"Right, so... math. Let's get that started." Nick said and sighed. It felt like he was in a movie scene. Scenes in which the two lead characters are surrounded by silence just before they kiss. This definitely wasn't such a good idea; Nick thought but reminded himself that Justin really needed help.

"Right," Justin opened his math textbook as well as his notebook that had his test papers between the pages. "My test tomorrow is from chapters 5 and 6. I also have make up tests for the first two tests next week. My teacher said that she'd let me re-take the tests after I pleaded my case." Justin chuckled.

Nick frowned. "You know you should have told the dean or someone about those tutors," he paused, "Can I get their names now?" Justin nodded and looked through his drawer for the tutoring slips then handed them over him. Nick put those slips in his book bag. "Okay, thanks. Why don't we get started by doing problems from each chapter?" Nick leaned towards Justin so that he would be able to see what Justin was doing.

Justin sucked in a breath and forced himself to not react to Nick being so close. He closed his eyes and prayed to God that he won't do anything stupid. Justin opened his eyes and began working on the problems. Nick helped Justin with the first few problems giving his advice and tricks as to how to read the questions and just what to look for and what the question was really asking. When he felt that Justin understood what was happening he stayed quiet and watched Justin do the rest of the problems without interrupting the young boy.

It wasn't until 8:04 that Nick's cell phone went off. Quickly grabbing his phone he answered throwing an apologetic smile towards Justin. "Hold on a sec," Nick said into the phone before covering the mouthpiece. "Continue working on the problems. I'll be right back." With that Nick walked out of the room, slightly closed the door, and walked into the hallway. "Hey," Nick said.

*Hey baby* came a bubbly female voice. *You didn't call at 8 and I started getting worried. Is everything alright?*

Four minutes and she freaked out, Nick thought to himself. "I'm fine Paris. I'm sorry I didn't call. I was kinda busy with tutoring." Nick said as he leaned on the railing and looked down at the living room.

*Tutoring? You're still in school?* She asked confused.

"No. No. I'm at Justin's place helping him with math right now."

*Oh, okay. Well, don't ever not call me again! You had me worrying that something was wrong.* Paris said a bit angrily.

Nick cringed. "I really am sorry, baby. I missed you so much today," he smiled trying to change the subject. "What can I do to make it up to you?" Nick asked seductively lowering his voice a few decibels.

Paris giggled. *Come over to my place tomorrow after school. Mom and dad left on a business trip to L.A. and won't be back until Monday. I can think of a few things that we can do.* Nick could practically see her smile.

His mind began reeling. "Baby? Are you sure about it? I mean, really sure about it?" Is she?

"Of course, I am. I love you so much, Nick and I feel like you're the one. I am like so ready for this." Paris purred into the phone.

Nick couldn't help the small groan that left his throat as images of what could happen tomorrow night flashed in his mind. "I love you too, baby. I can't wait for tomorrow night." Then Nick turned so that his right hip was leaning against the railing. He saw Justin's door and remembered something. "Shit!"

*What? What's wrong?* Paris asked.

"It's just that I'm tutoring Justin again after school tomorrow."

*But Nick... I'm sure you can find a way out of it.*

"Baby, it's just that he's been screwed over by his previous tutors and needs my help. I promised him, Paris. I can't go back on my word." Nick ran his right hand through his hair.

*That's not fair Nick. You're going to chose to tutor some dumb kid than have sex with me?* Paris said sounding pissed. *I know you can get out of this tutoring thing if you wanted to. I mean, you didn't even sign up for that thing. So, you telling me that you can't is a lie and that's telling me that you'd rather tutor than be here with me!*

"You know that's not true. You know I love you and would do anything for you. But baby, I AM telling you the truth. He really needs my help. If I don't help him pass these tests he won't be able to make it on the basket ball team." Nick tried to make his girlfriend understand.

*I don't care. I'm asking you again Nick. Are you going to come over tomorrow or not?*

What to do? What to say? Aha. "I have student council meeting tomorrow. I'll come over as soon as that's done." Nick said.

*I thought you had the meeting today?*

Lie. Come on Nick you can lie, can't you? "We were supposed to but since I had to tutor it was postponed to tomorrow." Nick lied.

"Oh, okay. I love you, Nick." Paris said.

Oh damn. "I love you too, Paris." Nick sighed then smiled. "I'll be around at like 7, okay?"

"Perfect. Do you think you can spend the night? Say that you're sleeping over your friend's house or something!*

"I can't get Brian to lie for me again. I feel bad that I'm using my friends like that," Nick said.

*Nick, it wouldn't be romantic if you didn't stay the night with me after we make love.* Paris whined. *If you leave right after that I'd feel like a cheap slut or something.*

"Okay, okay. I'll talk to Brian and see if he'll do that for me," he paused. "I gotta get going. I'll see you tomorrow."

*Okay. I love you Nick. See you then.*

"Good night, babe." Nick flipped his cell shut and walked into the bathroom. He threw some water on his face then looked at his reflection in the mirror. Quietly he said to himself, "If Justin finishes his math soon you'd better get him to start on bio for the quiz. The sooner you cover as much as possible tonight the faster you'd be able to get to Paris' place." As he walked back out of the bathroom his cell phone went off. He stopped and looked at the caller ID and immediately answered it.

* * * * * * * * * *

Justin solved one problem before curiosity had gotten the best of him. He wanted to know just who Nick was talking to and about what. So he quietly crept to the door and listened in. The more he continued to listen to Nick's conversation the more he felt like a brick had settled in his throat. Nick had a girlfriend who he's going to see her tomorrow... to have sex from the sounds of it. Oh God, now what was he supposed to do? Justin quickly walked back over to his desk and started doing the rest of the problems when Nick walked into the bathroom. Concentrating on his academics should be his first priority regardless of the amount of attraction he felt for Nick, Justin thought and scolded himself. He wouldn't get hurt that way.

A few seconds later Nick walked back into his room talking on the phone, again. Let it not be his girlfriend, Justin thought, please.

"Hey mom, yah. I am. I'm still tutoring Justin. I don't know just when this will be over though. I want to make sure he gets everything by tonight if not I might do this again tomorrow. Oh... you will. Great. Well, give me a call and I'll tell you when I'm done, okay? Sweet. One sec." Nick looked at Justin and noticed the stiffness of his shoulders.

"Hey Justin?"

"Hmm?"

"Um, what's your address?"

Justin rattled off his address in an emotionless tone without turning around to face the other man.

Back on the phone with his mother Nick said, "Did you catch that? Okay, good. Alright, you gonna tell dad? Okay. Bye ma. Love ya too." Nick flipped his cell shut and walked back over to the computer chair. He peered over Justin's shoulder to see that he'd only done four problems since he was gone. Nick frowned.

"Did you find any of the problems difficult? I mean, you've only done four. Are there any problems?" Nick asked.

Of course there is, you fucker. I don't like that fucking girlfriend of yours and I don't think you belong with her. You BELONG with ME. Only me. I'll treat you good and everything, Justin pictured himself saying instead he settled on staring down at his work and with the same monotone voice he answered. "Everything's fine." He felt the tears well up inside of him and the brick in his throat was growing an inch by the second. God, he'd just met the guy that day and he was already acting like a jealous ex-boyfriend or something. He needed to get away for a few so he quickly got up and said, "I gotta use the bathroom," and stormed out of his room leaving Nick to be slightly dazed and staring at the now closed bedroom door.

What the hell just happened? Nick thought to himself. Was it something he'd said? He gave the younger boy a few minutes before he got up and walked to the bathroom. He heard the water running in the sink and wondered if Justin was alright. Knocking lightly on the door Nick asked, "Hey Justin, is everything alright? What's wrong?"

Justin was seated on his closed toilet seat, face in his hands, and trying to compose himself. As soon as he'd left his room he turned on the faucet in the bathroom, locked the door, and sat himself down on the toilet. What the hell was wrong with him? Why did he get so jealous? It's not like the other man is gay or anything. Oh man, what if he thinks that I'm such a pussy? Justin quickly got up and washed his tear stained face. That was the last thing Nick was going to think of him if Justin could help it. Just then he heard a soft knock on the door and Nick's voice asking him if he was alright. Oh man. Oh man. Oh man. Oh man. What was he gonna say? What's he gonna do? He composed himself and wiped his face with the towel. Opening the door quickly he said, "Everything's fine. I just got overwhelmed with all the math problems and stuff but I think I'm okay now." He walked past the other man, down the stairs to the kitchen, grabbed another can of soda and chips, made his way back up the stairs, and into his room all the while as Nick watched him carefully trying to decipher Justin's sudden mood.

Nick shook his head. He thought women were confusing. Geez! But a part of him felt really bad that Justin was pushing himself to finish up the math problems. Nick sighed. Maybe, he'll tutor Justin during his lunch break tomorrow. Hmm. That could work. With that in mind Nick walked back into Justin's room and said, "Listen Justin, you don't have to solve everything now. You won't remember everything if you do that. I mean, from the looks of things you seem to have gotten the gist of all the problems and just how to solve them. Why don't I meet you on the senior lawn or in the courtyard, which ever you like, during your lunchtime. You can bring your lunch and all so we can work on a few more problems or I'll help you with any other questions you might have?"

Justin sighed. He felt like shit for doing that to Nick. "No one but the seniors are allowed on the senior lawn," Justin reminded Nick, as he turned to look at the other man and immediately regretted doing so because the smirk he received caused for all the butterflies in his stomach to go berserk. It was a good thing he was already seated other wise his legs would have given out on him.

"Another perk of being in the student council." Nick simply stated. "But seriously, I don't want you to think that you have to cram everything in tonight. You still have tomorrow to study."

"You're forgetting that my math test IS tomorrow," Justin stated.

"Oh, oops. I'm sorry. When is your math test though?"

"I have it after my lunch."

"Oh, well, then. Just like I was saying... we can review more stuff then."

Justin bit his bottom lip as he thought about just how he was going to approach his question. "Are you going to be helping me after school again tomorrow... you know for bio and my other math stuff?"

Nick swallowed hard at the question he was asked and then felt his guts drop at the innocent face and voice Justin had used. "I, uh... I can help during your lunch break. You have the same one with all the freshmen right? The period just after the sophomores?" Nick asked and then continued when he received a nod from Justin. "Ya, I'll help you then and maybe for an hour after school tomorrow because I have something... somewhere else that requires my presence. Prior engagements and all."

Prior engagements, HA. Justin took a deep breath, again, trying not let anything bother him. After all, it's not like Nick was marrying that girl or anything. Right? "Oh, okay."

Nick heard the disappointment in Justin's voice and his heart went out to him. He didn't know why but it did. Part of him just wanted to stay with Justin and help him through his math problems and bio but another part of him wanted to be with his girl. Damn it. "Yea, so you wanna take a break or you gonna continue working?" Nick asked as he saw that the time was almost nine.

"I'm going to work on some more." Justin said and Nick was impressed with the devotion Justin was showing.

"Okay." Nick sat down again and watched Justin do the problems. Smiling to himself when Justin finished another problem correctly Nick lifted his gaze up a little from the math paper to look at Justin's profile. He continued to watch as how every so often Justin would smile when something worked out right, how he would frown when he didn't understand something, how he would bite his bottom lip when he was thinking, and how his forehead would wrinkle up when he was concentrating hard. Nick wanted nothing more than to reach out and smooth out those wrinkles on his forehead, to turn that frown upside down, and to be the one to bite his lower lip.

FREEZE.