Westpoint Tales
by Kiwi
Entangled Tales - 23 - Justin
"Hey Brother," Jonathan grinned out the window. "Still walking then. Are you okay?"
"Yes of course I'm okay. What are you doing here Jonathan?"
"Just checking up on you - making sure that you're all right."
"Well, thanks, but I'm fine."
"Come on then. Jump in and I'll take you home."
He got in the car saying, "I will have a lift, but I'm not going home just yet. Turn left around the school there, I want to go and see Claire, well Peter really, but Claire as well."
"Okay. But you'd better come home soon. You really upset the grandfather you know."
"That's his problem. Nobody stops me from doing what I have to do. The old Justin is gone, this is me now."
"This is you. Hard as bloody nails, aren't you?"
"Only when I have to be."
"Well you go and see him anyway. He's really upset. Bit scared that you might move out even."
"I will if he wants me to."
"No, he doesn't want you to go. Nor me."
"What do you mean - nor you?"
"Well if you move out, I'm coming with you."
"You would do that?"
"Course I would. We're together forever now, brother.'
"Together forever. I like the sound of that. Thanks Jonathan."
"No problem - we're a team now, you and me. But, go fix things with Bob, he's upset and worried. Scared that he might lose us."
"That's not going to happen. We are all family, that's important."
"Yeah. So are we brothers now then?"
"We are brothers, but don't call me Bro, I hate that. Pull in there, that's Claire's house."
"Okay. But don't be too long. That Dorothy Seaton sheila's back too. She wants to interview both of us."
"The reporter? I think I've had enough of reporters, the sooner all this fuss is forgotten about the better."
"But we've got to talk to this one. She wants to do an in-depth article for a magazine, Woman's World I think, and they will give us money - lots of money."
"Lots of money? I like the sound of that too. We could do with some money. Okay, I'll come back soon and we'll talk about it."
"Do you want me to wait for you? I'll come in too."
"No you won't. Not this time. There's something that I have to do. You just go home and I'll be back soon. Claire will give me a lift, or Carl. Somebody will."
"Okay then, if you don't want me around."
"I don't. Not just now - you'll see why when I'm done."
"All right, I guess. As long as we're okay."
"We're okay. Go home before we're not."
"Fine then,"(grinning) "Who was that kid you were talking to outside the Carver's. The red-head?"
"That was Billy. And, yes, I like him. I like him a lot. I don't think he's got much time for me though."
"You like him? But he's a Carver isn't he?"
"Yes he's a Carver, one of them. They’re not that bad, Jonathan. They are good people really. They made me very welcome there today, much more than the Stephens family did."
"They did? The Carvers are good people? That's not what I heard."
"Well you heard it from me. Go home Jonathan. I'll see you soon."
"Kay. See you later, Justin. Billy Carver eh?"
"Billy Mathieson. Go home." He waved as he walked up to the house.
He rang the bell on the door and stepped back, surprised, when it was opened by an old fashioned lady. She was clad in a floor-length, purple/mauve dress with a huge full skirt that flared from her tiny wasp-waist. The dress had long sleeves down to her fingerless black gloves and a wide open front that was filled by a frilled, lacy blouse that fastened high up around her neck. Her long auburn hair was piled up on top of her head, and was topped by a flat, wide-brimmed black hat with a short veil hanging to her eyes.
She had a fringed, tartan, woollen blanket around her shoulders. Her face was smudged and dirty and there were several big dirty patches on the dress.
"Allo Dearie," she leered. "Lookin' fer a good toime are you?"
"Claire! What are you doing? Who are you supposed to be?"
"Ooim a lady, Chuck," she twirled around. "Well a tart actually. A Victorian lady of the night. Mum's doing auditions this week for this year's school musical. They're going to do 'Oliver Twist', and I really, really, want to be Nancy. She tends to overlook me because I'm her daughter, so I want to impress her when she gets home today. I really want this part. So, what do you think?"
"No, it's not working. You don't look like Nancy."
"What do you mean it's not working? Oh, come inside, Sweetcheeks. Don't want the neighbours looking at me."
He followed her through to the living room. "You look too much like a lady - too dressy. A couple of smears of dirt on the dress don't make the lady a tart. And your hair is too elegant, it should be hanging down loose and a bit messy. You look more like Mary Poppins."
She surveyed her reflection in the glass door. "You're right, you know, I do. If I had a carpet bag and an umbrella I would be Mary Poppins. What makes you such an expert anyway? Not going to be a swishy fashion designer are you, Gayboy?"
"No, I am not. And I don't 'swish' either."
"You don't do you? Actually are you sure you're gay? You don't fit the stereotype at all really."
"I am gay. Stereotypes are a load of crap."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. But how come you know what a Victorian hooker should look like?"
"I don't. But I do know Oliver Twist. I had the movie on video - well my mother did. I just loved it - I must have watched it a hundred times. It's my all-time favourite movie, ever."
"Okay, cool. Tell me what Nancy should look like then, I want this part."
"Well....lose the dress. You should have a long skirt - full bodied and dark, with just an open-necked blouse, long sleeved but a bit tatty. The gloves are good, and the shawl, but lose the hat and let the hair down. The waist is too tight, you're never going to sing and dance all trussed up like that."
"Okay, sounds good. Anything else?"
"Yes, wash your face. A bit of dirt on the clothes is all right, but keep your face clean. Nancy is a street walker, but she's a sweet girl and everybody loves her, so you should have a bit of innocence about you."
"Justin, you're a genius! But, we already knew that didn't we? If you get me this part, I'll love you forever. But, I already will anyway. Why don't you come in the show too? You'd make a beautiful Oliver."
"Me? Up front on a stage? No, I don't think so."
"Oh, come on, Sweetie. It’ll be fun. If you already love the movie, you'll have a ball. You won't have to audition, Mum's in love with your singing. She plays the tape of you singing Over the Rainbow all the time. She's your biggest fan. You'd just have to tell her that you want to be Oliver, and the part would be yours. It'll be fun - do it, Sweetcheeks, for me. Please! Pretty please!"
"Well. Maybe. I'll think about it. I could do something behind the scenes - costumes maybe."
"Behind the scenes? Backstage? No way! You belong up the front, Boy. You're a star."
"Don't Claire. I'm not a star."
"Bloody are. Come and have a look anyway, please."
"I'll come and look. So where's Peter? Is he here? I've got a job for him."
"He's not here, he's spending the weekend around at Jay's. But if you want him, we'll give him a ring and he'll come running."
"No, don't disturb him if he's busy. I'll see him another time."
"He won't mind. He loves you Sweetcheeks. Well maybe not like that, but he's definitely a fan too. He'll come home. I'll ring him - he'll be pissed if we don't. If he can't drag himself away from Jay, he can bring him with him."
"Drag himself away? Do you think they are, you know, those two?"
"Yes they are definitely an item those two, or will be. I don't know whether they've figured it out for themselves yet, but they will."
"And you're okay with that?"
"Yes. Peter needs somebody and Jay's a really nice guy. He'll be good for him, as long as he doesn't hurt him. Peter's had enough of that."
"He'd better not! Anyone who hurts Peter will answer to me – seriously."
"Aah, you're too sweet Justin. I'll just ring them, then you can come and help me pick out some more clothes."
They were still in the spare room searching through the boxes of clothes when Peter and Jay arrived along with Sandie Evans and Dee who had driven them there. They all came into the room where Claire was changing her clothes again.
"Whoah, kinky." Petergrinned. "Does Carl know what's going on here, Sis?"
"Shut up Peter. Nothing kinky about it, Justin's helping me pick out an outfit."
"Okay, we'll believe you. Hey, Justin, what did you want me for?"
"Hey yourself, Peter. Hello Dee, Jay, and, I'm sorry, I don't know your name."
"This is Sandie Evans, Superboy. Sandie is the hot new bass player for Whozzat."
"And who or what is "Whozzat"?"
"Whozzat - that's us. That's the name for our group. Our rock group - Whozzat.
"So that's your name, that's pretty cool, I guess. Hello Sandie Evans, I am Justin Reynolds."
"Hello Justin. I know who you are - everybody knows who you are."
"Yeah....well...Peter, I want to record a song for my brother. You taped me singing that other time, so can you help me please?"
"Sure we can. Anything for you, Mighty Mouse...Superboy.....Justin. What do you want to record?"
"Please, just call me Justin. I want to record 'Unchained Melody' for Jonathan."
"Unchained Melody? But that's a love song. Are you in love with your brother?"
"No. I love my brother, that is what I want to tell him. But I'm not IN love with him."
"Kay, cool. Come and step into my recording studio slash living room and we'll get started right away."
Whozzat all wanted to play for the recording, but he didn't want to wait around while they went back for their instruments, besides they'd need rehearsing. So Justin borrowed an acoustic guitar and sang along to a CD track while wearing the headphones, and Peter recorded him. Then they listened to the play-back after just one take
"That's good, Justin. Really good. You don't need us at all."
"Maybe. But I want it to be as good as it can, so it still needs you guys. So, can I leave that with you? I should be getting back home."
"Leave it with me. We'll do a professional job on it - but for free of course."
"Thank you Peter. You're the best my friend."
"Course I am. But we know who your best friend is, don't we Claire? Justin, why won't you come and join us? With you doing vocals, Whozzat could be world beaters, we really could."
"No. Thanks kid. That's not for me. Before I go, Jay, can I have a word with you please?"
"Me? Sure, come down to the kitchen."
In the kitchen, Jay closed the door. "Well? What did you want me for?"
"Jay, I am gay. I've never been in a relationship, but I've been around the block a few times."
"Okay. But what's that got to do with me?"
"I was watching you and Peter in there - your eyes, your goofy grins, your body language. I'd say that you two are a couple now. Is that right?"
Jay blushed and hung his head. Then he looked up and looked him in the eyes, "Damn. Is it that obvious? Yes we are a couple. I love him and he loves me."
"Good for you - I'm pleased for you. It's not that obvious, I just knew what I was looking for."
"Thanks Superboy. Is that it? Is that what you wanted to say?"
"No. What I want to say is this. Claire is my best friend and Peter is her little brother, her only brother, and he's my friend too. If anyone hurts Peter - EVER, then I will hurt them - REALLY hurt them. I like you Jay, but I do mean ANYone."
Jay thought a while then replied, "Thanks Justin. But if anyone ever hurts Peter, then you'll have to get in line behind me because I'll be there first. I love my Little Elf, Justin, I really do. I would never hurt him and nobody else had better try either."
Justin held out a hand to shake. "Thanks Jay. You really are a Big Guy, Peter's a lucky boy. Oh, Come here!" He flung his arms around Jay and hugged him.
Jay stepped back. "Peter’s a lucky kid to have Superboy watching out for him. But you don't have to, Justin, not while I'm around." He hugged him back.
They went back into the living room, Claire asked, "Is everything all right then?"
"Everything is fine Claire. Everything is great. If you ever dump me and I need a new best friend, this boy will be pretty high up on my list. Congratulations Peter, you've got a good one here."
Peter looked up, "What? Was that about me?"
"Yes it was about you. Jay can tell you later. Now I want to go home. I've already walked across town once today and I'd rather not do it again. Can someone give me a ride home please?"
Dee said, "I'm taking this lot back to Jay's now, so we'll take you Justin."
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