The upside was that Daphne lived nearby. The downside was…well, shit, the downside was a bottomless pit, now, wasn’t it?
Justin sucked various bleeding fingers into his mouth, hitching his black duffle more firmly onto his shoulder, and adjusting his messenger bag to keep it from banging against his hip. He was really getting tired of moving. He’d thought about going to Deb’s, but he really wasn’t in the mood for twenty questions and pasta.
Well, maybe pasta. Daphne was still on her health food kick.
Still, he knew that she would take him in and fuss over his hands.
"Don't go." Justin's voice was low, almost a whisper. Brian closed his eyes against it, pretending he hadn't heard. He reached out and touched Justin's hair, waiting another minute before he got up.
"One more minute." Justin echoed Brian's thoughts.
"You know I have to, Justin."
Justin sighed imperceptibly. "I never thought it would be this hard."
Brian didn't answer. Instead he pulled Justin to him, touching his face and kissing him softly before he pushed him gently away and moved to get out of bed.
Justin watched the smoke unwind in dissipating curls before it vanished in the breeze from the open window. He inhaled again and let the smoke expand in his lungs, feeling the tightening pull and burn before allowing it to escape, this time in the forced rush of his exhale.
A cacophony of noise filtered up from the street below; honking horns, distant sirens and the occasional muffled shout. All of it as much a part of the background as the buildings and the heat and the endless press of people.
Justin ignored the phone as it began to ring again.