Alec couldn't sleep after what he had seen that night. Whenever he closed his eyes, he would see Nick. Naked. Crying out his name. With the vibrator inside him.

He groaned as he rolled around in his bed. He hated this. He had no idea how to deal with the new situation in front of him. He wanted to talk to Nick. To ask him what he saw. But he knew that it would only make things awkward for Nick and would drive them further apart. Alec sat on the edge of his bed and stayed there for a while. He was so tired.

Alec sighed and decided there was no point in just staying there. He got up and went downstairs. Alec's father had left for work, but his mother and Filipe were in the kitchen when he arrived.

"Hi, Alec." Lucy smiled at him. "Are you feeling okay? You don't look like you slept much."

"I didn't sleep at all."

"Too busy jerking off?" Filipe asked with a smirk on his face.

Alec glared at him. He had forgotten about his brother walking in on him.

"Filipe, don't pick on your brother." Lucy gently hit the back of her youngest son's head as she went to Alec. She examined him and frowned. "I think you should stay home today and rest. I'll call the school."

“No.” Alec shook his head.

There was no point in staying home. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep. He would stare at the walls while trying to rack his brain around everything.

“Fine. But at least rest a bit. I’ll drive you when I get back.”

Alec wasn’t going to say no to that. He’d get a ride. He nodded and sat down at the table. Lucy served them breakfast. Alec stared at his plate, and he immediately got nauseous. It must have been the lack of sleep. He could barely stand the thought of eating and went back to his room to lie down. He didn’t slip under the covers. He just lay on top of them.

He didn't know how much time passed but the next thing he knew he heard his mother's voice calling for him from the first floor.

“Alec! Come say goodbye to Filipe!”

Alec forced himself out of bed for a second time and headed downstairs. Filipe was standing in front of the entrance with a gym bag at his feet.

“Going back already?” Alec smirked.

“Yeah. I got tired of hearing you jerk off to Nick.”

“Screw you.”

“Hey.” Lucy held herself back from smacking him behind the head. “Don’t swear at your brother.”

Filipe smirked as Alec opened his mouth in protest.

“See you the next time.” Filipe wrapped his arms around his brother. Alec tried to pull away. They never hugged before. And it felt odd. Unnatural even. “Stop trying so hard.” He whispered so only Alec could hear. It caused Alec to stop. “He’ll open up at some point.”

Alec stared at his brother. It was the first time he told him anything. He was usually quiet or very cryptic. Filipe pulled away and headed for the door.

“I’ll see you later, honey.” Lucy kissed his cheek. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay home?”

“Yeah. See you later, mom.”

Lucy was still skeptical about his decision. But there was clearly no way for her to make him reconsider.

Alec escorted them out the door and watched them leave. He thought about what his brother had told him, and he turned to Nick’s house. He wanted to walk over there. Just talk to him. But he held back. He was going to take his brother's advice. He was going to wait.

He went back inside and waited at the bottom of the staircase for his mother to return. It took about forty-five minutes before he got a call that she was back.

Alec joined her, leaning his head on the car window, letting the cold seep into his skull. It felt so good.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay, honey?"

"Yeah." Alec nodded.

His mother frowned. He could tell she was anxious about him. Alec turned his head completely to look at her.

"Don't worry. I'll call you if anything."

"Okay."

His mother parked the car at the entrance and gave him a note to explain why he had missed his first class. Alec took the note and stepped out of the car. He headed into the school with his head down. He knew he wouldn't be accepted into class unless he went to the office, so he went there first.

The secretary was nice and took his note and gave him one to attend the class that already started.

Alec's head started to hurt as he went up the stairs. The lack of sleep was clearly affecting him, but he didn't let it stop him. He didn't want to be home. It depressed him to be home. All he would do is think about Nick. He needed to keep his mind off him and what he saw last night.

He stopped in front of his classroom and knocked. The teacher glanced at him and went to open the door.

"Alec, you're late."

"Sorry, Mr. Keaton." Alec gave him a note from the office. "Won't happen again."

The teacher looked at the note then he looked back up at Alec.

"You're looking a little pale there, Alec. Are you sure you shouldn't go home?"

"No." Alec shook his head. "I'm fine."

Mr. Keaton stared at him and nodded. He moved out of the way and let Alec walk into the classroom. All of the eyes were on him. Alec was never sick or late, and it was their first time seeing him in that state.

Alec lowered his head to avoid their gaze, especially Nick's eyes. He headed towards his desk and took out his books. He could already feel his headache subside.

He opened his Math book when he felt his cell phone vibrate in his pocket. Alec knew it had to be Kyle. They were in the same class but sat on opposite sides of the classroom. Alec looked at his phone and saw a different name than Kyle's on his screen.

Nick: Are you okay?

Alec wanted to respond. He even wanted to look up and see Nick staring back at him, but his headache started up again, and he slipped his phone back into his pocket.