"Yeah, I'm fine." Avery threw his arms around Rick's neck and smiled up at him. "Thank you for helping me home and being such a good friend."
Rick patted Avery's back. "You're welcome Ave. Just don't pass out on the floor once your inside." He snickered.
"Deal." Avery kissed Rick on the cheek then turned and entered his apartment.
Rick was a bit hesitant to leave Avery alone but he figured he'd be okay as long as he didn't plan on going out again. Avery never could hold his liquor very well. Rick smiled as he shoved his hands into his coat pockets and made his way back down the steps. It was a rare sight to see Avery even a little tipsy; rare, but cute. His more silly side came out when he was drunk and it was a total contrast to how he normally acted.
Once Avery got himself settled, he pulled the post it note that had Brian's number written on it out of his pocket and read over it again. His heart was pounding in his chest and he smiled a bright, exuberant smile.
Brian had called him, he did still care. Avery felt silly for ever doubting it but the lack of contact had started to take its toll. Avery crushed the note against his chest and giggled like a child giddy over a new toy. He couldn't wait to hear Brian's voice again. He wanted to hear all about the tour, his fans, and the kinds of people that he met; most of all though, Avery wanted to hear Brian tell him that he loved him. Once he heard that, he could bear the rest of the time apart from him until he finally came back.
Too excited to contain himself any longer, Avery picked up the phone and dialed Brian's number. He held his breath as the phone rang. The hum of the call signal seemed to drag out for hours though it was only a few seconds. Avery's heart was racing, he felt nervous, but at the same time exhilarated; then, finally, the hum disappeared as the line was picked up on the other end. "Avery?" A familiar voice asked.
Avery hiccupped. "Brian...I can't believe I get to hear your voice again!" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself down. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too." Brian told him. "I've been thinking about you a lot. I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to call but I've just been super busy with the tour, and signing autographs. I hardly have time to even sleep but I had to hear your voice again."
"I'm glad you called." Avery wiped away the tears that had sprung to his eyes when he heard Brian's voice. It was like a dream come true. No, better than that. Avery felt that every horrible thing that had happened to him up until this point was being slowly erased from his mind to make room for all the wonderful new memories that he was going to have now. Memories that he planned to make with Brian.
They talked for hours. Brian told Avery everything about what he had been doing since they'd last seen each other. He told him about his fans and the countless numbers of women throwing themselves at him, but how he could only think of Avery, and the amazing night that they had shared. He couldn't wait to see Avery again, he confessed. He called him his beautiful French angel and Avery blushed. He felt himself melt against the cushions of the couch as Brian spoke. Avery had never felt this happy in his life. He'd never felt more loved or in love. It was truly magical.
Avery didn't want to spoil the mood so he chose not to mention the issues with Mikey and the band. He didn't know how Brian would react. Would he rush back and go after Mikey? Would he blame Avery and never want to speak to him again? Avery didn't want to risk it and he didn't want to worry Brian when he was so far away and unable to help anyway. He thought about telling Brian about the ware house and how broke they all were but he didn't want Brian to think that he was just trying to get money out of him, so he decided not to mention that either. In the end, they mostly just talked about Brian and his band.
Asendin was climbing up the charts. They had already sold out the last three concerts. Their album was disappearing from the shelves as fast as it was being put out, and their next album was already in the works. Avery couldn't wait to get a copy. Brian wrote all the songs for the band and while most of them were pretty dark or sorrowful, he also had quite a few love ballads on their previous album. Avery was eager to see what songs he had written lately, and if any of them were about him.
He realized that it was a bit presumptuous but he also knew that Brian was known for using his real life as inspiration for his songs. Avery was the same way. Most of the songs he wrote-though no where as good as Brian's- were songs that reflected certain moments in his life, whether good or bad. Avery's writing was very emotional, deep, and well thought out. He took great pride in his music and wanted to write something that would touch his audience on a personal level, the way Brian's music touched him. The real problem with Avery's music though, was that he was way too self-conscious to sing his own songs in public, so he mostly sang Asendin covers, or songs that Trash and Mikey had written.
As the conversation came to an end Avery had a hard time saying good-bye. He knew that they would talk again. Brian promised to call in a week when he had more down time, but Avery didn't want to wait that long. In all honesty he didn't want the conversation to end at all but he knew that Brian was tired and so was he. They exchanged "I Love you's" then a few parting words to comfort each other, and hung up. Avery lay back against the couch hugging the phone to his chest. "I am so in love with you Brian." He said out loud. "I never actually thought that I could be this happy."
_______________________________________
After his last episode of binge drinking, Rick felt it was better that he abstain for a while, at least when alone. Trash and Avery were great wing men; they kept Rick from getting totally wasted and making a further fool of himself. But Avery wasn't with him at the moment and Rick was feeling vulnerable. On the walk home Avery was talking about Brian again. He couldn't wait to get home and call him. He wanted to hear his voice again and his 'sexy' accent. Every other sentence was about Brian.
Rick was seriously getting sick of hearing that guy's name. What was so special about Brian Mueller? What the hell did he have that Ricky didn't? Rick was just as good looking, and as talented, maybe more so. Avery didn't care about money and material things so it wasn't that. He knew that Brian was Avery's idol, the first time he'd ever heard Brian sing Avery had been hooked. He admired him, respected him, and aspired to be like him. Rick guessed that eventually that admiration had turned into some misguided form of love, but what was it about him that had drawn Avery in to begin with?
Avery was the type of guy that was always looking for his 'Knight in shining armor.' Apparently Brian had become that knight. It made sense, Rick supposed. After being thrown out of his parent's house; totally rejected by his family, being alone and scared, living on the streets and so young, Avery was looking for something to give him hope for the future. He and Brian came from similar back grounds. They had suffered similar issues in their lives, and through it all, Brian had risen to the top and became a rock and roll God.
Avery probably needed to put his faith and love into someone like Brian. He became a symbol to Avery. Someone he could look up to and possibly learn from. He was living proof that you could overcome any obstacle if you were willing to work hard for it. He symbolized dreams turned into reality, and that was something Avery had clung to through his darker times.
'I could be that to Avery.' Rick thought as he walked down the side walk towards his end of town. 'I could be his knight in shining armor. At least I'd actually be here for him when he needed me.' He sighed and looked up at the sky. It was getting darker earlier now. Street lights were starting to come on and hard working men and women were rushing home to their families for dinner.
He thought about that morning when he sat at the table across from Avery and shared breakfast with him. He remembered the way that he looked standing at the stove; the smile on his face as he poured the juice. He was practically gleaming when Rick told him what a great cook he thought he was.
That sweet, innocent, and obviously loving look on Avery's face was priceless and Rick wanted so bad to see that look again. "What could I do to prove to you that I could take care of you?" Rick realized that his own dreams weren't so farfetched. He only wanted Avery to be a part of his life. As a friend would be great, but as a partner, a lover, that's what he really wanted. If Avery could only see that, if he knew how Rick felt, they could be a family. That's all Rick really wanted. With Avery by his side, he'd be the happiest man on Earth.
Rick didn't feel like going home suddenly. The last thing he wanted was to be alone right now. He couldn't go back to Avery's. Avery was no doubt in deep conversation with his beloved Brian by now. That thought pissed Rick off. That bastard had everything. He was famous, rich, and good-looking. He could have anyone that he wanted, so why did he have to choose Avery? Rick supposed that he should be happy for his friend, he found the man of his dreams after all, but Rick just didn't feel that way.
He turned and headed down Chase Street.
Hanging out in a bar all night was that last thing he needed to do but he just couldn't think of anywhere else to go. There was a local pub on Chase called Shaggy's. Rick knew the owner. He was an older guy named Boomer, but he was cool. Boomer used to play in a band years ago, but after drugs, drinking, and a few failed marriages, he retired his guitar and went into business for himself. That's how Shaggy's was born. The past ten years or so Boomer's place had been a favorite hang out for the older crowd, attracting mostly blue collar workers, retirees, and rednecks. Most of the patrons were regulars but once in a blue moon someone breezing through town would stop in for a beer or two.
Shaggy's was one of the few places in town that didn't kick Avery out on sight. Boomer only asked that he not openly drink in the bar in case the cops happen to show up, though he'd never complained when Avery would take small sips from Rick's beer. Avery was reluctant to drink anything harder which was fine because Rick knew that Boomer wouldn't allow it and he didn't want to piss anyone off.
When Rick walked in, Boomer was sitting at the end of the bar talking to a regular named Max. Max was a retired truck driver who currently divided most of his time between drinking and working in his garden. His wife had passed away three years ago; his children were grown and rarely visited, so his friends at the bar became his family. Rick greeted both men as he sat down beside them.
