Crossing Oceans

Chapter 15: Breaking the Tension

hey guys it's me! i'm so sorry for the super long wait but i've been busier than you'd ever believe! here's an update to apologize. massive thanks to anyone who is still here and has been waiting for an update. hope you like it (or hate it depending on who you ship). love you all! xx _______________________________________________________________________________

The next morning

Nick yawned. Setting two plates down at the table, he rubbed his chin and sighed.

Harry had fallen asleep on his shoulder last night in the middle of the movie, and he had had to carry him to his bed, just like Ms. Anne used to do when they fell asleep on the floor at Harry's sleepovers. Mindlessly stirring his coffee, Nick began to think about all the drama that had ensued last night; the fight, the hurtful words, the look Harry gave him when he told him to stay away from Louis, Louis standing Harry up when he knew that Harry had fallen into his trap....

A sneeze made Nick jump in surprise. He turned to look towards the doorway and saw a sleepy-eyed Harry, rubbing his red nose. Nick smiled and stood up to greet him.

"Good morning lad... sleep alright?" Harry smiled.

"Just fine thanks. Don't know how I got into bed last night... weren't we watching a movie on the..." Harry let out another sneeze.

"Bless you!" Nick held back a chuckle.

"Thanks.... heyyyyyyyyy Grimmy stop it." Harry frowned, knowing what was coming next. Nick burst out laughing.

"I can't help it! Your sneezes sound like a cartoon kitten meowing for the first time or something cutely pathetic like that," Nick choked out between laughs. Harry just smirked and stepped forward so that he was towering over his roommate. He tilted his head down until their foreheads were touching and smirked.

'But at least I'm cute," he whispered and brushed past Nick. Nick swallowed his schoolgirl-like giggle and turned around to sit back at the table. Harry had already sat down at his plate. Silently he stared down at it, soaking the light mood up and leaving nothing but silence.

Nick remembered that Harry was probably still hurt from his rejection last night so he decided not to comment on anything related to that. Picking up his coffee mug, hetook a bite of his biscuit, hoping Harry would look up. Whenever Harry was aimlessly staring, he was thinking, and in this case he probably wasn't thinking positive things.

"Thanks for breakfast, mate," Harry said slowly, looking up with an unreadable expression on his face. Nick half-smiled.

"No problem, I do it almost every morning as you may recall." He let out a puff of air that could be taken as a laugh. Harry just stared back.

"No, I mean it. Thank you. For breakfast, for last night, for everything. I don't quite remember all I said to you before I left, but it certainly wasn't good of me. I was cruel to you and yet you still came to my rescue even after you warned me not to go. And I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry." Harry took a deep breath to continue.

"You were there for me and I know I haven't been there for you. We came to this university together and I apologize for tossing you to the side when I met Louis." Nick's jaw tightened at the sound of his name, but Harry didn't notice.

"I do remember that I told you that you couldn't compare to Louis, but I know now that I was wrong. I've thought this before but last night made it clear. I don't know what I would do without you, Grimmy. I honestly don't. And I could never replace you. I just hope that you'll forgive me for being a bumbumhead." Nick smiled at the use of their childhood word for a meanie. Harry sighed when he finished his apology and looked to Nick for his reaction.

Nick sat smiling like an idiot. He wanted to cry of joy, or laugh, or just cheer, or anything to show how happy he was that Harry cared about him so much. 'He even said he can't live without me!' Nick thought. He looked at Harry, who was smiling back at him with his perfect smiled and jumped out of his seat. With a playful laugh, Nick stood behind Harry and wrapped his arms around his neck. Harry tilted his head to look back at him and Nick pressed their foreheads together.

"I could never replace you either..." Harry beamed.

"... I mean how could I find another bumbumhead like you?" Nick laughed and pulled away. Harry smirked and pushed his chair back.

"Ooooh you're gonna get it now!" he roared as Nick ran back in to the bedroom. The mood lightened back up as Harry began to chase him, both boys laughing like idiots.

Nick turned a corner and closed himself in the closet. A split second later, Harry threw open the door. When he saw Nick enclosed in such a small space, his eyes lit up with an idea. Slowly, he stepped into the closet and closed the door behind him, blocking the way to escape. Nick's laughter trailed off as he recognized the close proximity of their faces. His heartbeat sped up and Harry chuckled.

"It's like when we were kids and everyone played 7 minutes of heaven..." Harry shook his head at the remembrance. He lifted his hand and placed it on Nick's cheek and time stopped. Nick felt frozen as Harry's warm fingers trailed down his jaw and under his chin. Lifting Nick's head with his forefinger, Harry smiled.

"Well, I believe it's time for us to come out of the closet." Harry winked, opened the door, and walked out, leaving a breathless Nick staring after him. Nick shook his head to clear his mind and followed suit.

"Well c'mon then we don't wanna be late!" Harry called from the front door. Grabbing his bag, Nick headed towards him. Smiling mischievously, Harry held open the door for him.

"After you ma'lady," he said with a bow. Nick just glared and laughed.

"Lay off it, Sir Curly," he teased as Harry took his arm and led him to the elevator. When the doors opened, Harry let Nick enter first, and then came to link arms with him while they descended. He kept a silly air about him that made them both forget all about the pain of last night.

'Today is gonna be a great day,' Nick thought to himself and smiled. Things were back to normal, if not better, between them, and he couldn't be happier.