Chapter 14
At the sight of Lucille, I blushed bright red and almost leaped off of Nicky. I cleared my throat and put my arms to my side, making eye contact with the floor. Lucille looked at her nails as she rested against the doorway, waiting for Nicky to come to her instead of wasting her own energy.
"Uh," I said awkwardly, "I-I suddenly have to go to the bathroom. Can't hold it, I'll talk to you guys in a bit!" I ran into the bathroom and shut the door. I put my palm to my face and groaned.
"'Can't hold it'?!" I thought, "Why did I have to say that? Why couldn't I just go?" In the midst of my own embarrassment, I heard voices from the other side of the door. I rested my ear against the door, listening closely. Mother always taught me that eavesdropping was rude, but Mother wasn't there, so I thought, "screw it!" and did it anyway. Besides, I had a very good reason to. They were talking about me after all.
"Babe," said Nicky, "look, we gotta talk about the way you've been acting around Rod." I heard Lucille huff.
"Does the little queer think I'm bullying him?" I growled and clenched my fists in fury.
"That's the kinda thing I wanna talk to you about," replied Nicky. "Comments like that are really really offensive to Rod."
"Fine," said Lucille, "I'll say homo and not queer, better?"
"No," said Nicky, "you didn't let me finish. Rod really doesn't like being called a homo or queer or other stuff like that. It bothers him a lot and, honestly, it bothers me too. I don't like knowing my best friend is getting hurt by my girlfriend, so baby it would mean a lot to me if you just-" Lucille laughed.
"Are you serious, Nick? You're really badgering me because of that stud?" With every sentence Lucille said, I could feel my blood rising to a boil.
"Lucille," said Nicky pleading, "please, listen to me, baby. I'm not trying to argue with you."
"Well it's too late for that, sugar. You've already caught me in a bad mood and now I gotta hear a lecture about how I gotta walk on eggshells for your friend? Ever hear of freedom of speech?" Nicky sighed.
"I'm not trying to take away your freedom of speech. I just want you to do this one thing for me. Is it too hard to ask one thing from you?! I never ask you for anything!" I gasped as Nicky raised his voice. I never really heard him shout at Lucille before, and hearing it was strange.
"Wow," said Lucille with a chuckle, "look who finally decided to grow some balls."
"I mean it, Lucille! I give you everything you ask for in yet you won't even do the simplest of things for me! It's...It's ridiculous!" Lucille chuckled again and I could hear the sound of her heels clacking against the floor.
"Nicky, sweetie, I don't think this is gonna work out." Suddenly, the room became eerily silent.
"W-What?" Nicky sounded shocked and wounded.
"I don't like guys who try and hold me down. I need to be able to be free to, and I use this term in the least likely way possible, do whatever I want. You've been great, but the sparks gone for me, Nick. I'm moving on to bigger and better things." I waited for Nicky to respond, to say something smart and cross like, "Thanks for nothing!", or, "Good! Who needs you?!", but instead...he winced and said softly,
"Please...Lucille...D-Don't go..." Lucille huffed once again and stomped toward the door.
"You're pathetic. Even now you can't be a big enough man to do anything but cry. Goodbye Nick. Don't ever call me again." The door slammed shut and I opened the door a little to get a peek at Nicky. He was standing in the center of the room, his hood up, his hands in his sweatshirt pocket, looking straight down at the ground. I could hear him sniffling and sobbing quietly. The young man standing there was not my fun-loving roommate, no, this was a new man. One I had not known before. This man was hiding his emotion, covering his face in fear of being caught crying, sobbing silently in fear of being heard, remaining motionless in fear of bringing attention to himself. This was someone I did not know, yet could associate with on a level I didn't completely understand. As silently as possible, I opened the bathroom door and walked over to Nicky.
"Nicky?" I said softly, putting my hand on his back Nicky flinched at my touch, sniffled, and refused to look at me.
"I want to be alone, Rod," he said quietly, "I'm fine, I just need alone time..." I sighed and looked at his face. I could see tears leaking down his chin. I shook my head.
"You are most certainly not okay. I refuse to leave you alone like this."
"I want to be alone..."
"No one wants to be alone, Nicky." Nicky wiped his eyes aggressively and wiped his nose on his sleeve.
"I-I'm fine," he said, looking at me with his eyes red from crying, "See?" I gently put my arms around him and hugged him tightly from behind. He gasped and tried to push me off.
"Rod?" He said confused, "What are you doing?"
"Shh," I said softly, "you need this." Nicky stopped fidgeting and wiped his nose on his sleeve once more.
"N-Need what?" I gently rubbed Nicky's arms with my fingers. I took a deep breath, sighed to myself, and decided to do something I'd never done in front of people.
"Nothing's gonna harm you,
not while I'm around..."
"Rod," said Nicky, "what are you-?"
"Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir,
not while I'm around.
Demons are prowling everywhere,
nowadays...
I'll send 'em howling,
I don't care,
I've got ways."
Nicky froze in silence, but I could feel his breathing slowing down and his muscles relaxing.
"No one's gonna hurt you,
no one's gonna dare...
Others can desert you,
not to worry,
whistle, I'll be there.
Being close and being clever,
ain't like being true.
I don't need to,
I would never,
hide a thing from you...like some...
Demons will charm you with a smile,
for a while,
but in time..."
I let go of Nicky, who turned around and looked at me, his eyes wide in confusion and awe, a small smile on his face.. I blushed lightly, put my hand on his arm, and half-smiled.
"Nothing can harm you...Not while I'm around."
Nicky laughed softly and I blushed, rubbing my arm as I stared at the ground with a small smile.
"That was one of the weirdest things any guy has ever done to me." My smile faded and a frown took its place.
"O-Oh," I said, "I-I know...i-it was pretty weird...I should've-"
"But it was also the coolest." I gasped softly and looked up at Nicky.
"Really?" Nicky nodded with a laugh.
"Yeah! It really calmed me down. It felt like...when you scrape your knee in the driveway and your mom is there to make you feel better." I huffed with a chuckle.
"I'm not your mother, Nicky." He smirked and nudged my arm.
"You sure nag me like you are." I blushed and laughed with Nicky, who was smiling bright. "What song was that?"
"Hmm?" I said, lost in his smile, "Oh! It's from a broadway musical called Sweeney Todd. It's one of my favorite songs, but I didn't do it justice..."
"Are you kidding?" Said Nicky. "Your voice is awesome, buddy!" I blushed more and giggled, playing with my tie.
"Awesome? Oh, I don't know about that..." Nicky hugged me tightly, cutting off my air supply, but I didn't care.
"Thank you, Rod. You're the best friend I've ever had." I smiled and hugged Nicky back, enjoying the warmth of his body and the scent of his cologne.
"No need to thank me," I said, rubbing his back, "you would've done the same for me."