Chapter 9- All At Once
Brian arrived at the boardwalk about an hour before sunrise. He knew that Nick would be waking soon to board his boat for the day, never wanting to miss the beautiful sun rising above the water. Brian climbed onto the boat, and immediately got to work at preparing what was to hopefully be one of the memorable and defining days of his life. He descended the steps to the lower deck, which featured a large bed with a beautiful skylight. Brian took a deep breath as he set up the room for what was to come. He placed small candles on each nightstand, a small case of lube nearby and a letter he had written Nick, saying how much he loved him and explaining how incredibly sorry he was. Brian had prayed the entire flight there that Nick could find it somewhere within his heart to forgive Brian for what he had put them both through.

            Soon Brian was finished setting up the room, not wanting to light the candles to give himself away too soon, he placed a book of matches next to the candles. He heard Nick’s angelic voice singing a heart breaking song as he stepped onto the boat. Brian recognized the tune as being one of Nick’s all time favorites, remembering his preference for Whitney Houston. “I will always…looooooove youuuuu” Nick sang softly as he stepped onto the boat, immediately releasing it from the dock. Brian held his breath as Nick walked past the entrance to the lower deck and did not even look, intent on getting started with what he came to Argentina to do, say goodbye to Brian. Nick started the engine and pulled away, Brian holding onto the bed as Nick sped over the water, driving quickly to his destination. After ten minutes or so Brian felt the boat come slowly to a stop. He took a deep breath hoping that everything would go the way he wanted.

            Nick walked up to the edge of the boat and sat down, his feet dangling above the water. In his hand he gripped tightly onto a copy of the picture he had given to Brian for Christmas, the one of them sitting on the boat, the beautiful sunset behind them. Nick knew deep down that his love would never truly die for his best friend, but he had to do everything possible to block it from his mind. Nick stared at the picture, memories flowing back of a time when everything in the world was perfect. He was with his true love, and nothing in the world could have stopped them from being together. Nick bit his lip and a tear rolled down his cheek as he started to sing

All at once, /I finally took a moment and I'm realizing that /Your not coming back /And it finally hit me all at once /All at once,/I started counting teardrops and at least a million/fell /My eyes began to swell, /And all my dreams were shattered all at once /Ever since I met you You're the only love I've known /And I can't forget you /Though I must face it all alone /All at once, I'm drifting on a lonely sea /Wishing you'd come back to me And that's all that matters now /All at once, I'm drifting on a lonely sea /Holding on to/memories/And it hurts me more than you know /So much more than it shows
All at Once/I looked around and found that you were with another love /In someone else's arms,/And all my dreams were shattered, all at once /All at once/The smile that used to greet me brightened someone else's day /She took your smile away/And left me with just memories, all at once




          Nick pulled his legs into him, resting his chin on his knees as he sobbed uncontrollably, all the emotions flooding out of his heart and mind. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do in his life, say goodbye to the man who meant everything in the world to him. His heart was breaking as he realized that there was no hope. Ever since Brian had told him it was over that day, somewhere in the depths of his heart he held a small hope that Brian would one day realize what he had lost. Nick stayed up endless nights crying himself to sleep at the thought of never holding Brian in his arms again, never feeling his warm body close to his, his soft lips against his own. He knew that they would always be friends, but Nick couldn’t help but want more. Every time he saw Brian’s angelic face, his golden hair, and every time he flashed that beautiful smile his heart broke a little more. Nick sobs racked his body as he held tightly onto the picture, the one that had been taken at the happiest moment in his life as he sat there experiencing the worst. He didn’t know how he was supposed to say goodbye to his true love.
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Chapter 9 (cont)