****
JC knew it was a little mean to be surprised when he saw the large textbook with small print sitting on Justin's lap. Likewise the smirk on his face was probably uncalled for as he approached, but he was amused that such a seemingly scholarly textbook was being read accompanied by headphones on Justin's head and the TV on a few feet away. He sat cross-legged on the couch of the lounge with a can of soda in hand.
"You look studious."
"Huh?" Justin looked up and pushed his headphones down to his neck to hear. "What'd you say?"
"How can you concentrate?"
"I’m reading."
"I didn't know you could." JC sat down beside him, patting his knee to soothe the wounded look. "Just kidding, J. What is it you're reading? That's a pretty big book."
Justin rested his head against JC's shoulder and sighed. For a moment he hesitated, wondering what the reaction would be. After a moment, he decided he might as well explain. He flipped the book closed to show JC.
"A college guide?" JC began. Now he had a right to be surprised.
"There's so many choices," Justin sighed.
"Honey… Um… What are you looking at a big book like this for?"
Justin raised his head and narrowed his eyes, looking over at JC carefully. "Are you making fun of me?"
"No."
"Are you sure?" Justin looked a little hurt.
JC slipped an arm around his waist. "Positive. I'm just curious."
"JC, I've decided to go to college." Justin's voice was a bit proud, as if just by reading this book, he was accomplishing a great deal.
"College?" JC bit his lip, his fingers running up and down Justin's back lightly. "Have the guys been teasing you again, baby?"
"Just because I was educated on a bus does not mean that I am unable to go to college," Justin answered. "Stop using that God damn condescending tone with me."
"I'm not using any tone with you. You're capable of doing anything you want… It's just that…" JC paused. "What's spurred this decision?"
"Well… A lot of things…" Justin began. "I've always though about it. Could be cool. Campus life. Stuff like that. And, like, I was looking at some of the stuff Lance was doing with his business, and it's, like, I wanna be able to say I can do that."
"Why?"
"Why not?" Justin was being typically stubborn, but JC knew it had to be more than just that. Someone must have said something or made a comment. Something had initiated this.
"Who said something to you? Joey?"
"Nobody." Justin rolled his eyes. He took a sip of his soda and then offered it to JC. "Nobody did."
JC eyed him warningly as he took the can and took a drink. "You tell me if they do."
"What's wrong with me wanting to get educated?"
"Justin, you are educated." JC gave him the can back. "You're very smart. It's just a very sudden decision and I… When will you have time to go? It's not like the tutoring was, honey; you have to actually attend classes for a set amount of time each week and—"
"JC, I know!" Justin exclaimed. "I know. Sheesh…"
JC grinned and reached over to pat his cheek playfully. "Okay. So where are you looking?" He looked down at the book in Justin's lap.
Justin grinned and flipped open the book again. "Harvard."
"Harvard?" JC almost choked.
"Yeah. I like the way you say can say it. Harrrrrverrrd. Or Hahhhhvaaard."
"That's Ivy League, pal."
"So? What's that supposed to mean?"
"You have to have high SAT scores, or ACT scores, and like a 4.0 GPA unweighted and lots of well-rounded activities. And usually more than a GED."
"I'm well-rounded."
"ACT? SAT?"
"Huh?"
JC smiled. "Baby…" He sighed.
"You don't think I'm smart enough."
"Of course you are," JC objected. "It's just that…" He watched Justin's lower lip curve into a pout. "Please, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that… Well, it's Harvard."
"So?" Justin persisted. "I want to go. A lot of famous people have gone to Harvard."
Like Presidents, JC wanted to reply. He knew that if they'd been standing, Justin would have stamped his foot with his 'I want to go'. He was set on getting what he wanted and the fact that JC was dubious probably stirred that feeling more and more within him.
"People at Harvard don't pout," JC replied. "They don't say, 'cause I wanna' when you ask them why they do something."
Justin huffed, leaning down to place his soda on the floor.
"They don't have a basketball team."
Justin's eyes widened as he sat back up straight. "They don't?"
"Well not a good one. I bet you didn't even think about that, huh? Have you ever seen Harvard in the NCAA?"
Justin shook his head.
"Wouldn't you want to play basketball?" JC couldn't believe he was talking about this seriously. Justin being able to play on a college basketball team was another incredulous plan, but at least it was conversation.
"Yeah." Justin nodded.
"Then look for something that has a good basketball time. What about UNC? You always loved UNC, didn't you?"
"Yeah." Justin began flipping through pages in the book. "How do you apply, anyway?"
JC took a deep breath. Just the fact that he didn't even know how to begin applying to schools should be a pretty good indication that this was not the right thing to encourage.
"JC, why have you got that look on your face?"
JC hesitated and then replied, "Because I can't believe you want to go away from us and go to college. Go away from me…"
"I don't want to go away from you," Justin objected.
"Well, if you go to college…"
"But…" Justin started. "You could go with me." He pushed the book over into JC's lap. "Let's look together and get smart together."
"We're smart enough," JC answered. He placed his hand on the back of Justin's neck, stroking the warm skin. "Let's put the book away, okay? Where'd you get this book anyway?"
"Why don't you wanna—"
"You don’t need a higher education… You're set. Justin, not all paths in life require college degrees."
Justin looked unappeased.
"Want reasons why?" JC slipped the book off his lap to beside him on the couch. "Huh? I'll tell you why you shouldn't."
Justin rested his head against the other's shoulder again. "Fine."
"Well, first of all, how would you go to class? People would recognize you and you'd never have a second alone…"
"Mm…" Justin shrugged.
"Second, you say you want campus life? But if you dormed, that would just suck. What if you get a geeky roommate or something? Or a slob? Or something like that…? They could wreck all your stuff."
Justin made a face.
JC continued. "I'd never be able to see you… And you'd never be able to let me do this…" He leaned down and turned his head to kiss Justin's lips. "Never. You'd be locked in a tiny dorm room with a geeky roommate. And you'd never get a chance to sing or anything. You'd have hundreds of books bigger than this college guide."
"Ugh…" Justin replied.
"Yeah, ugh," JC affirmed. "Wouldn't you rather stay on tour with little old me?" He smiled and kissed him again. "I'll educate you."
"You will…?" Justin smirked and raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"
"Uh-huh… I have my own interpretation of higher education…"
Justin's lips spread slowly into a sly smile. "Oh yeah…?" He licked his lips and shifted over to slide into JC's lap, straddling him. "Are my SAT scores high enough?"
"Hm… Maybe. And extracurricular activities?" JC looked at him critically, a teasing smile. His hands slid down Justin's back and slipped beneath his jeans to squeeze his ass. "You're well-rounded enough."
"JC!" Justin punched his shoulder.
"What? Yes, your SAT scores are high enough…" JC said seriously, trying not to smirk. He kissed Justin on the nose. "So you want me instead of a college education?"
"It's very tempting."
"Just tempting?"
"Very."
"I'm not 100% convincing?" JC moved his lips from Justin's and began towards his neck, just past his ear, working his way down slowly to his collar bone, skin just brushing skin.
Justin arched his back and gripped JC's shirt. "Yes, yes, you are…"
"So you'll trade in the college guide?"
"I guess…" Justin closed his eyes and nodded. "Harvard what? Never heard of it."
"Exactly…" JC kissed him gently. "Let's explore some other things that you don't find in textbooks..."
And that day marked the first day of Justin's higher education.
*****
finis
