Chapter Ten

Nelson

"Well if you're not going to get a job, you're going to help me keep this house up!" Nelson's mom thundered.

Nelson groaned, ignoring every urge in his mind to launch into bitch mode. He hated cleaning, but he knew his mom had a point. He had kind of been living there for free since he'd come back.

It just seemed like she made him do everything, and now it was dishes. He hated doing dishes!

"I know you're right," he conceeded with a sigh. "I don't want to fight with you mom."

"Since when?" she snorted with a half-smile.

Nelson grinned a little at that, feeling his phone vibrate suddenly. It was Kyle.

"Gotta take this mom... hello?"

"Talk to me," his best friend whispered. "Please just talk."

"Honey what happened?" Nelson asked gently, knowing all too well by Kyle's voice that something had gone wrong.

"He broke up with me," Kyle croaked, fighting down a sob. "Nelson I knew... "

"Hey," Nelson shushed him softly. "Hey. It'll be okay. I'm right here."

"You're right," Kyle sniffled. "I'll manage to get over this. I kinda knew it was coming. Its been everything- the distance, the road trip. It just seems like we've both moved on... "

Nelson waited for his friend to speak again, not exactly sure what to say. It would be best to simply let Kyle talk everything out right now.

"High school's over Nelson," his best friend went on, sniffling to clear his obvious crying. "Jason seems more and more associated with that part of my life in my mind. My past. My future is now- here at Princeton. With Mario, with you... "

"You're talking like you'll never see Jason again," Nelson pointed out.

"Oh Nelson, I know I will. I'd never want to just kick him out of my life. Maybe we can be friends, just not now you know?"

"Yeah I get that," Nelson agreed understandingly. "You know I'll always be here for you Kyle."

"You always are," Kyle said with another sniffle. "Sometimes you seem like the only constant thing in life I can hold onto Nelson. You have no idea how happy I am to have you back... "

"I'm not leaving again. Kyle, I promise. I don't want to leave you again."

Nelson knew that this was all coming too close- too close to the feelings for Kyle he still kept safely tucked away.

"I don't want you to leave," Kyle said, almost pleadingly.

Nelson felt his chest tighten unpleasantly.

"I need you Nelson."

"Do you need me to come up to Princeton?" he asked gently.

"Don't go to too much trouble," Kyle replied quickly. "Though I admit I could use my best friend's shoulder to cry on."

"I'll find a way," Nelson promised. "I've still got some money saved up, and I'm sure mom can help me."

His mom gave him a questioning scowl at that last part, but Nelson knew she'd relent whenever it came to Kyle.

"Well I need to go," Nelson said, his mom's annoyed gaze still holding him. "Love you... "

"I love you too Nelson, thanks."

With that the call ended, and if only Kyle knew just how much Nelson loved him...

"What might you need my help with?" his mother's voice penetrated his thoughts.

"I might have enough," he said quickly, holding his hands up in truce. "I might only need twenty dollars or so... "

"Or so," she replied scowling. "Nelson I love you. You know I don't mind helping you, but I'm not made of money. You're just going to have to take a part time job. That's all there is to it. I'll help you get to visit Kyle, but after that... job!"

"Yes mom," Nelson agreed, already making his way up the stairs to his bedroom.

When he dropped onto his bed he thought about Kyle again, feeling his chest flutter with more emotions. He took out his phone and looked at some of the pictures from their road trip, pausing on one of he and Kyle at Graceland. Kyle's arms were wrapped around him, both of them smiling.

Nelson sighed at the thought of those arms around him. He wanted to be in those arms and never leave. It sucked to know that Kyle only saw him as a friend. They could never be anything more...