Justin glared at his friend. “You had to be there,” he said in way of explanation.
“So tell me about this guy.”
Justin shook his head. “Nothing to tell. I don’t even know his name.”
Joey grinned. “But you’d like to.”
Justin rolled his eyes. “It’s not up for discussion. The University refuse to tell me who he was or where I can find him.”
Joey picked his teeth. “I know where he is,” he said nonchalantly as he shifted his attention back to the TV screen.
Justin jumped up and rushed over to his friend, grabbing his shirt and pulling him to him. “Where is he?” he demanded.
Joey grinned again and pulled a piece of crumpled paper from his pocket. “My classmate Lance is his best friend, small world huh?”
Justin snatched at the note cursing when Joey lifted it out of his reach.
“Thank you Joey,” Joey said in a condescending way.
Justin grabbed the paper. “Thanks Joe,” he gushed as he snatched up his house keys and rushed out.
As soon as he left, Joey picked up the phone. “He’s on his way over,” he said before hanging up again.
Justin paced outside the address that Joey had given him. He had dreamed about seeing PB again but now he was here he wasn’t sure of how he would be received. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. No answer. He knocked again, harder this time and again he got no response. Disappointed he trudged back to the elevator. The doors opened and he walked inside ignoring the person coming out as he pressed the button for the ground floor.
“Justin!”
Justin's head shot up and he slammed his hand on the hold button.
“PB!!” he exclaimed. “It’s really you.”
“Joshua,” Joshua said shyly lowering his eyes. “My name is Joshua.”
“Joshua; it suits you. It’s a pretty name.”
Joshua laughed lightly. “Well I never thought of it as being pretty but I like it.” He hesitated and then asked. “Would you like to come in?”
Justin smiled back shyly. “I’d like that.”
Joshua made some coffee and handed a cup to his visitor. “I wanted to thank you. The money you gave me helped me settle most of my debts. I still had to sell my jeep and my apartment but it could have been so much worse. You saved me.”
Justin grunted in disagreement. “You earned every penny of that cash. I couldn’t have done what you did. I would have given up, quit.”
“I wanted to but as I remember you wouldn’t let me.”
Justin put his cup down and crossed the room so he was standing close to his former prisoner. “You were so brave Joshua; brave and beautiful.”
The slim man blushed. “You think I’m beautiful?”
Justin leaned in and kissed Joshua's lips softly. “I promise I won’t break your heart Josh. Please give me a chance to prove it.”
Joshua smiled shyly and turned looking out over the city. Was he ready to jump back in with both feet? Nathaniel had broken his heart and tried to destroy his life and yet he was still alive, still living. He turned back around and faced Justin seeing the sincerity in his eyes.
“I’ll take a lot of convincing after all you have the advantage already.”
Justin looked at him confused.
“You’ve seen me at my most vulnerable, how weak I am.”
Justin took the unsure man in his arms. “No I’ve seen you at your strongest.”
The end.