1 | Almost Happy ▷ Sam Wilson | ✓

10 - SPEED DATING

NICKY HAD TO ADMIT, IT WAS NICE TO SPEND TIME WITH HARRY. He always wanted a younger sibling, and he liked to imagine that Harry was the younger brother he never had. After all, he did have that short stunt working for Norman Osborn, so he did know Harry before he wrangled him into therapy when he caught him snorting cocaine in the back closet of his father's office one day.

"You need to get laid," Harry said, plopping down onto the bench next to him, sunglasses perched on his nose and two medium sized cups of boba in his hands, "Like, yesterday. I mean, I just heard from Gwen who heard Flash who heard from Diana who accidentally overheard it from Rhett that you're still a virgin. We need to fix that."

Nicky took the drink from the boy while still staring at the same blade of grass by his right shoe. "Or we can talk about how you're failing English."

"I'm failing English because you're still a virgin and my body and mind are suffering because of it," Harry exclaimed, turning to face him, "Nicky, c'mon. I'm not even a virgin."

Nicky nearly snapped his neck as he whirled around to stare at him. "You're grounded, young man, you didn't even ask me for help or talk to me before you did?"

"How was I supposed to ask a virgin for help? You're the reason why I'm failing English!" Harry shouted, not caring that he would no doubt draw a lot of attention to himself, including paparazzi.

"Okay, one, you've been failing English for weeks now, you didn't hear about me being a virgin until, like, last night, I'm sure," he said, holding up a finger, "Two. Harry, I want you to stay safe, I've created virtually indestructible condoms. Seriously, the only thing that can break those is a flaming hot knife."

"Johnny can turn into a flame—" Harry started, but Nicky shushed him loudly.

"The point is I want you to stay safe and I can't believe you didn't even tell me. I mean, come on, Harry, was I gonna have to hear about it in the tabloids again?" he asked, sighing as he stared at the boy, shaking his head ever so slightly.

Harry's instantly sobered and Nicky wished he hadn't gone that far. He sometimes forgot how much he meant to the boy, which meant that some of the things he said about their relationship often sent the boy into a panic for fear that Nicky would stop liking him.

"I—You know you're—Nicky, I—" the boy stuttered, desperately searching for the right words, and Nicky shushed him, softer this time, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Harry, I know you never meant to, it's okay," he said, and Harry instantly went in for a hug, and Nicky wasn't so sure if he should be allowing this, but God knows the boy didn't get any hugs from his father.

"And how did you even make those condoms, you're a psychologist," the boy said, and Nicky inwardly cursed himself for slipping up again.

"Uh...um..." he stammered, eyes wide and heart racing, but, thankfully, Harry's attention was turned elsewhere. Thankfully being used incredibly loosely, as Nicky would soon discover once he turned his head.

"Flash, come in, you see what I see?" Harry asked, pulling out an old-school walkie talkie, looking away and pretending like his attention wasn't focused on an pretty looking man who was playing with his dog a short ways away.

"Oh, boy, I'm so glad I do," Flash Thompson replied, Nicky catching wind of his muffled voice, "I would dump Matty for him. Wait. Wait, Matt, babe, I'm kidding, come back, please."

Nicky snickered as Harry tried to get Flash's attention before sighing and dropping the walkie talkie. "Okay, that worked for all of two seconds. Anyways, Nicky, go!"