Sturniolo Triplets One Shots

How to Love (Nick)

Nick Sturniolo sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. The lyrics of Lil Wayne's "How to Love" echoed in his mind, resonating with his recent struggles in understanding his own feelings. He had always been the carefree one among his brothers, but lately, he found himself tangled in emotions he couldn't quite decipher.
The summer sun filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow on the room. Nick sighed and picked up his camera, recording a quick update for his YouTube channel. His subscribers loved his candidness, but today, he felt a bit lost. He decided to take a break and clear his head.
Nick's mind wandered to Alex, the guy who had unknowingly stolen his heart. Alex was always there, supporting him and his brothers, laughing at their jokes, and being the glue that held their friend group together. But recently, Nick had started to see him in a different light. He admired Alex's strength, his kindness, and the way he always put others before himself. Yet, he never found the courage to tell Alex how he felt.
He remembered the late-night conversations they had, where Alex would open up about his past relationships and heartbreaks. Alex would always say he didn't believe in love anymore, that it was too complicated, too painful. Nick wanted to change that. He wanted to show Alex that love could be beautiful, that it could heal instead of hurt.
His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a text from Alex.
**"Hey Nick, are you free today? I could use some company."**
Nick's heart raced as he quickly replied.
**"Sure, I'll be over in a bit. Can you pick me up?"**
Alex responded immediately.
**"Of course, I'll be there in 10."**
Nick grabbed his keys and headed downstairs. He didn't drive, but Alex was always more than happy to come get him. As he waited, the lyrics of the song still played in his head. He thought about what he wanted to say, how he wanted to convey his feelings without scaring Alex away.
A car horn honked outside, and Nick saw Alex's familiar car pull up. He hurried out and slid into the passenger seat, greeted by Alex's warm smile.
"Hey," Alex said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Nick.
"Hey," Nick replied, feeling his nerves calm slightly. "Thanks for coming to get me."
"Anytime," Alex said, pulling away from the curb. "What's on your mind?"
Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Just...everything. Life, relationships, love. I don't know, it all feels so complicated."
Alex nodded, understanding. "Yeah, it can be. But it doesn't have to be."
Nick looked at him, curiosity in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Alex pulled the car into a quiet park and turned off the engine. "I've been thinking a lot about us. About you. And I realized that...I've fallen for you. Hard. I know you've been hurt before, and I get that you're scared. But I want to show you that love can be different. That it can be simple and beautiful."
Nick was silent for a moment, processing Alex's words. "Alex, I..."
Alex reached out and took Nick's hand, his touch gentle and reassuring. "You don't have to say anything right now. I just wanted you to know how I feel. And that I'll be here, no matter what."
Tears welled up in Nick's eyes as he squeezed Alex's hand. "Thank you, Alex. I don't know if I'm ready, but...thank you."
Alex smiled, leaning in to kiss Nick's forehead. "Take all the time you need. I'll be here."
As the sun set, casting a golden glow over the two of them, Nick felt a sense of peace. He had finally expressed his feelings, and even though he didn't know what the future held, he was ready to face it with Alex by his side.
**"See you had a lot of crooks tryna steal your heart,
Never really had luck, couldn't never figure out
How to love..."**
In that moment, Nick realized that love wasn't about grand gestures or perfect words. It was about being there for each other, through the highs and lows, and learning how to love together.