(All right, this is another experimental chapter, lovely readers. Telling a story completely through dialogue, specifically a series of phone calls. I don't think my Ellis even knows about this one, but she inspired it all the same. XD Accidentally, of course, but still. So I hope everyone enjoys, it's a little bit angsty again, but not quite so much. I'm actually afraid it's a little too vague. You'll see what I mean. Happy reading!)

"Hello?"

"Hey, Nick."

"Hey, kiddo. What's up?"

"Not much, just gettin' off work t'go get some lunch, thought I'd call. Jus' wanted t'hear yer voice, y'know."

"…Is something wrong?"

"No, nothin's wrong. Just missin' ya, I guess."

"Hahaha, I just left, kiddo. And you know I'll be home by Sunday night."

"Yeah, I know. I can still miss ya, though, can't I?"

"…Are you sure you're okay? I could be home sooner if you need me."

"No, you need t'stay over there an' do what ya need t'do. I'm jus' bein' silly."

"Well, if you're sure, sport."

"…Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"…Yeah. You too, sport."

"…Yeah. Okay."

"Listen, I'll call you later, all right?"

"Yeah… That's fine."

"Later, kid."

Click.

(End Call)

"Hey, this is Nick's phone. You know the drill."

"H-hey, it's Ellis. I guess yer still busy. I know ya said you'd call, but it's been hours an' it's getting' late. I'm jus' worried, I guess. Ya always did say I worry too much. Call me back, Nick. Please. I… I love ya, man."

(End Call)

"Hey, this is Nick's phone. You know the drill."

"Nick, it's almost noon an' ya still ain't called me back from last night. You okay, darlin'? Yer worryin' me, seriously. When're ya comin' back tomorrow? Lemme know, okay? I wanna see ya. I… I guess that's it. Love ya. Bye."

(End Call)

"Hey, this's Ellis, leave me a message an' I'll call ya back just as soon as I can!"

"Hey, kid. Listen, I'm… I'm not going to be back on Sunday. I probably won't be getting in until Tuesday sometime, probably late. I'm sorry I didn't call you earlier. I've been… busy. I guess I'll talk to you later.

…Love you."

(End Call)

"Hello?"

"…"

"Hello? Who's this?"

"…"

"I'm serious, this ain't funny!"

"…"

Click.

(End Call)

"Hello?"

"Ellis…"

"…Nick?"

"I…"

"…Nick, say somethin', darlin'. Yer scarin' me."

"I'm… sorry. I'm so damn sorry, Ellis."

(Okay, so let's be frank. It was too vague, wasn't it? Does anyone have any idea what's going on? I hate to say it here and spoil it, but I guess if you've made it this far you've already given it a shot, so you might as well know for sure what it was that you just read. Here's the last phone call again, now with more than just the dialogue.)

Nick held the cell phone up to his ear and paced back and forth at the foot of his bed. His suitcase sat open on the rumpled covers, his belongings strewn haphazardly inside. For once, there was something more important than making sure everything was neat and tidy, that everything was just so. Something that had been eating away at him inside ever since Friday night.

"Hello?"

Nick exhaled shakily, and he heard the sound shudder through the phone as static. God, his voice… It was so good to hear his voice. And at the same time, so painful. "Ellis…"

There was a pause on the other end, and he could almost hear the disbelief and hope that sprung up in the younger man at the familiar voice. "…Nick?"

His eyes squeezed shut as guilt settled even more heavily on his shoulders. He had no idea what sort of man he was dealing with. But he was about to find out, if he hadn't figured it out already. "I…" Ellis was smart, smarter than he seemed. He probably already knew. Unbidden, his fingers crept up to his own throat and brushed against his skin, tracing a mark that he knew was there even though he had no mirror before him to see it.

"…Nick, say somethin', darlin', yer scarin' me."

The worried tone shook him to his very soul, trembling faintly with concern and a desperate plea, one that he knew he couldn't fulfill, even though he desperately wanted to. Nick had to swallow hard when he tried to speak, choking on the sudden lump in his throat. "I'm… sorry." He sank to his knees where he stood, staring at himself in the warped reflection from the sliding glass door leading out onto a cozy little veranda and, more importantly, to the woman sitting out there, waiting for him. "I'm so damn sorry, Ellis."

(Okay, so is it a little more clear now? Basically, Nick went off on a business trip, and rather than staying at a hotel, he shacked up with a lady friend, just like he always used to before Ellis came along. But this time he finds the guilt ruins any pleasure he got from the affair, and by the end of the weekend he's realized what a horrible mistake he's made and is forced to call Ellis to try and confess to his terrible misdeed. I hope you were able to get that without me having to tell you. If not, ah well. That's why this chapter was just an experiment. ^^ Hope you enjoyed, either way. Read and review, lovely readers!)