Atlas: FTWD (Nick/Troy) Fanfiction

06 // light

"the world is brighter than the sun now that you're here"

light, sleeping at last 

light - understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment 

Three weeks later...

Troy

"He's actually coming out to see you?"

"I know right. Wasn't expecting that after I blew him off," Chucking the football into Nick's hands, we finally reach his dorm room and fall onto the beds inside.

"He seems like a really good brother....I hope you're not taking him for granted," Nick reminds me, his tone hesitant as the honest words leave his mouth. Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose before taking a deep breath.

"I don't. He just....sometimes..."

"He expects a lot from you. Trust me, I know all about that," We both chuckle before lapsing back into silence, our high minds finding immense interest in the ceiling above us.

"They've always expected so much. My sisters the damn golden child...she's the one who got a 4.0, full ride to all the colleges she wanted...and then there's me," Nick mumbles and I can feel the bitterness in his tone literally radiating off of him.

"Hell, at least you've got a family who's actually pushing you to be better. The only reason I'm here is because I had to get out...had to make something of myself before it was too late," My tone drops off as every memory of that damn ranch comes flooding back before I'm taking a large gulp and pushing it back down.

"It's never too late to just change everything. Just close that door and decide you're gonna be someone different," Nick's wise words cause me to glance over at him in the dim lighting and I'm caught off guard to see his bloodshot eyes already trained on mine.

"I am extremely fucking high," He quickly glances away, moving towards the window to open it and let in some fresh air. It was starting to get really stuffy.

"I should probably go back to my dorm, that's where I told him to meet me." Just as I'm standing, lightheadedness rushes to my head and I'm almost falling back onto the bed.

"When do I get to meet him?" I go silent for a moment as I swivel on my heel to face Nick but his face looks like he's only half-joking. Cocking a grin, I just shake my head before grabbing the door handle.

"When I get to meet yours," I counter and he smirks, shaking his head as well.

"Right."

"What, you ashamed of me or something?" I question, removing my hand from the door knob as I turn back around. He chuckles for a moment before resorting to silence, his eyes fixed on mine. This conversation sounds weirdly similar to what a couple would sound like.

"And with that confirmation, I'll be going-"

"How the hell could I be ashamed of you?" Nick cuts me off as I can hear him standing from the creaky bed and I find myself at a loss for words. His face is dead-serious and I really can't tell what he's thinking for once.

"You're practically the best person I've ever met," Feeling my chest tightening, I have to take a step back from his looming presence which seems much closer than he was a moment ago.

"Now that just isn't true," He shake his head emphatically, taking another step closer, his fingers raking through his messy-ass hair.

"I'm dead serious. Troy, you're the only...you're the only person who's ever really understood me. And not just the fake kind of understanding, you literally make me feel sane even when I know I'm not," A breath hitches in my throat as I can't find any words to respond with before the door behind me is opening and I'm saved from having to think up a response. Nick's eyes flutter behind me before dropping to the floor as Gunner makes his way inside.