Stone Cold {bxb}

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Once the team got back at the resort, they all knocked out. All except for Gabriel and Vincent. The two men stood out on the balcony looking out at the view.

"Another great competition performed by you, Gabe," Vincent said, breaking the silence and looking at the four-eyed male.

"Even though I didn't win," Gabriel questioned, looking at Vincent.

"You can't win them all, Amore," Vincent sighed. "At least you had a streak. No other member on this team- besides me- has had one. Not even Nico."

That made Gabriel smile as he looked away to admire the view again. "I guess I'm accomplishing one of my goals," Gabriel spoke.

"Which one is that?"

"To be as good as Nico," Gabriel replied, then looked at Vincent and their eyes locked. "Maybe even better."

A smile formed on Vincent's face and the one on Gabriel's grew bigger. "I'm proud of you, Amore."

The two continued to look at each other for a while before looking at the view again. But Leo was lying on his side and watched from the window with an unclear expression on his face. He rolled over on his side and closed his eyes, falling asleep.

~~~

When they got back from Utah, it was only twelve in the afternoon. The bus had stopped at the figure skating academy and both Keiway and Caesar, and a couple other skaters including Leo, headed inside. Then once the bus was empty it drove off. Vincent's car was still on the side of the road, so he went over to it and Gabriel followed him but didn't get in.

"I was going to head over to Kyhun's apartment," Gabriel informed Vincent. "He should be back from Utah as well."

"Did you want me to drive you there?" Vincent asked.

"No. I already called an Uber."

And not a second too soon a black car pulled up behind Vincent's car.

"I'll catch up with you later," Gabriel said, making his way to the Uber.

"Text me when you get there safely," Vincent said, opening the driver side door of his car.

"I will," Gabriel said.

He watched as Vincent turned away from him, getting into his car. Gabriel opened the door behind the passenger then watched as Vincent drove off.

Once Nico and Sergio got back to their apartment, Sergio had made his way to the living room. He sat on the couch and never took his eyes off of Nico who stood by the door, staring at his phone.

"Babe," Sergio called out to Nico. "Babe."

"What," Nico snapped, now looking up at Sergio.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Nico said, then turned off his phone and put it in his pocket.

"Then come sit down," Sergio said.

Nico opened his mouth to respond but when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, he quickly pulled it out to check the message.

"Babe," Sergio started again.

"I'll be back," Nico said, turning on his heel now making his way back to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be back," was all Nico called out before he closed the door behind him.

He turned on his phone and read over the message one last time before he made his way to his car. Once he got to his car, he got in on the driver's side, closed his door, put on his seatbelt then flipped the car in reverse. He was going back to a place he hoped he would never see again.

"You did great out there last night," Kyhun said to Gabriel.

"Thank you, Ky," Gabriel said with a small smile.

The two friends sat in the living room, eating chicken fried rice. "So are you and Mr. Famous still roommates?" Kyhun asked, holding a spoonful of rice up to his lips.

"Yeah, we are," Gabriel said, preparing to take a bite.

"So why are you crashing here tonight?"

"I can't hang out with my best friend in his boyfriend's apartment?"

Kyhun shook his head and his index finger side to side. "私の口に言葉を入れないで (Don't put words in my mouth)." The two shared a laugh. "I'm just trying to figure out why you don't want to celebrate with him."

"I do want to but-"

"No but's, Gabe," Kyhun spoke quickly. "You and I both know that there are feelings. 正しい (Correct)?"

"Yeah," Gabriel nodded. "But he's my trainer and say I do tell him how I feel, and he rejects me and possibly doesn't want to train me anymore. Then what?"

"Always with the negative," Kyhun said with a slight eye roll. "Okay well say it does happen then you can just come back to Shontail."

"I already told you I-"

"Can't," Kyhun sighed. "But you don't know unless you try."

The two locked eyes, then Kyhun shrugged his shoulders and looked away from Gabriel to take another bite.

"Didn't think you'd actually show up," Dayton spoke with a smirk.

Nico rolled his eyes as he made his way closer to the dark headed male. "Look I'm only here for one thing and hint- it's not to chat and catch up."

"I saw the rankings of the Pre Bronze competition," Dayton said, pushing off his car. "Fourth place isn't pretty on the record sheet."

"Do you have it or not, Dayton?" Nico asked through his teeth slowly losing his patience.

"Tell me this Nico," Dayton started dodging Nico's question. "That Sergio guy, as good looking as he is- well." Dayton paused to let out a chuckle. "He just doesn't know how to coach you."

"Leave Sergio out of this Dayton."

"I mean if you really think about it," Dayton spoke now behind Nico. "You haven't won any more titles since you left Bayton and me."

Nico balled his hands up into fists.

"And now you have turned to every athlete's addiction." Dayton leaned closer to Nico so he could whisper in his ear. He got a gentle hand on both of Nico's arms, sliding his hands down to the other's hand. Then he finally finished his sentence with one word. "Steroids."

The two men stood body to body, neither of them moving an inch. But finally, after holding in all that anger, Nico slowly began to relax and that was when Dayton decided to let go of the blonde male. He made his way around Nico to stand in front of him again, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"You're welcome to come back anytime, Nico," Dayton offered.

Nico looked down at his hand and realized that he was holding the small container that he wanted. He looked back up at Dayton when he heard him begin to speak.

"I can turn you back into a star," he added, then shrugged. "Only if you let me."

"Get home safe, D," was all Nico said as he made his way down the street to his car.

♢♢♢