I have to apologize for the long wait. This chapter was a beast to write. Aren't endings always hard? Just nod so I don't feel like I'm talking to myself here, kay? Now, this is the part where I thank you all for joining me on this journey and staying with me in good and bad times - More like bad times, because last I checked there wasn't as much as a "good" moment in this story. -, and I really hope you all liked this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

(Yes, expect people to enjoy this when all you've made them do is cry, keep on dreaming. I need to stop talking to myself...)

So without further nonsense, I present you the last chapter of Six Degrees of Separation. Enjoy.

And sixth, is when you admit that you may have fucked up a little.

It happens three months after the Summer Showcase when Jeff settles in his warm and cozy bed for the night with a good old marathon of Game of Thrones. He's got a large bowl of popcorn in his lap and a large travelling cup of diet coke – He's got to think about his health, sort of -, he lost the remote somewhere under his sheets and isn't bothered to go and search for it. All the lights in his room are turned off and apart the television flashing angrily in Jeff's tired eyes, the only light in the room comes from a streetlight just below Jeff's window. It's a good evening. Jeff is sad that summer is almost over and gets even sadder when he thinks about leaving his dance class.

Jeff had offered to help the local dance studio around the corner. The Beginners' teacher broke his leg two weeks into summer and Jeff figured he might as well do something useful instead of spending three to nine hours a day sitting on his laptop and only moving his ass if he needed a refill. It turned out to be one of the best decisions Jeff ever made. He adored the kids and they seemed to never want to let Jeff go again. But with classes, Jeff has no time to take up the dance class. Also, their original teacher must want his job back too. Jeff has been holding it out for too long, anyways.

The boy contently chews on a mouthful of popcorn, muttering something along the lines of "Bloody Lanisters." to the television. His mind actually focused on the TV-show, something that was rare these days.

It took him a while, but Jeff realized he has this personality trait; whenever something bad happens, Jeff's mind lingers on that accident for weeks and weeks after it happened. With this new knowledge Jeff can finally blame the entire Nick-"situation" on that one personality trait. It's not his fault that it took his brain a month to actually process the whole ordeal, and another to get over it. It took the third month for Jeff to actually understand that he was just an idiot and needed to get over himself. That was the month he's in right now. Still, slowly, processing that he needed to get over Nick and move on.

The truth was; Jeff refused to. He refused to let Nick go, only thinking about that thought made Jeff completely miserable. There was a tiny spark of hope tucked away deep in mind that Jeff trusted on. The idea of Nick coming back to him in the end.

His phone rang.

Jeff leaned over to his bedside table to grab his phone and picked up with his eyes focused on the large bowl that slid down his lap, onto the laminated floor. "Oh, crap!" With his phone still against his ear and one hand holding it there, Jeff climbed out of his bed. He was out of the blanket mess with his right foot, but the left one was stuck in a cuff made of blankets. Add popcorn on the ground, Jeff only having one free hand and nowhere to hold onto to stabilize his balance. "Holy shit. AH!" That's how he ends up face first on the ground with one foot still stuck in the blankets that dangled over the side of his bed.

"Evening to you too, Jeff. Do I need ask what you are doing?" Jeff sighed and rolled his eyes, shifting his weight so he lay more comfortable but not without breaking lots of innocent popcorn pieces. "I'm lying in a sea of popcorn. How about you, Wes?"

Jeff could hear his friend choke down the hysterical laughter behind a cough, obviously failing, and allowed himself a laugh too. The constant rising and lowering of his chest crushing more and more popcorn pieces.

"Sometimes I ask myself how you can be such a badass dancer when you're the clumsiest person I have ever met, Jeffrey."

"Whatever."

There was another round of laughter before Wes spoke again. "I was going to ask you if you've got a minute to spare tomorrow so we could meet up for coffee?"

Jeff smiled. He loved meeting up with Wes, and since the boy never had a moment of freedom a chance like this rarely occurred. "Actually, I'm free tomorrow. How about I'll meet you at one?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll see you tomorrow."

The line closed down but instead of getting up like every other normal person would've done, Jeff just stayed where he was, on the ground in a sea of popcorn. He turned his body, crushing the popcorn again, positioning himself so he could comfortably watch TV and picked up the nearest pieces of popcorn to eat them.

Jeff wound his way through the mass amount of people. It was a hot day and getting stuck in a crowd when he could be sitting in a nice smelling coffee shop with air-conditioning didn't exactly appeal to Jeff. So he made haste, occasionally bumping into people and excusing himself, and reached his destination right on time.

Jeff entered the coffee shop with a relieved sigh, leaning his back against the cool door for a moment before he took in his surroundings and searched for Wes.

The older boy waved him over to a table in the far back, and Jeff followed his motions until he reached the table where he realized that Wes wasn't alone.

"Nick?" Jeff wasn't sure who was more shocked, but he knew that both of their faces looked pretty similar at the moment. Simultaneously, both boys turned their head to watch Wes with a pointed look.

"Jeff, sit down please." Jeff obeyed but with his gaze fixed on Wes, who seemed to ignore both Jeff and Nick as he ordered ice coffee for all three of them before he finally started explaining. It

appeared Wes, and several other ex-Warblers including Sebastian, Hunter, Trent and David, had joined forces to plot a meeting for Jeff and Nick. Mostly out of selfishness because all of the boys were getting sick of their childless behavior. It hadn't only ruined the boys' relationship, but also their long cherished friendship. It was a proven fact that these boys were miserable without each other near.

"So what?" Nick chipped in, rudely. "You expect us to just sit here and chat away with each other?"

Jeff lowered his head, playing with the straw in his cup. He wasn't against a good conversation with Nick. There were quite a lot of issues that needed to be discussed. Wes, instead, turned in his chair, completely facing Nick and the latter found himself backing away – Old reflex from the times when Wes was still in charge of The Warblers with that awful gavel of his.

"I'm not expecting anything from you. I'm demanding you to sit here and talk like adults, because that appears to be very hard." And that's when he stood up. He took his cup and went over to the barista to pay for all three of them before he left, leaving Jeff stuck with Nick, or Nick stuck with Jeff.

The awkward silence was least to say awkward and very long. Jeff was still playing with his straw of his untouched drink. He felt Nick's eyes burning through his head but he refused to look up, afraid of what he would do.

Eventually Nick spoke up. "This is ridiculous."

This made Jeff look up, his eyes narrowed. "Well, in case you haven't noticed yet, Wes is gone." He motioned to their surroundings. "If this is so ridiculous why are you still here?" Jeff raised an eyebrow and sat back in his chair, taking a sip of the coffee, his eyes never leaving Nick's face. He carefully observed the rush of emotions passing Nick's face. Eventually he settled with confusion and Jeff had to keep himself from showing a smile of victory.

"I-This is… I've never asked you for an opinion." Nick stuttered.

Jeff rolled his eyes. Suddenly he understood the term 'childish behavior'. As he placed his cup back on the table between them he let out a low sigh. Both kept quiet. The silence wasn't as long as the first one but it was just as tense, and this time Jeff cut it. His gaze diverted from Nick's face.

"How are you?"

He wasn't looking at Nick, but he didn't need that to realize that his question caught Nick off guard. The other boy stumbled over his words and eventually soundly closed his mouth. Some ruffling sounded and then a glass slammed down on the wooden table. Jeff looked up and saw Nick staring at him. They stared at each other like they hadn't in years. That kind of stare where the whole outer world just disappears and it's only the two of them and time slows down.

It felt like eternity.

"I'm fine."

But eventually Nick ended the staring contest and downed half of his coffee at once – Ignoring the sudden brain freeze. – And then it was quiet again. This went on for an hour and a half. One would speak, both would stare, one would answer and then they were quiet. Over and over, and over again.

It wasn't until Jeff grew frustrated with the situation and violently threw his phone on the table. "Look, Nicholas," He noticed Nick visibly cringing at the use of his full name but ignored it. "this is not going to work." Jeff sighed and pocketed his phone.

"We might as well stop pretending." And that's all Jeff said before he turned around, ready to leave Nick and head for the door. But Nick stopped him.

"Sit down, Jeffrey." Jeff sat down as quickly as he stood up before. There was an undertone in Nick's voice that Jeff remembered all too well. He also never used Jeff's full name, not unless it was important.

He unlinked his sunglasses from his necklace and placed them on the table before he crossed his arms over each other and stared right into Nick's eyes, waiting for it – whatever it may be – to come. But silence interrupted them again.

The silence gave Jeff time to think. He couldn't make out his feelings at the moment and it made him frustrated. All he wanted to do was punch Nick so hard he'd blackout, but he also wanted to kiss Nick like there was no tomorrow, and then he wanted Nick to leave and never show up again, but he didn't wanted Nick to leave. Jeff just wasn't sure what he wanted. He felt the tears rolling down his cheeks. He wasn't quick enough to grab his sunglasses from the table because Nick's hand already hovered over them. His eyes showing concern, genuine concern and it only made the tears in Jeff's eyes flow faster.

"Jeff?"

Nick was whispering, as if they were the only two in the coffees shop.

"Jeffy?"

Jeff ignored the calling of his name. He tried very hard not to leap into Nick's arms like he'd wanted to do so badly. The sudden change of behavior was unexpected. He didn't expect Nick to actually care. It would've been so much easier for Jeff if he could've just left and get home without any complications. It would've been like closure. Meaning Nick wouldn't want anything to do with him anymore, but then he had to care and fuck up the situation even more. Just great.

"Jesus Christ! Are you going to tell me what's wrong or not?"

"Just leave me alone Nick." Jeff turned his head and glared at his ex-boyfriend before he started shouting.

"Why can't you just leave me alone? Why do you have to make this so much more difficult than it already is?!"

Ok, so maybe the shouting wasn't the best idea since they were still surrounded by people who were now staring at them, but Jeff couldn't help himself. "Why did you have to break up with me?"

That question surprised both Nick and Jeff. After two years, Jeff still didn't know the exact reason for the break-up. Not that he wanted to know, if he were honest with himself.

"Jeff."

"No, leave it." Jeff continued, this time in a lower voice. The boy climbed out of his seat, but his chance to bolt was taken away. Suddenly Nick's hand was on his arm, keeping him still and locked into place. All Jeff could do was stare at Nick, in shock. None of the boys was sure what the next step was. Do they kiss now? Does Jeff pull his arm away or demand Nick to let him go. Did Nick need to let go? The last time they touched Jeff blamed on his lack of self-control and Nick's drunken behavior. None was an excuse at the moment.

Jeff felt the grip on his arm loosen and suddenly Nick stood next to him. "Sorry." Nick commented, it didn't sound like an excuse and Jeff couldn't be too bothered. Nick led the way, leaving the coffee shop. Jeff grabbed his sunglasses and followed.

Outside the boys fell into a strangely comfortable silence. Jeff put his sunglasses on and pushed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. From the corner of his eye he noticed Nick looking into the opposite direction. Jeff remembered the movement; He was thinking, so Jeff let him.

They weren't heading in any particular direction and so it caught Jeff's attention when Nick fell behind and eventually stopped. "You wanna know why I broke it off?"

Jeff wiped around and stared at his ex-boyfriend through his sunglasses. He didn't want to know, he really didn't but he nodded anyways. Suddenly Nick was three steps closer and Jeff could see the sincerity in Nick's eyes. He sighed and motioned Jeff to follow him to a nearby bench where they sat down.

Jeff was expecting Nick to play with his hands, avoid Jeff's gaze or his voice stumbling over the words, but none was less true. Nick sat next to him, eyes steady on Jeff. "Ok, call me stupid, but I was highly convinced it wasn't going to work, you know, long distance."

He didn't interfere and let Nick continue. "I know, like I just said, stupid. It's just, you're out here becoming this famous dancer, and I'm stuck, trying to become a writer. I just thought-" Nick sighed deeply and Jeff felt his heart ache. "I was so sure that when you finally made it you were going to leave me. I mean, not that I didn't trust you, because of course I did, with all my heart, but you would want more. You have this adventures life and I'm just there, tagging along, being a burden."

That's when Jeff interrupted Nick, frowning as he did so. "A burden? Nick are you even serious right now? You could never be a burden to me. Nick you were everything to me, everything." Jeff wasn't even finished but he saw a pained smile forming on Nick's face.

"I know. I realized that the moment I told you I couldn't do it anymore." He looked up at Jeff, and grabbed his hand, squeezing it softly. "I regret it so much, Jeff."

If Jeff didn't knew better, he would've jumped in Nick's arms right there and then but time thought Jeff that life was about making decisions. Jeff was making one right now, one he'd probably regret later on, but one that came right from his heart, the one that up until this moment was broken.

He turned to fully face Nick, hand sliding out of Nick's. "I love you Nick. Always have, even when I wanted to throw you off of a roof, back at Dalton when you asked me for a chance. Or when all I wanted to do was strangle you when you were drunk and kissed me at that Warbler party last year, and don't get me started about that asshole of a boyfriend of yours." Nick chuckled, guilt slipping in his voice.

"Ex-boyfriend, please."

Jeff smiled slightly. "I love you Nick." Nick gazed up at Jeff, there was an unreadable expression in his eyes, something that looked like confusion.

"Can you promise me something?" Jeff asked, "Promise me to never stop being my friend?"

Nick's face fell and Jeff felt himself getting slightly nervous. Yes, this was his decision but it was a decision he made for two. For him and for Nick. Crap. Jeff was so sure this was the right decision, because it was, wasn't it? He needed to get over Nick, and this was how, right? Jeff was confused and it getting worse by the second. His hands played with his necklace, nervously. He didn't want to lose Nick again.

"Nick—"

"No, Jeff. Let me first, please?" Nick pleaded. "I'll promise to never stop being your friend, only if you promise me something too."

Jeff nodded eagerly. "Anything."

"Don't say that. You have no idea what I'm about to ask from you." Nick warned. His eyes were downcast. Jeff remembered only then that he still wore his sunglasses and he could observe the other boy unnoticed. His white T-shirt clung to his chest and there was shine on his forehead from the sun. Jeff felt his eyes take in all that was Nick – Thankful for the sunglasses – but then remembered that he wasn't supposed to. Friends, just friends. He also still had to promise Nick something, something that Jeff wasn't going to be happy about if he had to trust Nick's words. He took off his sunglasses and stared at the other.

"Promise me, if the time's right, to love me again?"

Jeff frowned, visibly confused. Didn't they just state that they were friends, just friends? He slid down the bench, shaking his head in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Just promise me."

"But—" Jeff didn't get a chance to answer because Nick interrupted him.

"Jeff, just promise me. Please?" He pleaded. It scared Jeff a little. Nick wasn't one to plead. Yes, he was one hell of a stubborn guy and always wanted the last word, but he never, ever, pleaded. Jeff couldn't do anything but agree, even if he still didn't understand what he was promising.

"Thank you." And the smile on Nick's face was enough for Jeff to tell himself that whatever that promise meant was worth it. The boys fell back into an old routine, the one they had as friends. They talked about life, school and random stuff and realized how much they had missed in the last two years and promised to keep in touch when Jeff announced he had to leave.

"Remember your promise." Jeff whispered into Nick's ear, when they loosened the hug and Nick nodded, seriously. "As long as you remember yours."

And they did.

Nick called the next day to arrange another friendly date and from there on it only seemed natural that their friendship grow back, twice as strong. Jeff still had feelings for Nick, but experience told him to keep them to himself. Nick kept his side of the promise and Jeff still wasn't sure what his side of the promise meant but thus far everything went better than Jeff could've imagined and time passed.

•••

"Truth or Dare!"

"NO!" Everyone shouted and Thad stared back at his friends like a deer caught in headlights. Slowly he sank back in his seat, eyes never leaving the group of guys shooting draggers at him. The silence dragged out until Jeff coughed, catching all attention.

"Now, let's just ignore Thad's horrifying suggestion," Thad cringed and slid further down his seat, clinging his coat tighter to his chest.

"And just continue with our lives. Yes, good idea Jeff." Nick finished, rolling his eyes. He shot a smirk into Jeff's direction and earned a tough punch from the latter.

Sebastian raised his glass with a smile, winking in Jeff's direction as he spoke up. "I have something to say. First of all, why don't we all raise our glass to Mr. and Mrs. Idiot over there for turning our lives into a bloody soap series over the past two years." Both Nick and Jeff glared steadily at their friend, who casually ignored both of them. The rest of the group did raise their glasses. The air filled with fog as the group chuckled, the cold catching their warm breaths and turning them into fog.

"'Bas, continue please? My drink is freezing, in case you haven't noticed." Hunter complained, pointing at the liquor in his glass that was slowly turning into a vast substance.

"Yeah!" Wes agreed. "And this bonfire is doing nothing to keep me warm."

"Shut up, all of you!" Sebastian snapped. "OK. All I wanted to say is that I'm extremely glad you guys are friends again and don't ever attempt a relationship again, deal?"

Jeff smiled and nudged Nick in his side, without looking, before he raised his glass too. "I'll toast to that. Myself is also glad that I have my best friend back, right Nicky?"

That's when all eyes turned to Nick, who apparently seemed more interested in his drink than whatever they were discussing. With his glove-covered thumb he traced the rim of the glass.

"Nicky?"

It was quiet for a long time. All eyes intensely focused on Nick. By this time, everyone needed a refill – Including a new glass because the temperature had no mercy. –, and Jeff was getting slightly worried. "Nick?"

And then Nick spoke. "Remember your promise?" He didn't look at Jeff, or at anyone for that matter. He just kept tracing his glass with his fingers.

"What promise?" Wes questioned.

Then, suddenly, it dawned on Jeff what he had promised Nick. It felt like a kick in the balls, to say at least. He knew he should've at least asked what that promised meant before promising Nick that he would love him again… Whenever the time was right. The realization was readable on Jeff's face and the other guys had a tough time following the situation. They stared from Nick, who was still staring at his glass, to Jeff, who was staring at Nick in utter horror, back to Nick, who's posture got weaker by the minutes passing, and right back at Jeff, who had sad eyes filling with tears.

"Nick…" Jeff wasn't sure what to say. What could he say? He promised Nick. Did he want to get back together? Yes. Did he think it was worth it? No, he wasn't going to ruin their friendship like they did last time. So what could he do? Nothing?

Nick suddenly moved. He stared up a Jeff and if the first imaginary kick in the balls wasn't enough already, this time he felt his heart break all over again. "Nicky, please."

"You promised." Was all Nick said before he placed his glass on the snow-covered ground and stood up. "If you all will excuse me."

They watched Nick walk down the lane and rounding the corner in dead silence. Only when Nick was out of sight sound interrupted the awful quietness.

Jeff lost him again. Only because he couldn't keep his stupid mouth shut and had to promise Nick something he couldn't do. It made him wonder, did Nick only kept his promise to see his fulfilled in time? Was that what their new friendship was based on?

"Asshole!" Jeff yelled between sobs, startling his surroundings. "Fucking asshole!"

The boy jumped up from the ground. His tearstained vision was blocked by Hunter who held him tightly, less in a comforting way but more to stop him from doing anything stupid. Not that Jeff knew what kind of stupid things he could perform at the moment. All he felt was betrayal and anger. Betrayed by Nick, angry with himself for falling for a trick like that. "Stupid asshole!"

The string of curses filled the night air, that carried it out on the silent streets, downwards the lane and around the corner, where Nick sat against the brick wall of the empty loft. His hands clutched his chest, trying to grab onto his heart as if it would stop the feeling of it ripping apart. The sobs he let out were unheard, yet the sound of his heart being torn into shreds filled his ears.

Nick blamed himself for thinking Jeff would ever love him again, after what he'd done. He was stupid, an idiot as Sebastian had brought it. Nick was desperate for Jeff's love, and as a result managed to fuck up their friendship twice and a relationship that would've lasted a lifetime hadn't Nick broken them up. He should've kept his mouth shut that day, two years ago, when he thought he wasn't in love with Jeff anymore.

If only he hadn't fucked up the best thing he had… he wouldn't be sitting against a warehouse in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold, sobbing.

If only he didn't lose Jeff. His Jeff.