"You see there's always another dream around the bend, if I can't play for keeps, I'll have to play pretend, carry on for that next dream just around the bend, listening for the next song I can call my friend."

"Dude, saddle up, we're going out."

"What?"

"You and me, we're hitting the town tonight. Wear something pretty."

"Mark are you drunk?"

"Why, you wantin' to take advantage of me?"

"In your dreams asshole."

Chord sighed into the receiver as he shook his head, bouncing his tennis ball against the wall as he leaned back in his recliner. Mark and Dianna were going through one of their weird phases of sleeping together and not sleeping together lately and it was beginning to take it's toll, Dianna wanting a breather after just getting out of her relationship with Alex and Mark wanting Dianna right then.

"Dude, I need to go out, I need to have some fun."

"What you need to do is stop thinking with your dick and start thinking with your head."

"I am."

"The other one."

"You don't know me."

"Don't I?"

"Says the boy who got a hooker."

"Says the guy who nailed Audrina."

"I didn't nail her, she just blew me, get your shit straight."

"Oh I'm sorry, how ever could I be so silly."

"Are you coming out or what blowfish?" Mark asked annoyed, Chord flubbing his lips together as he contemplated his options.

"I don't know man, not really feelin' the club scene tonight."

"So we'll go to a bar and kick it, no big deal."

"And if Di finds out we kicked it at a bar all night?"

"Fuck her, I don't care."

"Stop being such a bitch and just call her already."

"Fuck that, she can call me whenever she's ready to apologize for fucking with my head."

"Are you gonna be like this all night? 'Cause I'm not down with this whiny shit."

"That mean you're coming?"

"Meet you in twenty."

"That's my boy." Chord rolled his eyes and shoved his phone down into his pocket as he rested his elbows on his knees, placing his face on his palms and dragging it upward. It wasn't that he didn't like spending time with Mark, he was totally chill, but lately Chord was fed up with the whole idea of clubbing and partying. Ever since he'd been shirtless on Glee the only thing girls seemed to notice were his lips and his abs, his shirt having been yanked up more than once by drunken college girls.

Chord decided he needed to go regardless though and be there for Mark, his friend a little reckless and impulsive when it came to the decisions he made while intoxicated. He pushed himself up out of his recliner and down the hall, turning on the shower as he headed for his closet. He had almost figured out what it was he would throw on when the buzzing of his cell interrupted, Chord ramming his hand in his pocket and clicking it on.

"'Lo?"

"Guess what's on TV?"

"Pinocchio?"

"Nope, even better."

"One of those housewife shows?"

"No, even better!"

"Even better than Camille Grammar?"

"Way!"

"I give up."

"A Jersey Shore marathon." Chord laughed as he continued to fumble through his closet, Chris yapping away in his ear as he described the episode.

"…and Sammie's like, "Were you with another girl?" and Ronnie's all, "No bitch, why you so crazy?"

"Isn't that pretty much how all of their conversations go?"

"I mean yeah, but it's riveting stuff."

"Hey Chris."

"Yes Boo."

"Quick question."

"I'm all ears."

"What shirt should I wear?"

"Well it depends, where you heading?"

"To a club with Mark."

"Ew, icky," he heard Chris wince as he snorted, Chord able to see Chris shaking his head in disapproval as he scrunched his nose, "That sounds yucky."

"Well seeing as he's not handling things with Di very well I figured he's probably gonna need a wingman tonight."

"You mean someone to make sure he doesn't make bad decisions?"

"Basically."

"You're a good friend."

"I know." He continued to ramble with Chris on the phone as his shower turned cold, Chord getting caught up in their conversation about gummy bears and forgetting Mark.

"So I'm shoving marsh mellows in Cory's pillow-"

"What? You cut out."

"I said-"

"I think you have a beep Chord."

"What?"

"Your other line, I think you beeped."

"Oh shit, hold on." Chord pulled his phone away as he looked down, realizing the time as he answered Mark's call.

"Dude-"

"I'm coming."

"That's what she said."

"I didn't know your blow up doll could talk!"

"Fuck you."

"Ew, never."

"Did you forget where I lived or what?"

"No, I, uh, there was a wreck."

"Where?"

"Uh, by my complex, 'round the corner."

"That sucks. Well hurry up, I'm already pre-gaming and you have to drive."

"Be there soon." Chord clicked off the line and paused for a second, trying to understand why the fuck he'd lied. He could've just said he'd been talking to Chris and forgot the time, they were friends right, no big deal, yet he'd wanted to cover it up for some reason. Chord didn't feel like getting lost inside his mind right then and went back over to Chris, pausing for a second as he listened to him humming along to his TV.

"That was beautiful Boo."

"Don't be creepy and sneak up on me like that."

"Well as much as I would love to stay and creep, I've already pissed Mark off enough as it is."

"Ok, well have fun, be safe, and don't do anything Mark would."

"Yes sir."

"And to answer your question, wear something green."

"Green?"

"Yes, it bring out your eyes." Chord smiled a little as he noted Chris' observation of him, Chris quickly coughing to cover as he fumbled.

"I mean-"

"I know, I know what you mean."

"Good."

"Well I'll-I'll call you later or something."

"Please drunk dial me, I can't wait to experience this moment."

"You just want to take advantage of me."

"Can you blame me?"

"Only if I can do the same."

"Deal."

"Lush you Boo."

"Lush ya too babe." Chord shut off his phone and frantically grabbed something green from his closet, turning off his shower and heading for the door.

"Having fun?"

"What?"

"I said are you having fun?"

"…do I wanna run?"

"Fuck off."

"I can't hear you Mark."

"Yeah I noticed." Chord shook his head and turned away from Mark as he nodded along to the beat, the two boys night nowhere near as much fun as they hoped. So far all Mark had managed to do was complain about Dianna and all Chord had managed to do was peel the label off his beer, the only entertainment he had coming from two drunk girls getting in a fight over a bartender.

"Dude you alright?" Mark asked as he cocked his brow, "Am I boring you or something?"

"Nah man, you're fine," Chord dismissed as he waved his hand, "Just not feeling it tonight."

"Wanna get a couple of girls and see what happens? You can feel something then," Mark grinned as he wiggled his brow.

"Nah man, I'm good, you go ahead," Chord snickered as Mark shrugged, Chord swigging his beer and looking through his phone.

"Colfer?"

"What?"

"Colfer, you textin' Colfer?"

"No, why?"

"I dunno, you usually are." Chord studied Mark's face for a minute as he tried to figure out what he was implying, Mark looking back and shrugging, "What?"

"What do you mean?"

"Dude, chill out, I didn't mean it in a bad way."

"I know, I know," Chord played off, Mark now studying Chord as he smirked.

"You and Colfer got something going on?"

"What?" Chord asked as his voice squeaked, Mark snorting as he grinned, "I mean what?"

"Look dude, it's cool, I dig it," Mark comforted as he patted Chord's back, "It's not a big deal."

"Nothings going on with us, we're just friends."

"Yeah ok, and so are me and Di."

"Whatever," Chord grumbled as he turned away, Mark setting down his drink as he sighed.

"Chord I'm sorry dude, I didn't think it'd bug or offend you-"

"It doesn't bug me, I don't care," Chord dismissed as he shrugged, "I'm not offended ok?"

"Well why are you freaking out?"

"I'm not freaking out, relax." Mark backed off a second as he rolled his eyes, Chord suddenly growing hot as he tugged his collar.

"I just-I just meant you two are tight, that's all," Mark explained as he leaned in, "Like you're really close. It's cool, Chris is amazing-"

"Yeah, he is," Chord mumbled as he swigged his beer, "He really is."

"Yeah, that's all I meant," Mark said innocently as he smiled, "Besides, you don't come take care of me when I'm sick."

"'Cause I don't like you that much," Chord grinned.

"Yeah, I noticed." Mark went back to texting on his phone as Chord lost himself in his thoughts, replaying Mark's words in his head over and over as he battled himself.

Yeah Chris was amazing, of course Chris was amazing, Chord never having met someone quite like him. Chris actually listened and cared, really paid attention and was interested in Chord, most people having written the blonde off as a stupid hot hick and nothing more. But with Chris he didn't feel useless or dumb like he had before, figuring that was the reason he was so attached to him.

Chord had been struggling to come to terms with his real feelings for awhile now, having realized they were there but not quite knowing what to do with them. He knew he wasn't gay, he liked chicks and tits and all way too much, but the rush of feelings he got around Chris was impossible to ignore. Maybe it was a phase? Maybe all guys got curious at some point? Yeah, probably he comforted as he nodded, it was probably completely normal and not at all significant. And even if it was it wouldn't matter anyways, Chris was out of Chord's league by far and didn't need to waste his time on someone like him…not that it mattered though because he wasn't gay he reminded himself.

"The fuck," Chord mumbled as he rubbed his fingers over his temple, wishing he could smack himself for acting like such a bitch. He wasn't supposed to spend so much time thinking about shit like this, about feelings and relationships and crap, especially not over a boy. It made him feel nervous and twitchy and start thinking about the future and what the fuck he was gonna do with his, stuff Chord didn't know how to handle or prepare for and frankly he didn't want to.

"Dude, you haven't heard a word I've said have you?" Mark interrupted, Chord shaking his head as he looked over.

"You wanna get wasted?" Chord asked as he ignored Mark's question, leaning back as he finished off his beer and waved for another.

"What's with the sudden change of heart sparky?" Mark asked as he laughed, Chord shrugging as he uncapped his new beer, "Well, whatever, here's to forgetting."

"Here's to hoping," Chord mumbled as he clanked his bottle to Mark's.

"Chord, move your feet buddy."

"Wha-I am!"

"No, those are my feet, yours are still on the stairs."

"Oh. Oh. Haaaaaaaaa."

Mark continued to tug on Chord's arm as he tried to drag him down the stairs, the blonde laughing and drooling as he clung to his friends arm. The night had taken an interesting turn midway through much to Mark's surprise, him ending up being the one babysitting as a very plastered Chord rambled away.

"I don't even like 'lationships," Chord slurred as he slung one leg over his other, "Don't even-don't even never no good at 'em, never."

"Yeah buddy, I feel ya," Mark sighed as he wrapped his arm around Chord's back and pulled him along, his friend swaying left and right clumsily as he moaned.

"Like I don't want one, I don't want one, know? But lately I been thinking' 'bout it, and I hate to think Mark, you know I hate to think."

"Thinking, yeah, always a tough thing to do," Mark nodded as he finally reached his car, propping Chord against the back door as he opened the passenger side.

"And I been thinkin' 'bout feelings and stuff, and what to do with 'em and how they got there…don't even know how they got there be honest…but they're there and they bug me all the time Mark, all the damn time…"

"Ok buddy, in you go, nice and steady," Mark coaxed as he pushed Chord down, the other boy slinging his hands up as he fought.

"Mark you not even listenin'-"

"I am, I am, but let's get in the car and talk-"

"Mark, listen," Chord stressed as he rested his hands on Mark's shoulders, his eyelids closing heavily as he breathed deeply, "Listen-"

"What Chord?"

"I need to make it stop, I have to make it go away."

"What? Your herpes?"

"Mark, thas not funny."

"Ok, ok," Mark groaned as he sighed, "What? What do you want to make go away?"

"Chris, I need him to go way."

"What, why?" Mark asked surprised, "He's like your best friend."

"Thas why I need to be away from him," Chord explained exasperated, "Cause if not I'll mess it up."

"Chord what the hell are you even rambling about?" Mark asked annoyed as he dug his knuckles in his eyes, "You don't even make sen-"

"I lavas him ok!" Chord yelled as he pushed the brunette back, Mark surprised as he stared through Chord, "I lavas him." Mark could only stare in shock as he watched Chord slide down to the ground and collapse, slowly beginning to realize Chord wasn't just drunk anymore. He watched the blonde run his hands through his locks and grip the ends tightly, Mark trying to figure out what to say in the now serious situation.

"That's-that's who you meant by all the feelings and crap, you mean Colfer?" Mark asked as he hid his surprise, "You have all those things for him? Really?"

"Yeah Mark, really. I lavas him," Chord said softly as he licked his lips, "Lavas him, lush him, lubb him, I feel all those stupid, complimuhcated things for him and it ain't right, it's not the way it's sposed to go."

"But I thought you and Naya had a thing?"

"We did, kind of," Chord brushed off as he waved his hand, "But what I thought was a crush was just sex you know? But this-this is something…different."

"Different how?"

"It just is, I don't know. I feel different, I-I can't explain it ok! I just know it's not right."

"Well-well why?"

"'Cause I'm not gay Mark, I'm not that guy."

"Well maybe…maybe you're bi?"

"No I'm not Mark, I ain't bi," Chord dismissed as he shook his head, "And I can't-'s not right ok? I don't like feeling like this."

"Chord you can't help how you feel, it just happens. I mean you think I like feeling this way about Di?"

"This isn't about you righ' now, s'bout me."

"I'm sorry, you're right," Mark muttered as he rolled his eyes, "I'm just saying I get it, but you can't just pretend this isn't happening."

"It's not happenin', nothins' happenin'," Chord said flatly as he pointed at Mark.

"Because you don't wanna get with a guy, or 'cause you don't wanna get hurt?" Chord never did reply back to Mark but they both knew his answer, Chord finally deciding he wanted to go home as he ignored Mark and sunk down into the passenger seat. It was silent the whole way back as both boys got lost in their thoughts, Chord focusing on Chris as Mark focused on Chord.

"Sorry 'bout Di," Chord finally said as Mark pulled up to his place, having thought about some way to change the topic and break the awkwardness, "That's gotta suck."

"Sorry 'bout Chris," Mark replied as he shifted into park, Chord not looking up as he twiddled his thumbs, "That's gotta blow."

"I'm not gay."

"I know you aren't."

"It's just-just a phase or something'," Chord mumbled as he looked up, "Right, prolly just a phase?"

"Yeah, yeah that's probably all, just spending a lot of time together," Mark nodded as he told the drunk boy what he wanted to hear, knowing he'd get to face the truth in the morning, "You gonna be alright? Need any help or-"

"Just 'cause I like one Glee boy doesn't mean I like anymore," Chord informed Mark as he held his hand up, Mark snorting as he turned back, "I don't even like him really."

"Yeah alright blowfish, alright," Mark nodded as Chord unbuckled himself, "Just be careful tonight and go to sleep. I'll call ya in the morning."

"Night Markward, nighty night," Chord whispered as he waved, slowly falling out of Mark's car and closing the door.

"Hey Chord?"

"Wha?" he slurred back as he turned towards Mark and leaned on the window.

"There's-there's nothing wrong with the way you feel," Mark told him softly as he leaned over, "It's not bad, or weird, or wrong. I know it's not exactly how you pictured yourself and it's tough to swallow but-but don't pass up something extraordinary for something ordinary ok? Don't make choices based on what you think you're supposed to do over what you wanna do. It's not just you at stake here ok?" Chord remained silent as he rested his forehead on the car door, closing his eyes as he paused.

"You have a chance I'd kill for you know that? Somebody who cares about you back and wants you-"

"You don't know that-"

"Yes I do," Mark interrupted as he cocked a grin, "Yes I do and you do too. You know how he feels about you Chord, and that's why it's terrifying. 'Cause this could actually happen, this could actually work-"

"It won't work Mark, I'm no good at these things-"

"Give yourself a break Chord," Mark smiled as he laughed, "You're starting to over think like Colfer does."

"He tends to have that affect," Chord said lowly as he shook his head, Mark nodding as he shifted into drive.

"Well then maybe there's something to it," Mark offered as he raised his brow, "Maybe something you shouldn't ignore, and after awhile Chord you're not gonna be able to." Chord didn't respond as Mark waved and drove off, left there at the foot of his stairs with Mark's words and those aggravating feelings. He didn't really think Mark knew what he was talking about so he tried to forget his little speech, after all he was in a fucking mess of his own with Dianna so what could he know about relationships anyway, Chord having absolutely no idea how right Mark would end up being.