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 Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:27 pm
No. He could not, and would not, be friends with this boy. Whatever Jaden saw in him that privileged this thing with his friendship, Nathaniel could not tell, and did not care for that matter, he didn't want any part of it. Did the other think he was so amazing simply because Jaden called him friend? Comrade in arms? Something like that? Hah! How very conceited of him. Quickly, Nathaniel realized he was being hypocritical and slightly irrational. Wasn't he just as protective of Jaden?
Frowning, he kept his position looking undeterred in any way shape or form, "I think that your concern is misplaced," and here he paused, "If you ever do anything to him, I will personally see to your punishment..." And to this he smiled, adding in his head that if this kid kicked his a** for hurting Jaden, the American would surely be more upset with Zach because Jaden was just that kind of guy. The smile became less malicious as it became knowing. Jaden was still the most important person Nathaniel had in his life, and he'd rather die a thousand deaths than let anything ever change that.
That was how this whole thing had started after all. If he hadn't been so protective of the other, and if he hadn't been so afraid to lose him, Nat would've never swallowed his pride and gone out with him in the first place.
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:32 pm
Zach stared at the other for a minute or two and then ... actually laughed, leaning back a little again. "All right. Then it's a deal," he said easily.
"If either of us hurts him, we're gonna find the other one and have a fight. Sounds good."
He smirked faintly - obviously thinking he would probably win such a fight. But, well. He honestly hoped such a thing never happened.
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:36 pm
Another strange turn of events. The other laughing and agreeing to 'fight' him should either of them hurt Jaden. What kind of manly promise was this? It was silly, almost ludicrous. Certainly not the normal thing to do, Nat was sure. But then again, what was normal really? Those eyes of his stared at the other before sitting straight again, canting his head to the side fleetingly like a bird.
"Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?" He paused, feeling like he should give some kind of assurance, or say something else, but not really sure what to say without sounding idiotic. Stumbling over nothing for a moment, he blinked, "I... um... Jaden he..." Running his hands through his hair, a new habit of his, he shook his head, "Nevermind."
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:42 pm
"Hmm?" Zach kind of hummed the question, watching the other. He could tell he'd thrown Nathaniel off-balance with his reaction, but he just couldn't help it. He could see now... a bit... how Jaden would like this one.
"Pretty much... unless you had somethin' else you wanted to say," he said then, answering the other's question.
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:50 pm
"Nothing except..." Nathaniel thought over the words he wanted to say and measured how much he really wanted to say them. They'd come out wrong, be taken strangely, but he would feel better saying them. Making it very clear that despite the little agreement that had just occurred, they were not equal on this matter. Nobody was equal to Nathaniel when it came to Jaden, that was just not how it worked. It didn't matter what path Nat was trying to walk now. All that mattered was his trust in what he believed in.
And what he trusted... was Jaden.
"Please do not take this the wrong way, but Jaden... he's my best friend and my..." Nathaniel paused, never having really said the word aloud quite yet, "My boyfriend. I will protect him, so please do not go out of your way to." Well... that was entirely unlike him, but a part of him had to say it. Had to clarify what it was. It helped to speak his mind anyway, he would have to learn it eventually.
At least he meant every word. That certainly helped. Nathaniel would take any injury for Jaden if he had to, it didn't matter what. There was nothing worth living for if something happened to Jaden. That teen was his best friend. He had given Nathaniel a light, he had given Nat hope and a reason to do things. Nat knew that Jaden was not the only thing that gave him hope, but Jade was a big part... and without him... Nat would be hard pressed to do anything anymore. That was the honest truth.
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:54 pm
Zach tilted head, eyeing the other for a minute or two. He could hear the honesty in Nathaniel's tone, and knew he meant what he said. "I don't wanna take your place," he said after a minute.
"But you can't be around all the time. So don't shove me out cause you're jealous or somethin' either. I'm not gonna like... quit talking to him or anything like that just on your say-so," he pointed out, raising brows.
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Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:02 am
The British boy bit back the urge to recoil immediately or to walk away. He had to listen to what people were actually saying. They weren't simply things that could get brushed off. Perhaps the other had a point. Was Nathaniel being completely selfish with this? He didn't want, nor did he intend, to shove Jaden's other friends away. He didn't want a monopoly on the other... simply he wanted to be with him for a majority of the time, to know that he was safe and to simply know him at all.
Silent, he thought of what the other said and shook his head, "I..." Clearly he was struggling with his words here, and so he looked away so that he didn't have to conform an emotion he didn't understand on his face. "I wouldn't do that to him..." and his voice sounded hurt by the idea, "I did not mean to come off as jealous 'or something', rather I was trying to..." What had he been trying to do? "... make things clear. I'm not pushing away his friends, but he is... everything to me and please do not think that I'll let anyone get in the way of his happiness, not even myself should it come to that." Though let it never come to that.
Well now... that hadn't been...too hard? A little... embarrassing, yes. Well, actually a lot. There was almost shame in it. But still... still... he had to do things like this. People were people. They deserved answers, clarifications, reality. He couldn't just walk away when he didn't like something. He had to confront it, else he wouldn't be doing any good and it could lead to a disaster.
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Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:09 am
Zach smiled at that, and nodded. He could see how much the other was struggling with this... could tell that Nathaniel just was not a social person.
And somehow, he was really starting to see what Jaden saw in him... he thought. Ah well. Again, not really his business.
"I didn't mean to imply that, really. Just... kinda letting you know like you were letting me know. If that makes sense," he said with a little smile. "I don't mind givin' up some time if Jaden wants t'be with you more. I won't get jealous either, so don't worry about that."
He didn't want to make an enemy here... no way. Cause Jaden probably wouldn't like that, for one.
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Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:22 am
"Mhm," the Brit replied, just to let the other know he had heard. There was nothing he could say anymore. The other had accomplished his task and purpose. He had given his little 'speech' and Nathaniel had listened and responded to the best of his ability. Looking around the mall, he paused a little, feeling the world stop. Things... would be okay. He could take this path, and he could take it confidently. Although it was strange, it wasn't all that uncomfortable.
Other people worried too. They had feelings and emotions and it was nice to finally see it. Nice to see a person and actually see ... well... a person. Instead of perhaps a doll or something to be ignored. Something that was simply in the way of everything else. Nat stood and proceeded to hold out his hand to Zach, a gesture of equality he'd picked up recently, "Good... so uh... I suppose... no." And with this he stood a bit more confidently, "I hope to see you around again, hopefully on more informal terms?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:24 am
Zach stood up too, turning the chair back around to push it up under the table. He smiled at the other, feeling like... he'd done something good for Nathaniel here too, today.
And he reached out to take the other's hand. "Yea. I hope so too... after all, anyone that Jaden likes that much can't be too terrible, right?" he teased lightly, a little glint in his eyes.
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Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:32 am
And for once... Nathaniel couldn't agree more. Strangely enough, he had been thinking the exact same thing and smiled a little. A true and genuine smile as he gripped the other's hand a bit harder before letting it go and putting both hands in his pockets after adjusting his bag strap. Emerald eyes shimmering back he nodded, "My thoughts exactly Zach... my thoughts exactly."
And with that, he took his leave of the other, heading for the bookstore for that book he'd been denied for the last few minutes. For once though, he could honestly say he felt the delay of knowledge to be a worthy one, for he had made a friend. An ally perhaps. But at least... he had not made another enemy.
He was learning and he knew his mother would be proud.
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