New Days [Completed]

New Days: Twelve (II)

 “Don’t need to look so surprised,” Rodney grumbled, taking a step inside the Tanner residence.

“I wasn’t expecting you, I’m allowed to look surprised,” Nick countered, an unreadable expression on his face.

Something didn’t feel right to me. “Yeah,” I began slowly, trying to absorb anything that would tell me what he’d been up to, “but you looked shocked.”

Rodney looked at me in surprise, then the expression on his face broke into a dawn of understanding. He gripped Nick by the shoulders and turned him so that they were face to face. Nick had been standing at the doorway, facing me. I was still outside. “He’s got a good point, what are you up to?” he asked, menacingly.

I honestly did not understand my boyfriend. When you want someone to open up to you, you shouldn’t threaten them. It intimidates them…although Nick looked far from intimidated. He seemed irritated.

Throwing Rodney’s hands off him, he stated that he wasn’t doing anything. And that we shouldn’t worry.

“Huh. Fine.” Rodney snorted, then motioned for me to enter.

I did so, still studying Nick’s face with caution. Something was definitely off, but I couldn’t tell whether it was because he was hiding something, or simply because he was worried about the match.

“What brings you guys over anyway?” Nick asked, his voice sounding more like himself.

“We wanted to talk to you,” I replied, quite hastily so that Rodney wouldn’t have the opportunity to say something that would put Nick on the defensive.

“I see. What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?” We were still standing in the passageway, close to the door. He didn’t expect this conversation to last too long, since he hadn’t asked us to take a seat or anything. Not that we needed the invitation.

“Well, it’s you we wanted to talk about. How are you?” I said, keeping my voice gentle.

“I’m good…you came all the way over just to ask me this?” his expression was one of incredulity. I couldn’t tell if he was playing dumb, or really had no idea as to why we’d come over to ask him how he was.

“Oh, come on. We wanted to know how you’re doing. You know, with the match coming up and…”

“I see.” He didn’t let me finish. His voice had suddenly become cold, hard. His face reflected what his tone had implied – he didn’t want to talk about any of this.

“Yeah, and?” I ignored the obvious signs, and pressed on. There wasn’t any way I was going to leave unless I got an answer out of him.

“I’m fine. Now go away.”

I felt Rodney bristle beside me – he didn’t like the way Nick was responding, I think. Before I could get his hand and send a silent it’s-okay message, he spoke up. “You’re obviously not, Tanner. What’s up with you?”

“I’m fine, don’t nag.” Nick was starting to sound irritated now, which wasn’t a good thing. He and Rodney were hotheads, and the clashes they had weren’t always pretty. Rodney had better control though – he often tended to give in to Nick to avoid a fight, but I could sense that that wasn’t going to happen then.

“We’re not idiots, you’re not fine.”

“I think I’m a better judge.” Nick glared at Rodney, but Rodney didn’t back off either. He glared back.

“Uh, guys, could you cut it out? Nick, we just wanted to talk. You’re obviously freaking out about the match and- well, is there anything we can do?” I had to intervene. Being the only fire extinguisher around was exhausting, and I really didn’t want them to fight.