A/N: Let me begin with saying sorry a thousand times that this wasn't up on Wednesday. Life's been hectic, and I'm not sure if you can expect weekly updates anymore. I will always get it up as soon as I can though! This chapter also took a long time because I was obsessed with finding the perfect songs!
Disclaimer: I still don't own glee, neither do I own Katy Perry's 'Hot N Cold' or Olly Murs' 'Don't Let Me Go'. I'll tell you if I ever do own any of these wonderful things.
REVISION NOTE: Yes, this has already been posted, but seriously if you don't read it again you will be confused in later chapters. Sorry for making you read it over, but it will help, I promise.
Chapter 3:
"Good morning Nicky!" shouted Jeff the second his roommate opened his eyes.
"Wha-" mumbled Nick, "Jeffy, why are up so early? It's a Saturday, and we were working on your essay till midnight!"
"So?" sang the blond, hopping on to the other boy's bed. "I was picking out a song to sing, now that you've forced me to audition!"
"I did not force you! I simply showed you that you could get better grades!"
Jeff swatted that idea away, Nick was totally forcing him. "Whatever, get up sleepy head! Let's go get some coffee!"
Nick nodded, only for Jeff would he be getting out from under his warm covers before noon on a Saturday. He realized he was colder than usual… "Oh fuck, my bad!" he muttered, grabbing a robe. He completely forgot that he had fallen asleep in only his boxers last night.
"No-no problem." his friend stammered, his blush reaching his ears.
"I'm uh, gonna just go brush my teeth." whispered the shorter boy, embarrassed beyond belief. As he went over to their bathroom, he too turned bright red. Jeff probably thought he was a freak now. Especially after the blond had seen his scars from the surgeries he had had when he was a kid.
The blond, of course, didn't think he was a freak at all. Actually quite the contrary; he thought Nick was even hotter. But shit! Nick was straight! Jeff groaned inwardly. Now his best friend will probably change roommates 'cause he was leering. But really, how could he not? Nick was hot.
Nick slammed his fist onto the granite counter top, hard, wincing in pain. He had to just come out and tell the truth, if only just to Jeff. It was killing him inside that he couldn't even be completely honest with his best friend, his first real crush.
"Jeff," said Nick, walking out of the bathroom, "I-I'm gay."
Wait, where the fuck did that come from? Nick had no idea where that sudden burst courage came from, and he didn't like it. Terrified the brunet fled the room, luckily already dressed in his blazer and tie.
Jeff just sat there on his best friends bed, wide-eyed and stunned. Nick was gay? What did that mean? Why did he just bolt out of here like the room was on fire? Unsure of what to do, he got dressed in street clothes and went outside to "borrow" a bike from the rec shed and he quickly rode it to the near by park. Fresh air always made him think more clearly. Thinking was precisely what he needed to do right now.
**36**
By the time Monday finally came around, Jeff was beyond worried. He hadn't seen Nick since Saturday morning, and today was the day of their Warbler audition. He had originally planned on singing a McFly song, since they were his favorite band, but late last night, he changed his mind and started practicing a new song, one he had to sing for Nick, because Blaine suggested that a song would be easier than talking. If the brunet even showed up, that is. All this and more was running through Jeff's mind as he entered the Warbler hall.
"Jeff!" called Trent, beckoning to the blond.
Blaine, Trent, and thankfully Nick, were all sitting tensely by the windows. There were a few other boys with them, all older, and presumably auditioning as well. Jeff took the only empty seat, beside Blaine. He was about to talk to Nick, when the sound of a gavel silenced the noisy group of boys.
"Attention! Attention! Today as you all know is audition day for the newbies. Needless to say, be polite, these guys aren't as used to the attention as you all are. So, let's begin. Blaine Anderson, younger brother of Cooper Anderson, you may perform first." Wes said from his seat behind the large wooden desk.
The boy stood, nervously making his way to the front of the large hall. He took a deep breath before cueing Thad to start the music.
"You change your mind
Like a girl changes clothes
Yeah you PMS, like a snitch
I would know!
And you, over-think
Always speak, cryptically
I should know
That you're no good for me."
The boys looked around in amusement. They usually sang show tunes, with the occasional soft rock, but never top 40! This was nothing like the time Cooper won Nationals with 'Bella Notte', but this kid has spunk, and a ridiculous amount of raw talent.
"Cause you're hot and you're cold
You're yes and then you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down"
As the freshman sang, he started to get into it. Soon he was jumping around, his energy was infectious!
"You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up"
Nick smiled for the first time since Saturday morning, and to be honest it felt good to just throw away his inhibitions. How couldn't he have fun, when even Trent was laughing jubilantly next to him?
"You! You don't want to stay, no.
You! But you don't want to go-oh."
Jeff began to enjoy himself as well. He'd never seen Blaine like this; so free, proud and almost undapper. Almost. The Blaine he knew would have quietly sung a ballad or another love song. He secretly hoped that this was the real Blaine, this one he could easily be best friends with, which was a good thing since Nick probably wouldn't talk to him ever again after he sang his audition piece.
"You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up and you're down"
Blaine sang, concluding the song and smiling brightly.
"Great job Blaine! I don't think we've ever heard a song like that sung in here for ages." David praised, slapping the younger boy on the back.
"Yes, and now we'll here from Trent Nixon."
Trent smiled, strutting up to the front, much more confidently than Blaine had.
Jeff barely paid any attention to the boy singing because his nerves were starting to get the best of him. What if Nick didn't like it, or didn't feel the same way? What if Nick thought he was weird or a freak?
The blond was snapped out of his trance by the sound of loud applause. The Warblers must have really liked Trent's take of 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' from The Lion King.
"Now, and this will be the last one for the day, is Jeff Sterling."
Jeff stood, nervously glancing at his best friend who was currently staring out the window at nothing in particular. Last night he knew that switching his song choice was the right thing, the McFly number just didn't capture his feelings for Nick well enough. Hence, his switch to a more acoustic song called 'Don't Let Me Go', by Olly Murs. Now he wasn't so sure. Regardless, he walked to the front, taking his guitar from its stand and pulling a stool over to sit on. He began strumming, looking directly at Nick. "I hope this works!" he thought before singing,
"Where do I begin?
Should I tell you how bad I need you now?
Yeah, you're underneath my skin
But I'm confused, my head is spinning all around
I waited so long
I need to know darling, what is on your mind"
The boys in the hall smiled, very few of them recognizing a song by such an unknown artist. They did notice, however, that the boy was singing this to the shy brunet. They all could tell what was going on, well all but one Nick Duval.
"Normally I try to run, and I might even want to hide
'Cause I never knew what I wanted 'til I looked into your eyes.
So am I in this alone? What I'm looking for is a sign
That you feel how I feel for you baby, please don't let me go"
Jeff sang, playing the accompaniment carefully. He hoped Nick was listening closely, because he meant every single word that left his lips.
"Baby, please don't let me go
Baby, please don't let me go
No, please don't let me go
Baby no, no, no, no
Ba, da, ba, de, da, da"
He glanced up again, willing Nick to look at him. He dreamed of the days where he could look at the brunet and call him baby.
"What else can I say?
My hear is b-beating double time yeah
And do you feel the same?
Don't leave me in the dark, no
But baby, don't put out this spark, no
I waited so long
I need to know, darling, hat is on your mind?"
Jeff stood up from his stool in the front, walking around as he played his guitar and sang, smiling as the Warblers encouraged him to walk over to Nick. They loved when one of the guys serenaded his crush or boyfriend.
"Normally I try to run, and I might even want to hide
'Cause I never knew what I wanted 'til I looked into your eyes.
So am I in this alone? What I'm looking for is a sign
That you feel how I feel for you baby, please don't let me go"
Nick finally looked up. He had been deep in thought, yelling at himself for think the song was for him. Yet, he did get a crazy amount of butterflies in his stomach when he noticed Jeff watching him. Wait, Jeff was staring at him! The brunet blushed, how long had this been going on for?
"Baby, please don't let me go
Baby, please don't let me go
No, please don't let me go
Baby no, no, no, no"
As Jeff continued the chorus he was standing right in front of Nick. Both of them were staring adoringly into the others eyes, and to them it felt as if they were the only two left in the whole school.
"Caught in the inquisition, under these conditions
I need a definition, is it love that we're sharing?
Show me that you're caring
You see my fascination, tell me I'm not mistaken
Give me the information I need, 1, 2, 3"
As the final chorus came nearer, the singer suddenly grabbed Nick's hand, pulling him to the front of the hall. There, he lightly pushed his friend back onto the stool he had been sitting in before. All the while, never tearing his eyes away from the big brown ones.
"Normally I try to run, and I might even want to hide
'Cause I never knew what I wanted 'til I looked into your eyes.
So am I in this alone? What I'm looking for is a sign
That you feel how I feel for you baby, please don't let me go"
The ending was coming nearer, and Jeff began to dance playfully around the shorter boy, who was laughing and blushing. Though neither boy noticed, some of the Warblers were clapping along, enjoying the cute little show.
"Baby, please don't let me go
Baby, please don't let me go
No, please don't let me go
Baby no, no, no, no"
The song came to a close and the hall erupted into cheers and applause. Many of the boys even ran over to hug the freshman as a way of saying congratulations.
**36**
In all this ciaos and commotion, Nick quickly managed to sneak out without being noticed.
As he ran briskly down the hallways, he sighed. This wasn't real. Jeff was just being friendly. Those lyrics weren't for him, they couldn't be. Nick was a stupid kid who was all alone, his sexually secluding him from everyone else he cared about. Jeff was confident and perfect, everybody loved him, so why would he care for someone like himself?
Finally, Nick reached the small supply closet he had been living in for the past few days. He sat down on the pillows, which made up his makeshift bed and grabbed his laptop, searching for the perfect song to audition with, to sing to Jeff. He knew he should be mad at his friend for basically outing him in front of all those people, but he couldn't bring himself to be. There was a small chance that Jeff liked him back, and he wasn't going to let that slip him by.
**36**
"Great job buddy!" Blaine said, patting Jeff on the back as they walked up to their dorms.
"Yeah, well Nicky has still disappeared, so it didn't work," glowered the, "And you're one to talk! That Katy Perry song was freakin' awesome!"
The ever-dapper boy shrugged, "Don't fret it Jeff, Nick obviously likes you back. He's just scared. He's probably never had a boyfriend before or maybe even a real crush. Give him some time and I'm sure he'll come around."
Jeff nodded mutely as Blaine left him alone outside the door his room. He sure hoped Nick would understand. Their friendship meant everything to him. He had no clue what he'd do without Nick, even if he hadn't known him for all that long. The song was true though. He never wanted his best friend to let him go, and he'd never let Nick go in return. All he needed was a sign, a sign that Nicky liked him back. Once he got that, everything would be perfect.
A/N: Well, what do you think of the longest chapter so far? Reviews are always lovely!
I forgot to mention that I am having a contest to see who can guess what song Nick is going to sing! Only rules is that you can't be Emma (who already knows) and you can't be anon.
I hoped you enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing!
Oh, and thank you Andria for telling me about 'Don't Let Me Go'!
In the next chapter: Nick has his audition, but he still is unsure of his song choice. What will Jeff think when he hears it? Finally, we will see who makes it into the Warblers, and who will have to try again next year.