Love Angel Music Baby/Part 2
When Curt came to, he felt disoriented. Like he'd been on a long trip. But
he had no idea how long he'd been out. Or just how far he'd really gone.
Everything came into focus slowly, gradually, and no matter how many times
he blinked his eyes, he couldn't clear his vision. It was as if things
were proceeding according to their own plan. Not his.
"I think we made him speechless."
Someone laughed. It was a bright, sunny noise, and Curt thought, I know
that voice.
"Would you at least think about our offer?"
Curt did a double-take when his sight eventually decided to cooperate.
"O-offer?" he asked dumbly.
Obviously there was only one logical explanation. He had finally done it.
He had given in to all the pressure and fallen completely over the edge.
He was either high or crazy...or maybe even both at the same time.
The slender young man glittered like the stars and rolled his eyes. But
there wasn't a hint of derision there. Just an inner warmth that couldn't
possibly be faked. "To come to London to cut a record."
"You're Brian Slade," Curt said wonderingly.
The older man sitting opposite Curt gave his younger charge an exasperated
look that said, This is your brain on drugs. "Very good," he said
smoothly, but this one's smile didn't reach his eyes.
This couldn't be happening. But if it was...if there was any fucking
chance that it was...
Wait a minute, Curt thought. The kid said something about second chances.
Was this it? Was this one of the major crossroads where things could go
either way?
Suddenly it hit him with the impact of an oncoming train. He could say no.
He could turn down the record deal and...
...never see Brian again.
Their careers would go in different directions. They would never become
lovers. They would never go on to destroy each other.
The pain that he lived with each and every day would stop. Just like that.
Or he could say yes. He could relive every single time they made love.
He was lost in that particular daydream when it became apparent that Brian
was trying to get his attention.
"So? What do you think, Curt? I'll give you anything you want."
Not exactly. If he said yes, he would have to relive every single vicious
argument, including the one that culminated in him leaving Brian. He
didn't know if he was strong enough to do that. What if he stayed? How
would that have changed things?
His mind went around and around in indecisive circles till he felt dizzy.
"I don't think he's interested, Brian." That was Jerry's contribution to
the conversation, and as usual, he was making up everyone else's minds for
them.
He didn't know what he was going to say till the words came out of his
mouth, but when he had a moment to think about it later, he realized that
there was never really a choice. Not for him.
"I'll do it," he declared. Then he smiled, that slow, tentative half-smile
that first caught Brian Slade's fancy all those years ago.
"You can be my main man," he whispered.
Brian bit his bottom lip and looked uncharacteristically shy.
Curt's heart jumped unexpectedly in his chest, and he gripped the edge of
the table hard. Because what he wanted more than anything else was to kiss
him.
This Brian would refuse him nothing.
He didn't really believe that any of this was real. But if it wasn't, it
was one hell of a powerful daydream.
And he had no intention of waking up yet.
*****