About thirty minutes later and lots of dancing they were seated in the cafeteria just a few minutes before dinner was to be served. At their circular table were JC, Karen, Justin, Lynne, Jane, Nick, Brian, and Jackie. Nick looked over at Brian and gave him a nervous smile.

"What?" Brian questioned in a whisper, leaning a bit towards Nick as he loosened his tie.

Nick snuck a glance at the time and indicated to Brian that they should go someplace and talk about things. Clearing his throat he said, "Excuse us for a few minutes," and got up from the table.

Brian smiled politely and followed Nick out of the cafeteria and into the hall. "Is everything alright?" He questioned noticing how Nick's hands seemed to be shaking a bit.

"Mom said she and dad are okay with me liking Justin on more than a friendly level," Nick whispered out, not wanting anyone to over hear their conversation, even though they were the only ones out in the hall at the moment.

Brian's eyes went wide. "What the heck did I miss?" He questioned, shaking his head.

"She just up and said it... out of nowhere," Nick said, his own eyes wide. "I told her I liked him..."

"And she's okay with it?" Brian questioned wanting to make sure that was the case.

Nick nodded his head.

"Wow," Brian said and undid his tie, letting it hang around his neck. He looked back at Nick. "Just, wow."

"I know," Nick said. "And get this... I don't know how but like soon after I found myself dancing with Lynne and she asked me just how I felt about her son and if I knew what I was..."

"Just like that?" Brian questioned.

"Pretty much," Nick said. "She asked if she could ask me a personal question... I was like, okay, thinking that it would be something about my family or something... but damn."

"Huh!" Brian said, not finding words to say anything else. He then looked over at Nick and smirked. "Justin got a new hair style."

"Well, DUH!" Nick stated, rolling his eyes and pushed his glasses a bit more up on his nose. "Just 'cause I'm wearing glasses doesn't mean I'm blind!"

Brian laughed as he and Nick started to walk down the hall slowly. "So," he said sneaking a glance at Nick.

"So..." Nick repeated and then smirked. "I saw Jackie and Karen hitting up a storm with their conversations..." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh, shut up," Brian replied, blushing a bit.

"Oh, wow," Nick said chuckling as he noticed the blush on Brian's cheeks. "It's that serious, huh?"

"It's not..." Brian trailed off as he thought about things. "I don't think he likes me likes me. I don't even think he's into guys at all."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Well, of course," he said, smacking Brian on the arm gently. "That's your problem right there... you don't think." He then threw his arm over Brian's shoulder and spun them around so that they were now walking back down the hall in the other direction, towards the cafeteria. "Frick... he wore a tight pink shirt the other day with a picture of a monkey with a tear running down it's cheek on it and the caption read 'please don't spank me!' Now, tell me, what straight guy would wear that!?" He looked pointedly at Brian's profile.

Brian rolled his eyes and was just about to reply when he felt Nick jerk forward. Quickly looking towards Nick and then behind Nick, he groaned.

“What the…?” Nick said quickly turning around ready to bitch whomever it was out because that shove was definitely not an accident. But the second his eyes recognized those sunglasses he knew the eyes behind them were amused brown eyes. He shook his head and grinned. “I should’ve known it was you!”

“Of course it was me,” a raspy voice said. “Who else would it have been?” He questioned with a smirk. He then looked over at Brian, giving him a once over. “Hey shorty.”

Brian narrowed his eyes and gave the teen a sneer. “Hello Alex,” he said instead, not liking the teen one bit. He was bad news but mostly besides himself, Alex was Nick’s other best friend, whom Nick had known before he had entered the picture. You could call it jealousy but Brian did not like him.

“Cool it you two,” Nick said shaking his head. “I sometimes wonder just how you two passed kindergarten!” He knew the other two didn’t like each other; they were like complete opposites, yin and yang. Nick knows opposites attract but damn it these two put together was a dangerous combination. Neither could stay in the same room without saying one derogatory remark to and about the other.

Alex was a rebel, a unique one at that in the sense that he was the class clown but at the same time was a very diligent student. He was the star of school plays, and usually sang, did a few comic acts, and a bit of ventriloquism He didn’t belong to any particular group of people at school or any where for that matter per se, he free floated around with everyone but at the same time he was one of those that liked his privacy, liked being by himself. He definitely had an aura of someone that you didn’t want to mess with, even though he was friendly with a good sense of humor, one wrong move, mess with his family or his friends, he’d pounce on the person like a panther with carefully articulated movements and skill before the person could even blink. People have learned the hard way, when dealing with AJ McLean a.k.a. Bone, to never judge a book by its cover. He was about 5’8”, olive complexion, a neatly sculpted goatee and beard, and thin. He always wore sunglasses that concealed his black eyeliner lined eyes, his hair was a different cut and color each week, and his ear and lower lip piercing was always there that was until the school board came up with new dress code rules to preserve the prestige and respectable type environment. The piercing was gone and the hair was jet black but there was no way that he would give up wearing his sunglasses. He’d actually gone to an optical store and had the doctor make him a few prescription sunglasses as well as a formal written note to the principle regarding this.

Nick and AJ hadn’t always been very close, they were just good friends from way back in elementary school. It was during pre-kindergarten school that the two met. Nick had been terrified of going to school, having to the safety of his parents to be with other kids his age for more than five hours. He remembered that he had been all alone in that room, none of the other kids had wanted to play with him. So, he sat in the corner by coat rack and lunch boxes playing with the Mack truck by himself while all the other kids were playing with legos and tag and other fun games. AJ had been the center of attention, making the other kids laugh, hell, he’d even been the teacher’s favorite. Nick had found himself wishing to be the other kid so many times that when AJ had actually approached on him later that day, pulling his sleeping back and pillow next to Nick’s during nap time Nick was star struck and speechless. It had only taken two words from AJ for Nick to smile and finally feel as though he had a new friend. Hey Blondie!

Every time Nick had been the butt of every joke, every time he’d been picked on and made fun of, every time he had been physically threatened AJ had been like a knight in shining amour, his ‘don’t mess with me’ aura and look already forming before they graduated to first grade. A few years later, Brian had entered the picture and his relationship with AJ barely ceased to exit until recently when Nick became a sophomore in high school. Sure, they would give each other curt nods or a simply ‘hello’ as they passed each other in the halls of the schools but nothing more had formed from that. Nick had connected with Brian and they were now the best of friends, always spending time together.

It had been through AJ that Nick had met Paris at some party they had gone to. Brian hadn’t been there, he wasn’t much of a party person but mostly he hadn’t gone for the sheer reason that AJ was going. Paris had been one of AJ’s then girlfriend’s best friend. Paris had taken an interest in Nick and the next day he’s received a voicemail box full of messages from her. At first Nick hadn’t been sure about the whole idea and since AJ knew more about her than he did Nick had asked him for advice. ’You only live once and you’re still young. Do what you want,’ had been AJ’s response. The next day, Nick had a girlfriend and he found himself already addicted to her without even knowing it. Too bad he hadn’t realized then that his addiction to her was not a good thing.

“We didn’t start anything, Blondie,” AJ remarked, looking over the top of his shades. “Haven’t seen ya in a few days and you’ve gone out and cut your hair!”

Nick nodded his head with a smirk. “Ya like?” He questioned.

“Very,” AJ said. “It somehow suits you,” he paused as a look of sadness and regret washed over his face. “Um, about that whole Paris thin-”

“Don’t worry about it,” Nick said cutting AJ off. “It’s all in the past and I’ve moved on.” He shrugged as he looked directly into AJ’s eyes knowing the teen was very good at reading his eyes.

A few seconds later AJ nodded his head. “Okay,” he said and cocked his head to the side when a rather deep voice called out to Nick and Brian.

Both Nick and Brian turned around and smiled at Lance. “Hey,” Nick greeted.

“What are you guys doing out here in the hall?” Lance questioned, approaching them, but his attention was mostly on Nick.

“Nothing really,” Nick said with a shrug as he looked at this two best friends. “Oh, I don’t know if you know him but he’s AJ a sophomore,” he indicated AJ. “And AJ this is Lance, a freshman. We’re gonna see a lot of him while we get ready for the Christmas show.”

AJ nodded his head and shook Lance’s hand. “Nice to meet you,” he said and looked at his watch. “We should head back in before our parents think we’ve been abducted by the toilet fairies.”

The other three agreed and laughed as they headed down the hall and into the cafeteria.

* * * * * * * * * *

Justin sighed as Nick and Brian excused themselves from the table and disappeared past the door of the cafeteria. He couldn’t help but feel jealousy course through his body. He looked down at his hand when he felt someone squeeze it. Looking at his mom’s assuring smile he sighed. Deciding to concentrate on something else he leaned forward a bit and smiled at JC.

The other teen was pretty good looking, Justin noted. He had a well defined jaw and cheek bones. His always seemed to be smiling, making his blue eyes almost disappear. His wavy brown hair seemed to flow with ever turn of his head. He seemed to be someone who took a pride in his physique and appearance, much like Justin himself.

Though his presence and demeanor seemed of someone who was interesting and entertaining Justin found it to be deceiving. JC was one boring mofo! He found himself smiling and nodding every twelve seconds pretending to be paying attention to what JC was talking about. ‘Where the hell is Nick?’ Justin thought to himself. Sure he was looking at JC but the whole time, visions of Nick and how good he looked that night ran through his mind.

It wasn’t until five minutes later that he heard Nick’s distant laughter coming somewhere from the right of him. Turning his head he let out a small gasp before he started to grind his teeth.

Lynne looked over at Justin, concerned with soon turned into a confusion at the look on Justin’s face. Following his line of vision she turned her head and saw Nick with three other boys, one whom she recognized, Brian. The other two… the short blonde spiked hair boy and the other, about the same height, with black hair combed down and sun glasses.

As they neared the table Nick stopped and turned to AJ. “Where’re you and Denise?”

AJ turned to his left and nodded his head in the direction towards the table by the window. “Over there,” he said. “We just got here, missed the dance part ‘cause of other shit we had to deal with. I was coming for the coat room when I saw you two!”

Nick nodded his head and looked over at his table. “We still have room for one more couple,” he said nodding at his own table. “Join us, please.”

AJ looked over at the table and then snuck a glance at Brian who seemed to be staring off into space and then at Lance who looked a little hurt and pissed before looking at Nick. “Sure, let me just go tell my mom!”

Nick nodded his head and watched AJ walk over to his mother. “Well, it’s nice bumping into ya kid,” he said putting his arm over Lance’s shoulder and giving it a light squeeze before pulling him into a half hug. “We should get back to our mothers and hope you guys have a nice dinner.”

Lance smiled over Nick’s shoulder when the teen had hugged him even inhaling his sweet musky scent. He nodded his head and gave a weak smile. “You too,” he said as he turned away and walked towards the table his mom and a few other people were, sad that he wasn’t sharing a table with Nick.

Brian made a mental note to talk to Nick about a few things pertaining to Justin and Lance. While

He had been looking around when Nick and AJ and then Nick and Lance were talking he’s managed to catch the look on Justin’s face and when Lance hugged Nick… he also caught that look. ‘Why can’t guys me falling for me from all over the place?’ He thought to himself having noticed that JC was talking animatedly with Jane and Jackie, and not paying any attention to him at all.

“Welcome back,” Lynne greeted Nick and Brian as they sat in the others’ seat, wondering why they were doing that.

“Thanks,” Brian said.

“Yeah, where were you two?” Jane eyed them suspiciously but it wasn’t until she noticed Denise and AJ walking in their direction that she understood why her son swapped seats with Brian.

“We just went to the bathroom but we’d bumped into AJ and Lance,” Nick responded and glanced briefly at Justin, who was looking down at his lap with a sad face. ‘Oh shit,’ Nick thought to himself for the first time realizing how rude it must have looked to not invite Justin along and what Justin must have thought. ‘Damn, damn, damn!’

Just then AJ and Denise joined them. Nick ended up introducing AJ and Denise to Justin and Lynne and vice versa since they were the only two that didn’t know each other. AJ sat next to Nick, his mom on the other side of him, next to JC.

* * * * * * * * * *

Twenty minutes later, dinner was served and they were all eating happily, with the exception of Justin who had his head down and forked through his mashed potatoes. Nick discretely stretched his leg out front under the table, already knowing which one’s was Justin’s having dropped his napkin on the floor earlier and taking notice of everyone’s feet positions. Gently he tapped Justin’s leg with his own causing Justin to frown and peer under the table only to quickly look up and connect his eyes with Nick’s before looking away quickly and shoving Nick’s foot aside with his own leg.

Nick frowned as he looked down at his half empty plate and tried again. Again, Justin shoved his foot aside. Nick sighed and didn’t bother to do it again for the third time, having a feeling the pattern of shoving his food aside would continue. Dropping his fork in his plate he grabbed his napkin and wiped his mouth before pushing his chair back. “Excuse me,” he said quietly as the table paused in their conversations to look at him. He gave an apologetic smile. “I’ll be back.” With that he got up and left.

Walking down the hall he rounded the corner and sat down at one of the benches that lined wall on either side of the main office. He didn’t like having Justin pissed at him. He really didn’t like being ignored either. He didn’t purposely try to leave Justin out, if was just that he needed to talk to his best friend, not his fault that both Lance and AJ happened to come by. He sighed as he rested his head on his hands that were propped up by the elbows on his thighs.

Few moments later, he was brought out of his thoughts when he heard footsteps approaching him. Looking up he noticed Lance smiling shyly at him. “Hey Lance,” he greeted politely, refraining from telling the younger teen that he just wanted to be alone for a while.

“Hey,” Lance greeted in a question. “How come you’re here by yourself? Everything alright? You look kind of depressed.”

Nick let out a forced chuckle. “Yah, I’m fine,” he said. “Just wanted to spend some time alone, that’s all.”

“Oh,” Lance said, pausing as he shifted from foot to foot. “Oh. Okay. Sorry if I was interrupting…”

Nick shook his head. “It’s alright,” he said. “No harm done. What are you doing out here?”

Lance shrugged as he looked down the hall at the closed auditorium doors. “Got boring at the table,” he said. “All the mothers talking about this and that. I barely know the guys at the table and none of them having anything to say.”

Nick smiled. “Sorry to hear that,” he said and patted the seat next to him.

“Thanks,” Lance said and sighed as he took a seat. “You got any plans over the break?”

“Uh huh,” Nick said nodding his head. “Going upstate to be with my grandparents. You?”

“Same here,” Lane replied looking over at Nick. “Except I’m going down south to Mississippi.”

Nick scrunched his face up in confusion. “Mississippi? For some reason I thought you were from Kansas.”

Lance laughed. “Um, no,” he said. “Not the state of Dorothy and Todo.”

Nick chuckled. “Sorry,” he said. A few seconds later he asked, “Um, you joined genesians, right?”

“Yup,” Lance responded. “Why?”

“You gonna be helping out with the senior Christmas play?” Nick questioned.

“Of course,” Lance said. “I’m helping with the back drops and backgrounds and on the day of the play I’m helping with the lighting.”

“Oh, cool,” Nick said. “I’m helping with the back drops and painting the backgrounds as well. However, I’m actually the assistant director for the show. Brian‘s doing stage direction and taking care of back stage drama. Scott and Marsh are in the play. They‘re gonna play the lead characters.”

“Really?” Lance questioned. “I didn’t know that. You read the play, already?”

Nick nodded his head. “Yeah, I was there on Tuesday when they had the auditions, it’s a really cool and funny play. It’s gonna be awesome.”

“I be-” Lance said.

“Shit!” Nick exclaimed, cutting Lance off, as he heard foot steps walking away down the hall in a hurry. He had a feeling he knew just who’s those were. “Sorry but I gotta go. Later.” With that Nick got up and jogged after the person down the hall and grabbing a firm hold on his arm pulling him into the staircase and escorting them up to the top of the second floor stairs.

“Let me go, N-”

“Look, I’m sorry for not asking you to come with us out in the hall,” Nick said running his free hand through his hair in frustration. “I swear, I was just going to talk to Brian but then Lance and AJ showed up.”

“I don’t care about that-”

“Then, Justin, why the hell are you acting like I killed your dog?” Nick questioned, not understanding Justin’s behavior.

Justin narrowed his eyes and forcefully freed his arm from Nick’s hold. “Don’t fucking yell at me!”

Nick took in a few deep breaths and un-fisted his hands. Opening his eyes he looked steadily at Justin. “I wasn’t yelling at you,” he said, calmly. “Why did you walk away just a few seconds ago?”

“That’s none of your business,” Justin spat out. “I wanted to be alone for a few minutes but it seems that the place I wanted to go with was already occupied.”

“Okay,” Nick simply said and climbed down a few steps before pausing to turn around to look at Justin. He opened his mouth to say something but then closed it before shaking his head and continuing down the stairs to go back to the table and his dinner. ‘Maybe I’m better off being with a girl,’ he thought to himself as he exited the staircase. ‘At least they’re some what easier to understand than guys namely Justin.’