Relax - Niff
“Nick, are you kidding me?” Jeff said. He grabbed Nick’s arm and tugged him towards the front door of his house. “You’ve literally been to my house hundreds of times. Why are you being so weird about coming inside now?”
“Because! This is the first time I’ve been here since, you know, you and I became an official couple,” Nick said. He tried his best to dig his heels into the ground, but Jeff was able to keep dragging him anyway.
“So? It’s not like we haven’t made out in my room before,” Jeff said.
“Yeah, but now your family knows,” Nick said.
Realization dawned on Jeff and he dropped his boyfriend’s arm.
“Oh, I get it,” Jeff said. He sat down on the front step in front of the door and patted the spot next to him. Nick walked over slowly and sat down next to the blonde. “Nicky, you know my family loves you. It doesn’t matter if you’re my best friend or boyfriend, or both, which you are. They’ve loved you since they met you and they still love you.”
“I know,” Nick said quietly but Jeff wasn’t convinced.
“What do you think my dad is going to do? Take you into his office and have a stern talk to you about dating his son while he cleans his guns?” Jeff asked with a smile.
“Oh my God, I forgot about his gun collection,” Nick said, his eyes wide with fear.
Jeff laughed and shook his head before kissing Nick’s cheek.
“Will you relax? I’m only kidding. The worst thing that’s going to happen is my parents will sit us down for a super awkward sex talk,” Jeff said. “And that’s nothing we haven’t listened to Mr. Webber go on and on about in health class.”
Nick dug the palms of his hands into his eyes and Jeff rested his chin on Nick’s shoulder.
“I know you’re right, Jeff. I don’t know why I’m being so weird,” Nick said.
“You’re always weird,” Jeff said, wrinkling up his nose cutely as Nick looked at him.
“Look who’s talking,” Nick replied with a smirk.
Jeff smiled and pecked Nick on the lips.
The front door opened behind them and Nick almost fell off the porch step while trying to lean away from Jeff. Jeff’s mother, Angelina, smiled down at the two of them.
“I thought I heard you two out here. Come inside, it’s chilly out here,” she said.
“Hi, Mom,” Jeff said. He stood up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi, sweetie,” Angelina said. “Hi, Nick! It’s so nice to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you too, Mrs. Sterling,” Nick said. He smiled at Jeff’s mom and gave her a hug.
“Come in, come in,” Angelina said as she ushered the boys inside and closed the door behind them. “Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes. How’s school, boys?”
“It’s good,” Jeff said as he sat down on the couch in the living room.
Angelina rolled her eyes at him.
“Sixteen years old and I still get the same answer that he gave me in kindergarten,” she said. “Can I count on you to tell me how school really is, Nick?”
“Well, it is good,” Nick said with a chuckle and Angelina playfully smacked him on the arm.
“Oh, you boys. Well, not just you. Anna gives me the same answer, too,” Angelina said.
“Where is the monster?” Jeff asked, looking around.
“Your sister is up in her room,” Angelina said. “Your dad is in his office. Cleaning his guns, I think. Let me go get him.”
Angelina walked out of the living room and Nick gave Jeff another fear filled look.
“Oh, relax,” Jeff said with a laugh. “Come here.”
Nick walked over and sat down next to Jeff, making sure not to sit too close.
“There they are! My boys,” Jeff’s dad said as he walked into the room.
“Hey, Dad!” Jeff said as he rose to his feet and gave his dad a hug.
“Hi, Mr. Sterling,” Nick said as he stood as well.
“Aw, Nick. Come on, call me Jack,” he said. Jack smiled at Nick and pulled him in for a hug as well.
Nick hugged back, hoping that it was only awkward for him.
“How are the guns, dad?” Jeff asked as he sat back down on the couch; Nick slowly sitting back down next to him, even farther away this time.
“Great. A clean gun is a happy gun,” Jack said. “So how’s school, guys?”
“I tried that. No real response,” Angelina said with a smile.
“Oh, look who it is!” Anna called as she walked down the stairs. She smiled at the two Warblers on the couch, her bright blonde curls bouncing as she took each step down the staircase. “It’s my brother and his boyfriend. How cute!”
Nick felt his face turn bright red and he could’ve sworn someone turned the thermostat up thirty degrees.
“Oh, how I missed you,” Jeff said sarcastically, but giving his sister a smile nonetheless.
Anna walked over and splayed herself over both Nick and Jeff’s laps.
“Hello, boys. How’s Dalton? Can I go there yet?” Anna asked.
“Nope, still an all boy school I’m afraid,” Nick said and poked Anna’s stomach. Anna giggled and crossed her arms over her stomach.
“How’s Sebastian?” Anna asked, a bright smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.
“Still gay,” Jeff said.
Anna pouted. “Damn it!”
“Language,” Angelina said, giving her daughter a pointed look.
“I don’t think you should bring Sebastian over to play video games anymore,” Jack said with a laugh.
“I don’t think he’d want to. I bring him over once and Anna won’t leave him alone,” Jeff said.
“Well, look at him!” Anna said. “Can you blame me?”
The oven timer rang out and Angelina went into the kitchen to get the food prepared.
“Dinner’s ready!” she called a few minutes later.
The five of them gathered around the dinner table, bowed their heads as Jack said grace, then began to eat the meatloaf that Angelina had made.
“So, how are the Warblers looking this year?” Jack asked.
“So good!” Jeff said with a grin.
“Any set list ideas for sectionals yet?” Angelina asked.
“Not yet,” Jeff said as he shook his head.
“Nick, you’re being quiet today,” Angelina said.
“Hmm?” Nick looked up from his plate. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Are you feeling okay?” Angelina asked.
“Yes, ma’am, I’m fine,” Nick said and cleared his throat.
“Does your throat hurt? Did Jeff give you mono?” Anna asked.
“Anna!” Angelina said.
“Hey!” Jack said.
Nick turned beet red.
“Sorry, Nicky,” Anna said with a shrug.
“How do you even know what mono is?” Jeff asked.
“I’m fourteen, not four,” Anna said with a roll of her eyes.
Jeff looked at Nick and sighed.
“Nicky?” Jeff asked.
“Mmm?” Nick replied, looking over to him.
“You okay?” Jeff asked.
“I’m fine,” Nick said with a nod.
Jeff rolled his eyes and looked back to his parents.
“He thinks things are going to be different around here now that he and I are dating.”
“Jeff!” Nick said.
“It’s the only way I’m going to get you to relax around here!” Jeff said.
“Oh, Nicky,” Angelina said. She reached across the table and took Nick’s hand in her own. “Nothing is going to change. Well, maybe for sleepovers you two have the door open, but that’s it. We still love you just as much, Nicky. We know you won’t hurt Jeffy.”
Jeff cringed at the nickname that came from his mother. Only Nick could call him that without him wincing.
“Nick, we’ve considered you a part of this family for years now. If anything, you’re more family now,” Jack said.
“Really?” Nick asked, looking at the two of Jeff’s parents.
“Really,” they both said at the same time.
Nick took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay, good,” he said.
“But don’t go making out in front of me,” Anna said as she covered her eyes for emphasis.
Nick took advantage of her eyes being covered, balling up his napkin and throwing it at her. It hit her right on the top of the head and the rest of the family laughed while she pouted.
“There’s the Nick we love,” Angelina said.
“Very much,” Jeff said, smiling at Nick and taking his hand under the table.
Nick smiled back at his boyfriend and squeezed his hand gently.