Yay ! New chapter ! This one didn't take that long, fortunately (: It's not as long as the other ones, but oh well ;D
I'd like to thank all of you once again for reading this (I seriously have no idea why there are so many of you) and all the lovely feedback, I appreciate it very much !
Oh, and don't forget to follow my beta Lizzie on Tumblr, she's drunkthad on there ! (:
Next chapter might take a while because there's some stuff happening I need to have written out as perfectly as I can otherwise it won't make sense, but I'll try my best to get it up as quickly as possible !
And without further ado, here's the new chapter:
For a couple of minutes, Nick had been chatting with his parents about school, grades, the food at Dalton and the life back home, awaiting the right moment to smoothly tell them without too much emphasis, but he still hadn't found the right moment yet and he wondered if it was ever going to come. He shuffled nervously on his chair, and he just hoped his parents didn't notice his odd behavior.
Maybe telling them wasn't such a good idea after all .. Maybe he should just wait until he got a boyfriend –if he ever got one, he was pretty sure that it was going to take a while to get over Jeff when he rejected him (yes, when. Nick was pretty sure it was going to happen one day).
But then Jeff's words echoed in his head. It will be fine. They're your parents, they love you.
Nick scraped up the tiny bits of courage he had left, and cleared his throat. "Also, I've got something I want you to know." He felt his throat was already squeezing shut, and he was barely able to speak.
"Oh my gosh, don't tell me you lost your virginity !" his mother tried to sound stern and disapproving, but she couldn't hide her excitement. "I don't even know if you have a girlfriend .. It wasn't just some one night stand, was it ?"
"Gosh, mom, no !" thank goodness Jeff wasn't here. He wouldn't have been able to keep in his laughter.
His father glared daggers at his wife who shrugged and mouthed a sorry to Nick. "Sorry about your mother, you know how she is. Anyway, what is it you want to tell us ?"
"Well, I.. I err .." He couldn't get the words out and he cursed his nervousness. Why was he even nervous ? They were his parents and they loved him, right ? "Well .. recently I found out .. I- I think I might like guys." As soon as the words were out, Nick felt relieved and more confident. "Actually I don't just think so, I'm sure. I'm gay." He added quickly.
A couple of seconds passed in silence, and Nick stared at his screen to observe his parents reactions, and he started getting nervous again because neither of them moved.
"Please, say something." He almost whispered.
Jeff wandered through the halls of Dalton, not really knowing where to go. Besides Nick, no-one in their group of friends was even nearly as close to him as Nick was (maybe Thad and Wes were the closest because they had the room next to Jeff and Nick's, but from the arguing he heard from inside, he assumed they were fighting over outfits for tonight, and he didn't want to interrupt that) and if he suddenly went to see them now, it would seem like Jeff was desperate without Nick.
That was basically what was happening, because Jeff really didn't know what to do, but he refused to believe this thought or let anyone find out about it, so he just kept on wondering aimlessly through the corridors in the dorms. Sometimes he heard roommates yelling at each other or laughing together, and it made him miss Nick. And once or twice, he heard moans and dirty language coming from one of the rooms, and he passed as fast as he could, trying to hold in his laughter.
And then there were those students who were still packing, or had just packed, and left their door open, and Jeff couldn't resist glancing inside, but when some guy noticed Jeff staring, he shot the blond a look and Jeff decided that if he really wanted to take a look inside, he should do it carefully and unnoticed.
And so he did. Until he came across a room with a familiar person inside. He subconsciously stopped and stared inside for a bit longer.
The boy inside was sitting on his bed, holding a phone in his hands and staring at the screen with a puzzled look on his face. All of a sudden, he spoke up and made Jeff jump up. "You might as well come inside, that's less creepy than spying on me."
Jeff tried to recover from the startled expression on his face before the boy inside turned his head a bit and looked up at Jeff –he wasn't sure if he succeeded. He shuffled inside a bit uncomfortably and cleared his throat awkwardly.
The boy seemed amused by Jeff's discomfort, but he didn't look like he was mean enough to abuse this advantage. "Hello, Jeff." He said while he put his phone away and eyed Jeff curiously.
Jeff stared down at his hands. "I .. I don't really know your name, to be honest."
"Oh, that's okay. I've only been here for a couple of weeks, and I like to stay unnoticed most of the time –apparently it's working. Anyway," he stood up, walked towards Jeff, and stuck out his hand. "I'm Sebastian Smythe."
Jeff took his hand and Sebastian squeezed it softly, surprising Jeff with the softness and warmth of his hand. The blonde studied Sebastian's hand for a second (it was a bit like his own, slender and soft, but the warmth reminded him of Nick's hands. Nick's hands were always warm.) before he looked up at the other boy to give him a small smile. "Well, hello then, Sebastian."
Sebastian shot a dazzling smile back at Jeff.
As soon as Jeff realized he was squeezing Sebastian's hand pretty hard as if he was clenching onto it to keep his balance while he was being overwhelmed and blinded by the other boy's smile, he let go and put an amused look on the slightly taller boy's face. He seemed to know very well what an effect he could have on people, and Jeff promised himself he wasn't going to fall for it.
"I see you've packed. Shouldn't you going be leaving ?" Jeff he asked, trying to make conversation.
Sebastian shook his head. "No, my dad just texted me he couldn't make it this weekend, so there's not really a point in going home."
Jeff didn't really know how to reply to this, so a couple of awkward seconds passed before he spoke up again. "So, how's the nose ?" he gave a small nod in Sebastian's direction while he studied the other boy's meerkat-like face. His nose still had some red and blue spots on it, and it was slightly swollen.
"I've had worse. Don't worry, I'll survive." He gave Jeff another smile, but this one wasn't as exaggerated and bright as the other one –thank goodness. "But I have to say, it was worth it. It's not every day I get to touch such nice bottoms –apart from my own of course." His smile turned into a smirk and his eyes sparkled for a second.
Oh crap. So he is one of those kind of guys ? No wonder he has had more punches. Jeff thought. "Well, don't expect it to happen again. It was completely out of line of you." He answered bluntly.
Sebastian tilted his head a little and studied Jeff's expression until the blonde started to feel nervous. "You're right. Sorry." He paused for a second. "I should've known someone else's boyfriend was a bad choice."
Jeff blinked, and his eyebrows knitted together in a frown. "Wait, so you thought I was already taken, but you still hit on me ? Seriously ? What kind of guy are you ?"
"I'm one who's willing to fight for you." He looked at Jeff with a look the blonde couldn't quite place. "Unlike Nick. He doesn't have to do anything to get your love."
Although Jeff completely uncomfortable with Sebastian's behavior, he was able to remind himself that this was the perfect moment to make his point about Nick and him. "Look, Nick and I are not dating, okay ?"
"Oh !" The chestnut-haired boy seemed surprised. "Are you just fuck buddies then ?"
Jeff's expression turned into one of astonishment and exasperation. "What ? No ! I'm not fucking anyone, and especially not Nick !"
Sebastian smirked again. "Really ? Then why were you so sensitive earlier today ?"
"You crossed a line, okay ? You can't just slap anyone's butt at any time you want !" Jeff protested.
"Sorry," for one moment, Sebastian actually looked sorry, but then he put on his smirk again. "It's not every day I see bottoms as beautiful as yours."
Jeff felt his cheeks starting to burn, and he started to get angry with this guy. He had no manners whatsoever, and his flirty behaviour made Jeff uncomfortable because he didn't know how to deal with it. "Don't, okay ? Just don't." he stared into the blue-grayish eyes of Sebastian, who stared back at him with a look that was twice as intense as Jeff's.
A couple of second of silence passed before Sebastian took a step back, softened his expression, and smiled while he spoke up. "Okay. Sorry. I just can't help myself sometimes. I will behave from now on, I promise."
Jeff stared at him suspiciously, but accepted his words and decided to move on. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Sebastian, but I've got to go now. I'll see you around !" he turned around and started walking towards the door, but Sebastian called his name, and it would be very rude of Jeff to ignore that, wouldn't it ? So he stopped in his walk and turned around. "Yes, what is it Sebastian ?"
"I was wondering if I could have your number ?" Sebastian gave him one of the most innocent looks he could imagine, and although he looked like an angel now, Jeff knew better and he hesitated. Sebastian noticed this and looked at him, practically begging. "Please, I don't know that much people here at Dalton yet, and I promise I won't stalk you !"
Jeff bit his lip, still hesitating. Should he give Sebastian his number ? Maybe he was an annoying flirt, but he just got here a couple of weeks ago and didn't seem to have any friends yet- not even a roommate, and it seemed kind of harsh to reject him. "Okay then."
Sebastian's eyes lit up, and Jeff knew he was going to regret this. The slightly shorter boy handed him a pen, and Jeff sent him a questioning look, mentally asking him where to write on.
In reply to this, Sebastian stuck out his hand, and Jeff rolled his eyes. This guy was full of classic, cheap tricks. Yet he wrote down his number, trying to avoid too much contact of their skins, and made his way out of the room as soon as possible.
Back in the dorm, Nick was waiting for a response of his parents. He had stopped shuffling on his chair, he just sat there, frozen.
All of a sudden, the sound of a loud laugh came out of the speakers. It was his father, he was shaking with laughter.
Nick felt unsure of what to do now. Why was his father laughing ? Was it because he had always known his son was gay, and found Nick's nervousness amusing ? Nick swallowed hard before he opened his mouth. "Why are you laughing ?"
His father's laugh slowly faded and he wiped the tears from his eyes. "Sorry, it's just- My son, gay ? Come on Dianna," he poked his wife between the ribs and received a dirty look back. "Don't you find this a little bit funny ? No ? Well, I told you so ! If you don't find him a girl soon, his hormones will kick in badly and he'll start thinking he felt something for one of his schoolmates." His father started gasping for air again, and a couple of seconds later, he was shaking with laughter again.
"Stop laughing, I'm serious about this !"
"Yes, yes, of course you are." Nick's father managed to utter between gasps.
Nick could've never imagined it would be like this, and he didn't know what to do now. His father's laugh echoed in his ears and sounded ten times louder than it actually was. He felt a pang in his chest and he started to feel his cheeks burning with anger. "This is not funny, I'm serious !" when his father still didn't listen, he shot up from his chair. "I said stop laughing ! This is not a joke !" he exclaimed furiously. "I am absolutely sure about my feelings !"
His father froze for a couple of seconds before a strange expression appeared on his face. "Oh, so you think you're in love ?"
Nick sat down again and tried to control himself. "I don't think I'm in love, I'm sure of it."
His father sighed and glanced at his wife for a moment. "It's this Jeff boy, isn't it ?"
Nick's lungs seemed to stop functioning because he couldn't breathe. How could they possibly know ? "Why would it be Jeff ?" he asked.
Nick's father snorted. "You talk about him all the time: Jeff this, Jeff that, Jeff and I so. It's kind of hard not to notice." Then he turned to his wife. "I warned you something like this would happen if we sent him to this all-boys school, but no, you wanted him to go there. Now see what has become of him, he's almost brainwashed ! And the worst part is probably that everyone at that little school of his' is probably going to accept it."
Nick felt a massive argument coming up between his parents, and when his mother finally opened her mouth for the first time since he had told them he was gay, he knew this couldn't end well, and he had to stop it. "No !" he said loudly, his voice sounded slightly desperate. "There is nothing wrong with Dalton ! It's an amazing school: I'm having the time of my life and I'm still getting good grades. It's the best school ever !"
His father frowned. "I think you're having a bit too much fun there with that roommate of yours, Nick. How long before you start messing around ? Or have you already ? –No, don't answer that, I don't even want to know. You listen to me, boy: you're going to start behaving right now, or I will take you away from there."
Nick's eyes widened in shock. His dad had to be kidding. "But dad-"
"No, no buts, Nick. You will obey me, or I'm telling you, I will drag you away from there by your hair if necessary, and I'll drop you at a therapist until you're able to think straight again." His father's voice was laid-back but dark, and it scared the crap out of Nick.
He didn't doubt his father meant what he said, but he had no idea how far his father would go to keep Nick in his control. But before Nick was able to object, his parents disconnected.
Jeff decided to go to their room. He didn't know if Nick was already done talking with his parents, but he had no idea what to do anymore, and Nick wouldn't mind if Jeff tiptoed back in for a second to get his iPod, right ?
He carefully opened the door and prepared to dodge the sight of Nick's webcam, but when he quickly glanced to the right, he didn't find Nick in the spot he expected. His had already closed his laptop and left his spot behind his desk.
Jeff's eyes focused on the left side of the room, and there he found Nick, sitting on his bed with his knees pulled up to his chest while he stared into space. Jeff was just in time to see the angry and sad expression on Nick's face because the shorter boy now noticed Jeff and with one smooth move he quickly wiped away the tear that rolled down his cheek.
"Don't even ask. Just be glad you weren't there." Nick snapped at Jeff before grabbing his jacket and his keys. "Let's just go to that stupid party." He walked out of the dorm and slammed the door shut, leaving Jeff still inside, staring at the door with a startled expression.
He assumed Nick's conversation with his parents didn't go too well, and he decided not to mention it anymore tonight. They were going to a party after all, and that was supposed to be fun.
He grabbed his own jacket, locked the door of their dorm behind him, and followed Nick.
