Something has changed.

Ever since the first hockey game.

Two weeks Prior:

After the game finished Jing and I managed to convince Magnus to leave without meeting Nuka.

I really didn’t need another awkward conversation between my brothers and my friend.

It didn’t take long for Nuka to find me in the lobby down the hall from the locker rooms after that, his hair still damp from a shower, that smile coming into place when he saw me.

“I think this is the first time I haven’t had to fight some obscure foreign piece of literature for your attention.” He joked with this deep chuckle.

I could feel the blushing starting again.

Fuck.

I’m always Blushing around him.

He stopped right in front of me, looking like he had something he wanted to say but before he could speak the locker room door banged open and the sound of multiple teenage athletes poured into the hallway. The loud and boisterous sounds of a team riding high from the adrenaline of a win.

Nuka looks away from me, I think I hear a quiet groan from him but it’s hard to hear over his teammates.

“BLACK FEATHER!!! Why are you running off so fast? You know celebratory dinner is tradition!” The voice was loud and jubilant. It was a tone sounded like the owner was perpetually happy and energetic.

Nuka sighs, almost as deeply as I do. Which is odd.

He’s usually very enthusiastic and chatty.

I’m the one prone to deep sighs and intense introspection.

“That’s Gabe. He gets….excited.” Nuka leans close to me and whispers in my ear, “He shifts into a Golden Retriever, if his tail was always visible it’d never stop wagging.”

I can’t stop the snort of laugher that bubbles from me.

Nuka grins down at me and throws an arm over my shoulders as his teammates reach us.

“Nuka! Who is this cutey you’ve been hiding from us? Is that one of the Bruin twins?”

Suddenly there are a lot of boys surrounding us, almost a dozen large teenage Fae looking at me.

It’s disconcerting to say the least.

“Gabe, seriously, chill out. Do you need to shift and go for a run or chase a ball or something? We just got off the ice, how are you still so pumped?” I don’t recognize the speaker but I’m grateful, his comments draw the attention back to Gabe, a solid boy with tan skin and golden hair that falls into his boyish face.

He just laughs at the teasing, not letting it faze him as he shoves the taller, dark haired boy who spoke.

“That’s Archer, we think he and Gabe might be mates, their sexual tension is out of control.” Nuka whispers in my ear.

I feel my eyebrows furrow and I turn my attention to the two teammates who are now bickering.

“What do you mean sexual tension? They are fighting.” I whisper back.

“More like flirting Little Genius.” Nuka whispers back, “Couples can interact in different ways, and their auras are practically screaming with how attracted they are to each other.”

That’s interesting.

I know not all couples are as affectionate as others. That’s not what interests me.

What does Nuka mean by auras?

“What do you mean auras?”

Nuka tenses slightly but before he can say anything else, Gabe’s attention is back on us again.

“So, Iago, right? What did you think of the game? Have you come before? Did you sit in the student section? Are you going to keep coming? Are you coming to eat with us? Do you like pizza? Is your brother here too? What do you think of our boy Nuka here?”

Gabe fired off questions at a mind-boggling pace. I could barely keep up. I think I might have missed a few of them to be honest. He would have kept going if Archer hadn’t thrown a hand over his mouth, muffling the flow of non-stop questions.

I didn’t even know how to respond.

Or what to respond to.

Again, I’m reminded why I don’t socialize.

“Dude, seriously.” I can’t really read the look Nuka gives his teammate, if I had to guess I would say he was irritated. He looks down at me, his face softening. “What do ya want to do Little Genius? We can go with the guys for dinner or I’m happy to ditch these guys and just hang out with you.”

I’m not sure what to do.

I what to spend time with Nuka.

I want to do what normal friends would do.

Not just sit in the library and talk.

Normal friends hang out with other people.

At least they do in books.

I don’t want to make Nuka miss time with his friends.

“We can go with them.” I whisper.

“Are ya sure? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

It’ll be weird but not more uncomfortable than the monthly family get togethers my mom holds.

There are way more people at those.

“I’m sure Nuka. I want to get to know your friends.”

Present time

After that night I’ve become much more visible at school.

I’m not sure if it’s good or bad.

The hockey players who where at dinner that night seem to talk to me a lot more.

Which can be nice.

But I’ve also noticed some weird looks lately, especially from girls.

It irritates Indy.

He keeps reminding me to tell him if anyone is rude to me.

I don’t know why they would be.

As soon as Indy and I get out of our car this morning Gabe is right there, nearly vibrating with excitement, Archer not far behind him, watching his teammate with a bemused expression on his face.

“IAGO!!! You’re finally here!!”

Finally?

We’re at least 30 minutes early.

How long has he been here?

Gabe looks at Indy and his grin gets even bigger.

“Is this your brother!” Gabe goes over to Indy, his hand out to shake, “Hey! I’m Gabe! I’m on the hockey team with Nuka! You’re Indy, right? It’s so good to meet you! I keep telling Iago to bring you to the games and to dinner after with us but he never does! I’ve been wanting to meet you for like forever.”

Indy looks at Gabe’s hand, then at me, then at Gabe’s hand again.

He seems to think about it for a second before he grabs it tightly. “I hope you hockey guys know what you’re doing. If something bad happens to Iago it’s not just one bear you’ll have to worry about. We’re very protective of him.”

With that he drops Gabe’s hand and stomps away from us.

What?

I look at Gabe and he looks as shocked as I feel.

His normal happy expression is suddenly downtrodden as he watches Indy storm into the school.

Archer is also watching Indy, but he looks angry.

Like he wants to follow my twin and give him a piece of his mind.

“Gabe?” I walk over to the golden-haired boy I was starting to see as a friend. “Gabe, I’m really sorry about Indy.”

He looks over at me, confusion all over his expression.

“Iago, you don’t think we’re messing with you right? You’re our friend.”

He looks so upset.

I’m tempted to hug him.

So, I look at Archer and then pointedly look back at Gabe.

He just nods at me, already moving toward Gabe to pull him into a tight hug.  

“He’s right Iago.” Archer looks over at me, “You’re important to Nuka and you’re important to us. If anyone messes with you, they won’t just have to worry about your brothers but more than half the hockey team.”

I don’t know what to say.

I’m overwhelmed.

It’s too early for this much emotion.

I haven’t even had my tea yet.

“Thank you.” I whisper.

It’s the only thing I can think of to say.

After a minute of holding on tight to Archer, Gabe finally pulls his face from the other boy’s shoulder, his expression back to normal.

“I almost forgot why I came over here.” Gabe’s expression quickly brightens, and he seems to start radiating energy again, “I wanted to know if you’re coming to Nuka’s party tonight? You are coming right? I know it’s a stupid question cause of course you’re coming! It’s you and Nuka! You have to be coming to the birthday party of your…..”

Before he can finish his sentence, Archer’s hand is over his mouth again and Archer is whispering in Gabe’s ear.

I’ve gotten used to this over the last few weeks.

Gabe rambles.

Archer censors Gabe.

But that’s not what I focus on.

“Nuka’s birthday?”

“I was going to ask ya when I got here, Little Genius but looks like my teammates beat me too it.”

Nuka’s deep gravely voice comes from behind me.

I turn around to look at him.

“It’s your birthday?”

I can’t really read the expression in Nuka’s face right now.

His head is tilted slightly, and he has a slight smile on his face. He looks over at Archer and Gabe. Archer has an eyebrow raised and Gabe is nearly bouncing with excitement. Nuka nods at them and they grin back at him.

“Yeah, it’s my birthday today.” Nuka turns his attention back to me. “So, will ya come? I know it’s late notice, but it’d mean a lot to me.”

I look up at Nuka.

I’ve never been to a high school party.

The idea is….

Frightening.

But for Nuka…

“Ok. I’ll go.”

Below are my idea for Gabe and Archer!!