< Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Lincoln high was full of Halloween cheer. The school had been decorated to look like a haunted house, the lights dimmed just enough to give the halls a spooky quality, but not bordering dangerous and new issues of the Lincoln Report had been slipped in everyone’s lockers to be found first thing in the morning. As they did every year, there would be a Halloween Assembly right before lunch during third period in the gymnasium. The assembly would include Halloween versions of ‘Name That Tune’, ‘Price Is Right’ and ‘Lets Make A Deal’, not to mention the various skits that the student council would put on and the musical interludes from student bands.

By the time Nick had left Justin’s house the night before, they still hadn’t decided on costumes. It wasn’t until he’d spoken to his sister that Nick remembered he had an old costume that he’d never worn. So that morning, he’d gotten out of the shower and pulled on a pair of special black pants, a black shirt and coat and a bandana. He was going to be a ninja. He was so excited to see everyone that he beat both Justin and Lance to school and was waiting there when Lance finally arrived. Nick burst into laughter and clapped his hands in excitement.

"It’s perfect Lance!"

Nick blushed and rolled his eyes. "Yours is good too." Lance had dressed up as a baseball player, full with black makeup underneath his eyes, the pinstripe tight pants, socks and cleats, a jersey and a ball cap. It was possibly the only day that students could get away with wearing ball caps in school. He took in Nick’s ninja costume and wished he had have thought of something like that. This costume made him feel absolutely silly and he knew that in phys ed. later that day, everyone would be making fun of his lack of athletic ability.

They read the latest edition of the Report while Lance filled Nick in on how things had gone the night before at their meeting. "We were here until like eleven o’clock last night," Lance said. "It took forever because we had to print off a few different copies to see which looked best on actual paper, and then we had to print off enough for everyone and stuff lockers."

"Who all was here?" Nick asked. At eleven he was just getting into bed. He’d gone home with Justin, they’d done their homework and watched the basketball game on one of the sport channels that Justin’s dad had ordered. It wasn't Michael Jordan but it was basketball and that’s all that mattered. He couldn’t imagine being at school that late at night. "Was it creepy being here that late?"

Lance gave a half shrug. "Mrs. Renado was here. We have to have teacher supervision if we’re going to be here after school. She was pretty cool though. She ordered us pizza and we had pop and stuff. Plus she helped us stuff lockers. But yeah, there was Chris and me, a few juniors and this one sophomore girl that seemed really nice. I think there was maybe, ten of us total. And I think that Chris was impressed that I was here so long, that I didn’t care how late it was. He said that not a lot of freshmen have any drive or work ethics for a job well done, and I just might change his view on a few things."

"Cool!" Nick said sincerely, he loved how happy Lance looked. In all the time he’d known him, Nick had never seen him look so excited about something.

"How about you guys?" Lance asked. He was worried that Nick and Justin were still fighting and didn’t want to pry. It seemed though Justin was mad at him the night before and he didn’t want to cause any more problems between them.

"Oh, J and I talked. We had a big fight but then we made up. Then we went to the Shake Shack and just talked some more. Then his mom came and we went to his house for a bit. Oh, and Joey Fatone talked to me."

Lance opened his mouth to answer but it got caught in his throat as he saw Justin strutting down the hall towards them. Everyone seemed to go deathly quiet, all eyes on the freshman. "Holy shit," Lance exclaimed loudly.

"Holy shit is right," Justin beamed proudly. "I couldn’t come up with a costume, so I just wrapped my bed sheet around me and came to school."

Justin was wearing a toga made out of a white sheet, doubled up so that you couldn’t see anything underneath it. He had a gold sash tying it together and Nick could faintly see pins holding it in place throughout the costume. He had a pair of sandals on his feet and his mom had made a crown out of plastic vines and leaves. Both Nick and Lance’s faces broke out into wide grins.

"Dude, you look so good!"

"I do, don’t I?" Justin agreed as he did a 360 degree turn to show off the whole outfit. The sound of giggling interrupted their conversation as the three of them turned to see Britney and Christina looking at them, eyes wide and flirty smiles on their faces.

Britney had dressed up as a school girl, which didn’t look all that different than how she normally looked except she had a blazer over her too tight blouse. Christina on the other hand, had worn a genie outfit, the pants hanging off of her hips and the top high on her stomach below her breasts. Her navel was decorated with a dangling jewel and belly chain and she wore a tiny veil over her face.

"Wow Justin, you look fabulous." Britney breathed as she approached. She took the opportunity to run her manicured fingers up and down Justin’s bare arms, daring to go so far as his chest.

"Oh, thanks Brit. I guess Lance and I look like chopped liver," Nick pretended to pout as Lance stifled his laughter."

"Nah, you look good too Nick," Christina assured him coyly. Both were surprised when her eyes darted to Lance and she took a few extra seconds to appraise his costume. They saw a hint of something in her eyes before she tore her gaze away and back to Nick. Lance suddenly felt as if he’d been cruised, and he wondered what AJ would say when he saw him in this outfit. For the moment though, all attention seemed to be focused on Justin’s costume, and he was loving every minute of it.

"We’ve got to go meet the girls at Mandy’s locker," Britney announced, her eyes focused intently on Justin’s lean build. "But we’ll hopefully see you later." The three boys nodded and discreetly rolled their eyes, breaking into a fit of giggles. "Will you be joining us again for lunch today Justin?"

Christina’s eyes widened. "Oh yeah? You should so eat with us again Justin. You too Nick, it’ll be a blast."

Lance’s jaw dropped as he looked at Justin who was blushing profusely. Their eyes met and Justin simply shook his head slowly, obvious in his remorse.

"Sorry to disappoint you girls, but I’m gonna be eating with the boys. Maybe next time." Justin flashed the girls a smile in hopes that they would giggle and dash off like they usually did when he smiled at them. He was more than relieved when they did just that, leaving the three friends alone.

An air of silence fell over them until Lance couldn’t hold it in any longer. "You ate lunch with them yesterday? In the cafeteria?" Nick snickered and Justin groaned. "The SCHOOL cafeteria?" Lance clarified, which only made Nick laugh harder.

"Yes. Okay? YES! In a moment of weakness, they surrounded me and I was too distracted to fight them off. I’ve learned my lesson and will never let it happen again." Nick was too busy laughing and Justin was too busy trying to repress the memories from the day before to notice the frown on Lance’s face.

"Is it because of me? Do you not like me?" He asked, voice soft but expression serious. Nick stopped laughing instantly and Justin felt his heart skip a beat.

"Huh?"

Lance licked his lips and took a deep breath. "I got the idea yesterday that you were mad at me. Or not mad, but that... You don’t want me around. And then yesterday you didn’t eat with us..."

Justin felt his cheeks heat up and he fidgeted nervously. "I was just upset about something."

"Me?"

"Not exactly." Lance was looking at him with an inquisitive expression on his face and Justin gave an embarrassed shrug. "I was just a little jealous that Nick was supposed to come over the other night and instead he went to your house... I didn’t.."

"You think I’m trying to take him away from you. You’re mad at me.... and you don’t like me hanging out with Nick..." Lance looked at Nick who looked stunned at his outburst. Justin was shaking his head, as if trying to refute Lance’s claims. The sound of his locker slamming shut echoed in the hall ways and Lance fought not to scream. Instead, he took a deep breath and spoke as calmly as he could manage. "I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that I was stepping onto your territory. I know you don’t usually talk to me since we don’t really have that much in common, but I didn’t realize you were only tolerating me because of Nick. I thought that we were friends, I guess I was wrong."

Lance didn’t smile at either of them, instead, he simply flashed them a look that was intended to be that of indifference, but Nick could see that Lance was hurt. He was hurt and upset and Nick suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

"I..." Justin whispered. He was in shock. At no point had he expected Lance to take his actions the day before personally, nor did he want the other boy to leave, but he’d been so surprised by his outburst that he hadn’t been able to do anything other than stand there and watch. "He.."

Nick could only shake his head. Not even the sight of Kevin, Joey, Chris and Brian heading down the hall towards them could make the heavy feeling in his stomach disappear. His pulse did race just slightly as he took in the sight of the four older boys. Kevin, who garnered a soft gasp from Nick, was dressed as a cowboy. He was wearing a pair of jeans, a giant belt buckle, a button down shirt and a cowboy hat. Joey was the funniest out of the foursome, as he was currently dressed as a woman, complete with wig, dress and heels and a string of pearls dangling around his neck. He’d shaved off all of his facial hair and was wearing make up. Nick and Justin exchanged amused glances and giggled at the thought of actually wearing make up to school. Brian was dressed as a vampire. His face was powder white, and he had red paint just below his lips where his fangs were protruding. He wore a black suit and a cape over top, the outfit looked rather impressive and even Nick had to admit he was
 kind of sexy in the get up. The best of the four had to be Chris though. Where he normally looked like he was dressed for Halloween, as a punker or a goth, he had done a complete twist and was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans which were ripped at the knee, his usually spiked hair was moderately gelled, and he wore a long sleeved orange tee shirt with a short sleeved navy blue tee shirt over top of it which read ‘Normal is Overrated’. There was a wallet chain going from his belt hoop to his back pocket and Chris looked fabulous.

Nick turned to Justin, and then to where Lance should have been standing and frowned. He slammed his locker shut and gave his best friend an apologetic smile. "I should get to homeroom."

Justin’s frown deepened and he sighed. "Are you mad at me too now?"

Nick shook his head. "Of course not J. It wasn’t your fault. We’ll let him cool off and then at lunch you can explain."

"Maybe you can talk to him in gym?" Justin suggested hopefully. He gave a brief smile when Nick nodded. "Later, Nicky."

"Later J."

~*~*~*~*~

Rather than do anything strenuous in gym, they were given a free period to do whatever they wished, as long as they kept in the gymnasium. No one wanted to have to change out of their costumes or take off their make up, just to have to put it back on afterwards. Nick arrived slightly late and wasn’t surprised to see Lance hiding up at the top of the bleachers in his normal position. For students who hated phys ed., like Lance did, the mandate that all high school students had to take at least one phys ed. course was a fate worse than death. Nick had always been athletically inclined, so phys ed. had always been one of his favourite classes. It was a way to exert pent up physical frustration and energy and he always felt relaxed and refreshed afterwards.

Nick climbed up the stairs to the top of the bleachers where Lance was reading a paperback novel. "This seat taken?" Nick asked with a smile. When Lance looked up, he saw the grin on his friend’s face before it was replaced with a frown.

"I don’t know, I don’t want to be accused ..."

"Don’t be like that Lance," Nick warned sternly. Nick certainly wasn’t going to get in the middle of dueling hissy fits between his friends, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to be forced to choose one over the other. Not by either of them. "Don’t be a jerk." That only further fueled Lance’s anger.

"I’M the jerk? He’s mad at me.."

Nick shook his head. "He never said he was mad at you. Did he actually say that, because I must have missed it." Nick watched Lance open his mouth and then shut it. Lance crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head in the other direction, pointedly ignoring Nick. "Look, he was jealous okay. You can’t get mad at him for being jealous."

"I think I can."

"No, you can’t. And if you are, that’s your prerogative as much as him being jealous is his. But he never actually did anything to you." When Lance didn’t answer he rolled his eyes. "Did he? Did he do anything directly to you?"

"No."

"Then why are you mad?"

Lance didn’t want to have to answer Nick’s question because he knew that it would only prove just how insecure he was. How afraid he was of being alone again and not having any friends, not having Nick, Justin and AJ as friends, and even Josh who he didn’t see all that much but enjoyed his company when he was around. He shook his head and shrugged. Lance refused to turn to face Nick so that the blonde could see the emptiness in his eyes. When he’d heard Justin say earlier that morning that he’d rather eat in the cafeteria the day before than eat with them because of him it made him feel two inches tall. It brought forth a little voice in his head that only verified that Justin only tolerated him because of Nick, and if he pushed hard enough, Nick would start to feel the same way. So rather than answer, he simply pretended he didn’t hear the question.

Nick could see Lance trembling and his lips curled into a frown. He hated seeing people around him so upset, and it seemed that it was all he was seeing lately. In a moment of adrenaline, he took action and moved down the bench so that he was closer to Lance and hesitantly put an arm over his shoulder. "Please tell me why you’re mad."

"Why do you care?"

Nick forced himself not to be offended by Lance’s biting tone and hugged him tighter, resting his cheek on Lance’s shoulder from behind. "Because you’re my friend. Because I hate to see you upset and I don’t like my friends fighting."

"We’re not friends," Lance said. He knew it had been the wrong thing the second it came out because Nick stiffened and moved away from him.

Nick was thankful that Lance was facing the other way so that he didn’t have to see the hurt and shock on his face. Despite the fact that Lance couldn’t see him, he nodded. "Oh. Okay then, I guess I’m wasting my time." Nick stood up and with a deep breath, started to walk down the bleachers so that he was closer to the floor.

Lance spun around and looked at Nick frantically. He knew he’d gone too far and it hadn’t even come out how he’d intended it to. "Nick?" He pleaded for the blonde to come back but Nick simply walked to the far end of the gym and sat by himself in the first row by the wall. Lance was on his feet in no time and hurried across the gym. When he reached Nick he was surprised to see how cold his gaze was and how his lips were pursed in a tight line. "Nick?" He tried again. Lance was nearly in tears.

Nick looked up, gaze cool. It was completely contradictory to how he was feeling inside and Nick just wanted that day to be over. He wanted the whole week to be over as it seemed to be the longest, worst few days he’d ever had in his life. At least that he could remember. Nick leaned against the wall, he didn’t say a word. If Lance wanted to say something, he was going to have to talk. Nick had nothing to say.

"I... That came out wrong."

"Oh? I think it was pretty self explanatory."

"I didn’t... I meant..." Lance whimpered in frustration and stamped his foot. "God Nick, please don’t look at me like that." It was a mixture between Nick’s silence and the look of indifference that he was giving Lance that was making him uncomfortable. Where Nick was always so warm and comforting, right now he was cold and detached. Lance hated being on the receiving end of Nick’s silent torture.

"Don’t look at you like what?" Nick asked, his voice steady.

"Like that," Lance sat down at Nick’s feet and put his hand on Nick’s ankle. "Please..."

"What do you want me to look at you like Lance? Like someone who’s just learned that someone he considered a close friend has just told him they’re not friends? Because I just can’t do that. I’m sorry."

"I didn’t mean WE’RE not friends..." Lance pleaded. "You’re..." He took a deep breath and tried to stop himself from panicking. He was starting to really get himself worked up and if he didn’t try and regulate his breathing, he was going to possibly hyperventilate and faint. "You are one of my best friends Nick, and I know that’s pathetic since we’ve only really been friends for two weeks, but I’ve opened up to you more than anyone else. I’m more comfortable around you than anyone and that’s saying a lot since it takes me forever to get 100% comfortable with someone. So.." Lance looked away and prayed that he didn’t start to cry. He felt like he’d just lost his best and only friend at Lincoln High and didn’t know what he could do to get that trust back.

"Then what did you mean?" Nick asked softly, his words filled with emotion. He moved closer and took Lance’s hand in his own. "Because you really hurt me when you said that."

Lance looked up and the two boys gazed deeply at one another. "I... I meant Justin. Sometimes I think that he’s only nice to me because you tell him to. He doesn’t ever talk to me, and he makes me feel like I’m a third wheel."

Nick nodded, he squeezed Lance’s hand comfortingly. "Sometimes he just ... It takes a long time to get used to how he is. There are times that he does that with AJ and Josh too. We’re used to each other, so I don’t notice it. But he can be standoffish, it’s just how he is. Sometimes he’s a very private person, very introverted and quiet." Lance scoffed and Nick only nodded, his expression serious. "I’m not kidding. He’s very focused and doesn’t let things deter him from what he wants. Right now it’s basketball, it’s all he can think of and he’s a little crazy with it. But even if he doesn’t always talk to you, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you. He just... he might not open up to you for a while, but when he does, you’ll know it and it will all make sense."

"It’s just... I don’t want either of you to hate me and only be nice to me because you feel bad for me. And that’s what he made me feel like today."

"I know, and I’m sorry," Nick apologized. "But... Don’t say you two aren’t friends. He’d be really hurt to know that you don’t consider him as a friend. No matter how mad we are at each other, any of us, that’s just... that’s a serious statement to make Lance."

Lance felt like he was being reprimanded and pouted. He didn’t think it was fair that because Justin had a hissy fit the day before, he should be the one to be in trouble because of it. He tried to shrug it off but only proceeded to make himself look and feel more miserable.

"I’m not lecturing you," Nick said gently. He could see that Lance was getting defensive and wanted to put him at ease. "I just... I hate seeing both of you hurt, okay? And I’m stuck in the middle and I just want you both to be okay."

I’m sorry," Lance said. And he genuinely was sorry that in reacting to Justin’s insecurities, pushed his own onto Nick.

"So we’re both sorry." Nick exhaled deeply and tried to get rid of all of the negative energy flowing through his body. He felt very wound up and hated the heavy cloud that was still hanging over their heads. Until Justin and Lance talked this out between them, it would still be there.

"Yeah."

Silence fell over them, looming uncomfortably.

"You should talk to Justin," Nick suggested. He cringed, hoping that Lance wouldn’t get upset. Thankfully, the other teen simply nodded.

"Yeah, I know."

"Good."

Lance nudged Nick’s shoulder playfully before flashing him a hesitant smile. He was relieved when Nick smiled and nudged back. "So we’re cool?"

"Chill even."

The whistle of their phys ed. teacher echoed against the walls. They were all instructed to gather around the centre court.

"Okay, so just a reminder that basketball try outs are over the next few weeks for both the freshman and varsity teams. Procedures have been posted, so make sure you see what’s going on before you show up all raring to go. Mid term reports are going to be coming out next week, so don’t forget about that either. Some of you really need to start participating a little more if you plan on not having to take this again next semester."

Lance, along with a few other students, all blushed as they knew it was them the teacher was referring to.

"Now, we’ve got the assembly in here in ten minutes, so either stay here during break or be back in ten. Class dismissed."

Lance and Nick exchanged glances before heading back up to the bleachers to secure decent seats for the assembly. The bleacher seats were always the first to go, as they were the most comfortable and best to see what was going on. "Save enough room for two," Nick instructed. Lance nodded.

The gym was half full when Nick saw AJ saunter in. His eyes were darting around and Nick stood up so that his friend could see him. Bringing a few other people with him, AJ grinned and wove his way through the crowds. There was enough room for Justin, AJ and one more person, they were still short one space. AJ simply turned to the freshman beside Lance and growled, which caused for her and her friends to yelp and scramble down the bleachers towards the floor where they sat uncomfortably. AJ’s friends couldn’t help but snicker. "You didn’t have to do that Bone," one said as he sat down. "We could have sat on the floor."

AJ shrugged, "Damn freshmen. Thinking they can sit up on the bleachers like us older folks."

"Screw you," Nick shot back with a smile. "Damn sophomores thinking they’re hot shit is more like it." AJ’s friends started to laugh openly as AJ pretended to smack Nick across the face.

Lance only held his breath as AJ took the seat that the girl next to him had vacated. They were pressed tightly together, despite AJ having a lot of room on the other side of him. "Hey," AJ grinned. "Nice costume!" Lance blushed and looked down. He took in AJ’s appearance and frowned at his usual jeans and tee shirt. The only difference was that he was wearing a hat.

"Thanks. You didn’t dress up!"

AJ only nodded and smiled coyly at him. "Oh, but I did." He pointed to the emblem on his tee shirt and winked. It was a 7-11 shirt. "I work at seven eleven. Get it?"

Nick groaned and Lance snorted. AJ's friends only teased him for being lame. "Oh guys, this is Cody and Jay. Cody and Jay, Lance and Nick." The four teens all nodded in introduction and they continued small talk as the gym started to fill up. Finally, Justin could be seen standing in the door, his white sheets making him stand out.

"Someone should go get him," AJ commented. "He’ll never find us..." Just as he’d finished that thought, Justin smiled and waved. He gracefully made his way through the hundreds of teenagers and within minutes had joined them.

"How does he do that?" Lance asked. Nick only shrugged. A space on Lance’s other side opened up and Lance suspected Nick had done that on purpose, making them sit next to one another.

"Sorry I’m late, had to run back to my locker." Justin proudly handed AJ, Nick and then Lance plastic bags with their names on them. "Mom made these for us.. I’ve got one for Josh too..."

"Got one what for me?" Josh said, repeating his trick from the first day Lance had met him. He seemed to have appeared from thin air, only this time he was in a cat costume. He wore a pair of skin tight black leather pants, a black, lycra tee shirt that fit him like a glove and a pair of kitty ears, the whiskers drawn on in eyeliner. The whole group of them stopped and stared. Josh looked like the sexiest cat they’d ever seen.

"A Halloween gift bag, it’s from my mom." Justin handed out his last bag, finally able to dig into his own.

"Thanks junior," Josh said, snuggling in between Justin and Nick’s legs on the bench below. The bags were filled with Halloween kisses, suckers, gum, mini chocolate bars and other candy treats. Everyone had taken the liberty to dig in while they waited for the student council to get their act together and start the assembly.

Justin was thankful for the delay and turned to Lance. He slipped a sucker between his lips and nudged Lance’s knee with his own. "Hey."

Lance’s pulse was racing and he wasn’t sure he wanted to have this conversation with Justin out in the open. When he finally met Justin’s gaze, he was pleased to see no hint of anger. "Hey."

"I’m sorry," Justin apologized. "And you were wrong, I don’t tolerate you because of Nick."

Lance nodded. "I know. I’m sorry too."

"Do you know?"

"I do now."

"It’s just... I was jealous. You’re so smart and funny and ...everyone really likes you and I thought maybe..."

"I’m not trying to take him away," Lance tried to assure him. He needed Justin to know that he wasn’t intending on pushing him out, he was just trying to make room for him too.

"It’s just ..." Justin couldn’t vocalize his thoughts and found he didn’t need to. Lance understood.

"I know what you are trying to say Justin, because it’s how I feel too. I’m sorry for getting upset this morning."

"That’s okay. I just want us to be okay. I don’t hate you and I like having you around. I’m glad that we’re friends, you, me and Nick." Justin’s leg was bouncing nervously and he twirled the sucker around in his mouth.

"I’m glad too. And we’re definitely okay."

"Cool!" Justin grinned. They paused awkwardly for a moment and as Lance turned around to focus on the stage, he felt Justin’s arms wrap around his torso in a squishy, awkward hug. "Thanks Lance," Justin whispered moments before the lights dimmed and the curtains to the stage opened slowly, revealing the beginnings of their first Halloween assembly.

End Chapter 9


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