"I like him too. He's a pretty cool guy."

"Not what I meant." Brian closed his eyes and by the time he opened them Nick was looking at him with a confused look. "That bracelet he wears..."

"I know it's a pride bracelet... he's either bi or gay. I know that much but I don't get what you're trying to say."

"Justin like you."

"I like him too..." Nick paused. "Oh. OH.... Ohhhhh. You mean he likes... LIKES me?" Nick's eyes were wide.

All Brian could do was nod his head.

"How do you know?" Nick asked curiously.

"The first day you brought him down to the student council room I noticed that he kept looking at you with this dreamy face and lazy smile. And today I was in the main office making copies of the flyer for the Thanksgiving dinner and dance when Justin walked in and asked about you. He didn't notice me or anything but he looked so sad when he heard that you went home feeling sick and all. By the time I went down to the council room he was there talking to Scott about how close you and I are. He asked me if you were alright and what had happened to you. I mean, he already knew from Brother Michaels but he still came down and asked about you. He genuinely looked worried and a little hurt," Brian trailed off.

Nick didn't know why but that little bit of information made him feel a bit better. "Oh... what do you think about it?"

"Think about what?"

"Homosexuality..." Nick really wanted to know his opinion.

"I don't know. I mean, I'm not homophobic or anything. I guess I just don't care, whatever." Brian shrugged. "What about you?"

"Same here but I don't know. When I first noticed that bracelet he wore I kinda started thinking about things. I'm not opposed to homosexuality... but right now I got a lot going on in my life to think about that." Nick yawned.

"Hmm, do you think you'd want to like... date him... or something?" Brian asked curiously.

"Uhhh, no. At least I don't think so. I don't know him all that well and I should really concentrate on school. I don't need anymore drama in my life besides if you haven't noticed I have terrible luck in the dating department."

"I've noticed but Nick... maybe being with Justin would be different." Brian suggested.

Nick snorted. "Of course it'll be different. He's a guy... he's got a dick... something my ex girlfriends didn't have."

Brian laughed.

"And a good thing too, otherwise I'd have been traumatized or scarred for life or something." Nick shuddered at that thought.

"Nick, you're too much." Brian said between chuckles.

Nick smiled. "Seriously, I've actually thought about it.... homosexuality I mean. I'm not gay, I'm straight BUT if a guy comes along and I happen to really like him then I might give it a go... that is if he's bi or gay. Other than that I'm sticking with women well, to be on the safe side... I'll stick with my studies."

Brian sighed. "Okay."

"Brian?"

"Hmm mmm."

"What about you?"

"I... uh, I," Brian rolled on to his back just like Nick and turned his head so that they were both looking at each other. "I never told anyone this... but there is this guy in my choir class... his name is Josh... and he's just so," Brian looked up at the dark ceiling trying to think of words to describe him. "I don't know. There's just something about him that I find intriguing."

"What? Why? When? How? You didn't tell me?" Nick pouted.

"I know and I'm sorry. It's just that I noticed him about a week ago when we got paired up to sing soprano for the Christmas play. I don't know... at first I thought I just noticed him cuz he's really talented but then I started thinking about him a lot and every time I close my eyes I see him."

"Wait a minute... Josh? Josh Hartnett, Chasez, Groban, or Jackson?" Nick asked trying to remember the Josh's in the junior class who were friends with Brian.

"Guess," was Brian's response.

Nick thought about it for a moment and then remembered Brian saying something about the choir. There were only two that were in the choir. "I'm down to two. It's either Groban or Chasez." Nick thought more. There was no way Brian would like Groban so it had to be...."Chasez!?"

"Yea..."

"Ohhh, he's cute," Nick said.

"Oh shut up." Brian chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"What? I'm serious, he is!"

"You think so?" Brian really wanted Nick's opinion.

"Of course!"

"Justin's kinda cute too if you like the wavy...curly hair do thing he's got going on," Brian said chuckling.

"Hmmm, maybe." Nick yawned again and looked at the time. "It's almost 1:30... we should get to sleep."

"Changing the subject, are we?" Brian smirked.

Maybe. "No, it's late. We'll talk about this more later, I promise." Nick yawned.

"Okay... g'night Nick." Brian closed his eyes and turned on to his right side.

"Night Bri," Nick stated turning on to his left side and watched Brian sleep for a few seconds before falling asleep. The conversation he just had with Brian and thoughts of Justin playing in his mind.

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FRIDAY - 11.12.04

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It's been a long morning even though he had only woken up an hour ago Justin was beat and couldn't wait till the end of the day so that he could go home and wallow. At 8:05 he made his way towards his homeroom, deep in thought about his life and just what's going on. When he had left the Student Council office yesterday afternoon emptiness had filled him. An emptiness that was coated with loneliness and longing for something Justin couldn't decipher.

He'd spent all evening and most of the night just pondering about Nick and trying to get the guts to call him. But every time he'd picked up the phone he'd immediately placed it back on its cradle. His nerves just wouldn't allow him to do it and that frustrated him to no end. The frustration and worry caused him to lose his appetite and not have dinner at all. His mind trying to figure out just what had happened kept him up for the better part of the night causing him to almost oversleep. In his hurry to get to school he'd skipped his breakfast as well.

Walking into homeroom, head bent, not paying much attention to his surroundings, Justin as if on autopilot went towards his seat. However, upon reaching his destination, he frowned. Someone was seated in his assigned seat. Justin sighed. He didn't have the energy for this. He looked down at the person who had his back turned to him. Surrounding him were a few of his homeroom classmates who were all involved in a humorous tale Justin couldn't care less about. Reaching his hand out Justin gently tapped on the guy's shoulder.

"Excuse me?" he said politely. Justin waited patiently for the guy to turn around or to at least get out of his goddamn seat. Finally, after what felt like a couple hundred years, which was really only a second, the guy in the chair turned around.

Justin gasped. His eyes and mouth showed shock as his face showed surprise.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost, Timberlake!" Came the reply from smirking lips.

Justin stared.

"You okay? You look a bit pale..." There was concern and worry in that voice.

Justin was barely aware as a hand came towards him... directed at his forehead until he felt warm hands hold his head.

"You're cool, so I guess you don't have a cold or something." They diagnosis was made.

Shaking his head Justin spoke. "I thought YOU were sick!?" It came out surprisingly as both a statement and a question. Then he realized how that sounded and rephrased his statement. "I meant, I thought you weren't feeling well!"

"I was but I feel all better now."

Justin narrowed his eyes. Dropping his book bag he reached his hands out to the other boy's chin and turned the head in whichever direction to get a better look.

"What are you doing?"

"I can't find any bruises. There's no trace of you looking sick. Brother Michaels said you had bruises yesterday," Justin paused as he withdrew his hands. "But now you look like you've just come back from a long and relaxing vacation. All healthy and clean... not a sign of anything broken or bruised."

Nick smirked. Thanks mom!

Justin took a step back and pondered just what was different. Upon giving Nick a once over more for himself than anything, his eyes grew large when he noticed the big difference that brought out Nick's face more. "You CUT your hair?" Justin gaped. "You like cut your hair. Like cut it cut it. It's not long nor is it a mushroom/bowl cut... you CUT IT!"

Nick laughed. "Yea, I did." Nick lightly padded his short spikes he had gelled his hair into. It still felt a bit weird but he liked it. Nice change.

Justin narrowed his eyes again. "Don't tell me you left school early because you needed or wanted a hair cut."

Nick wrinkled his nose. "I'm not that much of a prima donna. Besides, it only took my mom like 15 minutes this morning to do it." Nick shrugged. Taking a quick glance at the time he said, "I have to get down to the office soon. I just wanted to come up here and tell you that I'm sorry for not informing you about just what was going yesterday... I kinda had other things in mind."

Justin shook his head. "No, it's okay." After a moment of silence he spoke up. "So, nothing happened to you right? I mean from what I can see you look intact and healthy which is entirely the opposite of what Brother had told me."

Nick took in a deep breath and shrugged. "I wasn't feeling well. I was kinda up the previous night and I guess the lack of sleep made me look like I've been ill or... bruised. Oh well, I'm all better now."

Justin tired not to think about just what Nick was doing up all night the other night but failed miserably when he felt his heart ache. The ache soon turned into jealousy that turned into anger. "Good for you! Now if you'll excuse me it's almost time for homeroom and you should best get going since you're not part of it!" Justin spit out.

Nick jerked back at the hard tone Justin had just used. "Well, oh. Um, yea. I'll go." Nick stuttered, confused at the way Justin's mood had just changed. Giving Justin one last glance he unsurely walked out of Justin's homeroom.

Justin lifted his head up and watched as Nick's retreating back disappeared down the hall. No, come back! He wanted to scream out to Nick. He felt a sudden sense of guilt wash over him as he recalled the shock that was etched on Nick's face.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Hey, Nick?" Brian greeted as he walked into the student council room towards the end of sophomore lunch. It was weird to look at Nick with short hair because ever since they were little Nick had always had long hair but now... it's short. Kind of takes some getting used to, Brian thought.

"Hey, Bri," Nick responded with a heavy sigh. Then looking up from his barely eaten lunch to Brian he asked, "What are you doing here? Junior lunch was last period!"

"Hmm, I know but choir class ended early and I don't have class next." Brian sat beside Nick and gently nudged him with his elbow. "What's wrong? Don't tell it has to do with HER!"

"No. It's just that this morning I went to Justin's homeroom to personally apologize. I felt kinda bad, so, I thought it'd be good if I gave an explanation in person. At first he was all shocked and surprised. Then after I told him everything was alright he snapped at me." Nick wrinkled his face. "It's like one second he was fine and the next he's pissy or something"

Brian reached over and turned Nick's face towards him. Examining closely he said, "Your mom really did an amazing job with the bruises." That morning Brian had to leave early to go back to his own apartment since that's where his clean uniform was so that he could get ready for school. But doing that caused for him to miss out when Nick's mom's put the make-up on Nick as well as cut his hair. But as he looked into Nick's eyes and saw hurt. "What exactly was said between you and Justin?"

Nick thought about it for a moment. "Well, everything was fine until I told him that I hadn't slept well the previous night and that's the reason why I had to leave early that morning. I was tired and exhausted.... and that now I'm feeling better. Then he kinda snapped at me. He was all like saying, 'Good for you. I got homeroom now and you're not in it. You better leave!' I didn't know what to say to that so I just... left."