"If you are so dumb then how in the world are you eligible to take the classes that you are taking, huh? How did you mange to get into Xavier in the first place... one of the most competitive and challenging schools to get into? Would Xavier let a 'pansy BOY' play football? No, I don't think so. I know for a fact that you didn't use her for her money. You're parents make more than enough to not only take care of you, your brother, and four sisters but to also deposit $500 dollars in your accounts each month. I mean, c'mon? Don't listen to her. SHE is the dumb, pathetic loser. SHE'S the ugly one, not you. Never you."

Nick had stopped crying by the time Brian finished talking but he was still sniffling. He desperately looked at Brian... looked in his eyes... searching for dishonesty, for any sign that he might be lying. It's not that Brian would lie to Nick... he knew this but he just wanted to make sure. "Really?" He asked sounding so innocent that Brian couldn't help but let the tears fall.

"Really! She doesn't know just what she's missing and what she let go. She doesn't!" Brian looked directly into Nick's searching eyes. "Really."

After a few minutes Nick sighed and nuzzled his face into the groove of Brian's neck while Brian rested his head on Nick's head. Brian looked at the time and saw that it was almost five... the kids would be home soon.

"Hey Nick?" Brian asked.

"Hmm mmm," came Nick's sleepy response.

"It's almost five... and I don't know if-"

Nick immediately cut Brian off. "Oh damn, I should like take a shower and change," he said and without waiting for Brian to say anything more he got off the bed and ran into his bathroom. Within seconds Brian heard the water running.

Shaking his head Brian walked over to the closed door and yelled, "Make sure you don't shower with your school uniform on." Then he laughed when he heard Nick exclaim "Shit!" God only knew how much he loved that kid, Brian thought to himself. Walking over to Nick's closet he picked out a pair of gray sweat pants and a long sleeved white shirt that had Nirvana's logo on it. He then went over to the dresser and picked out a pair of boxers and new socks. Placing them on the bed he went towards the white intercom box and turned it off.

By the time Nick emerged from the bathroom-dripping wet wearing nothing but a towel Brian had managed to organize the stuff on Nick's desk. He made a few piles.. . one pile was his homework and the other were of textbooks... just how Nick liked it. "I'm going to go downstairs and wait for you, okay? And I put your clothes on the bed." Brian said before exiting Nick's room and making his way down to the kitchen.

Brian walked into the kitchen and immediately walked over to Jane who was leaning over the sink, her hand covering her mouth, and trying to stop the sobs that were threatening to come out. Placing his hand on her back he gently spoke. "I know I told you that you'll have to wait for him to approach you but I guess... I kinda... I don't know just why I did that. You needed to know and so ... yah."

Jane shook her head. "It's okay, Bri. I understand why you did it." She tried to get herself together. "Thank you. I just... I can't believe that happened. My poor baby!"

"He didn't tell me all this yesterday. Only the first part but how he got those bruises... it was my first time hearing it too. Um, he's going to come down any minute..." Brian trailed off just as he heard rustling noises coming from the entry hallway.

Jane sighed. "The kids are home. I, uh... they don't know anything about what happened with Nick. I don't know what to tell them about his bruises..." Jane started to panic.

"Shhh, it's okay. I'm sure Nick will think of something and we'll play along with it..."

Jane nodded. "Okay, I just finished preparing few sandwiches... after school snacks for the kids... I'm going to start on dinner now. Could you help me by taking the food platter and giving it to the kids?"

Brian nodded and went about doing what Jane had asked.

* * * * * * * * * *

The second Nick had walked down the stairs after getting dressed his siblings had hugged him to death... well, Nick felt like it was to his death because the pain from the bruises as they touched him was killing him. But he managed to hold the screaming inside and smile back at them. Once they got over their excitement over Nick being home so early they gasped at the state they their brother was in.

"Nicky, wha... what happened?" Leslie, the middle child, asked him.

"Oh my god, Nick. Who did that to you?" BJ, the second oldest, gasped out.

Aaron and Angel had clung on to either leg and were crying. "Who hurt Nicky? Why hurt Nicky?" They were saying between tears.

Jane and Brian had watched the scene unfold from the kitchen, both trying desperately not to cry. They watched as Nick wobbled with Aaron and Angel still holding his legs... over to the couch using every ounce of strength he had in him and sit them all down. Nick told them that the reason for all the bruises was because he was boxing and being an idiot. He spent his free third period in the weight room of his school just fooling around with his friends. That he didn't feel any pain or anything and didn't realize the damage till he removed his headgear and tasted blood.

"It really doesn't hurt," Nick said looking between the twins that were seated on his lap and at his other two sisters on either side of him. "It's not a big deal."

"Promise you'll never do that again, okay?" BJ said seriously. "I don't like it one bit."

"Yah," Leslie said as she linked her right hand with Nick's left one and rested her head on his shoulder. BJ did the same on her side and kissed the back of Aaron's head since it was right in front of her.

"I promise," Nick sighed and turned on the TV. For the next two hours or so they watched the TV series of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin and munching on the snacks their mom had made for them. Brian on the other hand stayed in the kitchen and helped Jane with dinner.

It wasn't until around 8:45 that all the Carters and Brian we're seated at the dinner table. Having said their grace... everyone started digging into their meals and jumped into conversations about what happened that day in school. Rob, Nick's father, had remained silent only throwing in occasional responses when asked. His mind and eyes kept traveling back to his eldest son who was smiling and laughing like nothing had ever happened. Rob would have believed his son was truly happy if it weren't for that big purplish- blue bruise that decorated his left eye and the cut lip on the right side.

* * * * * * * * * *

Everyone, with the exception of Nick and his mom, went into the living room to get ready to watch a movie. It was a school night, yes, but it was also one of the very rare nights that dinner was early and both Rob and Jane were home before ten. So, it being a school night was over looked and also because tomorrow was Friday.

"Thanks mom," Nick said as he kissed his mom on the cheek and hugged her from the back. "Dinner was wonderful... my favorite!"

Jane smiled as she turned around and hugged her son back with as much love she could muster up. "You're absolutely welcome, son." She cupped his face in her hands and kissed his forehead and said, "I love you, don't ever forget that, okay?" She gently pushed aside the blond strands of hair that covered Nick's eyes.

Nick looked back at his mom and hugged her tight. "I know mom, and I won't forget." He sighed. He saw the sadness in her eyes and it killed him to know that his mom was hurting because he didn't tell her just what had happened. Pulling back he asked, "Can we talk?"

Jane nodded. "Sure, of course."

Nick looked around and said, "Not here and not now. Let's just finish cleaning up and we'll go upstairs and talk." With that they both silently cleaned the dishes before walking into the living room and seeing Rob, BJ, and Leslie seated on the couch with a blanket covering them and a bowl of popcorn on BJ's lap. Brian and the twins were seated on a fluffy blue blanket in the midst of pillows.

"Nicky, we gonna watch Finin Nemoooo!" Aaron exclaimed excitedly.

Nick laughed. "Oooo, I love that movie... I'll join you guys in a few minutes okay?" Nick said and then indicated for his dad to join him and his mom.

"We'll be right back," Rob said as he excused himself and followed Jane and Nick up the stairs to the second floor. Nick made himself comfortable on the small love seat across from his parent's bed while his parents sat on the foot end of the bed facing their son.

Nick looked at his parents and thought about all the times that they were there for him. Flashbacks to family vacations and all the good times they had together. He looked at his mom and thought about all the times when he was sick and how she would stay with him rubbing his tummy and make him some hot chicken noodle soup. Sometimes she'd even read him a story from one of his books even though he was over ten. He remembered how she would stay awake all night watching him sleep while he struggled with a fever or how she'd help him with one of his school projects.

Looking at his father he recalled times when they went on father-son fishing/camping trips. The times when his father had taught him how to play football and basketball and sometime even wrestling. His father had taught him how to drive and no matter what had provided Nick with everything he ever wanted or asked for. He also recalled the time his father had given him the talk... he was stuttering and flustered. It was hilarious, especially when Nick told his father that he knew about sex already, after all they do live in New York City AND that it didn't take a genius to figure out how it's done... with all the movies and TV shows and stuff.

"You guys are probably wondering just what really happened, aren't you?" Nick asked in a quiet voice and snickered when both his parents gave him a 'DUH' look. "Okay, okay..." Nick stated and then went on to explain in precise detail of everything that had happened the day before yesterday, the conversation he had with her on the phone, and yesterday, when he went over to her place.

By the time he was done explaining his parents had moved over to the couch Nick was seated on and were hugging their crying son, Jane with tears and Rob suppressing them. They did their best in reassuring him that what his girlfriend had said was all false. He was nothing like what she had said he was. After a few minutes of hugging and crying and reassuring they all got themselves together.

"Hey mom?" Nick asked before they exited the room.

"Yea?" Jane turned around and faced him.

"I think I'm going to go to school tomorrow-"

"What?" Rob asked.

"Are you sure, I mean you don't loo-"

Nick cut his mother off. "I know I don't look that great at the moment but I'm sure with your make-up expertise I'll look decent," Nick laughed and laughed even more when he saw the look on his dad's face.

"Now, I don't want you to start cross-dressing or something." Rob teased. "I'd be scarred for life or something!"

"Oh be quiet Rob," Jane laughed then in a serious tone asked, "Are you positive?"

"Yes, mom. I don't want to break my perfect attendance either."

"Honey-"

"I want to mom. Please? I already finished all my homework that's due tomorrow and the homework due today I already handed in before you came and picked me up."

"Okay," Jane sighed and followed her husband and son down the stairs to the living room. She knew there was no use in arguing with her son. They got comfortable as they watched the rest of the movie.

* * * * * * * * * *

It wasn't until about 11:40 that the movie had finished and all the candy Brian had brought with him eaten. Aaron, Angel, and Leslie had fallen asleep cuddled up next to Nick while the rest were in a doze. Carefully, as to not wake up the bodies that were practically sleeping on him, Nick reached up behind him and gently shook one of his parents' legs. He didn't know which was which but knew it was one of theirs. His parents woke up and carried Aaron and Angel up to their room on the second floor while Nick carried Leslie to her room and Brian carried BJ to the elevator shaft to the third floor to her room. Once that was taken care of Nick and Brian said their good nights to his parents and made their way to Nick's room.

Once in Nick's room Nick immediately headed straight for the bed and got comfortable under the warm blankets. Brian joined Nick a few minutes later after he changed into his pajamas.

Nick was half asleep before Brian spoke up.

"Nick?" Brian asked sleepily.

"Hmmm mmm..."

"I almost forgot... Justin told me to tell you thank you. That he knows he aced that bio quiz of his and that hope you feel better." Brian yawned and turned over on his right side so that he was facing the back of Nick's head.

"Oh, okay." Nick said and then stated, "Shit, I was supposed to meet him today. I totally forgot, damn!"

"It's okay Nick. He understood that you weren't feeling well. Don't worry about it!" Brian assured him.

"I should've at least had someone give him a note for me or something." Nick rolled over on his back. "How long did he wait for, do you know?"

"I think until 3:30 or something."

"Ouch!"

"Nick...?"

"Hmm?"

"Justin likes you."