I was blowing off my work." Justin licked his
dry lips. "It's just hard for me to find the time to get
over here to work in the studio, especially in the
evenings. Not when I have to... to take care of Brian."
"I'm very sorry that your boyfriend is ill, Justin,"
Professor Minton said, with a bit more sympathy.
"But I don't know any other way to do a multi-media
assignment other than to work in the Media Arts Studio
with the equipment. I know that you do a lot your work
on your special computer at home, but that doesn't take
the place of what we have available in the studio."
"I know," said Justin, running his hand through his
long hair. "I'm sorry."
"How are you coping with your other classes, Justin?"
the professor asked.
Justin hesitated. "It's difficult, but I'm trying to keep
up. Brian has finished two weeks of radiation treatments
but he still has two weeks to go. I missed a lot of class that
first week, but since then a... a friend is staying with us
and he's helping out so that I don't have to miss any more
classes. You know, taking Brian to his treatments, shopping,
doing the laundry. A lot of our friends are helping, too. And
Brian's mother and even my mother are giving us a hand.
But... but it's MY responsibility, Professor Minton! I
guess I feel that since Brian is sick, he should be my
first priority."
"And how does HE feel about that?" The professor raised
his eyebrows. Justin Taylor WAS a talented student, but
it seemed as if he was always asking for special favors
and arrangements. He wanted to do most of his work on
his computer because of an injury he had received to his
hand. This had caused a few of Justin's professors to
complain that he was getting special treatment because
PIFA didn't want any complaints that they were
discriminating against a gay student who was at the
Institute on a partial scholarship sponsored by a gay
organization, the Gay Professionals' Circle. And now
his boyfriend had cancer. That was a shame, but
Professor Minton didn't understand how that impacted
Justin's work. It wasn't like they were married or
anything.
Justin sighed. "Brian definitely thinks I shouldn't miss
any more class. He's adamant about that. That's the only
reason we have Ron, Brian's friend, staying with us. So
I don't have to be there every minute of the day. But I
still feel guilty when I'm not with him."
"If it's true that his prognosis is very good, then I'm sure
that your boyfriend is correct in his assessment of the
situation. Keeping up with your studies should take
precedence over anything else." Professor Minton stood
up, indicating that the conversation was over. "Perhaps
if you budget your time better. The Institute's program
of study is rigorous. If you aren't up to it, I'm sure
another school might be a better fit for you."
Justin stood and collected his backpack and portfolio.
"I won't be needing an extension, Professor Minton. The
assignment WILL be turned in on time."
Justin was sweating as he stepped out of the office.
"How did it go?" asked Marshall. He and Ethan had been
waiting outside Minton's office for Justin to go to lunch
with them.
"Like shit, that's how!" Justin exclaimed.
"Is he going to give you an extension?" Marshall glanced
at Ethan and nodded. Justin was really, really upset!
"I couldn't ask for one," Justin fumed. "I just couldn't!
He acted like I'm always asking for special shit -- but
I'm not! Just because I NEED to use the computer when
my fucking gimp hand cramps up! That isn't my fault!
I've always done all of my work and turned it in on time.
Always!"
"Calm down, Just!" said Ethan. "Let's get something to
eat. Come on."
Marshall and Ethan led Justin to the cafeteria. "I'm not
hungry anymore," Justin mumbled.
"Yes, you are!" said Marshall, putting a salad on his own
tray and another one on Justin's. "You want a sandwich?"
"I guess so." Justin felt flushed. He always turned bright
red when he got angry. He reached for a turkey sandwich.
"Is turkey okay for the ozone layer or the rainforest or
whatever, Marshall?"
"I think turkey is all right," said Marshall, while Ethan
rolled his eyes.
Ethan reached for a large roast beef sandwich. He was
sick and tired of Marshall's vegetarian kick, but it showed
no sign of abating any time soon. "Well, I think Professor
Minton is a fucking homophobe!"
"Why? Because he thinks I, Justin Taylor, Student Faggot,
should turn my assignments in on time?" Justin took a
deep breath. "He's right. I shouldn't get any special
treatment just because Brian has cancer. No one gives
a shit about my boyfriend being sick -- and they
shouldn't! It shouldn't effect my schoolwork. That's
my own responsibility."
"Yes, they should care, Justin!" Marshall piped up.
"Everybody should care!"
"Well, they don't. Minton only cares that I keep up with
my work and so does PIFA." The boys found a corner table
and sat down. "Now I'm going to have to go over in the
evenings and work at the Media Arts Studio. I have to!"
"What about Brian?" asked Ethan. "You want me and
Marshall to go over to the loft and keep him company
while you're at the studio? I could bring my violin!"
Justin coughed. Brian was always making comments
about Ethan's music sounding like someone strangling a
cat. "That's okay, Ethan. It's nice of you to offer... but
Ron is still staying with us. He'll be at the loft in case
Brian needs anything."
"I can't believe that guy is still there," said Ethan.
"What does he do anyway? Just hang around your
place while you're in class?"
"Ron takes Brian for his treatment first thing in the
morning," Justin explained. "Then they go to the diner
and have breakfast. Then they might go to the mall or
over to see Gus, at least until Brian starts to feel sick.
Then they go back to the loft and Brian sleeps most of
the afternoon while Ron does the laundry or goes grocery
shopping. Then Ron gets the bong ready and Brian smokes
some weed until he feels a little better. By that time I'm
usually home and we have dinner, either take-out or
something that Deb or my mom brought over for us.
Then we watch television or a DVD. By that time Brian
is out of it, so we go to sleep and start all over again in
the morning."
"That guy is Brian's old boyfriend," said Ethan, making
a face. "Do you really trust him around Brian?"
Justin sighed and stared down at his lunch, his appetite
fading fast. "I have to. If Ron wasn't around then I don't
know how I could keep in school. I know that Ron is still
in love with Brian. It's pretty obvious when you see the
way he looks at Brian. But Brian doesn't feel the same
way about him, I KNOW that! He likes Ron and they have
a lot of history together, but that's all it is. Really."
"Poor Brian!" said Marshall. He thought it was romantic
the way Justin was trying so hard to take good care of
his boyfriend. He wondered if Ethan would take care of
him if he was sick. Maybe. But one time Marshall had
a cold and Ethan made him sleep on the sofa for a week
because he didn't want to catch it right before a big
violin competition.
"It's kind of funny sometimes," Justin mused. "The
other day I came home from class and I could smell the
marijuana before I even got off the elevator. The CD
player was blasting 'Sergeant Pepper' and Brian and
Ron were lying on the futons and they were both stoned
out of their minds on Emmett's weed. They saw me come
in and they couldn't stop giggling. Two grown men! I
felt like I had just walked into 1967!"
"Well, I wouldn't trust that Ron guy, that's for sure!"
said Ethan, taking a large bite out of his roast beef
sandwich. "Especially when the two of them are high.
I'd be afraid that he and Brian were screwing around
behind my back."
"Ethan! That's a rotten thing to say about Brian!"
Marshall cried. "He loves Justin!"
"I'm not too worried about that, actually," Justin
returned. "Between his operation and the radiation
treatments and all the side effects, Brian can't... well,
he really isn't up to making love."
Ethan snorted. "Sure, maybe BRIAN can't get it up,
but that old boyfriend of his isn't too old to get hard!
You don't need to get a woody in order to get fucked,
Justin. Remember that!"
Justin glared at Ethan. He could be such an asshole
sometimes! "Thanks for THAT image in my head!
Fuck you, Ethan!"
"I'm only saying that you should watch those two.
Don't let them make a fool out of you, Just," said
Ethan, calmly chewing his roast beef.
"Brian would never do that! And don't suggest that he
would again!" Justin threw down his turkey sandwich
in disgust. Now he definitely wasn't hungry anymore.
Justin had a full schedule of classes this afternoon. And
he needed to work on his project for Minton's class in
the studio tonight and every night this week if he was
going to complete it on time. He probably wouldn't get
home until almost midnight. Fuck!
The only place Justin wanted to be was the one place
that he couldn't be. Home. At the loft. With Brian.
And the only person in the world who Justin didn't
trust with Brian was the one person who WAS there.
Ron. But what could Justin do? He'd have to trust
Brian and wait for all of this to be over. Then
everything would be okay. Everything would be
back to normal. It would all work out in the end.
So Justin hoped.
Because that's all he could do. Hope. And pray.
This is a "Nowhere Man" Flashforward -- "Getting
Better -- Part 7."
Features Justin Taylor, Professor Minton, Marshall
Meyers, Ethan Gold.
Rated R and contains no warnings or spoilers.
Summary: "The PIFA Treatment." Pittsburgh, February
2004.
Disclaimer: This is for fun, not profit. Watch "Queer As
Folk" on Showtime, buy the DVDs, videos, and CDs. Read
the stories and enjoy.
By Gaedhal
"Why didn't you tell me about your situation earlier,
Mr. Taylor?" Professor Minton inquired, sitting back
in his chair. "It might be easier for you just to drop
my course. Or I could give you an extension on this
first project, but then the next one will be coming up
soon and it seems that you will just fall farther and
farther behind in your work."
"That's why I wanted to speak with you, Professor
Minton, and explain what's going on," said Justin,
nervously. He squirmed in the chair as Professor
Minton frowned at him. This guy wasn't about to cut
him any slack at all! "I don't want to drop this course!
I really don't! And I don't want ask for an extension,
either. But I wanted you to understand why I was
having trouble with the assignment. I didn't want
you to think that I don't care about your class or
that I was blowing off my work." Justin licked his
dry lips. "It's just hard for me to find the time to get
over here to work in the studio, especially in the
evenings. Not when I have to... to take care of Brian."
"I'm very sorry that your boyfriend is ill, Justin,"
Professor Minton said, with a bit more sympathy.
"But I don't know any other way to do a multi-media
assignment other than to work in the Media Arts Studio
with the equipment. I know that you do a lot your work
on your special computer at home, but that doesn't take
the place of what we have available in the studio."
"I know," said Justin, running his hand through his
long hair. "I'm sorry."
"How are you coping with your other classes, Justin?"
the professor asked.
Justin hesitated. "It's difficult, but I'm trying to keep
up. Brian has finished two weeks of radiation treatments
but he still has two weeks to go. I missed a lot of class that
first week, but since then a... a friend is staying with us
and he's helping out so that I don't have to miss any more
classes. You know, taking Brian to his treatments, shopping,
doing the laundry. A lot of our friends are helping, too. And
Brian's mother and even my mother are giving us a hand.
But... but it's MY responsibility, Professor Minton! I
guess I feel that since Brian is sick, he should be my
first priority."
"And how does HE feel about that?" The professor raised
his eyebrows. Justin Taylor WAS a talented student, but
it seemed as if he was always asking for special favors
and arrangements. He wanted to do most of his work on
his computer because of an injury he had received to his
hand. This had caused a few of Justin's professors to
complain that he was getting special treatment because
PIFA didn't want any complaints that they were
discriminating against a gay student who was at the
Institute on a partial scholarship sponsored by a gay
organization, the Gay Professionals' Circle. And now
his boyfriend had cancer. That was a shame, but
Professor Minton didn't understand how that impacted
Justin's work. It wasn't like they were married or
anything.
Justin sighed. "Brian definitely thinks I shouldn't miss
any more class. He's adamant about that. That's the only
reason we have Ron, Brian's friend, staying with us. So
I don't have to be there every minute of the day. But I
still feel guilty when I'm not with him."
"If it's true that his prognosis is very good, then I'm sure
that your boyfriend is correct in his assessment of the
situation. Keeping up with your studies should take
precedence over anything else." Professor Minton stood
up, indicating that the conversation was over. "Perhaps
if you budget your time better. The Institute's program
of study is rigorous. If you aren't up to it, I'm sure
another school might be a better fit for you."
Justin stood and collected his backpack and portfolio.
"I won't be needing an extension, Professor Minton. The
assignment WILL be turned in on time."
Justin was sweating as he stepped out of the office.
"How did it go?" asked Marshall. He and Ethan had been
waiting outside Minton's office for Justin to go to lunch
with them.
"Like shit, that's how!" Justin exclaimed.
"Is he going to give you an extension?" Marshall glanced
at Ethan and nodded. Justin was really, really upset!
"I couldn't ask for one," Justin fumed. "I just couldn't!
He acted like I'm always asking for special shit -- but
I'm not! Just because I NEED to use the computer when
my fucking gimp hand cramps up! That isn't my fault!
I've always done all of my work and turned it in on time.
Always!"
"Calm down, Just!" said Ethan. "Let's get something to
eat. Come on."
Marshall and Ethan led Justin to the cafeteria. "I'm not
hungry anymore," Justin mumbled.
"Yes, you are!" said Marshall, putting a salad on his own
tray and another one on Justin's. "You want a sandwich?"
"I guess so." Justin felt flushed. He always turned bright
red when he got angry. He reached for a turkey sandwich.
"Is turkey okay for the ozone layer or the rainforest or
whatever, Marshall?"
"I think turkey is all right," said Marshall, while Ethan
rolled his eyes.
Ethan reached for a large roast beef sandwich. He was
sick and tired of Marshall's vegetarian kick, but it showed
no sign of abating any time soon. "Well, I think Professor
Minton is a fucking homophobe!"
"Why? Because he thinks I, Justin Taylor, Student Faggot,
should turn my assignments in on time?" Justin took a
deep breath. "He's right. I shouldn't get any special
treatment just because Brian has cancer. No one gives
a shit about my boyfriend being sick -- and they
shouldn't! It shouldn't effect my schoolwork. That's
my own responsibility."
"Yes, they should care, Justin!" Marshall piped up.
"Everybody should care!"
"Well, they don't. Minton only cares that I keep up with
my work and so does PIFA." The boys found a corner table
and sat down. "Now I'm going to have to go over in the
evenings and work at the Media Arts Studio. I have to!"
"What about Brian?" asked Ethan. "You want me and
Marshall to go over to the loft and keep him company
while you're at the studio? I could bring my violin!"
Justin coughed. Brian was always making comments
about Ethan's music sounding like someone strangling a
cat. "That's okay, Ethan. It's nice of you to offer... but
Ron is still staying with us. He'll be at the loft in case
Brian needs anything."
"I can't believe that guy is still there," said Ethan.
"What does he do anyway? Just hang around your
place while you're in class?"
"Ron takes Brian for his treatment first thing in the
morning," Justin explained. "Then they go to the diner
and have breakfast. Then they might go to the mall or
over to see Gus, at least until Brian starts to feel sick.
Then they go back to the loft and Brian sleeps most of
the afternoon while Ron does the laundry or goes grocery
shopping. Then Ron gets the bong ready and Brian smokes
some weed until he feels a little better. By that time I'm
usually home and we have dinner, either take-out or
something that Deb or my mom brought over for us.
Then we watch television or a DVD. By that time Brian
is out of it, so we go to sleep and start all over again in
the morning."
"That guy is Brian's old boyfriend," said Ethan, making
a face. "Do you really trust him around Brian?"
Justin sighed and stared down at his lunch, his appetite
fading fast. "I have to. If Ron wasn't around then I don't
know how I could keep in school. I know that Ron is still
in love with Brian. It's pretty obvious when you see the
way he looks at Brian. But Brian doesn't feel the same
way about him, I KNOW that! He likes Ron and they have
a lot of history together, but that's all it is. Really."
"Poor Brian!" said Marshall. He thought it was romantic
the way Justin was trying so hard to take good care of
his boyfriend. He wondered if Ethan would take care of
him if he was sick. Maybe. But one time Marshall had
a cold and Ethan made him sleep on the sofa for a week
because he didn't want to catch it right before a big
violin competition.
"It's kind of funny sometimes," Justin mused. "The
other day I came home from class and I could smell the
marijuana before I even got off the elevator. The CD
player was blasting 'Sergeant Pepper' and Brian and
Ron were lying on the futons and they were both stoned
out of their minds on Emmett's weed. They saw me come
in and they couldn't stop giggling. Two grown men! I
felt like I had just walked into 1967!"
"Well, I wouldn't trust that Ron guy, that's for sure!"
said Ethan, taking a large bite out of his roast beef
sandwich. "Especially when the two of them are high.
I'd be afraid that he and Brian were screwing around
behind my back."
"Ethan! That's a rotten thing to say about Brian!"
Marshall cried. "He loves Justin!"
"I'm not too worried about that, actually," Justin
returned. "Between his operation and the radiation
treatments and all the side effects, Brian can't... well,
he really isn't up to making love."
Ethan snorted. "Sure, maybe BRIAN can't get it up,
but that old boyfriend of his isn't too old to get hard!
You don't need to get a woody in order to get fucked,
Justin. Remember that!"
Justin glared at Ethan. He could be such an asshole
sometimes! "Thanks for THAT image in my head!
Fuck you, Ethan!"
"I'm only saying that you should watch those two.
Don't let them make a fool out of you, Just," said
Ethan, calmly chewing his roast beef.
"Brian would never do that! And don't suggest that he
would again!" Justin threw down his turkey sandwich
in disgust. Now he definitely wasn't hungry anymore.
Justin had a full schedule of classes this afternoon. And
he needed to work on his project for Minton's class in
the studio tonight and every night this week if he was
going to complete it on time. He probably wouldn't get
home until almost midnight. Fuck!
The only place Justin wanted to be was the one place
that he couldn't be. Home. At the loft. With Brian.
And the only person in the world who Justin didn't
trust with Brian was the one person who WAS there.
Ron. But what could Justin do? He'd have to trust
Brian and wait for all of this to be over. Then
everything would be okay. Everything would be
back to normal. It would all work out in the end.
So Justin hoped.
Because that's all he could do. Hope. And pray.