Disclaimer: I own nothing, except maybe Ryan and Nate
"Wow. I didn't even have to use my next line on you." Nate suddenly said, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Ryan rolled his eyes and braced himself. "Okay, hit me with it!"
"Hey, Ryan, I lost my teddy bear. Can I cuddle you tonight instead?" He wiggled his eyebrows as he delivered the punchline, then laughed.
The nervous stress of the evening finally hit Ryan and he dissolved into a fit of giggles. His eyes started to water uncontrollably and he held his stomach which was starting to get a stitch because he was laughing so hard.
"Okay, not exactly the reaction I expected, but it could be worse." Nate smiled as Ryan finally calmed down, wiping at his eyes.
The redhead breathed in deeply and exhaled shakily, hysteria finally gone. He sat up, Nate following suit, taking his hand.
Ryan was at last able to speak. "On that note, I think I should be getting back to my room. It's getting late. I know I seem to have done a bit of a u-turn tonight with the performance and all, but I just want you to know that I want to take this slowly. It's really hard for me to feel good about myself or believe any compliments I get after what happened at my last school. I am trying, but it's going to take a while."
He brought their joined hands up as he said "Just know that I do want this. I want to be deserving of a boyfriend as gorgeous as you," Nate's eyes widened at the lovely compliment, smiling softly, "but you'll have to put up with my insecurities. Probably quite a lot." Ryan ducked his head, embarrassed suddenly.
He felt Nate's hand under his chin, lifting it to meet his blue gaze. Nate reassured him. "Well, I guess I'm going to have to tell you how beautiful I think you are every day. And show you what being your boyfriend means to me every day."
Ryan blushed, but held his gaze as he replied. "I don't mean I'm fishing for compliments, it's just a huge step from being laughed at for my looks to just accepting them, never mind actually feeling attractive."
Nate didn't reply, he just nodded, showing he understood. He reached out slowly with his free hand to brush Ryan's mussed up fringe out of his eyes, tucking it behind his ear. Almost to himself, he muttered "So soft. I've always wondered how it felt, since the day you came to view the school. You took my breath away that day. You still do."
Ryan gulped. So it was me who put him off during that rehearsal. "At first I thought it was Megan you were looking at." He admitted, shyly.
"Megan?" Nate questioned.
"My sister, she came with me the day I looked around Dalton and saw that Warbler's practice. I thought you saw her and stopped dancing." His eyes were fixed on the blankets beneath them.
"Uh, no. I saw her when I got to the front, yes she is pretty, but then I saw you." Nate leant forward to peck Ryan on the lips softly, making him look back up. "After that all I really remember is being yelled at and Kurt being all diva-ish with me. I still don't know what he was having such a hissy fit about."
"Er, well, I'm pretty sure you stopped dead in the middle of the routine and caused a bit of a Warbler pile-up behind you. I think Trent stepped on Kurt's ankle." Ryan giggled.
Nate rolled his eyes, understanding at last. "Okay, well, he should have been looking where he was going!"
Ryan whispered. "If it's any consolation, you had the same effect on me too." His eyes sparkled and Nate couldn't help stealing another sweet kiss. "Okay, if you stay any longer I really am going to keep you as my teddy bear." Nate laughed, hugging Ryan tight.
The boys stood up and walked to the door. "I promised to skype my sister tonight to tell her how the performance went. I guess I have quite a bit more to tell her now! Including why I'm so late contacting her, although she knew it would probably be quite late." Ryan squeezed Nate's hand as he continued. "Thank you for not rushing me, Nate."
Nate pecked him on the lips and opened the door for him as he replied. "You're worth waiting for. Goodnight, Ry."
"Goodnight, Nate."
Jeff flung his door open, pulled Nick through by their still-joined hands and spun round to face the brunet, looking at him searchingly.
"Okay, Nick...uh... firstly that was amazing and I really, really, want to do more of that, but I need to know that we'll be ok? I mean our friendship - it's really important to me and I don't want things to be awkward between us. Is this what you want or is this just because of the performance?" He rushed out nervously.
Nick circled Jeff's waist with his arms and pulled him close so they were touching from the waist down in a kind of standing hug. He leant back slightly and looked up to talk to the blond.
"Jeff, nothing could make me awkward around you. You're my best friend and I love you so much. I've had a major crush on you for over a year, but I'm guessing that maybe I wasn't the only one with a secret?" Jeff blushed and nodded, gazing at Nick adoringly.
He continued. "I know we say "I love you" in a friendly way, but, Jeffy... I mean it romantically too. It may be really fast for you, but I'm just going to say it - you are my everything, Jeff, and I love you."
Jeff's eyes filled and overran with tears, which Nick stroked away with his thumb.
"I- I love you too, Nicky." Jeff choked out, his voice thick with emotion.
Nick cupped Jeff's face with his hands and pulled him in for a searing kiss.
Tongues slid against each other and hearts raced. Hands wandered up and down backs and lower. Both boys seemed desperate to hold the other as close as possible.
Nick pulled back from the kiss, leaning their foreheads to whisper, "Jeff?" The blond nodded, waiting. "C-can I stay in your bed tonight? You don't have to say yes, I'm not pressuring you or anything. I just don't want to let go just yet."
Jeff's face broke out into an enormous smile as he nodded. "I was thinking the same thing." He admitted shyly. "I'm just going to get rid of all this makeup and take a shower, if that's okay. I feel a bit gross after all that dancing!"
"Sure, I showered before the party, so you go ahead." He planted one last soft, chaste, lingering kiss on his boyfriend's lips, then let the blond go. Once Jeff had handed him a spare pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, he went for a shower. After he had shut the bathroom door, Nick couldn't resist doing a quick happy dance. Jeff is my boyfriend! My boyfriend! YAY!
He quickly changed into the sweatpants and t-shirt which were both too long and hopped into Jeff's bed. As his head hit the pillow his senses were flooded with the scent of his boyfriend, a mixture of shampoo, hair gel and Jeff.
By the time Jeff came back into the room, Nick was very sleepy. Jeff shut off the light and slid under the covers. Nick immediately pulled him close into his side, resting his head on Nick's chest as he put his arm across the brunet's toned stomach. Jeff thought, I'm so glad I'm really tired at the moment, otherwise I'd be getting seriously turned on right now. Tonight I just want to cuddle with my new boyfriend.
Jeff felt a kiss land on the top of his head, just as he drifted off into blissful sleep.
Down in Warbler Hall, the party had wound down and those who were still sober enough were helping to clear up. Trent finished packing up the karaoke equipment before he went over to a tired-looking Wes who was cleaning the top of one of the tables used for drinks.
"Hey, Wes. Thanks for helping. I thought you'd be one of them on the sofas by now!" He gestured to where a couple of boys were passed out on the black leather sofas. One of them was his best friend, who he had been ignored by all evening.
Wes replied. "Yeah, well, I thought I would be responsible for a change. To be honest, I was hoping to get a chance to talk to Thad to see what's up with him, but he had other plans. Getting drunk plans." He frowned to himself, wondering if the shorter brunet who was currently fast asleep was okay.
"Thanks Wes. You're a good friend." Wes shrugged. Trent continued. "I guess we should try to get him upstairs, he's shorter and lighter than me, but I might need some help if you don't mind sticking around." Wes nodded and they both went to stand over Thad.
Trent carefully hooked his hand under Thad's armpit and pulled him up into a sitting position, his head rolling back on the sofa as he roused slightly. He briefly opened his eyes, locking his gaze with Trent before he shut them again, moaning loudly. "Unggh... head... hurts..." He started to snore, making Trent laugh before he remembered their argument and frowned, still hurt.
Wes took his arm and pulled as Trent put his arm under the other arm, around his back and pulled him up to a stand, leaning heavily into him. Thad suddenly swung his arm away from Wes to grab onto Trent, effectively hugging him tight. Wes stifled a laugh. In vino veritas! He thought to himself, saying "Well, I think he just wants you to help him, Trent, can you manage?"
Trent thought for a minute before scooping his arm under Thad's legs and picking him up, bridal style. "Yeah, this should be fine. He's lighter than he looks." He started off out of the room, into the hallway and up the stairs to Thad's room. He had just got into the hallway when Thad started to mumble into Trent's neck.
"...s'got lovely eyesss... sooo pretty... pretty green..." Just great! Thought Trent. I'm a captive audience right now and he's going to tell me what he likes about his latest girl crush. Thad carried on mumbling. "...soft lips... want to kiss..." Trent rolled his eyes, his heart feeling like it was being stamped on all over again. "... but he'll be mad at me..."
Trent frowned. Is that what he is so moody about? He's crushing on a girl who already has a boyfriend? I wonder if it's one of the Warbler's girlfriends? Trent tried to think which girlfriend had green eyes, but he couldn't. Either he wasn't sure about eye colour, or they were definitely brown from those he mentally listed.
Oh, Thad. I wish you would talk to me about it. Even if my heart gets crushed just a little more, I'm still your friend. I want to help you. A single tear escaped the corner of his eye. He couldn't brush it away as he was still holding Thad, so it tracked down to his jaw, dripping onto his shirt and soaking in.
Thankfully Thad's roommate had left the door open, so Trent opened it awkwardly from underneath Thad's slumbering body and pushed it open, depositing him on his bed carefully. He stood up, wondering what to do next.
He quickly removed anything uncomfortable to sleep on, namely his belt and shoes and mobile phone and then drew the blankets over him, tucking him in round his shoulders. Sleep sweet, Thad. I hope you'll talk to me tomorrow.
Trent checked he wasn't being watched before quickly dropping a kiss on his crush's forehead and leaving quietly.
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