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WEDNESDAY - 11.10.04

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Nick was seated in the same seat at the same table in the resource center as he did the previous day. As promised he had shown up at the senior lawn entrance during sophomore lunch and had helped Justin with the last minute stuff like questions and problems Justin had or didn't understand. His leg was bouncing up and down as he bit his bottom lip nervously waiting for Justin to show up. He was really excited and nervous for Justin; he wanted to know just how the math test went. Damn it, can't he hurry up and get here already? Nick thought to himself as he looked at the clock to see that it's 3:10.

A few minutes later Justin jogged into the resource center immediately spotting Nick at the same spot as yesterday. He chuckled as he saw that both of Nick's legs were bouncing and that his thumbs were twirling. Making his way over to him and taking a seat Justin asked, "So, how it going?" Like nothing had happened.

Nick stared at Justin incredulously. "You've got to be kidding me right? How's it going? Dude, it's about time you got here. C'mon tell me how the test went!"

Justin laughed. Nick seemed to be more nervous than he was. "Oh god, Nick. I think the test was pretty good. I mean, I knew how to work those problems and I didn't have to struggle solving them because I knew what I was looking for and what I was doing. I think I did a pretty good job. Finished it in time and all." Justin all but screamed in his excited state. "Thank you so much."

Nick smiled and nodded. "Really? Wow. That's a good out look. If you really think you did an awesome job then you probably did. I'm so proud of you!"

Justin blushed. "Thank you, again."

"Don't mention it. You want to get started on the bio?" Nick asked nodding towards Justin's biology textbook and notebook that were lying next to him.

So soon? What no hug, no kiss? "Yea, yes. Let's do that. Don't you have somewhere to be though?"

Nick's smile widened. "Yup, but I can spare a few more minutes. So did you make a list and charts and stuff?"

Justin's heart skipped a beat at the smile Nick got on his face but then his heart ached at the realization of just why Nick was smiling so big. "Yea, I did," he said as all the joy and happiness in his voice disappeared. Poof.

Nick noticed the change in Justin's demeanor but ignored it for the time being. "Great, let me have a look at it and I'll quiz ya."

Justin handed over his papers. Nick spent the next thirty minutes quizzing Justin and beamed as each time Justin had gotten the answer right. It wasn't until 3:40 that Nick stopped and called it a day. He bid his good-bye and good luck to Justin saying that he'll probably see him tomorrow and that he would be expecting a review of just how the quiz went. Justin sadly said good-bye and his thanks and watched as Nick left, with a bounce in his step. Justin sighed before packing his belongings and making his way down to the locker room so that he could go home and wallow there.

* * * * * * * * * *

Nick rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans and took a deep breath as he waited for the elevator to come down. His surprise was going according to plan. Once he finished with Justin Nick had ran down to his locker in the student council room, changed out of his uniform, and got his things ready. He then went home and changed into something decent. On his way over to Paris' place he stopped and bought a bouquet of red roses that had a white teddy bear holding it and a box of chocolates. He was more than happy when the doorman recognized him and let him in without buzzing her. Yup. Everything was going smoothly. The elevator arrived and Nick pressed the button to the 25th floor. Within what seemed like seconds instead of two minutes the elevator dinged indicating that he was on the floor. He walked across the hall, knocked on the door, and waited for someone to open it. When no one came he knocked again, this time he tried the knob and was surprised when it turned in his hand. Hmm, maybe she was expecting me, Nick thought. Some surprise perhaps? Slowly he opened the door and peeked inside. Everything was quiet. He walked into the apartment on his tiptoes trying to be as quiet as possible. Once he was inside he could hear faint music coming from one of the rooms. Nick smiled and walked into the living room. He knew which room was Paris' but he just wanted to make sure that it was indeed her room that the music was coming from. Standing in the center of it he stared at the two doors on either side of the couch. The music seemed to be coming from the room on the left. Yes, that was her room, alright.

Getting closer to the door Nick could not only hear the music but he could faintly hear moaning and grunting. What the hell? He slowly turned the knob of the door and opened it. He stepped inside and froze at the sight he was met with.

Not wanting to be recognized or to make a big scene or to feel more stupid than he already did, he quietly closed the door walked to the wastebasket in the kitchen. Removing the cards attached to both the flowers and the chocolates he threw them into the basket and left. He wasn't going to think about it. No. He was just going to go home and do his homework. Yes. He has a lot of homework to do. He needed to concentrate on his academics rather than girls. They always seem to mess him up. With a new goal in mind Nick swallowed the lump in his throat and walked out of the building. A few seconds later he found himself in front of the subway not knowing just how he'd gotten there. He stood there in middle of the sidewalk staring at the stairs that led down into the subway. Then he turned around and looked down the sidewalk from the direction he knew he just walked from even though he didn't recall it. He'd never felt so lost and lonely than he did at the moment. He didn't know where to go or what to do. Why did these things have to happen to him?