When Nick woke up, the world was gently swaying like he was on a boat. It'd been a long time since he'd woken up still a little drunk. After not drinking alcohol for several months it definitely hadn't been smart to go this heavy on the Sambuca—Nick couldn't even remember how many glasses Alex had poured him.

Alex.

Nick's eyes shot open. He turned his head to the side, and there Alex was, fast asleep next to him on the bed. Nick vaguely remembered telling Alex to stay because he couldn't go home in the middle of the night, and them stumbling to the bedroom shitfaced drunk.

Since they were both still dressed, obviously, nothing except sleeping had happened in this room. Even if the bed was rather small for two people. And even if Nick would've been fine with a little more making out.

Nick carefully reached over Alex and grabbed his phone from the nightstand. It was only eight thirty, thank God. Nick guessed neither of them had thought of setting an alarm clock despite having a class and a flight to catch.

Fuck, eight thirty also meant Blake was probably awake by now. If he was lurking around in the apartment he'd see Alex and it wouldn't take a genius to understand the guy slept in Nick's room. With Alex being gay as the day was long, that wasn't suspicious at all. Nick swore under his breath.

Beside him, Alex stirred. He let out a groan but kept eyes squeezed shut. "What are you so pissed about this early?"

Nick resisted the urge to shush Alex. His eyes shot to the door. He heard nobody on the other side, but if Blake heard voices in here...

"Nothing, it's fine," Nick replied quietly. "Can I get you anything? Some breakfast?"

Alex cracked one eye open and chuckled. He matched Nick's low tone and whispered, "As long as it doesn't involve more Sambuca. God. My head."

"And one painkiller on the side to go with breakfast," Nick joked as he scooted over to the edge of the bed and carefully got to his feet. He was still a little wobbly.

"Make that two painkillers," Alex called after Nick as he walked to the door.

Nick cringed at the volume of Alex' voice, but he couldn't exactly tell Alex to quiet down without sounding rude. Nick halted for a moment at the door and listened. When he still didn't hear movement on the other side, he opened the door just a crack, peeked into the hallway, and then stepped outside.

Blake was definitely home. Nick smelled sizzling bacon, and lounge music played in the living room. Nick stalled the confrontation with Blake by brushing his teeth and drinking some water in the bathroom first. Then he cast his eyes up to the ceiling, let out a deep sigh, and trudged onwards.

The moment he walked into the living room, Nick found himself immediately eye to eye with Blake.

"Nick!" Blake greeted him with a wide grin. His eyes sparkled mischievously. "Good morning and... congratulations."

"Congratulations?" Nick blurted. The regret was instance as Blake's grin only widened.

"Oh come on, you thought I didn't hear you two last night? You were stomping and stumbling around like you were wearing heels for the first time. I would've been pissed at being rudely woken up like that any other day. But, you know, Lara's like a friend of mine, I guess. So I made her some breakfast."

Blake tried to step past Nick into the hall, but Nick quickly blocked the path and held up his hands. "Where are you going?" he asked.

Blake arched an eyebrow at Nick's strange behaviour. "To Lara?"

"You can't because she's, uh, not awake yet," Nick lied.

"Wake her up then. She's going to miss class." Blake breathed in deeply. "Wake up, Lara!" he yelled sing-song. "Breakfast!"

"Blake, shush!" Nick hissed.

For a moment it seemed nothing happened and Alex hadn't heard the yelling. But then Nick's bedroom door swung open. Nick watched in horror as Alex poked his head around the corner and glanced at him and Blake.

Alex cleared his throat. "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not Lara," he announced wholly unnecessarily.

"...You're not Lara," Blake agreed.

Nick knew Blake was looking at him, but he adamantly refused to look at Blake. He refused to look at anyone as his face started heating up and he knew it was painfully visible on his pale cheeks. Unfortunately, that only seemed to make things worse as Blake addressed Alex instead.

"So, you slept over?" Blake asked.

"Yeah, he did. What about it?" Nick bit before Alex could answer.

"Nothing, really. I've just seen your room...that's not a very big bed, love. Must've been tight."

Nick cursed how he couldn't control the blood flow to his head. He could keep a pokerface and give unsuspicious answers all he wanted, but Blake could literally see him turn into a lighthouse and refuse to make eye-contact. Nick didn't know what to say, or where to look.

"It was kind of tight, but we slept fine, thank you," Alex replied for Nick. "And thanks for making breakfast for Lara. Unfortunately, she's not here and I have to get going too. Lots of stuff to clean up before I fly out today. Thanks for letting me stay here, and uh see you later."

Alex turned without awaiting Blake or Nick's answer and hastily made for the front door.

Nick wasn't looking forward to a conversation with either Blake or Alex about what happened, but having to face Alex still won by a landslide.

"Wait, I'll walk with you and show you where the busses are," Nick hastily called out, following Alex.

Alex hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure."

They walked down the stairs in silence. Alex didn't speak, and Nick didn't know what to say after an awkward situation, as usual. Once they made it outside, Alex stopped walking. He let out a deep sigh and turned to Nick.

"We could've gone to my place if you're that embarrassed about having me stay over," he said. "And isn't that guy, Blake, literally gay, anyway? Why are you so awkward around him?"

Nick could see the disappointment in Alex' eyes, and it made his guts twist. "No, it's not that," Nick said, instinctively taking a step closer to Alex. "Blake is also a huge gossip. I know him from home, and if this reaches them I..." Nick trailed off.

Alex sighed deeply again. "Hate to break it to you, Nick, but unless he's completely unable to read a room, Blake knows now. You were not subtle."

Nick grimaced. "Yeah, I know."

There was a brief silence. Then Alex reached out and patted Nick's shoulder. "It'll be okay, Nick."

How do you know? Nick wanted to ask. Tonight, another foundation he'd been building his life on shook and crumbled. He'd been living a lie with his football dreams. What if his past relationships never worked out because he subconsciously wanted something else, and sabotaged them without knowing? Did he ever really like Emma?

"I can find my own way to the bus," Alex said, pulling Nick out of his pondering. "You should rest up and at least catch your afternoon lecture."

Alex smiled as always, but it was a sad smile. If Alex got on the bus now, that would be the end of it. They'd leave on a sour note, and they'd probably never see or speak to each other again. A wave of panic rose in his chest at the thought. Nick couldn't let it happen.

"Can I text you?" Nick blurted.

Alex blinked in surprise. "Uh, of course. You have my number."

"And, can I also..." Nick licked his dry lips. "Kiss you one more time?"

Alex' jaw nearly dropped before he composed himself. "Okay..." he replied hesitantly. "But are you sure you want that?" Alex raised a hand to hold in front of his mouth. "I mean, I chewed on some gum just now, but I don't think it's enough to fight my alcohol-infused morning breath."

In response, Nick reached for Alex' hand and lowered it away from his mouth. Then he leaned in and kissed Alex. In broad daylight it still felt just as good as in the dark—Nick didn't even care that Alex' breath wasn't entirely minty fresh. He liked Alex as a person, and that didn't change without the heat of the moment. What that implied about himself, Nick tried not to think about. He clung onto Alex' words from last night: don't make this bigger than it is.

After they broke their kiss, Alex stepped back and studied Nick's expression. He seemed satisfied with whatever he found, because his face relaxed. "Alright, so it's really true your only problem is Blake knowing," Alex said. "Not anyone else."

Alex gestured around him, making Nick realise they were certainly not alone. There were people on the street, walking and cycling by. A few shot them curious glances, but nobody reacted to them making out in public otherwise.

Nick shrugged. Strangers didn't matter. After the worst had already happened with Blake, he couldn't be bothered about them.

"Yeah, well, anyway." Alex scratched his chin. "I have to start walking now if I want to catch the next bus so... text me, okay?"

"I will. Have a safe flight."

With a little wave in goodbye, Alex started walking. He smiled over his shoulder at Nick one final time before he disappeared around the corner. Nick stared in the direction where he last saw Alex for a few moments longer before snapping out of it, and heading back upstairs to his apartment.