*Hey Nick, I've been trying to contact you for a while now. Have you been avoiding me or something? Anyway, I missed you and how come you didn't call me at 8?" asked a bubbly female voice.

Nick immediately tensed as his heart ached. He felt like he was about to have a heart attack. He couldn't believe his ears. He couldn't believe that she was calling him after everything she'd said and done to him. Without thinking about it he quickly shut his phone and turned it off.

Justin looked over when he didn't hear Nick say anything... just in time to see the color drain from his face as he quickly turned his cell off. "You alright?" Justin questioned, concern evident in his voice. Nick looked like he'd gotten a call from the devil himself.

Nick shook his head to clear his mind. Looking back at Justin he said, "Yah, I'll be fine." After a few seconds of silence he asked, "Can I use your home phone?"

Furrowing his brows Justin nodded his head wondering what was going on.

Nick walked over to Justin's bed and sat down on it as he picked up the phone and dialed his mom's cell phone. "Hey mom, I turned my cell phone off and in case you need to contact me I'll be at Justin's house so you can call me there. I was hoping you'd pick me up on your way home. I'll talk to you later, love you."

Meanwhile Justin stopped writing his notes and turned in his seat so that he was looking at Nick. When Nick was done with his phone call he asked, "Why'd you turn your cell off?"

Nick looked at Justin and in an emotionless voice said, "Long story. I don't really feel like talking about it."

Justin was somewhat hurt that Nick wouldn't tell him but he also knew that whatever it was must have been really serious because Nick looked really upset. "Okay, well, I'm here if you need to talk about anything."

Nick smiled a small smile. "Thanks."

They sat there for a few moments not really knowing what to do. It was Justin who spoke up first. "I don't feel like doing anymore homework or studying. It's Friday and that's the last thing I wanna do now."

Nick nodded his head in understanding. "That's fine. I should probably head on home or something, then."

"No," Justin said a little too quick. "I mean, no, you don't have to. You just called your mom and told her to pick you up. We could like watch more movies or play video games or something to pass time. Or even talk? Maybe?" Justin started getting nervous again.

Not knowing what else to do and knowing that Justin had a point Nick nodded his head. "Sure, watching a movie sounds good right about now."

Justin closed his books and put them away in a blink of an eye. Before walking out of the bedroom he asked, "Why don't you pick out a movie this time and I'll go get popcorn and drinks for us?"

Nick did just that. He picked out a movie and inserted it in the DVD player before settling down in the beanie chair he had sat on earlier.

Ten minutes later Justin walked back into the room with a bowl of buttered popcorn and two cans of coca-cola. "I'm back," Justin said as he turned all the lights off. He then walked over to where Nick was seated and settled in. Placing the big bowl of popcorn between them he handed Nick his can of soda.

"Thanks," Nick said before grabbing the remote and pressing play.

Justin smiled as the voice of Landon Carter came through the speakers and the scene in which the car was driving down a block in a quiet neighborhood showed up on the TV screen.

Nick looked over at Justin. "You don't mind do you?"

Justin shook his head. "Not at all, no."

Besides the noises from the movie and the occasional crunch of popcorn being chewed by the teens the room was quiet. Somehow during the duration of the movie both Nick and Justin had managed to get closer to the point where Nick's left side was completely touching Justin's right side.

Justin was very aware of their bodies touching and hence why he pretended to be concentrating on the movie instead of the side of his body that seemed to be on fire. But no amount of pretending could possibly distract him from where his whole left side of the body was on fire. He looked down at his left hand that was resting on his left thigh. He had the world's most strongest urge to reach his hand over and link their hands together. To play with Nick‘s fingers. Taking a deep breath he brought his attention back to the scene in which Mandy Moore starts to sing in the school play. That was a beautiful song. It was his favorite song in the movie.

Nick slouched a bit more in his seat causing for his right side of the body to rub down Justin's left side. He turned to look over at Justin when he heard a little intake of breath... a gasp. "You alright?" Nick questioned.

Justin took in a deep breath before nodding his head. "I'm, uh… ya…yah. I'm okay," Justin stuttered out.

Nick was quiet for a moment as he turned his attention back to movie. "You never told me how long you've known that you were gay."

"Huh?" Justin questioned. He was lost in his own thoughts that he'd missed what Nick said.

"How long have you known that you were gay?" Nick asked again this time turning his head so that they were looking at each other.

Justin thought about that for a second. "I just am. I think I was like that since I was born. But if you're asking when I realized and admitted it to my parents and myself then the answer is when I was thirteen."

"Oh," Nick said. "And your parents were okay with it?" Nick quickly regretted asking that question because even though the room was dark he could still see Justin's face take on a sad note thanks to the light from the TV. "Sorry if I brought out old memories or opened wounds, you don't have to answer that."

"No, no, it's okay," Justin assured Nick. He definitely wanted to tell Nick about his life and who he is and what kinda person he wants to be. He wants Nick to do the same, to open up to him and to trust him. Figuring that if he went first Nick would then feel comfortable to be the same way with him. "I'll tell you about it when the movie is done." He smiled.

Nick nodded his head and settled back in to watch the rest of the movie.

* * * * * * * * * *

Nick sighed as he rested his hands on the cool marble tile of the bathroom wall in front of him and let the warm spray of water hit his back and somewhat ease his tense muscles. He'd just gotten home from Justin's apartment about ten minutes ago.

By the time the movie had ended at 10:25 P.M. Justin's phone had rung. It was Nick's mom calling to inform them that she was outside the building and ready to take Nick home. Nick was relieved but at the same time he felt bad because he really wanted to talk to Justin about his parents' first reaction to his homosexuality.

At first Jane wasn't keen on the idea of Justin staying home alone since his parents weren't come home yet but after Justin assured her that his parents will be home shortly and that the only reason they weren't there yet was more likely due to the storm. Jane had hesitantly nodded her head and took Nick home but not before she told Justin to call her, made him PROMISE to call her when his parents came home so that her mind would be at ease. Justin agreed and before Nick knew it he was home and in the shower.

Reaching over for the soap he began to lather himself up and then grabbed the shampoo and lathered his head. Getting back under the shower head he rinsed himself off before turning the water off and wrapping himself in a towel. Looking at himself in the mirror above his sink he felt like he was looking at a completely different person. As if his soul, his being was trapped in someone else’s body, someone who vaguely resembled him. The teenager standing before him, the one with the bruises, lifeless eyes, and pale complexion wasn't him.

Walking into his room he picked out a pair of boxer-briefs, gray sweatpants, and a plain white long sleeved t-shirt and put them on. He didn't want his siblings to see all the bruises that decorated his body. Looking at the time he saw that it was 10:55 P.M. Taking his cell phone that was connected to its charger he turned it on and frowned at the note that read he had 13 new voice mails. Ignoring that for the moment he pressed 3 on his speed dial and waited for the person to answer.

"Yo, Nick," Brian greeted in a relieved tone. "I tried calling you earlier, how come your phone was turned off?"

"Hey B," Nick sighed. "Sleep over?" He didn't feel like being alone that night and he needed his best friend with him.

The tone of Nick's voice was all Brian needed to hear to know that something was wrong. "I'll be there in a few," Brian said before quickly hanging up and telling his parents that he'll be sleeping over at Nick's.

Nick flipped his phone shut and nearly shot up through the ceiling when his cell started to ring and vibrate in his hands. Incredulously he looked at the phone for a few moments before deciding to check the caller ID because he didn't want to have to deal with her, ever again. Sighing he noticed that though it wasn't Paris' number it was her sisters', Nikki. Tomorrow morning he was calling his phone company and adding their damned names and numbers to the call-block list.

Nick walked out of his room and over to the elevator shaft to go down to the main floor where his siblings and parents were getting ready to eat dinner and watch a movie. Afterall, it was Friday night and they always did that whole 'dinner and a movie' thing. The door bell rang just as the land phone started to ring. "I'll get the door," Nick called out as he changed his route; instead of turning towards the kitchen he continued to walk straight towards the door.

"And I'll get the phone," Jane said as she walked over to the phone that was hanging by the wall near the refrigerator in the kitchen.

"Hey Bri," Nick greeted as he opened the door to reveal his best friend standing before him in a pair of sweatpants, a white wifebeater, and socks.

"Hey Nick," Brian replied as he walked in. He looked at Nick closely, clearly Nick had just gotten out of the shower and the make-up was washed off to reveal the ugly bruises that decorated his beautiful face. Brian fought not to grimace or cringe at how harsh the bruises looked.

"Did you have dinner yet?" Nick questioned as he shut the door and walked with Brian into the dinning room happy when Brian shook his head no.

"Dude, that's why I called you earlier. I wanted to know if it was alright if I could sleepover," Brian said taking his seat between Nick and BJ.

Nick chuckled. "Do you even have to ask? I mean, c'mon you live like on the other end of this floor and we've known each other practically forever! I know you grew up in the south and that your parents brought you up as a Baptist southern boy, taught you manners and all but deng Bri don't be so formal and polite. You're practically family!"

Brian stuck his tongue out at Nick just as Jane hung up the phone and joined them at the table with a smile on her face. "Whew, now my mind's at ease."

Nick looked up at his mom. "His parents came home and he called?"

"Yea, just got off the phone with his mother," Jane said before turning to look at Brian. "Hey Brian!"

"Hey Jane," Brian greeted smiling. "Hope you don't mind me joining you for dinner."

Jane looked at him incredulously. "Nick would you please do me the honors?"

"Sure thing mom," Nick said as he gently cuffed the back of Brian's head.

"Hey!" Brian said rubbing his head. Nick and Jane laughed as the other's joined in as well.

Robert walked over to where the TV was set up in the corner of the dinning room and inserted the DVD he'd bought earlier that day. "Okay, let's say our prayers and then we'll start dinner," he said grabbing the remote control and walking back to take his seat at the table.

Everyone bent their heads down while Robert said the prayer. After that was done Jane served them their dinner before everyone settled in to watch Shreck 2.

It wasn't until forty-five minutes into the movie that everyone was done with their meals. Brian, Jane, and Nick cleaned the dirty dishes while everyone else continued to watch the movie. "Hey mom," Nick whispered. "I'm kinda tired. I think I'm gonna head on up to bed."

"Okay," Jane said after she kissed Nick's forehead and then Brian's. "You boys sleep well," she said as he gently ran the pad of her thumb over one of the bruises on Nick's cheek.

"Good night mom," Nick said softly, kissing her on the cheek, before turning the other way and walked towards the elevator to go up to his room.

"Night Jane," Brian said as he kissed her on the cheek and followed Nick.

It wasn't until both Nick and Brian were in Nick's bed that Brian spoke up. "So, why did you turn your cell off?"

Nick looked at Brian. "She called me... like nothing happened. She asked me if I was avoiding her and why I didn't call her at 8 like I used to."

Brian stiffened. With wide eyes he asked, "Are you kidding me? She actually thinks you would call her and still be her boyfriend after all that?"

Nick frowned. "There's like more than ten voicemails."

"One of them is from me," Brian said. He had called Nick around 8:30 that night and left a message. "Now I understand why you turned your cell off, geez! What did she say?"

Nick shrugged at looked back up at the ceiling. "I didn't check. Could you delete them for me?" Nick picked up his cell phone and handed it Brian. He didn't want to hear anything from her, by her, or about her. He didn't want anything to do with her.

Brian nodded his head. He understood why Nick didn't want to do it himself. Heck, he didn't even want to do it and he wasn't the one that was hurt by her. Taking the cell phone from Nick's hand he opened it.

"Dude, there's like 25 messages now."

Nick groaned and rolled on to his right side, his back towards Brian.