A/N: Val25 asked for a flashback so I happily obliged. But you all know I can't just do a simple flashback. This one is special. Enjoy, review, and subscribe!

Nick slammed his locker shut a little too hard today. He was not looking forward to the events happening in class later. He grabbed his case and headed down to the sixth floor of moos tower. Everyone was pairing up for practice today, and no surprise Emma was trying to get Nick to be her partner again, but Thad was having none of it.

"Emma you partnered with him last time it's my turn. Come on Nick tell her you want to work with me" he nudged Nick in the arm as he walked by. Nick just waved both of them off dismissively. "Why don't the two of you partner up with each other and I'll just go work on my carvings in lab."

"HA nice try boy wonder, but even you need to practice. They say this will teach us empathy for our patients. So pick someone and let's do this" Emma held up her hands enthusiastically waiting for a high five. Nick just turned to go without so much as an explanation for his crabbiness. Thad grabbed his arm "hey, I have an idea, why don't we do a three way partnership. You practice on me, I practice on Emma, and Emma practices on you." He suggested. Nick was about to protest but Emma agreed and soon Nick was being dragged like a ragdoll down the hall.

"Who's going first? Thad asked.

"We'll, since you brought it up, have a seat Mr. Harwood" Emma grinned. Thad sighed "I should have seen that coming."

Nick sat on his stool and opened up his case to reveal a fresh cartridge of septocain and a syringe. "you remember how to load it right?" Thad asked skeptically. "You forget who you're partnered with" Nick scoffed "I've got this." Nick loaded the cartridge and gave the back of the handle a good smack to make sure it was in place. Thad relaxed because he knew Nick was the best student in their class. Emma was also enthralled with Nick as she watched him prepare. "Alright Thad I'm going to use some lidocaine first so you don't feel anything." Thad nodded and sat with a q-tip in his mouth for a few seconds.

"Ok, you should be good now." Nick said as he pulled on his gloves and turned on the light.

Thad complied immediately and allowed Nick to get a good angle. Emma gave him a fingers crossed expression and an excited smile. Thad's eyed widened when Nick stuck him but other than that he didn't react; Nick was very good at what he did. After thirty seconds Nick pulled back and Thad grinned. "I didn't even feel it that much. Good job Nick; I also can't feel my face."

"Alright Nicky, your turn" Emma singsonged. Nicks face paled "why do I have to go next? Maybe Thad wants a turn to practice." He argued.

"Thad wasn't the one watching you carefully and taking notes, I was, so I get to go next" she smiled deviously. Thad switched spots with Nick who sat down cautiously. Emma started prepping her own syringe. "Thad can you give him the lidocaine while I find where I put the cartridge." Thad placed the q-tip in Nick cheek but he started to panic. "Whoa whoa, you're doing a lower block! No, we agreed upper only!" he grew tense.

"Come on Nick, I can do this, you're not the only capable person in this program" She sighed. Nick shook his head frantically and refused to open his mouth again. He tried to get up and leave the room but Thad stopped him. "Nick man calm down, you won't even feel it." Nick was strong, but Thad was his equal and soon he found himself pinned down pretty well.

"Nick, don't make me get the nitrous, really, were all adults here" Emma tried to reason.

"I can't! I hate needles. Practice on Thad again, he was fine with it!" Nick shouted. Thad wasn't sure if he should have felt insulted or flattered. "No Nick, it's your turn this is a part of the learning experience." She pressed. When Nick showed no signs of cooperation Emma got up and left the room only to return a few minute later with a tank.

"You think we'll get in trouble for this?" Thad asked.

"Doubtful, they let us try it out last week to see what it felt like." Emma scoffed. "Last chance Nick, do you want to man up or be involuntary subdued."

"DON'T" Nick stated dangerously. "Support my decision to not participate!"

"I'll support your decision if it has a valid excuse backing it up, but if your only reason is you don't trust me then you leave me no choice." She shook her head.

Nick shook his head back and forth trying to avoid Emma getting a good grip on him. Unfortunately Emma had catlike reflexes and he was caught, and subsequently drugged for his lack of cooperation. Unable to fight back Nick soon found himself Emma's guinea pig. The panicked look in his eyes caught her attention as she took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "We've been friends since undergrad dude. You think I want to hurt you?"

She picked up her syringe and a few stray tears escaped Nick's eye as he watched it approach. Thad chose to look away in order to leave Nick a few shreds of his dignity intact. Nick was uncomfortable but the gas was starting to give him a headache. Emma finished after several seconds and released him. Now not only was Nick half drunk, but he also couldn't feel half his face.

"Did it work Nick?" Thad asked. He just nodded slowly and took a few shaky breaths. Thad helped him sit down against the far wall to sober up while he and Emma finished their practical for the day. After Thad finished working with Emma she crouched down in front of Nick and shook him gently.

"Look, we all lived, isn't that great news?" Nick was unresponsive. "Hey, look I'm sorry about drugging you, but you needed a little help being receptive. You can't just ignore your fears and expect them to get better. You have to try."

Thad clapped him on the back "yeah, like how I'm not good at public speaking but I still tried out for that theatre production."

"Even though Nick got the lead over you anyway" Emma giggled.

"Eh, he was a better Danny Zuko than me anyway. How did it go Nick?"

Nick stood up with Thad's help and laughed "something along the lines of…. Summer Lovin had me a blast" Both Thad and Emma made a fainting motion while Emma continued. "Summer lovin happened so fast!"

"Met a girl, crazy for me."

"Met a boy, cute as can be."

They laughed as Nick continued his duet with Emma and the trio headed down to the tunnels to get some coffee. It was a beautiful sunny day on campus and a lot of students were out in the quad. Nick continued his crazy dancing all along the walkway, amusing others that passed. Thad joined in him with and Emma laughed at her two weird friends doing the duck walk and Elvis legs. Their dancing was so sporadic that quite few people were stepping aside as they walked by.

One boy in particular was gathering his things as they approached. Emma saw it about to happen but it was too late. "Uh Nick… watch out!"

"Those suuummer Niiiiiiiights!" Nick's arms flew out for his big finish and smacked right into the blond boy.

"Uuumpf!" The unlucky boy fell to the sidewalk, his work strewn everywhere and his drink all over his shirt.

"Oh my gosh I am so sorry!" Nick started apologizing profusely.

"Really its fine. I'm ok, don't worry about it" He stammered as he regained his footing and started gathering all his papers.

"Oh geez I'm sorry, let me help you pick these up. You go on guys I'll catch up in a bit" Nick waved dismissively at Thad and Emma.

Nick got down on his knees and help the seemingly shy boy gather his notes. He was looking down almost avoiding eye contact and Nick felt the need to break the ice. He held his hand out quickly.

"Nick, by the way, I don't think we've ever met. Do you get run into often in front of the student union?" Nick tried to joke.

"Not exactly" the boy mumbled quietly. He took nicks hand and suddenly made eye contact. The blond appeared to be giving Nick the once over. Nick blushed at the attention and the other guy awkwardly ran a hand through his hair and smiled. He seemed to be relaxing a bit.

Nick liked the look of this boy, he was cute. Slightly skinny build, with a messy blond mop of straight hair, and brown eyed which you didn't see very often on blonds. The boy must have been thinking the same thing because he flashed Nick the most amazing smile.

"Wow, you have the nicest smile" Nick commented thoughtfully. The boy paled at Nick's statement and he awkwardly turned away.

The conversation turned awkward and Nick wondered what he said to kill the mood. "Well anyway, I'm sorry about your shirt" Nick started. "Here, I usually like to change after clinicals but you need it more than me." Nick pulled a white V-neck out of his gym bag. "And, uh, why don't you let me buy you a new coffee sometime" Nick smirked. The blond stared at him dumbfounded.

"Here's my number, if you decide to return my shirt. Or if you just want to hang out, your call. Hope to run into you again soon….um…." it suddenly occurred to him he didn't catch the blonds name.

"Jeff."

"Jeff, I'll be waiting." Nick smiled; he liked the way Jeff rolled off his tongue. He then ran to catch up with Emma and Thad. They were sitting by the fireplace in the café. Thad was the first to speak up. "That must have been one heck of an apology, because you took forever."

"Ooh look he's blushing!" Emma squealed.

"He had a beautiful smile" Nick commented with a smirk. "I think he liked me."

"I think I heard wedding bells" Thad teased.

"Don't be jealous, just because Nick has better game than you Thad" Emma retorted. "What was his name?"

"Jeff, and I gave him my number, you know, in case he wants to hang out."

"How do you know he's even gay?" Thad questioned.

"Well, I'm not exactly sure, but he gave me the once over, so he might have been checking me out" Nick countered.

"Well I hope you see him again Nicky, you deserve someone special" Emma chirped.

"Something tells me I will."