Chemistry, but inevitably wrong for me
Title: Falling Away with You
Author: 0creativity
Part: 3 of 9
Rating: R for language
Summary: Nick and Greg do the best they can over summer break.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: See my notes at the beginning of chapter one.
Chapter Three
“You love me?”
Nick smiles into the phone even though he’s mentally berating himself for being so stupid. He’s barely been home for five minutes and already Greg’s calling him. It makes him strangely giddy, but he wishes they were talking about something else.
The silence makes Greg uneasy. “That’s what you said isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Yeah, that’s what I said, G.”
“I wish you wouldn’t have left. I would’ve liked to have been able to say it back.”
“Look, just forget I ever said any- Wait, what?”
“I said I would’ve liked to be able to say it back.”
“You love me?”
“I think so, yeah.”
Nick covers up the mouthpiece of the phone with one hand, makes a fist with his other hand and pumps it in the air as he yells “Yeah!!”
After he’s taken a minute to regain his composure he says “You can tell me now.”
“It doesn’t seem right saying it over the phone for the first time. I want to be able to see you when I say it.”
Nick laughs as he asks “When did you become such a hopeless romantic?”
Nick doesn’t hear Greg’s sarcastic remark, however, because there’s a knock on his door. He interrupts Greg mid-sentence with a rushed “Just a minute.”
He sets the phone down and goes to open his bedroom door. He’s shocked to see his mother standing there. Usually, his parents avoid his bedroom at all costs. They used to think that he was a lady’s man because he was always tutoring girls in biology in high school. He remembers how disappointed they had been when they found out that tutoring was all he ever did with any of them. Now they stay away for a different reason. Now they’re afraid that they’ll walk in and find him having sex with another man.
“Mom? What do you need?”
“Nick, what in the world was all that cheering about?”
“Cheering? Mom, it was one yelp. I was talking to a friend from school who got to watch the game today and he told me Texas Tech won. Sorry, I got a little excited.”
She seems pleased with his answer. He’s a bad liar, but she doesn’t know enough about sports to raise any suspicions. She hasn’t been able to look him directly in the eyes since he came out to them right before he left for college.
“Friend?” She also thinks that he screws any guy within spitting distance. He smiles again because what his mom is thinking is true this time. It never was before. She doesn’t notice the smile because she’s too busy studying the floor.
“Yeah, Mom. Friend. We’ve been over this before. I don’t fuck every guy I see.”
“Watch your language,” she hisses. She stalks away and he closes the door a little harder than necessary. He walks back over to the phone and puts the receiver to his ear. Greg is humming to himself but Nick can’t place the tune.
“Okay, I’m back. Sorry about that.”
“I thought you loved me.” The simple statement panics him for a minute before he realizes that Greg’s just teasing him for lying to his mother.
“You heard that, huh?”
“Yeah. You haven’t told them?”
“About you? No.”
“Oh. I haven’t told my parents about you yet either. Hell, I haven’t even told them that I dig guys...”
“I’ll tell them. Soon. It’s just that accepting the fact that theoretically your son could screw guys is a lot different than knowing he’s actually in a serious relationship with one.”
“They’d prefer it if you slept around?”
“Probably. That way they can just chalk it up to a phase or something. A relationship is more long-term. More permanent. Much more serious. I’m not sure if they’re ready for that or not.”
“I don’t think my parents will care. But still, this isn’t a discussion I ever thought I’d have with them. It’s definitely going to be uncomfortable.”
“Well, if they disown you and my parents disown me, then we can just run away together.”
“Can we join a traveling carnival? I’ve always wanted to be a carnie.”
Nick laughs as he envisions a dirty, scruffy Greg with an eyepatch and bad teeth living in a camper.
“God, I miss you already.” He knows he sounds desperate and needy but he doesn’t really care.
“Miss you too. Wanna have phone sex?”
Nick groans. “Can’t right now. I’ve got a ton of unpacking to do.”
Greg actually sounds slightly dejected as he replies. “Yeah, I’ve got quite a bit more to do too. Hey, guess what?”
“What?”
“I was home for like ten minutes before some old friends swung by. We’re going to start a band this summer. Give us something to do.”
“Really? I didn’t know you played an instrument.”
“I don’t yet,” and Nick can hear the laughter in his voice and he’s not sure he’s going to be able to survive these next three months.
“Yeah, well, you have fun with your little band. Some of us actually have jobs lined up.”
“Oh, right, interning at the court house. Have fun, man. I’d think of you while you’re at work, but I probably won’t even be awake. I love the night life, you know.”
“Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“I might as well not even bother going out then.”
“You better be glad you’re not here or you’d pay for that.”
“Actually, that just makes me even more depressed. Listen, I better go finish unpacking. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Anytime after five. Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Yeah, these three months are going to last forever.
~
“And then he tried to kiss me.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve known the guy since kindergarten and he thinks just because I’ve told him I’m dating a guy that I want to mess around with him. I didn’t even know he was gay.”
“I hope you beat the shit out of him.” Nick can hardly control his rage.
“I wanted to. He wasn’t even drunk so he knew what he was doing. I went off on him, though. Yelled like there was no tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“I’m not hanging out with him anymore.”
“Good.”
“Nicky, are you mad at me?”
“No. Why would I be mad at you? It’s not like you wanted it.”
“I didn’t. I mean I’d just got done telling them all that I found this awesome guy and how great the relationship is and he kissed me. He’s an idiot.”
“I’d say.”
“And then when I told him that I wasn’t about to cheat on you and even if I ever wanted to I’d never do it with him, he just looked at me and said ‘He doesn’t have to know. Besides, long distance never works out.’ I started to punch him but Ashley grabbed by hand.”
“What did your parents say?”
“About Adam? I didn’t tell them.”
“No,” Nick laughs. “About me.”
“Oh. Pretty much what I expected. ‘Whatever makes you happy, Gregory. Just as long as you don’t do anything illegal, Gregory.’ They’re almost too understanding. It’s kinda freaky.”
“They weren’t mad?”
“No. Were your parents?”
“No. I guess they were a little disappointed. Not in me, but that this isn’t just a phase and they’re actually going to have to deal with it. They didn’t really seem upset or anything, though.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
There’s a pause and Nick marks another day off his calendar.
“How many more days until we can see each other again?”
“Thirty-one. Just one more month.”
“It’s going to be the longest one.”
Nick nods even though Greg can’t see him. “Yeah. I know.”
“Listen, Mom’s calling me down for dinner and afterwards I have band practice to go to. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. Love you, G.”
“Love you too, Nicky.”
~
“I’m thinking about changing majors.”
“Huh?”
“Chemistry just doesn’t seem right for me anymore. I’m thinking maybe public relations or business management or something.”
“I thought you loved Chemistry.”
“I do, but...”
“But what?”
“What’s your major again?”
“Criminal Justice.”
“Chemistry is too different than Criminal Justice.”
“So?”
“So we’d never be able to work together.”
“And how would a PR or business management major fix that?”
“Well, business management probably wouldn’t. But with a degree in public relations, I could become a spokesperson for the police force or something.”
“If you got a criminal justice minor with a chemistry major you could work in a crime lab somewhere.”
“Hmm. Why are you getting a degree anyway? I didn’t think you needed one to be a cop.”
“It helps. Besides, there are a lot of angles to the justice system and I may not want to be a cop forever.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking ahead.”
“Maybe I should just drop out and focus all my energy on the band.”
Nick laughs like he always does when they talk. “Can any of you even play an instrument yet?”
“Yeah, I’m getting pretty good. I’ll be really good when it’s time for me to go back to school so I can forget everything I learned over the summer. Mark’s getting pretty good with the drums too.”
“Just remember me when you’re famous.”
“I won’t be able to forget you since you’ll be right there.”
“You’re going to keep me around even if you become rich and famous and travel the world?”
“Yeah, I thought you’d make a pretty good head of security.”
“Very funny.”
“I thought so.”
There’s a pause in the conversation as Nick tries to do some math in his head, but he’s exhausted from working all day. “How long until we get to see each other?”
“Eight days. I never thought I’d be so anxious to go back to school.”
“Me either.”
There’s another long pause during which Nick fidgets with the phone cord.
“Nicky?”
“Yeah?”
“I really do love you.”
“I know. I love you too.”
Author: 0creativity
Part: 3 of 9
Rating: R for language
Summary: Nick and Greg do the best they can over summer break.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: See my notes at the beginning of chapter one.
Chapter Three
“You love me?”
Nick smiles into the phone even though he’s mentally berating himself for being so stupid. He’s barely been home for five minutes and already Greg’s calling him. It makes him strangely giddy, but he wishes they were talking about something else.
The silence makes Greg uneasy. “That’s what you said isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Yeah, that’s what I said, G.”
“I wish you wouldn’t have left. I would’ve liked to have been able to say it back.”
“Look, just forget I ever said any- Wait, what?”
“I said I would’ve liked to be able to say it back.”
“You love me?”
“I think so, yeah.”
Nick covers up the mouthpiece of the phone with one hand, makes a fist with his other hand and pumps it in the air as he yells “Yeah!!”
After he’s taken a minute to regain his composure he says “You can tell me now.”
“It doesn’t seem right saying it over the phone for the first time. I want to be able to see you when I say it.”
Nick laughs as he asks “When did you become such a hopeless romantic?”
Nick doesn’t hear Greg’s sarcastic remark, however, because there’s a knock on his door. He interrupts Greg mid-sentence with a rushed “Just a minute.”
He sets the phone down and goes to open his bedroom door. He’s shocked to see his mother standing there. Usually, his parents avoid his bedroom at all costs. They used to think that he was a lady’s man because he was always tutoring girls in biology in high school. He remembers how disappointed they had been when they found out that tutoring was all he ever did with any of them. Now they stay away for a different reason. Now they’re afraid that they’ll walk in and find him having sex with another man.
“Mom? What do you need?”
“Nick, what in the world was all that cheering about?”
“Cheering? Mom, it was one yelp. I was talking to a friend from school who got to watch the game today and he told me Texas Tech won. Sorry, I got a little excited.”
She seems pleased with his answer. He’s a bad liar, but she doesn’t know enough about sports to raise any suspicions. She hasn’t been able to look him directly in the eyes since he came out to them right before he left for college.
“Friend?” She also thinks that he screws any guy within spitting distance. He smiles again because what his mom is thinking is true this time. It never was before. She doesn’t notice the smile because she’s too busy studying the floor.
“Yeah, Mom. Friend. We’ve been over this before. I don’t fuck every guy I see.”
“Watch your language,” she hisses. She stalks away and he closes the door a little harder than necessary. He walks back over to the phone and puts the receiver to his ear. Greg is humming to himself but Nick can’t place the tune.
“Okay, I’m back. Sorry about that.”
“I thought you loved me.” The simple statement panics him for a minute before he realizes that Greg’s just teasing him for lying to his mother.
“You heard that, huh?”
“Yeah. You haven’t told them?”
“About you? No.”
“Oh. I haven’t told my parents about you yet either. Hell, I haven’t even told them that I dig guys...”
“I’ll tell them. Soon. It’s just that accepting the fact that theoretically your son could screw guys is a lot different than knowing he’s actually in a serious relationship with one.”
“They’d prefer it if you slept around?”
“Probably. That way they can just chalk it up to a phase or something. A relationship is more long-term. More permanent. Much more serious. I’m not sure if they’re ready for that or not.”
“I don’t think my parents will care. But still, this isn’t a discussion I ever thought I’d have with them. It’s definitely going to be uncomfortable.”
“Well, if they disown you and my parents disown me, then we can just run away together.”
“Can we join a traveling carnival? I’ve always wanted to be a carnie.”
Nick laughs as he envisions a dirty, scruffy Greg with an eyepatch and bad teeth living in a camper.
“God, I miss you already.” He knows he sounds desperate and needy but he doesn’t really care.
“Miss you too. Wanna have phone sex?”
Nick groans. “Can’t right now. I’ve got a ton of unpacking to do.”
Greg actually sounds slightly dejected as he replies. “Yeah, I’ve got quite a bit more to do too. Hey, guess what?”
“What?”
“I was home for like ten minutes before some old friends swung by. We’re going to start a band this summer. Give us something to do.”
“Really? I didn’t know you played an instrument.”
“I don’t yet,” and Nick can hear the laughter in his voice and he’s not sure he’s going to be able to survive these next three months.
“Yeah, well, you have fun with your little band. Some of us actually have jobs lined up.”
“Oh, right, interning at the court house. Have fun, man. I’d think of you while you’re at work, but I probably won’t even be awake. I love the night life, you know.”
“Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“I might as well not even bother going out then.”
“You better be glad you’re not here or you’d pay for that.”
“Actually, that just makes me even more depressed. Listen, I better go finish unpacking. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Anytime after five. Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Yeah, these three months are going to last forever.
~
“And then he tried to kiss me.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve known the guy since kindergarten and he thinks just because I’ve told him I’m dating a guy that I want to mess around with him. I didn’t even know he was gay.”
“I hope you beat the shit out of him.” Nick can hardly control his rage.
“I wanted to. He wasn’t even drunk so he knew what he was doing. I went off on him, though. Yelled like there was no tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“I’m not hanging out with him anymore.”
“Good.”
“Nicky, are you mad at me?”
“No. Why would I be mad at you? It’s not like you wanted it.”
“I didn’t. I mean I’d just got done telling them all that I found this awesome guy and how great the relationship is and he kissed me. He’s an idiot.”
“I’d say.”
“And then when I told him that I wasn’t about to cheat on you and even if I ever wanted to I’d never do it with him, he just looked at me and said ‘He doesn’t have to know. Besides, long distance never works out.’ I started to punch him but Ashley grabbed by hand.”
“What did your parents say?”
“About Adam? I didn’t tell them.”
“No,” Nick laughs. “About me.”
“Oh. Pretty much what I expected. ‘Whatever makes you happy, Gregory. Just as long as you don’t do anything illegal, Gregory.’ They’re almost too understanding. It’s kinda freaky.”
“They weren’t mad?”
“No. Were your parents?”
“No. I guess they were a little disappointed. Not in me, but that this isn’t just a phase and they’re actually going to have to deal with it. They didn’t really seem upset or anything, though.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
There’s a pause and Nick marks another day off his calendar.
“How many more days until we can see each other again?”
“Thirty-one. Just one more month.”
“It’s going to be the longest one.”
Nick nods even though Greg can’t see him. “Yeah. I know.”
“Listen, Mom’s calling me down for dinner and afterwards I have band practice to go to. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. Love you, G.”
“Love you too, Nicky.”
~
“I’m thinking about changing majors.”
“Huh?”
“Chemistry just doesn’t seem right for me anymore. I’m thinking maybe public relations or business management or something.”
“I thought you loved Chemistry.”
“I do, but...”
“But what?”
“What’s your major again?”
“Criminal Justice.”
“Chemistry is too different than Criminal Justice.”
“So?”
“So we’d never be able to work together.”
“And how would a PR or business management major fix that?”
“Well, business management probably wouldn’t. But with a degree in public relations, I could become a spokesperson for the police force or something.”
“If you got a criminal justice minor with a chemistry major you could work in a crime lab somewhere.”
“Hmm. Why are you getting a degree anyway? I didn’t think you needed one to be a cop.”
“It helps. Besides, there are a lot of angles to the justice system and I may not want to be a cop forever.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking ahead.”
“Maybe I should just drop out and focus all my energy on the band.”
Nick laughs like he always does when they talk. “Can any of you even play an instrument yet?”
“Yeah, I’m getting pretty good. I’ll be really good when it’s time for me to go back to school so I can forget everything I learned over the summer. Mark’s getting pretty good with the drums too.”
“Just remember me when you’re famous.”
“I won’t be able to forget you since you’ll be right there.”
“You’re going to keep me around even if you become rich and famous and travel the world?”
“Yeah, I thought you’d make a pretty good head of security.”
“Very funny.”
“I thought so.”
There’s a pause in the conversation as Nick tries to do some math in his head, but he’s exhausted from working all day. “How long until we get to see each other?”
“Eight days. I never thought I’d be so anxious to go back to school.”
“Me either.”
There’s another long pause during which Nick fidgets with the phone cord.
“Nicky?”
“Yeah?”
“I really do love you.”
“I know. I love you too.”