*(Is this all we see?)*

~*Chapter 45*~

Midnight opened the car door and slid in, shutting it as he straightened himself on the seat. Nick continued to drive down the still snow covered road. "So why did you come to get me?"

"Because we need to talk."

"Someone has regained their intelligence." Midnight rested his head against the chilled window. "I'm still mad at you." He could hear Nick take a heavy breath. A 'I know I fucked up.' Breath. He kept his eyes pasted on the road ahead, turning across a snowy corner. This wasn't the way to his house. In fact, this was the opposite way. "Jesus Nick where are we going?"

Nick almost held back talking. 'He knows I am about to pester him. Why doesn't he answer?'

"Midnight look. I want to talk to you. I know you have issues with your step-mom." He breathed again. His nervousness was eating him. Midnight almost felt bad. "So. We're going to my house."

"No, we are not." Midnight snapped.

"Yes, we are." Nick argued back, continuing to drive down another road. The road to his house. He recognized it from the time he went there after the party. After Kurt last hurt him. It felt the same. Last time he saw Kurt and this time he did as well. 'Is someone telling me I'm not supposed to see him?'

Then he saw it. The big house that he had seen a while ago. It was still light inside, and moving trucks were parked in the garage. "You guys are still moving stuff?" Midnight broke the silence with his question. He still had attitude in his tone, which he didn't mean to have; but he was still angry at Nick. From the corner of his eye, he saw Nick nod. "Yeah. One of the reasons I was at my old apartment. I grabbed a few old things." Nicks reply was quiet and a bit somber. He sounded sad. 'Did something happen?' His car pulled in behind the truck, pulling out the car keys when the car shut off. Nick immediately looked at Midnight. "I will tell you more when we go inside."

"Why?" Midnight confusingly asked.

"Because," Nick opened the door to his car, stretching his legs and slipping out. He closed his door and drifted to Midnighs door. He leaned over to it, pulling the door open and looking at him. He leaned into the car, only halfway so he wasn't too close. Yet he was still close. "I want to go inside. Can we talk inside?"

"Fine. Yes we can."

~~~~

Midnight followed Nick inside. He stomped on the rug at the doorways edge to remove snow, stepping off to the wooden floor. Midnight followed, clearing the snow from his sneakers, taking off his jacket and also his damp hat and mittens. His black hair sprung out from his hat, curling out to his eyes. Nick, after stepping into the living room, looked back behind. His teeth slightly pulled at his bottom lip. "You coming?" He looked away, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck. His fingers pinched at the baby hairs on the back of his head. Midnight put his gear on the heater, then nodded. "Yeah. Just had to leave my stuff to dry." He followed up to be next to Nick. "Ready to talk?"

"Yeah. Yeah." Nick pointed to the stairs. "Upstairs."

Nick walked ahead after he nodded, he walked from the living room to the stairs, first thing Midnight saw was his mother at the couch folding laundry. She looked up as they walked past. "Nick so glad you're back." She said sweetly. "Did you grab everything from the apartment I told you to grab?" She folded a shirt and put it on the pile to the side. Nick cleared his throat, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Yeah I did. Can we--can we talk about it later?"

"Of course." Her concern was something even Midnight could notice. Was what he had to get a bad thing? He wanted to ask. He wanted to know. But he stayed quiet, chewing on the side of his cheek. "Is it in the car?"

"Yeah. It's in the trunk."

"Okay." She suddenly glanced at Midnight. "Midnight. It's good to see you." She grinned at him. "Are you staying over again?"

"Um.." Midnight didn't know what to say. But he didn't get a chance when Nick hit his arm and replied before him. "Yeah. It's a little late and he was walking home when I picked him up. He'll text his parents." Nick pushed Midnight towards the stairs, following behind him steadily. "I'm staying over?!" Midnight shout whispered.

"Yes!" Nick hissed. "we need to talk. Lets talk."

He kept behind Midnight as they walked down the hall to Nicks room. When they walked in it looked the same as it did those weeks ago. except the cigarette smoke was gone and the ash tray was too. His blankets were made and it looked neat, neater than last time.

Nick walked in, laying his jacket off the side of the bed. He sat, petting a spot next to him. "Sit."

Midnight leaned off of the doorways edge. "Why?"

"I said we need to talk."

Midnight rolled his eyes. "Fine." He detached from the edge and slumped next to Nick. Though he was sat, it was quiet, neither spoke. Or at least Nick didn't. And he was the one who was suposed to 'talk' to him. Midnight sighed. "So, what do you need to taln to me about?"

"The situation." Nick replied shortly. His shuffling made Midnight think he was nervous. Was he? Did he, Nicolas, actually care about a situation like this? "The situation with Levi." He soon corrected.

"Yeah. It's only been a few hours and you already want to talk about it?"

"Yes." Nick replied. "I do. I really do."

"What do you have to say?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I hit you with that.." He turned to make eye contact with Midnight. He looked stressed. Maybe even tired with all of his thoughts. "I just really want Levi to leave you alone. And after our fight I think he still believes we're not friends." He took a deep inhale. "and I know it sounds absolutly crazy or impossible. But if we keep this a secret maybe--maybe it will work."

"How will this work Nick?" Midnight argued. "How will secretly being friends work? Won't he just go after me more. If he knew we were friends he wouldn't mess with me. He wouldn't touch me."

"He would. He would more than you think. If he knew, he would want to kill you for it."

"Why?"

"Because he's fucked up. Levi is fucked up. Kevin and Zane are all fucked up. I don't know why, but they are. I want you to be safe from them. If I keep them busy. If I keep them away from you, they won't mess with you. I promise."

MIdnight looked away. His cheeks felt like they were burning away. His stomach felt a sharp flutter. He pulled at his curls. "How will this work? This plan is just--it just sounds ridiculous. Nick we can hardly stay away from each other." Midnight chuckled in an attempt to break the awkward shield. It didn't work as Nick shook his head. "It will. I know what I am doing."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"Always?"

Nick nodded, patting his back. "Always Shy Kid."

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