Constellations... and Other Tragedies || DreamNotFound

Chapter 4

"I'm in love with you."

For the next few weeks, Clay looked towards his phone every so often. He had dialed George's number a few times, but never let the call go through. Nick had been calling daily and they had arranged to meet before Clay's leave from the Army ended. The phone rang moments before he left his house."Hello?"

"Hah, I knew it! FERLING GET YOURSELF OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS INSTANT YOU NOW HAVE 22 MINUTES TO DRIVE 24 MILES, HURRY UP." An audible bang was heard as the call disconnected and Clay flinched. Nick was right though, and glancing at the clock, the tall blonde turned on his heel and bolted out of the door, flying past Mark who dropped a tray in his wake.

After speeding through the city, Clay ended up arriving at his destination only 7 minutes late. He found a suitable place to park his car, and hopped out of his seat. The city of Brighton was packed with people. Rich men bustled in and out of shops and jewellers with nervous looks and countless bags attached to them. Young women walked through the streets in large hats and filled with annoying mannerisms and loud laughs that somehow managed to attract the attention of the opposite sex, some of which that would nudge another member of its pack or simply smirk. It all repulsed Clay Ferling. He turned away from from crowds, shuddering, and spotted his friend in a nearby coffee shop. "Nick!" He called. The brown haired man turned to look out the window and smiled at Clay, gesturing for him to enter.

"It's been a while, General. Hasn't it?" Nick picked up his cup of coffee and put down his newspaper, aiming all his attention at his now seated friend. 

"It has indeed. How have you been, Brae? Did you get the help I recommended? How is Tattia doing? And most importantly, you still in my division?" Clay inhaled at the end of his sentences, realising he hadn't breathed at all the entire soliloquy.

Nick seemed startled at the mass of questions, "Blimey, Dream! Pfft, uh..." He took a moments break to replace his cup on its coaster, "I've been good for the most part. Yeah, it was hard for a while, but I got there, you know? It's definitely been a tough couple of years. I did get the help from Professor Grayson because it was needed," he gestured to the leg, "Would not be able to work if it weren't for him. Tattia is doing great." Nick smiled, "I'm proposing to her tomorrow. I don't know what I would do without her honestly. I knew the moment I met her she was something. Didn't know what, but she was something."

Clay felt a pang of pain in his chest but ignored it.Nick continued, "I am no longer in your division, sir. I left the army four months ago, a week after your first forced leave. I am now studying for my Bachelor's of Economics. I'm going into stocks, Ferling. I must get the money flowing for my perfect mama Tattia."

Clay laughed, "That was a lot of information, Nick. I'm happy about your leg, but why must you leave for the stocks? I lost my best commander the day you left."Grinning, the 'best commander' responded with, "Ay, come on now. Don't be too down. I saw you with your new best friend at the ball."

Clay's eyebrows furrowed. "Who?"

"George Davidson."

His eyes widened, "Ge-George Davidson? My new best friend? Wh-what made you think that, Brae? He's pretty," Nick cocked an eyebrow in suspicion, "pretty great I mean! But he's not my best friend. No, definitely not. At all."

Nick laughed. "Don't lie. You like him, don't pretend. And I hope you do because if you don't I fele bad for giving him your number."

Clay sputtered and choked on his coffee, "You WHAT?"

"Gave him your number." The nonchalance and careless nature of Nick's response twisted Clay's gut in anger." You," the volume of his voice lowered to a near growl, "had no right to give out my personal information without permission. Do you understand that? You have no right to tell people my name or my address, so why my number and to George of all people. What if you had given it to Tommy or Niki or... or Karl. You would so give it to Karl you are his number one fa-"

"-friend," interrupted Nick, "Karl! President Gold! How nice to see you're here, we haven't seen you since the ball!" Clay held back a laugh at the sudden appearances of his friends.

"Clay!" Exclaimed Will, "Nick did not tell me you would be here, and I doubt he told Karl given the fact I dragged him along."

Karl laughed and covered his mouth to hide a smirk, "Hello, Nicholas. Hello, Clay."Clapping his hands, Will threw himself into a nearby chair and slung his arm around Karl, pulling the shocked man down onto the seat beside him. "Okay, let's get this over with. Tell me everything and anything. I have many questions, but first let us move and face our attention to the couple of the hour,'' he had been staring at Clay the entire time, causing a light sweat to break out across the man's forehead, a part of him expected will to say 'Clay and George', well, it wasn't expected as much as hopefully feared. "Nick and Tattia!" The mild disappointmet must have been evident in Clay's eyes, as when Will looked away a faint frown held onto his brow.

~ ~~~~ ~~~

After 30 minutes of questions directed at Nick, the attention turned to Clay who was nervously chugging his fourth cup of coffee while trying to distract himself with scenery. Bare and wooded walls surrounded him, covered in literature and books and paintings; faintly glowing lights line theshelves and windows causing the entire room to radiate a warm moon-like haze. Each light made Clay think of George, reminding him of their dances beneath Perseus and Andromeda. The man would not leave his head.

"Ferling?" Nick clicked his fingers and caught Clay's atention. He turned to the group with faintly watering eyes. "You good, Ferling?'' The three men in front of him seemed worried but he smiled and nodded.

"Shoot questions at me, boys. I can handle anything." Clay Ferling took the sentence and made it drip confidence, but in his mind, all he could think of was the brown eyes and stunning face that had transfixed him.

~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~

At exactly 8:47 pm, Clay opened the oak door to his house and locked up for the night after hours of interrogation. Mark had already gone to bed, yet still left warmed food for his master in the stove. Oddly touched by the action, Clay slid a note with a bunch of cash under his butler's door. Just as he was getting into bed, the phone beside him rang.He picked up, "Hello? The is General Clay Ferling."

"Clay." The voice on the other end of the line whispered.