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Title: Journey's End
Author: Clay
Characters/Pairing: Mostly Nick/Angelo, though there is a surprise cameo at the end there for you, baby. ^_^
Rating: PG
Summary/Author’s Notes: This is a story for Lyndsey for Valentine’s day, which is actually going pretty suckily for her to say the least. *hugs* But she asked for the morning after Nick and Angelo’s first time, so this is the abridged story of two high school rivals whose constant battle was actually hiding deeper feelings. Pretty much pure fluff.
Word Count: ~3,300
Yesterday’s storm had pittered out some time during the evening. The rain had stopped, but the atmosphere lingered, leaving the air uncharacteristically damp and cool, with pale gray clouds slowly mucking their way across the sky and blocking out the morning sun. A breeze skimmed through the open window, and Angelo gave an involuntary shudder, tugging at the blankets in an effort to cover his bare shoulders.
He settled back down, snuggling deep into his pillows, when suddenly the blanket slipped away once more.
Frowning now, Angelo yanked the blankets back over him, only for them to disappear yet again a few seconds later.
“All right, what the—” He sat up, immediately cutting himself off at the sight before him. Nick lay curled on his side, snug beneath the comforter, a cascade of dirty blond hair falling over his eyes.
Memories of the night before rushed over him.
* * *
“What are you doing?” Nick said, his voice nearly devoid of emotion. He watched Angelo untie him from the goal post, but Angelo wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Angelo simply shrugged, his face turned resolutely toward his work. “I changed my mind. That’s all.”
Nick couldn’t help but snort at that. “Come on, Angie,” he said as the last of the ties fell away, “leaving me tied to the goal post in nothing but girls underwear and a wig right before the big homecoming game? It’d be the best prank ever. You’ve got me; why stop now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of your date for the dance.”
Nick sighed and rolled his eyes as Angelo took at step back. “I don’t have a date.”
Angelo gave a wry smile as he turned away. “Then maybe I just think it’s time to give up.”
Nick let Angelo get two steps away before he darted after him, snatching at his arm and spinning him around. He leaned down, his face mere inches from Angelo’s as he demanded, “What are you talking about?”
Angelo sighed, still smiling wearily. “Go put some clothes on before someone sees you.”
But Nick just tugged him closer still, searching Angelo’s eyes. “Stop playing around and answer the question.”
“That’s just it,” Angelo told him. “I’m done playing.” He finally managed to pull his arm away, but stayed still for a moment longer, feeling Nick’s breath playing over his mouth, longing to feel Nick pull him closer in an altogether different capacity. Suddenly he broke away, the smile fading from his lips. “Good luck tonight, Nick,” he said softly. “I’ll be rooting for you.”
When he turned away that time, Nick let him go.
* * *
Angelo lay back down. Another cool breeze washed over him, but instead of tugging on the blankets again, he scooted forward against Nick‘s warmth, relaxing immensely when Nick’s arms went around him instinctively. He wound his arms around Nick in return, a wry smile over his lips as he whispered into his bare chest, “Let’s see if you’re this cuddly when you’re awake.”
“Mmm—what makes you think I’m asleep?”
Tensing, Angelo slowly turned his face up just as Nick shifted away.
Nick pushed the hair off his face before rubbing at his eyes. His voice, when he spoke, was rough and tired, but he was smiling when he finally replaced his arms around Angelo. His hands came to rest at the small of Angelo’s back, and he pulled them flush against one another, suddenly reminding Angelo that they’d gone to bed completely naked.
He felt his cheeks burn, his eyes practically round as he curled his hands against Nick’s chest. “Um…wishful thinking?”
Nick laughed, a deep, sweet baritone that Angelo had only had the luck to hear a scant few times before now, and it calmed him immediately. He relaxed into Nick’s chest, a slow smile spreading over his mouth.
“You’re such a dumb ass,” Nick murmured affectionately. He leaned forward, his hair flopping back over his eyes, and Angelo smirked.
“At least I know how to cut my hair,” he retorted gently, moving a hand to swipe aside Nick’s bangs once more.
Nick caught his hand as he went to draw back and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles.
Angelo watched him raptly for a moment, his breath caught in his throat.
Nick caught the look and frowned quizzically. “You all right, Angie?”
“I’m—” Angelo cut himself off, then swallowed and nodded, smiling a small, shaky smile. “Yeah, I’m really good, actually. It’s just…last night was real, wasn’t it?”
Laughing again, Nick pulled him into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to his temple now. “You really are a dumb ass.”
“No, I mean—”
“I know what you mean,” Nick cut him off. He drew back and met Angelo’s eyes, his face suddenly very somber. “I meant everything I said to you.”
* * *
Angelo danced with Emma, for once acknowledging how pretty she really was, and wondering for just a moment if he should just say fuck it and try the whole dating a girl thing. Nothing could be as bad as chasing a straight boy.
But those days were done.
His eyes seemed to search Nick out of their own accord as he entered the gym, looking far too alluring in a classic black and white suit. Angelo snapped his gaze away quickly, however, looking back down to Emma, her smile brilliant and laugh infectious, and soon he was laughing along with her, twirling her around the floor as she sang off key to the Britney Spears song being piped in through the gym’s ancient speaker system. The treble crackled, and the bass vibrated the floor boards beneath their feet, completely drowning out all but the loudest of shouts and laughter.
A hand dropped suddenly onto Angelo’s shoulder, and he started, yelping. “Jesus, Josh, you—“
But it wasn’t Josh.
He turned, spotting Josh where he stood some feet away, staring wide eyed with Alexandria at his side. Dumbfounded, Angelo swallowed before moving his gaze over and up until he was eye to eye with Nick.
Of course it was Nick.
Up close, he was even more dashing. The suit accented his lithely muscled form: his broad shoulders and tapered waist that seemed better suited for ballet than playing punch bag on the football field. His hand on Angelo’s shoulder lingered for just a moment, warm and heavy, before he slipped it down the length of Angelo’s arm and held it out, palm up.
“Can I cut in?”
For one second, he thought Nick was asking him to dance. His heart skipped a painful beat before rationale slapped him, reminding him that he’d been dancing with Emma, and she was certainly the object of his affection. Even if Nick hadn’t spurned his advances two years ago, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the gorgeous, bubbly blond was far more his type.
Nodding, Angelo took a step back. “Yeah, fine, go ahead.” He was just starting to turn away when Emma stopped him.
She was grinning, a devilish twinkle in her eyes. “Where are you going?” she stage whispered, practically bouncing in her aqua pumps as she clutched his arm.
Angelo frowned. “You heard him. He wants to dance with you.”
“He was talking about you!”
Angelo opened his mouth, his brow furrowed, before snapping it shut again without uttering a word. He turned to look back at Nick, only to find him with his hand still held out, his eyebrows raised curiously and a half smile tugging up one corner of his mouth.
“Are you—seriously?” Angelo asked, pointing to himself.
Nick just grinned wider and shrugged.
When Angelo continued to stand there, dumbstruck, Emma took it upon herself to shove him forward with a playful “Go!” He stumbled a few steps, Nick catching him by the shoulders just before they collided. Angelo looked up into Nick’s eyes and opened his mouth again, but before he could say anything, Nick was taking his hands, pulling him close and sweeping him across the dance floor. He had a head full of questions, but they weren’t going to keep him from this moment.
Angelo closed his eyes briefly, letting the deep bass thrumming through the room rush through him, a wicked smile spreading over his lips. He pressed into Nick, opening his eyes once more and catching Nick’s gaze, silently daring him to back down now as his hands wound around Nick’s neck, and he thrust his hips forward, making love on the dance floor.
Nick just grinned back at him, however, his own hands gliding over Angelo’s back, his hips swaying forward, then back along with Angelo’s. He stepped back, taking Angelo’s hand and guiding him into a spin, then catching him and dipping him low.
Angelo let out a loud laugh as Nick pulled him upright again. “What the hell are you doing?”
Nick shrugged again. Angelo could swear he was blushing behind the curtain of his hair, but he wound his arms around Angelo nonetheless, hands resting at the small of his back as they simply swayed on the dance floor.
“This.”
With that, Nick swooped down, taking Angelo’s lips in a chaste kiss.
Eyes going wide, Angelo let out a squeak and shoved Nick away, hard. He backed up rapidly, one hand going to his mouth as he continued to level a shocked glare at Nick. “What the fuck?”
Nick just stood there, unmoving. He opened his mouth, but he remained silent.
Practically growling now, Angelo swiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Yeah, really funny,” he snapped.
Nick shook his head. “Funny?”
“Just—go to hell, Nick.” He turned on his heel and stalked out of gym, Nick hot on his heels.
* * *
Angelo stared down at his hands, curled against Nick’s bare chest. He grinned goofily and shook his head. “You asked me to dance.”
Nick stared down at him a moment before shaking his head. Chuckling, he leaned down, dropping a kiss on top of Angelo‘s head. “I was talking about what I said after that…you know, after you ran away from me?”
“Yeah, I know,” Angelo said, tilting his face back up to look Nick in the eye, his smile widening. “But you danced with me. You actually danced with me. In front of everyone.”
Nick smiled softly in return, smoothing his knuckles along Angelo’s jaw. “I never cared what they thought.”
Raising an eyebrow, Angelo smirked, wrapping his arms around Nick’s neck. “You were just a dick for the hell of it?”
Nick started to smirk back, but it faded away after only a couple seconds, and he wrapped his arms around Angelo tightly once more. “You know why.”
* * *
Angelo burst out into the nippy October air. There was a storm blowing in from the north, leaving the night unseasonably cold for L.A. Angelo wrapped his arms around his chest and started resolutely toward the parking lot, unsure of where, exactly, he was headed, but just wanting to escape the inevitable person chasing after him.
Too soon, however, he heard the double doors bang open and closed once more behind him, and with a loud groan, he shouted, “Just go back inside, Josh! I don’t want to talk about it!“
“You have to stop mistaking me for Josh.”
Angelo stopped.
The first few drops of rain splattered on the ground before him, and a cold wind tugged at his tie and collar. Blowing out a breath, Angelo turned to meet Nick’s eyes. “And you have to leave me the hell alone.”
Nick watched him, backlit from the parking lot’s floodlights, his face in shadow. For a long moment, neither said anything. Nick simply studied him as Angelo stood still and stared right back, his head held high.
“What did I do, Angie?”
“You know what you did,“ Angelo came back quietly.
“You know, I really don’t.”
Angelo sniffed, shifting slightly as another gust of wind buffeted him. “All right, then why don’t you just tell me who put you up to it?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Exasperated, Angelo finally moved, unwrapping his arms from around himself to stalk over to Nick. “Who told you to dance with me?”
“What?” Nick frowned.
“Who told you to kiss me?”
“No one.”
“What are you getting out of this?” Angelo asked, shoving Nick as he finally reached him.
But Nick was ready for him this time. He reached out, grabbing and holding Angelo’s wrists. Angelo didn’t even try to struggle. He tilted his chin up, watching Nick disdainfully. “Well?” he asked.
“You don‘t believe me,” Nick said, his voice too quiet to read the emotion in it.
Angelo snorted. He made a weak attempt to pull away, but Nick held him fast. “No shit. So why don’t you just tell me the truth?”
“The truth,” Nick said, just as quiet. Even the wind seemed to die down, as if the night were holding its breath. He nodded carefully, then finally let Angelo go. Angelo stepped back, rubbing his wrists, but he didn’t run, and he kept his gaze locked firmly on Nick as he continued. “Angie, the truth is that I lied.”
Angelo furrowed his brow. “Lied about what?”
“I’m in love with you.”
Angelo’s eyes went wide, and he opened his mouth, drawing in a breath, but Nick hurriedly went on before he could say anything, holding his hands up placatingly. “Please. Just let me finish.
“You scared me, Angie. The day we met, I…fuck.” Blowing out a breath, Nick dropped his hands and turned his eyes away. He stared at a point beyond Angelo, his mouth turned down resolutely, and when he continued, it was low and fast, almost as though he didn’t want Angelo to hear it. “You scared me,” he said again, “because I had never felt like that about anyone before, and it was just so much, and it was so fast, and you were such a stupid dork, and I think I loved you from the moment I saw you, but I didn’t know what to do, so I ran.”
He looked back at Angelo, meeting and holding his eyes for a long moment before concluding, “I’ve been such an ass to you for so long now, and I know I’m probably too late, and you must hate me now, but I had to tell you. Every prank we played, every fight we’ve had—I’ve never had as much fun, and I’d keep doing it, I’d keep getting lockers full of jell-o or pencil shavings or whatever the hell you want to do because at least then I get to talk to you, and…” Angelo was staring at him, his mouth hanging open, and Nick gave another laugh, shaking his head. Slowly, he started to draw away. “And I think that’s my cue to leave….”
The wind kicked up again, and the clouds finally broke as it began to rain in earnest, wet, heavy drops stippling the blacktop and seeping into their blazers. Before Nick left, however, he lifted one hand to trail his fingertips along Angelo’s jaw. He lingered for a moment, smiling sadly, then dropped the hand, snapping Angelo into motion.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” he growled, darting forward, curling a hand around the base of Nick’s neck and drawing him down into a kiss.
Startled, Nick kissed him back nonetheless, wrapping his arms tightly around Angelo and holding him close until they were both forced to come up for air.
When Angelo finally broke the kiss, he could only breathe for a long moment, eyes shut tight and panting hard, his lips brushing Nick’s with each exhale. Raindrops sprinkled his cheeks and dripped from the tip of his nose, and he involuntarily pressed closer into Nick’s warmth. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long, long time,” he said, the beginnings of a smile tugging at his mouth.
“Me too,” Nick said. He stroked his hands up and down along Angelo’s spine. “So, uh…do you believe me now?”
“I do,” Angelo told him, grinning wider. “I mean, I always hoped…. I guess I was just waiting for you to say it.”
“Well, I said it,” Nick said. He bit his lip briefly, rain sparkling in his lashes, his eyes hopeful as he added. “But what about you?”
* * *
Angelo nodded, his own smirk fading away as he drew Nick down, kissing him softly. “I love you,” he whispered against Nick’s mouth, and then Nick was smiling back at him again.
“I love you, too.”
“Now…” Angelo said, his hands sliding down Nick’s back and over the curve of his bare ass. “What do you think about doing a replay of last night?”
Chuckling, Nick pushed Angelo down on his back, caressing his chest as he leaned over top of him. “If you’re talking about what happened after we got back to your house, then I think that can be arranged,” he said, pressing his lips to Angelo’s once more.
A sudden, loud banging on the door had them springing apart only a fraction of a second later.
Before they even had time to sit up, the door was flying open, and they were both flushing deeply, dragging the bed sheets up as high as possible in a vain attempt to cover themselves as Angelo’s uncle, Rick, barged inside, a wild grin on his face. “Aw, that’s my boy!” he exclaimed, taken in their state of undress at a glance. “Your dad told me you was getting it on, but fuck yeah! Go Angelo!”
“Rick!” Sean snarled, thundering through the door a second later. “What did I tell you?”
“You told me Angelo and Nick were fucking like bunnies! They’re getting it on like Donkey Kong!”
“No,” Sean said, biting back a laugh and grabbing Rick’s arm. “I said to leave them alone.” He threw Angelo an apologetic look as he started tugging Rick forcefully from the room. “Sorry. Oh, congratulations, by the way.”
“It’s cool…dad…uh…thanks?” Shifting, Angelo pulled the blankets up a little higher.
“Ha ha!” Rick broke back in, clinging to the doorframe. “We told your parents, too, Nicky!”
“No,” Sean corrected, “you told them.”
“I’m going to tell everyone!”
Nick buried his face in his hands as Sean finally managed to drag Rick out of the room. The door slammed shut again, followed by a heavy silence.
“Oh my God,” Nick muttered into his hands. “Your family is so fucked up.”
His blush fading somewhat, Angelo turned back to him, smiling. “Yeah. And now you’re kind of a part of it.” He lay back down in bed as Nick dropped his hands.
Sighing and laying back down himself, Nick gave him an exasperated look. “This means I have to deal with Josh now, too, doesn’t it?”
“He is my best friend. Part of the package.”
“You suck, Angie,” Nick muttered, and Angelo laughed, dragging Nick overtop of him again.
“Quite well from what you said last night.”
“Yeah, well…” Nick murmured, the continued pout marred somewhat by the smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. “A little sucking might make the humiliation a little easier to take…”
“Yeah?” Angelo asked, laughing again at Nick’s vehement nod. “I might be able to do that. We’ll save the humiliation for Monday. Your locker should be pretty ripe by then.” He drew Nick down into another long, lingering kiss.
Nick kissed him back for precisely one and a half seconds before his eyes popped open. “Wait, what!?”
Cackling, Angelo sneaked down Nick’s body, smiling as his protests transformed into moans, already looking forward to Monday, and not just for the next prank, but to be able to finally walk hand in hand down the hallway with the boy of his dreams…but mostly for the prank.
The end. :)
Click the picture to get the full size.
Author: Clay
Characters/Pairing: Mostly Nick/Angelo, though there is a surprise cameo at the end there for you, baby. ^_^
Rating: PG
Summary/Author’s Notes: This is a story for Lyndsey for Valentine’s day, which is actually going pretty suckily for her to say the least. *hugs* But she asked for the morning after Nick and Angelo’s first time, so this is the abridged story of two high school rivals whose constant battle was actually hiding deeper feelings. Pretty much pure fluff.
Word Count: ~3,300
Yesterday’s storm had pittered out some time during the evening. The rain had stopped, but the atmosphere lingered, leaving the air uncharacteristically damp and cool, with pale gray clouds slowly mucking their way across the sky and blocking out the morning sun. A breeze skimmed through the open window, and Angelo gave an involuntary shudder, tugging at the blankets in an effort to cover his bare shoulders.
He settled back down, snuggling deep into his pillows, when suddenly the blanket slipped away once more.
Frowning now, Angelo yanked the blankets back over him, only for them to disappear yet again a few seconds later.
“All right, what the—” He sat up, immediately cutting himself off at the sight before him. Nick lay curled on his side, snug beneath the comforter, a cascade of dirty blond hair falling over his eyes.
Memories of the night before rushed over him.
“What are you doing?” Nick said, his voice nearly devoid of emotion. He watched Angelo untie him from the goal post, but Angelo wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Angelo simply shrugged, his face turned resolutely toward his work. “I changed my mind. That’s all.”
Nick couldn’t help but snort at that. “Come on, Angie,” he said as the last of the ties fell away, “leaving me tied to the goal post in nothing but girls underwear and a wig right before the big homecoming game? It’d be the best prank ever. You’ve got me; why stop now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of your date for the dance.”
Nick sighed and rolled his eyes as Angelo took at step back. “I don’t have a date.”
Angelo gave a wry smile as he turned away. “Then maybe I just think it’s time to give up.”
Nick let Angelo get two steps away before he darted after him, snatching at his arm and spinning him around. He leaned down, his face mere inches from Angelo’s as he demanded, “What are you talking about?”
Angelo sighed, still smiling wearily. “Go put some clothes on before someone sees you.”
But Nick just tugged him closer still, searching Angelo’s eyes. “Stop playing around and answer the question.”
“That’s just it,” Angelo told him. “I’m done playing.” He finally managed to pull his arm away, but stayed still for a moment longer, feeling Nick’s breath playing over his mouth, longing to feel Nick pull him closer in an altogether different capacity. Suddenly he broke away, the smile fading from his lips. “Good luck tonight, Nick,” he said softly. “I’ll be rooting for you.”
When he turned away that time, Nick let him go.
Angelo lay back down. Another cool breeze washed over him, but instead of tugging on the blankets again, he scooted forward against Nick‘s warmth, relaxing immensely when Nick’s arms went around him instinctively. He wound his arms around Nick in return, a wry smile over his lips as he whispered into his bare chest, “Let’s see if you’re this cuddly when you’re awake.”
“Mmm—what makes you think I’m asleep?”
Tensing, Angelo slowly turned his face up just as Nick shifted away.
Nick pushed the hair off his face before rubbing at his eyes. His voice, when he spoke, was rough and tired, but he was smiling when he finally replaced his arms around Angelo. His hands came to rest at the small of Angelo’s back, and he pulled them flush against one another, suddenly reminding Angelo that they’d gone to bed completely naked.
He felt his cheeks burn, his eyes practically round as he curled his hands against Nick’s chest. “Um…wishful thinking?”
Nick laughed, a deep, sweet baritone that Angelo had only had the luck to hear a scant few times before now, and it calmed him immediately. He relaxed into Nick’s chest, a slow smile spreading over his mouth.
“You’re such a dumb ass,” Nick murmured affectionately. He leaned forward, his hair flopping back over his eyes, and Angelo smirked.
“At least I know how to cut my hair,” he retorted gently, moving a hand to swipe aside Nick’s bangs once more.
Nick caught his hand as he went to draw back and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles.
Angelo watched him raptly for a moment, his breath caught in his throat.
Nick caught the look and frowned quizzically. “You all right, Angie?”
“I’m—” Angelo cut himself off, then swallowed and nodded, smiling a small, shaky smile. “Yeah, I’m really good, actually. It’s just…last night was real, wasn’t it?”
Laughing again, Nick pulled him into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to his temple now. “You really are a dumb ass.”
“No, I mean—”
“I know what you mean,” Nick cut him off. He drew back and met Angelo’s eyes, his face suddenly very somber. “I meant everything I said to you.”
Angelo danced with Emma, for once acknowledging how pretty she really was, and wondering for just a moment if he should just say fuck it and try the whole dating a girl thing. Nothing could be as bad as chasing a straight boy.
But those days were done.
His eyes seemed to search Nick out of their own accord as he entered the gym, looking far too alluring in a classic black and white suit. Angelo snapped his gaze away quickly, however, looking back down to Emma, her smile brilliant and laugh infectious, and soon he was laughing along with her, twirling her around the floor as she sang off key to the Britney Spears song being piped in through the gym’s ancient speaker system. The treble crackled, and the bass vibrated the floor boards beneath their feet, completely drowning out all but the loudest of shouts and laughter.
A hand dropped suddenly onto Angelo’s shoulder, and he started, yelping. “Jesus, Josh, you—“
But it wasn’t Josh.
He turned, spotting Josh where he stood some feet away, staring wide eyed with Alexandria at his side. Dumbfounded, Angelo swallowed before moving his gaze over and up until he was eye to eye with Nick.
Of course it was Nick.
Up close, he was even more dashing. The suit accented his lithely muscled form: his broad shoulders and tapered waist that seemed better suited for ballet than playing punch bag on the football field. His hand on Angelo’s shoulder lingered for just a moment, warm and heavy, before he slipped it down the length of Angelo’s arm and held it out, palm up.
“Can I cut in?”
For one second, he thought Nick was asking him to dance. His heart skipped a painful beat before rationale slapped him, reminding him that he’d been dancing with Emma, and she was certainly the object of his affection. Even if Nick hadn’t spurned his advances two years ago, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the gorgeous, bubbly blond was far more his type.
Nodding, Angelo took a step back. “Yeah, fine, go ahead.” He was just starting to turn away when Emma stopped him.
She was grinning, a devilish twinkle in her eyes. “Where are you going?” she stage whispered, practically bouncing in her aqua pumps as she clutched his arm.
Angelo frowned. “You heard him. He wants to dance with you.”
“He was talking about you!”
Angelo opened his mouth, his brow furrowed, before snapping it shut again without uttering a word. He turned to look back at Nick, only to find him with his hand still held out, his eyebrows raised curiously and a half smile tugging up one corner of his mouth.
“Are you—seriously?” Angelo asked, pointing to himself.
Nick just grinned wider and shrugged.
When Angelo continued to stand there, dumbstruck, Emma took it upon herself to shove him forward with a playful “Go!” He stumbled a few steps, Nick catching him by the shoulders just before they collided. Angelo looked up into Nick’s eyes and opened his mouth again, but before he could say anything, Nick was taking his hands, pulling him close and sweeping him across the dance floor. He had a head full of questions, but they weren’t going to keep him from this moment.
Angelo closed his eyes briefly, letting the deep bass thrumming through the room rush through him, a wicked smile spreading over his lips. He pressed into Nick, opening his eyes once more and catching Nick’s gaze, silently daring him to back down now as his hands wound around Nick’s neck, and he thrust his hips forward, making love on the dance floor.
Nick just grinned back at him, however, his own hands gliding over Angelo’s back, his hips swaying forward, then back along with Angelo’s. He stepped back, taking Angelo’s hand and guiding him into a spin, then catching him and dipping him low.
Angelo let out a loud laugh as Nick pulled him upright again. “What the hell are you doing?”
Nick shrugged again. Angelo could swear he was blushing behind the curtain of his hair, but he wound his arms around Angelo nonetheless, hands resting at the small of his back as they simply swayed on the dance floor.
“This.”
With that, Nick swooped down, taking Angelo’s lips in a chaste kiss.
Eyes going wide, Angelo let out a squeak and shoved Nick away, hard. He backed up rapidly, one hand going to his mouth as he continued to level a shocked glare at Nick. “What the fuck?”
Nick just stood there, unmoving. He opened his mouth, but he remained silent.
Practically growling now, Angelo swiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Yeah, really funny,” he snapped.
Nick shook his head. “Funny?”
“Just—go to hell, Nick.” He turned on his heel and stalked out of gym, Nick hot on his heels.
Angelo stared down at his hands, curled against Nick’s bare chest. He grinned goofily and shook his head. “You asked me to dance.”
Nick stared down at him a moment before shaking his head. Chuckling, he leaned down, dropping a kiss on top of Angelo‘s head. “I was talking about what I said after that…you know, after you ran away from me?”
“Yeah, I know,” Angelo said, tilting his face back up to look Nick in the eye, his smile widening. “But you danced with me. You actually danced with me. In front of everyone.”
Nick smiled softly in return, smoothing his knuckles along Angelo’s jaw. “I never cared what they thought.”
Raising an eyebrow, Angelo smirked, wrapping his arms around Nick’s neck. “You were just a dick for the hell of it?”
Nick started to smirk back, but it faded away after only a couple seconds, and he wrapped his arms around Angelo tightly once more. “You know why.”
Angelo burst out into the nippy October air. There was a storm blowing in from the north, leaving the night unseasonably cold for L.A. Angelo wrapped his arms around his chest and started resolutely toward the parking lot, unsure of where, exactly, he was headed, but just wanting to escape the inevitable person chasing after him.
Too soon, however, he heard the double doors bang open and closed once more behind him, and with a loud groan, he shouted, “Just go back inside, Josh! I don’t want to talk about it!“
“You have to stop mistaking me for Josh.”
Angelo stopped.
The first few drops of rain splattered on the ground before him, and a cold wind tugged at his tie and collar. Blowing out a breath, Angelo turned to meet Nick’s eyes. “And you have to leave me the hell alone.”
Nick watched him, backlit from the parking lot’s floodlights, his face in shadow. For a long moment, neither said anything. Nick simply studied him as Angelo stood still and stared right back, his head held high.
“What did I do, Angie?”
“You know what you did,“ Angelo came back quietly.
“You know, I really don’t.”
Angelo sniffed, shifting slightly as another gust of wind buffeted him. “All right, then why don’t you just tell me who put you up to it?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Exasperated, Angelo finally moved, unwrapping his arms from around himself to stalk over to Nick. “Who told you to dance with me?”
“What?” Nick frowned.
“Who told you to kiss me?”
“No one.”
“What are you getting out of this?” Angelo asked, shoving Nick as he finally reached him.
But Nick was ready for him this time. He reached out, grabbing and holding Angelo’s wrists. Angelo didn’t even try to struggle. He tilted his chin up, watching Nick disdainfully. “Well?” he asked.
“You don‘t believe me,” Nick said, his voice too quiet to read the emotion in it.
Angelo snorted. He made a weak attempt to pull away, but Nick held him fast. “No shit. So why don’t you just tell me the truth?”
“The truth,” Nick said, just as quiet. Even the wind seemed to die down, as if the night were holding its breath. He nodded carefully, then finally let Angelo go. Angelo stepped back, rubbing his wrists, but he didn’t run, and he kept his gaze locked firmly on Nick as he continued. “Angie, the truth is that I lied.”
Angelo furrowed his brow. “Lied about what?”
“I’m in love with you.”
Angelo’s eyes went wide, and he opened his mouth, drawing in a breath, but Nick hurriedly went on before he could say anything, holding his hands up placatingly. “Please. Just let me finish.
“You scared me, Angie. The day we met, I…fuck.” Blowing out a breath, Nick dropped his hands and turned his eyes away. He stared at a point beyond Angelo, his mouth turned down resolutely, and when he continued, it was low and fast, almost as though he didn’t want Angelo to hear it. “You scared me,” he said again, “because I had never felt like that about anyone before, and it was just so much, and it was so fast, and you were such a stupid dork, and I think I loved you from the moment I saw you, but I didn’t know what to do, so I ran.”
He looked back at Angelo, meeting and holding his eyes for a long moment before concluding, “I’ve been such an ass to you for so long now, and I know I’m probably too late, and you must hate me now, but I had to tell you. Every prank we played, every fight we’ve had—I’ve never had as much fun, and I’d keep doing it, I’d keep getting lockers full of jell-o or pencil shavings or whatever the hell you want to do because at least then I get to talk to you, and…” Angelo was staring at him, his mouth hanging open, and Nick gave another laugh, shaking his head. Slowly, he started to draw away. “And I think that’s my cue to leave….”
The wind kicked up again, and the clouds finally broke as it began to rain in earnest, wet, heavy drops stippling the blacktop and seeping into their blazers. Before Nick left, however, he lifted one hand to trail his fingertips along Angelo’s jaw. He lingered for a moment, smiling sadly, then dropped the hand, snapping Angelo into motion.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” he growled, darting forward, curling a hand around the base of Nick’s neck and drawing him down into a kiss.
Startled, Nick kissed him back nonetheless, wrapping his arms tightly around Angelo and holding him close until they were both forced to come up for air.
When Angelo finally broke the kiss, he could only breathe for a long moment, eyes shut tight and panting hard, his lips brushing Nick’s with each exhale. Raindrops sprinkled his cheeks and dripped from the tip of his nose, and he involuntarily pressed closer into Nick’s warmth. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long, long time,” he said, the beginnings of a smile tugging at his mouth.
“Me too,” Nick said. He stroked his hands up and down along Angelo’s spine. “So, uh…do you believe me now?”
“I do,” Angelo told him, grinning wider. “I mean, I always hoped…. I guess I was just waiting for you to say it.”
“Well, I said it,” Nick said. He bit his lip briefly, rain sparkling in his lashes, his eyes hopeful as he added. “But what about you?”
Angelo nodded, his own smirk fading away as he drew Nick down, kissing him softly. “I love you,” he whispered against Nick’s mouth, and then Nick was smiling back at him again.
“I love you, too.”
“Now…” Angelo said, his hands sliding down Nick’s back and over the curve of his bare ass. “What do you think about doing a replay of last night?”
Chuckling, Nick pushed Angelo down on his back, caressing his chest as he leaned over top of him. “If you’re talking about what happened after we got back to your house, then I think that can be arranged,” he said, pressing his lips to Angelo’s once more.
A sudden, loud banging on the door had them springing apart only a fraction of a second later.
Before they even had time to sit up, the door was flying open, and they were both flushing deeply, dragging the bed sheets up as high as possible in a vain attempt to cover themselves as Angelo’s uncle, Rick, barged inside, a wild grin on his face. “Aw, that’s my boy!” he exclaimed, taken in their state of undress at a glance. “Your dad told me you was getting it on, but fuck yeah! Go Angelo!”
“Rick!” Sean snarled, thundering through the door a second later. “What did I tell you?”
“You told me Angelo and Nick were fucking like bunnies! They’re getting it on like Donkey Kong!”
“No,” Sean said, biting back a laugh and grabbing Rick’s arm. “I said to leave them alone.” He threw Angelo an apologetic look as he started tugging Rick forcefully from the room. “Sorry. Oh, congratulations, by the way.”
“It’s cool…dad…uh…thanks?” Shifting, Angelo pulled the blankets up a little higher.
“Ha ha!” Rick broke back in, clinging to the doorframe. “We told your parents, too, Nicky!”
“No,” Sean corrected, “you told them.”
“I’m going to tell everyone!”
Nick buried his face in his hands as Sean finally managed to drag Rick out of the room. The door slammed shut again, followed by a heavy silence.
“Oh my God,” Nick muttered into his hands. “Your family is so fucked up.”
His blush fading somewhat, Angelo turned back to him, smiling. “Yeah. And now you’re kind of a part of it.” He lay back down in bed as Nick dropped his hands.
Sighing and laying back down himself, Nick gave him an exasperated look. “This means I have to deal with Josh now, too, doesn’t it?”
“He is my best friend. Part of the package.”
“You suck, Angie,” Nick muttered, and Angelo laughed, dragging Nick overtop of him again.
“Quite well from what you said last night.”
“Yeah, well…” Nick murmured, the continued pout marred somewhat by the smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. “A little sucking might make the humiliation a little easier to take…”
“Yeah?” Angelo asked, laughing again at Nick’s vehement nod. “I might be able to do that. We’ll save the humiliation for Monday. Your locker should be pretty ripe by then.” He drew Nick down into another long, lingering kiss.
Nick kissed him back for precisely one and a half seconds before his eyes popped open. “Wait, what!?”
Cackling, Angelo sneaked down Nick’s body, smiling as his protests transformed into moans, already looking forward to Monday, and not just for the next prank, but to be able to finally walk hand in hand down the hallway with the boy of his dreams…but mostly for the prank.
The end. :)
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