Meant To Be (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Washed Away

"AND NOW LADIES AND GENTS LET'S SEE WHO'S IN FOR THE CHANCE OF WINNING £20,000!"

Nate sat bolt upright like he was Frankenstein's monster brought to life. It took him a moment to figure out where he was and who was speaking but a quick glance at the TV and a cheesy-looking game show host answered his questions.

"Sorry," Alex was sitting on the armchair, desperately trying to use the remote to turn the volume down on the television, "It came on so loud."

With a grimace, Nate swung his legs off the couch and sat upright – or as upright as he could get – and ran his hand through his hair. He felt like shit. Something in his side was continuously stabbing into him and his face felt like something had burrowed under his skin and was trying to burst out through his eye. Nothing compared to the constant throbbing in his knee, however. It was swollen to twice its usual size and it felt as though someone had poured broken glass between his kneecap and his skin. In an attempt to try and distract himself from the pain that was trying to force him unconscious, he looked over at Alex. The younger lad still looked shaken up; he was pale and his hands trembled slightly as they fumbled with the TV remote.

"What time is it?" Nate croaked, voice scratchy from sleep.

"About half seven. You fell asleep not long after Simon left so I thought I'd leave you to rest."

Nate nodded, thankful.

"How're you doing?" He knew the sudden arrival of his stepfather had shaken Alex up and the knowledge of Nate being the driver of the other car had been a pretty big blow, even if he did say he could cope.

Alex laughed a little, "Better than you I think."

"Tell me the truth, am I still gorgeously handsome?" Nate laughed but regretted it immediately as his ribs screamed in protest.

Noticing his pain, Alex got to his feet. Of course he hadn't been expecting to hear the news that his lover had been in one of the cars involved in his mother's death but he knew Nate wasn't to blame. Jim, his stepfather, had always been a reckless driver and the news of his mother's death hadn't even been that much of a surprise when Alex heard she'd been in the car with him. Subconsciously, however, there was just a little rat gnawing at the back of his mind, working hard to spike his anxiety and trying to find a reason to blame Nate for something. He shook his head, desperately trying to dispel the doubts that were trying to creep in as Nate wobbled to his feet.

"I'm gonna take a bath," Nate stepped forwards and teetered slightly.

He looked like he might topple over, all six foot three of him about to tumble to the carpet in a heap of arms and legs. Thankfully, Alex hooked one of Nate's long arms over his shoulders and helped balance him, careful not to elbow him in his damaged ribs.

They made their way to the downstairs bathroom slowly. Alex believed he heard every swear word known to man and some that could possibly have been invented there and then come out of Nate's mouth as he limped along the hallway. No weight was being put on his injured knee and Alex thought that he should probably go the hospital, what with it being an old injury and all, but he knew Nate would refuse if he suggested it.

"Alright," the redhead gripped the door frame to the bathroom with a white-knuckled hand and tried to look casual as he clung onto it for dear life, "I can take it from here, thanks."

"Oh, really?" Alex raised a blonde eyebrow and folded his arms as though waiting for something.

Stubborn as ever, Nate nodded and turned to step inside the bathroom only to catch his swollen knee on the door. More curse words tumbled from his mouth as Alex grabbed him awkwardly from behind. It had been his only option and now the two men stood, the smaller with his arms wrapped around Nate's waist like his high school sweetheart. Behind him, Nate felt Alex's cheeks burning through his shirt and wished that the moment didn't have to be spoiled by the fact that he was so beaten up and bruised. It would have been a super sweet Kodak moment if not for his battered body and black eye. Nate linked his fingers through Alex's as they rested on his stomach and he sighed, both angry and sad at the knowledge that they would have to let go at some point.