Read Tale of Three: Alec and Nick :: Talk

Everything was going exactly the way Alec wanted it to. He got to talk to Nick last night, and they were going to walk home together after school. They would finally be able to talk. Nothing could ruin this day for him.

"Alec!"

He stopped in his tracks the moment Felicity appeared in front of him. He had forgotten all about her. But there she was. In front of him once again. His good mood soured, and he looked down at her.

"What do you want?"

"To talk like I said yesterday."

"And like I said. We have nothing to talk about."

"Not happening."

Alec pushed his way past her to get to class. He hoped she wouldn't follow him, but he knew otherwise.

"Alec, wait." She grabbed onto his arm. "I know I was wrong, but please, baby. Let's talk about this."

"There's no point." Alec pulled away. "You seriously don't get it if you think I'm just gonna get back together with you."

"But baby..."

"Stop, Felicity."

Alec started to walk away, wanting to put as much distance between them as he could. He reached his classroom when he stopped. Nick was standing next to the door and was talking with Tate. There was that feeling again in Alec's chest. He didn't like that he was talking to someone else. Alec took a deep breath and marched over.

"Hey, Nick." He smiled as he stopped next to him.

"Hey." Nick looked up at Alec and quickly lowered his head. "Alec."

Alec couldn't help but find Nick cute. He could see a small shade of pink in his cheeks and wanted to touch his skin. He wondered what it felt like. He was sure it would be soft against his fingers.

"We'll meet up tomorrow if you can't make it today."

Tate's voice broke Alec away from his trance, and he looked up. Alec noticed someone further down the hall, a smaller boy who was looking at Tate. It was Lukas. He was in the same grade as him but in a different class.

"Okay," Nick answered Tate. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah."

And without another word, Tate left. Alec was still looking at Lukas, who had started to follow after Tate.

"Hey, Lukas."

"Hi, Alec."

Lukas didn't stay to chat, and he quickly went on his way. Alec turned to see where he was going and saw he was following after Tate. He shrugged and looked back at Nick, who was still standing next to him.

"We're still going home together?"

"Yeah." Nick nodded, lowering his eyes.

Alec smiled, and without thinking, he leaned down, placing his lips to Nick's ear.

"You're cute when you blush."

Nick's eyes were wide, and his face was completely flushed. Alec felt his heart thump, and he had this irresistible urge to touch Nick. He reached up, inches away from finally being able to touch him.

"Alec!"

Alec stopped, and rage built up inside him. He turned slowly around, and Nick bolted into the classroom. Felicity was there again. Being persistent and annoying. He didn't remember her being like this when they were dating.

"You want to talk. Then fine, we will talk, but when I'm ready." Alec took a step towards her. "So stop harassing me and wait."

Before she had time to say anything, Alec left and went to class.

~*~

Alec bolted out of his seat when the bell rang. It had been one of those days. Waiting for school to finish was painful. He couldn't concentrate and couldn't help but keep his eyes on Nick. He had made the first step last night, and now he was finally going to be able to spend time with him.

He put his things in his bag quickly and ran over to Nick's seat.

"Hey." Nick jumped when he suddenly showed up and dropped his pencil. "Sorry I scared you." Alec bent down and picked up Nick's pencil.

"That's okay." Nick took his pencil, avoiding Alec's gaze.

"Shall we go?"

Nick nodded as he grabbed his bag. They walked side by side, their arms gently grazing each other from time to time. They exited the school without anyone interfering, and Alec couldn't be happier.

They lived an hour from the school, but they never took public transport. Ever since they were kids, they would walk to their schools, and it became a habit for them. Alec was glad to see that Nick still did it even if they weren't together.

Questions he wanted to ask Nick filled Alec's mind, but he didn't know which one to start with.

"How's soccer?" Nick was the first one to break the silence.

"Huh… oh good." Alec smiled. "The new season is starting soon, so the Coach is really pushing us hard."

"Don't overwork yourself."

"Yeah." Alec glanced at Nick. His eyes were glued to the cement in front of him. "How about you? How are your studies going?"

"Good."

"Why aren't you in the advanced class? You have the grades."

"I didn't see the point. My college program doesn't require them."

"But you're taking more classes than us, right?"

"Yeah." Nick nodded. "Chemistry, Biology and advanced math."

Alec nodded. Nick was always good at school. He was just surprised he wouldn’t go to the advanced class. Alec stared at Nick from the corner of his eye. They had stopped talking, but he felt the way he did in the past, at ease. Like he could be himself.

"Hey, Nick?"

"Yeah." Nick looked over at Alec.

"What happened? Why did we stop talking?" Alec stopped walking and gently grabbed onto Nick's arm, stopping him as well. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No." Nick shook his head. "You didn't do anything."

"Then why?"

"It's complicated."

Alec wanted to say something but saw Nick's face and held back. Something had happened, but he knew Nick wouldn't tell him. They arrived home and stopped in front of Nick's house.

"Well, this is me." Nick smiled lightly. "See you."

"Can you promise me something?"

"What?" Nick looked at him again.

"That we can go back to the way things were before."

There was a silence that followed that made Alec's chest tighten. Nick lowered his head, and his hands balled into fists.

"I'm sorry, Alec. I can't."

Nick turned towards his house and quickly went in, leaving Alec standing there by himself.

"Alec?"

Felicity was waiting in front of his house. He sighed and walked over. He stopped in front of her.

"Well, let's go somewhere."

"Why don't we just go in?"

"I don't want you in my house."