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FRIDAY - 12.24.04
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Nick had spent the better part of the last two days running around with his parents, siblings, and Brian trying to get things ready for the party as well as last minute gift shopping. The thing about his family is that as soon as Thanksgiving was over and December hits, all the Christmas decorations were out of storage and already decorating their three floor loft, all before the first December night is over. For that, Nick loves his family. It meant they didn't have to worry about things like decorating when it came close to Christmas day. They could leave that time for last minute gift shopping and other things of that nature. Like what they did the last two days.

Christmas Eve. Noon. Nick had woken up rather early to finish getting his room and the two guest bedrooms ready for the guests and the party. The Littrell's, McLean’s, and the Timberlake's were coming. The plan was to have AJ and Justin share one of the guest bedrooms and Brian to room in with Nick, like always. Harold, Brian's older brother wasn't going to be spending the night, so Nick didn't have to worry about that. Justin's parents would get the other guest bedroom while AJ's mom and her fiancé would spend the night with the Littrell's in their apartment.

"I'll get it," Nick yelled out as he walked out of the guest bedroom on the main floor to go answer the door. He was met with someone with armful of bright, colorful, glossy, shiny, Christmas decorated gift wrapped boxes... with legs. "Ooo."

"Dude," the voice traveled from behind the boxes. "These things are kinda heavy, you think I could put them down inside somewhere or at least help me out a bit?"

Nick snickered as he reached out and grabbed the small red box from the top of the pile. "There," he said and stepped aside, opening the door wide so that the other teen could fit through.

"Gee, thanks," came the response and Nick didn't have to see the guy's face to know that accompanying the response was a set of eyes rolling. "Big help!"

"No problem, you know I'd do anything to help ya out, Frick," Nick said and closed the door behind them before escorting Brian towards the big table set up beside the Christmas in the corner of the living room by the balcony doors.

Brian sighed as he gently placed all the gifts on the table while Nick watched. "Sometimes, you're a pain in the rear-end," he said sticking his tongue out at Nick.

Nick beamed at that and took a bow. "Why thank you," he said and carefully placed the small red box on top of one of the gifts Brian brought in. "You're here early!"

"Yeah, well," Brian said as he walked over to the couch and flopped down. "Thought I'd come by and help out..."

Nick raised his eye brow and smirked. "Then get your rear-end off the couch and come with me into the guest room," he said.

"I was just being polite..." Brian whined and then pouted as Nick grabbed his arms and pulled him up before dragging him down to the guest room. Once inside he noted that the bed was had made.

"Yea, yea," Nick said picking up the sheets he was working on when Brian had rang the door bell. "Grab that end, will ya?"

They spent the next few minutes making the bed and setting it up to perfection before tidying up the room. Jane had left specific instructions on how this room should look like and Nick and Brian followed each rule like there was no tomorrow. They double checked everything and when that was done they stood by the door and scanned their accomplishments with smiled on their faces.

"Good job!" Nick said as he high-fived Brian before they both left the guest room and proceeded to the other guest room, the one AJ and Justin would be sharing that night.

"You sure you want me to room in with you tonight?" Brian questioned as he started to remove the old bed spread and sheets and then watched as Nick took out the new ones. "Wouldn't you rather it be Justin?"

Nick stopped all movements for a moment, contemplating that before he shook his head. "Would you rather room with AJ than me?" He questioned and snickered when Brian's face scrunched up, unhappy. "Besides," he continued on as he dropped the new sheets on the chair before he and Brian began making the bed. "You actually think mom and dad would let me share a bed with Justin, the guy I like?"

Brian grinned. "Oh, I forgot they knew," he said with a shrug. "Would be interesting, though."

"I would think so too," Nick said chuckling. "But honestly, I don't think I'm ready for any of THAT yet and in a way I'm kinda happy to not share a room with him."

This caused Brian to look at Nick oddly. "You are?"

Nick nodded his head as he ran his hands through his brown hair. "Yeah," he said with a sigh. "It's like when I'm with him, alone... my body has a mind of it's own. Doesn't matter if *I* don't want anything to escalade but my hormones have like a whole ‘nother theory. Besides he and I are not even dating, I don't wanna do things to mess anything up before anything gets started, ya know?"

Brian thought about that and nodded his head. "I understand," he said with a smile. "You're just afraid that you guys would end up having sex before you even kiss!"

Nick rolled his eyes as he grabbed a pillow and attempted to hit a laughing Brian in the face. "You're so not funny!"

"Seriously," Brian said ducking his head again as Nick attempted to hit him again with the pillow. "How long has it been since you two have known that ya'll got the hots for each other? Huh? You should be up to second base by now, at LEAST!"

"It's not about the sex, at all," Nick said with wide eyes. "I'm not sure how I feel about THAT at the moment but I really do care about him and I want something meaningful, something solid, something... special in our relationship whenever it is that it'll start. I don't want to hurt him AND I don't wanna get hurt, Bri."

Brian couldn't help but put on a proud smile for his best friend. "I know, Frack," he said. "Believe me, I know you. But Justin's willing to. That kid's got it in for you, big time. You should've seen his face at school when he saw you with all that lipstick on your face!"

"I did see his face," Nick said.

"No, from where I was," Brian replied shaking his head. "He's not gonna hurt you, Nick. He's not like HER and heck, he's not like any of the other girls you've dated!"

"Duh!" Nick exclaimed. "He's a GUY-"

"Don't start that with me," Brian said with a firm voice. "You KNOW what I mean!"

"Sorry," Nick said fluffing up the pillows.

"Are you at least going to kiss him under the mistletoe tomorrow night?" Brian questioned.

Nick let a small smile grace his face. "We'll see," he said. "I don't wanna plan or assume anything. Just let things go with the flow."

Brian nodded his head and then spent the rest few minutes in silence as they finished making the two beds. He then started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Nick questioned, frowning, as he looked at Brian.

"Sorry," Brian said. "I was just thinking about what happened Wednesday... all that lipstick on your face... the reactions of the people we walked passed in the subway," he paused to laugh harder. "And that... old lady... who asked if you had that... mosquito disease... or poison ivy rash... and... and... your mom's reaction... when... you... got ... home."

Nick was not at all pleased with this. He stood there with his arms crossed over his chest with a sneer on his face. "You should have told me that I still had all the shit on my face," he said. "And some best friend you are... going off and snapping away pictures of me..."

This caused Brian to double over and laugh even harder, if it was possible. "Good times," he said. "Going... right into... my... priceless memories... photo...album!"

"Whatever," Nick said as he turned around to inspect the room.

Brian spent the next few minutes trying to catch his breath and stop any more laughter or chuckles from building up, though it was hard to do. "Whacha thinkin' 'bout?" He questioned walking up behind Nick and throwing his arm over his shoulder.

Nick shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't really thinking about anything in particular.

"You know," Brian said. "I just thought of something. You're first... male kiss... it's not Justin as you wanted it to be..."

Nick frowned as he looked over at Brian, not understanding what that meant but as Brian remained silent Nick thought about it more and that's when it dawned on him that... "Shit! It's Marshall!"

Brian slowly nodded his head. "Yeah... a straight guy gave you your first guy kiss," he said. He was a little saddened that it wasn't HIM that had been Nick's first male kiss... considering all the things that they've been through together for all these years... also... because they were BEST FRIENDS. But then again, it would have just been really awkward it if HAD been HIM. He didn't want things to be awkward between himself and Nick. He didn't think he would handle that very well.

"No wonder why Justin's face paled when I told him it was Marshall," Nick said, finally understanding Justin's behavior.

"You now Nick," Brian said. "For a straight A student you sure are dense sometimes... I don't think dying your hair to cover up your blondeness would ever cover up the fact that you will always be blonde!"

Nick was about to retort to that when he heard his mom calling out to him. "Yeah?" Nick questioned, walking out into the hall as he bent over to the edge of the rails.

Jane walked out of the kitchen and spotted her son on the third floor looking down at her. "Who was that at the door?" It was then that she saw Brian walk up next to Nick and waved at her. "I see," she said with a chuckle. "Are the rooms set?"

"Yea," Nick said as he and Brian started walking down the stairs. "The girls and Aaron are still working on getting their rooms all neat and tidy."

"Alright then," Jane said as she walked back into the kitchen, where she was for the better part of the morning, cooking up a storm. "Lunch should be served in a half hour, make sure the kids are ready by then."

"Okay," Nick said as he and Brian got off on the second floor and checked on the kids.