Whispers Of The Heart

Chapter 7 - Twists Of The Heart

NICK'S POV:
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We have a blast driving back, and I genuinely feel less sad than I was in the morning. The fun-filled ride and the good times shared with Clay have lifted my mood, and I no longer carry the heavy sadness I felt earlier.

I'm ready to talk about it, though.

When we get home, Clay asks if we should hang out in the living room. What he means is just chilling together on the couch, listening to music, and scrolling through our phones. It's something I really enjoy, and I feel most comfortable doing it with Clay. It's like our special way of showing love and feeling at ease with each other.

Clay grabs the TV remote and lowers the volume of the music. He turns to me and says, "Nick, I want you to know that I love you. Whatever you're going through, I'll be there to support you and help you overcome it, just like you've done for me. I'm here with you, and I'm here for you." His words fill my heart with warmth and reassurance.

A smile spreads across my face as my heart fills with warmth. I gaze at Clay and pout playfully. He responds by turning off his phone and placing it beside him on the couch, mirroring my actions. The moment has come to open up to him. Nervousness creeps in, but I take comfort in knowing that he won't judge me in any way.

I gather my courage and take a deep breath before sharing my feelings. "I'm... I'm feeling a bit confused about my sexuality. It's been challenging for me to accept it because I've always been attracted to girls." I lock eyes with Clay, who responds with a supportive smile and kind eyes. "But... I think I might actually have feelings for Karl."

Clay's smile widens, and he responds with warmth in his voice. "I'm proud of you for being honest with yourself, Nick. I understand how difficult it can be, and no matter what happens, I want you to know that I'll always be here to support you."

His support is the only support I need.

"I really like him. but I'm not sure that he feels the same way," I say and look down at my intertwined fingers.

"I think you should just go for it. Ask him out and you'll see," he suggests, and I gaze at him with a skeptical expression, unsure of what to do. "The worst that can happen is he says no, and you stay friends."

He's right. I won't lose him as a friend if I tell him. "I don't wanna get my feelings hurt, though," I say, feeling vulnerable.

"I get it," He responds, thinking about what I said. "When you like someone, there's always a chance of getting hurt, and it's a risk you have to be willing to take."

I agree, keeping my lips pressed together, understanding what he's saying. "You're right," I say. "I'll ask him tomorrow, right after the stream." Clay's eyes light up with happiness. Changing the subject, I raise an eyebrow and look at him. "So, what's going on between you and George?" I ask. A smile appears on his face as he looks away, suggesting something interesting is happening.

"I like him," he admits. "And I believe he feels the same way, but there seems to be something holding him back."

"You should talk to him and find out what's going on. Communication is key." I respond, echoing his advice.

A smile graces Clay's face as he recalls the memory. "I did, he said that he's scared of getting attached to someone who lives across the sea, but then we kissed."

Surprised, I sit up and exclaim, "Wait!" Raising my arms in excitement, I ask, "You KISSED?" Clay chuckles and nods in affirmation.

Clay proceeds to explain, "On the first night they were here, I took him to the cliff on the beach, and that's where we kissed." My heart races with anticipation as I listen to his words.

"I'm so happy for you," I exclaim. "You radiate happiness whenever you're with George. It's obvious in the way your eyes light up when you look at him."

"I don't know what's going to happen between us," Clay says. "He went back to the UK, and we haven't really talked about where we stand. It's confusing for me, and I'm not sure what it means." I nod, showing that I understand.

"Yeah, I totally understand. If there's a genuine connection between you two, things will work out, trust me," I say, offering him a reassuring smile.

"What happened to us? It used to be just the two of us, and now we both have feelings for someone, and we're all mushy and in love?" he says, pretending to be disgusted as he scrunches his face.

I burst into laughter and playfully toss a pillow at him. We agree to change the subject and Clay heads to the kitchen to make some popcorn while I set up a movie. Eventually, we both drift off to sleep, completely worn out from the sleepless nights.

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