A/N: Good news! I've got everything up to Chapter 40 spell-checked and formatted! (By "formatted", I mean "I've replaced asterisks and slashes with italics in most places.") The biggest challenge for me is putting everyone's POVs in the correct order and making sure everything makes some measure of sense chronologically within the chapter. (This is a soap opera in prose form; I don't expect it to make perfect sense, and neither should you.)

While editing, I try to remember to have Microsoft read the story aloud to me to make sure it sounds like something a human person from Planet Earth would write. I'm also hosting an ongoing spork of this, livestreamed most Tuesdays, wherein my sister, occasional guest stars, and I run through it line-by-line and add in notes for future editing. Editing is an ongoing process, and some mistakes are kept intact either because I can't think of how to change them or because I have reaction images for them on the spork blog. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, and if you don't, there's always the Back button! (Although, if you end up sporking this, too, please send me the link. I'm sure I'll be greatly entertained!)

Chapter 20: Disturbia

George had spent the better part of an hour in the shower once Nat had left. He had cried till it seemed he didn't have any tears left and allowed himself to feel his longing despair now that Nat wasn't around to hear or feel guilty about it. Now, spent and quivering, he was angrier than he was hurt. How could Nat love Trent, when he had told everyone how much he hated the man?! Why didn't he see George, and how much George adored him, until it was too late? Or when George was railing at him? It wasn't fair! What did that…Trent have that he didn't have?! Sure, Trent was buff and fit and had nice hair and a gorgeous smile, but it wasn't all about looks! Looks faded with time, and then what was left? Could George stand to lose a few pounds? Yes… Would he be up for it if Nat asked to work out together? Hell yes! But it wasn't all about looks and right now, that was all George could see when Nat gushed over Trent, and it made him so angry that he couldn't think! Couldn't breathe! His thoughts turned inward then, at Nat for letting him think it was him he loved, at the actions and emotions he had thought they shared.

Slowly, he became more aroused as he remembered that night. Mixing that emotion with his anger, he reached down and started to stroke himself, muttering all the while his hate and anger at the man whom he loved more than anything.

"Damn Nathaniel! You are just a fucking tease aren't you, boy! Gods…I hate you so much right now! You bad boy! Making me love you and then breaking my heart…how dare you! So good though…You are horrible…" He worked himself up until he couldn't stand it and found release with a cry of passion and pain both, before he braced himself against the shower wall, a quivering, sobbing mess. Once he calmed again, he cleaned himself off, stepped out, went to dress, and lay down, intending to rest his eyes and before he knew it, he was asleep.

A few hours later, he awoke, and noted that it was indeed very late, and Nathaniel wasn't home yet. Worried, he grabbed his phone and texted Nathaniel, asking where he was and if he was ok. He paced, waiting for an answer, and was growing increasingly upset as he heard nothing to each text he sent. Was Nat ok? Or was he dead in a ditch somewhere?! It wasn't like Nat not to answer!

After nearly three hours of crying over his worry, George passed out again out of sheer exhaustion and slept till morning.

xoxo

Nathaniel woke up to find himself wrapped in a blanket in Trent's bed, with Trent sleeping fully-clothed in his arms; he must have cuddled up to Trent in his sleep. He nuzzled into his friend's soft hair and kissed his neck. He knew they hadn't done anything last night, but it was nice waking up with someone to cuddle.

But he didn't want Trent waking up and scolding him, so he slipped out of bed and hunted for his phone. He saw Greg's text and replied: [Thanks, man. Feeling better today. Trent said he's proud of me too. He sat George and me down and we got some things out in the open. We were wrong about him, he's a good guy, very warm and surprisingly innocent. He's also the 1 guy I know who's fitter than me. Jealous of those muscles!]

He was completely unaware that he sounded like a lovestruck schoolboy and that Greg would think he was nuts for talking about Trent that way after he had sworn up, down, and sideways that Trent had raped him. That didn't bother Nathaniel anymore, now that he had come to terms with his feelings. Now he was more bothered that Rebecca wouldn't allow him to join their relationship. Maybe if he was really nice to her, she'd change her mind? He had been kind of a jerk before.

xoxo

Greg reached for his phone as it blipped at him. He blinked as he read Nathaniel's reply. That sounded a little…odd. Nathaniel? Thinking Trent wasn't such a bad guy? What the hell had happened over the night that made him do a complete 180? No! He decided he didn't want to know! But he was confused…and it showed in his reply.

[Trent came over last night and talked with you and George and you're ok with this? Man, I am glad you are feeling better but are we still on for this whole plan, or what? Cause you made it sound like he raped you and then this morning you are talking about how sweet he is and how you are jealous of his muscles…do you *even* hear yourself? What is going on? really hope you're ok.]

Greg was at a complete loss. He didn't like being confused. Maybe he should call Josh. They could talk to Nathaniel and figure out what the hell was going on. Sighing, he got up and went to dress. It was time to get up anyway.

Nathaniel wrote back: [It was jarring at first, but I realized some things. Yes, he did the thing I said, but it's water under the bridge now. Already apologized to Rebecca for trying to get him in trouble, so plan is off. And he is sweet and muscular, those are just facts? Nothing is going on I'm fine, chat l8r]

Greg looked back at his phone and was doubly confused. Had Nathaniel been replaced by a pod person or something? No one did a complete 180 this fast, not even Nathaniel. He didn't even respond and instead, texted Josh.

[Hey man, Something really *weird* is going on with Nathaniel. He has called off the whole plot with Trent and is even gushing over him now. Something about how Trent came over last night and had a talk with him and George? I don't know what to think. Might need your help later. You down?]

xoxo

Josh rolled over and checked his phone. Ugh, time to wake up… And there was a text from Greg. He frowned.

[Not good], he typed back. [You think Trent has something on him?]

Greg smirked and shrugged to himself as he read Josh's text. [Don't know. But I wouldn't put it past him. I just don't get it. Nathaniel *hates* Trent, and now suddenly…never mind. I will let you read his text. I think we should go see him today. What time can you be over here?]

Josh sent a quick [omw], got dressed, and dashed out the door, grabbing an apple from the counter.

Greg had known Nathaniel for a while and knew something had to have happened. They were all set to ambush Trent the day before, and Nathaniel had been into it, and now…? It was all too confusing, and Greg wanted answers. Maybe having Josh there would help Nathaniel talk more, cause Josh, gods be good, wasn't exactly the smartest bulb in the shed and Nathaniel usually had to explain things to him.

He waited on Josh at Home Base, sipping on a soda while he sat staring into space, going over everything Nathaniel had texted him. It just didn't make any sense and he was worried.

xoxo

Nathaniel had several missed calls and texts from George, and it hit him that he'd asked George to go to the gym with him and then just ran out. Oops. He texted back, [omw home, sorry].

When George's phone beeped, George sat up, made a mad dash grab for it, and read what Nat had written him. So simple a text after his many hours of worry? UGH! But he mustered up his resolve and texted back, [Just glad you are ok. I worried. See you when you get home. Breakfast will be ready.] Then he hopped out of bed, dressed in fresh clothes, and went to prepare breakfast so that it would be hot when Nat came home. He was still mad at him but figured they would talk when he got home.

xoxo

Nathaniel saw a set of clothes laid out on the desk. "For you, to borrow," read a note on top of them. Trent had nice handwriting, Nathaniel noted, and good taste. He'd selected for Nathaniel a deep blue button-down shirt that brought out Nathaniel's eyes, and a pair of sturdy yet comfortable jeans. Nathaniel was usually a three-piece suit guy, but he wasn't about to spurn Trent's generosity, and at least Trent wasn't giving him a turtleneck. The underwear he had picked out was nice, too, made of an especially soft cotton that felt like a dream.

As Nathaniel was getting dressed, he noticed a faint smell of ginger or clove. Trent's cologne. So he'd either worn this recently or just tried it on and then put it away. He pulled the collar up to his nose and breathed the spicy, intoxicating scent in. Oh, Heaven! He almost moaned aloud, but kept control of himself. Once he was dressed, he headed home.

Before he walked in the door, he checked his messages. George worried about him? Well, that was nice, but unnecessary.

He didn't really know what to expect. "Hey, buddy," he said in a cautious, would-be casual tone as he opened the door and stepped through. "I'm home… Sorry about last night, a friend asked me for help and then I passed out."

Looking up at hearing Nat's voice, George smiled warmly at him and nodded. "It's ok Nat—Nathaniel." Damn, he was never going to get over correcting himself on that, was he? "I'm glad you're ok." He noted the way Nat was dressed and said nothing, for now. But he caught a strange scent as Nat passed him and his eyebrow went up slightly before he corrected himself and motioned to the table.

"I made breakfast. It's still warm and coffee is almost ready," he said in a very calm, almost professional tone. If Nat wanted there to be boundaries, George would learn them.

"Thanks," Nathaniel said. He sat down and nibbled at the food George had prepared.

"Also, if your invite to the gym is still open, yes, I would like to go with you." George blushed a little. "The last time I went to a gym, I hurt myself badly enough that I couldn't walk for a while…so since then, I haven't really tried. But it would be nice to get back into it."

That didn't sound weird, did it? Did he have to censor everything he said or felt now? Man, that would be hard. Now that Nat knew, would it be awkward if he continued to stay? Nat only had one bed, and would knowing make that awkward as well? George didn't know! And he didn't know how to broach such a subject either, so he sat at the table and slowly dug into his meal. Maybe Nat would broach it?

"Oh, you had a bad experience at the gym? Well, we can do something different. Home workout DVDs, or we could go hiking… Rock climbing, maybe?" Nathaniel blushed as he remembered Trent's preferred workout, dragging boulders and trees. He could probably go for being harnessed…

"And then later, you can help me assemble the new couch I ordered. It's a pull-out. I thought we could put it in the massage room. What do you think?"

George tried to remain upbeat and keep the sadness he was feeling off his face, not wanting to make things weird for either of them. "Sure, I have always been interested in rock climbing, even bought the gear for it once, but it never got used." He chuckled softly. "And yeah, I could help you put together some new furniture. Heaven knows you are helpless when it comes to things like that," he teased with a good-natured grin on his face. So, he would be sleeping in the other room after all? He sighed silently to himself and tried to make the best out of this situation. Least Nat wasn't kicking him out.

"Oh, cool! Then that works out," Nathaniel said happily. He had some rope hidden around here somewhere.

"So, any plans for the day?" George asked, trying to start a conversation that wouldn't make either of them feel awkward or get them angry at each other. This was going to be hard for George, but he'd said he would try.

"Hmm, well, Greg wants to hang out, so I'll probably be heading to the park or Home Base later. How about you, any plans?"

George smiled at Nathaniel's almost-excited reply and shrugged. "Nothing really, it being Sunday. Might go run some errands for a bit, since you are almost out of food, so before you go meet Greg, could you make a list of stuff you want or need so I can order it while I am out and just pick it up later?" George knew how to run Nathaniel's home and business so that it seemed Nat wanted for nothing from the moment he woke up. It made him happy, in a way, to make Nat's day easier.

"Just…get healthy stuff," Nathaniel said indifferently. "Pure, close to nature, unprocessed foods. Nothing fattening or with preservatives."

"Then I might just chill and watch a movie for a while, once all that is done," George continued. "Haven't relaxed in a while with this new partner merger at work. All that paperwork." He chuckled softly, smiling up at Nat. "Finish your breakfast though…you need to eat it to keep on track," he chided gently, reminding Nat of his promise to take better care of himself.

Nathaniel churlishly speared a piece of fruit and ate it. The mention of a movie reminded him of the movie he'd seen drunk and didn't remember. Maybe he should go watch it again, but sober this time. "Yeah, I'm thinking of catching a movie later, too," he said casually, "I'll be at Home Base though, for a little bit." He finished eating and headed out.

xoxo

When Nathaniel arrived, he saw Josh and Greg were already waiting for him. He slid into their booth. "Hey guys, what's up?"

Greg looked up at hearing his friend's voice. He tried to smile at Nathaniel, but it didn't reach his eyes. "What's up? Oh, nothing except the fact that we—Josh and I, both—think you might have taken stupid pills this morning." He tapped his cell, referencing the texts sent earlier, and looked at Nathaniel as he sipped his soda.

"I haven't taken any pills, stupid or otherwise," frowned Nathaniel.

"Want to explain to us both what these texts you sent earlier meant? Cause I don't get it, man. First you hate Trent and want to ambush him, and then after one night…one… you, what, think he's hot? You're gushing about his muscles and want to call the whole thing off? Explain it, please!?"

"It's not like that," Nathaniel said. "I admire WhiJo's muscles too, and I've given you compliments on your physique, Greg. I don't remember you taking offense to that."

"You giving your friends compliments is a lot different than what you wrote this morning. You don't gush over us!" Greg insisted.

"I wasn't gushing," Nathaniel said defensively. "Admiring another person's physique isn't gushing."

"Oh…? So you weren't gushing…? Ok, hold that thought," Greg said as he reached for his phone and read verbatim what Nathaniel had written to him that morning. "'Already apologized to Rebecca for trying to get him in trouble, so plan is off. And he is sweet and muscular, those are just facts?' And… 'Jealous of those muscles,' 'He's also the one guy I know who is fitter than me'…and let's not forget… 'Trent said he's proud of me.'" Greg snapped his phone shut and glared at Nathaniel. "Why would you care? What Trent thought of you?"

Nathaniel covered his face with his hands. "Keep it down," he hissed. "Please. Look, I don't know how to explain it," he hedged. He knew Greg was judgmental, but he had underestimated how much. He couldn't tell these two the truth, that he'd figured out he had feelings for Trent and Trent had turned him down. The reasoning was valid, he just didn't want to think about it too hard. "We talked things out and we're friends now. Just like how Josh used to hate me cause of that time I almost had his grandfather killed, his sister expelled, and his dad deported, but we're chill now, right?" He elbowed Josh.

"Uh, yeah, I guess, but that was still pretty messed up," said Josh.

"I did some fucked up shit, he did some fucked up shit," Nathaniel reasoned. "We talked it out after he showed George and me surveillance footage from one of the nights I blacked out, and now everything is cool."

"Wait… What?" asked Josh. "He bugged you?"

Nathaniel smiled involuntarily, remembering how Trent called him 'little bug'. "Yeah, back when Rebecca and I were together, he planted bugs in my apartment— ohhh. I hear it now. Okay. Maybe Greg has a point." He sighed. "I don't know what to think, guys. One day he—" Nathaniel leaned forward— "One day, he's sucking me off in the hospital and threatening to kill me if I tell anyone, and then the next day he's being all cute and vulnerable and asking me to make sure he doesn't drown in the shower. I really don't know what to think."

All Greg could do was blink and shake his head. Was Nathaniel deliberately trying to justify what he'd told everyone had happened? Was he losing it? Greg wasn't sure what to think, because as far as he was concerned, Trent was still odd and weird, and now Nathaniel was acting almost the same way! He hadn't developed Stockholm Syndrome, had he?

The thought made Greg tilt his head as he listened to Nathaniel speak. "So…he bugged you and you are acting like this is all ok? He bugged you, Nathaniel! Don't you realize how illegal that is? You are a lawyer, for gods' sakes." His eyes furrowed and he shook his head again.

"It is weird that he bugged my apartment," Nathaniel admitted. He made a face. "Do you think that means he used to watch Rebecca and me—"

"Yep. Without a doubt," said Josh, cutting him off and going crimson, looking disturbed at the thought. Then Josh leaned closer and sniffed Nathaniel. "You smell like cookies!" he enthused.

Greg nearly lost his mind at Josh's remark. "Oh, come on!" he said, exasperated. He looked at Josh, and then back at Nathaniel, notingthe clothes.

Nathaniel followed Greg's gaze to the clothes he was wearing. "What?" But he knew, what.

"Don't you usually wear suits?" Josh asked. "With light-colored shirts? I mean, don't get me wrong, that blue looks nice—"

"Thanks! See, Greg, Josh appreciates—"

"—but Greg's right. You're really not yourself. The Nathaniel I know hates casual wear unless it's inside an actual gym."

Nathaniel stared at Josh. "Come on, man, I'm not that snobby."

Greg sighed at Nathaniel's obvious denial and shook his head at him. "Casual wear, and that shade of blue, too? Doesn't that strike you as odd at all! Those are his colors, man; and I am betting those are his clothes, too."

Once those words were out of his mouth, Greg froze. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh…." He groaned softly, as he leaned back a bit in his chair. "Ohhhh noooo…." He bit his lip and shook his head just the faintest bit, staring down his friend.

Nathaniel frowned. "My eyes are blue," he said defensively. "Yes, he lent me something, so I didn't go home in a grubby bathrobe or swim trunks. He's just being a good friend, that's all." He was, wasn't he?

"Wait," said Josh. "Back up. Earlier you said something about the shower? He wanted you to shower with him?"

"No, no," Nathaniel corrected. "He wanted me to sit outside the tub and watch him shower." At his friends' looks he said, "What? It wasn't weird! He wore a bathing suit!" Not one that left much to the imagination, but still. "So that's how I know about his muscles."

Greg was beyond stunned! Nathaniel really was in denial, but he couldn't help digging that dagger just a little bit deeper. "Wait—wait—what? He gave you clothes so you wouldn't have to leave in a bathrobe or swim trunks?" His eyebrows furrowed a bit as he leaned forward on the table, glaring closely at Nathaniel. "Did—did you show up—naked? In only a bathrobe?!" His voice was soft yet incredulous. This was not the Nathaniel Greg knew. That Nathaniel would have died before going out to any place without looking his best!

"By definition, being in a bathrobe is not naked," Nathaniel pointed out in his lawyer voice. "And what was I supposed to do? He texted me asking for help!"

"Whatever is going on with you and Trent, you better hope Rebecca doesn't find out," Greg said softly. "You said you apologized to her, but you show up here, wearing his clothes and smelling like him. Nathaniel…" Greg scoffed. "You are digging yourself a bigger hole and don't even realize it."

"NOTHING is going on between Trent and me!" Nathaniel snapped. "I've said it five times now. We are friends. He called me over, as a friend, to make sure he didn't have an accident in the shower. Then he let me crash in his room, again as a friend, and even put a blanket on me and set out some clothes for me that perfectly bring out my eyes, as a friend. He slept next to me, FULLY CLOTHED, AS A FRIEND. What part of this is so hard to grasp, Greg?"

Josh looked uncomfortable. "I don't know, man, if I had done any of that with Rebecca when Valencia and I were together, I would never have heard the end of it," he said.

Greg nodded in agreement with Josh's bright observation. "You know how Rebecca is, Nathaniel….and you did those things anyway. If she ever finds out, she will kill you…both of you! Even I know that!" Nathaniel was in a pickle for sure, and so was Trent for that matter. Greg knew Rebecca, knew that she didn't share and would see all that had happened as a betrayal. Even if it was innocent. However, he wasn't going to be the one to tell her…

"You messed up, man. BIG time. You need to tell her. Really apologize right if you are going to apologize at all. If you aren't going to tell her…why even bother apologizing?" Greg finished his soda and sighed.

Nathaniel shook his head. "You guys are blowing this way out of proportion," he said. "Trent isn't going to actually sleep with me, he told me so himself. He said Rebecca would never allow—"

He stopped short. Fuck. He hadn't meant to say that.

Greg took a big, deep, calming breath and let it out slowly. He was way too stunned to even process what was coming out of Nathaniel's mouth.

"Isn't allowed?" His eyes narrowed as he gripped his now-empty cup so hard that his knuckles turned white. "There's a big difference between 'not wanting to' and 'not being allowed'. Don't you see that!?"

Nathaniel looked up. No, he hadn't considered that.

Greg was shaking now and knew he had to leave before he said or did something to a friend that he couldn't possibly take back. "Whatever! You are in denial. That's…that's just great!" He stood. "You know what…do what you want. Tell Rebecca. Don't tell Rebecca. That's on you, but know what you are doing….the choices you are making, right now… could be hurting someone we all still care about very much." Sighing, he looked down to compose himself, before looking back up at Nathaniel.

"I didn't understand, man, how you could 180 so fast. Then hearing all this…makes perfect sense….but that's your burden to carry. Loving someone you can't have is the worst pain in the world. Trust me, I know." Greg had lowered his voice at that last part, trying to empathize with his friend. "But don't let it spoil someone else's happiness either…or yours for that matter. You're a good-looking guy. Smart, successful. I'm sure there are lots of people out there for you to get to know and eventually fall in love with…." He trailed off, having said far more than he had intended. "Look man….Rebecca isn't stupid, ok? The moment she sees you around Trent and how you behave, she will know. Or at least suspect. All I'ma say…." He looked at his watch and groaned. "Anyway…I have to get to the hospital. Dad. Josh…you coming or staying, man?"

"Really? You think he wants me?" Nathaniel asked. He hadn't meant for that to come out sounding as hopeful as it did. He also couldn't help the silly, happy grin that broke across his face.

"Nathaniel!" Greg snapped his fingers in front of his friend's face to bring him back. "What did I just say!? Regardless of whether the man wants you, he is marrying Rebecca! Ohhhh...for fuck's sake! Forget it! Come on, Josh!" Greg stormed out, full of righteous anger. "This whole thing is stupid!" he muttered to himself. "I'm not going to be the one to tell Rebecca though..." He looked over at Josh and smirked. "And don't you go telling her either."

Josh rubbed his forehead. He could be oblivious, but this was something he knew about. "I know you're not technically having an affair with Trent," he said quietly, "but all that stuff you said really sounds like you're walking a fine line. Even if you don't end up kissing, or whatever, I think you should be careful. This road leads nowhere good." Josh got up to leave with Greg, leaving Nathaniel sitting there with a lot to think about.

Except instead of doing that, Nathaniel decided to go to the movies.