"Oh"

"And I can't seem to stop kissing him, which wouldn't be a problem if Clay wasn't involved." "Clay? As in the other Wallace brother?" Nico nods "what's his involvement?"


"He kissed me too and told me he liked me and asked me out."

"Wow" she reacts, "but surely you said-" "Yes, I said yes"

"Nicolas that's-"


"Horrible? I know!" He drops his head in his palms frowning, "and now if I go out with him I'm just leading him on, right? I mean don't get me wrong Clay's amazing he's a much better person than his brother, but it didn't feel as good kissing Clay as it does when I'm kissing Christian. Why is that?" He picks his head up looking at Miss Athie

She thinks "maybe it's-"


"Guilt?" He takes the word out of her mouth, "of course it's guilt I mean Christian kissed me first and that was an amazing kiss, then literally seconds later Clay kisses me. I didn't have time to think about how his kiss felt because I was too busy freaking out. Now every time we kiss I just panic"

"Then stop-"

"Kissing them? Yeah it's a little too late for that," the bell rings cutting Nico off. "Thank you for the chat Miss Athie you were very helpful," he stands up getting his bag leaving.

"I'm not sure I was," the counselor says to herself watching Nico leave her office.

Walking to his car after school Nico groans seeing Christian sitting on the hood of his car, "I seriously need a new parking spot" he sighs.

Going up to his car he stops "what are you doing, Christian?" "Someone's been avoiding me" he smiles sliding off of Nico's car, "why?"

"I'm not avoiding you..." as he's talking Christian pulls him between the cars, "what are you doing?" He pulls away when Christian tries to kiss him, "people can see us!"

"So? My brother's nowhere near us"

"I need to talk to you about that actually" Nico prepares to tell the truth, "Clay and I are going on a date, so this can't happen anymore."

Christian laughs not realizing how serious Nico is, moving away Nico opens his car door throwing his bag in the back seat. "Wait you're serious?" Nico doesn't answer, Christian sees him about to get in

the car and rushes after him pulling Nico back to him. "Sorry but I mean it's Clay, the guy spends his weekends in his room playing Minecraft."

"I don't care"

"Why would you choose that when you've got this?" He takes Nico's hand placing it on his abs, "and come on we had a good time last weekend, remember?" Christian kisses his neck "Clay can't make you feel that good" he continues kissing Nico to remind him what he'd be missing. "Whatever date my brother all you want, but you and I can still hook up, right?" Nico should say no, he wants to say no but theirs no denying how good Christian's lips feel on his neck. "Or I can tell him the truth and see if he still wants to date you"

"Is that a threat?" Nico pulls away from him

"Of course not but honesty is the best policy, right?" Nico ignores him "you really want to date my brother? What do you even see in him?"

"A lot more than I see in you" Nico climbs in his car driving away.

That was the first thing Nico's done since he started at Darlington he's proud of, step by step his guilt will wash away and maybe then he'll actually get to enjoy his time with Clay and not worry about his brother.

—

"Woah that's a fancy shirt," Nico's mom walks into his room as he's in the mirror fixing himself. "Why because it has buttons?"

"You have plans?"

"Kind of, a friend and I are getting dinner," Nico says as he continues to get ready. Finding his mom suspiciously quiet he turns "what?"

"Dinner? That sounds like a date"

"It's not mom, he's just a friend who invited me out"

"Same friend from last weekend?" Nico nods "you guys are getting close" "I can't even make friends now?"

"That's not what I'm saying Nicolas, just be careful"

"I always am," he replies grabbing his watch. "He's cute" she smiles

"What? How would you know that?" "He's downstairs"

Nico's eyes grow "why didn't you start with that?!" He looks at his watch "he's so early!" He panics finding his cellphone and wallet

"Your father and I are taking Penny and Eli to a movie, try not to stay out too late, ok?" "Yeah sure, have fun."

"You too."

Alone again Nico stares at himself in the mirror one last time making sure he's perfect, he's actually nervous. It's just Clay he thinks, there's nothing to be nervous about Clay makes him feel normal and he wanted normal.

Walking to the living room he looks around to find Clay but doesn't, "better thank those jeans" Nico hears Christian's voice causing him to jump. "Because they're doing you favors" Nico watches as the boy walks towards him with a grin and one of his dad's beers.

"Oh my god!" Nico panics yanking him back to the kitchen "what the hell are you doing here?! And why are you drinking that?!" He takes the bottle from him placing it on the counter

"Caught Clay talking to himself in the mirror earlier practicing how to talk to you tonight" he chuckles, "how pathetic is that?"

"Not as pathetic as you showing up to my house pretending to be him"

"I didn't have to pretend your mom just assumed. Cute family, by the way, saw them on their way out." Reaching his hand around Nico's waist "so does that mean we're all alone?"

"Yes but Clay will be here soon so please go" Nico tries to pretend the feel of Christian's hand making its way to his butt doesn't feel good, but he's lying. Leaning in Christian stops his lips close to Nico's as if daring Nico to kiss him, finding himself weak Nico gives up about to give Christian what he wants but his phone rings so he doesn't.

Taking his phone out Nico sees Clay's name, "it's Clay please be quiet" he begs then answers, "hey" "Hi, Nico I'm just calling because I was supposed to be on my way by now, but I had to make a quick

stop so I might be a tad late if that's ok?"

With Christian's lips on his neck, he replies "oh s-sure ok, take your time." "All right thanks see you soon"

"Yeah, you t-" Christian takes the phone hanging it up then planting his lips on Nico's. Flipping to every surface until they're against the fridge, Nico and Christian make out with each other while Christian holds his leg up by the thigh. The grinding was getting him excited and if Nico doesn't stop it now he'll go all the way. "This isn't happening" he pulls himself off of Christian. Touching his face and how hot it is Nico continues "I fixed this! I thought I did, you're not supposed to want to kiss me anymore."

"Says who?"

"Me! Was I not clear in the parking lot?"

"Nope" Christian shakes his head, "and I gave you a few days to make the right decision and you clearly did" he grins. "Date my brother but

I'm who you want."

"I-" Nico is immediately cut off by the doorbell "oh fuck!" He turns panicking "How much do you want to bet he brought flowers?" Christian asks chuckling "Shut up!" Taking Christian's hand he pulls him to the back of the house

"Am I hiding in your room until you get back? Good plan"

"No!" The doorbell goes off again and Nico jumps, taking him to the back door "wait until we leave then you leave, ok?"

"Or I could just-"

"Christian!" Nico barks "this is done! All right? Wait until Clay and I are gone then you get the hell out of here." He pushes Christian out of the back door then shuts it locking it

Walking back to the front door where Clay is waiting, Nico takes a deep breath fixing his shirt then grabbing the knob. Opening the door to Clay's smile "hi" he sees him and in his hands a bouquet of flowers, "I thought maybe I got the wrong house."

"No, it's the right one, sorry I took so long to answer I was caught up" literally.

"It's ok" It's obvious Clay was nervous but also very excited, but it was hard for him to read Nico's mood. "These are for you" He hands the boy the bouquet, "I'm not sure what you like, but the lady at the shop said you could never go wrong with roses so."

"They're great, thank you" Nico smiles, "I'm sorry we're just standing here, come in I'm almost ready to go."

"All right" he walks in and Nico shuts the door. "It's weird, there's a car outside that looks exactly like Christian's" Nico gets nervous, "but he isn't the only person that drives an Audi so."

"Right" Nico gulps, "I'm gonna put these down and we'll be set to go." He walks to the kitchen taking another breath, it feels like if he isn't telling himself to breathe it's not happening.

As he's getting a glass of water to calm himself down, Nico hears "is that Christian?" Causing him to rush out of the kitchen. Out of a very opened window with the perfect view of the side of Nico's house, Clay sees Christian walking from the back of the house trying to make it to his car. Nico's heart stops watching clay go to the front door opening it and calling his brother, "Chris!" Christian turns and Clay turns to Nico "what's he doing here?"