Oh, look who decided to start another story when they clearly have other things that they have to write/do!

That's right. This bitch.

But darn my need to write anything that comes to mind! *shakes fist angrily at computer screen*

But for you dear people, that means you get another to wait for to update and since I'm pretty dependent on updating regularly, no WIP creys for you!

This is mostly based of the fact that Riker Lynch said that he and Curt could do a duet to MJ's 'The Way You Make Me Feel'. Oh, Riker. You and your unintentional way of shipping Niff is adorable.

There is no sound. Not the sound of a fan or of a leather shoe tapping against the tiled floor. Not even the measly sound of a bird chirping outside the window.

Nick stares at the glittering chandelier above him from his position on the leather coach. He gets to sing this year, for the first time since Blaine transferred to Dalton in his freshman year. It makes his insides tingle in sheer anticipation of the performance, of which they still need to figure out the blocking for. It's almost surreal, though. All the time standing behind Blaine finally paying off.

He takes in a deep breath and smoothes his hands over the curvature of his face, the slight stubble above his lip scratching his palms. He closes his eyes and goes through his inner playlist of possible songs they can do.

It doesn't take long before he hears the familiar slapping of fine leather on hardwood that reminds him that other people actually do attend Dalton Academy. Nick doesn't move, mostly because he's not sure if he can anymore. The tingle from before had now been replaced by a overcoming numbness, his limbs feeling more like they're made of jelly rather than flesh and bones.

"Hey, dude!"

He grins subconsciously. Jeff. His best friend.

Nick opens his eyes into small slits to look at the blonde who had the brightest smile plastered to his face.

"Looks like someone is a little tuckered out after hearing the news of their big solo." Jeff says in a cheery voice before moving to sit on Nick's legs. He's able to pull them out enough from the taller boy so that his legs are folded over Nick's.

He sighs. "Well, after how many auditions?"

"4, I think?"

Nick fully opens his eyes and looks at Jeff. "4, uh? Doesn't sound as well as 3."

Jeff raises a brow. "What makes you say that?"

He shrugs as well as he can while lying on his back. "I don't really know. I guess three just sounds like a better number to use. It's supposed to be a lucky number, right?"

"Not for you." Jeff says teasingly. He pats at Nick's knees before he starts to stand up, only managing to whack the brunette's shins once. He turns around and holds his hand out.

Nick only looks at it for a second before taking it without hesitation. A little spark of electricity travels through where skin touches, but Nick just brushes it off as static.

He lets go once he's up and follows Jeff out the Warblers practice room. Sun is streaming in through all the windows. Its fall but it feels more like spring. The lingering cold doesn't feel like a sign of winter coming, more like of it retreating and life is filling the world.

He smiles all the way back to his and Jeff's dorm room.

*(-)* *(-)* *(-)*

Jeff needs to stop doing this to himself. It hurts too much to watch Nick walk around with a smile on his face and know that he could never really be the reason for it. But he can't. He can't walk away from Nick. He knows he could probably get a date with one of the girls from New Directions. That Quinn girl looked nice and had a sweet smile…

He groans and slams his head into the wall. Groaning again, he pulls back and rubs his palm over his aching forehead. He's glad that there doesn't seem to be a cut but he's sure that this is going to start the beginning of a migraine.

Footsteps from above tell him that he needs to leave his little spot under the stairs. He brushes off any dust that may have gotten on his blazer before calmly walking out from below the grand staircase that lead to the second floor of the Dalton Academy main school building.

The alcove under the stairs; that's his own little spot away from the proper world of Dalton Academy where drama doesn't seem to happen to really anyone. Drama always happened to Jeff, though. He was like a flame that attracted only little moths that flittered around his head, just constant problems.

He was bisexual. He had known since he was twelve but it wasn't really a surprise. Jeff had never shied away from affection, whether it had been from male or female. But he'd never been in love, never had the feeling of his heart jumping into his throat or the light-headedness when you saw that person across the room.

That is, until he had met Nick.

He remembers the day like it had only happened minutes ago.

It had been the second day of his freshman year at Dalton. The first day was reserved specifically for orientation and learning your class schedule.

Jeff had been on his way to Chemistry when he had bumped into someone. Back then, he'd been much shorter, thin and lanky and a little awkward in his deposition. He wore black glasses that made him look twelve and the blazer they had given him had still needed to be tailored.

He couldn't fit all the books he needed into his bag so he had been forced into carrying the huge stack with him to each class. People pushed passed him, knocking elbows and stepping on leather shoes. Someone pushed a little harder than usual and the pile of books went flying towards the floor. He gave a pathetic sigh and bent down on his knees to collect the books. In a place full of so many people, so many great things, Jeff had never felt so alone.

He reached for a book when another hand beat him.

Jeff had always thought that that moment in the movies, where someone is reaching for something and another hand reaches at the same time and the person looks up to see the girl or boy of their dreams had been horribly cheesy and never happened in real life. But, as usual, he had been proven wrong.

Green eyes and slightly, messy hair met his eyes and Jeff felt a sudden rush of blood to his face. This boy was beautiful. That was the only way he could describe him.

The other boy grabbed the book with both hands and motioned to give it to Jeff. "Here. I'm a freshman, too. Though I did opt out to keep my books in my room." He laughed and then placed the book in Jeff's limp hands.

The weight in his palms seemed to bring him back to speed and he collected the rest of the books in a rush, placing the one for chemistry on the very top. He stood up, the pile of books wobbling a bit. The other boy jumped up to stop them from toppling over again and Jeff could see that he was about the same height as himself.

"Oh, hey! You have chemistry now, too?"

He cocked his head to the side to see the other boy. "Um...yeah."

"That's great." He said excitedly before he slapped his hand to his head. "Oh, crap. I don't even know your name. I'm Nick." He held his hand out before he remembered that Jeff's were full.

Jeff cleared his throat. "Jeff."

Nick smiled. Jeff's heart leaped in his chest.

"Here, I'll help you." Nick reached over to take a few of the books from the top. "We're going to the same class any way."

Once the load had been lightened, Jeff was able to push his glasses back up his nose. He brushed a piece of blonde hair out of his way and started on his way down the hall with Nick, a small grin on his face.

That had been the first day he had met Nick, the first day he had felt lightheaded, that his heart had decided to go off pace and nothing had made sense anymore.

The first day he had fell in love.

Reviews and Niff is all I ask for :)