Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 01:37:56 EST
From: Bbbrokworknprog@aol.com
Subject: Bad Boy B-Rok: Whatever It Takes Parts 1-5

Here I am again, folks!  Here's the follow up to the
wedding-slash-Christmas-slash-honeymoon episode.  From what I've gathered,
you all enjoyed the last one.  There's gonna be sex in this chapter, so
don't worry about me writing another chapter without a good fuck scene.  I
know we all enjoy a good storyline and plot, and tons of character driven
drama and development.  However, what's the point in slash-fiction if you
can't get one good wank out of each chapter?  Right?  So, for those of you
that are looking for something completely bawdy, nasty, and downright
sinful to read and stroke to--well damnit, Lep delivers (usually).  Anyhoo,
have fun wanking and all.  I don't know any of the celerities mentioned in
this story.  Whether or not they are homosexual is of no consequence to me,
since I'd fuck 'em all.  Well, 'cept Howie.  A boy's gotta have his
standards, afterall.  They're probably all straight.  But, that's fine with
me.  I like the hard to get type.  *WINK* If you have any questions,
answers, comments, want to say you hated or loved the story, feel free to
e-mail me at bbbrokworknprog@aol.com!  Here we go again.....

"What a player fool.  Go through ups and downs.  Knowin' all the time you
wouldn't be around.  Or maybe I liked the stress, 'cause I was young and
restless.  But that was long ago.  I don't wanna cry no more.  No more pain
(no more pain).  No more game (no more games messin' with my mind).  No
drama (no more drama in my life)."~Mary J. Blige, 'No More Drama'.


Whatever It Takes
Bad Boy B-Rok
By-Lep

(Part One)



	Just another photo shoot.  Another day where I was asked to remove
my clothes and strike naughty poses for the cameras.  I was becoming
desensitized to the whole "nakedness" thing.  It didn't bother me in the
slightest anymore to strip my clothes off and let someone take pictures of
me nude.  Well, I wasn't exactly nude.  I was strategically behind several
different props that stuck up high enough just to cover my "pubic region".
	Barb and Garrett were cussing people as they usually did while the
photographer took picture after picture.  Apparently someone had screwed up
the arrival time of my limo, and Barb was trying to get them to "get their
shit together and pick Matt up, like, NOW!" and Garrett was trying to sort
out a problem with Dolce & Gabbana.  Apparently, they had heard how much I
loved their clothes, and wanted me to appear in a series of ad campaigns.
However, they didn't like my price very much.

	"Lovely, Matt.  I think that's about all I need."  The photographer
winked at me as I took a drag on my cigarette.
	"Alright."  I nodded, not really showing any emotion, then walked
over to collect my boxers.

	It somewhat amazed me at how nonchalantly I strolled across set,
completely nude, dick swinging, and slipped my boxers on.  I was definitely
getting less prudish with age.  It was getting on towards sunset, and I
wasn't even sure my work day was done or not.  The first movie I had to
appear in for Bob had begun shooting three days earlier.
	The movie was a romantic comedy starring myself and Rachel Weiss.
Clinnon Davis was directing it, which was quite a genre change for him.  It
was going to be a big hit.  I hoped, anyway.  The first three days, we only
managed to get two scenes shot.  I was used to a more intensified shooting
schedule, and things got done much quicker. However, Bob was marketing this
movie as a transition to superstardom for myself and Rachel.  He was
investing big time, so money and time were of no consequence.  Well, as
long as we were done shooting by April.  That's when the musical began
shooting.
	After the musical got done shooting in July, I began work on the
second movie for Bob.  Then I could set about reading scripts that Harvey
had, and pick out a second movie I was contractually obligated to star in
for him.  Life was going good, but damn I was tired just from thinking
about my schedule for the next year.  I knew my planned transition to
superstardom was basically going to be baptismal my fire.  It just hadn't
begun yet.

	"I'll be with you in a second, Matt."  Barb gave me a quick smile,
then went back to yelling into her cell phone.  "You don't know who you're
fucking with here, buddy.  Get that goddamn limo over here NOW!"

	I sighed to myself and pulled on the rest of my clothes, then lit
another cigarette.  Barb definitely took care of me, but she sure could be
pretty damn hateful to the hired help.  I'd hate to ever be on the pissed
off end of her attitude.  Ofcourse, I probably had a big enough attitude to
match her's.
	Ever since all of us had gone back to our respective homes after
the honeymoon, things had been a blur.  Brian was already talking to the
architects, contractors, and everyone else that was involved in building
our new house.  He spent all day taking care of Booker and working on
getting our perfect home built.  Meanwhile, I was working my ass off and
not getting to see him or Booker.  I wanted to be at home, helping with all
the planning for the house.
	I knew Brian felt bad for me since I couldn't be with him and
Booker.  However, he took time every now and then to remind me that I was
the one that wanted to be the big time movie star.  That always put my
pissy moods in check.  I asked for it after all.  And I was getting it in
spades.  Luckily, it was a Friday afternoon, and I, as far as I knew, was
going to have Saturday and Sunday off.  Unless something popped up
unexpectantly, I could rest a bit.

	"Sorry about that.  Some bastard over at the studio got times
confused and sent a limo to pick Rachel up an hour early and you an hour
late."  Barb sighed as she walked over to me, trying to shove her phone in
her purse.  "Ready for the dailies?"
	"Hit me with your best shot, Babs."  I gave a weak smile as I
exhaled smoke.
	"Okay."  She pulled a few papers out of her leather case she had
slung over her shoulder.  "A few reruns.  You're dating Sandy Bullock,
you're on drugs, kinky sex, cults, blah blah blah.  There's a new one that
you're possibly going to be playing opposite Julia Roberts sometime in the
near future."
	"Don't we wish?"  I chuckled and took the sheet of paper from her
to read for myself.
	"You've been named the 'Most Intriguing Actor Under 25' by People
Magazine.  The 'Sexiest Under 25' also, but you lost out for 'Sexiest Man
Alive'."  She handed me a new sheet.
	"Well shit," I replied, then added,"whale shit.  That's what's at
the bottom of the ocean."
	"Very cute."  She rolled her eyes but chuckled.  "The Enquirer's
running a very compelling piece about your 'troubled past'."

	I rolled my eyes.

	"Yeah, I know, right?"  She laughed at my expression.
	"What exactly was in my troubled past?"  I asked, just for
curiosity's sake.
	"Um, let's see."  She held up the piece of paper to read.  "Looks
like the normal.  Drug abuse in your mid-teens.  Busted by the cops for it
when you were around sixteen, blah blah blah, you know the story...."
	"Can't they come up with something more original than that?"  I
laughed, waving her off.
	"Well, sort of.  To shake things up, they threw in a case of sexual
assault."  She rolled her eyes.
	"Oh goodie.  Who'd I sexually assault?"  I sighed, absolutely
tired.
	"No one.  It says YOU were sexually assaulted."  She
laughed. "That's why they say you turned to drugs."
	"Oh."  I replied.
	"All a bunch of bollocks."  Garrett came to look over Barb's
shoulder.  "Spikey--the lot of 'em."
	"They even got some fuckwad you went to high school with to
coroborate the whole thing."  She was absolutely cackling.
	"Who?"  I squinted.  "And how old was I exactly when this assault
took place?"
	"Um, it says like sixteen or something.  But I don't have the name
of the source."  She had to look at the paper.

	I just gave a painful smile.

	"You know they'll make anything up that they want," She rolled her
eyes, then added,"they even went to the trouble of writing a whole story
about how it happened, how it effected you, blah de blah blah."
	"You know the Enquirer.  Sensationalism at it's best."  I swallowed
hard and gave another smile.
	"Just a bunch of crap, that's all."  Garrett shook his head, then
gave me a confused look.  "Matt, you're looking a bit flushed, mate.  You
feel alright?"
	"Yeah."
	"You do look a bit sickly."  Barb grabbed my chin and turned my
head to look at her.
	"I'm fine, really."  I gave her a smile.  "So, when's the limo
gonna be here?"
	"Fairly soon, I'd imagine."  She lost her interest in my health
long enough to glance at her watch.
	"So I assume I'm free for the weekend, then?"  I asked quickly,
swinging my backpack over one arm.
	"Unless something comes up."  Barb replied while Garrett nodded
along.  "Go home and get some rest.  It'll do you good."
	"Alright."  I replied simply and began walking, trying to make my
way out of the building.
	"What with Thanksgiving, the wedding," Barb and Garrett flanked me
and followed me as I walked,"your honeymoon, Christmas, then starting the
new movie, it's no wonder you look so tired.  You can't get worn down,
Matt."
	"I know."  I sighed.
	"If you get worn down, you're going to catch cold."  Garrett added.
	"And we can't have you getting down right now.  There's way too
much that needs to be done.  You're the big star now, you need to keep at
it.  Don't get sick on us."  Barb nodded as she followed up on Garrett's
comment.
	"I'm not going to get sick.  I just need a good night's rest,
that's all."  I replied.

	Barb and Garrett took me at my word.  Instead of complaining to me
about getting tired and sick, they talked to each other about business
issues as the three of us made our way to the street.  They were still
gabbing once we got to the sidewalk outside of the building.  I lit a
cigarette and crossed my arms over my chest while I waited for the limo to
finally arrive.
	My managers probably wouldn't even know I was here even if I
whipped it out and pissed on their legs, I thought to myself as I puffed
away on the smoke.  The only indication that they were aware of my
prescence was Garrett waving my smoke out of his face every once and
awhile.  Barb on the other hand, didn't even look at me.  She just
continued to talk about all the money we were going to make with such and
such deal.

	"Well, there's my car."  I stated loudly as I dropped my cigarette
and crushed it out with my foot.

	The limo pulled right up next to me, not stopping until the back
door was right in front of me.

	"I guess I'll see you two later."  I sighed as they barely waved
goodbye to me.

	I climbed into the limo, and Garrett pushed it shut for me.  As
soon as I was inside, I rolled down the partition between the driver and
myself.  I gave him the address to my house, and asked him to make it
quick.

	"On the way, I want to stop somewhere where I can pick up an
Enquirer, though."  I mentioned as he pulled away from the curb.  "And a
Starbuck's."







	"Whatcha doin' you sexy thang?"  Brian growled lowly and slid into
my lap.
	"Nothin' much, baby."  I gave him a quick smile, and placed the
Enquirer I had been reading face down on the patio table before wrapping my
arms around Brian.
	"Booker's all nuzzled up in bed.  It's just you and me now."  Brian
wriggled his eyebrows at me.
	"That sounds eeeeeeeexcellent."  I rubbed my hands together as I
spoke.
	"I was thinking I could fix my favorite guy in the WHOLE world a
late dinner," Brian leaned down to nuzzle my neck with his face,"then give
him a long, hard massage, then he could give me a long, hard something or
another."
	I giggled.  "I hope you're refering to me?"
	"Oh shaddup."  He laughed, then gave me a quick kiss on the lips.
"Whatcha reading?"
	"Oh."  I glanced over at the mag.  "Nothing really."
	"Do you know," Brian moved so he could straddle my lap in the
chair, putting a leg on either side of me,"how much I love you?"
	"Probably not as much as I love you."  I played along.

	Brian leaned forward and rubbed his nose against mine, then let his
lips press against mine for a moment.  I wrapped my arms around his middle
and held him lightly as we kissed.  Brian let his hands run up and down my
chest, over my stomach and then back to my chest.  He slowly unbuttoned a
few buttons on my shirt and slid his hands inside to rub my naked skin.

	"I love you more than that."  Brian pulled back with a satisfied
grin as he rubbed me under my shirt.
	"You're gonna get bumps on your tongue if you keep lying like
that."  I winked at him.
	"Nyah."  He shook his head.  "So, oh great husband of mine, what do
you want to eat?"

	I just grinned evily at him.

	"I'm dessert."  He rolled his eyes playfully.  "What do you want
for dinner?"
	"Well damn."  I huffed.  "I don't care, baby."
	"You better think of something, or you'll be eating Macaroni and
Cheese like Booker did."
	"I'm sure Booker wasn't the only one eating it."  I teased.

	Brian gave me a look like "well, duh".

	"Just heat me up a can of Oriental soup, baby."  I shrugged.
	"You sure?"  He turned his nose up.

	I was the only person in the house that liked Campbell's Oriental
Soup.  It wasn't my fault I was the only person with any taste at all.

	"Positive."  I nodded.
	"Okay.  I don't know how you survive on what you eat."  He shook
his head as he walked back into the house.
	"It's called Starbuck's!" I hollered at him with a laugh.
	Brian popped his head out the door quickly again.  "By the
way--that Enquirer you're reading--wonderful story in there about you."

	I just smiled weakly as he cackled loudly and went back into the
house.  The Enquirer.  As I went back to the article on myself, I realized
why Garrett refered to all tabloids as "sad rags".  They really were.  I
was beginning to hate to hear any press on myself anymore.  Everybody
seemed to want to know every little thing about my life and me.  There was
probably some magazine printing another story right at that moment about
what type of toilet paper I preferred to wipe my ass with.  They'd probably
write an in depth article about how often I go to the bathroom.
	I knew I created most of the press stories about myself, so I don't
know why I was getting shocked at some of the stuff said about me in the
papers.  However, tabloids were the fruit of the Devil in my mind.
Ofcourse, before I became famous, I thought they were the most fabulous
thing in the world.  Gossip of the stars, how excellent is that?  Gossip
about celebrities was always interesting, but usually not true.  When they
speculated about who I was fucking, it was always hilarious, because they
never got it right.  It was definitely a lot more fun when they just made
stuff up--instead of digging into my past.



(Part Two)



	When I rolled over in bed Saturday morning to look at the clock, I
almost jumped straight up in bed.  It was ten o'clock in the morning, and
the sun was shining brightly thru the window above the bed.  My first
thoughts were that I was missing a photo shoot, interview, screen test, or
some other boring job related appointment.  However, my mind cleared
quickly enough that I realized I had the weekend off.  I was supposed to be
sleeping late.
	Brian was still in bed next to me.  However, he was wide awake.  He
was laying on his side, propping himself up with his elbow as he watched
over me with a smile.

	"What are you doing?"  I chuckled and rolled over to look at him.
	"Just watching you."  He smiled wider as I snuggled up in the
blankets and shut my eyes again.
	"Mmmm."  I made a satisfied noise.  "Do you realize I just slept
for almost twelve hours?"
	"I know.  I actually checked your pulse once."  Brian joked.  "You
probably needed to sleep, baby.  Besides, anytime you pass out while I'm
trying to put the moves on ya', you're obviously tired."

	I suddenly remembered something.  Brian had fixed me soup for
dinner the night before, then we cleaned up the kitchen and went to bed.
When we got to bed, he had me lay on my stomach while he massaged me. I
know I must have passed out sometime during the massage, because that was
the last thing I could remember.

	"Oh, yeah.  Sorry about that, by the way."  I giggled.
	"It's alright, baby."  Brian stated lightly, then spooned up
against me and wrapped his arms around me.
	"Where's Booker?"  I asked, nuzzling back against Brian.
	"Aaron's keeping an eye on him."
	"Normally, that would worry me.  However, I'm too tired to go drama
queen right now."  I replied lazily.
	"You just sleep as long as you want."  Brian stated happily as he
nuzzled the side of his face against mine.
	"I really should get up."  I yawned, knowing I didn't mean it.
	"Why?  You have the day off."  Brian laughed lightly.  "Just stay
in bed, baby."

	I can't remember what I said in response because I passed back out
from being so comfortable under the covers and being held by Brian.





	"Good afternoon, sexy."  Brian laughed loudly as I sauntered into
the kitchen.
	"I can't believe you let me sleep until two in the afternoon."  I
groaned playfully and plopped down in one of the chairs at the table.

	Aaron gave an appreciative laugh as Brian just went back to washing
dishes.  I felt like flipping them both off, but instead settled for
resting my head on the table.  I could hear Booker laughing at something in
the den, probably Sponge Bob was on T.V.  Aaron was studiously working on
some homework, and Brian was doing dishes.  It was like The Twilight Zone.

	"What's that smell?"  I asked, detecting a strange scent in the
general vicinity.

	Both Aaron and Brian just looked at me, sniffing a bit to see if
they could figure out what I was talking about.

	"I don't know."  Aaron shrugged.
	"It smells like it's coming from you."  I sniffed in his direction.
	"Oh, are you trying to say I stink?"  Aaron teased.
	"In this case, yes."  I laughed.  "Are you wearing some cologne or
something?"
	"Um, yeah.  Crave by Calvin Klein."  He cocked an eyebrow at me.
	"Well it smells like rotten grapefruit."  I scrunched up my nose.
	"I'm guessing I shouldn't buy more, then?"  He asked.
	"No."  I stated, then went back to resting my head on the table.
	"It did smell funky when I sprayed it on this morning."  Aaron
grabbed his shirt and held it up to his nose.  "Ah crap.  I'm gonna go
change."
	"Good idea."  Brian laughed as Aaron dashed off.

	I still had my head on the table when Aaron came back into the
room, with a new shirt on and no noticeable grapefruit smell.

	"Mission accomplished."  He announced as he sat back down at the
end of the table and went back to his school work.
	"Matt?"  Brian asked as he walked over and sat down next to me.
	"Yeah?"  I grunted with my face still buried in my arms.
	"Whatcha wanna do tonight?"
	"I don't know."  I sighed contentedly as his hands moved to my
shoulders to massage me.
	"Wanna rent some movies?"
	"Yeah, okay."  I wasn't enthusiastic about anything but getting
massaged.
	"Whatcha wanna see?"  Brian asked as I tried not to pass out again
under his skillful hands.
	"I don't know."  I couldn't think of anything with him rubbing my
back.  "What do you want to see, Aaron?"
	"It's just you and me tonight, baby."  Brian answered for Aaron.
	"Oh, well I see how it is.  No one wants to spend time with us."  I
teased.  "I don't care what we get, baby.  As long as it isn't something
I've been in."
	"Deal."  Brian agreed, then pulled his hands away from me.  "Do you
want some lunch?"
	"Coffee."  I grunted, finally sitting up straight.

	Brian just shook his head and went about making a pot of coffee and
making other noises around the stove and fridge area.  Booker had stopped
laughing loudly in the den, and was instead talking to himself.  Well, he
was actually playing with his Power Rangers and "making them talk to each
other".  So, he wasn't really having a conversation with himself.

	"Matt?"  Aaron looked up from his books.
	"Yeah?"  I yawned as Brian set my "Grumpy the Dwarf" mug in front
of me, full of coffee.
	"What's 'prate' mean?"
	"To babble," I yawned again,"or chatter, talk too much, etcetera."
	"Cool.  Thanks."
	"Yeah.  Just save the math questions for Brian."  I gave a tired
smile.
	"He'd probably have better luck with Booker than the two of us when
it came to math, baby."  Brian joked.
	"Unless it's a word problem that asks 'if Barney's is having a
fifteen percent discount and you've collected five hundred dollars worth of
merchandise, how much will you pay'.  I can answer those."  I teased.
	"Or if it asks 'how many Caramel Machiattos can you buy at
Starbucks with fifteen dollars'."  Brian winked at me.
	"Okay.  We've established that I'm a big fat queer."  I announced
teasingly, making both Brian and Aaron snicker.

	The two of them went back to their own little worlds while I tried
to drown myself in the first cup of coffee of the day.  As I sat there,
drinking my coffee, I couldn't help but notice that something was weird all
the sudden.  Ofcourse, I just couldn't put my finger on it.  That was
probably due to the fact that that the caffeine had not started working
yet.  Suddenly, I realized, the weird feeling was coming from it being so
quiet.

	"Booker?!?"  I hollered, realizing he wasn't making any noise
anymore.
	There was a slight pause.  "Yeah?!"  He tried to yell back in his
tiny voice.
	"What are you doing?"
	"Nuthin', daddy."  He replied, then quiet again.
	"Want me to go check on him?"  Brian asked a little too soon.

	Booker entered the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, sauntering over to
me.  I couldn't help but laugh when I realized he was just tired.

	"What's wrong buddy?"  I asked as he climbed into my lap.
	"I'm tired.  I don't think I got enough rest last night."  He
stated matter-of-factly.
	"Is that so?"  I laughed and let him straddle my lap, then lay
against my chest, his head just beneath my chin.
	"Uh huh."  He nodded softly, nuzzling my chest with his little
face.
	"Want to take a nap?"  I whispered in his ear softly as I set my
coffee mug back onto the table.
	"Nuh uh."  He shook his head, but his voice wasn't as sure.
	"I'll lay down with you."  I sang softly in his ear.

	Booker laid there for a minute against me, weighing his options.
Stay up and be tired, or take a nap and rejuvenate yourself with daddy.
Options, options.

	"Okay."  He wrapped his arms around my neck with a large, tired
smile.
	"Oh good lord, Matt's off to bed again."  Brian teased, but looked
happy that I was resting like I should.
	"We boys will be back after awhile."  I winked at him as I stood
from the table, cradling Booker in my arms.





	It was five o'clock when I woke up again.  I probably would have
just snoozed right thru the evening, except I realized that Booker was no
longer in bed with me.  The light coming from the window over the bed was
becoming softer, trying to work it's way from soft yellow to a blue.  I
didn't know how in the hell I managed to sleep the whole day away.  That
was totally out of character for me.  Before I had too long to bitch at
myself mentally about sleeping like a crack-whore, I rolled out of bed.
	Some effort had to be made, but I finally got myself into the
bathroom and stripped out of my sleep pants and t-shirt, ready to bathe.
Just looking at the big jacuzzi tub made me smile.  I could barely wait for
the tub to fill with nice, hot, bubbley water before I crawled in and laid
back, resting my head on the edge of the tub.  As things usually went,
right as I crawled into the tub, everyone decided to have a meeting in the
bathroom.

	"Matt?"  Aaron just barged right into the bathroom.
	"Yeah?"  I didn't even worry if the bubbles were covering all my
body parts--I was too relaxed.
	"Can I borrow that mercerized cotton sweater you bought the other
day?"  He asked, seemingly not worried that I was trying to have a bath in
peace.
	What sweater?"  I couldn't even think straight I was so happy in my
bath.
	"You know--that blue ribbed one.  The Hilfiger one."  He rolled his
eyes.
	"Yes, Miss Drama, you can borrow it."

	Aaron smiled wide and started to head back out the door.  However,
he paused, looking as though he were in deep thought.

	"How about the jeans you got the other day from Hilfiger?"
	"Oh, you mean the ones they shipped specially to me as a gift?"  I
stated whimsically.
	"Yeah!"  He grinned.  "Can I borrow those, too?"
	"Not no, but hell no."  I snorted.  "Those are mine."
	"What about your retro football shoes.."
	"Get out of here!"  I screamed thru laughter.
	"Okay, okay."  He rolled his eyes.  "Jesus."

	With that, he was gone.  Ofcourse, I knew I wasn't lucky enough to
expect that to be the end of it.

	"I forgot."  He bounded back into the room.
	"For Christ's sake, what?"  I pretended to be more upset than I
was.
	"Will you help me do my hair and crap?"
	"I'll help you with your hair when I'm done here, but the crapping
part you'll have to do on your own."  I winked.
	"Shut up."  He laughed.  "Alright, I'll wait on you."

	Just as he was leaving and I was starting to get comfortable again,
it was Brian's turn to bust in on me.

	"Baby?  Do you want me to go pick out the movies, or do you want to
come with me?"  He asked as he walked over and sat down on the side of the
tub.
	"Mmmmm, leave...me...alone."  I grunted out with a mischeivious
smile.
	"Well, someone is being pissy."  Brian lisped as he leaned down to
kiss me softly.

	I puckered my lips and kissed him back, then laid my head back
against the edge of the tub to rest some more.

	"Baby?"  Brian's eyebrows furrowed, as if he wasn't sure he should
say something.
	"Mmmm-hmmm?"  I sighed contentedly as my eyes drooped shut.
	"Well, um, are you feeling okay?"  He asked.
	"I'm fine, baby."  I opened my eyes and smiled at him.

	I was feeling physically fine.  So that was the truth.  However, I
was emotionally and mentally worn out at the moment.  Things just needed to
be slow for one weekend, I supposed.  Things needed time to blow over.

	"Okay."  He gave me a forced smile.  "I guess I'm just not used to
you resting so much.  It's got me worried."
	I had to laugh a bit at that.  "I know.  I'm just tired this
weekend, Brian."
	"Alright.  You just seem sorta distant is all."  Brian sighed, but
gave me a smile.  "But, with the way you've been workin' and all....well,
I'll wait for you before I go pick out movies."
	"Good deal, sexy."  I pinched his butt as he got up from the tub.
	"Hey now."  He shot me an evil grin as he left the bathroom.

	I tried not to take too much time as I finished soaking, washing
myself and my hair.  However, I was just too chilled out and relaxed to
want to rush anything.  Once I got out of the tub, I went directly to the
closet to find something comfy to slip into.  I knew I was going to have to
do Aaron's hair, and then go out in public to rent movies, but I didn't
care how I looked.  I quickly picked a pair of blue plaid sleep pants and a
white tee with the caption "Don't Make Me Get My Flying Monkeys" on it,
then headed to Aaron's room.

	"Hey, there."  I stated as I walked right in and plopped down on
his bed.
	"Hey.  What should I do with my hair?"  Aaron asked, staring into
the mirror over the dresser.
	"Why are you doing your hair?  Where are you going?"  I asked,
laying back on his bed.
	"To a party."  He answered, running a hand thru his hair.
	"And Brian said 'yes'?"  I rolled my eyes.
	"Yeah."
	"I'm not even gonna lecture you on how you better behave.  I'm too
tired for it.  But you best behave."  I stared him down.
	"Right, right."  He rolled his eyes.  "Now, help me with my hair.

	Wanting to warn Aaron about the dangers of drinking, doing drugs,
and sex was in the back of my mind the whole time I was working on his
hair.  However, instead of voicing it, we talked about fashion and "this
really hot chick" he saw when he was out shopping with Brian during the
week.  We ended up leaving his hair like it was, parted in the middle and
laid to the sides.  However, I got his hair damp, moussed it up, and blow
dried it to give it more volume and make it behave.
	By the time we were done, a limo had arrived to pick Aaron up and
he was quickly on his way after thanking me for the help.  Brian and Booker
were waiting on me in the den, watching Sponge Bob on T.V. I was always
amazed at how much Sponge Bob Booker could watch, and still never get tired
of the thing.  After one episode, I felt like I was in a coma.  I was in
the habit of using the quote "Bring it 'round town", but otherwise, I knew
nothing about the show.

	"You guys ready to go rent some movies?"  I asked as I padded down
the stairs into the den.
	"Yeah, you need to get dressed first?"  Brian asked, glancing up at
me.
	"No."  I laughed.  "I'm going like this."

	Brian just stared at me, expressionless.  Booker was fascinated
with the cartoon.

	"Okay."  Brian shrugged.
	"Then, let's go."  I stated as Brian flipped off the T.V., bringing
Booker out of his trance.
	"Daddy said we could get a movie you're in, daddy."  Booker grinned
up at me.
	"I don't think so."  I ruffled his hair as he got off the couch.
	"Daddy!"  He stuck his bottom lip out as I refused the request.
	"He wants to see a movie you're in, baby.  It's cool you're an
actor, but he has never seen you in a movie."  Brian explained.
	"I don't mind watching one of my own movies, Brian.  But I haven't
made a movie I want him to see.  They're all," I put my hands over Booker's
ears,"full of sex, drugs, and cursing.  He doesn't need to see any of
that."
	"Oh, yeah.  I didn't think of that."  Brian looked defeated.
	"Hey, Booger."  I knelt down.  "How about this.  When Daddy's new
movie comes out, I'll take you to the movie theater to see it.  And I'll
buy you tons of popcorn, candy and a coke to eat while we watch it."
	Booker looked like he was concentrating for a minute. "Okay,
Daddy."
	"Good boy."  I scooped him up in my arms with a smile and followed
Brian towards the garage.

	The next movie that was going to come out with me in it was going
to either be the romantic comedy with Rachel Weiss or the musical I was
doing.  Both were okay for a kid Booker's age.  I didn't mind him seeing
those.  I'd probably even take him to the premiere for not busting my balls
about it.



(Part Three)



	"It's only ten o'clock.  I feel like a total wuss here."  I
chuckled as I crawled onto the bed as Brian closed the door behind himself.
	"Don't, baby.  It's not like I'm gonna let you go to sleep right
away or anything."  He gave me an evil grin as he clicked the lock on the
door.
	"Oh yeah?  And what are you gonna keep me up doing?"  I laid on my
back looking at him, propping myself up on my elbows.

	Brian just gave me another evil grin as he slowly stalked over to
the bed in front of me.  He moved towards the bed until his crotch was
pressed against my foot that was hanging over the side of the bed.  I could
feel Brian's half-erect cock thru his sleep pants with my bare foot.  I
just kept my eyes on Brian's as he moved his hips slightly to press his
cock against my foot and toes.

	"Are you exploring the possibilities of a foot fetish lately, or is
my foot just convenient for you?"  I asked slyly, tongue in cheek.
	"Maybe a bit of both."  Brian winked as he pushed his crotch harder
into my foot.
	"Whatever floats your boat, baby.  Well, as long as mine gets
floated, too."  I teased.
	"oh, I think I can manage that."  He replied, then slowly lowered
himself onto the bed until he was on top of me, holding himself above me.

	I reached up and ran a hand thru Brian's hair, brushing his bangs
away from his forehead.  Brian smiled down at me as I laid a hand on the
side of his face and slowly rubbed his cheek.

	"And just what can I do for you, sir?"  I asked lowly.
	"Give me a kiss."  Brian bit his bottom lip coyly.

	Brian leaned down slowly as I placed my hand on the back of his
head and sat up slightly to kiss him gently.  Brian made a soft, satisfied
noise as our lips met.  Slowly, he rolled his tongue into my mouth, trying
to probe every inch of my mouth as we kissed.  As I pushed my tongue back
at his, Brian pressed his crotch against mine, letting me know that he was
completely hard.
	As Brian continued to kiss me, rolling his tongue in my mouth, I
reached down between us.  He raised his hips slightly so I could reach into
his fly and pull his cock out of his sleep bottoms.  Brian grunted slightly
in my mouth as my hand connected with his hard flesh.  I slid my hand
slowly along the length of Brian's cock, pumping precum to the tip as we
kissed.
	Brian moaned loudly into my mouth as I stroked him inside his sleep
bottoms.  His hips involuntarily moved back and forth a bit, pumping his
cock in and out of my fist, making more precum ooze out of his cock.  I ran
my hand over the head of his cock, collecting his precum, then used it as
lube for Brian as he fucked my fist with his hard cock.

	"I love you, Matt."  Brian grunted as his hips thrust at me.
	"I love you, too, baby."  I replied lowly.  "But, be careful or
you're going to shoot in my hand."

	Brian giggled as I gave him a quick kiss and squeezed his cock.

	"How about we get you out of these?"  Brian winked at me as he
tugged at the waistband of my sleep bottoms.

	I complied with Brian's request after he moved off of me and laid
to my side.  Brian's cock was sticking out of the fly of his pants, and he
stroked it lightly as I slowly pulled my pants off for him.  His eyes went
right to my cock as it was exposed, and sticking straight up at him.  Brian
unconciously licked his lips as he stared at my cock.  I stripped my shirt
off over my head, then turned on my side to look at Brian.

	"You just gonna look?"  I teased.
	"Stroke it for me, baby."  Brian growled.
	"Huh?"  I was actually shocked.
	"I wanna watch you jerk off."  Brian got to his knees and knelt in
front of me, his cock sticking out of his fly at me.
	"You wanna watch me do what?"  I laughed nervously.
	"I want to watch you stroke your cock."  Brian winked and motioned
at my cock.

	Okay.  I'd jacked off plenty of times.  I'd probably jerked off
enough in my teens to set a new record.  Probably enough for myself and one
other guy, actually.  However, I never did it with anyone else present.  No
one had actually ever asked me to, either.  It seemed a bit embarassing for
some reason.  I didn't know why, but I was embarassed at the thought of
jacking off in front of Brian.

	"Um, why?"  I got to my knees, too.
	"I want to watch your hand work your cock, and watch your face as
you get off."  Brian replied.
	"Wouldn't it be more fun if you were involved?"  I swallowed hard.
	Brian cocked his head and looked at me for a second.  "Oh my God.
Are you," he faked a gasp,"embarassed?!?"
	"Oh shut up."  I shoved him playfully as he giggled.
	"Come on, baby."  Brian grabbed my hand and held it in his.  "I
want to see you jack off."

	I just kept my eyes on him as he moved both of our hands to my
dick.  I swallowed hard again as he used both of his hands to wrap my hand
into a fist around my hard cock.  Brian leaned forward and kissed me as he
kept his hands wrapped around my fist and cock.  As Brian's tongue rolled
into my mouth, he pulled my hand outwards towards the head of my cock.
Precum oozed out of the piss slit.  I tried to return Brian's kiss and not
pay attention to what was going on below my waist as Brian slid my hand
back down my shaft.

	"That's it, baby.  Stroke that cock for me."  Brian moved away from
my mouth to whisper.

	Brian slowly withdrew his hand from mine, and I continued to slowly
stroke my cock, keeping my eyes down so as to not look at Brian.  Brian sat
back on his knees, his cock sticking straight out, and watched me as I
jacked off in front of him.  It felt so weird, having Brian right in front
of me, but jacking off instead of having sex.  Very weird--not to mention
embarassing.

	"I love watching you play with your cock.  You're soooo sexy."
Brian urged me on.

	Slowly, my embarassment went away.  The more my hand slid over the
length of my cock, the less and less I became ashamed.  I began moaning
lowly, showing my appreciation of the feeling.  Brian leaned in to kiss my
neck, running his tongue along my skin as I pleasured myself with my fist.
His mouth moved down to my chest, to my right pec and began sucking on my
nipple roughly as I jerked off between our two bodies.

	"Uh, uh....oh shit."  I began to feel the orgasm building deep
inside me.
	"Oh yeah, shoot for me, baby."  Brian growled from somewhere low.

	My eyes were shut so tightly I didn't know where he was.  My fist
pounded my cock, jerking it frantically, trying to draw cum from my balls
as I moaned and groaned.

	"Shoot your wad, baby.  Cum for me."  Brian growled again.

	With another loud moan, I filled Brian's request.  My balls
tightened up.  As soon as I felt my cum about to shoot, I felt Brian wrap
his lips around the head of my cock as I kept sliding my hand up and down
my cock.  Each time I stroked out, my fist touched his lips, almost hitting
him hard on each stroke.

	"Oh fuck!"  I groaned as the cum ejected from my balls and out of
my cock, spraying into Brian's mouth.

	Brian gave satisfied moans as I shot wad after wad of cum into his
mouth.  Finally, I gave up on jerking my cock and grabbed his head,
slamming the length of my cock into his throat and holding it there as it
finished blasting cum.  Brian swallowed over and over on my cock, milking
it for every last bit of cum in my body.  As soon as I let go of his head,
Brian slowly pulled off of my cock, then kissed the tip lightly, making me
shiver and fall backwards onto the bed, totally spent.

	"See?  Wasn't that fun?"  Brian grinned evily as he moved up to lay
on top of me, his lips wet with spit and cum.

	I barely had time to smile before Brian leaned down and kissed me,
the taste of my cum still on his lips and tongue.  Brian pulled away long
enough to give me a grin as he pressed his still hard cock into my thigh.

	"Now....what shall I do with that?"  He chuckled evily.






	Okay, so it wasn't the best way to wake up in the middle of the
night.  I sat up with a jolt in bed when I heard the "crash" resonate down
the hallway.  Immediately, I thought "burglar".  However, a quick glance at
Brian's side of the bed, and I saw that he wasn't there.  The clock at my
side of the bed was blinking a digital red "2:34".  I figured Brian must
have gotten out of bed for one reason or another, and probably knocked
something over while on his way back to bed.  However, I decided it was
best if I went to check it out instead of just laying in bed wondering
about it.
	I crawled out of bed sleepily and pulled on my sleep bottoms and
t-shirt, yawning the whole time.  I could hear muffled noises coming from
down the hall as I approached the bedroom door and opened it.  The house
looked pretty dark from where I was standing, except Booker's bathroom door
was closed, a sliver of light peeking out from underneath the door.  Booker
was still tightly tucked into his bed and sleeping when I peeked into his
room.

	"Shhhh, be quiet."  I heard Brian state in a hushed voice as I got
to the bathroom door.  "Matt will kill you if he wakes up."
	"I think I'm dying."  I heard a voice, but didn't quite place it.
	"You're going to wish you had if Matt wakes up."  Brian spoke
again.

	Then there was the sound of someone vomiting, and water hitting
water.  Obviously, someone was tossing up their cookies in the toilet.  At
first, I was just plain confused.  I didn't know who the hell would be in
our house this early in the morning and throwing up in Booker's toilet.
However, after my sleepiness wore off, I finally realized that it was
Aaron.  I raised my fist and knocked lightly on the bathroom door.

	"Holy fuck, hide me!"  I heard Aaron's voice clearly this time.
	"Shhhhh!"  Brian tried to silence him.
	"He's gonna go off, Brian.  He'll kill me."  Aaron stated so loud
anyone in the house could have heard him, however I think he thought he was
whispering.
	"What's going on in there?"  I sighed, getting sleepy again.
	"Oh shit!"  Aaron again.
	"Shhh!"  Brian silenced him again, then spoke loudly.  "Nothing,
baby."

	Nothing my white, gay ass.

	"Are you sure?"  I asked, knowing full well something was seriously
wrong.
	"Positive."  Brian stated shakily right before I heard Aaron vomit
again.  "Holy fuck!"  Brian stated, reacting to Aaron.
	"Oh, God....I'm dying."  Aaron stated pitifully.

	Instead of asking more questions, I tried the doorknob.  Brian had
left it unlocked.  As soon as I pushed the door open, I wished I had just
stayed in bed.  Brian was trying to hold Aaron's head over the toilet.
However, from the puddles of puke around the toilet, I could tell they had
both missed a couple times.  Aaron was red in the face, and looked sweaty
and dirty.  His eyes were wide as Brian held him.  He looked stunned--or
appropriately--like a "deer in headlights".

	"Well, it smells lovely in here."  I turned up my nose and folded
my arms over my chest, leaning against the door jam.

	Aaron responded to me by shoving his face back into the toilet and
dry heaving.

	"He's just a bit sick, baby."  Brian knew I was running ways to
murder Aaron through my head.
	"Looks more like he's fucked up."  I replied, not really upset yet.
	"Not....fucked.....up."  Aaron gasped between heaves.
	"Maybe a little."  Brian gave a nervous laugh.
	"Yeah, maybe a lot."  I sighed, and shut the door so we wouldn't
wake up Booker.
	"He'll be fine."  Brian tried to make me feel better as he rubbed
Aaron's back.
	"I hope so."  I leaned back against the door.
	"Oh fuck."  Aaron pulled his head out of the bowl and practically
fell to the floor.

	Brian just sighed, embarassed for Aaron, as Aaron put his head in
Brian's lap.

	"What did you take, Aaron?"  I asked, getting tired again.
	"I just drank some beer."  He reached up and pushed hair out of his
face.

	He had gotten vomit on the front of the sweater he had borrowed
from me.  The kid must die, was the first thought to enter my head.

	"What did you take with the beer?"  I asked calmly.
	"Nothing."  He managed to sputter out as Brian stroked his hair.
	"You look tweaked."  Brian's head shot up to look at me as I said
it.

	Aaron just groaned.

	"How much did you drink?"  Brian asked Aaron, still looking at me.
	"About six beers."  Aaron thought hard before answering.
	"Six beers won't do that to you, Aaron."  I answered for Brian.
"What the hell did you take with the beer?"
	"Nothing!"  Aaron shouted, then jumped out of Brian's lap and hung
his head in the toilet again.

	Brian got on his knees and held Aaron against the toilet, running
his hands thru his hair to comfort him.  He just looked up at me with an
"I'm sorry" look on his face.

	"That kid's tweaked out, Brian."  I pointed at Aaron, but
controlled my anger.
	"He's burning up."  Brian's statement was punctuated by Aaron's dry
heave.  "When he came in, he was all jittery, bouncing off the walls and
happy.  Then all the sudden, he got sick."

	I just cocked an eyebrow at Brian.

	"He couldn't stand still.  And his eyes look all wild and shit,
like he didn't know where he was.  He was asking me stupid stuff like did I
want to dance with him, and could we make macaroni and cheese.  And he kept
saying how hot it was in here."  Brian looked extremely worried.


	Aaron was too busy dry heaving to defend himself.

	"I'm going to bed."  I shook my head.
	"You've gotta help me, baby.  I don't know what to do."  Brian
pleaded with me.
	"Give him an ice bath, keep him cool, feed him."  I shrugged. "If
his temp gets too high or his heart starts pounding extremely hard, take
him to the ER."  I grabbed the doorknob, then paused.  "There's some candy
in the third drawer in the kitchen under the silverware drawer."
	Brian looked confused.  "Baby, I don't think I'll want candy, let
alone have time to eat it."
	"It's for him.  He'll probably want something sweet."  I replied
and opened the bathroom door.
	"Baby!"  Brian stopped me in my tracks.

	I just turned to look at him.

	"What's he on?"  He whispered, as if Aaron wouldn't be able to hear
it.
	"Meth or X."  I shrugged.  "My money's on meth, though."
	"How do you know?"  Brian squinted.

	I rolled my shoulders and left the bathroom, shutting the door
behind me.  The door was barely shut when I felt a tug on the back of my
shirt.  When I spun around from the shock, Booker was standing behind me,
rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands.

	"What are you doing out of bed, buddy?"  I knelt down to look him
in the eye.
	"You guys are noisy."  Booker stated matter-of-factly.
	"I'm sorry."  I gave him a smile and wink.
	"Where's Daddy?"
	"He's in the bathroom, buddy.  Taking a bath."  I hated lying, but
little white lies don't count.
	"Come sleep with me."  Booker reached out and grabbed my hand.
	"I can't, buddy."  I ran a hand thru his hair.  "I've gotta go to
my bed."
	"Okay."  Booker looked like he'd cry, almost breaking my heart.
	"But I'll sleep with you tomorrow night, k?"  I asked.

	Booker seemed halfway satisfied with that response.  Either that or
he was too tired to put up much of an argument.  As penance for not doing
exactly what he wanted, he made me take him back to his room, tuck him in,
and sit on the side of his bed 'til he fell asleep.  However, that probably
took all of five minutes.  I was able to leave his room and close the door
without him waking back up.  As Booker's bedroom door closed, the bathroom
door opened.

	"Baby."  Brian hissed, trying to be quiet.  "Please don't make me
do this alone."

	Brian looked desperate, and exasperated.

	"What?"
	"I can't deal with this.  He's out of his mind."  Brian responded,
looking back in the bathroom.
	"He's tweaked out, not crazy."  I shrugged, indifferent to the
whole situation.
	"Well, he's acting crazy."  Brian's eyes got wide, as if that would
prove his point.
	"You can handle it, just give him an ice..."  I began.
	"Everytime I try to get him undressed, he asks me if I'm going to
fuck him."  Brian cringed, closing the bathroom door.
	"He doesn't know what he's saying.  He doesn't realize you're
trying to help him."  I explained patiently.
	"It's not that.  It's like he doesn't care one way or the other."
Brian stated, silencing me.

	We both stood there, staring at each other.  We probably would have
stood there forever.  However, Aaron decided to break into a chorus of "Hot
In Herre".  By the third time he had sung "It's gettin' hot in here, so
take off all your clothes", Brian was tugging at his hair.  It was probably
true that Brian wasn't going to be able to handle it all on his own.

	"So?"  Brian urged me.
	"Good song.  But he's off pitch."  I shrugged.
	"It's not funny!"  Brian squealed desperately.
	"It's kinda funny."  I replied.
	"He could die!"  Brian pointed at the bathroom for emphasis.
	"If he's singing, it's a pretty good sign that he's gonna be fine."
I rolled my eyes.  "Well, sooner or later he'll be fine."
	"Just help me."  Brian pleaded, practically getting on his hands
and knees to beg.
	"Fine."  I sighed heavily.  "Go to the kitchen, and get all the ice
we have made."  I headed for the bathroom door.  "Take your time and refill
the ice cube trays.  We might need more later."
	"Thank you, baby."  Brian gave a smile that showed how relieved he
was.
	"Yeah, yeah."  I gave him a forced smile and opened the bathroom
door as he took off towards the kitchen.

	Aaron was still on the floor, but he wasn't sprawled out like
before.  He was sitting "indian style" and bobbing his head up and down as
he sang to himself about wanting to take his clothes off.  He stopped
singing to smile psychotically at me, then broke into a chorus of "Lose
Yourself".  I just rolled my eyes and walked over to get in front of him.
Aaron didn't even pause his singing as I knelt down in front of him.
	His eyes were still wide like a deer's, but they were bloodshot
beyond belief.  His hair looked greasy, as if he'd been dancing for a week
non-stop without showering.  Upon further inspection, his left cheek was
smudged with dirt, and something that I couldn't place.  He couldn't hold
his hands still, and his chest was heaving from the breaths he was taking.
He definitely looked and acted tweaked out.

	"How ya' holdin' up?"  I asked evenly.
	"I'm groovy, man!"  Aaron stated playfully, giving me a "thumbs
up".
	"You look like shit."  I looked him up and down.

	The front of his jeans were smudged with what looked like tar, but
was probably something else that was black.  His shoes were scuffed and
scratched.

	"I don't feel like shit."  Aaron's head moved back and forth.
	"What happened to your clothes?"
	"I fell."  Aaron bit his bottom lip in a smile.

	Obviously, he thought it was funny.

	"Off a bridge?"  I snorted.

	Aaron looked at me for a second, then cackled loudly.

	"Shut up."  I slapped a hand over his mouth.

	It did nothing to shut him up.  However, it severely muffled his
laughter.  I wrapped an arm around him and held him tightly, covering his
mouth.  Patiently I held him in my arms and kept his mouth covered as his
laughter climaxed, then subsided.  Finally, when he was no longer laughing,
I let go and moved back slightly from him.

	"You're funny."  Aaron sighed and chucked me in the chin with his
right fist.
	"I don't know whether you smoked or injected it, Aaron.  But this
is by far the stupidest thing you could have possibly done."
	"Oh fuck off.  I'm just having a good time."  He stated with a
grin.
	"Yeah.  Let's do something that makes our teeth fall out and our
skin get all scabby and nasty.  Party on, dude!" I mocked him, making the
"sign of the devil" with my hand and speaking in a surfer voice.

	Aaron just stared quizzically at me, totally not comprehending the
dangers of drugs at that point in time.

	"Whatever."  He sighed.

	He probably would have rolled his eyes, but that was too much work
at that point in time.

	"Okay."  I sighed.  "Here's what we're going to do.  You're going
to get undressed..."
	"Are you gonna fuck me?"  Aaron wriggled his eyebrows at me.

	I slapped him.  Atleast he was sane enough to look shocked.

	"Then," I continued, completely unfazed,"you're going to take a
bath.  When you're done, we're going to walk.  The way it looks, we'll walk
alot.  After that, you're going to eat.  When all is said and done, you can
sleep for a good twelve to sixteen hours."

	Aaron reached up and rubbed his cheek where I slapped him.

	"Any questions?"  I asked evenly.
	"Do you have any gum?"  He perked up.

	Brian couldn't have come at a better time.  He had the ice with
him.

	"Yeah."  I responded to Aaron and took the ice from Brian.  "Brian,
bring me some gum and water."
	"Okay."  He left again without any questions.
	"Do you need help getting undressed?"  I turned back to Aaron after
setting the tub of ice by the tub.
	"Hell nah."  He snorted at me.

	I would have let him attempt it on his own, except that when he
tried to stand, he fell back hard to the floor.  His ass hit the tile hard,
and his head hit the wall.  Aaron managed to groan before laughing his ass
off.

	"It's hot in here."  Aaron tugged at the neck of the sweater he was
wearing.
	"Let me help you."

	Aaron giggled as I pulled the sweater upwards from his belly and
then over his chest and off of him.  I just rolled my eyes at him as I
bunched it up and chunked it in the corner of the bathroom.  His shoes and
socks came off next.  It almost killed me to see a pair of Gucci shoes get
massacred in such a way.  I'd have to hold a funeral for them later.

	"Oh, yeah."  Aaron teased as I reached for his belt.
	"You're going to enjoy this much more than I will."  I sighed as I
undid his belt and yanked it off of him.
	"This is the best part."  He winked at me.

	It was time for another slap.  Without even looking up at him, I
gave him another good whack to the cheek.

	"Ow!  Damnit!"  Aaron rubbed his cheek again.
	"Maybe that will remind you to keep any comments you may have to
yourself."  I smiled fakely up at him as I unbuttoned his jeans and
unzipped them.

	It took some doing, but I finally got his jeans rolled down over
his hips and pulled off of him.  Brian returned just as I was throwing them
into the same corner as the sweater, shoes and socks.  He had a pack of gum
in one hand and an Evian in the other.

	"Here."  He held them out at me with wide eyes, obviously stunned
that I managed to get this far without killing Aaron.
	"Thanks."  I stated blandly as I took both from him.  "Drink this."

	Aaron snatched the water from me desperately, as if his life
depended on drinking that whole bottle.  However, his hands were too shakey
to get the cap off.  After I had twisted the cap off for him, Aaron tilted
his head back and began to chug the water like it was his life-force.  I
unwrapped a few sticks of gum as Aaron drank.  His Adam's Apple moved up
and down as he chugged the water until the whole bottle was down him.

	"Here."  I took the empty bottle from him and handed him the gum.

	He snatched them from me and crammed them in his mouth, chewing
like a mad man.

	"Don't swallow that."  I warned him as I chunked the water bottle
in the trash.

	He just nodded and chewed faster.

	"I'm gonna take your boxers off of you, Aaron."  I squinted at him.
"I don't want to hear any rude, derisive comments from you.  I won't think
twice about punching you this time."

	Brian was just staring at me, his eyes practically popping out of
his skull.

	"Uh huh."  Aaron seemed to be in a trance with his gum chewing.

	Brian stood back as I took a deep breath and yanked Aaron's boxers
off of him and threw them in the corner.  I kept my eyes on Aaron's, not
daring to give him the satisfaction of looking down at his naked body.

	"Baby, run a cold bath."  I looked over my shoulder at Brian.

	Brian just nodded, his cheeks red, and set about quickly running
the bath.  I put my attention back on Aaron, my eyes on his.  He just
stared at me with his wide eyes, chewing incessantly.  He was looking at
me, but I don't think he was actually seeing me.  It was if he were looking
thru me to something else.
	As soon as the bath was halfway full with cold water, I picked
Aaron up, cradling him in my arms, then lowered him into the tub.  He
didn't even make a noise as his bare skin connected with the freezing
water.  However, his chewing became faster and more desperate.  I waved a
hand in front of his face as Brian poured the ice into the tub.  Aaron
didn't respond.

	"Wake up, Aaron."  I snapped my fingers right in front of his nose.

	Still no response, just chewing.

	"Stop chewing the fucking gum and look at me."  I spoke thru
clenched teeth.
	"Baby, is he okay?"  Brian knelt down beside me, looking scared
shitless.

	I slapped Aaron again, harder than the other two slaps.

	"Goddamnit, I told you to stop fucking slapping me!"  He pointed a
finger in my face.
	"Yeah.  He's fine."  I glanced at Brian.
	"I mean it, you slap me again, I'm gonna kick your ass!"  Aaron
growled.

	I rolled my eyes at Brian, then grabbed a handful of Aaron's hair
roughly.  Before he had time to respond, I shoved him down, shoving his
head under the cold water.  Aaron flailed about, sending water everywhere
as I held him under the icey water.

	"Let him up, baby!"  Brian squealed desperately as I calmly held
Aaron under the water.
	"He's fine.  Don't worry."  I replied.

	I held him down a few more seconds as Brian looked panicked.

	"Jesus!"  Aaron hissed as I pulled him back up by his hair.
	"You lost your gum."  I stated blandly as I noticed the wad of gum
floating on the water surface with the ice.
	"I'm surprised he didn't swallow it."  Brian replied.
	"What the fuck are you doing?"  Aaron gasped, trying to catch his
breath.
	"Watch your language."  I stated.  "Brian, go get some clean, comfy
PJ's for Aaron to change into after I've gotten him washed up."
	"Yeah, okay."  Brian stood.  "You're not gonna drown him while I'm
gone, are you?"
	"I'll try not to."  I winked at Brian.
	"Don't drown me!"  Aaron gasped again.
	"I'll be right back."  Brian gave a genuine laugh and left.

	Aaron gave me a terrified stare as I turned to look at him again.

	"So, feeling a little more like yourself yet?"  I asked him,
propping myself up by the elbows on the side of the tub.
	"Damnit, I want more gum."  Aaron shivered.  "Please."
	"Getting there, anyway."  I replied, then went about unwrapping
more gum for him.

	As soon as Aaron had the gum in his mouth, chewing away, I figured
I could talk some more.

	"Aaron, unless you feel up to doing it yourself, I'm gonna have to
bathe you."  I started.
	"I can't."  He stated blandly, but didn't zombie out like the last
time he had the gum.
	"Okay.  Then I will.  I'm gonna have to touch you."  I sighed.  "Is
that gonna bother you?"

	Aaron actually stopped chewing to think about it.  That made me
realize he was getting better already.

	"No."  He answered simply.
	"Okay.  Then let's start.  And again, no rude comments while we're
doing this."  I requested.  "Or I'll have to dunk you under water again,
twinkie."

	Aaron gave me a tweaky smile, realizing I was trying to lighten the
mood.



(Part Four)


	When I woke up at noon on Sunday, Booker was in bed next to me.
Brian wasn't.  Booker had probably woken up right after Aaron went to bed,
but wanted a nap around noon.  We had managed to get Aaron into bed at
six-thirty that morning.  It had been quite a chore, but eventually we got
him to sound like himself enough to trust that we could put him to bed
without him coma-ing out on us.  Brian decided to stay up in Aaron's room
with him in case something happened.  That was perfectly fine with me.
	I really didn't want the chore of staying up ALL night with Aaron.
After having to bathe him, I really didn't want to have to sit up with him.
The bathing part wasn't too bad, save he popped a bone halfway thru.  Brian
giggled quite a bit, but I kept my steely facade and worked around it.
Deep down, I wanted to laugh my ass off, but I figured that would make
things worse for Aaron when he snapped out of his drug induced state.  He
was going to be severely embarassed anyway.  That was the bad part, total
hibition without that convenient forgetfulness.
	Aaron needed alot of help getting out of the tub, drying off and
putting on the clean pajamas.  While Brian made breakfast for him, I helped
him walk thru the house, outside, around the pool several times, and back
into the kitchen.  By the time we got back into the house to eat, he was
walking pretty good on his own.  And being drugged out sure hadn't killed
his appetite.  Ofcourse, Brian had made biscuits and gravy as part of
breakfast, so I had to eat some, too.

	"Baby?"  I looked at the doorway as I heard Brian's voice.
	"Yeah?"  I whispered back, trying to not wake Booker.
	"He's still asleep.  What do I do?"  Brian looked utterly tired.
	"Let him sleep."  I replied.  "He'll probably be sleeping until
this evening.  Maybe tomorrow morning."
	"Alright."  Brian sighed, then went to leave.
	"Hey," I crawled out of bed slowly,"why don't you take my place,
and I'll stay up to wait for Aaron to wake up?"
	Brian thought about it for a second.  "You're not going to strangle
him to death when he wakes up are you?"
	"I wouldn't have bothered taking the time to sober him up if I just
wanted to kill him."  I batted my eyes innocently.
	"Riiiiight."  Brian chuckled lowly.  "Yeah, okay."

	I gave Brian a quick "goodnight kiss", and let him lay down with
Booker.  Aaron was probably going to be asleep for a long, long time, but I
guess I did want to be awake when he woke up.  I definitely wanted to be
the first person to chew him out for being a totally irresponsible jackass.
Ofcourse, I'd try to say it nicer than that.  I'd probably fail to make it
sound the least bit nice at all.
	Ofcourse, I couldn't just sit around and wait for him to arise from
the dead.  So, the best way I could think of to pass time, was to return
phone calls.  There were about two bajillion messages for me on the
answering machine, so I figured I could start there.  About half of the
messages were from Barb, asking how I was doing, and did I know that there
was a new rumor that I was fucking J Lo. now.  Nice rumor, but didn't know
the chick.
	Garrett called to inform me that all the other tabloids had picked
up on the Enquirer story and were going to run it for themselves.  However,
they each were going to add more juicier details.  Just what I needed to
start the day off right.  He also mentioned that we'd have to get together
with Barb for lunch Monday, just to fill each other in on the weekend.
	After Garrett and Barb's messages were notated and deleted, there
were several messages from Clinnon.  He wanted me to know that his first
"big studio funded romantic comedy" which he mentioned was "so beneath him"
was going to make huge bucks all because of myself and Rachel Wiesz.
Everyone else "smacked of amatuer behavior".  Clinnon did this every now
and then just so I knew how cool he was compared to everyone else.  He had
a hard time making the transition form indie director to sell out.  I was
sure glad I made the transition better.  Ofcourse, I had made it much
quicker, too.
	Harvey Weinstein wanted me to come down to the lots for wardrobe
fittings.  There was also a cocktail party at Miramax celebrating one thing
or another.  They were probably just using it as a reason for everyone to
get loaded and talk about how fabulous they all were.  Not that that was
ever boring.  Madonna had also left a message that she and Rosie were both
going to be in town, as well as Rupert, and we just had to do lunch.
	I returned all the calls.  I called Barb to let her know I got her
messages and I was fine, and the J Lo. thing was a great rumor.  Garrett
got informed lunch was fine, and he had to do something about stifling the
tabloid rumors.  Clinnon talked my ear off about how everyone in Hollywood
was a bunch of "wankers", but was much happier when we got off the phone.
Harvey was happy to hear I'd make the party, and I would come down to the
lots for wardrobe fitting as soon as possible.  When I called Madonna and
got her assistant, she wouldn't take a message, she told me she'd get her
on the phone right away.
	It took some doing, but I got Madonna to tell me a time and date
for lunch with her, Rupert and Rosie.  She also had to fill me in on what
was going on with the kids and Guy.  Also, I just had to check out the
Versace spring line.  Donatella was just dying to give me a private showing
of what she had in store next time I was in that part of the world.  Or, if
I wanted to wait, she'd be in L.A. sometime soon.  Madonna had apparently
gotten several free items when she went to see her, so I had to, too.
	When I finally looked up at the clock, it was after five in the
evening.  Since I hadn't heard anything from anyone else in the house, I
had to go investigate.  Booker was the one I was the most concerned with.
I knew he couldn't possibly still be asleep with Brian.  It just wasn't his
nature to nap more than an hour or two.  He was in his room, playing with
his toys.  When I showed up, he asked me if I wanted to play, too.
However, I let him know I had to make dinner, and he went back about
playing by himself.

	"Baby?"  I asked as I entered our bedroom to find Brian not in bed.
	"In here."  I heard Brian holler from the bathroom.

	He was in the shower, washing his hair.

	"What do you want for dinner?"  I asked.
	"If you're cooking, Papa John's."  Brian laughed loudly.
	"Har, fucking har."  I snorted.  "You seem to forget I helped make
that fabulous Thanksgiving dinner."
	"Yeah, but that's like the only meal you haven't jacked up."  He
replied playfully.
	"Point taken."  I sighed, knowing he was right.  "Aaron's still
asleep."

	I put the lid down on the toilet and sat down.

	"Is he okay?"  Brian turned in the shower to look out at me.
	"I'm sure he is."  I shrugged, yawning widely.  "And our answering
machine is clear."
	"It's about time.  You wanna join me?"  Brian smiled at me thru the
glass in the doors.
	"I'd love to."  I smiled.  "But Booker is awake."
	"He's onto our plan, we must kill him."  Brian teased in a German
accent.
	"There's a cocktail party Tuesday night at Miramax.  I need a date
if you want to go."
	"Sure, baby.  And I need someone to scrub my back."  He wriggled
his eyebrows at me.
	"You're such a horndog."  I laughed and got up from the toilet.
	"I know."  He opened the shower door wide enough to stick his head
out.

	As I went by, I gave him a quick kiss, then made my way back
towards the kitchen.  After weighing the good against the bad, I picked up
the phone and called Chinese delivery.  Booker loved Sesame chicken with
broccoli, and I figured that was healthier than anything I could actually
concoct in the kitchen.  And it would cost less in the end, as well.






	"My fortune says 'You'll get laid tonight by a gorgeous actor with
perfect lips'."  Brian stated as he read the little sliver of paper from
his fortune cookie.
	"That's weird."  I cocked my head to the side.  "Mine says 'Your
husband will get the wrong fortune in his cookie'."
	Brian laughed loudly.  "Just eat your dinner and shush."

	It was already nine o'clock.  Booker had eaten his dinner, played
like a maniac for two hours, got his bath, and crashed.  I was glad he
didn't want to stay up late since he had school the next day.  He was too
tired to even beg me to read Harry Potter.  However, he didn't forget my
promise to sleep with him.  He made me promise to come get him when I was
ready for bed and let him sleep in my bed.  That was going to be difficult
since Brian wanted to have sex, too.
	Brian had actually went in to check Aaron's pulse as I was putting
Booker to bed.  Apparently, Aaron was still breathing, but normally now.
His heart was still beating, and he looked okay.  I think that made Brian
feel much better about the whole situation.  I hadn't been too worried.
When he had gone to bed early that morning, he was acting fairly normal, so
I knew he'd be okay.

	"You know, Booker wants to sleep with us tonight."  I stated before
opening my own container of Sesame Chicken.
	"Well, he can.  After we make mad, sloppy love."  Brian winked.
	"I don't know how you can think about sex all the damn time."  I
sighed, then playfully added," But I love it."
	"I know you do, baby."  Brian leaned over from his seat next to me
to give me a kiss.
	"You taste like Kung Pao."  I paused to announce before locking my
lips back over Brian's.

	Brian let his tongue roll into my mouth as we kissed, laying a hand
on the back of my head.

	"Mmmmm, Sesame kisses."  Brian teased back.

	I was about to reply with another witty remark when I heard someone
clearing their throat from the kitchen door.  Without looking, I knew it
was Aaron.  He was standing there in his sleep bottoms and a heavy
sweatshirt.  He looked pale, but good otherwise.  He definitely didn't look
as happy as he had the night before.

	"Good morning, sunshine."  Brian announced, pulling away from me
slowly.
	"Hello."  Aaron stated meekly.

	I got a forkful of chicken and began to eat as Aaron sauntered over
to the table with his head down and plopped down across from us.  He looked
pitiful.  Probably felt that way, too.  I didn't blame him.  More than
likely, he knew how pissed I was at him.  However, I really didn't want to
be pissed.  He was a kid, and he had made a very bad choice.  Mainly, I was
pissed because he put himself in a position where very bad things could
have happened to him, and I wasn't there to protect him.

	"You hungry?"  I asked.
	"Starving."  He replied lowly.
	"Alright."  I got up from the table and grabbed a bag from the
kitchen counter.
	"You look better."  Brian told a little white lie to Aaron as I set
the bag on the table next to Aaron and opened it.
	"Thanks."  He squeaked.
	"I figured you'd be hungrier than hell."  I stated as sweetly as
possible.  "I got you some of that beef and broccoli stuff you like with
the brown rice.  There's an egg roll here, and some of that egg drop soup
you like.  I don't know how you eat that shit, it smells like farts."

	I kept talking about the Chinese food so I wouldn't go off on a
rant about how stupid Aaron was for doing drugs.

	"They didn't have any dumplings.  They were out or something, so
I'm sorry about that."
	"Okay."  Aaron muttered as I handed him some silverware from the
drawer.
	"Well, chow down."  I ruffled his hair before making my way back to
my own seat.

	Brian continued eating his food as I went back to my own food.
Aaron began to eat tentatively, as if expecting the food to be poisoned,
but soon enough, he was shoveling it in.

	"Did you hear about how I'm fucking J Lo., baby?"  I asked Brian,
trying to avoid Aaron for the moment.
	"No."  Brian smiled, but didn't seem fazed.  "That's a good one."
	"Yeah, apparently she's the next conquest on my growing list."  I
shrugged.
	"Well, I guess if you're going to screw around, J Lo. is a good
chick to start with."
	"Yeah, and I'm sure next week there will be a story about how Ben
Affleck wants to kick my ass.  Or has."  I laughed.
	"Oh well, atleast you got to sex J Lo. up first."  Brian laughed
loudly, slapping the table, causing me to cackle with him.
	"My head hurts."  Aaron dead panned as he took his last bite of
food and set his fork down.
	"Remember that."  Brian replied as he slowly stopped laughing.
"This food was an excellent idea, baby."
	"Why thank you, baby."  I leaned over and gave him a kiss.  "I sure
know how to order that Chinese food, don't I?"
	"Definitely."

	Aaron just watched us both, as if studying us for some project he
was working on.

	"Just wait 'til you see how I order Indian."  I winked devilishly.
	"I can't wait, baby."  He giggled.
	"Are you guys going to completely ignore me?!?!"  Aaron snapped
suddenly, making Brian and I both turn our heads to look at him.

	Brian and I looked at him for a second, then I felt my eyes begin
to narrow and my mouth turn into a scowl.  I was about to say something to
Aaron, but I felt Brian's hand on my leg, his fingertips digging into my
thigh.  Obviously, he thought it was not the best time for one of my rants
about how stupid Aaron had been.

	"What do you want us to say, Aaron?"  Brian spoke calmly.
	"Anything."  He snapped again.  "Don't just sit there and act like
nothing happened.  That's exactly what my mother would do!"
	"I think maybe we don't know what to say."  Brian answered as I got
more mad.  "I let you go to a party, under the pretense you won't drink or
do anything stupid.  You do drugs and something stupid.  I feel just a bit
too pissed to think clearly about what I should do."
	"Well do something!  Don't just treat me like the singer that hit a
hard patch in life.  Treat me like a kid goddamnit!"  Aaron got louder.

	I knew I was shaking with anger because Brian's fingers dug deeper
into my thigh.

	"Aaron, it would be best not to piss either of us off anymore than
necessary right now."  Brian's voice shook as he spoke.
	"Fine.  Just ignore the whole thing.  I don't care."  Aaron got up
from the table, tipping his chair over backwards.
	"Come pick that chair up."  Brian demanded before Aaron could get
out of the room.
	"No."  Aaron turned around to reply.  "I'm going back to bed."
	"Oh, that's it."  I gave a defiant laugh and got up from my seat
slowly.

	Aaron's eyes got wide.  Obviously I looked as pissed as I was.

	"You get your...butt...over here, pick up that chair, clean
your...mess up, and then you can take your...self back to bed."  I spoke
thru clenched teeth, stopping myself every now and then as to not begin
cussing. "I really don't want to hear about how you feel you're being
treated while you do it, either."
	"I didn't mean to..."  Aaron began to apologize.
	"You really didn't mean any of it, I'm sure."  I hissed.  "You
didn't mean to do anything wrong last night.  You didn't mean to come home
in that condition and make us stay up all night making sure you didn't go
comatose on us.  I'm sure it was all just one big accident, Aaron.  And I'm
sure your issues with your mother play some part in it."
	"I'm sorry."  He backed up a step.
	"Do you have any idea what could have happened to you last night,
Aaron?"  I snapped.  "Do you?"
	"Baby..."  Brian grabbed my hand.
	I snatched my hand away from Brian, but kept my eyes on Aaron.  "Do
you have any FUCKING clue?"  Okay, so I was going mental.
	"I know, Matt.  I'm sorry.  I could've killed myself."  He looked
desperate for a way out of the conversation.
	"Fuck dying."  I snapped.  "You don't even have the first clue what
can happen to cute little tweaked out teenage boys."

	Brian and Aaron just looked at me with wide eyes.

	"Especially those just looking for a good time."  I stated in a
mocking tone.  "You just went to some random party--where you probably
didn't know a goddamn person, might I add--and decided to tweak out."
	"I didn't know..."
	"Yeah, yeah."  I put my hand up to stop him.  "I'm just glad you
didn't find out what happens to cute little teen boys that ask people if
they want to fuck."

	Aaron's eyes almost popped out of his head.  Brian sat back in his
chair, looking utterly amazed at my speech.

	"Just, fuckin', go to your room and sleep more.  Brian will talk to
you in the morning."  I shook my head, finally calming down.

	He made a movement, like he was going to say something as I sat
back down in my seat, but then decided against it.  Slowly, I got myself
composed, picked up my fork and took another bite of my food.  Brian was
completely silent as I finished my food, then went about cleaning up the
table.  He stayed silent the whole time I cleaned up my part and Aaron's
part of the table.  However, it proved to be too quiet for him as I was
wiping down the table with a wet washclothe.

	"Baby, are you okay?"  He asked quietly.
	"Mmm-hmm."  I replied, and gave him the best smile I could muster.
	"You sure?"
	"Positive."  I stated.
	"Anything you want to talk about?"  He asked with a sigh as he got
up to throw his cartons away.
	"Yeah.  Talk to the little bastard in the morning after you take
Booker to school.  I've gotta be outta here by five-thirty in the morning,
or I'm gonna be late as shit for everything."
	"I meant..."Brian trailed off.
	"Meant what?"  I asked, wiping down his side of the table.
	"I meant....was there anything you wanted to talk about with
me.....about yourself."  He drug it out.
	"I don't know what you're talking about."  I gave him a smile and
put the dishrag in the sink.

	Ofcourse I knew what he was talking about.  He wanted to know how I
knew what drug Aaron had been on.  Wanted to know how I knew what to do for
Aaron to stable him out.  He wanted to know what the "what happens to cute
little teenage boys" comment was about.  Well, he wasn't going to find out
by tiptoeing around it.

	"Sometimes you worry me, Matt."  Brian shook his head, but not
because he was upset.
	"I don't mean to."  I sighed.  "I'm going to go get Booker and head
to bed, baby."
	"Matt."  Brian stopped me as I was standing in the kitchen doorway.
	"Yeah?"  I smiled as I turned around, trying to be nice since I was
extremely pissed at the moment.
	"Um, this may sound weird..."  He looked down at the floor and
reached up to scratch the growth of whiskers on his chin.
	"What's that?"
	"Is it true?"
	"Huh?"  I cocked my head to the side.  "Is what true, baby?"
	"The Enquirer story."  Brian floored me.

	Obviously, I wasn't prepared for that question.  The next question
was, how do you answer that?

	"What Enquirer story?"  I smiled nervously and walked out of the
room quickly.



(Part Five)



	"Well, it's official, 'Superstar' is a hit."  Barb finally appeared
at our table in the restaraunt.

	She had on a wide grin and looked like she was as rested and perky
as a teenager.  Garrett and I had been waiting for her for over twenty
minutes, wanting to order our food and eat.  We were starving. However,
since Barb brought good news about my movie with Juliette Lewis, I was
willing to look past it all.

	"Oh yeah?"  Garrett inquired further.
	"Yeah."  Barb winked at me as she sat down across from me and put
her bags under the table.  "It's at the one-fifty mark, just about to tip
over the line.  It's a hit."
	"Well, it's good to know people will still pay good money to see me
half naked and in sex scenes."  I laughed.
	"Well, atleast several million people will."  Barb slapped me on
the back.  "Cost of production, twenty-two million.  Return, one hundred
fifty million and counting.  Well done."
	"Half the cost was Matt's salary."  Garrett brayed.
	"Well, let's just hope the next three do that well.  Especially
since I'll be making a salary that could have funded my last project three
times over."  I laughed loudly.
	"I'm famished."  Garrett groaned as he opened the menu.
	"I'm sorry boys, but I just had to wait for the numbers before I
came over."
	"Not a prob, Barb.  We were able to catch up on publicity crap
whilst we waited."  I winked.  "I think I'm gonna go all out and have a
bacon cheeseburger with onion rings.  Ooooh, and to top it off, a thick,
chocolate milkshake."
	"Translation," Garrett stated,"Matt's going to have the portabello
burger, carrot and celery sticks, and hot tea."

	Barbara brayed loudly, making people at other tables glance over.

	"Oh bite me."  I chunked the menu at him, not really intending to
do any harm.

	Barb and Garrett laughed about my eating habits as we ordered our
lunches and drinks.  Once I had my hot tea, Garrett had his beer and Barb
had her diet Coke, we set about business once again.

	"Don't forget your wardrobe fitting this afternoon."  Barb pulled
open her organizer to look at notes.
	"Go with me to that one."  I requested.
	"Okay."  She smiled.  "You have that cocktail party tomorrow night
for Miramax.  Madonna and Rosie lunch on Thursday, two o'clock. Interview
with this horrid lady down at Spin on Friday.  However, she begged and
promised a big ole ass kissin' in the mag for it, so I said yes.  Sandy
Bullock wants to set up a dinner date sometime soon to thank you for
signing on to be in her movie.  What's your shooting schedule look like
this week?"
	"Um, I've got the seven to twelve slot."  I replied.  "We're doing
most of the outdoor crap right now, so it's pretty much compressed into the
early morning to noon hours.  That should go on for another three weeks."
	"Right."  Barb jotted it down.
	"I need to set up a date with Donatella Versace.  Madonna said I
should get a sneak peek at the spring line and get some freebies.  See if
you can set that up."  I requested.
	"Done."  She kept jotting.
	"All the mags have something on you in them this week."  Garrett
jumped in.  Most of the rumors are still circulating.  You got a mention
for your fashion sense in People magazine.  Rolling Stone published some
unused quotes from your interview, so you're in there again this week.
Ofcourse, not on the cover, but there's a good quarter page sized photo of
you in there."
	"Cool."  I replied as I squeezed a wedge of lemon into my tea.
	"The Enquirer is printing more nonsense about your past, and The
Globe, The Examiner, blah blah de blah, have all jumped on the band wagon.
Expect to see your face on all of those the next few weeks to come."
Garrett explained, as if it were inconsequential.
	"The sexual assault thing?"  I asked, stirring my tea carefully as
I dribbled in some honey.
	"That's the one."  He laughed.  "All a bunch of crap, really..."
	"I'd prefer we put a stop to that."  I interrupted him.
	"Oh, it'll blow over."  He waved me off.
	"I know.  Sooner or later, it'll be yesterday's news.  However, I
don't want to wait for sooner or later to come.  I want it stopped.  Like
now."  I stated evenly, trying to be nice.
	"Yeah, let's try to stop the Enquirer from printing a hot story."
Barb cackled, taking a sip of her diet coke.
	"Tell them whatever you have to tell them.  Threaten them--lie if
there's no other way around it.  But make that particular situation go
away."  I replied, making both Barb and Garrett look at me.
	"Matt, baby, it's no big thing."  Garrett cocked his head to the
side.  "Just let it go."
	"Listen, I know it's no big thing for the Enquirer to print shit
like that.  But," I took a deep breath before blurting it out,"for my own
personal reasons, I want that story stopped.  I don't want to see that
headline whenever I go to the supermarket.  And if it keeps running in the
Enquirer, it's going to become a standard interview question.  I've already
had Brian ask me about the validity of the story.  So, before this becomes
one big stain, please, do what you have to do to stop it."

	Barb and Garrett both just looked at me.  They didn't look
confused, maybe a bit curious, but not confused.  However, they didn't ask
any questions, they just accepted the fact that I wanted this done, and as
soon as possible.

	"Yeah, okay."  Garrett broke the silence gracefully.  "Barb, let's,
um, call around to whoever we can."
	"Right."  She took her eyes off me.  "I think I can talk to Linda
over there and squash the thing.  It might be pretty easy."
	"Good."  I gave them both a genuine smile, happy for once they did
what I asked without questions.

	The rest of the lunch went without incident.  We discussed movie
schedules, parties, luncheons, teleconferences, cocktail parties and movie
premieres.  Barb and I agreed that I would turn down the request to present
at the upcoming Academy Awards, as well as the Grammy's.  I wasn't really
in the mood for televised appearances at the moment.  Once we were done
eating, we lingered a bit, just gossiping before we left the restaraunt.

	"Christ, it's a beautiful day."  Garrett snorted as he put on his
sunglasses outside of the restaraunt before turning to Barb.  "I'm this
way, you coming?"
	"I'm going to walk Matt to his car, thanks."  She waved him off
with a smile.
	"I will see you both later, then."  He winked at me, and headed the
opposite way from us.
	"You don't have to walk me to my car.  You're an
agent-slash-manager, not a concierege."  I teased as Barb took my arm by
the elbow and followed me down the street.
	"Oh well, I thought maybe we could have one of our little girl
chats."  Barb smiled warmly.
	"I'm not telling you about my sex life, Barb."  I laughed.

	She just chuckled along with me.  The rest of the way to my car,
she followed me, keeping completely silent.  It was kind of unnerving.  I
hit the button on my key chain to unlock the car and deactivate the alarm
as we approached, finally turning to look at her.

	"Well, if you want to talk, you better start.  I'm almost out of
here."
	"You doing okay?"  She asked, then reached up to my cheek to pull a
piece of whatever off.
	"Yeah, why?"  I asked, looking to see if it was a bug she had
found.
	"Eyelash."  She showed me.  "You've just been very depressed
lately, I suppose."
	"I'm not depressed."  I was being honest.  "Maybe stressed, but
that's it.  I appreciate your concern, Barb, but....."
	"You'll be fine, and you don't need me worrying over you.  I know,
I know."  Barb sighed with a crooked smile.  "I may be your agent and
manager, but I still think of you as a friend.  So, tell me what's wrong."

	I bit my bottom lip, wondering if I should spill the beans about
what all was going on with me.  Should I 'fess up about Aaron's situation
bugging me?  Should I tell her why the Enquirer article was bothering me?
Should I tell her how I felt like Booker is going to suffer without me
there?  Was that egotistical of me to feel that way?  Brian was a capable
father, so why did it bother me that I couldn't be there all the time, too?

	"There's nothing wrong.  I'm probably just still tired and
stressed, Barb."  I lied.  "I swear."

	I'm going to hell, I thought.

	"Alright."  She shrugged.  "I love you, sweetie."

	I let Barb wrap her arms around me and give me a tight hug.

	"Just let me know if you ever want or need to talk.  I'm here for
you."  She replied.
	"My goodness, an agent with feelings!"  I teased as she pulled away
from me.
	"It's one of those things for Ripley's, huh?"  She winked.
	"Exactly."
	"Well, you go home and rest up since you're done for the day."  She
patted my shoulder.  "But, do me a favor, okay?"
	"Sure, Babs."
	"If anymore rumors," I could practically see quotation marks around
the word as she said it,"like this one come up....well, just let me know.
We'll do our best to make them priority.  I'll assume you know what I
mean."
	I stared at her for a moment, but relented.  "Yeah.  I've got you."
	"Alright.  We understand each other."  She nodded, then put her
smile back on.  "Have a good night, and tell all the heathens back home I
said 'hello'.  Oh, and give Booker a hug and kiss for me."
	"Will do."  I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"Thanks."

	She gave me a sly wink, and then was gone, on the way to her car.





	"Take those shoes off, before you go anywhere, mister."  I told
Booker as we walked into the house.
	"Okay, okay."  He rolled his eyes, making me laugh.

	Booker kicked off his dirty shoes and pulled off his socks before
dropping his back pack and wind breaker and tearing off to the den.  Since
I was done with lunch around three, I had called Brian and told him I would
pick the kiddo up from school.  Brian had told me I didn't have to, that he
would, but he didn't realize how much I loved picking Booker up.  Whenever
I picked him up from school, he always ran up to me with a smile, and leapt
into my arms. It let me know how much I meant to him.  Sometimes, I needed
that.

	"Hey, baby."  Brian hollered to me from the laundry room.
	"Hey baby, hey.  Girls say.." I began with a laugh.
	"How was your day, dear?"  Brian asked as I entered the laundry
room.
	"Same ole, same ole.  Barb and Garrett say 'hello'.  Well, Barb
does.  Garrett says it more like 'ello'."
	"That's the English for you.  Limey bastards."  Brian teased.
	"You can say that again."  I played along.
	"Well," Brian turned the washer on and turned to me,"you have to go
talk to our child."
	"About what?"  I asked as I leaned in to give Brian a peck on the
lips.
	"His little hellion ways."  Brian sighed.
	"Booker's not a hellion."  I replied.  "Maybe demon seed, but never
a hellion."
	Brian laughed loudly.  "I meant Aaron."
	"Oh."
	"He's upset that he pissed you off, and doesn't want you to be mad
at him."  Brian explained.
	"Good."
	"AND," Brian stopped me from being too harsh,"he knows he did
wrong.  I already talked to him.  However, I think he thinks this is his
momma's house and he has to do bad things to get noticed.  Maybe we should
make an effort to be around him more.  That's what he needs."
	"Baby, he's fifteen."  I replied quietly so Booker couldn't hear.
"Do you realize what my mother's house was like when I was fifteen?"
	"Matt."  Brian snorted.  "Not everyone's a hardass like you."
	"I'm not a hardass."
	"Well, I know that.  You know that.  But you sure pretend
sometimes.  Maybe you should think about how hard alot of things are for a
fifteen year old, and go talk to the kid."  Brian leaned forward to kiss
me, but then paused.  "You know he adores you."

	I rolled my eyes, but leaned forward and pressed my lips to
Brian's.

	"Fine."  I pretended to huff.  "But if I kill him, it's all YOUR
fault."
	"I'll take my chances."  Brian stated happily.
	"I figured you would."  I replied playfully before leaving the
room.

	I stopped in the den to make sure Booker wasn't choking on a small
toy, and found him playing Harry Potter on Playstation.  After promising to
come back and help him stop Peeves from throwing food at Nearly-Headless
Nick's Deathday Party, I headed towards Aaron's room. I was going to take
my time, because I couldn't work a Playstation controller to save my life.
There were just too many buttons.  Needless to say, I'm technologically
impaired.
	Aaron was laying on his bed in a jeans and a tee, belly down and
reading a textbook that was spread out in front of him.  He looked like his
normal self finally.  He wasn't pale or sick looking, he just looked like a
normal teenager doing homework.  Ofcourse, in this case, he wasn't in a
classroom with thirty other students and a teacher.  I had to admire his
dedication.  Brian and I never had to tell him to hit the books.

	"What're you studying?"  I didn't know how to begin the
conversation.
	"I'm reading some Shakespeare for English."  He replied.  "Did you
know that Lady MacBeth was one crazy bitch?"
	I couldn't help but laugh.  "She was something else, wasn't she?"
	"You haven't read this."  Aaron rolled his eyes with a smile.
	"Sure I did."  I pretended to be insulted.  "I read it when I was
your age."
	"Riiiiiight."
	"Boil boil, toil and trouble.  Fire burn and cauldron bubble? Yes
sir I did."  I played back with him as I walked over and sat down on the
bed beside him.
	"Okay, so you know the most famous quote from the play.  Big deal."
He rolled to his side so he could look at me.
	"That was the thing about Shakespeare."  I closed the book for a
second to look at the cover, then opened it back up to Aaron's place.
"There was always a fight and a crazy person."
	"Yeah."
	"It was the Jerry Springer of his time."  I winked.

	Aaron gave me a wide grin, letting me know he realized this was
difficult for me, and he appreciated the effort.

	"Aaron, I'm not still mad at you."  I relented.

	He just waited for me to talk.

	"But what you did was an extremely ignorant, no, that's not right."
I thought for a second.  "Goddamned retarded thing to do."

	Aaron smiled, but in a way that let me know, he knew what I was
saying, and appreciated my saying it.

	"You could've killed yourself.  You could've hurt someone else.
You would leave behind so many sad people if that happened.  And, God
forbid, something even worse could have happened to you."  I began my
speech as Aaron just listened to me talk.  "Not to mention the fact that
Brian trusted you to do right by him.  He trusted you to go to that party
and act like someone with half a brain, and you fucked up.  You ruined his
trust.  That was a horrible thing to do to him.  He may not say it, but I
know it hurt him to see you in that condition."

	Aaron nodded, hanging his head.

	"I know," I didn't know if I was overstepping my bounds,"that this
is the thing you probably have to do to get your mother's attention at
home."

	Aaron's head shot up and he stared at me.

	"That probably hurts for me to say it, but I want you to know I get
it, alright?"  I laid a hand on his shoulder.  "And you don't have to talk
about that with me right now if you don't want to--it's not required.  But,
just know that you don't have to do that here.  Actually, we'll kill you if
you do it again and survive."

	Aaron lost his glare and giggled.

	"If you want or need any attention, or just someone to listen to
you, just tell us.  We didn't let you come stay with us so we could ignore
you.  I know sometimes we get all wrapped in our lives, and we forget about
you.  We don't mean to, though, alright?"
	"Alright."
	"We both love you to death, and we just don't want anything to
happen to you."
	"I know."
	"Brian and I are kinda new at this whole parent thing.  We were
just getting used to a young child being around.  We weren't prepared for a
teenager.  And, fuck, I thought because I was a teen, I'd know how to
handle everything."  I leaned in with a smile to whisper.  "You kinda
forget what assholes teens can be."

	Aaron laughed.

	"Just do me a favor, and don't pull that shit again, k?"
	"Promise."
	"Good talk, then?"  I asked.
	"Good talk."  Aaron sat up and offered a hug to me.
	I pulled him into a hug.  "You're grounded for a month."  I stated
into his ear.
	"I saw that coming."  Aaron laughed loudly.
	"Good."  I laughed and pulled back.  "Besides, under 'Meth Use' in
the Parenting For Queers handbook, it says that's a fair punishment.  I
always go by the book."
	"It's fair."  Aaron agreed and hugged me again.
	"Now, hit the Shakespeare again."  I gave him a tight squeeze
before I pulled away.
	"Alright, alright."
	"What do you want for dinner?"  I asked as I stood up.
	"Are you cooking?"
	"No, Brian or delivery."  I shrugged.
	"Oh, then anything."  He teased.
	"Smartass."  I hissed playfully before leaving the room.

	Aaron gave me another smile, then went back to reading his book as
I was shutting his door.  As to be expected, Brian was standing outside the
door, arms folded over his chest.  He had a big smile on his face, and
looked way too smug for my tastes.

	"Oh, fuck off."  I rolled my eyes and started down the hallway.
	"That was so precious."  Brian grabbed my arm and pulled me back to
him.
	"Bite me."  I teased.
	"Mmmmm, you might like that, baby."  He wrapped his arms around me
and pulled me tightly against him.
	"I don't need anymore stitches, thank you."  I teased as I rubbed
my nose against his.

	Brian ignored the comment and gave me a kiss as he held me.  I
wrapped my arms around him in response and returned his kiss, letting my
tongue move into his mouth.

	"So," Brian reluctantly pulled away from my mouth,"are you ever
going to tell me how you knew which drug he was on?"
	"Let go."  I pushed his arms down and off me.
	"And what exactly DOES happen to cute little teenage boys that
tweak out?"  Brian followed up his question.
	"I can't hear you."  I tried to play it off as a joke by clamping
my hands over my ears and strolling down the hall.

	Brian wasn't going to have any of that.  He caught up to me, and
stopped me.  He stared me in the eye, and slowly pulled my hands off my
ears.  I almost wanted to look down at my feet and mutter incomprehensibly
like Booker when he's been caught torturing the the dog.  This time, he
wasn't going to let me get by with playfully ignoring him.  I could tell by
the way his sad eyes burned into me.

	"Baby, I want to know what all this stuff's about."  Brian took my
hands in his and held them.
	"Oh fuck it all."  I sighed.  "I need a cigarette."



TO BE CONTINUED...