Best Friends Forever - Part 2

Have you read part 1 yet?

Michael stood for a moment, watching Brian walk towards his home. He tried to tear his eyes away but couldn't. Just couldn't. Finally Brian started to turn up a driveway, and Michael realized that Brian could see him standing there, so he quickly picked up his pace and headed for the diner.

Hiking his knapsack on his back, Michael smiled to himself. 'Mikey', he thought. I like that.

The smile was still on his face when he reached the diner, which was packed full as usual with the after school crowd.

"Baby!" Deb hollered at from behind the counter. "You're on busboy duty today - Johnnie's sick!"

Even the thought of picking up people's dirty dishes couldn't wipe the silly grin from his face. He had a friend. A genuine, bona fide friend. Maybe things weren't so bad after all.

He dumped his knapsack in the backroom and quickly grabbed one of the aprons that hung there, as well as one of the dish trays so he could start collecting the dishes. Deb caught a glimpse at the smile plastered across his face and quickly grabbed his arm before he could get away.

"What's the grin for, son?" she smiled herself, so happy to see her little boy with some joy in his face.

"Nothing, mom..." he started, then stopped. "Actually, there was this new kid that started school today... Brian Kinney... he's my friend." It sounded silly to say it, but it was the truth. He was Michael's friend. And he was by far the coolest guy in school. Michael was so looking forward to this year.

They worked through the after school rush right into the dinner rush, then even into the after dinner dessert and coffee crowd. Michael didn't mind. He'd be making enough tonight to even keep a few bucks to himself. Maybe he'd get a couple of comic books. Then again, he thought... maybe he'd stash it away and save up for a cool jean jacket like Brian's.

Finally when 8:00 rolled around, it was time to for Deb and Michael to call it a night. They hadn't spoken much with the rush, but Deb was so pleased to see Michael doing his work well, and with a grin on his face that couldn't be wiped off for anything.

They were just getting ready to head out the door when Vic popped his head in. "Heya, sis!" he cried when he saw them leaving. "I was just coming to get you two."

Vic held the door open for them as they walked out. He gave Debbie a big hug, then pulled Michael into his warm embrace. How badly Michael wished he could pretend this was a hug from his father, and not his uncle. But he was still on cloud nine, and so looking forward to going to school tomorrow to see his friend. To hang out with his friend. To eat lunch with his friend. He tried not to think about how pathetic he really was.

Vic threw his arms around Deb's shoulder, then Michael's. "Okay kids, I'm taking you out," he laughed, always in a good mood, always wanting to share his happiness with his family.

"Sure," Debbie laughed back. "What's the occasion?"

"No occasion. Just happy to be with my favorite sister and my favorite nephew," He squeezed Michael's shoulder. "How `bout it, Michael? Do you want to go out somewhere interesting for dinner tonight?"

"Sure, uncle Vic," he smiled, his usual apprehension brushed away with everyone's good mood. "Anywhere but the diner would be a welcome sight right now."

"Hmmm... where can I take my family," Vic pondered, as they wandered into the busy streets and close to Liberty Avenue, the gay district of Pittsburgh. "I know... there's a really great new Japanese restaurant that Stephen and Eric opened up. You know them Deb - Stephen does that amazing Madonna impression - he led the gay pride parade last year."

"Oh, right!" she laughed remembering Stephen's over the top costume that mimicked Madonna in her "Like a Virgin" phase. "The wedding dress - like a virgin my ass!" Deb and Vic burst into gales of laughter as they recounted the event. "Sounds great... Michael sweetie..." she leaned around Vic to look at her son, trying to read his face. She knew that since starting high school last year, Michael had started to act a bit differently around Vic and some of his gay friends. She suspected she knew why, but wasn't ready to confirm her suspicions yet. Until then, she let him call the shots and gauge his own comfort level over where they went.

"Yeah mom... Japanese would be awesome," Michael was in another world, long having tuned out his mom and uncle Vic and their reminiscing about his friends.

The three hit the restaurant and had an amazing dinner. Vic's friends Stephen and Eric sat with them, and they laughed all evening, as much at the jokes they told as at the innuendo they hinted at, in an effort to shield Michael from some of the cruder tales. He was only 14 after all. But Michael knew more than they could ever imagine. Michael was just curious about what he was going to look like when he got older... that's why he looked at Uncle Vic's magazines. That's the only reason why... he didn't want to think about that now. He just feigned innocence and smiled along with everyone as they burst into laughter.

Soon the clock turned to 11:30, and Deb realized that it was a school night. "Gosh! We'd better get this boy home," she announced, sipping back the remainder of her wine. "It's past the time he needs to get to bed."

"Come on, I'll get you a cab home," Vic pulled his long legs out of the small sitting area, stretching after sitting so long.

They said their good byes to their friends, and with promises to return soon, hit the cold outside air.

"Let's just walk a bit," Deb said. "It's a beautiful night, and I think I need a shot of cold air after that wine."

Vic and Deb held hands as they walked down the quieter side streets. With Liberty Avenue to their left, every once in a while they'd hear a hoot or loud blast of music as a car drove down the busy street.

Michael still smiled to himself, his stomach full of teriyaki chicken and rice. Who'd of imagined that a day that started so miserable could end up so good?

As they passed one of the alleyways, Deb let out a whoop of laughter at something Vic said, and a sudden movement down the lane caught his eye. Michael quickly turned his head and saw someone sitting in the alley, jean jacket pulled tight across their chest. At Deb's laugh, a face turned to look at them, and Michael suddenly stopped in his tracks. It was Brian.

"Hey... what are you doing here," Michael approached Brian smiling at first, pleasure at seeing the boy again coursing through him. But in moments, Michael realized something was wrong. Brian was hunched over, holding his stomach, and leaning against the corner of the brick building lining the alleyway. As Michael approached, Brian turned his face away from him, looking in the opposite direction.

"Go away," he whispered quietly, his voice cracking.

"What?" Michael stepped nearer to his friend to hear what he said.

Brian's face flashed towards Michael suddenly, tears streaming down his bruised cheeks. "I said go away!" he yelled loudly, trying to stand, but crying out as he did so.

"Michael, honey what's wrong?" Deb and Vic came to his side quickly as they heard the outburst.

As soon as Deb saw the battered boy, she gently pushed Michael aside and knelt in front of Brian.

"What happened to you, honey?" she said, putting her hand on the boy's forehead, not knowing who he was, or caring either.

"Leave me alone," he said harshly through tears, trying to cover his face with his hands, but every movement causing him more pain. Vic rushed in to grab him as he looked about to fall over. He caught him in his strong arms as Brian slipped into unconsciousness.

"Do you know this boy?" Deb asked of Michael.

"Yeah," Michael whispered, in shock. "That's Brian Kinney," he swallowed hard, feeling as though he'd just been punched in the stomach. "My friend."

Vic had hailed a cab, and the four of them piled in, Vic holding Brian in his arms. Brian drifted in and out of consciousness. He wrapped his arms around his chest, and let Vic cradle his head against his shoulder. Despite Brian's height, he was lean, and Vic was strong, able to easily support the boy's weight.

Michael sat in the front seat, so unsure of how to feel or what to say. He didn't know. He just didn't know.

He was terrified that Brian had been beaten up by Dan and his dick friends because they found out he was hanging out with Michael. He was so convinced of this, he made himself believe it was true, and it just made him feel miserable.

He had a friend. For a day.

Once at home, Vic carried Brian's limp body upstairs to Michael's room, putting him gently on the bed. Brian seemed to wake up, and tried to sit up, but bent over in pain, rolling on his side on the bed.

"Fuck..." he whispered, his eyes squeezed tight despite the angry dark bruises on his face. "I feel like I can't breathe."

"Let's get a look at you, kid," Vic took Brian's hands in his, and pulled them aside, so he could see what damage had been done to the boy's face. There was no blood, but a sickening rainbow of colors bloomed across his pale skin. Purples and blues and yellows... the bruises covered one of Brian's cheeks, slid up towards his eye, and rested on his bottom lip, making it swell. Hands... no, fists did this to the boy, Vic thought, shaking his head in disgust at the thought.

Brian opened his eyes and looked at Vic, momentarily taking the older man's breath away. This boy was beautiful... how could anyone...? Vic took a deep breath, trying to coax a wave of nausea to pass.

Tears streamed from Brian's hazel eyes... Vic suddenly realized it wasn't physical pain causing the sorrow... it was something more. Someone had hurt this boy in more ways than one.

Vic wanted to cradle him in his arms, draw the boy to him, and hold him tight. Tell him he was loved. Tell him he was so special... but he didn't feel it would be appropriate. Somehow didn't feel right. He felt tears threaten at his own eyes, and he swallowed a lump in his throat as he stared into Brian's telling eyes. He said so much, yet nothing at all.

Debbie came in quickly with a face cloth dampened with warm water, and lightly touched Brian's cheeks with it to wipe away the tears.

Michael just stood in the corner, horrified at the scene before him, sick rising in his throat as he gasped for breath, hiccupping in his panic, his fear, his pure sense of not understanding of what was happening before him, and what was happening inside of him.

Vic slowly lifted Brian's shirt to reveal a large purple bruise on his stomach. "Jesus Christ," Vic whispered under his breath. Brian looked like he'd been kicked repeatedly.

"Who did this to you?" Vic asked of the boy on the bed.

Fear jumped into Michael's stomach. This was his fault. All his fault. He didn't want to hear what Brian was going to say and he panicked. His feet were frozen to the floor. He didn't want to hear it, but he also needed to hear it. To make it reality.

"Nobody," Brian whispered harshly, turning his face away from both of them, pushing his shirt down to hide the marks.

"Come on kid," Deb knelt beside the bed, brushing Brian's long bangs out of his face softly. "Vic and I will call your mom and dad-"

"No!," Brian yelled loudly, sitting up on the bed, despite the pain. "Nobody is calling my fucking parents," the boy gritted his teeth through the pain. He gasped to gain his breath, his stomach muscles quivering still from the beating and making it difficult for him to inhale.

"Whoa..." Deb put her hand on his shoulder to calm him down, as Vic stood, ready to catch the boy again if he fell. "Now, now... there is nothing to be embarrassed about... Lord knows Michael's come home with a black eye or two-" she looked to her son, who had pressed himself against the wall as if trying to pass right through it.

Michael was pale, his eyes opened wide. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He'd never seen anyone this beaten up before in high school. Never seen a kid able to inflict this much pain on another.

"There is no one to call. There is no one to blame," Brian whispered, attempting to stay in the sitting position. "I'm okay..." he tried to take a deep breath, but shuddered as he sucked it in. "I'm alright." As he said it again, the others in the room realized that Brian wasn't talking to them, but to himself.

He slowly raised himself to his feet, arms out in an effort to keep his balance, as Deb stood to one side and Vic to the other.

"Mom... maybe we should just let him go home," Michael said, his voice ragged. He knew that the last place Brian would want to be right now was in Michael's home. In his room. Where the person that was all to blame for this slept. Who could blame Brian for wanting to go?

"Where do you live, Brian?" Vic asked, arms open ready to catch him if he fell. Vic knew that teenaged boys couldn't be told what to do... they'd inevitably want to do the opposite. He thought it best that he try to get as much information as he could out of Brian, and see if he couldn't let the boy decide for himself that it was best that he go home.

"Just a couple of houses..." Michael started to answer, then stopped as he saw the glare Brian was giving him. He shut his mouth with an audible clap.

"Can... Can I just talk to Mikey for a minute?" Brian asked, now standing in front of the bed, but obviously putting on a show for Vic and Deb. He looked like he was ready to keel over again, and his breath came ragged.

"Listen kid, I would like to take you to the hospital," Deb said, watching him closely.

"No, really... I'm okay. I just need to talk to Mikey," Brian attempted a smile, which came out grotesque under the dark purple bruise on his face.

Michael was terrified at what Brian would say to him. How could Michael ever apologize for getting Brian into this mess? How could he ever...

Vic and Deb left the room at Brian's insistence and promises that he was feeling okay. And an assurance that he wouldn't try to climb out the window to escape. Deb wanted to ensure the boy was all right, and if he wouldn't go home, he was certainly better under her roof than on the street.

Deb pulled the door shut, but didn't latch it. She kept this trick from the days when Michael was a little boy and had nightmares. She could push the door open ever so lightly and check up on Michael without making a sound.

As soon as the boys saw the door shut, Brian promptly collapsed back on the bed, a huge sigh escaping his lips. He lay sideways on the bed, his long legs draped over the edge, touching the carpet.

Michael pressed himself harder against the wall, not looking at Brian. Could he disappear if he wished it hard enough?

The room was silent for a moment, then Michael heard sudden wet gasps. He realized Brian was crying again, and his instincts took over. He sat on the bed beside Brian, then leaned back on the bed to lie beside him, his short legs hanging over the edge like Brian's, but not touching the ground.

Brian's hands covered his face, and Michael could see hot tears streaming down the sides of his face, wetting the dark bruises on his cheeks, making them glisten in the light.

"Was it Dan?" Michael whispered to Brian.

Brian suddenly snorted, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Are you kidding? No." He turned his head and looked at Michael, revealing his red-rimmed wet eyes. "Fuck no," he repeated, sighing heavily again in an effort to catch his breath, which had now started to come back.

"You can't figure it out?" Brian asked.

"N-no..." Michael replied. "I just figured it was because they saw you with me... it's my fault."

"Mikey... it..." Brian started then stopped. "Never mind. You wouldn't understand," he finished, wiping his face with the sleeve of his jacket. "It doesn't matter. And it definitely wasn't your fault."

He paused, then changed his tone. "Your mom is nice. Who's the guy?"

"Oh... my uncle Vic," Michael answered, but not ready to let Brian drop this. "Listen Brian, you can tell me anything... I won't tell. I have lots of secrets."

"Mikey... I don't know you. You don't know me. You don't need to get involved in my shit," Brian closed his eyes, his tears now gone, his cool exterior returned once again. Despite the bruises on his face and his swollen lip, Michael thought Brian was the most beautiful person he ever saw in his whole life.

"Brian... I don't have anything in my life. All I have is my mom and my uncle Vic and my comics. I have room in my life for your shit. For a real friend. Tell me who did this," Michael said, his heart open to Brian. He so wanted to help him. So wanted to be a part of his life in anyway he could.

Brian slowly raised himself to his elbows, then pulled his legs up to the bed, and sat cross-legged, facing Mikey, who replicated the position. The boys faced each other. Brian held his head down, his soft brown hair falling into his face, covering his eyes, protecting him. Michael's open, welcoming gaze held Brian... he watched every movement. His relief at it not being his fault was forgotten and replaced with caring, empathy, and a sincere desire to listen and help.

Moments passed. Brian sighed again. Michael sat silent. He knew how to listen. How to be a friend.

"I didn't really do anything, you know," Brian whispered finally, his voice cracking a bit. "He just came at me... he just decided it was my turn... he just-" he stopped suddenly holding his head down, not looking at Michael. Brian squeezed his hands together tightly, balling them into fists, then releasing them over and over.

Michael waited.

"And I tried to get out of the house, and my mom didn't do anything... and my sister just laughed at me... and..." Brian raised his head and looked at Michael, his eyes glistening with tears. "He fucking beat the shit out of me. Again."

"Your dad," Michael said quietly. Not a question, a statement.

Brian dipped his head, holding his breath, trying not to cry. It wasn't the pain of the beating that hurt him. It was the pain of being hated by his father. It was the pain of having to leave his home, be picked up by people he didn't even know, and sit here in their house at 1:00 in the morning because he had nowhere else to go. Because there was no one that loved him. Fuck that.

Michael waited a moment, waiting to see if Brian had anything else he wanted to say. More than anything else Michael wanted to show Brian that he cared. He tentatively leaned towards the boy, then reached around Brian, hugging him tightly. Michael half expected Brian to push him away and call him a queer, but he didn't. Instead, he put arms around Michael back, gripping him, holding on to him for dear life. The tears came despite his attempts to stop them.

Deb couldn't sleep knowing the boy was in her home, hurting, aching for something. She was confident that Michael would be there for him - was a natural listener, with an open heart. He had so much to give. He would be the best friend anyone could ever ask for. Michael would give his life for you.

She used her old trick to push her son's door open a crack so she could see if the boys were all right. The two of them lay side by side on the bed, eyes shut in sleep.

Deb closed the door and smiled. Her son had a friend. Things would be better now.

Thank God for Brian Kinney, she thought, as she headed back to her own bed.