Inverted
Inverted 7/10
Speak Of The Devil
A 17 year old Brian meets a 29 year old Justin and sparks fly.
Inverted
Chapter 7
I wake up slowly. My long body is stretched out on a bed too big to be my own. My face is pressed into a pillow that smells like expensive cologne, definitely not my own. I open my eyes, blinking to adjust to the light pouring down on me from the skylight.
"You're awake. About time.” I lift my head and look to the foot of the bed. Justin's there in jeans and a t-shirt. "I made lunch if you want some."
"Um...sure. I'm just gonna go take a shower first." If I didn't know any better, I would swear Justin's smile falters for a second. But I still haven't woken completely, and my eyes are still bleary so I’m probably just mistaken.
"You know where everything is." Justin turns his back and walks out into the kitchen. I pull myself out of the way too comfortable bed and stumble into the bathroom, turning the shower jets to as hot as they can go, the only sure fire way to wake me up.
Last night had been…stimulating, to say the least. After minutes of prodding, Cynthia finally got me to call Justin. He invited me over and within seconds of stepping inside, we were in the bedroom. I still don't know exactly how that happened. But, needless to say, I'm glad it did. For an old guy, Justin has stamina you wouldn't believe…
"Brian! Are you going to spend all day in there?"
"I'll be out in a sec!" I dry off and pull on my jeans from yesterday before heading to the kitchen. Justin was sitting at the island eating what looks to be soup and a sandwich.
"I made grilled cheese. There’s more sandwich stuff in the fridge if you want something else."
"No, this is fine." Just as I’m biting into my second sandwich, Justin opens his mouth and utters words that I was sure I'd never hear from him.
"Would you like to go out with me, Brian?" I just stare at him, swallowing slowly before responding.
"Go out with you?"
"Yeah, you know, a date."
"A date?" And I know I must have sound like idiot.
"Yeah. I know it'd kind of be going backwards, but I'd like to know more about you. And after last night, it's apparent that this just isn't the best place to get to know you, unless we're talking in the biblical sense. So, yeah, I just thought we could…"
He’s rambling and I’m not really listening. Justin asked me out on a date, and I can't believe it. A date. Justin, who doesn't do dates or relationships, just asked me out on a date.
"Brian?" Right, he's waiting for an answer.
"Um…sure." Justin smiles in response.
"Good. For a second there, I thought you might just turn me down."
"Nah, wouldn't dream of it. I've never been on a date before. So...which ridiculously expensive restaurant are you going to take me to?" Justin leans back in his chair before responding.
“How about McDonald's?"
"I think I'm worth more than a BigMac."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Very."
"Well, I think I might need a little proof."
"What did you have in mind?" Justin stands up and turns his back to me, walking toward the bedroom. Just before he reaches the bedroom door he turns around to look at me once more.
"You're a smart boy. I'm sure you'll figure it out." I don't need him to spell it out for me. I stand up and follow him.
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I press the doorbell and wait for Cynthia to answer the door. As soon as she does, I hear Justin's car speed off behind me.
"Where the fuck have you been?" She stands back to let me into the house.
"Nowhere special." We walk up the stairs to her bedroom.
"You were with Justin, weren't you?"
"I did stop by his apartment…on Friday." She shuts the door to her bedroom and plops down on the futon.
"You were there all weekend?" I buff my nails on my shirt.
"Yeah, hard to believe, huh? He even asked me out on a date. I guess I really am that good."
"He asked you out on a date?" She sounds more excited than I was.
"That's what I said isn't it?"
"When is it? Where are you going? What're you going to--"
"Would you calm down?" She shoves my shoulder…hard. Girl doesn't know her own strength.
"Shut up. I know you had a fit when he asked you."
"A fit? I don't have fits." She just stares at me, and I think back to the conversation with Justin. "I'm willing to admit I was a little surprised when he asked me."
"A little surprised? You were floored."
"Whatever."
"So where are you guys going?"
"You know that place Alex always takes his clients to? Grand Concourse. It's in Station Square. It's supposed to be this great restaurant, but I never get a chance to enjoy the food because I'm always focused on the meeting. He's taking me there."
"That's one classy joint. So what're you wearing?"
"Well, I stopped by my house before I came here and picked up a few clothes. I thought I'd let you help me pick something out. I know how much you enjoy that sort of thing."
"Oh, how generous of you."
"I told Justin he could pick me up here, just so you know."
"Why couldn't he pick you up at your place?"
"Oh yeah, I can just imagine that conversation. 'Oh Dad. I gotta go. My date's waiting. That's him, the hot blond in the nice car.' That'd go over so well."
"Yeah, I guess you have a point there." We talk a little longer, catching up on all the gossip at school, before I start getting ready for my date. We end up going with black slacks and a dark gray fitted sweater. I look good. Always do.
"You have to let me meet him."
"I don't have to let you do anything."
"You will if you want to get out of this house." The doorbell rings, and Cynthia takes off running. I’m not able to catch up to her in time.
"Hi, you must be Justin." I get to the door just in time to see her giving Justin a long once over.
"I am, and you are?"
"Cynthia. I'm sure Brian talks about me all the time." She's so sure the world revolves around her.
"Actually, he’s never mentioned you before."
"I have more important things to talk about than you, thank you very much."
"From what I've heard, you two don't do much talking." She gives a leer Justin's way, and I think this conversation is officially over.
"We're leaving now." I step out of the house and close the door, sure that Justin is following me.
XXXXXXXXXX
We end up sitting in a semi-private booth in the back of the restaurant, and we can't really be seen unless someone walks toward the restroom. Both of us talk about our jobs for a little bit, and Justin tells me about the comic book that he’s working on with Mikey. He says it’s a fun side project to do. Justin talks about his group of friends and his daughter. I can tell he was a good father. Nothing like my old man.
And you know that old saying, "speak of the devil, and he shall appear?" I guess it's true after all because as soon as I mention what a shitty father my own is, a shadow falls over our table. I look up, expecting to see our waiter, but I guess it wasn't my lucky night.
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Author's Notes: Thanks to vanna12 for doing her beta thing. Sorry this took a thousand years to put out. I'm thinking there are 3 or so more chapters left.