Shine Like a Diamond- B/J AU series Part 5/12

[guavejuice]

Banner by urugwaj Than you SO much!!!

Author:guavejuice
Pairing:Brian/Justin
Beta:Kim predec2 Can't thank you enough!!!
A/N:This is NOT a WIP.
Click HERE to read previous chapters
Disclaimer:I own nothing but this story.
Comments are love.

Part 5

-A month later-

“I can't believe he's about to send you a ticket to come visit him in America," Emmett replies in amazement as he sits with Justin at their usual table at Debbie's café in Brixton.

"Neither can I…" Justin answers, his heart pounding in anticipation.

"Shut the fuck up!” Emmett scoffs with a grin. “You know you want this.

"You're such a romantic guy," Daphne swoons as she smiles dreamily at her old time friend. “And so lucky…”

Justin looks back at his longtime friend, pondering if he should even bother objecting to her observation. For the longest time he has never really thought he would ever have those types of romantic ideas and aspirations in his head, but now that Daphne has voiced it out loud, it doesn't sound too farfetched. But then… was it always a part of him, or was it Brian Kinney, the tall dashing American who sparked those feelings in him?

"I… I don't really know what I want, Daph,” he eventually answers. "I thought I could handle this long distance relationship thing, but it's proving to be really difficult, and I'm not just talking about the huge time difference gap between us," he states before taking a sip from his tea mug.

"Sexting sessions when you're about to go to sleep and he's in his office getting ready for a morning meeting sounds rather delicious to me," Emmett decides with a quirk of his lips.

"I thought so, too, at first, but the novelty wore off after the first five…alright, maybe six sessions," Justin admits with a grimace. He tries to make light of it, but Emmett's words strike a chord deep inside him, the same way that Daphne's words do.

In their latest Skype talk, Justin had lain in bed late at night before the American had to leave to go to the gym for his morning workout. Both men had discussed that very question between them, with Justin expressing some slight doubt about the rationality and longevity of such an 'arrangement,' as Brian mentioned the fact that he never expected it to be so intense. Then after a silent pause Brian brought up the idea of sending Justin a ticket to come visit him in Pittsburgh, warning him playfully that it can get rather cold in October in the area where Brian maintains a country house he uses on the weekend. Their conversation continued with Justin admitting he's not a big fan of opulent, country houses, having being brought up in one.

“Wait! So you mean you haven't…?" Daphne's inquisitive tone of voice seeps into Justin's thoughts.
"Not for the past four weeks, darling," Justin replies quietly.

"We must get you out on the town, then, Mr. Taylor," she declares firmly. "Don't you think so, Em?" She turns to their mutual friend, who's busy spreading butter and jam on his toast before taking a small bite.

"I don't really feel like going out, to be honest," Justin hears himself answering.

"Now we MUST do something to fix THAT," Daphne responds, sounding even more adamant.

"Vic is having one of his weekly drag talent shows at the club tonight,” Emmett informs his friend. “That might cheer you up, sweetie.”

"Alright, I guess we can do that," Justin sighs with a half-smile.

God, how on earth did he end up like this?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _


-Later that night, Vic's Club at SoHo, West End-

"I'm really chuffed to bits that you were able to make it here tonight, darlings,” Vic – otherwise known as Victoria Windsor – greets his patrons from the club's small stage, dressed to the nines in a sea blue evening gown, shiny accessories, a full, long-flowing wig and makeup. "I have a few good friends in the audience tonight," he continues as he waves regally towards Justin, Emmett and Daphne's table. "And I also have a very special treat for you. Please put your hands together and help me welcome the very young, beautiful, and talented Rainbow Silver!"

The audience claps as Victoria Windsor steps down and a tall, wispy figure, wearing a tight, black, shimmering evening gown with blond hair tightly pulled into a classical chignon, takes to the stage and holds the microphone.
Justin's heart almost skips a beat when Rainbow Silver starts to sing the first few bars, live on stage, with no lip syncing:

We're like diamonds in the sky
I knew that we'd become one right away, oh right away
At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays
I saw the life inside your eyes
So shine bright tonight, you and I
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Eye to eye so alive
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky.


"Are you alright, Justin?" Daphne whispers sympathetically, minutes after Rainbow Summer finishes her number and leaves the stage to the sound of roaring applause from the audience. Justin doesn't answer, but his teary-eyed look clearly indicates the state he's in. Daphne sighs and wraps her arm around her long-time friend's shoulder.

"I don't know… I don't know why…" Justin murmurs helplessly, covering his face with his hands. He's trying to take a deep breath, but he's still quite shaken by his sudden outburst of emotions. "I don't know what’s come over me! Fuck! It's just that I SO bloody miss… him." he barely finishes the sentence.

"I feel for you, babe," Emmett clucks as he pats him on the back. "But why the sudden change? You never cared this much about a random shag before.”

Daphne scowls at Emmett before she proceeds to kick him soundly under the table.

"Bloody hell, why'd you do that for, Daph?" Emmett protests loudly.

"Serves you right. Justin needs our support right now. He doesn't need your bloody nasty remarks," Daphne tells him sharply.

"Well, I've known Justin for quite a while now. He's never been a fan of that particular song, nor is he an extremely romantic person, unlike me," Emmett points out, taking a sip from his cocktail.

"It's alright, guys. Don't make a fuss over it," Justin eventually intervenes. "I appreciate your concern, Daph, but Emmett’s right. I'm NOT a huge fan of all that romantic stuff. I don't even know why I let that song get to me as much is it did," he admits quietly, trying to hold back another wave of tears.

"You said it yourself, darling… you miss HIM." Emmett's voice softens as he turns to face Justin again.

"It's so weird, though," Justin says. "I NEVER expected to miss anyone ...well I mean, not like this."

"Things happen, Justin. Don't try to rationalize it," Daphne recommends. "Besides, you said he's sending you a ticket to come visit him in Pittsburgh, right?"

"He said he would, but I don't know… maybe it was just a spur of the moment decision for him. Maybe he's not really thinking it through. Maybe he's letting his dick guide him, instead…" Justin suggests, eventually managing a slight giggle over the thought.

"If that's the case, then you're on the right track, dah-ling,” Emmett teases him.

"God, I NEVER thought I'd be sitting in a gay club on Saturday night, with pretty boys everywhere, crying my eyes out over a stupid song, and missing this bloody guy who lives a million miles away. It's insane! I mean, we can't even shag, so why am I even bothering?" Justin laments.

"It's NOT a stupid song," Daphne counters, flashing a small smile as Vic joins their table, still clad in his blue gown and impeccable hair and makeup.

"Hey, darlings! How are you enjoying your evening so far?" He inquires in his cheerful, deep voice.

"It’s brilliant, Lady Windsor," Emmett nods with a grin towards their host.

"And just so you know, I think Rainbow was amazing! Way better than the original, I might add," Daphne says with a wink.

"I'm SO pleased to know that, my dears. That calls for another round of drinks, don't you agree? Oh, and as for YOU…" He leans towards Justin, “Absence does make the heart grow fonder, but it doesn't make it any bloody easier," he whispers into the young man's ear, "so take it from me – don't shy away from it and don't miss your opportunity, dear boy."

Justin nods, knowing in his heart that Vic is right.

________________________________________


-A couple of days later-

"Getting cracking with the packing?" Emmett jokes as Justin steps into the open space at the gallery after having breakfast at Deb's café.

"There's not going to be any packing; not at the moment, anyway," Justin remarks quietly as he averts his gaze. “I've decided not to go."

Emmett is shocked. "Bloody hell, why not? How can you refuse an all-expense paid, round trip to America to meet Mr. Fabulous? I thought you were counting the days," Emmett tells him.

"I thought so, too, but then I realized I was obviously more infatuated with the idea of this romantic trip, rather than with actually going there to be with him," Justin maintains. "I think I'm going too fast. I don't want to make any wrong decision just because I haven't shagged anyone in ages."

"I thought you said he's not just anyone," Emmett points out. "Not to mention you were practically crying your eyes out over that song the other night at Vic's club, sweetheart."

"People say lots of things, Em. Yeah, I did, or at least I thought I felt something for him while we spent time together. I won't deny that, but that was a bloody two months ago! I hardly know the guy. We still keep in touch here and there with random Skype chats and all sorts of things, but that's about it," Justin answers.

"Well, sweetie, the question is…do YOU want it to be more?" Emmett presses.

"I… I don't know what I want, really,” Justin responds, clearly torn. “God, this is difficult! Bloody difficult."

Justin takes a deep breath before he continues, "God, I sound like such a cliché, don’t I? The guy who always believed in shagging around with no strings attached is now having a change of heart…” He shook his head in disgust. “Fuck, this is all such a load of bullocks! I'm SO daft!”

"I guess you are. Daft, I mean," Emmett clarifies with a small smile. "But that doesn't mean you're supposed to just sit here and do nothing."

"Well, I did do something. I emailed him earlier this morning – and by early I mean 2 a.m. – thanking him for his offer, but I told him I won't be traveling to the U.S. to meet him there after all, so…" Justin stops in mid-sentence. "Never mind,” he tells him abruptly; he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “We have work to do here, don't we?"

Emmett contemplates whether he should respond, but then he shrugs his shoulders and moves onto his work station across the room.

TBC...