Westpoint Tales
by Kiwi
Entangled Tales - 43 - Justin
In the morning, Justin woke early. He slipped out of bed without waking his brother, put on his waiting running clothes and shoes and quietly left the hotel. He walked across the deserted main street , then slowly jogged around to the Square.
The Square was almost empty when he arrived there, just a couple of early morning runners on the track. He started around the track and did one circuit at a slow pace. He stopped and flexed - testing his muscles and his foot - then started running again.
Slowly at first, he headed around the track, then faster and faster until he was again fairly flying along - legs flashing and feet pounding the ground. He passed the other, slower, runners, making them look like they were standing still. Another circuit completed and then he ran at full speed. Around and around the track, 6, 7, 8 circuits completed and decided that that was enough.
He slowed right down as he did one more lap until he reached the path out and he veered off there and slowly ran on home.
He went in by the backdoor and greeted his grandmother and Connors with a big smile.
"Morning Justin. Running again? How did that go?"
"Great, Mrs. Connors, really great."
"I hope you're not going to overdo it, Justin."
"Don't worry, Grandmother. At the first sign of trouble, I'll stop, but there's none so far. Later, I'll go for a run up the beach. I've been waiting so long for today. Yes! Superboy flies again! Ta-daah." He ran upstairs to change and shower.
In their room, Jonathan was awake and lying there listening to the radio. "Hey Bro. . .ther. How's the running?"
"Fan - bloody - tastic! You should come with me."
"Not likely. I've heard about your running, you'd make me look like the tortoise. I am looking forward to watching you though. But why do you go so bloody early?"
"Best time of the day. Not too hot, not too crowded, and it sets me up for the day - gets the blood flowing."
"Flowing like rocket fuel from what I hear. Still too bloody early for me. Maybe we can go back down later. But first I've got some stuff for you to look at. My notes are in the computer, it's a bit of a mess, but we'll go through it together."
"Sure thing." He finished dressing and headed for the door. "But not now - breakfast is ready. You coming?"
Jonathan sat up and stretched. "Yeah, I'm coming - be there in a minute. Before you go though, how are you with the Billy thing?"
"The Billy thing. Yes, you're right. I've got to let him go, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I have to be sure that he knows exactly why I'm doing this. This is way important. If I try to talk to him on the phone, I just know that I'll stuff it up. I think, maybe, I'll write him a letter. Yes, a letter - later. Now I'm going to eat. Get up you Lazy B."
After breakfast, they went back to their room and sat together in front of the computer. As it was opening the files, Jonathan explained. "I got the idea from your Kajinsky's notes about the repair of ruptured blood vessels. With a bit of adapting and some changes, I think that we can make a skin-repair lotion, to repair and restore human skin - get it back to perfect condition, like a baby's."
"That's it? That's your wonderful money-making scheme? A skin repair lotion? Jonathan, there are already hundreds of skin treatments around. They're advertised everywhere - TV, magazines, radio. Hayward's Chemist Shop is full of that sort of stuff. I'll bet that you can even buy them in the Supermarket. Why does the world need yet another skin repair system?"
"Because this one works - really works. It will restore skin to perfect condition, not just a slight gradual improvement, not 5%, not 30%, but a 100% repair and restoration. If we can sort out a few bugs, we'll have it. I'm nearly there."
"Okay, it works then. Is it really worth a fortune?"
"Justin, think! Think acne, zits, rashes, teen-skin problems, scar removal."
"Yeah, that would sell, if it works."
"It'll work. But that's just the beginning. Think wrinkles, crowsfeet, baggy eyes, loose and flabby skin. Age spots, red 'alcie' faces and noses. Think youth and beauty."
"Yes! Think big money."
"Now you've got it. Think perfect, youthful skin for everyone. We can have the whole world looking like they're 13 again, at a price."
"Oh, wow. But, I don't want to be 13 again, I hated it the first time."
"I didn't say you'd BE 13, I said you'd look like it. There's a big difference."
"I guess there is, especially if you're 60 or something."
"Yeah, 60 or something with lots of extra cash."
"Okay, okay. I'm convinced. Now let's read your stuff."
They spent the morning and half the afternoon reading and discussing Jonathan's notes. Justin got him to print the lot as he found a hard copy much easier to read.
Finally, at 3pm, Justin stood and stretched and announced. "Enough. Break time. I need some time to think things over."
"Fair enough. Are we going to go running now?"
"Running? No, I was going to . . .oh, dammit! Look at the time. I need to go to Peter's, but it's getting too late now. I'll ring him and make a time and then I'm going to run. You're coming too are you?"
"Yeah, I'm coming with you, but I'm not running with you."
It took a couple of calls to find Peter - he was around at Kadie Green’s. He said that he'd be around at the Adelphi at about 5pm. The brothers changed into their running gear and Jonathan drove them both out to the North Beach for a "short run."
They started off running together, north, along the long beach. Once he was warmed up, Jonathan ran on alone, watching Justin streak off into the distance and disappear in the haze. After just a couple of minutes, he wheeled around and ran back to the car.
He stopped and stood there, watching his brother come flying back up the beach towards him.
"Wow! Now I see what they're all talking about. You really are fast - Awesome Superboy."
"I just like to run," Justin grinned. "Please don't you start calling me Superboy. I think I'll just run back home now. That okay?"
"Yeah. Of course. You go Boy. I'll try to catch up to you in the car."
"Right, see you at home. I'll run straight up Derby Street to Brigham."
He took off again and was gone up the Beach Road before Jonathan was even back in the car."
Back at the hotel, Justin had the first shower and was dressed and sitting on the windowsill when Jonathan came back after his.
"I'm going out tonight for a while, but I'll come back to sleep here."
"Thanks Jonathan. I know I'm a wuss, but I just really need you right now."
"You're not a wuss. You're my brother and I'll be here for you anytime you need me. But first, I've got to go and see the girls. They've had time to cool down by now, so I've got to go and see whether I've got any girlfriends at all now."
"Can I ask a favour?"
"Of course. What?"
"Could you wait until after 7 o'clock? Billy's going to ring then and I don't want to talk to him on the phone - I just know that I'd stuff things up completely if I tried. Could you just tell him that I can't talk to him tonight? Because I can't. But tell him nicely - don't tell him to fuck off again."
"Sure, I can do that. But, look it's not even 5 o'clock yet. I'll go and see Lana, I'll be back by 7, and I'll go and see Claudette later."
"Okay, thanks. And if you're not here by 7, there'll be trouble."
"I'll be here, no troubles. See you soon."
He left and Justin was alone, but not for long - Peter was already on his way up the stairs. He came into the room with a knock and a "Hey."
"Hey Little Brother. Come in, thanks for coming around. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Superboy. Never been better." He sat down next to him on the bed. "What's with the Little Brother? I'm not your brother."
"Oh, but you are. I've decided to adopt you. Even if you weren't Claire's brother, I'd still want you in my life. I love you, Peter."
"Justin!!" Peter shot to his feet. "You're not coming on to me are you? 'Cause, as much as I like you, I'm taken - I've got a boyfriend."
Justin grinned. "Shut up Peter. Sit down and relax. I don't come on to my brothers. I know you've got a boyfriend - and a good one too. How's it going with Jay?"
"Jay's good. Well, no he's not - he's fantastic. On a scale of one to ten, I'd rate him a twelve, at least. Jay's big and strong and soft and cuddly, and he's so hot! I just love him to bits. Sometimes I think I'm dreaming, and I am, and then I wake up - and he's still there. I just can't believe that he loves me too."
"And why not? You're a great kid, Peter, I only have the best people for my brothers."
Shut up, Justin, you'll make me cry. Can I have a hug?"
"Only if I can too." They stood and embraced, chastely. "So, are you going to be my little brother?"
"Try and stop me, Superboy. I'll be proud to be your brother."
Justin hugged him tight, and then sat back down again. "There really is not much of you, is there, LITTLE Brother?"
"Good things come in small packages you know. Jay calls me his Little Elf."
"Yeah, good name. But you're my Little Brother."
"Enough of the "little", already. I'm a growing boy - a late bloomer, maybe. What did you want to see me for? Was that it?"
"No. Well, that was part of it, but I need your help once again."
"Well, sure. Don't you always?"
Justin's face fell. "Oh. I'm sorry, Peter. I do seem to be always just using you, don't I?"
"You don't, Justin. I'm sorry. What the hell did I say that for? I was trying to be funny or something. Forget I said it. I'm delighted to help you if I can. I owe you bigtime anyway, so anything I can do for you is just a bit of payback really."
"You don't owe me. What did I ever do for you? It's me that owes you already."
"You've done plenty for me. You got Claire off my back for a start. Once she had you to fuss over, she stopped trying to mother me. But, seriously, what you've really done is you've made it okay to be me. You made it okay to be gay in this town. Before you came along, I used to get a hard time for being the 'gayboy', but not any more. Thanks to you, I've got acceptance and I've got Jay too! I don't know whether that could have happened without you around."
"I'm just me, Peter. If that makes it okay to be you, then that's good, but I didn't do anything. I think you would have got Jay anyway. He's a good guy and he don't take no shit from no-one."
"Well, maybe. But your being here and being who you are has definitely made it easier on us. So, thanks Justin. Now what can I do for you? Do you want to record something?"
"Yep, you've got it. I want to record some songs, 5 songs, for Billy. Can you help me with that please?"
"Sure I can, that's what I do best - play with music buttons. What do you want to record? Love songs, I'm guessing."
"Well, yes, and no. They are love songs, but I want to record them because I'm breaking up with him."
"You're what? Why are you breaking up with him? I thought you had it sweet."
"Long story, a very long story. But basically, we just want different things. He can't handle what I want and I can't handle what he wants, so the best thing, the only thing to do, is to end it right now."
"I'm truly sorry to hear that, Justin. Isn't there anything you could do?"
"No there's not. My mind's made up - this is what I have to do. If I let him go and he comes back, then we will live happily ever after. If he doesn't, then that's his choice, but I have to let him choose. I really want him back, so it's way important that I don't stuff this up. The best way to say what I want to say is with the songs - they put it better than I could."
"Right. I can't say that I really follow you, but that's okay, as long as you know what you're doing. Do you want me to get the guys together to back you?"
"No, it's too personal. I'd rather not show my bleeding heart to everyone. They're all well-known songs, what I want is a Karaoke machine. Do you know where we can get one?"
"Not a problem. You've got one right here."
"What? I haven't - oh, the computer, you mean?"
"Yes the computer. There's heaps of sites with Karaoke songs on them. You sing along and I'll record you and burn a CD. We'd better do it at my place though, I've got all the gear we'll need. So tell me the songs you want, I'll go home and download them, and you can come around tomorrow morning and we'll record them. Okay?"
"Great! Where's a pen and paper?"
He scribbled down the song titles and handed the note to Peter. He looked them over.
"I know them all, of course, but I don't get the story. I hope that Billy does. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to hear you singing, "I Will Always Love You." That's the least popular Karaoke song in the world because nobody, but nobody but Whitney can sing it.
Okay, Superboy, I'm outta here. I'm going to the movies with Jay and the guys. That's a first - I never done this before. I'll see you in the morning - say 9 o'clock. We don't arise as early as you do. Well, stand up already! I want a hug before I go."
"Anytime, Little Brother, 'bye Peter and thanks."
"Thank you, Superboy. And I do love you too. I hope this all works out for you."
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