Chapter 12—All I Really Want…

Nick had no idea why he blanched when he saw Xander and the others at lunch. He could easily have gone and talked to them, maybe even attempt talking to Xander…but he didn't like being lied to or accused of. Xander was going to have to prove how loyal he was…and that was just how it was going to have to be.

"Lost?"

Someone asked.

Nick turned in the direction of the voice.

"Jeremy, hey…uh, no I'm not lost, I was just going to get something," Nick answered.

"Oh, okay, cuz the lunchroom's that way," Jeremy said with a smile, pointing back with his thumb.

"Y-yeah…I know."

Jeremy nodded slowly, "You seem kinda…I dunno…odd. Something bothering you?"

"Well…uh…yeah, just a little. Um…look I really gotta get—"

"Maybe I can help, I mean, with your problem," Jeremy said smoothly.

Nick looked around, "Ah…well…it's my friends. It's just been weird to be around them lately…"

"Who?"

"You prob'ly wouldn't know 'em," Nick dismissed.

"Try me."

"Chip, Maddi, Vida, and Xander."

"Oh, yeah…I know them really well actually," Jeremy said with some spite.

"What is there some kind of history here I don't know about?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Tell ya what, I'll buy you lunch and get you caught up on everything."

"Um…I don't know…what about the rest of my classes?"

"I can have you back in time…if you want that."

Nick looked like he was having conflicting emotions, which was an accurate presumption, but he didn't like to be read easily.

"Nah…might as well just hang out…there's only 2 more classes left."

"Alright then!" Jeremy said, slinging his arm around Nick's shoulder.

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"So, what's up with that new guy? How come he seemed all…avoiding?" Casey asked, not sure what to make of everything.

"Uh…I'm not really—" Xander stopped.

His blood ran cold, his face paled, and his mouth froze. Walking towards them to the exit of the school was Nick, and walking right beside Nick with his arm slung over his shoulder was the source of Xander's Sophomore problems: Jeremy.

"Alexander…Casey to Alexander…" Casey signaled.

Xander didn't care. He knew what was going to happen…but Nick seemed to almost be enjoying Jeremy's company. They were coming closer and closer, Xander would have to do something, he couldn't just let Nick get mixed up with Jeremy.

"H-hey, Nick, what's up? Uh, you know Casey right? He's in your first period?" Xander asked, attempting to start a conversation, maybe to make Nick forgive him for distrusting him.

"Yeah…he is."

"Great, so why don't you come back to the lunch table and sit with us?" Xander questioned carefully.

"But I th—" Casey started to say, before Xander nudged him.

"Vida wants to talk to you about our shifts," Xander added nervously.

"I think I'll pass," Nick said slowly, trying to figure out what was really going on.

"So I guess we'll leave you to that," Jeremy added with a nod.

"Wait," Xander said, stepping in their way. He decided it was time for plan B…even if Casey didn't know about Nick, he had to stop Jeremy.

"Xander, move," Jeremy demanded.

"This doesn't involve you. Now listen Nick, I don't know what you're planning on doing, but you walk out that door with him, and you're whole life here is gonna be turned upside down."

Casey frowned. He knew Xander and Jeremy had messed around or whatever they called it, but he never knew the extent to which Xander was hurt by the ending of that. Not only that, but he had no idea why Jeremy was so interested in Nick and why Xander was so intent on keeping him away from Nick.

Unless…Xander wanted Nick for himself!

"Xander…I think you should just let 'em go," Casey encouraged, unintentionally glaring at Nick.

"I think you should listen to your boyfriend Xander," Jeremy said in an uncaring tone. Apparently he was over all this drama.

"Boyfriend?" Nick asked, his face turning pale.

"No!" Xander denied, "Jeremy, stop!"

"What did I do?" Jeremy asked bewilderedly.

"What haven't you done?" Xander retorted.

Nick and Casey backed up, watching the two go at it.

"Well, I guess I can scratch you off that list!" Jeremy shot back.

If Jeremy's previous comment about Casey and Xander hadn't shocked him enough, this startling fact surely did.

"WHAT?" Nick half-shouted.

What was with the gay population of Briarwood? It was like a bad episode of Queer Eye…

"You seem mighty proud about that for someone who pretended to be straight for 3 months," Xander replied, now fully calm.

"I had no choice, I told you that. Why are you still stuck on that?"

"Maybe because you love to throw it in my face whenever you can?"

"Bull shit."

"Prove it."

"I don't have to prove anything to you, Xander. Why don't you just get over it and go out with him," Jeremy suggested, cocking his head toward Casey, who was still silent.

"That's not fair, Jeremy. Don't bring him into this, he has nothing to do with it."

"And Nick does?"

"Yes!"

"No!" Nick denied, not wanting everyone to know just yet what his orientation was. Sure he was fine with Xander knowing, and sure the other two were apparently gay…but he still didn't feel right.

"What?" Casey asked, now getting confused.

"Wait, you two?" Jeremy asked, now putting two and two together.

"If you say anything," Xander began to threaten.

"You know what? There's nothing to tell! This is getting on my nerves. Why does it matter if I hang out with your ex, or whatever he is?" Nick demanded.

"Because he's a lying, cheating, prick, and if you get mixed up with him, he'll do the same thing he did to me to you," Xander explained.

"No, see Xander, you were naïve, you still are. I told you I couldn't do it anymore, I needed time and you said you wouldn't tell anyone, but instead you told that bitch Vida! And who doesn't she tell things to?" Jeremy fired back.

"How was I supposed to know she would tell?"

"But you shouldn't have told her at all," Nick said slowly, agreeing with Jeremy fully.

"B-but it was Vida!"

"She's still somebody," Jeremy shrugged.

"It's not like it mattered, no one believed her anyway," Casey began, "And no one really cared. For a while it was gossip, but the whole 'gay football player' scenario is played out…no one cares anymore."

"Yeah, but how was I supposed to know that? He broke my trust, and that's that."

Nick couldn't believe his ears. He'd not only broken his trust, but Xander had also broken Jeremy's trust before hand. Did Xander just not know how to keep secrets?

"Look, I gotta go…Xander…I…I dunno where this leaves us…but I think friends is a good assumption," Nick said lowly.

A look of hurt flashed across Xander's light brown eyes, before he threw on a smile, "Sure…"

"Later Casey," Jeremy said gently. He had nothing against the kid, though his sister Leelee did…

"Yeah," replied the other blond boy.

Nick and Jeremy left through the door and Xander fell back against the lockers, letting out a deep sigh.

"You okay?" Casey asked.

"…Yeah…"

"You don't sound like it."

Xander looked down at the shorter boy. Something about him lately had been attracting Xander…and he didn't know why. He'd known for the longest time Casey was going after him, but he didn't want to hurt the sensitive boy. But now…none of that seemed to matter as leaned down, connecting lips with Casey for the first time ever.

However, his timing was poor, as Nick was about to walk through the door when he saw through the glass window the scene unfolding before him. He decided his Home Economics homework could wait…or he'd get it from someone other than Casey…

I'm SOOOOOOOOO sorry for the lapse in updates. I started writing this chapter a while ago and got bogged down with school and a stupid computer virus. Thanks for being so patient with me. My spring break starts tomorrow, so I'll see if I can ingratiate myself to you guys by throwing some more chapters together : ). Anyway, very dramatic, confusing chapter. I promise to answer any questions you have if you leave me a signed review or an email address.

-------------------- Patrick