(Picture is of Liam, what a cute peanut!)

Chapter 23

 Finn

"Isn't this great Liam?"

Since I had no afternoon classes today and Garrett had told me about this art fair in the neighbourhood near Juntado, I invited Liam to come along with me.  It meant he didn't have to go to the Boy's Club after school since Jonah had a full day of classes and Brett and Aiden were working, and I got to spend some one-on-one time with my quiet little friend.

It was actually a street fair with artist booths, food vendors and lots of performance art as well.  There was so much to see and so many different mediums of creativity we both walked around with big eyes and probably dazed and amazed looks.  It was an annual event, but neither Liam nor I had ever been before.

I kept a good eye on Liam though, remembering the time I got lost in Miami during a Fourth of July parade and how scary it was.  He often reminded me so much of myself and I knew that type of experience would be just as scary to him, plus, Jonah would kick my ass if anything happened to him under my care.

Liam looked up at me and nodded with a grin.  "It's awesome!"

We walked around and I bought a few things for my apartment.  I wanted to support other local artists since I've been lucky to have so many people supporting me.  I also bought Liam a leather bracelet he was admiring.  Of course he was like his brother, didn't want to accept it at first, but I convinced him that it was my way of saying thank you for all his extra help getting ready for my show at Juntado.

We stopped by and said hello to Garrett, but it was pretty quick because he was headed out to meet 'Luke' for lunch.  "The doctor I met at the show?" I asked.  He grinned and blushed and I didn't have the heart to tease him about it.

"So I've had lots of inquiries about your next show Finn," he told me before he left, "I think we should have another in late November, early December, what do you think?"

"I think I can manage that, I'll stop by in a few weeks and we can talk about dates and maybe throw some ideas around about what direction to take with some of the new paintings."

"Sounds great, oh, and I've had a spot cleared for your use in the studio and your own locked closet to store things securely.  Whenever you want to start using it, just go ahead."  Garrett looked over at Liam who was a few feet away staring up at an abstract painting by an artist I'd admired for a while.  "Liam, I hope you'll let me put a few of your paintings in Finn's show again, I had quite a few people tell me how talented you were, they were astounded when I told them your age and that you'd only just started painting." 

"Um…I guess.  If it's okay with Finn," he said softly.

"One day, I hope you'll let me hold your own show here."  Liam full out blushed and looked down, but I saw a huge smile on his face.

"Well, I've got to run, I don't want to be late for Luke.  His schedule at the hospital is so tight I don't want to miss any of the time he sets aside for me."

"Have fun and tell him I said hello," I called as he started to rush away.

"You know Liam, I would love to have you put some new paintings in my next show.  You should start thinking about what you might want to work on next."

"I think I want to try something abstract," he murmured, gazing back at the piece that had caught his attention. "How do I start it though?"

"I usually start with a feeling or emotion I want to express.  It sounds silly, but sometimes I'll close my eyes and feel it and then images come in my head and that's how I begin.  It might change as I work on it, but that's how I get started."

He nodded his head before turning to follow me back out to the street.  We walked around for another half hour before we decided to go find someplace for a late lunch.

“Hey Finn!  There’s Benji!”  I looked over to where Liam was pointing and in fact there was our crazy friend, or my brother as he liked to say, getting his picture drawn by one of those artists who draw caricatures of people.  As we headed over I could see that this artist not only drew the subject but put them in a very detailed picture or scene.

“Dude, what are you doing?” I laughed.

“Hey guys! What are you doing here?” He chirped back happily. There was a handsome guy standing next to where Benji was seated, smiling shyly at us.

“Garrett told me about it so I asked Liam to come with me.  You didn’t have to work at the Boy’s Club today?”

“No, my shifts are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Isn’t this awesome!  I’m getting a picture of me made for Ajax.”  I looked at the drawing so far and it was Benji riding a bull at a rodeo.

“Interesting choice…oh, he’ll love that,” I added as I saw the bull wearing a collar with a tag hanging off with the letter ‘A’ on it.  Benji smirked and the other guy giggled quietly.

“I’m Finn and this is Liam,” I said, holding out my hand since I realized he was with Benji.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!  Sebastien, this is Finn, remember I told you about him; my brother from another mother and this is my good friend Liam, I also told you about him.  He’s our budding star – he’s going to be an amazing artist just like Finn.”

Sebastien blushed and reached over and shook my hand.  “Hi,” he murmured quietly and then looked to Liam, who had also turned shy.  “Hi Liam,” the older boy finally said after a pause, smiling at the younger one.

“Hi.” Liam looked up and gave him a quick smile before turning to Benji.  “Finn and I are going to eat, will you come with us?”  Liam adored Benji and from my faux-bro’s look, I could see the feeling was mutual.

Benji looked over at his friend Sebastien.  “What do you say Seb, after my picture is finished should we go grab some chow?”

“Sure.”

“I’m just about finished,” the wild looking artist with spiked purple hair and about 20 piercings said.

“Are you a friend from school?” I asked Sebastien while we waited.

“Um, no, I don’t go to college,” he replied.  “I…um…”

“We’re friends from the club,” Benji piped in.

“The Boy’s Club?” Liam asked confused.  Benji just giggled and Sebastien blushed.

“No squirt, a different club.” Benji quipped, Liam stuck his tongue out at him for calling him squirt then looked at Sebastien.

“I didn’t think I’d seen you at the Boy’s Club,” he said innocently and I let out a quiet chuckle.

“All set, man,” the artist said after a few minutes, turning the drawing around for Benji to see.

“Oh my god!!! That’s so awesome!” Benji hollered, jumping up out of the chair.  I laughed as I saw that the artist had put black leather looking cuffs around each of the bull’s legs just above the hooves and little spikes on the collar.  The caricature of Benji’s face captured his larger than life excitement with sparkling eyes and a silly smirk.  The drawn Benji was wearing black shorts and a black vest with fringes like a cowboy would wear, as he rode up and down on the bull.

“Oh...my…” I drawled, “Ajax is…umm…well, that’s something else Benj.”

“Are…you s..sure you want to give it to him Benji?” Sebastien asked timidly.

“Well, I’ll save it for a special occasion, maybe frame it for his birthday…or…”

“Give it a break Benji, we all know you, you’re not going to last 10 minutes before you pull it out and give it to him.”  Benji smiled and handed the artist a few bills after he had put the drawing in a protective cardboard folder.

“I think…I think…” Sebastien started to whisper, but paused looking at Liam, but Liam was busy looking at some of the other drawings, “I think you’re going to get paddled,” he finally finished in a hushed, concerned tone.

I laughed out loud, “that’s probably what he’s looking forward to,” I snickered to Benji’s friend whose face turned beet red.

"You're really good," Liam said to the artist after he finished looking at the wall of pictures; some were celebrities and politicians and some I didn't recognize, but were humorous scenes.

"Thanks Kid!" he said.

"How do you do it so fast," he mused having watched the way his coloured pencils had flown across the page.

"Most of the characters are the same, just with a few changes to highlight some unique part of them, otherwise, it's just a lot of practice, I've been doing this since I was in grade school," he laughed.

"Liam, why don't you show him some of your drawings?" Benji called over, seeing that Liam had his small bag over his shoulder where he always had at least a small sketchbook and pencils.

"You're an artist too?  Let me see kid!  I'm Randy by the way."

"I'm Liam," he said softly. "Mine aren't caricatures or anything…"
 

"Can I see?" 

Liam pulled out his sketchbook and handed it to Randy.  "Wow!  These are awesome.  Way better than mine, the detail and shading, they look so real, you can even see light reflecting and real depth.  Beautiful kid."

"You should see his paintings," I said proudly, "he's already shown at Juntado."

"Really!"

"It was Finn's show," Liam quickly explained, "but he let me put two of mine in."

"His first two paintings and they were brilliant," I added smiling at the blushing boy.

"Awesome!"  Randy turned to me, "Are you Finn Jennings?  I saw your exhibit before it ended last week.  Amazing dude!"

"Thanks, so then you probably saw Liam's too. The one of me painting just as you walked in and then there was another of two boys sleeping."

We talked with the artist for a few more minutes before he got a new customer and we needed to go find someplace to eat.

The four of us found a restaurant that Benji had been to before and thought we might like, they even had an available table outside in their courtyard just off the walking street we were on.

"You can have whatever you want Liam, I'm treating," I said as my protégé looked over the menu.

"No, I'm treating," Benji interrupted.

Liam and Sebastien looked back and forth between us like they were watching a tennis match as we bickered away, until finally we decided we'd split it between the two of us when it came time.  Benji smirked at me and I smirked back because we both knew each of us would be making a lunge for the bill when it arrived at the end of the meal.

During lunch I got to know Sebastien a bit, he was pretty quiet and reserved, but very pleasant and smiled at our conversation while he listened intently.  Benji kept us laughing most of the meal telling us about some work he'd been doing with kindergartners recently for his advanced child psychology class and practicum.  Apparently he's been enjoying re-living his early school years by taking part in finger painting and other of their activities, but he swore that it was just his method of bonding with them and gaining their trust.

"And my favourite part is snack time!  They get the best snacks!  And these little cups of apple juice.  I love it!"

"Do you get naptime too Benj?"

"Nah, I usually write up my notes during naptime.  The little mats are too small and kind of uncomfortable."

"Liam, do you want dessert?" I asked when the waiter had cleared our plates.  The waiter was a young guy who looked only slightly older than Liam, or maybe the same age and just taller, I wasn't sure.  He kept peeking at Liam and smiling at him the few times my young friend looked up, but Liam either ignored him or was oblivious to the waiter's keen attention.  I was guessing on the latter.

"You know you doooo, kiddo," Benji teased, poking his side. "You're the only one who has a bigger sweet tooth than me!"

"Sure," Liam replied with a blush.  The waiter, Kevin I think his name was, ran off to get dessert menus with a big smile.

"Is it just my imagination or has that waiter been spending an inordinate amount of time at our table," Benji asked snidely.  I grinned and shook my head at him not to embarrass Liam.

"Here you go," Kevin the waiter said as he returned. 

"Why don't you tell us what's good," Benji smirked.

Kevin walked over to Liam, leaning over his shoulder to look at the menu and pointed to the different things reading them off and telling us about them.  We each ordered something and Kevin was back in no time with our luscious looking desserts.

"So Kevin," Benji asked as he hung around our table.  "What High School do you go to?"

"Um…the same one as Liam."

Liam glanced up, an obvious look of surprise on his face.  "Really?"

"Um, yeah, I'm in your English class and we have the same lunch period."

"Li, are you actually awake when you're at school?" Benji teased.

"Yes," he glared, sticking his tongue out at Benji.  "School only started back up a couple of weeks ago."

"It's okay," Kevin laughed.  He hung out for a few minutes longer before he had to go take care of other tables.

"He's really cute Liam," Sebastien said.  "I think he likes you too!"

Liam blushed and looked between Benji and I.  "Um…I already have a boyfriend and he's way hotter," he said with a cute little grin.

"Ah…okay.  Well maybe he just wants to be friends," Sebastien replied, also turning a bright red.  Benji and I glanced at each other with knowing smiles.

We heard a cellphone buzz and all four of us checked our phones with a laugh.  It turned out to be Sebastien's.  "Oh!  My Ma…boyfriend is ready to pick me up," he announced.  "He's in the neighbourhood, I'll just text him where we  are."

About 10 minutes later, a very handsome, very distinguished looking businessman walked up to our table.  He looked quite a bit older than Sebastien which kind of surprised me.  Sebastien looked like he was in his early twenties and the man who walked up putting his hand over Sebastien's shoulders looked like he was in his mid-forties.  I couldn't really say anything because Nico was twelve years older than me, but I guessed that their age difference was even bigger.

“Hello, I’m Gregory Reynolds," the man said, looking at me.  He had already nodded at Benji who I'm sure he already knew from the club.

“Finn Jennings and this is Liam Mathews,” I replied shaking his hand.  Liam looked at me quickly before reaching his small hand out to the man, shaking it hesitantly.  Gregory gave him a soft smile and shook it gently before he turned to Sebastien. 

“Are you ready to go Sebastien?” He asked.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Gentlemen,” Gregory nodded to the three of us. 

I nodded back looking him in the eyes, Liam looked at his hands saying nothing and Benji replied with a “Sir,” while keeping his eyes slightly downcast, avoiding direct contact.  Benji was sometimes an enigma to me and while I understood why the relationship he had with Ajax met his needs, it sometimes annoyed me how he seemed to kowtow to other Doms he met outside of the club.  It just wasn’t the boisterous and unique Benji I knew, but I guess it was part of the lifestyle, a show of respect.

I looked over at Liam who was quietly finishing his dessert.  I could only imagine how attractive our small friend would be to a Dominant with his shy nature, so I was glad that he had Jonah who would always protect him while never trying to change or influence his behaviour, because when Liam was in his own environment, with his brother, Jonah or Aiden his wacky little personality came out and he was a funny, clever and sometimes devious boy with a great sense of humour.  Not that being a sub curtailed Benji’s personality, but the shy man I just met just seemed so subdued, I wondered if he ever let loose and had some real fun.

After we paid the bill the three of us walked in the direction of our cars which led us past Juntado again.  I sighed as I thought of how and when I would tell Garrett that I was actually the owner of the gallery/studio he managed.  How would he feel about it?  Would he quit? I really didn’t want to manage it myself, wanting to focus on my painting, and he did such a great job, I could only hope that he would stay.  Maybe if I offered him part ownership I mused; give him a vested interest in staying and continuing to oversee the day to day tasks.  I’d have to talk to Nico about it, see what his thoughts were, though, I knew he would support whatever I chose, I still wanted his professional opinion.

“Finn!”  A voice I hadn’t heard in several years startled me out of my thoughts.

I turned around and froze on the spot.

“Finn, my baby boy!  My god, you’ve gotten so tall!”

“Mom.”

“Ohhh, Finny!  I missed you so much!”  She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around me while I stood stiffly.  She smelled like old booze and stale cigarettes.  She was dressed in a plain green skirt, faded yellow blouse and worn shoes.  She wore more make-up than I ever remember her wearing and it looked like it was used to hide her pale, sallow complexion.

“What are you doing here?” My voice sounded strained and tired even to my own ears.

Benji and Liam had stopped walking and turned back.

“I came looking for you Finny.  I heard about your art show!  You don’t know how surprised I was to see your name and picture in the paper.  Baby, I’m so proud of you! I always knew you’d make it big!”

“What do you want?”

“I missed you, I wanted to see you.  I’m back in L.A. now; I want us to spend time together again.”

I looked at Benji and I’m sure he saw the strain and uncertainty in my eyes.  Shit, I hadn’t felt so lost, helpless and uncomfortable in a very long time.  When Benji saw my face, he pulled out his phone and took a few steps away, pressing a few buttons and putting it up to his ear.

“Come with me baby, I want you to meet my new husband, he’s at our apartment.  He really wants to meet you too.”

“I…I can’t mom, I have…I have to get Liam home.”  Liam was standing right behind me and I practically felt his breath on the back of my neck. 

She peeked around behind me, “oh what a cutie!  He’s your friend?”

“Yes, and my student,” I added.

“Well at least let’s go have a quick cup of coffee, I can get your address and number and we’ll get together another time.  They wouldn’t give me your contact info at the gallery there.”

“I…I really have to go.”

“Baby, you haven’t seen your mother in years, you can’t give me a few minutes of your time?” She whined, just on the verge of anger, with a fake smile on her face.

“I…I gu…”

“Hi.  I’m Benji,”  Benji stepped forward and held out his hand, my mother shook it hesitantly.  “Let’s go over there; we can have a quick cup of coffee.”  I looked at him and he nodded with a small smile.

“Great!  Come on baby, you have to tell me everything you’ve been doing since you left home.”

I winced as she grabbed my arm with her hands, pulling me close like long lost friends.  Left home.  She made it sound like I had gone off to college, not been left on the street at 16 to fend for myself.  I followed numbly as she led me to the café across from Juntado; Benji and Liam behind me.  Benji murmured to the waitress as we found a table and sat down.

“The waitress is going to bring over coffee,” Benji said, a false levity to his voice.

“Oh, that’s so sweet Ben!” my mother cooed.

“Benji,” he muttered, sitting down next to me while Liam sat nervously on the other side of him.  My mother had pulled her chair as close as possible next to me.

“Wh…where have you been?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“You know sweetie, I went with Eddie to Nevada.  We had a nice little apartment; you really should have visited us there.  But…well, Eddie lost his job a few months ago and he had a few contacts here, so we decided to come back.  What about you baby?  What have you been doing?”

Baby?  She never called me baby. "Please don't call me that," I muttered.

“Finn’s become such a talented artist, Mizz Jennings,” Benji interjected.  “Did you see his show, his work is amazing.”

“It’s Pitfield now, Mrs. Pitfield, Eddie and me got married 3 years ago.  No, I didn't see the show, but I heard it was really successful!”

Benji proceeded to speed his way through small talk, not letting my mother get very many words in, while I sat almost in a catatonic trance.  I don’t even know what he talked about, his voice just kept going and I could hear false cheer, but was grateful for the chance to get my head together.  Why did she show up now, what did she want, why was she acting like she missed me, like she was my long lost loving mother.

The coffee was brought over, but none of us touched it.  I looked over at Liam and tried to give him a smile, but I’m not sure what it ended up looking like.  ‘Are you okay?’ he mouthed and I gave him a slight nod.

Perhaps 20 or more minutes later several men in black suits entered the café area and before I could even look up Nico was at my side.

“Are you okay?” He whispered?

“I want to go.” I told him.

“Who are you?” My mother blurted out, a lilt in her voice like she was talking to her celebrity crush.

“I’m a friend of Finn’s and I’m taking him home now,” he said gruffly.

“Finny, don’t go sweetie, we still have so much to talk about.”

“I have to go mom,” I said standing up.  I let Nico lead me away.  “Liam,” I said stopping.

“I’ll take him home,” Benji quickly assured me.

“Wait, Finn, I need your phone number, your address,” my mother called. “Who are you guys?” she groused at the men blocking her way.

Nico walked back and handed her a card, “these are Finn’s lawyers, you can contact him through them.”

Nico quickly came back to my side, his hand on my shoulder as we quickly walked away.  Benji and Liam were close behind and I could hear my mother’s voice calling me and then yelling at whoever the men were that came with Nico.

“You’re okay baby,” Nico said quietly in my ear.  I relaxed, he was the only one who should ever call me that.

“I know…I just…can…” my mind was whirling and I just wanted to be far away right now. “Can we go to Serenity for the night,” I finally croaked.

“Of course.  Where is your car?  I drove with them.”

"Over in the lot on Hamilton Ave."

When we parted ways with Benji and Liam to go to where my car was I gave Liam a hug. 

“Are you okay Finn?” he asked worriedly.

“I will be, Benji will explain everything.  I’m sorry our afternoon ended like this.”

“It’s okay, I had a really good time today.  Thank you…and um, thank you for the bracelet,” he added, holding up his wrist.

“It looks great on you kiddo.”

Benji handed Nico my shopping bags with the art I had purchased and gave me a big bear hug.  “Call me when you can,” he said. “I love you Finn.”

“I love you too Benj.  Thanks for doing that.  I…I don’t know..”

“I know bro.  Go be with Nico now.” 

I gave him a half smile and turned back to Nico handing him my car keys.

I knew I’d have questions about what would happen next, but right now I didn’t want to think or talk about her.  I just wanted to go to the ship and be alone with my boyfriend.  The person I knew who loved and cherished me.

Nico rubbed my back as we headed to my car and minutes later we were driving out of town.  I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes wearily, feeling utterly exhausted.

“What will those men do?” I asked finally.

“They were there just to detain her for a few minutes and in case any trouble broke out.  I’m sure by now they’ve gone on their own way.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not right now.”

“Okay, baby.”