< Chapter 12

Chapter 13

The bell was ringing as Nick slid into the art room, garnering the attention of everyone in the room.

"Well Mr. Carter, I give you an eight point four on your entrance," Mrs. Edwards applauded as the class started to cheer. "Although I don’t always appreciate my students rushing in last minute, nearly taking the whole door off the hinges."

"Sorry Mrs. Edwards," Nick apologized with a blush. "I was late getting out of gym. I had to talk to Coach Griffiths about a few things." He caught AJ’s eye and saw his friend watching him closely, as if trying to figure out if he was okay. Nick knew that the last time AJ had seen him he was really upset, but so much had happened since then and Nick had been given time to relax. Even had Coach Griffiths not offered him the position on the freshman team, he still would have been feeling at least a little better by now.

"Well, get your supplies out and start working. These assignments are due pretty soon."

Nick followed his teachers’ instructions and gathered his supplies out of the cupboard. Wordlessly, he set up his station, not looking at AJ once, despite the fact that AJ hadn’t stopped staring at him.

"So?" AJ finally asked when the tension was getting too much for him. He knew Nick knew he was looking at him, but the blonde was being coy and ignoring him. Making him stew, with questions regarding his obvious good mood floating around in his head.

"So, what?" Nick asked, his face was a mask of innocence.

"It’s going to be like that, huh?" AJ scowled. He went back to his piece, which Nick noted was different from the one he had been working on the other night.

"I don’t know what you mean Aje," Nick snickered. He took a few deep breaths before closing his eyes and willing himself to relax. It always helped him paint when he was completely void of any and all distractions. Unfortunately, Nick was surrounded with distractions lately and his mind hadn’t been all to clear on anything. He waited a few minutes before opening his eyes, not surprised that AJ was still staring at him, one eyebrow cocked.

It looked as though AJ was going to say something, except he didn’t. He simply shook his head and started working on the piece in front of him, using pastels instead of the paint they were supposed to be using.

"What happened to the other one?" Nick asked with a nod towards AJ’s easel. He received a shrug in response.

"I don’t know what you mean," AJ repeated Nick’s coy words. He punctuated his statement by sticking his tongue out at Nick.

Nick let out a deep breath and looked out the window. "It hurt. It hurt a lot more than I was expecting it to." This was the only class Nick knew of where they could talk all they wanted without fear of getting in trouble. Expression of all types were welcome in Mrs. Edwards’ class and so if the students felt like having conversations with one another, or even themselves for that matter, it was okay. There were some days when someone would bring in a piece of music that they found inspiring to share with the class, or if it was condusive to their muses, they would put on headphones to listen to their music privately. So knowing the rules of the classroom, Nick didn’t feel at all awkward talking to AJ.

"I’m sorry," AJ’s face immediately showed his sympathy and he put down the pastel that he was holding. "I can’t even imagine what that felt like."

"I don’t know what hurt more, not seeing my name on the list, or him not even noticing." Nick took a few cleansing breaths, he had to remind himself that he was okay with the outcome of that morning’s events and that in the long run, it was probably best.

"If it makes you feel any better, he’s miserable. Or at least he was when he realized his mistake. And knowing him, he’s spent all morning stewing over it."

Nick nodded as AJ was right. Knowing Justin, he’d been spending all morning obsessing over his mistake thinking that Nick hated him. "I went to his locker ...that’s why I was late, but he wasn’t there. He’s always there."

"But you’re okay now? You’re sure?" As concerned as AJ was for Justin, he was equally as concerned about Nick. Although the blonde looked as if he was okay with what had happened, AJ couldn’t help but wonder if he was just putting on a brave front. "You don’t have to pretend."

"I *was* upset."

"And you have every right to be, Nick. I know you’re happy for him for making it, but you’re allowed to be angry and jealous."

"It’s not that ...I’m not jealous that he made it. It just ...I can’t explain it. But we knew it was a possibility. I think I would have been more surprised if I had have made it, you know? But it didn’t make it suck less. So yeah, I pouted all through math. Thought up mean and nasty things to happen to Coach Griffiths and everyone on the Varsity Basketball team ...except for Justin of course. He wasn’t included in that." Nick giggled, causing AJ to giggle with him.

"I’ll bet." It was good to see Nick smiling. In fact, he was grinning and his eyes were dancing, which definitely did not convey the multitude of emotions the blonde had been feeling earlier. AJ was happy to see his friend in such good spirits and hoped that would transfer to Justin when they met him for lunch.

"But then by the time I had left math and headed to the gym, I realized that it’s no use getting upset about it. I mean, I can be upset, but not to the point where I’m obsessing over it. I didn’t make it, it is time to suck it up and move on. But then I went into gym and Mr. Vorska told me that Coach Griffiths wanted to talk to me so I had to go and see him." Nick filled AJ in on what had been said and the offer that had been extended to him. The surprise was obvious by the way AJ’s jaw dropped and his eyes were opened wide.

"Are you serious? He told you he wanted you to be the captain of the freshman basketball team? Without trying out?"

Nick nodded. "He said that the Varsity try outs were good enough for him and that he wasn’t going to let me go until I was convinced."

"Did you want to play for the freshman team?" AJ thought that Nick might see it as a step down, not wanting to play unless it was for Varsity. Personally, he thought it was all crap, but he’d never really been one for the propaganda of typical ‘rah rah’ high school experiences. AJ went, did what he had to do and left. The less time he spent within the school walls, the better. Art was pretty much the only reason he stayed any later than he had to, but that wasn’t school, that was fun. AJ preferred to do most of his learning outside of the classroom, where he could think for himself and not do what he was told by people who had no idea who he was or what he was like.

With a grin, Nick nodded his head. "Yeah. It was mainly J’s idea to try out for Varsity right off the bat. I just want to play ball, you know? I don’t care what team it’s for. So I knew if I didn’t make Varsity, I would try for that team. Plus he said I’d automatically get a spot on the team next year."

AJ furrowed his brow. "Really?"

Yes," Nick rolled his eyes. "But I told him I'd be trying out like everyone else. I want to be picked because I'm good, not because of a decision made now. It’s not fair, you know? Plus, I’ll never know if I made it because of this, or because I deserve to be there."

"What if you don’t make it?"

Nick shook his head, face serious. "They won’t cut me twice."

There was a little of the Justin confidence that had rubbed off on Nick. When aptly motivated, AJ knew that Nick could do anything he set his mind to. So if Nick said it wasn’t his time to make Varsity this time, then that was the end of the story. Next year Nick would try out again, and he’d make it. There was no doubt in either of their minds of that fact.

"So.." Nick asked with a look of question in his eyes. "Where is the other painting? The one you were working on the other night?"

"I finished it." AJ nodded as Nick flashed him an impressed look. "I couldn’t stop until I was finished, it’s all I’ve been able to think about."

"What are you going to do?"

There was a long pause as AJ thought about what his course of action regarding Lance was to be. "I’m going to make my move," he decided. "Not sure how or when, but I will say something. I have to. I’ve been getting these weird vibes from him. I mean, one minute he’s all shy and innocent, but the next he’ll look at me or say something and I think ‘woah, he’s totally checking me out’."

Nick grinned, he was happy for his friends. "Well, good luck Aje."

Although he hadn’t said anything to AJ, Nick was afraid that Justin would flake out on them for lunch that day. He was known for avoiding issues, rather than meeting them head on, and if Justin was as upset as AJ had told him he had been that morning, it was a possibility that Justin would take off. Nick and AJ spent most of the class talking, so there wasn’t too much to clean up before the bell rang. They headed towards the Sophomore Quad with Nick silently hoping that when Lance arrived, he would have Justin in tow. What he found was a total surprise.

Justin and Lance were already there, waiting for him to arrive, five pieces of cafeteria cake at each of their spots, with one for Josh when he came later. AJ immediately remembered that he had called Josh between homeroom and first period to let him know about their disastrous morning, but hadn’t updated him on Nick’s news since then. That thought was pushed out of his mind as Lance and Justin began to applaud at their arrival.

"For me?" AJ joked, "You shouldn’t have."

"Good thing we didn’t," Lance teased, sticking out his tongue.

"Nope, this is for the newest captain of the Lincoln High freshman boys basketball team," Justin said proudly as he came around the table and pulled a very surprised Nick into a tight hug. "I’m so sorry," he whispered softly into his best friend’s ear.

Nick scrunched up his nose and shook his head. "You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not your fault I didn’t make it."

"That’s not why I’m sorry, I’m glad you didn’t make the team." Justin saw the surprise on Nick’s eyes and quickly completed his thought. "If you had have made the team, you wouldn’t have been picked to be the captain of the freshman team, and that is SO much cooler than being on Varsity, like fifteenth string."

Nick rolled his eyes and pushed Justin away playfully. "You’re such a loser, it’s so not cooler."

"Uh, yeah. It so is." Justin argued back. "I’m just the fresh meat on the team where I’m never gonna play. You’re the star..." Justin was relieved at the grin that decorated his best friend’s face. He’d been surprised when on his way to his locker after first period, Brian and Craig had found him in the hall and let him know what was happening with Nick at that very minute. Since he’d been so upset earlier at Nick’s not making the team, they wanted to relieve his conscience by letting him know that Nick was going to be asked to be the captain of the freshman team, and informed him of the ‘perks’ that went along with it. For a moment, Justin had almost been jealous. But then he realized that if anyone deserved it, it was Nick. Besides, he was still on the Varsity team, so it wasn’t as if he’d been totally left in the dark.

"Awww, thanks." Nick nodded at the cake. "What’s this for?"

"It’s for both of you," Lance interrupted with a grin. "For Justin making the team ...and you making the team. We’re having a little celebration."

"Well, thanks," Nick said with a brief hug to Lance. He turned to Justin and frowned. "Then what are you sorry for, you don’t have anything to be apologizing to me for."

Justin nodded. "Yeah, I do. I didn’t even look this morning. I assumed that because you were so happy, that you’d made the team. And then I congratulated you ..." Justin stopped when Nick held up his hand.

"Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t mad at you, just ...sad. Upset that I hadn’t made it, but I wasn’t mad at you."

Justin actually looked relieved at Nick’s admission and Nick pulled him close. "I knew you’d make it, you’re so good. Even Coach Griffiths had said he was ‘wowed’ by you, how much you impressed him. I’m not as good, but that's why he wants to work with me this year. He thinks that next year I’ll be Varsity material ..."

"You’re Varsity material now!" Justin argued. He still wasn’t sure why Nick had been left off of the team.

Nick quickly repeated what Coach Griffiths had said to him about his game. He shared the information that had been passed between them during their meeting, which Josh had come in at the tail end of.

"Nicky," Josh said sympathetically. "Sorry to hear the news."

AJ pulled Josh to the bench, forcing him to sit down. "It’s all good, disaster has been averted." And for what felt like the millionth time that day, Nick explained what had happened and how excited he was.

"Well, it’s been a big day for you already," Josh said as he finished his cake.

"And I’m going to my grandparents, which I so can’t wait for." Nick bounced in his seat, nearly giddy. Justin was excited, just for the mere fact that Nick wasn’t upset with him like he’d feared.

Lance, AJ and Josh began talking about something and Nick took the opportunity to turn to Justin. In a hushed tone he said ‘I went to your locker after second period to talk to you, but couldn’t find you. I wanted to tell you about this all."

"Craig and Brian found me out just before second period. I was on my way to class and they came looking for me. Craig came by when I was still standing at the list and we were talking, I said that the list was wrong because they’d forgotten your name. He said that they hadn’t made a mistake on the list, that you hadn’t made it and I was so mad. I told them that it was crappy that they didn’t pick you ...well he came to tell me what Coach Griffiths was going to talk to you about. He said that it was nice to see how good of friends we are that we would be upset about the other not making the team, and thought it would make me feel better knowing that they were going to ask you to be the captain of the freshman team."

"So when Coach Griffiths was telling me ..."

"Craig was telling me," Justin finished with a grin.

"You know," Nick pointed out. "Christina and Britney were all over you before, now they’re going to totally be in love with you."

Justin shook his head. "Nah, it’s you they want. They’ll probably be cheering at your games if they make the squad. Usually, the back-ups cheer at the freshman games, while the starters cheer at the Varsity games, of all sports." Both Nick and Justin snickered.

"Can you believe they have second string cheerleaders?!" Nick rolled his eyes. Justin followed suit which caused them both to burst into laughter. When they could finally contain themselves, Nick put his hand on Justin’s arm. "I really am happy for you, J."

Justin looked deep into Nick’s eyes and saw the truth there, the real emotion and knew above all that Nick would be supportive of his making the team. "Thanks. I was so worried that you were mad at me and hated me, and then I was going to have to quit the team..."

Nick snorted and shook his head. There was no way Justin would have quit that team, not for anything. "You wouldn’t have given up your spot on the team!" He accused playfully. Justin only nodded.

"If you asked me to I would have."

"But you know I would never ask you to do that!"

Justin grinned. "I know, but I still would have offered. It was a risk I was willing to take."

Nick fake scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine, I want you to quit." He wasn’t surprised when Justin broke into laughter.

"No you don’t!"

"Yes, I do."

"You do?" Justin challenged Nick, poking him in the chest. "Do you really want me to?!?"

Finally, after making Justin sweat for a few minutes, he shook his head. "No. Of course not!" Both teens were beaming.

"I knew it!"

"I might have," Nick tried but with no avail. When Justin gave him a look of disbelief, Nick shook his head. "I wouldn’t have."

"Just like I wouldn’t have asked you to quit the team."

The lunch bell rang, signaling that they were to start making their way to their fourth period classes. Nick and Justin headed towards Nick’s locker where their books were kept. "So, you excited for this weekend?" Justin was met with Nick nodding his head enthusiastically.

"So excited. We wanted to go up for thanksgiving instead, but it’s still a few weeks away and my grandma needs us now. Mom’s going to do some work for her, and they’ve got shopping that needs to be done before it gets too late. Plus I think they just need us around to make them feel better since grandma’s been so sick."

"Well, call me when you get home on Sunday night."

"Yeah, then you can fill me in on how shopping goes tomorrow."

"Oh, and my first meeting is tonight. Just fifteen minutes, but we’ll get our team schedule then." The second bell rang, alerting straggling students that they were now, officially late for class. Nick and Justin both yelped as they hurried the rest of the way to science, not wanting to face the wrath of Mr. Phillips once again.

The rest of the day passed by quickly for Nick and before he knew it, he was waiting outside on the steps for his parents to pick him up. They had gotten off of work early so that they could go home, grab the luggage for the weekend and be at Lincoln High for three twenty to pick up Nick. From there, they would drive to Our Lady Of Peace to pick up the other kids and head straight to Jane’s parents house which was roughly, a two and a half to three hour drive away. The drive up consisted of conversation revolving around Nick’s day. He shared with his family the story that now felt as if he’d been telling it his whole life, pleased when his parents were proud of him for handling the Varsity situation so maturely, but also for landing the position of captain of the freshman team.

By the time Nick got back home on Sunday night, he felt as if no time had passed. It was the fastest weekend ever recorded and he was sad to be leaving his grandparents’ house. He was glad to be back to talk to Justin and find out what he’d missed while he was gone, but at the same time loved being away from everything for a few days. He didn’t have to be anything or do anything that he didn’t want to, and could just get lost in the memory of how less stressful life was before high school.

"Can I call Justin when we get home?" Nick asked sleepily from the farthest seat back of the SUV.

"Can’t you see him tomorrow?" Jane questioned. "You’re exhausted."

Nick looked at his watch before closing his eyes again. He was tired, but it was still early and he wanted to at least call his best friend to let him know he was back. "Please, it’s only 8:30."

"By the time we get home..." Jane started, only to be cut off by Nick.

"It’ll be nine. Nine thirty after I dump out my bag and brush my teeth. It’ll only take a minute."

Jane exchanged a look with her husband and finally relented. "Five minutes."

"Fifteen," Nick countered.

It was Bob Carter that had the last word. "Ten minutes and not a minute more Nickolas. Don’t argue with your mother." Nick was about to say something when he amended his statement. "Don’t argue with either of us."

BJ’s soft giggle could be heard throughout the vehicle.

"Don’t even get me started on you Bobbie Jean," Jane warned, which instantly stopped the giggling from BJ’s direction. No one else had anything to say.

Nick scrambled into the house as soon as his mother unlocked the door. He ran to his room, emptied his dirty clothes into his laundry hamper and ran to the bathroom to clean up before bed. He was really tired, but wanted to call Justin before crawling into his bed and going to sleep.

"Ten minutes," Bob Carter reminded as he stuck his head into Nick’s room.


"Thanks dad," Nick nodded. His door remained open and Nick knew that in exactly ten minutes he’d have a visitor in his room to remind him his time was over. Nick dialed the familiar digits to Justin’s house, smiling when his best friend answered the phone. "Did you miss me?" Nick asked excitedly.

"Totally," Justin grinned as he heard Nick’s voice through the line. He’d been waiting all night for Nick to call and was starting to get worried that he’d forgotten. "You just get home?"

"Yeah, we left after dinner. Not sure when we’re gonna go again soon, so we stayed as long as we could."

"I thought you’d forget to call," Justin admitted. He was relieved that everything was good between them and Nick had phoned as soon as he got home. Although they had left on Friday on good terms, Justin’s conscience was still plaguing him for his mistake that morning and every so often doubt would set in and he would be afraid that after having more time to think about it, Nick would be mad at him.

"Of course not. The whole ride home I was excited to get back so I could call you. How was shopping yesterday?" Nick paused to let Justin answer. "Oh, and talk fast, I only have ten minutes," Nick quickly added.

Justin laughed and sighed in relief. Nothing had changed. Everything was going to be fine. "Shopping was fun, wish you had have been there though. Lance and AJ spent the whole time looking at each other and you can totally tell they like each other. I just wanted to tell them both to wake up and smell the coffee, but I didn’t. I just pretended like nothing was going on. I got a new pair of running shoes which are like ...awesome! You’ve so gotta go and get a pair. They’re the best shoes ever!"

"You always say that J, you’re a shoe hog!"

"But they’re all so pretty," Justin sighed as he looked at his shoes that were resting next to his school bag. He’d be wearing them to school the next day to show them off. Even though he wanted them just for basketball, he had to wear them at least a few times just for fun. "So we just shopped for a few hours, and then we went to a movie. Lance and AJ picked and it was okay, but if you had have been there we would have totally seen a better movie. At least then it would have been two against two and I know we could have convinced Lance to side with us."

Their time was winding down and Nick had one eye trained on his clock. "Sounds like fun, you’ll have to tell me more tomorrow."

"And then you can tell me how your grandma’s doing."

"For sure. She was asking about you, you know! She just loves you." Nick could practically see Justin beaming on the other end of the line. He loved attention, no matter who it was from. "So, when’s your first practice?"

"Tomorrow after school. We’ve got a game on Friday night at seven." Justin wanted to ask Nick if he would come, but didn’t know if he should. He bit his lip nervously knowing that Nick wouldn’t be able to see him fidgeting.

"Awesome. Oh god, I’m so there. It’s gonna be so fun!" Nick didn’t miss the sound of Justin exhaling. He was probably holding his breath, wanting to ask Nick to go but not knowing how he would react. It was justifiable, as Nick would have felt the same way if the roles were reversed, but nothing was going to keep him from seeing his best friend’s first varsity game. "You didn’t think I wasn’t going did you?"

"I ...I wasn’t sure."

"Yeah right. You’re gonna play and then we’re all gonna go to the Shake Shack and have the biggest party ever. I’ll even buy you a root beer float!" They both let out excited giggles. Before Nick could say anything else, he heard his father’s steps coming up the stairs. With a quick look to the clock, he saw that his time was at nine minutes. "Oh darn, J, I gotta go. Dad’s on his way up. I’ll see you tomorrow morning."

"Okay Nicky, night. See you tomorrow."

Both teens hung up the phone and Nick pulled the covers to his chin. He smiled at his father as Bob stuck his head through the door. "You done Nickolas?"

Nick nodded. "Yes dad, thanks for letting me call him." He received a warm smile in return.

"I know how hard it is when you two don’t talk for a few days. You both get a little twitchy and start spazzing out."

"Oh dad," Nick laughed as he rolled his eyes. "You’re so lame."

"I might be lame, but it’s still time for lights out young man! Your mother will be up in a minute to tuck you in. Good night."

"Night dad," Nick answered with a yawn. He knew it was babyish to still have his mother tuck him in, but Nick didn’t care. He liked how it was comfortable and familiar, and he often found that when she didn’t, he couldn’t sleep as well. As he’d expected, a few moments later his mother appeared at his door, a smile on her face.

"Well sweetie, did your talk with Justin go well?"

"Yes, thanks." Nick held his arms out to hug his mother. He smiled as she pulled him close and hugged him tightly. When she let him go, she pressed a kiss to his forehead and smoothed back his long bangs. "Sleep tight darling, see you in the morning."

"Night mom, love you."

"I love you too."

By the time Jane had crossed Nick’s room and shut his door half way, Nick’s eyes had drooped shut and he was already asleep.

End Chapter 13


Chapter 14 >