"Good game!" Neil said slapping T and Ben in a high five. Sonny watched as he joked with them about the 'next time' noticing that he completely ignored Will. Just like he had been the whole rest of the day. Well at least when he was bumping into him and trying to trip him up on the court.

He just wasn't sure what was going on, Neil was usually over the top friendly with people. One thing was for sure he was not familiar with this side of Neil. This side of him made him seem like a complete asshole.

"Hey, I'm starved guys, let's go grab some food." T said, oblivious to the underlying tension.

"I'm in!" Will said reaching out and tangling his fingers with Sonny's. "You in?" he asked.

Sonny nodded and they started toward the pub. The new sports plex the college had constructed, the one that they had been playing ball at was just a few blocks down the road. It was an easy walk.

They walked into the pub and piled into the biggest corner booth. Sonny noted again that Neil sat as far away as he could from himself and Will.

Will ordered a couple of pitchers of beer and they all ordered burgers and fries.

The conversation around the table was boisterous as they all razzed each other about the game. Chad even teased Will about his lack of concentration on the court, commenting that he had missed as many baskets as he had made.

Will just shrugged and smiled…"Oh well.. there are worse things." He said smiling, He turned and winked at Sonny…"Guess I just couldn't keep my mind on the game today."

Neil made a sound of disgust, getting up from table… "I forgot I have some studying to do." He mumbled "See you around." He continued before he swiveled around and rushed out the door.

"What the fuck was that?" Sonny said, looking at Brian. "Neil probably hasn't studied more than 6 hours total since he started here."

"I dunno." Brian said. "But I had better go and see what's going on." He slid out of the booth, when Chad moved to allow him to exit. "You all enjoy your lunch… Will can you take Sonny home?" he asked.

"Of course." Will said.

"Thanks see ya." He said turning to leave.

Brian hurried back to the sports plex where he had left his car, and found Neil leaning against the door.

"Neil… what the hell was that back there man?" He asked.

"Where's Sonny?" Neil asked in way of an answer.

"Back there, enjoying his hamburger by now.." Brian said trying to cover his irritated tone..

"Of course.." Neil sneered.

"Why?" Brian asked… "What difference does it make?"

"Nevermind." Neil said. "Can you take me home?" he asked.

"Yep." Brian answered. He was hoping that he could get Neil talking once they were in the car.

He opened the doors and they both climbed in. Once they were on the road headed toward the dorms, Brian decided to try a different approach.

"Soo you don't seem to like Will." He ventured. Neil remained quiet, so Brian decided to push a little further. "Is it because you like Sonny?"

"What?" Neil asked "You're crazy.."

"It's okay… you can talk to me." Brian assured him, "I won't tell him."

"There is nothing to talk about." Neil denied.

"I think there is." Brian pushed. "I suspected it…. But dismissed it." He continued.. "Guess I shouldn't have dismissed it soo quickly."

"You're wrong." Neil said stubbornly.

"Then why have you been acting like a compelte ass ever since we introduced Sonny to Will?" Brian said.

"I never thought it was a good idea to introduce them.." Neil said.

"You sure seemed on board with it, the night in the bar… remember." Brian asked.

"Well what I was I going to do?" Neil asked.

"I don't know… something like maybe saying that you liked him, or maybe you should have asked him out?" Brian said.

"He was totally crushing on Will Fucking Horton." Neil said. "He wouldn't have given me the time of day." "Especially when you were all gung ho to introduce him."

"You don't know that." Brian denied. "He may have… but I gotta be honest with you, seeing him with Will today… I think he is head over heels for this guy."

"Well it won't last.. It never does Will is a fucking user." Neil sneered. "Once he gets what he wants… that's it you are no longer on his radar."

Suddenly it was like a light bulb went off in his head and Brian had it all figured out.

"Oh Wow" he said, slowing to a stop at the red light. "You slept with him... Right?"

Neil just nodded his head, confirming what Brian already knew.

"When?" Brian asked.

"Just about 2 years ago... Right when I first moved to this town." Neil said. "I met him at a club with some friends... I liked him but he wasn't interested.. Anyway we always seemed to be at the same parties and one night he got pretty wasted... He started coming on to me... So I figured.. Why not? So I followed him to his car.. And yeah we had sex.." "He never called me after that and the next party we were both at... I tried talking to him.. And well he treated me with the same attitude he always had before..." He finished.

"Okay soo... You made a mistake " Brian said "But why do you say that once he gets what he wants you aren't on his radar anymore?"

"Weren't you listening?" Neil spat out... "I just told you... We had sex and then he treated me like shit."

"Umm yeah... I was listening" Brian said... "I am only pointing this out because I am your friend… but you also said that Will wasn't interested in you to start with and that he got wasted and had sex with you." "I'm sorry... But I think that he made a mistake and didn't know how to deal with it."

"Fuck off!" Neil said, turning to stare out the window.

"Look... I 'm sorry but I don't want to see you hurting like this... And you are in one hell of a mess here... You slept with Sonny's boyfriend... And you have a whopper of a crush on Sonny..." Brian said quietly.

"Thanks Captain Obvious" Neil said sarcastically.

"What are you gonna do about it?" Brian asked him.

"Nothing..." Neil answered. "What is the point of doing anything now... The thing with Will was two years ago... and Sonny isn't interested in me.." So there is no reason to say anything about any of it."

"I think you should tell Sonny." "I mean this is totally affecting your attitude toward him." Brian advised.

"Nope... Just gonna avoid him for a while.." Neil answered as they pulled up in front of the dormitory.

When Brian got the car parked he jumped out and headed off in the opposite direction of the entrance. Brian decided he had pried enough for one day, and let him go.

Will pulled up in front of Sonny's apartment building. He pulled into a visitors parking spot and turned in his seat. "I had a great time today, I am really glad you forgot your phone this morning."

Sonny grinned at him. "Me too!" He agreed. "That was a good pick up game... Usually it is just me, Brian, and Neil."

"Yeah we usually just play between the four of us..." Will said.

"Well at least you have even teams." Sonny laughed.

"Yeah guess so." Will admitted... "But our friends seemed to hit it off."

"Yeah... Well, all except for Neil... I am really sorry about the way he treated you... I have no idea what his problem is." Sonny said.

Will fell silent... He was contemplating the timing of telling him now... Hell he had alot of experience but... ZERO Boyfriend experience. He had made a bunch of impulsive choices and had done more than a few things that he regretted.. Which had earned him quite a reputation.. He didn't want any of that to get in the way of this thing... Whatever this thing was... with Sonny...

"Will?" Sonny questioned.

"I'm sorry, Sonny what did you say?" Will apologized.

"I was just saying that Neil is usually a good guy." Sonny answered.

"I think I know what his problem is." Will said. "And it's my fault."

"Come on..."Sonny said opening his door.."Let's go up...,we can talk there."

Once they were in the apartment, Sonny grabbed them both a water and led Will over to the sofa.

They sat down facing one another, and Will took a sip of his water, before he began.

"I met Neil a couple years ago." Will began. "It was the year before we began college." "He and his family had just moved here and he made friends with some of the guys that I was hanging with. I was introduced to him at the club. I am pretty sure that he had a crush on me then, the signs were all there. But he wasn't really someone that I could see myself interested in... So I pretty much ignored his advances... Well one night I had a really bad night, A huge fight at home. I left after the argument and went to a party that one of my buddies was throwing... I just wanted to forget and let loose so I had more than a few drinks too many. Neil was there of course and I really don't know what made me do it... I know the drinks are no excuse... But I was pretty drunk.. I don't even remember the experience but we ended up having sex in my car. The next day, I remembered what I had done and I was really upset with myself.. Neil was always nice to me, and that was the last thing that I should have done. At the very least I should have apologized. But I didn't really know how to bring it up, so I just went back to treating him like normal. So I am pretty sure that he thinks I was using him." Will finished…

He felt the butterflies in his stomach take flight. He wasn't sure what he was going to do if Sonny was hurt by something that he had done so long ago.

Sonny got up off the couch… and paced around the room. "So.. let me get this straight." He said, "You and Neil…. Slept together?"

"Well, not exactly…" Will said. "Yes we did have sex… but no we did not sleep together." "I told you that you were the first person I ever let stay over… and that was the truth." "I never spent the night with anyone before you."

"How long ago was this?" Sonny asked.

"Two years…" Will answered him.

"And it was one time?" Sonny asked.

"Yes.. one time.." Will answered. He got up and went to Sonny, grabbing his hands, holding them. "Sonny, I promise you, things are different with you." "I have made a lot of mistakes, I have done a lot of things that I wish I hadn't done"

"Will… wait." Sonny said shaking his head… "I had no idea, Neil never said a word.." "Thank you for telling me, Will." Sonny said.

"I am about 99% sure that Neil has a crush or some kind of feelings for you." Will said. "That's probably why he didn't say anything."

He pulled his hands free of Will's. He started pacing again.. he needed to figure out how he felt about this.

"Sonny…" Will said softly… "I am sorry… I just thought that you had the right to know, before we go any further."

"I am glad you did." Sonny said.

Sonny went back and sat down on the couch… he leaned his head back against the pillows.

The silence in the room was deafening…

"I am gonna go, and give you some time." Will said.

Sonny just nodded, barely acknowledging that he had said anything.

Will walked to the front of the couch, he leaned down and pressed his lips to Sonny's for a brief minute. "Talk to you soon.. I hope?" he whispered.

Sonny just nodded again.

Will walked out of the apartment, pulling the door closed behind him.

Sonny's mind was racing…. It was two years ago… was a mistake that Will made two years ago worth ruining what could be the love of his life. And what about Neil, what was he supposed to do about one of his best friends having some sort of misplaced feelings for him….

He closed his eyes and his mother's voice echoed in his mind… "Love isn't about finding THE perfect person, It is about seeing an Imperfect person perfectly….."

Smiling, he jumped from the couch….

To be continued…