Michael frowned as he looked at Justin.  Justin was doing laps and Michael knew that Justin only did that when something was bothering him.  After a while, Justin got out of the pool and walked over to where Michael was.

“Can I stay tonight?”  Justin looked at Michael as he as he dried his hair with the towel.

Michael nodded and watched Justin, trying to figure out what was going on with the blond.

“Can I invite Hayden and the guys over?”  Justin asked studying Michael’s reaction.

“I'd rather you wouldn’t.”  Michael told him looking away.  “You know how my mom is.  She could show at any minute and she doesn’t know them.  You're okay because she adores you.”

“You were with Shawn.  Doesn’t she know him?”  Justin asked.

Michael stared at Justin.  “Only him.”  

“Before, I wouldn’t think anything of what you just said.”  Justin shook his head.  

“What?”  Michael asked looking at Justin.

“You don’t like, Hayden.”  Justin accused.

Michael forced himself to laugh.  “What are you talking about?”  Michael licked his lips and wondered what the fuck what’s going on with Justin and how he knew that.

“I know that he and Brian used to be best friends.”  Justin told him.

Michael frowned and looked at the pool.   “Whatever Hayden told you is a fucking lie.”  Michael hissed.

“It was Brian.”  Justin said.

Michael looked at Justin in surprise.  He couldn’t believe that Brian had told such thing to Justin.  “He told you what happened?”  Michael asked.

Justin shook his head and got up.  “He didn’t tell me everything.  You tell me.”  Justin grabbed another tower and wrapped it around his waist.

Michael got up too.  He couldn’t tell Justin what had happened.  Brian would kill him.  He shook his head and turned around to go into the house.  

Justin grabbed Michael’s shoulder and stopped him.  “Come on, Michael.  Please tell me.”  Justin begged.

Michael bit his lower lip.

“I want to help them out.”  Justin said.  “Maybe I can, but I don’t know what happened.”

“Okay, but if you tell Brian it was me who told you, I’m going to kill you.  That is, if he doesn’t kill me first.”  Michael muttered.

Justin nodded and smiled.  He wasn’t going to tell Brian a thing.  He just wanted to help him.

“When I was fifteen, I met Brian and Hayden.”  Michael thought about someone else he met but he wasn’t going to talk about that person or Brian really would kill him.  “Well, we were the same age, but for some reason, Brian and Hayden were always taller than me.  I was getting beat up by some other kids and they just came to the rescue.  Since then, we were inseparable.”  Michael told him with a little smile.

“So what changed?”  Justin asked.

Michael took a deep breath and Justin bit his lower lip waiting.

“Well…”  Michael said sadly.  “A year later Brian and Hayden went to Aspen with Lindsay.  It was her birthday.  I couldn’t go because Mom was taking me to see Dad in Florida.  Shawn didn’t go either, because that’s when we started dating and he went with me.  Anyway, Brian told me that he tried to kiss Hayden the last day there and Hayden got angry and beat the shit out of him.  Brian wouldn’t lift a finger against him.”

Justin had his mouth hanging open.  He couldn’t believe that Brian had tried to kiss another guy.  Then he frowned when he heard what Hayden had done.

“But Hayden wouldn’t do that.  I mean…god, I don’t know what to say.”  Justin told him.  “He isn’t gay, but he doesn’t hate us or anything.  He would have talk things over with Brian.”

Michael shrugged.  “Hayden hated Brian because he was gay then.”  Michael put his hands on his hips and shrugged.  “Or at least that’s what Brian said.  I don’t know.”

“But…but Hayden knows that you and I are gay and he talks to us, to all of us.  Hell, Shawn is gay.”  Justin protested yet in a low voice not sure what was going on anymore.  “And Brian is straight or so he says.  Jesus, this is confusing.”

Michael nodded his agreement.  “A lot of things changed that year.  Brian told me he was straight and that he had been mistaken about the whole thing.  Hayden said he had acted a little rash and that he wanted to talk to Brian but by the time that happen, it was too late.  Every time Brian and Hayden saw each other things didn’t ended well.  At first the only ones that would fight like crazy were Hayden and Brian.  Then everyone started getting into it.”  Michael said.  “Then you got here and the last two years…well, you don’t need a recap of that.”

“This is fucking crazy.”  Justin whispered.  “Hayden is a good guy.  He would have said sorry and…I don’t know.  It just doesn’t make sense.”  Justin looked at the pool and frowned.  

“That’s why I’m always thinking something else happened.  I mean…Brian came home different and Lindsay became his protector and wouldn’t let Hayden get close to Brian.  Yet, Hayden acted scared around Brian.  I don’t know what to think.  Whatever happened that day, the only ones that know are the three of them.”  Michael turned around and started walking again.

“I didn’t know Lindsay and Brian were friends.”  Justin said.

Michael nodded and opened the twin, French doors to his house.  Justin followed him inside.

“Why are you suddenly interested, Justin?”  Michael asked as he got in the kitchen.

Justin shrugged.

“I told you about Brian.  It’s your turn.”  Michael pointed out as he opened the fridge and took out a soda for him and one for Justin.

Justin bit his lower lip and took the can.  “I think Brian is not so bad.”  Justin took a sip of his drink and turned around to go to the living room.

“What are you talking about?”  Michael followed him somewhat a little stunned.  “You hate him.”

“Hate is a strong word.”  Justin told him.

“Justin.”  Michael said.

“Well, he’s kind of a nice guy.  We talk sometimes and he has friend potential.”  Justin said smiling.  “I might have misjudged him.”

Michael smiled not believing what he was hearing.  “That’s what I have been trying to make everyone see.  He’s a good guy.”  

Justin nodded and sat down.  There were other reasons why he was interested in helping Brian, but he wasn’t about to tell that to Michael.  “Maybe if I had known that, we wouldn’t be in this mess now.  God, no senior trip!!  You know how long I waited for it?”  Justin shook his head.

“I’ll take a lot of pictures and bring you guys something.”  Michael sat next to him and smiled.

Justin arched a brow and nodded.  He had to settle for that.

***

Lindsay said goodbye to Justin as he left.  Once she was back in her room, she sat on the bed and thought about what had happened.  She picked the phone and called Brian.  She needed to find out what was going on and why Justin was asking so many questions.

“Hello?”  Brian asked.

“Hey.  It’s me, Lindsay.”  Lindsay told him.

“I know.  What’s up?”  Brian asked.

“Well, Justin was just here.”  Lindsay bit her lower lip and wondered what the hell what’s going on.  

“And I care why?”  Brian asked rolling his eyes.

“He was asking about you and Hayden.”  Lindsay waited for Brian to say something but the brunet stayed quiet.  “Did you hear me?”

“Yes.”  Brian didn’t know what the fuck he was supposed to say.  He couldn’t believe that Justin was snooping around about his life.

“Say something.”  Lindsay sighed knowing there was definitely something going on.

“What do you want me to say?”  Brian asked her.

“How does he know so much?”  Lindsay asked.  “And how the hell did he found out?”

“What does he know?”  Brian frowned knowing that he shouldn’t have opened his mouth in the first place.  

“He knows you two were best friends and that supposedly Hayden beat you up because you kissed him.”  Lindsay said.

“Shit.”  Brian said.  “I don’t know, Linds.”

“Brian.”  Lindsay whined.  “What are you not telling me?”

Brian took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  He was so going to kill Justin.  “I might have told him a few things.”  Brian said.

“Brian, can I ask you something really personal?”  Lindsay asked frowning.

“No.”  Brian told her but knew that she would ask anyway.

“Do you like Justin?”  Lindsay asked.

“Lindsay, I don’t want to talk about this.” Brian told her.  “What the hell is with you? You know I’m straight!”

Lindsay rolled her eyes tired of hearing Brian say that again and again.  She knew that Brian was just too scared of getting hurt.  “Me?  What is with you?”  Lindsay tried hard to fight the smile that was winning trying to adorn her face.  Brian did like Justin and she was going to make him admit it.  “You do know that your answer translates into a big yes.”  

“Shut up.”  Brian hissed.

“I think that is so sweet.”  Lindsay told him.

“Oh for fucks sakes.”  Brian grumbled.  “I have to go.”

“We are not done, mister.”  Lindsay said.  “Come tonight.  We need to talk.”

“Whatever.”  Brian told her hanging up.

Lindsay smiled and put the phone back on his cradle.  She smiled knowing that Brian would come.  She was happy that Brian liked Justin.  She wanted the brunet to be happy and Justin was a really nice guy in her book.

***

Justin was smiling like a fool since they come to tell him that Brian was waiting outside for him.  He walked out of his house and didn’t see Brian.  He walked towards the gate and saw that Brian was still sitting on his motorcycle.  He hid away his smile.  He frowned when he looked at Brian and the brunet glared at him.

“What’s wrong?”  Justin asked.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?”  Brian asked getting off his motorcycle and putting the helmet on top of it.

“What are you talking about?”  Justin took a step back.  He didn’t know what the fuck was going on.

“Don’t play dumb with me.  I know you been trying to get information from my friends.”  Brian hissed.

“I just…”  Justin said.

“No!”  Brian yelled.  “You have no right.”

“I’m sorry, Brian.”  Justin told him backing away.  “I was…I just wanted to help.”

“How the fucks do you think you are going to accomplish that?”  Brian was beyond mad.  He didn’t want Justin messing around in his life.  He didn’t want the blond to find out what had happened.  He didn’t want to be so close to him because Justin always made him lose his head.

Justin shrugged not knowing what to say to the angry Brian.  Brian took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he stared at Justin’s blue eyes.  He was sure that Justin was going to back away and he wouldn’t have to worry about the blond anymore.

“You kissed a guy.”  Justin said suddenly.

Brian frowned and grabbed Justin by the neck pushing him against the wall.  He was so going to kill Justin right then.

“Don’t you ever say that again.”  Brian threatened.  “I’ll fucking kick your ass.”

“I want you to kiss me.”  Justin told him.

Brian let go of him and moved back.  He didn’t know what to do or say.   Justin moved forward and Brian moved back again.  Brian’s heart was pounding really hard and he didn’t know what he was feeling but he kept telling himself that Justin was crazy.

“Have you gone nuts?”  Brian asked coming out of his shock.  “I like girls!”

“You don’t.”  Justin yelled.

“Do too!”  Brian screamed.

“Do not!”  Justin screamed back.

“Do too!”  Brian hissed.

“Do not!”  Justin yelled moving closer to the brunet.

“Do too!”  Brian screamed as loud as he could.

“What the fuck is up with you two?”  Ted asked looking from the brunet to the blond.

Brian and Justin looked at Ted and James who were walking towards them.  James and Ted stopped in front of them and just stared.  Brian grumbled something and got back on his motorcycle.  He grabbed his helmet and put it on.  He gave Justin one last look before he started his motorcycle.

“Stay away from my friends, Taylor.”  Brian left then.

They watched him go and then Ted turned to look at Justin.  “What was that all about?”  Ted asked.

“He is fucking nuts.”  Justin said before he went to his house.

James smiled from ear to hear as they kept on walking to his house.

“What is with you?”  Ted asked.

“Nothing.  Just thinking how some things are so cute.”  James told him.

“What is cute?”  Ted asked.

“Don’t mind me.”  James told him.  “You know how I babble a lot, baby.”

Ted shrugged.  “So, what do you think was that all about?”  Ted asked referring to Brian and Justin.

“Who knows?”  James asked.  “They are always fighting.”

James put his arm around Ted’s shoulder and kissed him on the cheek.  Ted nodded and they just kept on walking oblivious to what was going on with Brian and Justin.

***

Justin looked at Shawn and didn’t know what to tell him.  He couldn’t believe he had been so obvious that Shawn had caught on to what was going on.  Justin knew that the taller blond wasn’t going to say anything to his brother but he still felt like he was doing something that he shouldn’t be doing.  He shouldn’t have fallen for Brian.

“Tell me what this is all about?”  Shawn yelled.

“I don’t know.”  Justin told him.

“Don’t say that.”  Shawn was still yelling.  “Do you like him?”

Justin looked at the floor and bit his lower lip.  “I don’t know.”  Justin whispered.

“Fuck!”  Shawn hissed.  “Is there anything you do know?”

Justin looked up at his friend and licked his lips.  “I think…I think I might like him.”  Justin sighed and couldn’t believe those words have come out of his mouth.

Shawn opened his mouth in shock.

“What am I supposed to do?”  Justin asked.  “I can’t stop it.”

Shawn composed himself and sat down on the sofa.  He rubbed his face and shook his head.

“Justin, you have to be very careful.”  Shawn told him.  “If Hayden’s finds out, he…well, I don’t know. It’s not going to be a good thing.”

Justin knew that Shawn was right.  Hayden was going to go insane if he knew that he had been talking to Brian.  “Do you know what happen with him and Brian?”  Justin asked.

Shawn shook his head.  “All I know is that…Hayden came back different.”  Shawn whispered.

Justin felt so bad.  He wanted to help Brian and yet he didn’t want to betray Hayden’s trust.  He had to tell his friend what was going on but he knew that would probably start world war three.  He shook his head and tried not to think about anything.  It wasn’t like he and Brian were together anyway and after all that had happened, he doubted very much that Brian wanted to talk to him at all.

***

“That fucking bastard.”  Chris yelled as he dropped his book bag next to Brian in the parking lot.

Brian looked at him and wondered what the fuck had happened.  Chris was soaking wet from head to toe.  Brian tried not to smirk but it was helpless.  He ended up laughing his heart out. “What happened to you?”  Brian asked.

“Hayden did this.”  Chris hissed.

Brian shook his head.  His smirk turned into a frown.  He knew that meant trouble.

“I’m going to get him back.”  Chris said as he took off his shirt.  “I know what we can do to get him.”

“Could you keep me out of it?”  Brian asked.

“What?”  Chris asked as he took back his bag and they started walking towards his car.

“I just don’t want to get in a fight with him or anyone else.”  Brian told him.  “I’ll have time to get back at Hayden later.”

“Why not now, Brian?”  Chris asked.  “You always helped me.  Hell, you are the usually one that would be coming up with something to get back at him.  What’s with you?”

“Because every fucking time any of you start fighting, Justin and I end up paying for it.”  Brian said.

“What do you care about him?”  Chris asked raising an eyebrow.  “Don’t tell me you have become friends with him.”

“Of course not!”  Brian told him.  “But if he gets an extra half hour in detention, guess what?  Me too!  I am so fucking tired of this shit.” 

Chris took a deep breath.  “I know, I know, I’m sorry about that, Brian.”  Chris said.  “I should have stayed with you.”

Brian shook his head.  “You would be going nuts with Taylor.  He is so fucking weird.”  Brian told him.

Chris looked at Brian and nodded.  He frowned not sure what was going on with Brian.  His friend was definitely changing.  He was sure that he and Justin talked all the time but he wasn’t going to pressure Brian into telling him if he talked to Taylor.  

“I don’t know how anyone can stand him.”  Brian said.  “He’s just crazy.  Trust me.”

Chris nodded.  “I bet.”  Chris said as they reached the car.  “Do you want to go out tonight?”

“Uh, I have plans.”  Brian told him.

Chris nodded and they got in.  He was pretty sure that Brian was hiding something from him and he was going to find out what.  He could snoop around a little to see what was going on.  If he didn’t found anything, he wasn’t going to worry.  He knew that eventually Brian would tell him what was going on.  Brian always told him all his secrets.

***

Justin walked outside and opened the door.  Brian had called him telling him he was outside.  He wanted to know what the hell Brian wanted now.

“Hey.”  Brian said.  “I brought some food.”

Justin arched a brow.

“Are you mad at me?”  Brian asked.

Justin shook his head.  “I was…I was wrong.  I shouldn’t be trying to get into your business.”  Justin looked at the floor and then moved to the side so Brian could go in.

Brian nodded and stepped inside.  “I shouldn’t have screamed at you.”  Brian muttered.

Justin smiled and closed the door.

“Are you alone?”  Brian asked.

“When am I not?”  Justin asked.  “Come on.”

They walked to the dinning room and ate the Chinese food right out of the containers.

“I read part of the book.”  Brian said.  “Have you read anything?”

Justin nodded.  “Some.”  Justin looked at Brian and then back at his food.  He couldn’t stop thinking about Brian kissing a guy.

Brian licked his lips and frowned.  He didn’t like the way they were talking to each other as if they didn’t know one another.  “What’s wrong?”  

“Nothing.”  Justin assured him.

“Justin, come on.”  Brian said.

Justin sighed and put the Chinese box down on the table.  He looked at Brian and took a deep breath trying to control his nerves.  “You kissed a guy.” Justin choked out.

Brian stared at Justin like he was nuts.  “Look, Justin…it’s true.  I kissed a guy but…well, it was just curiosity.”  Brian told him after a while.	

Justin swallowed hard, not liking what Brian was telling him.  “Whatever, Brian.”  Justin took the can of soda and put it back down in the table.  He didn't think he could swallow the liquid with the big knot that was in his throat at the moment.  He was feeling so frustrated as he talked to the brunet.

“Don’t be mad at me.”  Brian told him.

Justin took a deep breath.

“I think you are lying to yourself.”  Justin said.

“You don’t know me, Justin.”  Brian told him.

“I’m trying to.”  Justin whispered.  “But you won’t let me.”

Brian frowned.

“I won’t be mad if you are curious to kiss me.  I’m not Hayden.”  Justin looked at Brian trying to read the man’s face but Brian wasn’t giving anything away.

Brian got up and started pacing.

“Brian.”  Justin said.  “Did I say something wrong?”

Brian shook his head.  “Look.  You are my friend okay.  Nothing else.”  Brian saw the hurt in Justin’s eyes and it felt as if someone was twisting a knife inside of him.  It hurt him too.  He couldn’t let that happen.  He had to keep away from Justin.  It was for the best.  

Justin nodded and left it at that.  He would try later.  He just wasn’t ready to give up.

***

Justin was in the bathroom crying when Emmett came inside.  He heard the crying and wondered who was it?  He got into the next stall and got up in the toilet and then took a peek to see who was crying.   He saw the blond head and right away knew that it was Justin.

“Justin?”  Emmett asked.  “What it’s going on?”

“Emmett!”  Justin yelled startled.  “What are you doing?”  He quickly cleaned his tears.

“Get out of there now.”  Emmett told him.  

Justin unlocked the stall but stayed inside.  Emmett went in and hugged Justin to him and the blond started spilling his tears again.  Emmett just held him tighter letting Justin get it all out.  He wanted Justin to be calmed down enough so they could talk.

“Are you feeling better?”  Emmett asked when Justin pulled away.

Justin just nodded as he tried not to think about what he had seen.  He was so mad yet so hurt and there wasn’t a thing he could do.

“What’s wrong, baby?”  Emmett asked him.

“He kissed her.”  Justin said sobbing.

“Who kissed who?”  Emmett asked.

“Today at lunch, Brian kissed Jenny.”  Justin told him.

Emmett let go of the blond and looked at him like he was some kind of alien.  “What are you talking about?”  Emmett asked.

“A couple of days ago we were talking about him kissing Hayden.”  Justin said.

“He kissed Hayden?”  Emmett asked surprised.

Emmett couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Brian had kissed Hayden.  He just couldn’t get past that.  He was thinking that the world had gone mad when Justin snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Emmett!”  Justin hissed.

“What?”  Emmett asked.

“You are not listening to me.”  Justin pointed out.

“I’m sorry, baby.”  Emmett said.  “I am just trying to process here.”

“Don’t say anything.”  Justin told him.

Emmett nodded.

“Well, I was talking about him kissing me and he told me he wouldn’t because he had just been experimenting.  That he was straight and he was never going to do something like that again.  And now he kissed her.”  Justin blurted out quickly.

“Oh, baby.”  Emmett said as he hugged the blond again to him more tightly.

Justin just sobbed again.  “He looked at me first and then kissed her.”  Justin told him.

“He is just doing this to push you away.  He might be scared.”  Emmett told him.

“Of what?”  Justin asked mad.  “His friends don’t care if they have gay friends.  He can hide it from his parents.  What is there to be scared about?  I wouldn’t even say anything if he didn’t want me to.”

Emmett shrugged not knowing the answer to that.  “Maybe he is scared of something else.”  Emmett told him.

“What?”  Justin asked angry.

“Getting hurt.”  Emmett said.

Justin bit his lower lip.  “I would never hurt him.”  Justin muttered.

“Can you guarantee him that?”  Emmett asked.

Justin shook his head and looked at the floor.  “What am I going to do now?”  Justin asked.

“What do you mean?”  Emmett asked.

“I am in love with him.”  Justin muttered.

Emmett sighed and decided he needed to take action into his own hands.  He knew that Brian and Justin were meant for each other.  He had seen Brian around Justin and he knew the brunet like the blond.  Now he just needed a plan…and to stop thinking about Brian kissing Hayden.  It was just mind boggling.