Splish-splish-Thunk.

Splish-Thunk.

Splish-splish-splish-Thunk.

He was supposed to be at the football game, but Nikki didn't want to go. He knew that they'd only make fun of him, say he was there to watch the guy cheerleaders or something... But that wasn't true! He wasn't like they said he was. He just... Just had better things on his mind then staring at boobs and whatever else they waisted their time looking at on women.

They... They just didn't interest him right now. He had more important things.

But why couldn't Tyler believe him! It wasn't like he was hitting on him or anything... Was it just the sports guys that... That were pressuring him and all. It had to be that... Tyler wouldn't just leave him like this because all the other guys said he was gay.

Splish-splish-Thunk.

Nikki was passing his time throwing rocks into the small pond, seeing how far he could skip them before they fell in.

With a sigh he lay back on the grass and looked up at the dark sky. He couldn't see the stars though... Too much city light blocking them out. It was getting colder... Maybe he should have brought his hoodie... Oh well, too late now, he couldn't go back for one.

It was a cool night and Nathan was thirsty. It had been a while since he last fed, but he had some bottles of dead blood lying around his apartment. Of course he was craving some live blood, and maybe a one night stand or something. He wanted to see Fredrick again, but he also wanted to stay at least slightly indepenent from his sire.

Wearing a pair of black jeans, a black t-shirt, and a loose fitting hoodie Nathan was walking through the park. He was feeling a lot of emotions, but the one that intrigued him the most was a kind of confused emotion. He couldn't tell what it was, but he homed on it, and came upon a young man, probably 15 laying down on the grass.

He took a seat on the grass next to the boy and smiled. "You're gonna catch a cold if you're not careful." He said wrapping the hoodie around his body a little tighter Nathan felt an attraction to the kid. The kid was pretty attractive, and he couldn't help but feel an attraction, kind of like what happened with Fredrick.

Nikki looked up as he heard the voice. "Huh? Come on man... You sound like my mother." He muttered, turning his eyes away from him almost at once. He didn't want this guy to think he was weird too. But... He was pretty... Like... Like a a girl pretty. Well yeah he knew girls were pretty, he just didn't mesh with them well.

"Born and raised here, the cold don't bother me all that much." He turned over on his side, looking out over the pond, his back to the boy. Was he from a local school? He lived a good distance away really, but he'd never seen the guy before, he knew that much.

"What school you from? Matheson?" He asked. "I've never seen you at South Central."

He pulled a denim clad leg up to his chest with a sigh. At least if he wasn't from SC he wouldn't know about the teasing and stuff. Someone to have a fresh start with. But then again, he wouldn't get a chance to see him a lot if they did become friends.

Nathan looked at the kid and sighed at the comment. It was kind of rude, but he didn't mind at all. "I have a habit of saying stuff like that sometimes." He said bringing his knees close to his chest. He listened to the kid's comment about how the cold didn't bother him. "The cold doesn't bother me much either, but I still dress for the weather." He could feel that the kid was uncomfortable, and Nathan deduced that it was the fact that he was so feminine. Most people were disturbed to find out that he was a guy once they started talking to him. It was kind of a gift and a curse.

"I'm not from any of the schools. I've been home schooled since I was a little kid." That was the truth, and he was proud of it. "So what's your name? I'm Nathan, but you can call me Nate." He said as he let go of his knees and laid down on the ground. He didn't know anything about this kid other than his emotions, and even from that he couldn't tell anything from him. It was annoying sometimes. "You can borrow my hoodie if you want." He said knowing that it'd be a little uncomfortable, but he just wanted to feel the reaction to it.

"Well, you don't have to worry about me, I'm hot blooded, I can stand temps like these without a problem" He shrugged slightly. Even this guy's voice was pretty. Kind of nice to listen to...

"Well so did I." He said laying back again, grinning slightly. "For the times I planned to be out anyway." Nikki pointed out. "Just didn't think I'd be out this late. Don't wanna go home." He said simply. Well, more so he couldn't without an interrogation from him mother. Not to mention that his dad was in town for the week for once, and after their confrontation last time he was home, and the fight on his birthday a few days ago... He really didn't want to be there.

"Home schooled? Cool. Better than going to my school. Well, unless your mom's like mine." Nikki sighed. But what would be cool is being schooled by his gradfather. That would be neat indeed.

"Anyway... Uh, I'm Nick... And I'll be okay. I don't let myself get sick. Easier that way. Never missed a day of school ever." He said almost proudly.

Nathan could feel the thirst eating at the back of his mind. He could hear Nick's pulse, he could see the boy's blood pumping through his veins. Oh he could imagine how good it would taste. Nathan nodded as Nick said that he usually dressed for the weather, but hadn't planned on staying out that late. Nate guessed that Nick was staying out for a good reason. He wanted to talk about it, but he kind of felt like he was intruding on something personal. Then again even being able to feel Nick's emotions was an intrusion on privacy.

"It was alright. My mom's friend usually taught me." He didn't want to get into his own past, since it wasn't exactly what you called favorable. Being the child of a father and daughter was always a good way to break the ice. "Are you sure Nick? I'm actually a little too warm with this on anyway." He said knowing that either way it didn't matter. He couldn't feel the cold, and he knew that it didn't matter. "So how is it going to school? Being home schooled could be a drag too." Nate hadn't really met anyone, but if he had gone to a school he felt that things would've turned out a little differently. "It definitely is an impressive record not to miss a single day." He said smiling and turning on to his side so he was looking at Nick's back.

"I'm fine, really." He insisted stubbornly, getting slightly irritated that the guy kept asking. Sure it was nice and all, but... "I like cold weather."

"But anyway... No... I hate school, well I do now anyway.High School... It's a lot different than Middle School and Elementary. All the groups and clicks and all... And there's just too many people..." He shrugged. His eyes turned to the guy for a moment as he lay on his back, again noticing only for a moment how pretty he was.

"It's kinda hard when you don't fit in anywhere... You're lucky you don't have to worry about that." He muttered casually.

"Or when your friends refuse to talk to you because they... Ah.. Nevermind. Why would you care." He sighed, looking up at the dark skies.

Even without empathy Nathan could tell that Nick was getting a little frustrated. "I'm sorry." He said mentally slapping himself for being so persistent. "I can't help but worry about people sometimes." He said with a sigh.

Nate listened to Nick as he spoke of high school. He smiled and noticed the look. It had the feeling of like Nick was attracted to him a little bit too. "It really sounds like a lot of fun. I missed out on a lot." He knew that it would be very interesting if he was in high school. Then he listened to Nick say that it was hard when you didn't really fit in. Nate almost took offense to Nick's statement, but he didn't think about it that much. "I have to worry about that all the time." He said with a sigh. "Just look at me...I look more like a girl than a guy, so it's hard to make friends..." With a sigh he remembered Elizabeth, his mother and sister. "It's harder for me than you can imagine." Not only was he gay, but he was also a vampire.

What Nick said next caught Nate's interest, and he propped himself up onto his elbow. "I care a lot Nick...Come on, I want to hear what I've been missing out on." His voice held a little bit of a giddy tone to it, kind of like a girl getting ready to listen to some gossip, but if Nick didn't want to talk about it he wouldn't press it too much.

"Well I guess that's a good thing..." He relented as the boy said that he couldn't help but worry about people. It was a good thing though, because at least he was nice.

He frowned slightly as Nate said that he did have to worry about fitting in. "Not at my school... It's not like a private school or anything. Or especially being home schooled. Kids don't try to push you down the steps between class, don't throw things at you or knock your lunch tray off the table." He could go down a whole list of things that had been done to him in the past two years...

But he'd rather not of course.

"So? I bet all the girls think your cute and will actually look at you... And you the guys probably don't call you a fag and all to your face at least." He began to pick at the grass now, his frown deeper as he turned away again. He wasn't gay... Just because he didn't like girls right now, didn't mean he was gay. He just had his mind out of the gutter and on better things.

Finding another rock, he didn't even bother trying to skip it and just threw it into the pond.

Nathan sighed and listened to Nick. He knew what it was like to not be able to fit in, hell even when he was out and about like this at night he'd have men try to hit on him, and realise that he was a guy. Then the fun started, but he didn't want to get into detail. "It's much harder trying to fit in out here." He said turning over onto his back and looking up at the sky. "People are much more violent out here...at least in your high school it sounds like you deal with it for the school day, and then leave...I have to deal with things much longer than that." When he was London he'd been beaten, pushed, very fun stuff. It was even worse when he was traveling with Fredrick, because it was like putting on a neon sign saying that he was gay. "It's not a lot of fun walking around and running into a drunk guy." He could remember a few times where some random drunk guy hit on him, and after realising that he was a guy, the guy would try to beat him up and call him a fag. It wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Then Nick responded to his other comment. He laughed and shook his head. "Girls do think I'm cute, but I've never been interested in them...I can't believe how guys look at them like a slab of meat...It disgusts me sometimes." Nate looked at Nick and smiled. "I'm perfectly happy with not being attracted to girls."

"You would think that...." He said softly. No, he had to deal with his feeling too. Those were sometimes worse. "My father thinks there's something wrong with me the little he's around... And my mom doesn't think it's a problem. I'm just lucky that I'm faster than a lot of them... They'd try to catch me after school, to try and beat me up and all..." He muttered. Why was he even talking to this guy? Why was he telling him things he didn't even tell his mother?

Nikki blinked slightly. So this guy was gay? And he didn't mind it?

"Well I do. I mean... It's not that I'm not interested in them... I've just got enough going on where I don't need them to bother me." He said quickly. He wasn't gay... His father had nearly beaten him when his mother told him that his only son had been called a fag at school.

Yeah, happy birthday huh?

"I... I'm just not a people person... I don't like large groups of people and well" He began to reason. "They like to hang out in large groups... I can't talk to one because they won't leave their groups... I'm not gay though Nate... I'm not."

But of course he was so confused when he said it... He'd never felt free to talk to anyone about this stuff now, but... He couldn't be.

Nate nodded listening to Nick as he spoke of having to deal with his father and the people trying to beat him up after school. He could tell that it was something that he never really talked about. It was kind of an honor.

Then Nick's reaction to Nate being gay was definitely a site to see. He smiled and chuckled slightly. It definitely seemed as if Nick was very confused. Nate didn't respond, he'd rather let Nick complete his thoughts.

"Not being interested in girls doesn't automatically label you as gay Nick. For all you know you can be perfectly straight, but have a lot on your mind." He wanted to get Nick to feel a little more relaxed without resorting to his powers. "I didn't really like girls that much, but I found out that I liked guys more than girls." He smiled gently and looked at Nick. "Of course the situation can be totally different for you. I just happen to like guys." He said feeling the thirst within him. He needed to feed soon.

It was always easier to talk to someone who had been in a similar situation. That was why it was easy for Nick to talk to him. "Want to head back to my place? Don't worry I won't try to get you in bed." He said with a joking smile. "It seems to me that you don't really want to go home, so how about we talk a little more at my place?" Nate didn't want to cause a scene for either of them. If Nick was gay ten it'd be better to find out at a private place than in a place where anyone could see them.

And he did feel better. Yeah... He did have a lot on his mind, and that could really be all it was.

"Well... My mom says that it's just well... Part of being a teenager. That I'm supposed to be confused, that It happens to everyone... But, I guess all the other guys don't see it that way... Even Tyler... He... He was like the brother I never had. I loved him yeah, but not that kind of love... But like a brother. We always did everything together, we were going to go to the same college, be roomies and all. But he... He just stopped talking to me. I... I haven't talk to him in months... He won't even look at me anymore."

Nikki swallowed hard as his face fell.

He missed Tyler so much... And it wasn't like a gradual growing apart... He just. He just broke it off, tore it apart like paper, as if it were just as thin.

The boy wiped at his eyes quickly before the tear even fell.

"I don't know why he just did that... I guess his new friends... They don't like me too much." Well, it was the football players that wanted to beat him up. Crush the Queer they called it.

"Just thought I meant more to him than that." He murmured, rolling onto his stomach.

He looked over at Nate and shook his head, his hair falling in his face. "No... I'm fine here. I like hanging out here... It's always quiet. You're the first person I've seen here tonight."

Nate listened to Nick as he spoke of how his mother said that it was part of being a teenager. That was kind of bull but Nate didn't say a word. "It's hard for anyone to accept that you're supposed to be confused. It's especially hard for friends since they're affected by the other people." He'd seen it before in the form of witch hunts, and it wasn't exactly pretty. "I understand how you loved him Nick. People don't like when something's different. No matter how small it is, people'll always push it away." This was from his own experience, and it wasn't exactly the most pleasant one.

Nate watched as Nick wiped the tear away. It definitely seemed as if they did everything together, and that their parting hurt him a lot. Nate could understand Nick...he had lost Elizabeth after he had been turned. It was a heart ache, but Nick would eventually move on. The wound left by Tyler would never truly heal, but Nick would move on.

Nate sighed as Nick spoke of Tyler. It was very hard to part from a friend, especially if they were very close. It hurt Nate to part from Fredrick and Elizabeth, but he managed to get through it. "I hate peer pressure...he's probably thinking that you're gay just because you don't like girls right now." He couldn't hold back anymore. He needed the blood, and he moved a little closer to Nick. Nate liked the way that Nick's hair fell across his face. "Alright Nick..." He let out a sigh. He couldn't hold the thirst back for much longer. "Look into my eyes for a second Nick...I want to see what color they are." He said with a small smile. Nate felt bad about it, but he didn't want to hurt Nick too badly so he decided on hypnotizing the poor boy.

"But... We were friends for so long." He said, looking down at the grass. "How could it all just... Just change so suddenly. I never thought he'd... He'd just abandon me." Nikki couldn't talk anymore. He just wanted to go be somewhere alone and cry. He wasn't ashamed to cry, he just liked to be alone when he was upset.

Everyone has emotions, his mother said, So there's no use holding them back.

"He was like the brother I never had..." He murmured, picking at the grass.

Nikki tucked a strand of hair behind his ears as Nate told him he wanted to see what color his eyes were. "Just brown... Nothing speci...al..." He ended up trailing off as he met the young man's eyes.

There... There was something about them that just made him pause... Drew him in... They were brown too... Doe-eyes like his almost... He couldn't help but stair into them...

Nate listened to Nick, and understood his feelings. It was hard for anyone to lose someone who was like family. He didn't say a word as the boy felt like he was going to break down. He could feel the boy's emotions, and he knew that Nick wanted to break down so much.

Nate had felt that way with Elizabeth, they were like brother and sister though she was his mother too. Even now he missed Elizabeth.

Nate looked into Nick's eyes and smiled softly. "They're beautiful." His eyes beckoned Nick to look deeper into them. The hypnotism would take effect in a second. "Are you feeling tired Nick?" He asked knowing that his hypnosis was taking affect.

With a soft smile Nate ran his hand through Nick's hair. "You're gonna go to sleep, and you won't feel anything." He said as he pushed Nick's hair away from his neck. With a deep breath Nate gently bit down letting the coppery taste of the blood fill his mouth. The taste was divine, and Nate drank from the boy just enough to sate his thirst. "Where do you live Nick?" He asked after healing the wounds. He used his control over Nick so that he could get an answer.

His eyes began to droop and he nodded at the question.

But the moment that Nate's fingers ran through his hair, he was out. His body lay still, breathing slow and deep as he lay on his side in the grass. He felt nothing as fangs sank into his neck, as the other guy drank his blood.

While deep in sleep, he heard a voice, calling from beyond a heavy fog... Where... Where did he live?

Nikki murmured the address, his body still as it ever was, but for his lips. They moved slightly with each breath, his soft blond hair moving across the streams of air, covering his face.

Asleep, Nikki was happy. In this dreamless sleep, there was no fear, was no loss. He was safe at last... he could sleep peacefully. The fears that plagued his nightmares, his days... They didn't exist in this realm. It was something all together different, something he loved and never wanted to leave. He didn't want to leave this gentle world.

Nate felt bad about putting Nick to sleep, but it was needed. He didn't want to do it, but he didn't want Nick to freak out on him. If Nick had freaked out Nate was afraid that he'd hurt the boy. With a smile he listened to the boy as he murmured the address of his house.

Nate lifted Nick up with ease, and moved out of the park. It took him about ten minutes to walk to Nick's home, and he knocked on the door. From the emotions he was feeling Nate could tell that there weren't many people in the house.

A woman opened the door and stared at Nate for a second and then at Nick, then back to Nate. She was staring into his eyes, so it made his job much easier. "Excuse me." He said as he turned sideways and walked in. Nick's mother had moved out of the way and walked over to one of the couches where she immediately fell asleep in.

With a sigh Nate moved over to Nick's room, and tucked the boy into bed so he wouldn't catch a cold or anything. Nate smiled and ran his hand through Nick's hair. "Good night Nick." He said kissing the boy's forehead, and standing up to leave. He looked around and found a pen and paper. Nate wrote down his phone number, and left it on the nightstand next to Nick's head. The paper also said to call him when Nick woke up. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Walking away Nate let go of his hold on Nick and his mother, and made sure that she wouldn't remember what happened with Nick and Nate. He was looking forward to talking to Nick again.

Friday night had all been a blur now... Well at least after he fell asleep at the park. How he got back... Well Nate must have helped him somehow...

Nate... Nikki was torn about the strange young man... He left his phone number... But... No. he wasn't going to call him. He didn't need to. He was fine the way he was and he knew... He knew for a fact that Nate would make it harder.

Yawning, he noticed that it was almost two in the afternoon.

Good thing it was a Saturday, wasn't it.

He went about his usual day, deciding whether to call Nate or not. But by the time the sun had set, he still hadn't. He... He didn't want to. He just had a bad feeling about him.

"See ya mom! I'm heading to the park to work on some homework."

"Okay Nikki darling! Be home by ten okay?"

"Sure mom." He agreed. After all, it was only quarter after seven. He would have plenty of time to catch up on work, enjoy the air. He didn't need Nate's sympathy or attempted help. He could take care of himself.

He was at the park a few minutes later, his Statistics book open, notebook on his lap. What better way did he really have to spend time? He didn't have many friends... So yeah. His work always got done.

Nate had been asleep all day with his phone close to his head so he could answer it if Nick called him. He kind of figured that Nick wouldn't, and he sighed sadly as he looked at his phone and found no messages from the boy. It wasn't that muc of a surprise.

Throwing on a pair of jeans, a black H.I.M. t-shirt and his black hoodie Nate walked out of the apartment carrying a silver suitcase with him. He had a feeling that Nick was at the park again.

Walking to the park Nate found Nick doing homework. "Good evening Nick." He said with a soft smile. "Doing some homework?" He asked sitting down next to the boy. The sun had been down for a good half an hour, but definitely the highlight of Nate's night was seeing Nick again. Setting the the suitcase on his lap Nate put in the combination to unlock it and revealed an old chess set. It was an antique chess set. The board was black and white marble, and the pieces were delicate looking porcelain. "Do you play chess Nate?"

Permutations, they weren't as hard as everyone was saying. In fact, they were kind of interesting if you asked Nikki. The math was very much a puzzle, and he liked it. The challenging homework was refreshing to him.

But he jumped, his notebook falling off his lap as he heard a sudden voice. "Shesh! Nate... Uh... What are you doing here?" He stammered slightly. He really had hoped meeting him was.... Just a figment of his imagination. but it didn't seem like that way now. "Uh.. Sorry I didn't call you today. I've been kinda busy helping my mom clean the house and doing homework and all. Mom always cleans up the house after Dad leaves on a trip..." He said matter-of-factly.

"But... I kinda need to get this done for class. I've got Government to work on tomorrow, so I can't really procrastinate." He said, biting his lip slightly, his soft brown eyes on the ground in front of him.

But as he mentioned chess... Nikki couldn't help but look up. The guy had one of the most beautiful chess boards he'd ever seen and he couldn't help bot go wide eyed.

"Uh... Yeah. I've been playing since I was six. I love games like that... Chess, Battleship... Go. Well, you've probably never heard of that one..." He said with a light shrug. As far as he knew, he was the only kid his age in Canada who seemed to know what Go was. Well besides those anime people. But they weren't really his crowd.

Nate chuckled as Nick was startled by his sudden presence. "Sorry." He said quietly then listened to Nick's reasoning for not calling him. "That's fine. I wasn't really expecting you to call me anyway." He said with a soft smile. "I guess you're pretty busy with that stuff." Thank goodness Fredrick had insisted on Nick taking some night courses at a high school in Canada. He recognized that it was statistics, and remembered how he loathed it. Though he did love strategy games. "Better to get work done with as soon as possible." He said in response to Nick saying that he had Government work to do the next day.

Then Nick's eyes widened at the sight of his chess board. "This is a family heirloom." He said taking out one of the pieces. "My family was from Britain, and one of the first plantation owners in Jamaica." He said with a sigh. "This chess board has been passed down from generation to generation...There's a lot of detail in eac piece."

Then Nick pretty much listed off the games he loved. "Go?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head. "I think I've heard of it, but never got the chance to play it." Nate replaced the chess piece gently into the case, and closed it. "Can you teach me how to play after you finish up with your work?" He asked setting the suitcase on the ground next to his feet. Nate looked down at the ground a little embarassed. "After yesterday...you're the first real person that I'd want to be friends with." Nate said looking back up at Nick.

"Really?" He said as Nate told where his family was from. "That's kinda neat. My family doesn't have anything neat like that. My grandpa was a pilot in World War Two. He was American, and that's about it in my family." He said with a shrug.

"Go, it's a really old game, older than chess. My Grandpa learned it when he was in Japan. He taught me that one too." Nikki said as he looked at his book, but he couldn't focus.

"Uh... I... I'm not so sure. I mean... Waking up in my bed this morning, when the last thing I remember was sitting here talking to you. It kinda freaked me out. I dunno how or when I got home... And my mom seems to think that I was home all night. What happened? And I'm not stupid, so don't try to lie to me... What happened? How did I get home? Did I pass out or something?"

He looked at Nate, even if the boy was looking away.

Had Nate done something to him? He couldn't have drugged him, he didn't eat or drink anything, there were no marks on his body.

"If I can't trust you... I can't be your friend." Nikki said simply

Nate listened to Nick as he described that his grandfather was a pilot during World War 2. Nate had been around during World War 2, but he never really was interested in war. It was ugly and people died unnecessarily. Though it was very interesting hearing about how Nick's grandfather taught him how to play Go. "Your grandfather sounds like a really interesting guy."

Nate knew that he'd have to explain himself to Nick. He was prepared to explain, but he wasn't a hundred percent sure of where to begin. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you the complete truth Nick..." With a sigh Nate shook his head. "You were really getting stressed out last night so I used a kind of hypnosis trick that I learned a while back. I thought it would help you relax, but then you really fell asleep so I looked up where you lived and brought you home...I used the same technique on you mother...I'm really sorry. I wanted to help, but I ended up making a hell of a lot more trouble than I wanted to."

He left out the fact that he was a vampire. Looking up at Nick Nate smiled sadly. "I didn't mean to freak you out...I really had the best of intentions." Of course if Nate had fed from Nick while he was awake he'd be really freaked out.

"He is." Nikki said with a nod. "He's always been there for me, and he;s almost like my father. My dad... He's not really around a whole lot." He murmured.

But he frowned as Nate said that he wouldn't believe the whole truth. What? Had Nate raped him or something? Hah, no. He would definitely be feeling it this morning.

But it did sound like him to get stressed out, and start doing things that didn't make sense. And it made his slightly pale skin blush. "Sorry... I'm a heavy sleeper and I fall asleep really easily if I'm relaxed. I... I remember sleeping really good last night too." He said with a little smile. He didn't have any dreams, no tossing and turning, no waking up in the middle of the night.

But his eyes opened wide at first, then narrowed angrily. "You didn't hurt her did you?" His jaw, though softly rounded and gentle looking, was set defensively. Sure yeah, the guys called him a mama's boy, but she was his only comfort through this troubled time, the only one who didn't make fun of him.

"If you hurt her in any way I swear you'll pay." He narrowed his eyes even further. His mother had seemed okay today. She seemed well rested and even happy. But... If he hurt even a hair on her head...

Nate nodded listening to Nick. He wanted to meet Nick's grandfather. It would be interesting to talk to the mortal.

Nick brought up the fact that he was a heavy sleeper. If Nate had wanted to he could've made Nick sleep almost to the point of death, but he had held back. It wouldn't do good to make Nick sleep to near death. It was something that Nate never wanted to do to anyone. That was just horrible. "I'm glad that you're alright." He said with a soft smile.

Then there was a total change as he mentioned Nick's mother. Raising his hands defensively Nate backed away a little bit. "I did nothing to hurt her Nick! She nearly fainted seeing you passed out, and I used hypnosis to relax her! That's all." Nate kept his hands up. "All I did was help her fall asleep."

His face and fists relaxed visibly as he said that he didn't hurt her. He didn't seem the type to hurt someone, so he wasn't too worried that he might be lying.

"Okay... Sorry... My mom... Me and her are really close. With dad gone all the time, well yeah. We kinda have to be. If anyone hurt her... I don't like fighting, but I will if someone hurts her or insults her." He muttered softly, as he looked down at the grass.

"But anyway..." He had to get his work done... But he didn't want to. He wanted to talk to Nate... Wanted to be with him. There was just something that was drawing him to the other teen. Something he couldn't smell, touch or even see.

"I... Why did you come to find me? I mean... I guess that's why you came..."

Nate let out a sigh of relief as Nick's body relaxed. "I can tell that you two're very close." It kind of reminded him of his relationship with Christopher and Fredrick. He'd defend their honor no matter what. "I understand. That's why I didn't want her to worry so I helped her sleep."

Nick's emotions were kind of confusing. It seemed he wanted to talk to Nate, but needed to get his work done. "I came to find you because I was worried. I wasn't sure if the hypnosis was too effective. Plus I really wanted to see you again. You're a very interesting person." He said with a soft smile as he wrapped his arms around his knees.

"Do you want to ask me anything else?" He asked looking into Nick's eyes. He didn't try to hypnotize him this time. It was more of a curious look. Nate was attracted to Nick, but he didn't want to force anything on the boy.

"I told you... You don't have to worry about me... I'm a tough guy, I can handle just about anything." He murmured, closing his book and leaning back.

Why did Nate worry about him so much? Why was he so interested in what he did? No one else cared about him but his mother and grandfather.

"Why... Why do you care Nate? No one else cares about me or anything, why do you care?" He asked. He wanted to know, wanted to know what this guy saw in him... Was it because he was so confused? Was Nate just trying to take advantage of him?

"It just seems strange that someone even notices me." He admitted as he looked over at the guy. He was so delicate, almost pretty really, and... He looked away quickly.

Nate smiled and let out a sigh. "I know you're a tough guy...but sometimes even tough guys need someone to look after them." He said with a smile. Nate knew Nick could handle himself, but he was very interested in the boy.

"Why do I care?" He repeated turning his gaze to the sky and scratching his chin. "Hmmm...I care because you remind me of myself." He looked back at Nick with a soft caring smile. "You're also very interesting...it's just a feeling that I get from you." Nate's feelings were usually right when it came to him reading people.

Nate smiled as he caught Nick turning away from looking at him quickly. "It's hard to believe that more people aren't interested in talking to you...That's why I hate mor...people nowadays. They can't see past what they've decided is taboo."

"And I have my mother for that thank you." He said with a slight smile. After all, Nikki had told him that he sounded like his mother last night.

"I... I'm not interesting, really. I like playing games... I don't watch a lot of TV... I like school and doing homework. I'm boring as dirt Nate..." He shook his head slightly. "Really Nate... I'm not interesting... I don't get along well with people, I'm not comfortable around groups. I stay home for football games, dances and any other social functions..."

He trailed off, fidgeting with the tabs of his notebook. He wasn't interesting... Why did Nate think he was?

"I'm not like you though... I'm not Nate." He rolled over. How many times did he have to tell people he wasn't gay! He wasn't. He couldn't be, his father would probably kick him out of the house, and the kids at school...

Well it made him sick just by thinking of what they would do.

"I can't be like you... Even if I want to." He murmured, afraid to look at him any more.

Nate returned the smile remembering that Nick had said he reminded him of his mother. Listening to Nick just made Nate even more interested. "That's what I find interesting about you Nick. You're just interesting in a different way than others." He said with a smile.

Then Nick rolled over and said that he wasn't like Nate. "That's not what I mean Nick. I believe that you're like me because you like playing games...don't watch a lot of TV, I believe it's a waste of time really. I'm not a fan of the homework, but I can do it very well." He said and moved closer to Nick.

An idea popped into Nate's head and he looked at the back of Nick's head. "I know a way to make sure you're not like me Nick...but you need to have a little bit of an open mind." Nate knew that Nick would be freaked out by it, but it was definitely a good idea.

"I'm not interesting." He repeated, but it was half hearted really. He knew he probably wasn't going to be able to convince him otherwise... So why bother.

"So we're a lot a like? Why am I interesting then? I mean, if you're used to it, it shouldn't be interesting." He pointed out.

With a sigh he listened to what he said about finding out. He... He didn't want to know. He wanted to fight it, wanted to make sure he wasn't. "What's your idea Nate?" He asked with a sigh.

He rolled over to face him, and was nearly nose to nose with him. His heart jolted suddenly and his eyes went wide. He hadn't even heard Nate move, and suddenly he was right there.

Those eyes again... So beautiful and soft... His hair... Nikki wanted to run his fingers through it...

Nate knew that he had won the battle about not being interesting. "Being alike doesn't mean that you're not interesting Nick...It's hard to explain, but I find you very interesting." He said with a sigh.

He smiled as Nick was truly surprised by him being closer. "Hmmmm..." He leaned a little closer. "If you're willing to...kiss me." Nate let out a smile. "Give it a try, if you don't like it then I'll leave it be. What better way to find out whether you're gay or not?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Nate leaned a little closer so their lips were nearly touching. "So do you want to try it?" He could feel Nick's attraction.

If possible his eyes opened wider. His heart was pounding now.

He wanted to... He wanted to just lean in those few inches... curl his fingers into Nates hair and touch those soft lips with his... But he couldn't. He couldn't do it! If anyone found out he'd kissed another guy...

Lashing out almost instantly as Nate moved in closer, he shoved the other boy away. "No! No way am I kissing you!" Nikki scrambled up to his feet. "I don't want to try it at all! I know I'm not" But his voice was trembling, even as he nearly yelled at Nate.

How could he even think he'd want to do something like that?!

Furiously, but with shaking hands, he began to pack his back pack. "I can't kiss you Nate! Why did you even for a second think I could? I don't have to prove anything to you... And... And I'll figure it out on my own!" He was so very near to tears that if he didn't stay angry, he would simply burst out crying.

So confused... So torn about what he wanted to do, what he had to or should do? He didn't know anymore. Nikki didn't know what to do... But god... He wished that he could fall asleep so peacefully like he did last night. Tonight was surely going to give him nightmares.

Nikki shoved the books and papers in, threw the pencils in with the calculator.

He couldn't do anything... This guy didn't even know him! He wasn't going to kiss him, he wasn't gay... Or worse... What if he was? What if he really would like to kiss him and- Well he already wanted to. He did. He wanted Nate to be with him, and he didn't know why.

"Ju-just leave me alone Nate." He choked out, fighting the tears back. "I have enough troubles in my life, I don't need you too!"

Nate was surprised at the strength of Nick as he was pushed away. On the inside he was happy. The boy was denying it. The vampire could feel the want mixed in the confusion. It was that feeling that truly drove Nate, the confusion. Though he did feel bad for pushing Nick that far.

Sitting up and watching the boy Nate slowly stood up and sighed. "Is it because you believe that being gay is wrong? That what those bastards at school are right?" There was a coldness in his voice that hadn't been there before. Nate hated people who believed that it was wrong to love people of the same sex. "Sometimes it's much harder to figure it out on your own Nick." The coldness was still there, but it had lost a little bit of its edge. "I am a bastard child...I loved the man who took care of me and my mother." In Jamaica Christopher had been the first man that Nate had loved.

Nate could tell that the boy would break down crying if he couldn't stay angry. "I didn't think you'd let yourself kiss me Nicholas." He said simply as he watched Nick keep packing up. It was a strange feeling. Nate hadn't really been like that, but he had denied it at first. Nick feared to be gay. Nate knew that it was taboo for most people. The thought of love between the same sex made people fear it. People feared change. With a quick movement Nate was close to the boy again looking into those brown eyes. Nick wanted to be left alone. "No one will know that you kissed a guy Nick...If you do this I will leave you alone, and your secret will go with me to my grave." He said as he reached out and cupped the boy's cheek. "I want to confirm it for my own sake." His voice had returned to the softness that it had before. "All I ask for is one kiss and I'll leave alone."

Nikki sniffled loudly, trying desperately now to keep the tears back he shook his head and wiped his eyes. "Do you know what they would do to me?!" He nearly cried out. "Do you know what my father would say? He'd... If it weren't for my mum, he'd kick me out! He would, I know he'd try!"

It wasn't just kissing him that Nikki was afraid of, it was liking it... That was what he feared most, that he would like the kiss... That he wouldn't be able to think of anything else.

"I can't Nate!" He said as he turned his head away from the boy's touch. It warmed his face, made him blush deeply. "Please... You don't understand... They'd beat me in school! There's one boy in the hospital because one guy saw he had a rainbow tattooed on the back of his shoulder! I don't want that to happen to me..." He murmured as he looked away, the tears beginning to fall now.

"I... I gotta go..." He mumbled. He didn't want to... But he couldn't stay here. He didn't want to leave Nate though! He didn't. He was the only one who seemed even to remotely understand him.

Nate knew what people would do to Nick. Hell he was stabbed and left for dead, not only because he was better at chess, but because the man found out that Nate was gay. If it wasn't for Fredrick Nate would've been dead. Nate knew full well what people would do. "I promise you that I won't let anyone find out." Nate didn't want to get Nick hurt, but he couldn't just leave Nick in this confused state. There wasn't any real way he could.

Nate listened to Nick and sighed. "You know I can use hypnosis Nick!" He could easily seal one side of him from the other. It wasn't that hard for him to do at all. "I could make it so that you don't remember it at all if you want." Nate said.

Then Nick said that he had to go. Nate stepped up to Nick and on a whim the vampire kissed Nick deeply. His ands gently pulled Nick into the kiss.

"My dad will find out Nate. I can't hide things from him, because... My mom doesn't understand that he won't accept me for who I am." He pleaded. No, his mother would know. His mother found out everything somehow, and she would know that he... That he found himself.

He had turned away though, when he felt Nate pull him back around and into a kiss. Not just a little peck either, it was an honest kiss, as if Nate had been wanting to do this all along. Nikki was so surprised by the action that he dropped his bag and book, and what happened next surprised even him.

He leaned into the kiss, into Nate's arms, enjoying the attention, affection and love fully. It was as if Nate truly cared for him, wanted to see that he was happy. Just... Just like his mother. Happy no matter what...

"Oh John, he's a teenager. He's just confused right now, Nikki'll sort it out." His mother had said as he listened outside the door.

"Do you have to call him that? His name is Nicholas! It's a man's name, not some- some- He's going to be a proper man Doris! I'm not going to come home from work one day and see him and a little boyfriend!" He nearly growled.

"John! Be reasonable! If you had been around more, perhaps he would have had a better role model! But whatever the case may be, it's too late now and we will have to support him no matter what! That's so important to him John!" She pleaded with her husband.

"No Doris! I will not accept my son being a homosexual! It's not natural, and it's not right! Why don't you see this?!"

"Because I love him too much John!" She said almost angrily, standing up. "I don't care who he is or who he loves! He is my son and I will love him no matter what!" At that point Nikki, seeing his father coming, had scampered up the steps.

But as this confrontation ran through his mind, he began to cry. Breaking the kiss, Nikki leaned his head on Nate's shoulder, his eyes closed as the tears seeped out. "My dad... He... He'll never understand..." He said between holding back sobs.

Nate was surprised as Nick leaned into the kiss. It made the vampire feel as if he was with Fredrick again. He had loved Fredrick and Fredrick loved him. Now he could see that Nick wanted this. The boy wanted to feel loved.

Nate couldn't read minds, but he could feel the sadness washing over him like waves. Nick must've remembered something terrible. His arms moved away from Nick's head and wrapped around his body. Then when they broke the kiss Nick leaned against Nate's shoulder and started to cry. "I'll make him understand Nicholas." He said as he rubbed the boy's back. "Let it all out...It's better to let it all out." Nate knew that in times like this it was better to let it all out.

Nate would meet with Nick's father, and help him understand that homosexuality was as natural as heterosexuality. The vampire wouldn't stand for Nick to be ridiculed and abused just because he was different. "I'm here for you Nick...I'll always be here for you."