The Scoop: Chapter 7. Anyone offended by vulgar language better stop with this sentence. OK, you've been fucking warned.

Scoop

Chapter 7- When it rains...

"Well I guess I should go talk to him."

Justin gave me a hurt look, as if I was kicking him in the crotch by going to the door. I grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it on my way past him. Before I got to the swinging kitchen door, he reached out and grabbed my shoulder stopping me in my tracks. He didn't say anything, but the look on his face said it all.

Damn... he is starting to love me. Not good.

"Don't worry, I'll be right back." I smiled, but the smile I got in return was weak and somewhat unsure.

"OK, what's up Brian?"

"Nice to see you too," he replied sarcastically.

"Yeah, yeah, enough chit chat. What's wrong with Nick?" Hey, I didn't say I wasn't concerned.

"Can we maybe go inside? It's a little too open here to be talking, ya know?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea. Bit of a clan meeting in there. A lot of ears."

"OK, how about we go back to my car?"

By this point I didn't care where the hell we went. Dinner was on the table by now. And Justin is on my dessert menu! "Yeah, fine."

I pulled on my shoes and followed Brian out to his car. I heard the click of the remote door locks as we neared. As it was a bit chilly outside (or rather, it was way warm inside the house), I opened the passenger door and got in without waiting for Brian to get in first (hey, I have manners!).

"Cold?"

"Actually, it is a bit chilly out tonight."

Brian put the keys in the ignition and started the car. "More like it's really warm in that house. Just standing at the door I could feel the heat." The car had dual-zone climate control so he adjusted the temperature on my side up a few degrees, while lowering his own.

"Better?"

"Getting there, thanks."

"Sure thing."

We sat in silence for a few seconds as I adjusted to the warmth again. I was waiting for Brian to start back with his old attitude, but I wasn't seeing it at all. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Umm, what's so funny Jeff?"

"You! Hahahahaha. I'm waiting for you to turn into the old Brian that I used to know. The Brian that was ragging on me every time Nick's name came up. I mean, boy, no matter how much we tried, the two of us just couldn't get along could we?"

"Yeah, we could. I just didn't trust you around Nick, and with good reason as I was to find out."

"Hey, you had no worries about trusting me around Nick or anybody else for that matter. You were just way too over protective of him. And what do you mean 'As I was to find out'?"

"Just as I said! In the time that you spent with us, Nick really started to like you. Way beyond just liking the sex! I'd have to say that Nick fell in love with you. I kept telling to be careful. 'He's not in it for love Nicky, he'll hurt you.' 'Oh no, Jeff isn't like that,' he would say. 'I can trust Jeff, he's great.'"

Did I just feel a twinge of guilt?

"Great. Yeah, you were just fucking super! Imagine my surprise - or lack there of - when we came back from a press conference to find you in bed fucking Justin. Do you have any idea what you did?"

"I'm well aware of what I did!"

"Bullshit, no you're not! You crushed Nick. You destroyed him."

I looked at the floor of the car. I didn't want to hurt Nick. "I didn't want to hurt Nick."

"Well that really makes up for it all."

"Hey! I never once told him I was in love with him, I never gave any indication of that whatsoever!"

"You didn't need to! He believed it anyway! And then - then - when we confronted you about it, you just up and left the tour. You cowardly bastards!"

"Fuck you!"

"No, fuck you Jeff! Because of you, Nick wouldn't speak to anyone for weeks. I was afraid to leave him alone for more than 10 minutes at a time. He became a wreck, and to be honest, he still hasn't recovered."

We were silent for close to a minute. Brian was trying to calm himself down a little, and I, well I didn't know what to say, for about the first time ever.

"The only reason I came here is because we're going back out on tour. And as I'm sure you know, that can be stressful. I was hoping, no, fuck that. I'm demanding that you go speak to Nick and explain yourself to him. Tell him why you did what you did and just left."

"Brian I can't - "

"Yes you fucking CAN! He loved you god dammit, and you owe him!"

"I don't owe him shit! I never told him to fall in love with me and I never told him that I loved him. That's his problem. I've had enough shit to deal with in my life I don't need anymore!"

"You make me sick! I understand you lost Brad. I understand that it hurt like hell and that you're scared that it will happen again."

"I'm not - "

"Yes, you are, whether you admit it to yourself or not, you are scared! I can accept all that. But for you to come in to Nick's like and fuck him up like you did then just leave... you're a piece of shit! You make... me... sick!"

I looked down at the floor again. Brian was hitting hard with his comments. All of a sudden I felt things start to crumble and I wasn't going to let it happen. I couldn't lose control again. I just couldn't!

"Don't you dare start feeling sorry for yourself!"

I looked back at Brian quickly. "What?"

"I know the look on your face. That's self pity. You don't have the right to feel sorry for yourself after what you did to Nick."

"Fuck you! Who the hell are you to sit and judge me? You don't know me, you don't know what I've been through! I've gone through hell!"

"So you decide to put Nick through it? Tell me Jeff, you gonna leave Justin like that as well?"

"You bastard!"

"What's wrong, hitting too close to home?"

I didn't know what to say. What gives this asshole the right to judge me, he has no idea what I've been through, how hard I've had it.

I couldn't stand the sight of him, I had to leave. I opened the door, jumped out, and headed for the house. Before I was halfway Brian stuck his head out the driver's side window to yell at me again.

"You owe Nick an explanation Jeff! Deny it all you want, but I know that somewhere inside you, you know what I'm saying is right. Stop being a fucking coward."

With that Brian pulled out of the driveway and left.

I walked into the house and shut the door easily behind me so as not to let the guys know what was wrong. Justin was sitting on the sofa waiting for me.

"Your dinner is getting cold."

"I know, I'm sorry. Brian and I just had some business to discuss."

"Since when is Nick business?"

Calm down Jeff, calm down. Don't go flying off the handle at Justin. He didn't do anything.

"Justin, please could we not talk about it?"

"OK baby, if that's what you want."

"Thanks, now let's go eat." I reached my hand out for him and he took it in his own. I smiled at him and he gladly returned it.

That smile. It brightens up his beautiful face so much. How could I not love -

Oh fuck... I didn't just say that, did I?

I am Scoop, hear me type. Interesting? No? Well, fine see if I care. LOL

Until next time...

PEACE