Quarantine Hits Different // NICK X TONY

Chapter 9: The Throwback Chapter

Chase relays the events of last summer to Tony who recaps to make sure he's taken it all in.

"So you were in love with Noen Eubanks all summer and Thomas found out and forced you to fake a relationship with Charli."

"Mhm."

"Then, Charli fell for you and you didn't have the heart to break up with her yourself so you had to force her to break up with you."

"Regrettably so, but yes."

"And no one else in the house but me, Nick, Ondreaz, and fucking Thomas even knows you're gay?"

"Nope."

"Tony, I already told Nick everything. If you tell him that Thomas forced you into the same kind of arrangement maybe he'll forgive you."

"No, he won't. All I've done since we started this was prioritize my feelings over his and now I've lied to him on top of it. I think him leaving is a pretty big sign that he's given up on me."

"That's not true, Tony. Sure, it's healthy for you to have some space from each other right now but that doesn't mean you should give up."

"You don't get it. There's no coming back from this. I just have to face the fact that it's over."

***NEARLY A MONTH LATER

In San Diego, Nick gets a calendar notification on his phone: One Month Anniversary in 2 Days. He's been staying in an Airbnb for a month, wishing he was with his boyfriend the entire time. He had turned his Snapchat location off so that no one would come after him, but he turns it back on in the hopes that Tony will surprise him for their anniversary.

Tony wakes up to the same notification back at the hype house. Feeling sentimental, he looks through his camera roll at all the memories he and Nick made in their short time together. Seeing them fills Tony with regret at not going after Nick sooner and he decides to give it one last try.
He sees from Nick's location that his boyfriend is still in his hometown. He quickly packs, says goodbye to his encouraging friends, and hops in his Tesla Northbound. While on the car ride, Tony remembers some of the hilarious highlights from early on in their relationship...

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Their First Kiss (Early March)

As the start date for the official California lockdown approaches, the hype house decides to throw one last epic party before they have to begin social distancing. There are so many people in attendance it seems like all of Los Angeles has been invited and everyone is dancing, drinking, and having fun.

Tony and Nick have had a few drinks themselves and decide to go upstairs. They head Tony's room to get away from the chaos for a bit. The two sit down on his bed together, sharing AirPods and listening to Frank Ocean. The feelings they've been holding back for months begin to come to the surface and the mixture of music and alcohol makes them almost philosophical.

"Tony, do you think it's possible that a person can make you realize something about yourself that, maybe was there all along, but you aren't sure until you meet them?" A very drunk Nick asks.

Catching his meaning, Tony adds, "And once you've realized that thing, you start wanting to do things that you never wanted to do before?"

"Yeah," Nick responds, looking into Tony's eyes now.