"Argh," Jeff groaned at the blinding sunlight coming in through the window. He didn't know what time it was, or even where he was actually, but it was way too early and bright for his pounding head to like. He rolled over and opened his eyes, hissing at the overwhelming brightness of the room, before noticing he wasn't wearing a shirt.
Jeff sat up -trying to figure out where the hell he was seeing as this wasn't his dorm room. "Hello?" His voice came out rough, probably because his throat was sore, and listened for a response.
Trent walked into the room a few seconds later. "Well, look who's up already, sleeping beauty. It's only two in the afternoon."
"Shh, too loud," Jeff whispered. "What happened last night? And-" he glanced down again, "why am I not wearing a shirt?"
Trent laughed and started walking over to sit down next to Jeff, before suddenly changing his mind. "I'd sit down but you smell like you drank an entire liquor store," he said when Jeff gave him a confused look. "But basically you, and a few of the other guys, were drinking and you got completely wasted. Nothing more than the usual I don't think."
"I feel like absolute death right now," Jeff stood up and stretched his arms and legs. "And I ache literally everywhere-"
"Uhh, Jeff?" Trent interrupted him. "What is that?"
Jeff turned to face Trent with a confused look on his face. "What's what?"
"That," he pointed to something on Jeff's chest -just under his collar bone. "Is that-"
"Oh my god," Jeff interrupted him. "When the hell did I get a tattoo? That wasn't-" He froze when he saw what it was and what it said. "Oh god, this can not be happening. It has to be fake," Jeff started to rub at it but stopped almost as soon as he touched it because it was sore. Which also meant that it was real.
"Is that a heart?" Trent stepped closer to try and get a better look.
Jeff panicked, slapping his hand over the tattoo to cover it -wincing at the sting of the slap. "It- it's nothing," he replied, turning away.
"I'll find out eventually what it is, Jeff. You might as well just show me," Trent walked up to Jeff, waiting for him to move his hand.
Jeff thought about it for a minute. He has a point, he'll find out sooner or later... And so will everybody else... "Okay, but you have to promise me that you won't say anything to anyone, okay?" Trent nodded. Jeff sighed heavily and moved his hand away. The two of them were quiet for a minute before Jeff decided to try and defend himself. "I- I don't know why I would get that tattooed. I mean, Nick and I are just- just friends... So there's no reason I would get his name tattooed in a heart on my chest-"
"Jeff, you can stop now," Trent cut off his rambling. "I already know how you feel about Nick."
Jeff froze. "W- what? I don't know what you're talking about..." He could feel his face getting hot and he mentally kicked himself for blushing.
Trent smirked. "It's kind of obvious, actually. I mean, the looks you give him and how every time he walks in the room you always smile and stare at him. Oh, and how you practically melt whenever he hugs you-"
"Okay, you can feel free to stop now. I don't hide it very well, I get it. But... Nick can't find out. If he found out the rejection would kill me," Jeff looked down at the tattoo, lightly tracing the outline of the heart once.
"But, how do you know he would reject you?" Trent asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Trent, it's Nick we're talking about here. He doesn't like me, why would he? And what if I tell him and it makes things awkward between us? I couldn't handle that."
Trent sighed. "You don't know that he doesn't like you. What if he feels the same way though, and is just too scared to tell you? Jeff, sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and hope for the best possible outcome. If he doesn't feel the same way about you, at least then you'll know and you two can work it out. But if he does feel the same way, well, then everybody wins."
Jeff thought about it for a minute. He makes a really good point... Besides, then I wouldn't have to keep hiding it from Nick, which is killing me, Jeff sighed. "Have I ever told you how smart you are?"
Trent smiled. "So does this mean that you're going to tell Nick?"
Before Jeff could respond they both heard somebody walk in and ask, "tell me what?"
It was Nick. As a first instinct Jeff's hand flew up and smacked over the tattoo on his chest, and he had to bite back a groan from the pain that shot through him. "Uhh..." Shit, what the hell am I supposed to do now? Jeff looked to Trent for help.
Trent looked at Jeff, trying to hide his smile, before turning to Nick. "Oh yeah that's right, I almost forgot I'm supposed to meet Thad in five minutes, so I better go."
It took everything in Jeff not to grab Trent to prevent him from going anywhere. He can not leave me here with Nick. Especially since I don't even have a shirt on! Jeff started to panic as Trent walked out the door, but there was nothing he could do. The next thing he knew it was just him and Nick alone in the room.
"So," Nick started -walking over towards Jeff. "Was there something you were gonna tell me?" Jeff just stood there, not saying a word, so Nick felt obligated to ask. "And why are you holding your hand over your chest? It's not like I haven't seen you without a shirt on before-"
"No, I know. It's not that..." Jeff interrupted, hoping he didn't actually sound as weak as he thought he did.
Nick walked up closer to him. "Hey, what's wrong? You seem upset or tense or something. You know you can tell me anything, Jeff." Nick placed a hand on Jeff's shoulder, which Jeff figured was supposed to make him feel better, but it only made him quiver at the touch.
"Nick I-" He paused, took a deep breath, and then continued. "Sit down, I need to tell you something. Or well, show you something too..." He trailed off.
Nick was concerned; so he took a seat on the couch alongside Jeff. "What is it?
"You know last night you weren't here because you were busy with some family stuff?" Nick nodded, so Jeff continued. "Well, me and a few of the other guys were drinking, and I guess I got drunk -like really drunk- and I umm..."
It was silent for a minute before Nick spoke. "What happened...?" Nick asked hesitantly.
Jeff sighed. "I did something pretty stupid. But the worst part is I don't even remember doing it or getting it done or anything and-"
"Wait," Nick cut off his rambling. "'Getting it done'? What did you do, get something pierced?" Jeff shook his head. Nick thought for a few seconds. What else could he- Oh. "Did you get a tattoo?" Jeff shrugged sheepishly, so Nick took that as a yes. "What'd you get a tattoo of? And I'm assuming that's what's behind your hand...?"
Jeff nodded. "Yeah, that's... That's what's there. And umm, I- I don't really know how to explain it..."
"Will you show me?"
Jeff looked up into Nick's eyes and nodded. "Yeah, but, will you promise me you won't freak out or anything?"
Nick was confused at the comment, but nodded anyway. "Of course."
Jeff took a deep breath, and a few seconds later moved his hand away from his chest. He sat there completely tense while Nick just looked at it.
Nick was even more confused. He didn't fully understand what he was looking at. Well, he understand what it was, he just didn't understand what exactly it meant. A heart... With my name in it. Does- does that mean Jeff feels the same way about me?
Jeff couldn't take the silence anymore. "L- like I said, I was really drunk. I mean, I don't even remember getting it or when I got it or just..." He trailed off when Nick looked up into his eyes.
"Jeff..." He took a deep breath. I have to ask him, I don't have a choice. "Does this mean what I think it means?"
"I- umm..." Jeff didn't know how to respond. He wasn't good at the whole 'blunt honesty' thing. Not when it came to something this big.
Nick rephrased his question. "Does this mean that- that you love me?"
Jeff's heart felt like it was going to explode because of how fast it was beating. In fact, he was sure that Nick could hear it. Jeff stared into Nick's eyes as he responded. "Yeah. I- I love you, Nick."
Nick sat there for a minute, unblinking and unsure of what to say. What's your problem? Now's your chance! Tell him how you feel already. He tried to get the words out, but when he opened his mouth nothing came out. This happened three times, and apparently Jeff took that as a bad sign.
Oh god, he's so freaked out that he can't even respond. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. Jeff stood up to leave, trying his damned hardest not to start crying in front of Nick, but something stopped him. Or well, someone.
Nick grabbed Jeff's arm before he was out of reach, stood up and spun him around, and kissed him. It was a gentle kiss; yet intense and full of passion. It was perfect. In every single way was it perfect.
After a few seconds they broke apart. Jeff was completely shocked by the action. Nick wasn't at all though. He looked into the taller boy's chocolate brown eyes, rested his forehead on his, and smiled. "I love you too, Jeff."