Rainbow City

Author's Note: I'm revising this because I realize its kinda poorly written and needs more detail. Here's to my finishing it this time, because I really do adore the Rainbow trilogy.

Pairings: Nelson x Manny (first chapter only), Kyle x Jason, Nelson x Jason, Kyle x OC, Jason x OC, Kyle x Nelson

Chapter One

Nelson

Nelson could hardly believe he'd been in LA for almost three months, three wonderful months with the love of his life. What were the chances he'd meet his other half during a road trip across country?

Nelson wasn't sure how he'd known Manny was the one. It was his smile, his personality, a combination of factors. Manny was loud, proud, and totally himself, just like he was!

Sure Nelson missed home. He missed his best friends Kyle and Jason the most, but Manny made him happy. He'd taken a chance. The homesickness had been worst during the first week, but Manny got him through.

Kyle still talked to him on the phone and sent him stuff via email. He might even be coming for a visit during break from Princeton.

Nelson thought he had it all. Everything seemed perfect. He should have realized it was too perfect.

He and Manny's anniversary was in a week. Everything was seemingly fine, and they didn't have a problem in the world. Nelson was just coming home from his job at the Pride Center.

"How was work?" Manny asked with that adorable smile, giving Nelson a peck on the cheek.

"It was great," Nelson replied. "How was your day?"

Manny managed a smile, but then his face fell a little.

"Manny, what's wrong?"

The younger man frowned, eyes filling with fear and sadness.

"Nothing Nelson. Nothing serious."

"Bullshit Manny," Nelson smirked at him.

Usually Manny would have smirked back, he didn't. He looked even more sad. Nelson reached out his hand gently.

"Manny really, tell me... "

"I did something Nelson," Manny whispered, looking at the ground. "I love you. Please know that. It didn't mean anything."

Nelson felt a rush of betrayal and hurt. He understood. Manny didn't have to be any more specific.

"You," Nelson paused. "You cheated on me?"

His heart felt like it broke as he spoke those words. Manny didn't look at him.

"Look at me damn it!" Nelson shouted at him.

Tears were flowing down Manny's face as he turned his gaze on Nelson.

"How could you?" Nelson demanded, tears beginning in his own eyes. "I thought you wanted a real relationship with me! I stayed behind here with you when my friends left."

Nelson was nearly in hysterics himself by this point, his own tears falling. How could Manny do this?

"How?" he demanded, wiping at his eyes with his hand.

"Nelson I'm sorry," Manny whispered, another tear sliding down his own cheek. "You have to forgive me."

"Have to!?" Nelson snapped at him. "You think it's that simple!?"

"Please Nelson... "

But Nelson didn't want to hear it. This was too much. He'd stayed behind here in LA for Manny, given him everything. He couldn't forgive this. He would have given him the world!

"We're done," Nelson said in a sad, yet final voice. "We are so done."

"Nelson," Manny pleaded.

Nelson glared at him through tears.

"I can't hardly stand to look at you!"

He ran out the door. Manny said nothing to call him back. Nelson ran to the elevator. He needed to get out of here, to go somewhere to clear his head.

He pressed the button for the first floor and took out his i-phone. Kyle was who he needed to call. He hoped he wasn't in classes.

"Hello?" the voice answered from the other end.

"Kyle thank goodness... "

"Nelson? Is something the matter?"

"Manny," he sobbed into the phone, not able to contain it. "He cheated on me!"

"Oh no," Kyle said sympathetically. "Nelson I'm so sorry."

"I don't know what to do. He wants me to forgive him, but I don't think I can. I think... "

Nelson sighed and hesitated a few seconds.

"... I think I just wanna go home."

He actually did. He missed home like crazy. He missed his mom. Maybe LA wasn't where he belonged after all.

"Nelson I think that might be best," Kyle said gently. "He'll just cheat again. Trust me."

Nelson heard something off in Kyle's voice. Was Kyle thinking about Jason kissing that girl on their road trip?

"I have to let you go," Kyle went on. "You should call your mom and tell her you're coming. Call Jason. I'm sure he'll want to see you. You have money right?"

"Of course I have money," Nelson told him. "I do work. God Kyle, I'm gonna miss working at the Pride Center. That's about all I'll miss."

"Well I trust you to know what's best for yourself," Kyle said. "Take care okay Nelson? I'll call you later."

"Sure thing."

Nelson held his phone against his heart when the call had disconnected. Kyle always knew just what to say and what was best for everyone. Nelson really missed him.

Maybe he should never have stayed here in LA with someone he'd hardly known in the first place. He'd never asked Kyle how he felt about that decision. His best friend might have been upset in hindsight.

Nelson made a mental note to ask him later. Now he had something else to do. He pressed the button for the second floor and the elevator doors closed.

He marched into he and Manny's apartment.

"Nelson?" Manny asked from the couch.

Nelson marched right past him without a reply, heading straight to their bedroom.

"Nelson!?"

Nelson had his suitcase open on the bed, hastily throwing clothes and other valuables into it.

"Nelson what are you doing?" Manny asked with a hurt voice.

"It should be obvious I'd think," Nelson replied testily. "I'm leaving."

"Please don't... "

Nelson looked at him. Manny looked upset, but he wasn't even crying anymore.

"Let me ask you something," Nelson began. "Did you him, whoever this person was?"

Manny was quiet a few moments. Nelson knew what was coming though before his boyfriend said anything.

"Yes."

"Well there you go," Nelson said sadly. "You made your decision. You didn't want me in that moment, you wanted him more."

"It was a mistake," Manny insisted.

"No this was a mistake!" Nelson replied angrily. "Staying in LA was a mistake! Hooking up with a guy I hardly knew was a mistake! I thought this could work, but now I see how foolish I was! I never thought I'd admit my mother was right."

His mother had tried to warn him this was a bad idea on the phone, but he'd insisted, just like always.

"I'm going home," Nelson told Manny in a tone that was final. "Home where I belong."

He zipped up his suitcase and stood, giving Manny one final glance. Another tear streaked down his face.

"Goodbye Manny. I tried. God knows I tried... "

"Don't," Manny whispered.

Nelson walked to the bedroom door. He gave Manny a last glance. He couldn't simply forgive this. Not just like that. He had to go, if only to see if Manny would try to get him to come back, to see if he cared even that much.

Nelson made it to the front door, stopping again. Is this really what he wanted to do?

He reminded himself of his resolve from just a few seconds before. If Manny really wanted him, wanted them to work, he'd try to get Nelson to come back later on.

Something told Nelson that wasn't going to happen though. This was it. He knew it more surely than he'd ever known anything.

He glanced back at their open bedroom door one more time. Manny wasn't even trying to stop him from going now. Nelson opened the door and stepped out of the apartment for the last time.

Nelson let the tears fall, not even trying to restrain them. He pulled out his phone to call for a cab to take him to the airport. He couldn't turn back now. He'd only be showing Manny that what he'd done was okay if he did.

He needed Kyle. It was Kyle he thought of. Kyle to hold him in his arms, assure him, and whisper in his ear that everything would be ok.