A/N - Here's the next chapter! I got a whole lot busier lately, so I barely managed to squeeze this into my schedule. Anyway, I plan to release one more chapter of this story before moving on to the sequel to "Dying For Love 'The Luke Version'" for a little while. That chapter will declare the completion of the first part of this story (Chapter 1 has "Part 1" labeled on the top). There will be four parts of this story, so don't expect an ending any time soon!

Second, I would like to warn you ahead of time that Zack can become a little hated here. Before jumping the gun and calling him a "jerk", try thinking about things in his shoes for a minute. You'll see what I mean when you read the chapter! ^_^

Chapter 9 – The Secrets That You Keep

It's Monday, and that means one thing: today is the last day we will be docked in New York! This is the last time I might ever get to see Nicholas and I intend to utilize this day to the fullest. Could you blame me after how fun these past few days have been? Even Cody has to agree with me that Nicholas is a pretty cool dude. After meeting him yesterday and getting to know him a little bit, Cody told me that Nicholas definitely feels close to me, to say the least. All that Nicholas could talk about with Cody were these past few days that he and I spent together. If I ever were to have that one friend that I could trust to be by my side no matter what, Cody honestly thinks it would be Nicholas.

On top of getting to know Cody, Nicholas also had a great time with me. After discovering the mess we'd made on the Sky Deck with that dirt, Nicholas and I were required to clean it up. Of course that naturally sounds like a boring thing to do, but I've learned that when I do even things that I'd dread alongside Nicholas they aren't as bad as I would expect. Not only did we stop cleaning within a the first minute, but we turned the entire Sky Deck into a soil war. After I playfully threw some soil at Nicholas in which he'd dodged, the soil landed on the face of an old lady. This resulted in a chain reaction of soil flinging fun…

"Zack." My geography teacher, Ms. Tutweiller, calls my name, thus breaking my daydream.

"Wha-what happened?" I furiously pick up my head and look at the chalkboard.

"Can you repeat the question that I just asked?" Ms. Tutweiller stares at me, clearly knowing that I have no idea what her question was due to a lack of attention.

*Ding Dong*

The dismissal bell rings. Talk about saved by the bell.

"Oh, would you look at the time? Let's continue with your question tomorrow. Later!" I rush out the door as my teacher shouts my name in an attempt to call me back in. I, however, ignore her and dart toward the exit of the boat. All that matters to me right now is meeting up with Nicholas and not even school will stop that from happening.

On my way off the boat, my cell phone begins to vibrate in my pocket. Just great. Who could possibly need me right now? I haven't given Nicholas my phone number yet and he's the only one who has a legitimate reason to call me right now.

I take out my phone and find Cody is the one calling me. I take a deep breath and irritably answer the phone.

"What?" I groan into the phone.

"I just wanted to let you know that Moseby and Tutweiller are searching for you. Apparently your attitude in class got you detention." Cody informs me. After thanking him for the warning, I shut my phone off. As far as I'm concerned, they can lock me up for the next month. As long as I can spend this very day with Nicholas, I don't care.

After stealthily sneaking by Mr. Moseby, I bolt across the forest and make my way to Nicholas' house with my backpack still strapped around my shoulders. Similar to last time, however, a certain someone seems to be guarding the entrance.

I happily sneak behind the girl and yelp. "Theresa!" I cry out as I hug her.

"Zack! You scared me." She hugs me back, not finding any annoyance in my actions.

"Why do I always find you right in this very spot?" I ask her curiously. First yesterday and now today. It can't just be a coincidence.

"I'm waiting for my best friend. She said she'd be here soon."Theresa tells me.

"Cool…"

"Nicholas is home if you're looking for him. Also, I heard that the ship you live on is really awesome and that you guys had a lot of fun on it yesterday." Theresa smiles at me.

"We sure did!" I begin to think of all the fun times we've had once again. He truly is the best friend I've ever had.

After giving Theresa another hug upon her request, I depart from her and head toward Nicholas' house. I would hang out with Theresa if I had more time, but unfortunately I don't.

Once I arrive at Nicholas' house, Christopher answers the door. I hope this doesn't head in the same direction as the previous two encounters I've had with him.

"Zack! I'm glad to see you're here. Nicholas has been very anxious to see you. Please, come in!" Christopher gestures his hands into the house as I hesitantly follow them.

"Where is he?" I ask, trying to minimize my interaction with the old man.

"Nicholas is taking a shower at the moment, but you can stay here with me until he comes out." Christopher puts on his glasses. Oh God no… anything but talking to this guy.

"No thanks. I uhhh… I'll go wait for Nicholas in his room." I run up the stairs before giving Christopher a chance to reply. The last thing I want to do today is have another theological discussion with that old timer. Heck, I'd prefer taking that detention over talking with him.

When I make my way into Nicholas' room, I plop down onto his bed. 'What should I do while I wait?' I think to myself. I begin to rummage through Nicholas' stuff without permission. I'm sure he wouldn't mind.

After several minutes of searching, I find many drawers filled with clothes and an outdated gaming console gathering dust in a corner. Finally, I recall that there is always Nicholas' Bible that I can search through in the meantime. So, on that note, I open the drawer of Nicholas' nightstand with the intention of borrowing his Bible momentarily. When I open his nightstand drawer, however, I find a new book on the top this time. It has no text on the cover of it and has a little strap keeping it sealed closed. Of course my curiosity overtakes me and I decide to undo the strap. Untitled books are particularly intriguing sometimes.

I open it up to the first page which has a date on the upper right hand from about a year ago. I scroll through the book and discover each page is dated, occasionally skipping a day here and there. Could this be… a diary? Nicholas has a diary? I begin to laugh in my head. I guess this is something that I can make fun of him for later.

I begin to glance through each page, simply having trips he went on and Bible verses he likes. Nothing I'd really care that much about.

After a few boring pages, I find that there is a big skip in time in the book of about half a year. The date skips to about two days ago. I begin to read the more current entries:

"It's been quite a while since I've written in this book, but that's because nothing interesting ever happens in my life. All that I can ever do these days is use the computer, play video games, or read. The one prayer I've had as of recent is that God would bless me with someone my age. And, in all honesty, he couldn't have picked a better person.

This morning, a boy only a year younger than me named Zack happened to randomly stumble into my sister and make his way into my life. Some might call this luck. I, however, consider it an answered prayer.

Zack is definitely the best person who I could've encountered. He's a great friend and quite the looker. I hate to admit it, but I think I'm in love with him…"

I pause there. Wait a minute. WHAT! He's… in love? He means like he loves me as a friend… right? Because he's a guy… and I'm a guy. He can't be gay… it's not possible… is it?

"…When Zack and I went swimming today, I couldn't stop staring at his hot body. It is just so perfect in every way. I began to fall so in love with him that I took the heat for his little mix up where he taught my sister the word "gay". Just the reaction of my parents in that whole scenario proved that I could never let them know that I in fact am gay…"

I stop reading, but continue to stare at the page dumbfounded. I can't believe this. I've been spending the past few days with some homo who wants to get me in bed with him? This can't be true. Nicholas is such a good friend…

"…Later on in the day, we did a duet together. He had the most adorable voice I'd ever heard. Sure, it wasn't perfectly pitched, but just the fact that it was coming from his mouth made all the difference…"

I shut the book in disgust and slip it back into his nightstand. I just can't read another word of this. It's just so gay and nasty that I can't imagine ever looking at Nicholas in the same way that I had been this morning.

I stand up, unsure of what to do next. Half of me has the desire to forget I'd ever read that book and spend this day to fullest, while the other half of me wants to get the hell out of here before this fag makes a move. I can stand gay people, but when they're attracted to me… well that's a line I never want to cross. Just thinking about another dude fantasizing about me is disturbing.

I step out of Nicholas' room and hear the water turn off in the bathroom. He must be done with his shower. Without even giving it a second thought, I walk toward the staircase with the mindset of leaving this place forever. Before I reach the staircase, however, I hear footsteps traveling up them.

"Hi Zack!" Theresa greets me with her friend beside her. "This is Casey. My friend that I was telling you about before."

"Oh, that's nice." I sigh as I walk around them toward the staircase, trying to keep my cool.

"Is everything okay Zack?" Theresa asks me.

"I just need some time alone." I grunt as I look back at her.

"Well if you ever need someone to speak to, I'm always here for you!" She smiles at me.

"Great to know." I state. I realize that this is not at all her fault, so why shouldn't I accept her concern?

As soon as Theresa runs into her room with Casey, Nicholas exits the bathroom with only boxers on. Just great… I never should've stopped to talk with Theresa.

A smile crawls across his face. "Zack!" Nicholas cries as he runs over to hug me.

"Dude! Get off me! You're like half-naked!" I push him away. I don't want some homo's bare chest all over me. Ughhh…

"Oh, sorry." He jumps back. "Let's go in my room for a bit, and then we'll go have some fun outside!" Nicholas smiles at me.

I stare at Nicholas' bedroom door and back at him. No! He's already half naked. He's probably gonna try to rape me in there or something!

Once Nicholas enters, his room, I shut my eyes and jump back. "No!" I scream.

"What's wrong Zack?" He asks.

"You're wrong!" I walk up to his bedroom door. "I read what you wrote about me in your diary." I glare at him. Nicholas' eyes widen. "I'm not going to hang out with some guy who just wants me in his pants."

"I…" Nicholas begins to tremble in fear. What the hell is he so scared about? I'm the one who was one step away from getting raped by a gay guy.

"Find someone else to sleep with, Faggot." I whisper as I slam his bedroom door shut. I haven't been this infuriated for a while. Just think about it: my closest friend in the whole world turned out to be gay for me. I doubt any straight guy in this whole damn universe would simply accept his best guy friend being in love with him. It's just wrong.

I march down the stairs and find Christopher reading the newspaper again. "Nice to see again Zack. Has Nicholas come out of the shower yet?" He seems to enjoy started meaningless conversations with me.

"He sure has." I roll my eyes as I slip my shoes on.

"Where are you going?" He questions me.

"Home." I state as my blood comes to a boil.

"See you next time then." He brings his newspaper back over his face.

'There won't be a next time.' I say under my breath. It's as if everything that's happened these past few days has simply shattered before me. I don't know what to feel about all this or what to do right now. All I know is that I need some time to myself and maybe, just maybe, the answers to my many questions will come to me.

Will Zack ever see Nicholas again? Will their friendship ever be reborn? Keep reading to find out!

And as always, PLEASE review! This time I would like to know your thoughts on Zack's reaction. Was it "out of character" in your opinion? Was it normal? Whatever you think, let me know!