This is a mini fic set about 4 weeks after chapter 11 of Overseas Transfer.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Warnings: Rated M for a reason
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"So, Natalie reminded me of something important yesterday." Nick was leaning against the lockers, waiting for Jeff to collect books for their next class out of his locker.
"What's that?" Jeff looked over to Nick, confused.
"Your 18th birthday? When you met Natalie she asked you how old you were and you said seventeen, eighteen next month. Well, by my reckoning that was almost 4 weeks ago, so spill! When is it?" Nick prodded Jeff affectionately in his side, knowing it was a ticklish spot, eliciting a squeak from the blond.
"Hey, I nearly dropped my books!" Jeff complained. "My birthday is no big deal. I don't usually do much, mainly because I didn't used to have anyone to go out and celebrate with, I suppose. My Mum and I usually just try to have a nice dinner for it."
"But it's your 18th Jeff! You're not getting away with it this year. We'll do something to celebrate."
"Like what?"
"Leave it to me, it'll be a surprise." Nick grinned.
"Uh, o-okay. Thanks, I guess. Any way, on that subject, my Mum said to invite you to dinner on Friday, tomorrow, at our house."
"Sure, I'll be there. Any special occasion?" Nick pried, looking smug like he knew the answer already.
Jeff mumbled quickly "Uh - it'smybirthdayonSaturday."
"What?" Nick teased with a smile, he wanted to make the blond repeat it.
"It's my birthday on Saturday. Mum has a double shift over the weekend so she'll be out saturday lunchtime until afternoon Sunday and then she'll need to sleep, so we are celebrating Friday instead with a meal."
He met Nick's questioning eyes. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, ok?"
He looked embarrassed as he continued. "I've never had a boyfriend before and I didn't want to make it look like I expected you to do anything special for me, you know? You've done so much for me with my bullies already, I don't need anything else."
He locked eyes with the brunet. "I just lo... er ... I mean, uh, like ... uh, our relationship how it is now without any stupid pressure about how we should act with each other. I don't want to break up like all our friends seem to do on a weekly basis over such stupid reasons."
Crap, I nearly said "love". Way to scare off your boyfriend Jeff! Good one! Jeff mentally slapped himself and busied himself pretending to look for an elusive book in his locker.
When he had found all his books and stalled for as long as possible, he shut his locker and turned to the brunet, who was looking at him with a soft expression.
"Are you quite finished?" Nick asked with a kind smile.
Jeff ducked his head and blushed. "Yeah. So, tomorrow after school I've just got gymnastics practice first, then we can head straight to my house."
"Cool. I'll be there." Nick winked and slapped Jeff on his ass before turning round and walking off down the corridor. "Coming?" He called over his shoulder to the blond, who he guessed correctly was still standing next to his locker, looking a bit shell-shocked.
Jeff thought, I am still not used to all this public display of affection, but I like it! I'm so lucky to have such an amazing boyfriend who's not ashamed to be seen with me.
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After dinner that night, it was Nick's turn to do the dishes so he started on them in the kitchen while Natalie watched some cartoons on the sofa. His Dad walked in while he was stacking the dishwasher and rinsing plates.
"Uh, Dad? Can I talk to you about something?" Nick asked, looking up from where he was bent over the open dishwasher door. His Dad nodded and took a seat at the kitchen table, so Nick shut the dishwasher door and joined his Dad at the table, sliding into the seat opposite.
"What did you want to talk about, Nick?" Mr Duval took a sip from his wine glass, left over from dinner.
Nick sighed. "Well, it's Jeff's 18th birthday on Saturday and I only just found out today. Natalie reminded me yesterday that it must be soon from something he said to her and I managed to get it out of him today."
Exasperated, he continued "But now I'm stuck with no time to do anything for him! I've got school all day tomorrow, then I've been invited to their house for dinner to celebrate tomorrow with his Mum as she'll be out all weekend with a double shift at the hospital which she can't get out of. If I'd asked him earlier then I could've got him a present or worked out something to do! I stupidly said I'd arrange something as a surprise, but I can't think of anything good at such short notice. Argh!" Nick dropped his head onto his arms in frustration.
"I see. Yes, that doesn't give you much time does it?" Mr Duval thought for a minute in silence, then a smile crossed his face. "You said he is free all weekend, right?"
Nick looked up, interested and hopeful that his Dad had a good suggestion. "Yeah, he's on his own from lunchtime Saturday until later afternoon Sunday. Why?"
"Well, my new work has a "retreat" place about an hour's drive away, I forget where exactly but I can ask for details tomorrow. It's used when we have team bonding exercises - you remember the second week we were here I went away with my team for a couple of days?" Nick nodded, excited.
Mr Duval continued. "Well, this place has a small area to pitch tents and has a tap with clean drinking water and even a shower block. There's a small stone campfire area too. There's a pretty lake near it, just a short walk from the campsite through some trees. You could take Jeff camping! I can see it would be a very romantic place, if you're not there with work colleagues, that is!" He laughed, scrunching his face up in an Ewww! kind of expression, thinking about some of his colleagues.
Mr Duval continued "We have a 4-sleeper tent in the garage. Other than packing food and other stuff you'll need, you should have time to get everything sorted before Saturday lunch time."
"Thanks Dad! That's awesome! I still have time to pick up the new X-box game he wants before dinner tomorrow, so I can give him that as his present at dinner with his Mum, and then ask for her permission to take him away at the weekend. This is going to be a fantastic surprise!"
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Nick excitedly finished his jobs and then practically ran up the stairs to pack. He had almost finished with the clothes he would need when his Dad caught his attention from the door, holding the tent in one hand.
"Here you go, I had to pop out to the car, so I went to get this from the garage while I was there. I think the sleeping bags are in the top cupboard on the landing."
"Thanks Dad!" Nick smiled at his Father gratefully. I'm so lucky to have such a great Dad.
"Uh, Nick? Do you need me to get anything for you tomorrow? Like anything from the pharmacy?" He looked at Nick knowingly. "Just to make sure this trip is a safe one?"
Oh my God, my Dad did not just offer to buy me lube and condoms! Nick's eyes were as wide as saucers as he managed to choke out "Er...n-no, th-thanks Dad! I've got everything, uh, covered!"
Nick's Dad chuckled. "Yes, covered, is kind of what I meant!" Nick's face was beet-red now, as he stood speechless in front of his father. "I'll stop embarrassing you and leave you to your packing then!"
Nick's Dad turned and was about to head out of his room when Nick called out "Dad? Uh, I just wanted to say thanks again. I don't say it enough, but I'm so lucky to have such a cool Dad." Mr Duval smiled softly, nodded, and then headed downstairs.
Nick was just about finished when he cast his eyes around his room, looking for anything he may have missed. His eyes settled on his acoustic guitar propped up in the corner.
Perfect! I can sing him a song by the camp firelight. I'll have to check through my ipod for a good song later, but that is just the kind of romantic gesture I need. I really care about Jeff, and I want to make sure he knows that.
Nick was lost in thought for a moment about his gorgeous, sexy boyfriend. Ever since that night at my house a few weeks ago we haven't had the opportunity to be properly alone together since, unless you count the odd few moments snatched in closets around the school. I don't want this to look like an excuse to just get laid, I want to make sure he knows that I lo... wait, what?
Oh. My. God. I LOVE him.
Nick flung himself backwards onto his bed, looking up at the ceiling, while this revelation seeped in.
I'm in love with Jeffrey Sterling.
And I'm going to tell him on his birthday.
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Jeff pushed open the locker room door, and headed out of school, towards his car. The bullying is so much better since Nick stood up to Karofsky, but I still prefer to shower alone after practice.
He checked his phone to see if he had any messages and was pleased to find 2 from his favourite contact Nick Duval ;) X. He opened the first message quickly.
Hey Babe! I'm still up for dinner tonight, but I just have to wait at home with Natalie until Dad gets back about 6. Hope that's ok? I'll text you when I leave ;) X
He hurriedly openend the second one, sent only 5 minutes ago.
Okay, Dad's just got home so I'll be over in about 10 minutes, kay? ;)
Jeff practically ran to his car, hoping to get back home before his Mum got his baby pictures out.
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Jeff leaped up his front steps in one bound and burst through his front door, panting.
"Mum?" he called out "Nick will be here soon. Do you need me to do anything?"
"In here Sweetie, and Nick's already here."
Jeff's shoulders slumped in defeat and he slowly walked into the lounge, where sure enough Nick sat with an open photo album on his lap, Jeff's Mum pointing out cute photos of the then six-year-old blond, wearing a cowboy hat while he blew out the candles on his birthday cake.
"Muuuum!" Jeff rolled his eyes in embarrassment as Nick looked up, smirking.
"Hey, Natalie has embarrassed me plenty in front of you, this is nothing!" The brunet pointed out, amused.
"Fair point. Okay, I'll set the table while you two finish. What's for dinner, Mum? It smells amazing!" Jeff's stomach rumbled loudly, making the other two laugh. "What? Gymnastics is hungry work, I'm starving!"
"Well, you're in luck then, it's your favourite, home-made lasagne and garlic bread." The blond's eyes lit up at this. He quickly kissed Nick on the lips chastely, hugged his Mum and then practically ran to set the dining table. He couldn't help listening in on what seemed to be the end of a conversation between his boyfriend and his Mum.
"So is it okay with you if I... uh, surprise... Jeff like that tomorrow?" Jeff's Mum smiled secretively as her son's head snapped to attention.
Nick continued "I'm all up to date with homework and I think Jeff is too, right?" He looked to the blond for confirmation, who nodded, extremely confused now.
"We'd need to leave just about when you head off to work tomorrow and we'd be back before the evening on Sunday."
"That's completely fine with me. It sounds like you'll both have an amazing time. I'm glad you asked for permission and let your father know too. That's very responsible of you, Nick." She squeezed his arm, then relieved him of the album, putting it back in its place on the bookshelf behind the sofa, before going into the kitchen to serve the dinner.
Jeff finally found his voice. "We're going away for the weekend?" He almost managed not to shriek in excitement. "Where are we going? What do I pack?" He was bouncing madly now, desperate for information.
Nick laughed at his excitement and answered "It's a surprise! All you need to bring is you, some warm outdoors clothes for the weekend, swim trunks and... that's about it, actually."
Jeff pouted, but threw his arms around his boyfriend, hugging him tight.
"Thank you Nicky! I love..." his breath caught "...er, it! Yes, I love surprises!" The blond was blushing heavily as his mother returned to the dining room with a delicious smelling lasagne in a serving dish. She began dishing out portions as the two boys sat down for dinner.
Nick smiled softly as he sat down for dinner. I think I know what Jeff nearly said. I'm definitely telling him how I feel tomorrow.
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