| I Will Always Love You -Chapter 8 |
| Nick stood on the balcony of his hotel, the clear night sky reflecting in the beautiful water nearby. He had his headphones on, trying to escape the harsh reality of why he had traveled to this foreign place. He only brought a few cd’s but for some reason had only been listening to Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits. He would never admit to anyone that he even owned the cd, especially his hard rock friends. Yet, her voice, her songs…they always applied to the way he was feeling at that moment. As the cd skipped to the next track, he lay down on the hammock that stretched across the balcony. Thoughts of Brian crept into his mind once again as the song began… If I should stay /I would only be in your way /So I'll go but I know /I'll think of you every step of the way Tears immediately formed in his eyes, as he knew the struggle that his heart and mind had gone through to give him enough courage to leave Brian behind. Nick had to force himself to leave the country and return to this place to finally say goodbye to his love. He wanted nothing more than to stay in Lexington, run into Brian’s arms, hold him tight and never let him go again, but this time he had no choice. Brian had made the decision and Nick loved Brian enough to let him go and give him the happiness that he deserved. I will always love you /You, you, my darling you (mm) /Bittersweet Memories /That is all I'm taking with me / Memories of times they had shared together flooded Nick’s mind as tears he fumbled over what he was gripping in his hands…his Frack hat. He remembered the night that Brian had given them to Nick as a public sign of there love. They both knew that people would guess it as only a sign of friendship between two best friends, but they knew it was not only that, but a symbol of their love. Even though neither of them wore them anymore, it was something that Nick always cherished, the first sign of their undying love. He also remembered the beginning, the first time their lips met. ****Flashback****** Brian lay in the bed, spooning behind Nick as he placed a protective arm over his best friend. Nick shifted back into Brian’s warm, comforting body as his mind drifted in and out of dreams. He had trouble sleeping lately, mostly due to strange dreams that he had been having. He always remembered Brian being in the dream but never could really remember what he was doing there. All Nick could remember after waking was that right at the end of his dream he would be screaming for someone, he needed someone, to hold him to love him…he would then feel a hand on his back and would turn around, only then to wake from his slumber and never see who it was who came to save him. That night he had asked Brian to sleep in his bunk with him on the bus. They had decided to share a bus together, and the other 3 boys in another bus. Mostly Kevin decided, and they just went a long, but really didn’t complain. Nick was 17 and was still getting on Kevin’s nerves. Even though Nick felt like a baby asking Brian to stay with him, there was something else that he felt when Brian slipped underneath the covers and pressed his body against Nicks. He could feel Brian’s breath on his neck and it sent shivers down his spine. Nick’s stomach would flip and he would become both nervous and excited. He knew that he had an underlying attraction for Brian, but could never find a way to understand it let alone express it. Nick had only kissed a few girls and always had insecurities about why they wanted to be with him. He realized that he trusted Brian completely, and that is why he felt so safe. Brian looked at the beautiful sleeping man next to him in the small bed. Their bodies were pressed tightly against one another’s and Brian’s hand was now wrapped around Nick’s body, pulling him even closer to his own. With every breath he inhaled Nick’s scent, fresh from the shower he had gotten before going to bed. Brian didn’t know the time or place when he knew he fell in love with his younger best friend. He often thought that it was perhaps at the moment that he met. Even though they were so young, he noticed the look in Nick’s eyes when no one else was looking, that there was something more to him, a secret side of himself that he would only show to certain people. Nick had fell right to sleep as soon as Brian lay down next to him that night. He was exhausted from all the dreams he had been having lately and could not fight back the sleep even though he wanted to stay awake to talk to Brian. It was nearing 1am and Brian himself began to doze off to sleep until Nick started shifting next to him, his head twitching violently back and forth and his soft voice spoke incoherently “Where…Who…are you?” Brian awoke and gently rubbed Nick’s arm trying to force him quietly from his dream, he already seemed upset and Brian didn’t want to frighten him even more. “Wait…don’t…don’t leave me!” Nick begged as Brian saw small tears running down his best friend’s cheeks. “Nick…Nicky…c’mon wake up” Brian quietly begged as he shook Nick’s arm. Nick jumped and his eyes flew open. He stared blankly at his best friend, still in between a dream and reality, his senses heightened. The last thing he remembered was having the dream again. He always felt warm and safe in the dream then suddenly the feeling would leave him. A sense of loss and need would consume him and he would wake confused. As Brian stared back into the fearful eyes of his best friend, he panicked. He had never seen that look in Nick’s eyes before. “Nicky, say something…say anything!” he begged. The extreme fear of the dream clashed with the security of the arms that were holding Nick and forced him into reality. It was Brian…he had been searching…and there he was, right in front of him. Without conscious thought Nick closed his eyes and closed the space between the two of them, crashing his lips against Brian’s. Nick’s heart jumped as he felt Brian’s body tense, and then slowly relax as he leaned into the kiss, his hand rubbing up and down Nick’s back, calming him as well. Brian pulled their bodies closer together as they deepened the kiss, their tongues exploring each other’s mouths, Nick’s hands finding Brian’s naked chest, running his hand over the well-defined muscles. Brian moaned as Nick’s fingers found his nipple. They found a perfect rhythm as their kisses soon rendered them breathless. Nick slowly pulled away, little by little; still placing small kisses on Brian’s perfect lips. Brian smiled as he pulled away, regarding his friend whose taste he had already become accustomed to. “It’s you, Brian…I’ve been searching for you…and…” Nick said trying to form any thought as he ran his fingers through Brian’s curls. “Here I am.” Brian stated reassuring the younger man that he felt the same way. Brian leaned down once more to meet Nick’s awaiting lips and they began to explore each other again, their hands and mouths leading the way. |