The Life Of A Franz Ferdinand Reference

13

Nick finally woke up when we reached the bottom of the mountain. It was the middle of the night, and we planned on driving through so we could get to everyone as soon as possible. I wanted to tell Nick about Alex's plot. I couldn't. He was right there.

"You're awake at a really convenient time!" Rowan laughed sarcastically.

"What time is it...?" Nick murmured softly, obviously unable to breathe properly.

"12:30."

Nick glanced over at me and smiled like the idiot puppy child he is. Oblivious to Alex's plot to kick him out of the band.

//GLASIE//: I need to talk to you.

//STRAWBS//: WE ALL THOUGHT YOU DIED!! what is it?

//GLASIE//: Alex has a plan.

//STRAWBS//: why is that so urgent??

//GLASIE//: he wants Nick to be messenger.

//STRAWBS//: whys that bad?

//GLASIE//: he wants to kick him out of the band.

//STRAWBS//: WHAT?!

//GLASIE//: tell Paul n Bob. we should do something about this.

//STRAWBS//: what if they're in on it too?!

//GLASIE//: here's my problem. if I choose Nick as co-messenger, he will be kicked out of ff. if I don't... I don't know. he's not exactly doing very well, Strawbs.

//STRAWBS//: oh. maybe we could change something. maybe we could all go together.

//GLASIE//: I have to think logically. everyone has their strengths, obviously. Alex is my wingman. you're my best friend and super smart. Nick is just... shrugs okay? not for now. Paul is absolutely hilarious, and Bob is the nicest ever. and probably ships me with someone. STRAWBS!! I NEED YOUR HELP!!

//STRAWBS//: we'll talk when you get here. I'm in a Mario kart tournament right now. keep calm. talk it out with Alex. get Nick to safety. love you see you later

//GLASIE//: lysyl

I smiled calmly after talking to Strawberry. She made sure to use our conversation ending. LYSYL. Love you see you later. Back to my awkward situation.

"Is that enough furious texting for you, Glas?" Alex smirked.

I didn't say anything. I couldn't tell him about what I texted Strawberry. It wasn't right. I felt bad for Nick. He had no clue. I should tell him.

//GLASIE//: hey I have to tell you something

//GLASIE//: please please answer this is urgent

I heard Nick's phone vibrate. He didn't even look at it. I think he was too focused on staying awake. Every shaky breath sounded absolutely painful, and I wish he was blacked out again so he couldn't feel it anymore.

//GLASIE//: are you alright?

Nick pulled his phone out of a pocket I didn't know existed.

//NICK//: dunno

//GLASIE//: I really wish I could sit next to you but sadly i can't

//NICK//: hah whatev

//GLASIE//: you don't sound okay

//NICK//: it's the sound of me being alive Glasie

//GLASIE//: do you want to go back to Arabelle's? or should you go back to the hospital near the hq?

//NICK//: idk man I wanna talk to Arabelle and Strawberry and the guys but who knows

//GLASIE//: we really need to talk one on one, bro

//NICK//: okay

//GLASIE//: so Alex has this plan
//GLASIE//: he wants you out of franz ferdinand. he said you're just backups and that you weren't supposed to be in the band anyway.

//NICK//: :(

//GLASIE//: but he only said he'd take you out if you were my co-messenger bc you couldn't devote time to the band
//GLASIE//: which I was thinking about

//NICK//: I want to be messenger... but the band...

//GLASIE//: we will find a way to make this all better, k?

//NICK//: does it include my various injuries?

//GLASIE//: maybe

I then realized I was smiling. I was smiling a lot. Too much, almost.

"I am so tired. I might just fall asleep right now." Rowan yawned.

I slid in closer to Nick. I didn't care about that random medical stuff, I placed it carefully on the ground though, just in case. I felt better just from having physical contact. I don't like being alone. I really don't. It scares me sometimes. I wish I didn't get attached so easily.

Sometimes silence is a good thing. Right now is one of the times it's not. I could tell Alex was thinking of some way to humiliate me for actually considering Nick's feelings. Rowan was probably sleeping. Nick was sitting quietly, probably about to pass out again. I really did feel bad for him. I'm currently trying not to blame myself for this entire situation. If I didn't shoot that fireball at Ryan... This wouldn't have happened. Well, I also wouldn't have met the guys. So it's okay. I'd rather be here and have Nick in a terrible condition than lonely and sad back in Baltimore. This silence went on for a few minutes before anyone said something. But before that Nick awkwardly put his arm around me. I didn't say anything. I just liked that he was moving at all.

"I ship it so hard." Rowan laughed. Apparently she wasn't sleeping.

I still didn't say anything, although I didn't exactly ship it. I'm not the type to stick with one person for a long amount of time.

"I-I think I might black out." Nick informed me for some reason.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Just incase, Glasgow."

"Well thanks. Not like I could do anything." I sighed and looked out the window at the bright, clear sky. Because of climate conservation, there was no pollution and from the window of Rowan's hybrid jeep, you could see galaxies I didn't know existed, and most likely don't exist back in my dimension.

I was so distracted by the luminescent sky that I didn't realize that Nick's grip on my shoulder had weakened quite a bit. I looked over to see that he was blacked out again. I slid in closer, so close that I could feel every single breath rattling his unconscious body. Like I said, glad he was blacked out.

"How are you two not dating?!" Alex smirked.

"Shut up. I don't get attracted, like for real, that easily."

"I thought you were a heartbreaker!"

"Well, I enjoy crushing certain people's feelings. Other times I simply love a person platonically. It's actually pretty rare that I really, truly feel romantically attracted to someone. It's only happened once, recently, or maybe twice, I don't know... I'm confusing sometimes. Just don't talk to me about this kind of stuff."

"Hmm. Sorry, I won't talk about it if you don't want to."

I'm surprised Alex was being so polite after being a jerk for the last couple days.

"We'll be back in the city by the morning." Alex changed the subject quickly.

I nodded and quietly leaned against Nick and looked out the window, feeling perfectly safe and calm for one of the first times since we arrived in Deliria. Whenever Nick's near me, I feel safe. Protected, really. Although at this point it was the opposite and I was protecting him. Not like I needed to be protected, of course. I was protecting an entire dimension from evil tyrants, also known as Ace and Ryan, two guys who should be back in Baltimore. I don't know, Nick just makes me feel better. I wish I could tell him all of this, but he's blacked out, and probably not going to wake up for at least a few hours. I'm scared that he won't be able to hang out back in the city and have to go back to the hospital... And of course make me feel even more stressed about being messenger. I really feel like I should tell him everything once he wakes up and we're away from Alex. I could tell Alex things too. Just not as many.

I fell asleep cuddled up to Nick, making sure he was still breathing.