![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
gregisamazing.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
nickngregTitle: One Year, Two Mismatched Men and Three Million Dollars
Chapter: 5/? (Previous chapters are found here)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Alcohol is known to do some pretty dangerous things to men, but when Research Scientist, Greg Sanders and Professional Trainer, Nick Stokes meet one drunken night- neither of them knew that it’d change their lives forever. In this instalment we find out the real reason Nick is doing this and Greg comes clean to Archie… But it doesn’t quite go to plan.
A/N: Sorry about the issue with the tags!
A/N2: I’m off on vacation for three weeks, so I’m unable to update for that time. However- when I get back there should be many a chapter ready for you guys to read.
Greg stood back and surveyed his work. Nick’s spare room was no longer looking personality-less and was beginning to look homely; specifically like his home. There were still a few boxes scattered about the room, most of them holding books, but he had to admit it wasn’t that bad here. At least he was going to spend a year in a comfortable, rent-free room and just continue his life normally.
Well, as normal as he could.
He couldn’t help but question why exactly he was doing this, why Nick was doing it either. Sure, there was money- but money wasn’t the be all and end all of the world. There had to be other reasons, and he wasn’t quite sure what Nick’s were… Heck, he wasn’t even sure what his were.
Nick hadn’t really spoken to him since Mandy left, he’d said the odd word, but had then excused himself to his room and just stayed there- even though it was only six. Greg couldn’t really blame him; his pride was probably a little battered from the encounter… But Greg was about to go through the same thing and they were in a ‘relationship’ the least they could do was interact with one another.
Greg flopped down onto the bed, sighing dejectedly. He wasn’t quite sure why Nick blanking him had annoyed him so much, it didn’t make any sense in his head. He shouldn’t have been rattled by Nick not saying much to him, he should be happy, it’d make the year go quicker if he didn’t form a bond with his partner… He kept telling himself that, but it wasn’t working.
-----------
Nick had to admit he hadn’t expected Mandy to smack him, he’d expected some reaction but not one that violent. He could understand that she felt violated, confused and had a lot of animosity that she had to aim at someone… Nick had expected some shouting, maybe an object or two to go flying towards him; he hadn’t expected her hand to make contact with his face.
He could still hear the sound in his ears, the stinging sensation on his cheek and the feeling that he’d done a bad thing. He’d never intended to have someone hurt in the process, he was hoping that he could avoid the scenario with Mandy- she’d just stumbled in and he had to try and explain it in the easiest way possible. In twelve months time he could come clean, tell Mandy the truth and maybe they could salvage a relationship… Until then he’d have to survive with his guilty conscience telling him that he’d done something terrible, unforgivable.
He buried his head further in the pillow, screwing his eyes tight, hoping that he could block out the memories of the day. Perhaps he could pretend this never happened and tomorrow morning when he woke up it’d all been some horrible dream, or maybe it’d be like that film… Groundhog Day, where he’d wake up and Greg would be next to him and he could sort it all out, this time getting an annulment and walking away.
Rationally he was questioning why he’d chosen to do it; was it the money? To keep his reputation when the truth came out, that’s what it was. But the real reason had to be that this was something weird, different and something that would brighten up his mundane life… He’d lived life by rules, being normal and socially acceptable… And this was something that had thrown him right outside his comfort zone and for once he was going to roll with it, some higher power obviously wanted him to do it.
------------
The sun peeked through the blinds and cast deep shadows over his new room and his new life. He hadn’t been able to sleep, every time he began to drift off he’s see Archie’s disappointed face or he’d hear the thick Texas drawl of Nick shouting accusatory words at him. Every time one of those found its way into his dream he’d jerk himself awake to stop the horrible feelings haunting him.
The room was unfamiliar in a way, they were his possessions but they were out of place, in an alien environment; just like he was. It hadn’t bothered him before, nothing had, but a night of fitful rest had made him question what he was doing, question why he was about to break it off with Archie, question whether this was about Archie or himself.
He had the bad feeling he was doing it for himself.
Greg stretched out on the bed; noticing how big it was without another person lying next to him. He wasn’t used to it, not having someone there to hold, not having some warmth beside him and he missed it already… And he hadn’t even broken it off yet.
He clambered from the warmth of the sheets, the cool air of the apartment making his skin prickle. He was nervous, he couldn’t deny that fact nor could he deny how guilty he was already feeling; he supposed it was his conscience telling him exactly what was going on and exactly what he was proposing to do.
It made his stomach turn.
Greg tried to pretend that he was just being a roommate to someone, that he was married, he wasn’t cheating on Archie. That was a lie though, he was married, he was technically cheating on Archie and Nick at the same time… He wasn’t like that.
He padded to the bathroom, peering at himself in the mirror, blanching at the sight. That wasn’t the normal Greg looking back at him, there wasn’t the normal grin on his face, there wasn’t the sparkle in his eyes, there wasn’t youth there… He was different, all because of guilt.
-----------
Greg gulped as he walked along the cobbled walkway towards the Asian man sat on the bench, staring out over the park. He looked back over his shoulder towards the gates, where Nick was perched waiting for him, just in case this got messy (not that Greg expected it to, but Nick had insisted). He hadn’t really been himself the whole morning, he’d sort of been there but not been there at the same time. It was as if he was watching a movie, completely detached from his body, with no control; in other words it didn’t feel real.
He wasn’t ready to do this; he wasn’t sure what to say or what to do… He wasn’t sure how to handle the situation… He wasn’t ready for it.
“Hey,” The familiar voice called out to him, Archie noticing him before he had time to back out and high-tail it right out of there.
“Hi,” Greg croaked back, his throat squeezing shut as he looked at his boyfriend. He wasn’t sure how he could explain to Archie what happened, how it’d come down to this… How could he break that news to him?
Archie didn’t leave the bench, but moved up to give Greg some room. He smiled at the gesture and sat down next to him, staring blankly ahead across the lush green grass that seemed so abnormal surrounded by the dusty reds and browns. He didn’t want to look at Archie and be reminded exactly why he’d fallen for him in the first place, he didn’t want to fall all over again to just try and ignore the feelings.
“Greg, are you okay?” Archie asked tentatively, putting his hand on his leg. “You know you can talk to me, right?”
He nodded mutely, trying to escape the touch. Greg had always been comfortable around Archie; they’d always had fun together… And he’d thought he’d found his soul mate… That was until a few weeks ago, that’s when things had been shifted. They’d both become irritable around one another, there wasn’t comfort. They’d both put it down to over-familiarity, decided to cool it a bit, go back to leading their separate lives and meeting for the dates…
And things weren’t really getting better.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder and Greg really hoped it was true. The twelve months apart would make them both realise that they were really meant to be together, that’s why he was doing it.
“I know.” He squeaked, wondering whether the past day had a permanent effect on his voice. It had only been squeaking or yelling, not normal sounds. “We have to talk.”
He felt Archie jerk his hand away, the traditional ‘we have to talk’ line, never a good sign. Greg had never been one for traditional usage of words, or traditional lines in general- at one point he’s sworn he’d never use them… There went that promise along with so many.
“Oh.” Archie said simply, putting some distance between them both, trying to sound un-phased. “Sure. What is it?”
“We have to break it off.”
“Break it off?” Archie repeated, and Greg nodded. “But why?”
He knew that question was coming, but it had still caught him off guard. How could he explain it in a way that would still mean he could salvage a relationship when this was all over? Would Archie understand what he was trying to explain?
“It’s hard to explain…” He trailed off, knowing that Archie was staring at him, probably mouth slightly ajar, he couldn’t bring himself to look at him. “Really hard; as in if I explain it you, you’ll probably think I’m crazy. I’m not crazy though, it’s the truth, and it sounds really out there.”
“Okay then,” Archie said. “Just explain it to me then.”
“Well, I’m married. And before you interrupt it’s a legal marriage, and I’m not getting a divorce or an annulment either… I want to make a go of it, you know? I don’t want to give up already. It sounds really odd, I know, but I met someone… Nick… A couple of months ago now, we were friends- going out for the odd drink, hanging around, doing friend things and that’s when I realised I fell in love with him.”
Archie snorted, and Greg looked up at him- wishing that he didn’t almost instantly.
“I know, I told you it’d sound ridiculous but hear me out okay? The feeling was mutual, and I thought I should take a chance on him. So here I am, a married man.”
“What about us?” He could hear the pain in Archie’s voice, and felt the guilt twist his stomach.
“I loved you Archie, I just… I couldn’t wait around any longer. You were always there for me, we were always having fun. Just Nick, he was different… He swept me off my feet… And we were going no where…”
“We were going everywhere Greg!”
Greg flinched, he’d never heard Archie raise his voice before, and he had never seemed the type. But he supposed that this was a desperate time, so Greg could forgive him for the outburst.
“Were we? When were you going to say you loved me? When were we going to move in together? You never told me any of this… You never made it known I was important… I couldn’t wait any longer, I found someone that loves me and was willing to give it all to me without waiting around.”
Moments passed in silence, Archie still trying to understand what was going on, and Greg trying to justify what he’d just done. Greg found it ironic that this was the only time in their whole relationship that he’d said what was really bothering him; he’d never spoken out against him.
“I’m going to fight for you.”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to fight for you. I’m not going to let you go that easily, we have something special and I’m not going to let Nick ruin it.”
That was the response Greg had been hoping for; but he couldn’t let on he was that excited about it. Instead he smiled slightly, nodding at Archie.
“I know.” He said softly, looking up at him. “I know you will.”
-----------
Nick watched the scene from behind the metal railings that contained the park. He couldn’t help but feel quite envious of Greg; there he was obviously with a person of significance and with an important relationship, whereas Nick had never had something that meant that much to him. He was also quite envious that it was ending quietly, without a smack round the face or with a fight…
Greg was one lucky guy.
As the pair departed from the bench, he could see that Greg was going to need some time alone to recover from what he’d just done. He looked rather dejected, his shoulders slumped and he wasn’t looking away from the pathway; Greg obviously hadn’t planned on it being that hard.
Greg meandered towards him slowly, dragging his feet along, probably wondering what he’d done to end up in this situation. Nick couldn’t help but wonder why too, they were just two mismatched men that had ended up in a situation that was beyond bizarre.
“Why don’t you go for a walk?” Nick suggested as Greg came towards him. The younger man looked up at him, his brown-eyes wide with pain evident. He nodded slowly, and wandered back off without another word.
Nick sighed, leaning against the railings, trying to block out the world again. As if he didn’t have enough guilt to deal with, he now had to feel guilty that he’d ripped apart a perfectly functioning relationship, and for what?
“Are you Nick?”
Nick nodded, recognising the man from Greg’s photos. He was much like Greg in the way he was built, same height, same ruffled hair (although his was black to Greg’s sandy brown) and same big brown eyes. He suddenly felt very nervous around him; how could he possibly pass as Greg’s soul-mate when he was the polar opposite to the previous boyfriend?
“Greg told me all about you.” Archie said, but there were no bitter undertones he sounded perfectly friendly. “I didn’t quite now what to expect… You’re certainly different from what I thought.”
Nick wondered what Archie had imagined. Probably someone scrawny, slender with that air of intellect to them… He had to stop himself laughing out loud. Yeah, he was nothing like that.
“He spoke about you too.” Nick said quietly, hoping that Archie didn’t want to know exactly what he’d been saying. It was the odd mention of breaking it off and guilt from it; beyond those two facts Nick had no idea about Archie.
“Of all the ways I expected it to end; I had never thought about this one.” Archie laughed slightly, “I always thought it’d never actually end, childish huh?”
“Uhhh…” Nick wasn’t sure how to respond to that, it wasn’t really childish. It probably wouldn’t have ended for a long time if it weren’t for him.
“I guess I shouldn’t have thought it’d always be that way. I should have grabbed on with when I had the chance. But you do know I’m going to fight you all the way for him. You’re not going to walk away with him that easily.”
To Nick that sounded slightly unnerving; as if there was something dark about Archie but he wasn’t going to dwell on that thought. After all, this was a temporary thing, and in twelve months time Greg could easily walk out of the relationship and straight back to Archie.
He just hoped Archie wasn’t going to cause too much trouble between then and now… Something told him keeping Archie away was going to be easier said than done.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
>8)
Date: 2007-07-12 06:18 pm (UTC)Poor Archie though... I love Archie.
It seems like It's all coming together in this chapter. Can't wait for more!
Re: >8)
Date: 2007-07-12 06:59 pm (UTC)Thanks for the review!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 01:28 am (UTC)Archie: Make ready my (battle) ship!
Nick: *examines nails* What'eva.
Wonderful, wonderful job. Poor Greggo, being forced to push Archie aside. But it'll get better....I hope. *insert heart and large watery eyes here*
um
Date: 2007-07-13 02:07 am (UTC)I do think, in this story, Nick really doesn't give a shit about Greg, except about the money!
But wait-and-see what will happen once Nick really fall hard for Greg and he will never let Greg go!
Great Job!!!
ayu1126
Re: um
Date: 2007-07-13 03:27 am (UTC)Re: um
Date: 2007-08-04 01:48 pm (UTC)There's motives in there, it's got a little message in amongst the slashy goodness. It's trying to show how people ignore others for greed- and what happens when it's not all about the money? I think I made Nick seem too money focused, my bad.
Glad you are enjoying and reading...! Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 09:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-14 08:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-04 01:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-04 01:50 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading and reviewing!
no subject
Date: 2007-08-05 10:37 am (UTC)