Here On Earth: Chapter 11

"It's Christmas Eve and there's not a damn thing on! Not even some Christmas special!" Sarah threw down the remote control and got up from the couch, the first time in three days that Nick had seen her get up from her spot on the couch. "I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when it's Christmas." Nick watched as Sarah stalked to her bedroom and slammed the door shut.
"I hate to see her like that." Brian had joined Nick on the couch. "I hate to see her unhappy. I just want to hold her…" Brian's eyes met Nick's. "Sorry."
"It's okay, Rok. I would feel the same way." Nick felt bad that he had Eva wrapped up in his arms and that Sarah couldn't even see Brian.
"Well, it's ten o'clock Nick." Eva looked up at him. "We can't stay any longer."
"Why not?" Nick asked, wanting Eva to stay in his arms.
"It's part of the deal. We can't be with you after ten. That way you can have until midnight tonight to make your decision without us pressuring you. We also won't know who you chose until Tina tells us." Brian got up from the couch and stood next to Nick. "Nick, whatever you decide…I love you, man."
Nick got up and hugged Brian tight, then turned to Eva, giving her a hug and nothing more so as to treat them both the same.
"I love you, baby," Eva whispered, tears coming from her eyes.
"I love you both." Nick watched until the last of them faded away, then sat rigidly down on the couch. There was no way that he could sit there relaxed when he had so much to think about.
He got up again and began pacing, weighing the pros and cons of both Brian and Eva.
"Brian…pros…he makes a bunch of people happy, he makes me happy, he's a great friend to all of us guys, he's a great boyfriend, he's a good man…cons…I don't know. Eva…pros…I love her, she makes me happy, she has her parents to think about, she's always there for anyone who needs a friend, always willing to listen and help…cons…I don't know!" He pulled at his hair, frustrated. "Either way, I lose the best thing that ever happened to me!"
Then Nick heard Tina's words echoed in his head again, "Think not only of how their lives have not only affected you, but have affected other people as well."
"Okay…Brian's affected fans all around the world, his family, friends, his church, me, the guys…Eva's affected all the children she helps at the daycare, me, her family, friends, the poor people she donates to…There's no definite decision! Either way, a lot of people lose!"
He stopped pacing and stood still in the middle of the living room. He slowly turned and looked at the clock. "Damn! I didn't know that much time had passed!" The clock read 11:30. "But Eva and Brian just left! It was just ten o'clock!"
He began debating his decision rapidly in his mind, covering every angle that he could think of. When he had made his decision, he looked at the clock. 11:57. Nick took a deep breath, knowing what he had to do.

Chapter 12
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