AN: Oh, hi! Lol well, this first started out as just wanting to reply to one of my reviewers, Lindsey, I believe. Yes, she's reviewed anonymously, so I'm going to reply to it here since she's the only one who reviewed that seemed to read the author's notes, and then do the next chapter. :D

Lindsey: Okay, the dancing one would involve cowboy!Nick, and also awkwardness and Nick being an asshole who doesn't dance in public.. Because nick in a cowboy hat and boots would be so hot. XDDD -shot repeatedly- Keith probably wouldn't be in that one but if he were to be, then I dunno, guys. XD Um, the wedding one. I'm not going to talk a lot about the wedding one because it's supposed to be a surprise and have a twist ending. All I can say is Ellis looks good in a tux. XD Yes, Keith is a dick. XD

Also I believe an explanation is in order: Keith smokes, yes, but he runs fast. My response is, have you ever seen how fast the Smokers are in-game? They're like so fast so I made Keith that fast. XD

I am listening to the Silent Hill 0rigins soundtrack, and it's probably one of the most.. Interesting OSTs so far. XD Lots of mandolin, synthesizers, organs and epic bass. XDD Um, yeah. So I should stop rambling about silent hill music and get to the story, huh?

Disclaimer: I do not own anything VALVe has ever come up with, nor do I own the song this fic is very very loosely based upon. XD

WARNING: I have no idea what I'm doing for this chapter, having just sat down and started to type, so just bear with me. If it's rambling and weird, that's why. I might get off topic too, so, just to warn ya.. XD


Keith knew something was up with the kid, something strange, or a better fitting word would be queer, he thought with a lopsided smirk. Ellis got all weird when he mentioned the fag they got over by his place. There were two choices of what was up between that maybe the kiddo was just nervous around him, especially when he mentioned violence, or it was that the teen knew who they were talking about. And Keith would bet all of his cigarette money on the second train of thought. And he had to get to the bottom of it. He knew just the way how.

It was probably about noon or so when Keith showed up at Ellis' doorstep, almost letting himself in out of habit, ready to greet the teen with a warm smile like he used to, before everything got weird and he didn't know if he could be the kid's friend anymore if he was going to try weird stuff like how he did.

Keith liked the kid, sure, but he didn't like the kid that way. He wasn't a fag, even if the kid did have lips like a girl, and sucked him off like a girl, and was like a girl in every way but in his pants. It wasn't his fault; the devil tempted him in the form of the young auburn haired hillbilly. The kid probably didn't even know what he was doing. Keith was just showing him what it was like to do what he did. Well, that was what Keith told himself to rationalize what he knew was an attraction to the teen.

Ellis didn't answer at first, and the redhead wondered why, trying to sneak a peek through one of the house windows. He couldn't see anything; the gauzy old curtains hung in the way, letting him catch a glimpse of only shadows. From what he could tell, there were at least three people inside. That's weird, Keith thought to himself, fighting off the sudden pang of jealousy rising up in him, why the hell would the kid have friends or something over?

The outline he soon recognized as the young hick's stood up and got to the door, another outline, thicker set and only an inch or so shorter than Ellis, accompanying him. He jumped back to the front door, so they wouldn't catch him trying to look inside. The teen swung the door open only a little, so that whoever was at the door wouldn't see Nick attempting to score a look outside, or the way his hands were protectively on Ellis' hips. He stuck his head out of the little crack between the door and the doorframe, absolutely stunned to see his old friend on the front stoop.

"K-K-Keith!" Ellis cried, trying to slap Nick's hands away from his waist. So far Nick hadn't spied the ginger, but as soon as he would, he would instantly recognize him as the ringleader of the pack of wild animals that beat him to within an inch of his life. Keith grinned, and for some reason, Ellis couldn't help but smile back. Even if Keith looked like he came here on an important (maybe to himself) mission. "What are you doing here?"

Leaning against the house, Keith looked Ellis up and down. Same ol' kid, same everything. "Jus' thought I'd swing by, kiddo."

Nick's hands tensed on the teen's waist. He recognized that voice, he'd know it anywhere. Bringing his face close to the side of Ellis' head, mostly invisible from the other side of the door, he whispered to the teen. "That's the guy that tried to kill me!"

The teen fought a look of anger from coming to his face as he narrowed his eyes at Keith. Keith stared up at the kid, like he was studying his body language or something. "Can I come in, kiddo?"

Ellis blushed bright red when he realized Keith was checking him out. "M-man, I'm a little busy right now." He started to close the door, but the ginger smoker put his hand against it to stop him, pulling the door open.

"Busy doing what, kiddo~?" He asked softly, his voice tinged with a form of fake sweetness. "Were you fucking your boyfriend?"

The young hillbilly's eyes grew wide, and he attempted to slam the door in Keith's face but the ginger was stronger than him and forced the door open all the way. There, he saw, behind Ellis, stood the brunette guy he beat up. The gay one. His eyes narrowed, and he sneered. "I knew it."

Nick glared at the tall ginger, trying really hard to fight the urge to punch out the bastard right then and there. His hand twitched forward like he was going to, but the teen squeezed his wrist, like he was going to stop him. Through gritted teeth, he angrily spoke. "Get the fuck out of here."

Keith honestly had the balls to laugh right in Nick's face. It wasn't a pleasant sound. "You are screwing him. I knew it." He glanced to the red faced teen. "Finally got the courage to do what you didn't wanna do with me?" He was a dick, and Nick knew he was hurting the teen, and he didn't want Ellis to get hurt. The brunette's voice was like a growl. "Get out of here. Now."

Ellis looked at Nick, like he didn't understand how the older man could suddenly be so forceful when he was angry. Hell, the hick had never seen him truly angry.

Keith backed up. So, this fag meant business, did he? He seethed with jealousy and hate and anger and a quick blip of sadness that he mentally crushed with all his might. "An' ta think, I was gonna ask ya to come hang out with me." He smirked cruelly as he watched Ellis' face redden even more. He knew what "hanging out" meant, and it meant making out, getting as close to sex as possible without actually getting there.

"Ellis doesn't want you here, so get the fuck out." Nick replied, striding toward the door. "I'm not afraid of kicking your ass, so go, damn it!" He was definitely angry, like it was more than just because this dick was insulting him and the kid, it was as if his relationship with the kid was actually being threatened and he had to spring into action. Keith was taller and probably stronger than him but he did cut an intimidating figure when he wanted to.

"Awright, man. Jesus, you don't have to yell.." He grumbled, stepping off the stoop and back toward his car, a scheme already forming in his mind. He'd get the faggot out of town and then he'd have Ellis all to himself again, but how?

When Keith had vanished from view, Ellis turned to Nick, shutting the door. "I'm sorry, man. I didn't know he'd be coming here. Or I wouldn't of answered the door." He sounded apologetic and a little scared.

"No." Nick replied, looking away, clenching his hands, making the broken skin crack worse. "I shouldn't have gotten upset and yelled at him. I'm the one who should be sorry."

The teen's gut clenched, and he went closer to the older man. "It was my fault cause Keith came by, trying to get me back. I-I think.."

The brunette looked up sharply. "Was that what he meant when he said 'hanging out'? Christ, that guy seems like a total bastard. Even when I'm not getting beat up by his asshole friends. And now he wants to screw around with you too? Kid, I'm not standing for it, okay? I won't let this guy jerk you around anymore. He hates fags but here he is, trying to get into your pants! El', that guy is a dick. And if he ever comes back around here again, I will kill him myself."

Ellis stared at him for a moment, shocked he would say such a thing. "What? Man, why would you say that? He'd only call the cops on ya and get you arrested. You know what would happen to you if you went to jail?"

Nick's tone was stern, and unyielding. "I meant it, kid. I will hit him until he stops moving if it means he won't bother you ever again." It was clear he was probably jealous, and he figured that if Ellis still had feelings for the asshole then he might as well remove the competition, especially if the ginger smoker was trying to hurt Ellis or himself? Why not try for a preemptive strike and get him before the redhead struck first? It was only a matter of time before Keith would do something he'd regret, Nick could feel it.


AN: Awright, so Keith and Nick confront each other. Keith is a dick and Nick is more than just a little bit jealous. So yeah, um, we're getting deeper into the plot with this bizarre love triangle. Next chapter will cover Rochelle and Francis' date. So expect some silly cuteness to lighten up the mood a little. XD I have a feeling it'll be epic and dramatic though, in a slightly more understated way than this chapter, and also it should hopefully be funny. XD And then coach meets Francis. -scary and dramatic music swells- DUN DUN DUN DUUUUUN. Yeah, so that should be fun. Fun to write and fun to read. XD Yes, I know Keith is an asshole but I have a shit ton of leeway to go with because he has only one part of his character known, being a daredevil. He can still be an asshole and a daredevil. Cause those two totally go hand in hand sometimes. And for some reason I have this sudden intense urge to make Ellis' accent into a weird stereotypical Australian accent. No, I have no idea why. XD So, uh, read and review? I'd like to get at least forty reviews, and so far I'm at 37. I am striving for an even number divisible by ten. -slaps keyboard with hands- So yeah, r&r please.

REVIEWERS GET A FREE HUG FROM ME. :D

TFFLM OUT~~