“I brought you some fresh towels” Teo entered the steamy bathroom and left the towels on top of the washing machine, while the other was still showering.

           Four hours ago, this unexpected guest managed to do the unimaginable; like a miracle sent from the gods, he appeared on his doorstep, pretending perfectly to be his wife, putting up a great play for his uptight parents. What was the result at the very end? Both Bryan and Amelia were mesmerized by Colette’s mature and down-to-earth personality that they even proposed to meet up again with Teo and her before they fly away. The moment he shut the door behind them, Teo’s joy was immeasurable.

           “I appreciate it” Nick spoke in one breath as he washed his face – from what it sounded like. The young man simply shrugged away and walked out of the door, until he heard the plastic curtain being pushed aside. “I mean it”.

           “Shouldn’t I be the one saying this?” Teo questioned and then chuckled.

           Nick looked at him and said nothing else. He kept the curtain close to his body, preventing his friend from seeing anything private, and stretched his arm to reach out for the body towel. Theodore shook his head and handed it over to him. Having the man that saved his arse from his parents fall in his bathroom and probably hit his head, would be a terrible twist of this pretty unpredictable night.

           “Thanks” the boy responded and stepped out of the bathtub while wrapping the towel around his waist. “Are you going to be staring for long?”

            “Hm?” Teo’s eyes moved from the absolute nothingness to the half-naked Nick who was standing a few steps away from him. “Oh gosh, sorry!” he spurted out as soon as he realized where his eyes were fixed on. It was not the first time seeing a naked male body but it certainly was the first time paying so close attention to the details of Nick’s body. Yeah, he had seen him walking around the floor wearing nothing but a pair of jeans or an open-buttoned shirt, yet this was slightly different.

           Water was running still down to his smooth skin and drips from his colored hair were crashing on the ground almost gracefully. Nick’s body was not a well-built one, and neither his six-pack was too obvious, yet his slim figure was quite admirable as well as the soft paleness of his skin. Unlike Nick, Teo loved to eat a little bit more than usual on Friday nights and the gym was a no-no. Going to a place that reeked sweat and manly moans echoing in every corner, was not his cup of tea. But he had to admit that Nick was a really attractive young man.

           Teo cleared his throat and turned around, putting back on his mask of ultimate seriousness, and struggling to wipe that damn blushing off his face.

           “So?”

           “What?” Nick was already drying his hair with the towel.

           “You do understand that by helping me you need to stay here until they return to wherever they came from.”

           “Your parents?”

           Teo nodded, his arms resting upon his chest and still with his back turned at Nick.

           “No problem there. It’s much better this way. You know, in case they decide to pull a ‘surprise visit’ on us. I’d hate watching you trying to come up with a good lie. You are awful at it.”

           And it was true. Teo was terrible at lying and he knew that already. He hated lies more than anything but for some freaking reason, there would be times he’d have to use a good makeup story for something. Once, he had to lie to Carla about an old family friend visiting, thus he wasn’t free for drinks with her friends. There was also another time, way back, when he had spent the entire weekend playing video games instead of studying for history class. Desperation had taken control of his mind and he had to kill off his grandma in a perfectly messed up lie, so he could be excused by his professor.

           “I guess I am, after all.” Teo silently admitted and a light giggle reached his ears from behind.

            “That’s why I am here, darling.” Nick hadn’t lost his appetite for playing around even if it was already midnight.

           “Then it is ok with you staying here. Of course, you will be sleeping in the bedroom. I don’t want any more unpleasant surprises my way.”

          “Sleeping with you, you mean?” Nick was surprised. He was sure that Teo would throw a pillow and a cover on the couch and call it ‘bed’. But this was far better.

           “As long as you don’t sleep naked, I’m fine. After all, I usually spend my nighttime in front of the pc working, so I don’t get much regular sleep.”

           “Is this why Carla divorced you?”

           Teo turned furiously at Nick who had the most casual, resting face ever. The other one, on the contrary, started to feel the rage building up.

           “Carla divorced me because she decided to tear apart everything we’d built all those years for the sake of a flipping stranger!” yet, he could never truly curse. A long sigh escaped his lips and his once tensed body, relaxed.

           “A’right, mental note to never bring up the divorce or Carla.”

           “I’m sorry, really. It’s just-”

           “You don’t have to be sorry, Teo. I get it. Plus” Nick took a deep breath and released it while brushing his hair backward and looking around. “I’m fine, more than fine, to stay here with you. Our plan, this way, is going to work in a more efficient way than being apart half the way. I only need to bring some clothes from my apartment and it will all be perfect.” He threw a wink at him. A wink of reassurance that he’d stay true to his word.

           “Ok, it seems weird to even for you to accept something like that without question. What are you trying to do? Hide from your boyfriend?” the brown-haired man rested his body against the bathroom wall, while Nick was fixing his hair on the mirror.

           “Who? Dave? Nuh, he is a nice guy. Don’t let his looks fool you.”

           “That’s so typical, until the moment they are not cool and not so nice as you thought.”

           “Do you know plenty of examples?”

           “Well, history never lies. Take Herod, for example. I am sure everyone was saying the same thing about his – what a nice guy and king he was – until he pulled an Anakin to those infants and surprise; big murdered!”

           “Herod? Really? The one who was afraid of a baby stealing his throne? And a Star Wars reference?” Nick looked so done, yet after a couple of seconds – maybe even less - he burst out laughing, almost tearing up.

           It didn’t take Teo too long to do the same. He knew he was a nerd; he had always been a nerd, and few people could get his jokes and references, while fewer than that would appreciate them. So, having a guy like that young annoyance around wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

           “Lame, I know. But hey, all I’m saying is that this could be a win-win situation. I get rid of my parents without any bloodshed and you will get the space and time alone you need from Dave-or-whatever-his-name-is.” Teo’s hand expanded to seal the deal with a firm handshake.

           However, Nick didn’t reply. Instead, he gave a final look at himself and with a sigh, he walked past Teo, with the latter following.

           “I didn’t mean to pry!” he grabbed lightly the boy’s arm, afraid that he came off as a nosey person. Nick, who looked a bit unsettled for a minute, looked up at him and grinned widely. “What now?” Teo questioned, only to receive a silent reply: the other’s index finger pointing down.

           The towel once wrapped securely, was now laying flat on the floor and Nick took advantage of Teo’s half shock - half embarrassment state. The younger one, this time with no fake hair, make-up, and pretty clothing, glued his body on the other’s and his expression turned into a more lustful one while his hands took a tight hold on Teo’s.

           “You being so worried can only make me flustered, darling. Don’t play around with your luck cause a guy like me can resist only that much.”

           Teo pushed him away and Nick began laughing uncontrollably while reaching out for his towel. “Honestly? It’s so freaking easy to mess with you. Ah, it’s going to be great staying here with you.”

So much fun…