Okay, so… I was supposed to write another chapter for Love Taps today, but I honestly could not find it within myself at all. Like… I tried. I really did. I've BEEN trying, but obviously failing. So I've decided to write this instead because it's fluffy, but in a way that I can actually handle and tie together without making my brain hurt.

I know, I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait 'til Friday for the next chapter. *Wince *

IMPORTANT: Each one of these chapters is to a lyric from the song "Thing About Us" by Steve Moakler. No promises on update speed or chapter length. I just need to write this really bad…

You don't have to say a word…

Nick's foot bounced up and down anxiously as he tried to hold a conversation with Wes. The other Warbler was full on raging about the new Dalton issued tiepins, claiming they ruined the seamless look they were all expected to maintain and that if they didn't need them before they shouldn't need them now… basically straight up nonsense. Nick clocked his words speeding at a mile per minute as he made a few halfhearted attempts to carry his side of the conversation.

Truth be told, Nick didn't care about tiepins, and quite frankly, he wasn't too interested in Wes either. Jeff Sterling was missing from class, which was naturally worrying Nick ridiculously. His eyes darted back and forth from Wes's face to the door as he awaited the appearance of his roommate. Seriously, where could he actually be? They had all the same classes, and they always made it to chemistry together seconds after the bell rang, their last class being physics and just across the hall.

Dr. Carrier bustled about in the front of the room, headed straight to his chalkboard –Dalton was old school- and erasing some equations from earlier classes, a key indicator that class was about to get started. Nick cleared his throat and realized Wes had turned around in his seat and had begun to pull out the necessary folders for the period. Crap. Where was Jeff?

Seconds later, Dr. Carrier was starting his lecture off in his traditional way -"And a hush fell over the crowd…"- with the usual reply -"Hush yo momma!" because Dalton was stressful enough as it was, and sometimes teachers had to be a little fun to help their students through, even if their ways of being fun were sort of dumb and would make the Headmaster's ears bleed.

Normally, Nick would join in with the rest of the guys, but he was a little too focused on his lack of a best friend. It's not like he could have gotten lost… Where had he gotten off to?

Dr. Carrier had managed to make his way through what seemed to be three pages of notes, Nick wouldn't know, he hadn't been taking any, when Jeff finally stepped in. His eyes immediately found Nick's, a familiar glint shining within, but Nick instantly sensed something was wrong with his roommate.

"Ah, Jeffery Sterling. How nice of you to be joining us today," Dr. Carrier droned with a playful smirk. Jeff scratched at the back of his neck sheepishly for a second before immediately composing himself, straightening up so his posture matched the rest of his peers and adjusting his blazer to be perfectly aligned.

"I am sorry for my tardiness, sir. Will you be requesting a hall pass?" he questioned, not particularly stammering over the words, but… something was off. Nick could tell. Dr. Carrier looked at the other boy closely.

"No, Mr. Sterling. We'll just forget this ever happened. Please take your seat and have someone else regale you on the fine happenings of covalent compounds that you so unfortunately missed out on." Near silent snickers echoed throughout the lab room at the man's sarcasm to his own teachings. Jeff nodded gratefully and took a seat.

Look at me, look at me! Nick begged inwardly as his best friend took his sweet time to acknowledge him, dragging out various binders and writing utensils before he finally caught his stare. Jeff regarded at him curiously, sending him a 'you're crazy' look that had Nick wanting to crawl the walls. As if he didn't know something was up…

What's wrong?

He tried to convey everything wanted to ask through his eyes, but Jeff just threw Dr. Carrier squint and followed it up with an eye roll, which Nick translated loosely as "Can you believe this guy?" Nick bit his lip, eyeing his favorite teacher skeptically before refocusing on Jeff. He couldn't possibly have had a problem with Doc C… he let them call him Doc C. So what was he trying to hide…?

That's not what I meant.

For a split second, Jeff's eyes widened, and Nick saw a lot of things that he didn't want to see inside: fear, panic, worry… Nick's stomach churned and a bad feeling washed over him. Because Nick knew things. Things that only roommates would know about each other. And not all of them were good.

Oh, gosh… are you okay? Is… is it him?

The look on Jeff's face said it all: "I swear he hates me," "I just don't know what to do anymore," "help me, I'm scared"… A whisper from behind him had Nick nearly jumping out of his skin. "It's creepy how you guys can read each other like that," Trent spoke into his hear, and his skin crawled in shock. The shorter boy ignored him, incapable of responding because this was class and too focused on Jeff to even want to say anything back.

Do you wanna talk?

Yes.

Girl's bathroom after class?

Now.

Will do.

To speak to me.

So this will be a quick little story ending in Niff. Yay!