So the Fleeks are all back together, what's next I wonder? Don't forget to donate to Nifty https://donate.nifty.org and, as usual, feel free to send any messages to sithspawn78@yahoo.co.uk

 

Chapter 17

 

\\\ Ben ///

 

"Hey gorgeous, is your brother around?" I asked Sammie between kisses.

"And here I was thinking you'd come to see me." She replied with a wry smile.

"Of course I did, but I need to see Lucas as well." After seeing Nick the day before and sorting everything out between the Fleek Flow crew I decided it was time to get Lucas back to his old self. I still didn't know if he had a problem with Danny so we both rode up to the farm to settle everything once and for all.

"I'm not sure where he is." Sammie said. "Last time I saw him he'd grabbed a chisel and wandered off down the dirt track but I'm not sure what he's doing."

"Ah ok. Wanna come look for him?"

"Sorry babe, I promised I'd meet Nick at the music store. He wanted some ideas for something about painting his guitar."

"Picking my cousin over me? I'm hurt." I said, feigning offence.

"Well you picked my brother over me so we're even." She replied with a kiss and then set off into town.

Danny and I started heading down the path towards the clearing and on the way I was surprised how quiet Danny was. After we made up the day before he seemed like he was back to his old self but now it was almost like he was scared of meeting up with Lucas again. When we climbed over the trunks blocking the upper path I could see two deep footprints in the soft ground so it definitely looked like Lucas had jumped over the trunks recently. Lucas rarely moved the trunks aside to pass through unless he had company, preferring to just hop over, as he called it, leaving us mere mortals to climb over.

When we reached the clearing there was no sign of Lucas but again there were deep footprints in the ground, which showed that he must've jumped up into the glade above. I set about retrieving the rock climbing gear and as Danny clambered into his harness I could see he still looked nervous.

"You ok?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just...don't you think we should call up, you know, to see if he's there?" Danny whispered.

"Nah, I'll go up first to make sure he's up there and not doing anything...you know..." I made the universal sign for jerking off and Danny's eyes went wide.

"With a chisel?" He asked with a smirk and I couldn't stop myself laughing at the image in my head. I made short work of the climb and when I reached the top I could see Lucas a little way away with his back to me, working on a large boulder. I signalled Danny to come up and once we'd removed ourselves from the harnesses we set off across the grass to talk to Lucas. As we approached I could see he was using the chisel to carve something into the boulder, but it was funny to watch as he was holding the chisel as anyone normally would, but instead of using a hammer he was striking the end with the palm of his hand.

"Hey Lucas, whatcha making?" I asked, startling him and causing the chisel to slip which knocked a chunk out of the stone. He spun round to face me as he tried to regain his composure.

"Jeeze, you coulda warned me you were coming. What if you'd had Nick with you and he saw me doing this?"

"Then I would've called you from back there and not let him get this close." I replied. "Why would I have Nick with me anyway?"

"I dunno, trying to bond as a family? What's he doing here anyway?" He asked, pointing angrily at Danny.

"I just came to say I'm sorry and make everything right between us." Danny said sheepishly.

"Oh yeah? What're you sorry for?" Lucas asked, taking Danny by surprise. "See? You don't even know what you've done do you?"

"Look we went through all this yesterday, Nick's not mad at him and neither is anyone else." Something flickered in Lucas' eyes when I said Nick's name, almost like a tinge of sadness. "We know it wasn't a great way for Nick to find out but it's all out in the open now so we can move on."

"Fine." Lucas replied gruffly and went back to chiselling the stone.

"What're you making anyway?" Danny asked.

"I dunno, I was thinking maybe a bench or something cos I like to sit up here and think sometimes, especially at night. Only problem is it's a bit too muddy to sit on the ground at this time of year so I thought I'd make something firm to use instead."

"Looks like it could be pretty romantic up here." I said and Lucas stopped what he was doing. I couldn't see his face but his shoulders slumped when I said that.

"Well I guess you and Sammie will enjoy it then." He croaked and then dropped the chisel on the ground before turning to sit on the rock with a depressed sigh. I sat next to him and pulled him into a hug as he tried not to cry. I didn't need to ask him what was wrong as I was sure I already knew.

"You know, me and Sammie used to come up here at night when we were younger to make shooting stars?" He sniffled after a while.

"You did what?" I asked.

"We'd throw rocks into the sky really hard and if they went fast enough they'd burn up in the atmosphere like a meteor."

"Really? I didn't even know that was possible with them going up." I stupidly thought I'd look up if that was possible, but then if Lucas said he'd done it then it must be.

"Yeah watch." Lucas stood up and casually pulled a chunk of rock the size of a burger from the boulder we were sitting on, and then launched it into the sky. There was a slight cracking sound as it broke the sound barrier and we could just make out a little flash as it burnt up. Danny stared into the sky, open mouthed and I'll admit I was a little impressed as well, but I'd seen plenty of amazing things from Lucas and his family over the years so this was just something else to add to the list.

"It works better at night." Lucas shrugged as he sat back down. "I'd come up here on my own to do it some nights so I could make a wish." He looked a bit embarrassed as he said that but then it's the kind of thing a kid might think of.

"What did you wish for?" Danny asked.

"If I told you they wouldn't come true." Lucas replied with a little smile.

"So did any of them come true?"

"A couple...I guess..."

"Ok, so you don't have to worry about them not coming true. What were they?" I could see Lucas squirming a bit from Danny's questions but eventually he gave in.

"Fine...I wished I could make some friends." He sighed. "And I wished Ben would be my friend." He looked away to one side and started picking at the side of the rock with his nail, absentmindedly shaving little slivers off the stone.

"Well that last one's definitely come true." I replied cheerily, draping my arm over his shoulder.

"Yeah, only took fifteen years for that one." Lucas said sombrely. "I also used to wish that I could be normal but I guess that one's not going to come true either."

"There's no such thing as normal." I said.

"Oh yeah, cos being a gay, super strong, muscle growing freak is perfectly normal isn't it?" Lucas spat bitterly.

"Maybe not in the grand scheme of things, but it's normal for you and your family. Besides, if you were straight you wouldn't get to go out with Nick."

"I could if I were a girl." Lucas replied with a coy grin.

"Yeah that wouldn't really work as he's gay too dickhead." I said. Lucas sat there open mouthed for a second, trying to think of a comeback.

"Shit." He finally said, slumping his shoulders. "It doesn't matter anyway, we're not gonna go out."

"Why not? You guys are crazy about each other." Lucas went to say something but I cut him off. "Don't deny it, you've said it yourself and all of us can see it in Nick's eyes, he wants you but you're holding back. Why?"

"You know why."

"What, cos you think he'll freak out about the whole strength thing? So don't tell him straight away. Get to know each other better and you'll learn about each other over time. Then when you know he's ready you can tell him."

"Yeah, people always find out new things about their partners, I bet you know stuff about Sammie that Ben doesn't know." Danny added.

"That's true I guess. Like I know that even though she paints herself as a hard rocker she really likes musicals as well." Lucas said.

"That's not so bad; I mean there's some musicals out there with rock music in, like Rock of Ages or We Will Rock You."

"Yeah, but her favourite is Mamma Mia." Lucas was trying his hardest not to laugh as he told me that as Danny cracked up next to me.

"Oh for fuck's sake!! No wonder she never told me that."

"So what should I do then? It's hard enough talking to him at school with everyone around without having the pressure of trying to ask him out with everyone watching."

"So get him alone then; invite him round here, hang out at the music store, invite him to the movies, anything as long as you can get together with him. Once you've made the first move the worst part will be over."

"What if he says no?"

"Then you can take out your frustration by kicking the fuck out of Danny." Danny instantly jumped off the rock and landed in a fighting stance facing Lucas.

"Bring it on gay boy." He said with a smile as he gestured for Lucas to come at him.

"I still think you're insane kid." Lucas snickered.

 

\\\ Nick ///

 

"Hello Lucas, you've just missed Sammie I'm afraid." I suddenly looked up from the music in front of me when I heard Adrian say Lucas' name from the shop floor.

"Oh that's ok; I uh actually came to see Nick."

"Ah, well he's just in the back room practicing his guitar skills again, although I don't know why, I haven't found anything he can't play yet." I could feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment when Adrian said that. I still wasn't used to people praising me for playing music as it just came easily to me. It was like congratulating me for breathing or something like that.

I still hadn't found an instrument I felt so at home with since I picked up my first guitar, and every time I came into the store I'd sneak my favourite Jackson PC1 into the back to play. Even though it wasn't mine I felt like I was meant to have it so I'd take it out back with me to make sure no one tried to buy it. I wasn't actually working when Lucas came in. I'd helped Adrian stock up in the morning and then hung out with Sammie for a while as we'd been thinking up ways to brighten up my guitar. I'd also come up with a few designs for the Jackson one as well, even though I'd have to wait a while for that. After Sammie left I stayed on just in case the store got a bit busier, although Sundays were usually pretty quiet, but really I just wanted to practice more with an electric guitar rather than my own acoustic one.

"Hey Nick, nice guitar, is it yours?" Lucas said as walked into the storeroom. I was still sitting on a little stool in the corner, trying to figure out how the music I could easily play tied into the little dots and squiggles on the paper in front of me. I was still struggling a little with reading music but it was gradually beginning to make sense.

"Oh hi...no it's not mine...well, not yet anyway...hopefully someday though." I stammered. "What're you doing here...I mean...why are you here...no...I...fuck...hi." For some reason I couldn't talk to Lucas today. He'd been blanking me for over a week and now he was suddenly here to see me. His face lit up in a huge smile as I stumbled along and I felt like he thought I was a right prick.

"What time do you finish? I was thinking we could go somewhere." Holy shit!! Ok, play it cool.

"Uhhhh..." Great start doofus. "I'm not actually here...well I am here...but I'm not working...I was just hanging out with Sammie...who's also not here...umm so yeah, we could go somewhere now, I guess." I could feel my cheeks heating up more the longer my mouth was open so I decided to shut up before I made a bigger fool of myself.

"Cool, I'll wait for you to finish up and meet you outside." He still had that smile on his face as he turned to leave the room and I suddenly started scrambling to get ready.

It took me a few minutes to tidy everything away and, reluctantly, I put the guitar back out for sale. As I was leaving the store Adrian gave me a little smile, like he knew something was going on between us. I felt my cheeks flush red again as I opened the door to head outside. Lucas was leaning with his back against the wall next to the door and pushed himself away to meet me as I left the store. It was late in the afternoon and starting to get a little dark as we were part way through November, and with Adrian's place being down a pretty narrow street it felt even darker.

"Sooo...where did you want to go?" I asked.

"I dunno, I just thought we'd go for a walk." I wanted to say something about him ignoring me for the last two weeks but I really didn't want to get into a fight with him, so I just stayed quiet as we started walking. "Look, I know we haven't spoken much lately and that's totally been my fault so I'm sorry."

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked quietly. Truthfully I had no idea why Lucas had been so distant but it all started after I was last at their place. Maybe he was annoyed about me taking his favourite hoodie after all. "Oh shit!! I've still got your clothes!"

"Don't worry about it, I haven't missed them." He still hadn't put my mind at ease as we stepped out into the main square. There were still quite a few shoppers going about their day, as well as people just milling about. As we carried on walking Lucas pointed over to the fountain with a smile. "That was where I first told you I thought you were amazing."

"Actually you said I was incredible; you said I was amazing in the comic shop, and again near the park." I was suddenly blushing again as I realised I'd memorised every compliment Lucas had ever paid me.

"Well I was right both times." He laughed and I added that to the list of compliments in my head.

"So if I'm so amazing, why have you been avoiding me for two weeks?" I was trying not to sound too angry but I think my annoyance came across.

"I haven't been ignoring you." He protested, but when I just raised my eyebrow he looked slightly defeated. "Alright fine, I guess I have been ignoring you. I can't believe I never noticed you do that same thing with your eyebrow that Ben does."

"Don't change the subject, what did I do wrong that's made you avoid me?"

"It's not you, it's me." Oh great, I was getting dumped before I could even ask him out.

"Isn't that what people normally say when they're breaking up?" His adorable smile came back again at that point and I was struggling to stay mad at him but it quickly disappeared.

"It's just..." He seemed to be thinking how to word his response when it suddenly looked like an idea had hit him. "I think it might have been jealous?"

"Really? What of? My shitty house, my crap clothes, or the way my life seems to be one big soap opera?"

"No, not that."

"Ah ok, so you want a few bruises to help me feel like we're the same, or how about a few panic attacks to cheer up your day?"

"It's not that either, it's just...you seem to be getting along with everyone else really well except me."

"What?"

"I mean, you and Sammie have the musical connection, and when you met my dad you instantly bonded over comics so...I guess I was jealous." I looked at him for a second and then burst out laughing. "What's so funny?"

"That's the lamest excuse ever." I replied. "You're seriously telling me you've been avoiding me for two weeks because you don't think I've been getting close enough to you?" By now we had reached the park and both seemed to have the same idea to go in to just walk around rather than head for any destination.

"Ok it does sound pretty dumb, but that's how it felt."

"You're an idiot." I retorted and for a minute he looked a little upset but I didn't care, I was just exasperated with him. "I've been trying to get close to you for weeks but I wasn't sure about it because, as far as I was aware, nobody knew I was gay. The weekend I came out to the whole school was when my whole world had come crashing down and the one person I really wanted to be around then was you, but you shut me out. When we were dancing in school and at your studio, and even on the dance floor that Halloween night, I haven't been so happy, and you did that to me."

"But I thought..." I didn't even let him finish, I instantly wrapped my arms around his neck and locked lips with him. I didn't even know if I was doing it right as it was my first time but he started to reciprocate and held me tight. I wasn't sure how long it lasted but I suddenly heard a wolf whistle from somewhere nearby and, as we split apart, I saw two younger kids from school riding their bikes near us.

"Go on Nick!!" One kid called out, pumping his fist in the air with a huge smile on his face as he rode past. I looked back at Lucas and blushed.

"So now what do you think?" I asked.

"I think I want to do that again." He replied and pulled me in for another one.

Amber was definitely right about him being stronger than he looked as he held me tight; I felt like I could never get away, even though right then I wouldn't want to. We finally broke apart and walked over to a nearby bench. For about an hour we just sat there snuggled up to each other, watching the world go by, talking about anything and everything with the occasional kiss thrown in for good measure. A few kids from school walked by every now and then, smiling at us as they looked over and I finally felt the happiest I'd ever been. Life was definitely starting to get better.