Saving Me [MxM]

Chapter 20

So.

 

Evan was dying.

 

Evan had HIV.

 

Damn.

 

Nathan knew what it was as soon as Evan mentioned CD4 cells. Those and T cells were associated with HIV and AIDS. He would be wrong to say he wasn’t worried. For both Evan and Justin. While Evan was dying, Justin would be left alone, and who knows how he’d take it once Evan went.

 

Then there was Varian. Evan was like his best friend. Shit, Evan was his best friend. And charge.

 

He was practically Curran’s father.

 

And Nathan would be lying if he said he wasn’t attached to the little shit. Evan had affected so many lives. Sure, he had his moments, but he was a good person. It seemed like the best people got the worst shit to deal with.

 

Nathan glanced over from his usual spot on the couch, to where Varian sat, hunched over with one hand dangling in his lap, the other cradling the side of his head. He’d been quiet the whole time, not that Nathan blamed him. Nathan sat quietly for a few more seconds before he cleared his throat.

 

“So...I should be hearing back from a couple places soon. On whether or not I’ve been hired,” he said quietly. He couldn’t bring himself to speak any louder, and mentally cursed himself for not thinking of something better to say. They’d just left a hospital, and he was talking about more of them. Good job, Nathan. Good job.

 

Varian hummed quietly in acknowledgement, and Nathan tapped his fingers together slowly, figuring he might as well keep talking. At least to get rid of the silence.

 

“‘Course I wouldn’t be surprised if all of them said I needed more experience. Didn’t have the time during college to try and do any internships or anything.”

 

He really should have, thinking back on it. But all his free time was spent either doing work or visiting Varian.

 

Varian sighed to himself before he slowly looked up and sat back, glancing over to Nathan. Nathan wasn’t sure if he’d disturbed him−−well obviously he disturbed him, he just wasn’t sure how good of an idea his disturbance was.

 

“That might make things a little difficult.” Nathan added, still speaking quietly.

 

“Have you thought of job shadowing?” Varian asked after a moment. Nathan was glad to get an actual response, even if it did seem a little forced.

 

Glancing over again, Nathan shook his head a little. “No, I haven’t. Would probably make things easier.”