Hi! *waves* Sorry, I know I've been gone for months on this story but I hit a wall. I had no idea what to do next, I felt like I had more building up to do until I got to the next point in the story but then I realized...why do I have to do that? There's no requirement for chapters on here. So I got it going again, henceforth, it's back! And here you go! Chapter four of And Even Then :)
Chapter Four
Two weeks pass by and every day Nick and Jeff both know they're getting deeper and deeper into this mess. They just keep finding more and more things that they like about each other. Their feelings grow stronger every day and neither of them can help it. They're falling in love. But it didn't make sense. How can a spirit and someone living ever be together? Neither Nick nor Jeff wanted to think about that. They just wanted to be together. Nick attended all the classes they he knew he really couldn't miss but if he could come up with a reason to skip and spend it with Jeff, he would. Kurt and Blaine seemed to have noticed his absences and kept asking him where he went off to. He'd just make up some different excuse each time but he knew those would only work so long.
"Nick, are you sure you aren't going off to spend time with your mysterious Jeff?" Kurt asked once as Nick tried to skip their English class. Nick blushed and looked away from the two.
"Nick, maybe he's not such a good influence on you if he wants you to skip classes with him…" Blaine says timidly, not wanting to make his friend mad.
"Guys, he doesn't make me skip class. I do it on my own. Because I want to be with him," Nick finally admits.
"So he is the reason you've been skipping?" Kurt asked, raising an eyebrow. Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Not entirely. Look, I've got to go guys, bye," Nick said before running off in the direction of his apartment to go see Jeff.
And now both Nick and Jeff are just lying on Nick's bed, looking at each other. No talking, just staring into each other's eyes. They feel as if they could look at each other forever.
"Nick?" Jeff says quietly after laying there for at least an hour.
"Yes?" Nick answers, still looking Jeff in the eyes.
"I've always heard that once you're dead, you can't feel anymore. But that's not true. Why?" Jeff asked. Nick thought about this. But he really didn't have an answer.
"I don't know, Jeff. I've never died before. But why? What do you feel?" Nick asked. Jeff blushed and smiled nervously.
"Love. I love you, Nick," Jeff admitted shyly. Nick couldn't believe his ears. He had an instant smile appear on his face and he should feel his cheeks flushing.
"I love you too, Jeff," Nick admits, reaching out for Jeff, even though he knows he can't touch him.
Jeff beamed and scooted closer to Nick on the bed.
"You really love me?" Jeff asks.
"I do," Nick says, reaching up to stroke what would be Jeff's cheek. Jeff closed his eyes and smiled as he imagined what it would feel like for Nick to be caressing his face.
"I wish you could touch me," Jeff says quietly, just loving being this close to Nick.
"I do too, Jeff. And I wish you could touch me," Nick said, running his hand down what would be Jeff's arm.
"Nick?" Jeff asks quietly.
"Yes?" Nick asked, returning the question in a whisper.
"I…I want to talk to my sister," Jeff decides, looking up at Nick's face. Nick studies Jeff's expression. He can see the fear but he also sees determination.
"Are you sure, Jeff?" Nick asks. Jeff nods his head.
"Yes, I'm sure," Jeff concludes.
"Okay… Well, her name is Megan right? Megan Sterling?" Nick asks, picking up his laptop off of the floor.
"Yes, that's her. What are you going to do?" Jeff asks, sitting up.
"Does she have a Facebook?" Nick asks. Jeff nods and scoots closer to Nick. Nick opens up his Facebook and searches for her.
"That's her," Jeff says once he sees her picture and points to her. Nick clicks on her profile and looks at her.
"Wow, you two really do look alike…" Nick says. Jeff wrinkles his nose.
"You think so?" he asks, tilting his head.
"Definitely," Nick says with a smile. He looks at her information. "That's her high school?"
"Yeah," Jeff said with a nod.
"Is that where you went?" Nick asked, turning his head to look at Jeff. Jeff shakes his head and looks down at the bed.
"Well, I went there freshman year but after that I was transferred to a private school. I was bullied at public school…" Jeff admitted. Nick frowned and wished more than ever he could pull Jeff into his arms and hold him.
"I'm so sorry, Jeff. But I know exactly how you feel. The same thing happened to me. Except not until sophomore year. No one believed that I was actually being bullied until my brother came to my school because I forgot my lunch and he saw the bullies throw me into the dumpster…" Nick said, remembering the day all too clearly.
"That's awful! Why didn't anyone believe you?" Jeff asked. Nick shrugged.
"I think they did they just…figured I deserved it since I'm gay. Except Eric. He never thought it was right, but he couldn't do much about it, being my brother and not my parent. But when he actually saw it happen, he told everyone about it and then they finally transferred me out of there," Nick explained. Jeff sighed and wiped at his eyes. "So, how about we go to the high school tomorrow and see your sister?"
"No!" Jeff almost shouted them, retreated in on himself. "I'm sorry, I just… I really don't want to go back there…"
"Hey, it's okay. I completely understand. How about we just walk around your neighborhood about the time school lets out so I can just see her when she gets home?" Nick offers. Jeff nods, liking that idea much better.
"Yeah, that sounds good. She usually gets home around three," Jeff said, looking at her picture on the computer. Nick sees where Jeff is looking at.
"You really love her. It's clear as day," Nick says, smiling slightly. Jeff nods, smiling small as well.
"She's always been my best friend. My everything," Jeff says. "I miss her so much. I just wish I could hug her one more time…"
"I truly believe that you will be able to again one day," Nick says.
"Yeah, but I don't want her to die anytime soon. I want her to go on living a long, healthy life," Jeff said. Nick nodded his head understandingly.
"Of course you do," Nick said and went to look at Megan's wall to see if it was set on private or not. As he switched tabs, they both noticed that her profile picture changed. At first it was just her, standing with her hand on her hip. But now, it was a picture of Jeff and Megan together. They were fooling around and she was on his back. Nick heard Jeff hold back a sob. He looked at him and saw the tears falling down his face.
"I remember that," Jeff said. "We were in the living room and she kept trying to steal the remote from me. And my dad just walks in and goes 'Hey kids, smile!' because he had just gotten a new camera…"
Nick looked at Jeff as he spoke, wishing he could make this all better. Desperately wishing it was within his power. But sadly he knew it wasn't. And there wasn't anything he could do to comfort Jeff.
"We'll see her tomorrow, I promise. And then we'll talk to her," Nick said, reaching out for Jeff's hand on the bed. To both of their surprise, they both felt it. Jeff turned his hand over and laced his fingers with Nick's. It didn't feel like a real hand to Nick though. It was almost as if there was air being blown on his hand from an air conditioner. He could feel something, but it wasn't a hand holding his. Jeff nodded and lay back down on Nick's bed.
"You should get some sleep, Nick. It's getting late," Jeff said, looking up at the brunette. Nick put the laptop back on the floor and turned around to smirk at Jeff.
"Yes, mom," Nick said in a teasing tone making Jeff laugh. Nick smiled and laid down next to him, pulling the blankets up over him. "Goodnight, Jeff."
"Goodnight, Nicky," Jeff said, snuggling right up against Nick's side even though neither of them could feel it. Nick smiled and closed his eyes before drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
When Nick awoke the next morning he opened his eyes and saw Jeff dancing in the corner of his bedroom. He smiled and just laid there and watched him for a little while. He was really good, actually. Nick didn't even know he danced. Then Jeff did a twirl and caught Nick's eye. He stumbled in embarrassment and turned bright bed.
"Oh, uh, you're awake," Jeff said with a nervous chuckle, walking over to sit on the bed. Nick smiled at him.
"You're an amazing dancer," Nick told him. Jeff smiled shyly and looked away from Nick's eyes.
"Thank you," Jeff said. "I've been dancing for as long as I can remember."
"It shows. You're really talented," Nick said. Jeff looked back at Nick and smiled.
"I really want to kiss you right now," Jeff said before covering his mouth, realizing that he actually said that out loud. Nick chuckled at how cute he was being.
"I want to kiss you too, Jeff," Nick said. Jeff smiled and curled up into Nick's side.
"How many classes do you have today?" Jeff asked, closing his eyes.
"Well, how many do I have or how many am I going to go to?" Nick asked sheepishly. Jeff sat up and looked at Nick.
"What do you mean? You've been skipping classes?" Jeff asked. Nick looked away from Jeff.
"Well…yeah," Nick said quietly. Jeff frowned.
"Why?"
"Well, I-I wanted to spend time with you…" Nick admitted. Jeff sighed.
"Nick, as flattering as that is, you have to go to your classes. You're paying good money for college, don't waste it. I'll always be here when you get back," Jeff told him, reaching up to stroke Nick's hair; desperately wishing he could feel it.
"I-I know that now… But at first I was always scared you wouldn't be here when I got back. And I didn't want to risk it. Now…I just like being with you all of the time. And you can't come to class with me so I just…stay here," Nick said, half mumbling towards the end.
"Nicky, you can't," Jeff said quietly. "You have to go to class, it's important."
"I know," Nick said with a sigh. "But you're more important."
That made Jeff smile. No one had ever told him that he was more important than anything before. It made him feel special.
"I'm glad you think so Nicky, but you really do have to go to class. Please? For me?" Jeff asked, putting on his best pout. Nick looked up at how adorable Jeff was being and instantly caved.
"Oh fine," Nick said with a sigh, getting out of bed. Jeff smiled as he watched him gather up his clothes. "But you owe me," Nick said, throwing Jeff a wink. Jeff blushed and giggled. Nick smiled and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. Jeff sat on Nick's bed, smiling, just waiting for Nick to come out. He was in love. And spirit or not, love makes you feel incredibly happy.
:O Jeffy's sister soon! So, in my head Megan is Rydel Lynch, Riker's sister. So I picture her when I see Megan, so I don't know if maybe you guys want to do that too? Or feel free to make up your own image of what you think she looks like! But I am looking for Beta reader if anyone is interested! So if you are, let me know! And I'll see you guys soon with chapter five! Bye! :)