Well, I know it's been a LONG time since I last updated. Honestly, I lacked inspiration and just wasn't in the mood to write anymore. Fortunately, for anyone still interested, I am in the mood to write once again! Odds are that you guys don't remember everything that happened last in this story due to the six month break I took, so I advise going back and skimming if you are still reading this. So yeah, enjoy!

Chapter 13- Awkward to the Millionth Power

After giving me a sympathetic look, Nicholas walks upstairs. I, however, just wink back at him as a way of reassuring him that everything will be okay. I haven't let anyone get to me so far today, so why would this situation be any different?

Christopher watches Nicholas until he is completely out of sight and then turns back toward me. "Now then Zack, I heard you have some misunderstandings concerning tolerance of non-believers?" Christopher smiles, thoroughly creeping me out.

"I thought you were mad at me." I attempt to verify whether or not he still is.

"Mad at you? You're just a misguided teen that is very curious of the topics at hand. Unfortunately the teachers in the classroom have a curriculum to stick to. I, however, have the time to listen to any and all questions and opinions you may have. So go on, tell me what you disagreed with." He takes a seat on the cushioned couch and pats the cushion next to him, indicating that he wants me to sit there.

I take a deep breath and sit beside him. "Well, the teacher was saying that someone can't be a Christian simply because they are a prostitute or a homosexual. I think that's absurd! Who's to say that they love God any less than we do?" I become quite firm with Christopher, only realizing my tone of voice after the completion of my statement. "S-sorry for talking so disrespectfully sir. I just get so into it…" I turn somewhat vulnerable. This guy really seems to defeat me by his mere presence. He doesn't need to say a word to put me in my place. I mean, who would ever expect me of all people to catch myself talking disrespectfully?

"It's fine. Your line of thinking, however, is not fine. Anyone who commits such blatant acts against God cannot have given their life to him. These people need our help Zack. We need to show them that their way is not the right way." Christopher explains to me. I actually understand him much more than that teacher who seemed to just be robotically spewing whatever she was taught her whole life. Christopher seems to really believe what he's saying. With that said, I still disagree.

"How do you know how a gay person really feels?" I reply.

"Uhhh, Zack… are you homosexual?" Christopher asks me. What the hell? How did he draw that type of conclusion? Is it because I'm defending them?

"No way!" I retort. Although there is definitely a gay person closer than you think…

"So then why do you care so much about this topic?" He questions me. Not knowing how to reply, I think for a few seconds. The real answer is because your son, who is my friend, is gay. I can't say that though. So how do I answer him?

"I-I don't know… I just don't like simply accepting things that people tell me I guess." I sigh. I feel like I'm at gunpoint and if I tell the truth a bullet will just blow my head clean off. At the same time, I feel like a knife has just been pierced through my back for avoiding the truth. But what I can I say? I'd rather take a knife to the back than a bullet to the head.

Another smile grows across Christopher's face. "You know Zack. You're a very smart kid." He winks at me. Smart? Me? The kid who can't even do anything more than elementary school mathematics was just called smart by a wise old man? Either this guy is nuts or his definition of smart is different from anyone else's.

After he dismisses me from the conversation, I head upstairs to find Nicholas eavesdropping from the top of the staircase. I laugh at him in such a predictable position. "I'm really sorry about…" Nicholas starts.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault your dad is somewhat on the persistent side." I wink at him as we walk into his room. Nicholas seems to blame himself for things to often. "Now then, how about you and I head to the river for a swim?"

"Sounds good to me." Nicholas changes his tone. "I'll go change downstairs and meet you back up here in a bit." He grabs a pair of swimming trunks and heads for the door.

I watch him as he exits suspiciously. He seemed to have changed his attitude a little too quickly. What is he up to?

I take a bathing suit and listen over the staircase. "Hey dad. Can you please not get on Zack's case too much? He's our guest and I don't want him to feel uncomfortable living here…" I hear Nicholas tell his father. Why is he doing this after I just said it's fine? He's going to get himself in trouble.

"Don't worry about it Nicholas. I'm just guiding him in the right direction. You should do the same if he really is your friend. You do want him to spend eternity in heaven with you, right?" Christopher replies. He didn't get as irritated as I'd expected, but the things he's saying are still in character.

"I guess you're right… I should, shouldn't I?" Nicholas repeats.

"You'd be a bad friend if you didn't. Now then, go have some fun and I'll see you guys later." Christopher says confidently. How the hell could Nicholas just accept what he's being told like that? No wonder Nicholas is so scared of everyone around here. It's like he's been brainwashed.

I dart into the bathroom as I hear Nicholas approaching the bottom of the staircase. I quickly try to change into my bathing suit so that Nicholas will not question what I was doing that whole time. I throw off all of my clothes onto the floor and pick up my bathing suit. Suddenly, however, I hear the bathroom doorknob begin to turn.

The door swings open with Nicholas on the other end of it. "Nicholas!" I yelp as I try to cover myself. Based on the redness in his face, Nicholas definitely saw more than enough of me before I'd covered myself though.

He quickly shuts the door as a sense of awkwardness fills the air. "I… I'm so sorry Zack. I thought you were changing in the bedroom." Nicholas shakily mutters out. I stand completely silent in disbelief of the past few seconds. How am I supposed to react to this? I'm obviously not okay with a gay guy seeing me naked, but at the same time Nicholas is my friend. I just don't know…

I slide down the ground and bury my head into my knees. "It's… okay…" I force out of my mouth. Okay…? This is far from okay.

"Hey Nicholas, can you help me fix my TV?" Theresa asks her brother.

"S-Sure" Nicholas walks away from the bathroom door, leaving remnants of his discomfort behind. I just can't believe this could happen. I've been having enough trouble accepting Nicholas, but now every time I see him I will think of this. Every time he lays eyes on me, I'll know that very pair of eyes has seen underneath my clothes before.

After a few more minutes of thinking, I put on my bathing suit and slowly begin to turn the doorknob. I cautiously pop my head out the door and notice that nobody is within visible range. I then charge downstairs to avoid any contact with Nicholas. Just looking at him as I exit the bathroom would be too weird.

"You going somewhere?" Christopher asks. I forgot about him. He better not start another lengthy discussion with me. I don't want to be here when Nicholas comes downstairs.

"I'm heading over to the river. Tell Nicholas to meet me there when he's ready." I inform his father. As awkward as it will be encountering Nicholas, I will have to do it eventually and the best place to talk will be out at the river where nobody else will hear us.

"Well why don't you just talk to me until he's ready?"Christopher smiles.

"NO!" I shout, quickly cuffing my hand over my mouth soon after. "I mean, Nicholas said he'll meet me there. I'm just dying to swim and I can't wait any longer!" I laugh with a very obviously fake undertone as Christopher stares at me. He definitely knows that something is up. "Uhhh, bye now!" I run out of the house, quickly shutting the door. Talk about awkward.

After getting a good distance from the house, I start to slow down. What will happen when Nicholas and I meet face to face? It's not like I can just avoid him for the rest of my time here. I mean, I sleep in the same room as him for crying out loud!

I take a seat beside the sparkling river on a tree stump as I continue to think. I look down at my bathing suit, more specifically thinking about how my body had just been exposed. Now then, let's think of this rationally; in terms that I can get. Let's say I have a female friend and I walk in on her topless. She'd probably panic, then I'd say sorry and I think we would just move on. Of course the image would be permanently etched into my mind, but she wouldn't have to know that and we wouldn't let that come between us. So why is this so different? Why…?

Sure, it's another guy who I know is sexually attracted to me that saw my entire nude body… but I know Nicholas and I trust him. I know he wouldn't try anything without me approving.

Suddenly, I feel a tap on my back. I turn around to find Nicholas waving at me in silence. This awkwardness will never end until I break it, so I guess I should get it over with…

"Look man, it's fine. You didn't know I was in there." I put my arm around him to comfort him.

"Well Zack, I wanna be perfectly honest with you… The thing is, no matter how hard I try to stop thinking about it, I just can't get that image of you without clothes from my head." Nicholas sighs.

I take a deep breath and remain calm. "Well we're guys. Our hormones are crazy like that."

"I guess you're right…" Nicholas says looking discouraged.

"So, does that mean you liked what you saw?" I ask loosely. I don't want to seem creeped out by his sexuality anymore and I guess putting myself right into the crossfire is the best way to do that.

"Don't you have girls who can tell you that?" He remains down. It must be really hard for him. He hates that he is this way more than anything else in the world. I can just sense it…

"Well, actually no. You'd think I of all people would have lost my virginity, but you're actually the first person to have seen me naked. Aren't you special?" I laugh.

"Really?" He finally looks up in shock. He looks as if he is not only shocked that I've never gone that far with a girl, but also surprised that I am being this tolerant about his thoughts.

"Yeah, really." I smile.

"Then yes…" He states.

"Yes?"

"Yes, I liked what I saw… a lot…" He stares at me, waiting to see how I will react. My smile grows even bigger. You'd think I'd be disgusted right now, but I feel legitimately happy. It's as if what he says feels normal to me. I guess Nicholas wasn't the only one who was brainwashed by the society he lived in. All my life it was etched into my brain that guys aren't allowed to judge other guys and I submitted to this way of life.

"Haha, I thought you would. I am quite the looker after all." My cocky side takes over.

"Enough flattering you for one day. Swimming time!" Nicholas eagerly changes the subject. I still sense a slight discomfort with this topic in him, but it is expected. It's not like he lives in a place where his ways are acceptable.

Nicholas quickly throws his shirt off and walks toward the river. I hadn't noticed it before, but Nicholas has a pretty good looking body himself. Not saying I'm sexually attracted to him, but he's a pretty good looking dude.

"I think I like what I'm seeing too." I wink as I shift my eyes from his stomach to his face. Nicholas turns a bright red and begins to try to cover himself. "Relax, we're both friends here. I was just being honest. I think you're a good looking guy. I'm into girls, but since you were so honest, I thought it was only fair I let you know my personal opinion. From one guy to another."

He slowly uncovers himself and smiles. "You're a great friend Zack." Nicholas hugs me. I remember the day when I first figured out he was gay and he hugged me shirtless and I was disgusted to my very core. This time, however, it doesn't even faze me.

After a fun hour of talking and swimming with Nicholas, we return back to the house for dinner which is, as always, delicious. Tonight Katherine prepared a homemade macaroni and cheese with popcorn chicken. Two of my favorite dishes in one night!

Upon finishing my meal, I inform everyone that I am going to give my mom a quick call and flee to Nicholas' room. As I scroll down my contacts I see Cody's name and opt to giving him a call instead. I know I have been very supportive with Nicholas lately, but I just want to give my brother a call to hear his opinion on my situation.

After about two and a half rings, I hear the rustling of the phone being answered from Cody's end. "Zack?" Cody asks, sounding shocked that I would call him.

"Yeah man, it's me. Why do you sound so surprised?"

"You don't usually call me until later in the night. What's up?"

"It's been a pretty heavy day. Just needed to talk to you."

"Okay… What's up?" He repeats.

"It's Nicholas…" I start.

Cody sighs. "What is it this time? Is it that he's gay? Or that he isn't accepted?" Cody begins to list the themes of previous conversations.

"Not quite…" I pause and take a deep breath. "…He kinda saw me naked today. It was an accident and I played it off lightly, but I'm still not sure if I handled it well.

"Wow, that must've made things really awkward between you two. Still, I'm glad you didn't let it get to you. I'm sure Nicholas has your best interest in mind and you should do the same."

"Yeah, I know. I just wasn't sure because… Well, you know. Nicholas is gay…" I point out the obvious.

However, as soon as I say that, I hear a gasp from the other end of the bedroom door. My senses immediately kick in. "Well thanks bro. I gotta go. Talk to you again another day." I quickly shut the phone and head for the door. I open it to find none other than Theresa on the other side.

"Did you just say… Nicholas is…?" Theresa hesitates to finish her sentence.

My eyes widen as I see her at the door. Unable to process what is going on for about five seconds, I close my eyes briefly. How the hell do I handle this? I just accidentally spilled someone else's secret to a member of the society that he fears. Will she buy it if I try to lie my way out of this? Or should I try to talk her into accepting it? Who knows? I sure don't. And I thought the other events today were awkward… This one is awkward to the millionth power!

How will Zack handle Theresa overhearing his discussion with Cody? How will Theresa react? Find out next time!

As always, PLEASE review if you read this. If you want me to keep my newly found inspiration, I highly advise it. This time for your review, you can tell me your thoughts on Zack's character development in this chapter and overall in the story. Also, I would love to hear any predictions on what will happen next chapter!