Copyright and Disclaimer: 1. This is a fictional story with fictional characters. 2. No one is to steal this story under any circumstances. 3. This story deals with relationships and not sex, so if you're looking for a story with a lot of sex in it, this isn't the story for you.
Hope everyone enjoyed the first installment. Here's part 2 entitled "Easier to Lie"
'EASIER TO LIE'
It's been one week since the break up between Leo and Jesse. Since the break up Leo has been a wreck, today he didn't even want to get out of bed. He laid in his room looking at a picture of him and Jesse in happier times when he heard a rapping on his door.
"Leo!" he heard Nick's voice yell, "Kurt and I are here."
"Get up," Kurt said pounding on the door some more.
Leo just sighed and ignored them.
"We have a key you know," Kurt yelled.
Leo then got up and opened the door for them.
"You have a key to my place?" Leo asked.
"No," Kurt replied walking in, "But we needed to say something to get you to let us in."
"Guys, I'm really not in the mood," Leo sighed.
"Leo, we've given you a week to sulk and morn the relationship," Nick said. "Now it's time to get up and get your life back in order."
"Yeah," Kurt added, "Besides you're going to lose your job if you keep calling in sick."
"I don't care," Leo sighed.
"You won't be saying that when you get evicted from this place for not being able to pay rent," Nick said. "Now get dressed."
"For what?" Leo asked.
"We're going out," Kurt replied.
"Where?" Leo asked.
"Don't ask questions and just get dressed," Nick said.
"Fine," Leo sighed as he went in his bedroom to change.
"So where are we going?" Nick asked Kurt quietly.
"I thought you had a plan," Kurt replied. "You're the one who made a career of helping people through emotional stuff like this."
"I didn't make a plan cause I thought you had one," Nick said. "You said, 'let's get Leo and go out and do something.'"
"Yeah and it was your job to figure out something for us to do," Kurt said.
"We'll just wing it and figure something out," Nick suggested.
"Sounds good enough for me," Kurt replied.
twenty minutes later Leo came out of his room dressed and ready to go.
"All right," Leo sighed, "Let's go on with this fun day you two have planned."
"Yeah," Nick said nervously, "Let's get this fun day we have planned started."
Nick and Kurt both exchanged worried looks as they left, both trying hard to figure out something to do.
They went down and got inside Kurt's car and headed out on their day.
"So where are we going?" Leo asked again.
Kurt sighed and decided to come clean and tell Leo they didn't really have a plan for today, but Nick quickly thought something up before Kurt could tell him.
"We're going to go to the beach," Nick said.
"The beach?" Leo asked pessimistically.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Nick asked, "You love the beach."
"It's fine, I'm just not really in the mood to go anywhere today," Leo said.
"Well you've been doing it all week and it's not healthy," Kurt said.
"Leo, trust me," Nick added in, "I get letters all the time from people who have been going through what you're going through and all the time they write me back telling me the advice I gave helped them out."
"And what advice is that?" Leo asked.
"You have to go through the steps of a break-up," Nick replied.
"What steps?" Leo asked.
"Step one is mourning the loss of the relationship," Nick replied. "Which you've been doing non-stop for the past week. You've grieved for so long and so content in staying in this period that it's keeping you from living your life. So now it's time for step two, which is accepting the break-up."
"Which is why we're taking you to the beach," Kurt said. "The ocean can be very metaphorical for what you're going through."
"Metaphorical for what?" Leo asked.
"You'll see and I'll explain it when we get there," Nick replied.
A half hour later they finally arrived at the beach and took a walk down to the shoreline.
"So what is this big metaphor your trying to explain to me?" Leo asked.
"Look at the ocean," Nick said.
"Okay," Leo replied.
"See the waves crashing down and all the noise and chaos they make?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Leo said.
"Look out further," Nick said pointing out to sea, "See how eventually the waters calm down and become peaceful?"
"Where are you going with this?" Leo asked.
"Right now, you're in that chaos stage," Nick said. "You're lost, you feel destroyed. You're like the waves here, but trust me, eventually you'll feel the calm."
Kurt looked over at Nick in shock over how well he put the beach and wave metaphor together.
"Thanks," Leo said understandingly. "Mind if I take a walk for a little bit by myself?"
"No, go ahead," Kurt said. "We'll be right here."
"Thanks guys," Leo said as he walked off.
When Leo reached out of hearing distance Kurt turned to Nick.
"How the hell were you able to pull that off?" Kurt asked.
"I totally winged it," Nick revealed. "I just made all that up as I went along."
"Damn, you're good," Kurt laughed.
"I know," Nick joked.
The guys spent the next two hours at the beach, Leo felt better having his friends by his side. Afterwards Nick had Leo spend the day with him while Kurt went back to the apartment to work.
Kurt was in the kitchen typing on his laptop when Ryan came home.
"Hey Kurt," Ryan said walking in carrying a couple boxes with him.
"Moving in more stuff?" Kurt asked.
"Oh no, this is stuff for the center, that I'm working on," Ryan replied. "I'm putting together an art program for some of the young teens that come to the center, let them use their creative juices."
"That sounds like a great idea," Kurt said.
"You working?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, trying to anyway," Kurt replied.
"What are you writing about?" Ryan asked.
"Something I don't know that much about," Kurt replied. "Relationships."
"What are you talking about?" Ryan asked. "All the stuff I've read of yours are about relationships."
"I know, but this article is different," Kurt replied. "It's not about finding a relationship, it's about maintaining one."
"So?" Ryan asked.
"So, I don't really know how to maintain one," Kurt replied. "I've been with Scott for like six months now, but I don't think it's been me maintaining it. I've just been going along for the ride, it seems more like Scott who's been keeping us together."
"Are you not really into your boyfriend?" Ryan asked.
"I don't know," Kurt replied. "He's a good guy, everything I could ask for, but something's off with us. How is it with you and Craig?"
"We have our moments," Ryan said. "There are times when I just feel like giving up and moving on, but then there are those times when I just look at him and see one of the sweetest guys I've ever met."
"So how do you two maintain it?" Kurt asked.
"Lots and lots of work," Ryan replied.
"Do you see him and see someone you want to be with for the rest of your life?" Kurt asked.
"I don't know about forever," Ryan replied, "But I see someone who means a lot to me."
"So you don't see Craig as the person you want to settle down with?" Kurt asked.
"I honestly don't know," Ryan said. "He's great, but I don't know about forever with him. Whenever I thought of the perfect person for me, I always thought of someone who I could just talk to easily and reveal things to that I've never revealed to anyone else. Kind of like this right now, I talk to you really easily. I always imagined it would be something like that."
"Yeah," Kurt sighed. The two grew silent as they looked into one another's eyes and saw something that they both hadn't seen before and felt something they both haven't felt before. Kurt's cell phone then rang ending the moment they were sharing.
"I should get to work on these," Ryan said quickly, picking up his boxes. "I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, I should get this," Kurt said trying to cover up for the moment they shared, and looked at his caller ID, "Oh, it's Scott."
Ryan took a breath as he closed the door to his room not to sure what to make of what that was out there he felt with Kurt.
"Hello?' Kurt asked answering the phone.
"Hey babe," Scott replied.
"Hi, what's up?" Kurt asked.
"What are you doing?" Scott asked.
"Just doing some work," Kurt replied.
"Sounds good," Scott said. "Do you want to grab lunch today?"
"Yeah," Kurt replied. "Sounds good."
""All right, when do you want me to pick you up?" Scott asked.
"I could take a break for this in about an hour," Kurt replied.
"All right," Scott said. "See you then."
"Bye," Kurt said hanging up.
Kurt then went back to work to try and get some work done.
Over at Nick's place he and Leo were sitting down and going over some of the letters Nick was responding to.
"Leo, see how others are going through so much of what you're going through?" Nick asked. "And they all get through it, and you will too."
"It's not that I think I won't get through it," Leo replied, "It's that it felt so safe for me to have him in my life and now that he's not there it's uncomfortable."
"Yeah, but eventually you'll meet someone who will fill that void," Nick said.
"But when?" Leo asked, "How long will I go on feeling this way? How long until I feel safe again with someone."
"Leo, can I give you my two cents?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Leo replied.
"I think you got too dependent on him," Nick said. "It seems it got to the point where you can't be independent and on your own."
"I can be independent," Leo retorted.
"Oh yeah?" Nick doubted, "If so, then why do you not feel safe to be single?"
"It's not that I don't feel safe being single, it's that I don't feel safe with out Jesse," Leo replied.
"Which is being dependent," Nick said. "Leo, learn to do some things on your own. Learn to be single."
"Not all of us have had that much practice being single like you," Leo said getting upset at Nick.
"Don't try and turn this around on me," Nick shot back. "If you don't want to hear my advice then just say so."
"Fine, I don't want to hear it," Leo said.
"Tough, I'm going to anyway," Nick ignored.
"I'm leaving," Leo said getting up.
"For God's sake Leo, I love you. You're like a brother to me," Nick said.
"You love me?" Leo asked turning to face Nick, "Then be a friend to me. Don't psychoanalyze me! I need a friend, not a shrink."
With that Leo turned his back on Nick and left the apartment. Nick sighed in frustration, knowing that he pushed Leo too much in trying to get over Jesse.
Later that day Kurt having lunch with Scott at a trendy, little cafe. Sitting on the outdoor patio overlooking the ocean, Kurt couldn't help but let his mind wander as Scott was talking to him.
"Did you hear me Kurt?" Scott asked getting Kurt's attention.
"Sorry, what?" Kurt asked.
"I asked if you liked your lunch," Scott said, "You haven't eaten much."
"Oh yeah, it's good," Kurt replied taking a bite for proof.
"You okay?" Scott asked, "You seem a bit distracted."
Can I ask you something?" Kurt asked.
"Of course," Scott replied.
"Have you ever seen something and didn't really think much of it, but then for a moment you saw it as something else and you then saw it in a new light?" Kurt asked.
"I'm not sure I follow," Scott replied.
"Take a rose for example," Kurt said pointing at the rose in the little vase in the center of their table, "You first may see it and it's just a rose."
"Okay," Scott said trying to follow.
"But then, you take a chance to really look at it and admire it and suddenly see how beautiful it really is," Kurt continued. "Do you know what I'm talking about?"
"Seeing something differently?" Scott asked.
"Yes, exactly," Kurt replied.
"All right, so you're seeing things differently?" Scott asked.
"Yes," Kurt replied, but then quickly changed his answer to cover, "Well, I don't know. It was just something that was running through my mind."
"I see where this is going," Scott said understandingly.
"You do?" Kurt asked feeling busted.
"Yeah, you're trying to get some information from me for your next article huh?" Scott asked. "You want to know how I felt when you and I stopped being just friends and moved on to becoming a couple."
"Oh," Kurt said a little put off by that response, but decided to go along with it to save him some trouble, "Uh yeah, you sure got me."
"To tell you the truth it was kind of surreal when I first started liking you," Scott said.
"Oh yeah?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah, I remember when I used to work at the magazine that I would see you come in and out once or twice a week and you'd come up and talk to me over the article you wrote. We'd always critique it together and fix things and change things up a bit, but then one day you brought in a paper that I could tell you just put your full heart into and had such passion for it and it showed in your eyes and that's when I knew," Scott said.
"Knew what?" Kurt asked.
"I knew I was falling for you," Scott replied.
Kurt smiled, deeply touched by what Scott said. He reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Thank you for that," Kurt said. He then wondered if maybe he was selling Scott a little short, maybe he could be with him and have a future with him, sure he felt a slight spark with Ryan, but why go for a little spark, when you have a bright future with a great guy?
Leo got home, upset over his fight with Nick. He was about to call him when he walked to his front door and saw Jesse knocking on his door.
"Jesse," Leo said getting his attention. Jesse turned around in surprise.
"Oh hey," Jesse said.
"What are you doing here?" Leo asked.
"I uh, think I left my black jacket here," Jesse replied.
"I gave you your stuff back already," Leo said.
"Oh yeah," Jesse said rubbing his head "Forgot about that."
"Jesse," Leo said.
"Yeah?" Jesse asked.
"What are you really doing here?" Leo asked.
"I came to see how you were doing," Jesse replied.
"Want to come in and talk?" Leo asked.
"Yeah," Jesse replied.
Leo unlocked his door and the two went inside.
"Do you want a drink or anything?" Leo asked nervously.
"No, I'm okay," Jesse replied equally nervous.
"Want to sit down?" Leo asked as they entered Leo's living room.
Leo and Jesse sat down quietly, they both shared an awkward beat.
"So how have you been?" Jesse asked.
"Good," Leo replied, then after a beat, "Okay, well, I've been better. How are you?"
"Same," Jesse said. "What have you been up to?"
"You don't want to know," Leo replied, not wanting to confess how miserable he's been. "How about you?"
"Been keeping busy," Jesse said. "Distracting myself with work."
"Jesse, can I ask you something?" Leo asked.
"Of course," Jesse replied.
"People always says love conquers all," Leo began, "But we loved each other a lot, so why didn't we make it?"
"That's a question I've been asking myself every day," Jesse replied.
"Have you found an answer?" Leo asked.
"I think that maybe we just stopped putting the time and effort into it that we once did," Jesse replied.
"Then couldn't we fix that?" Leo asked hopeful.
"I don't think it's that simple," Jesse replied.
Leo sighed, "Yeah, you're probably right."
"You know I love you," Jesse said.
"I know," Leo replied. "I love you too."
"I should probably get going," Jesse said getting up.
"Okay," Leo replied as he walked Jesse to the door.
"I'll see you," Jesse said giving Leo a hug. He started to walk out the door when Leo stopped him.
"Jesse wait," Leo said.
"What?" Jesse asked.
"Do you think we could try to be friends at least?" Leo asked.
"I'd like that," Jesse replied with a smile.
Leo and Jesse shared a smile as they both relished in the idea of keeping each other in their lives, even though it may be on a less intimate capacity.
Needed to talk a walk and settle down after his fight with Leo, Nick found himself walking in the park and letting the fresh air calm him down. He felt so horribly over the fight. The two have never fought before, and he knew that he pushed too hard to try and get Leo over Jesse. However, he couldn't see why it was so hard for Leo to get a little independence back and realize life goes on after a break-up. However, just as he thought those things he stopped in his tracks and lost his breath as he found himself looking at his ex walking with the man he dumped Nick for. Not wanting to be seen he quickly went and hid behind a tree to catch his breath. Seeing his ex all those feelings of heartache came back, his ex was the reason why Nick was now so picky in finding a man. He then remembered what it was that Leo was going through and knew he had to see him. He took out his cell phone and called.
"Hello?" Leo asked answering.
"Hey, can you meet me at the coffee shop by your place?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Leo replied.
"All right I'll see you then," Nick said hanging up.
Over at Kurt's place he just got back from lunch with Scott and went back to work on his article when Ryan came out of his bedroom.
"Hey," Ryan said. "You're back."
"Yeah, had to get back and finish my work up," Kurt said.
"I'm just about to head out," Ryan said.
"Where you going?" Kurt asked.
"I'm going to go see Craig," Ryan replied.
"Have fun," Kurt said.
"Will do," Ryan said as he was about to head out, he then turned back to Kurt. "Hey, Kurt."
"Yeah?" Kurt asked.
"Earlier today when we were talking," Ryan began.
"Yeah?" Kurt asked intrigued, wondering if Ryan felt what he had felt.
"Did you-" Ryan said, but was then cut off by his cell phone. He picked it up answering, "Hello?"
"Hey it's me," Craig said.
"Hey, I was just about to leave," Ryan said.
"Cool," Craig said, "I wanted to catch you before you left."
"What for?" Ryan asked.
"I wanted to see if you wanted to stay over," Craig replied. "So if you need to pack anything."
"Sounds good," Ryan said.
"Great," Craig said. "So I'll see you later."
"All right, love you," Ryan said.
"Love you too," Craig replied hanging up.
"So what were you going to say?" Kurt asked.
"Oh, it's nothing," Ryan replied. "I'll see you later okay?"
"All right, have a good time," Kurt said as Ryan left.
Kurt then sat back and thought about both Ryan and Scott. Here he was with Scott, a great, charming, loving man, but then there was Ryan, someone he felt something towards that he never felt before. He sighed as he realized he was going to be getting himself into a sticky dilemma.
Later on, Nick arrived at the coffee shop and saw Leo sitting down in a booth waiting for him.
"Hey," Nick said as he sat down.
"Hi," Leo replied. "I'm sorry about earlier."
"No," Nick said, "I'm the one who should apologize. I saw Luke today."
"You did?" Leo asked surprised, "What did he say?"
"He didn't see me," Nick replied, "I saw him and quickly hid behind a tree. Pathetic."
"No, you're not pathetic," Leo said. "He hurt you a lot."
"Yeah, years ago," Nick said, "And still I hide when I see him. I forgot how hard break-ups were. I guess I just got so used to giving out advice that I forgot what it's like to actually be in that position."
"It's tough," Leo sighed.
"I know," Nick said. "So just take all the time you need. Just trust me when I say you'll get over this."
"Thanks," Leo said.
Before they could continue Nick's cell phone rang.
"It's Kurt," Nick said looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"
"Hey what are you doing now?" Kurt asked.
"I'm talking with Leo," Nick replied.
"Perfect," Kurt said, "I need to talk to you guys. Want to meet for Chinese food?"
"Sure, we'll be right there," Nick replied hanging up.
"What's up?" Leo asked.
"Kurt wants to talk to us about something," Nick replied. "He wants to meet us at that Chinese restaurant we always go to."
"Okay," Leo said getting up.
Twenty minutes later Nick and Leo met up with Kurt at the restaurant. After they sat down and ordered the two turned to Kurt to spill what he wanted to talk about.
"What's up?" Leo asked.
"I'm having issues and needed to talk to you guys," Kurt replied. "I think I'm falling for Ryan."
"We tried warning you," Nick sighed.
"But it gets worse," Kurt said, "I'm finally starting to feel something towards Scott."
"Oh," Leo said understandingly. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know," Kurt sighed, "I just feel so confused right now."
"If you stay with Scott, you know you'll be with someone who is great," Leo pointed out.
"But if you decide to pursue Ryan, you might get something you always wanted," Nick added.
"Yeah, but he might not," Leo replied.
"You're right," Kurt said, "I might not get anything from Ryan. Ryan might not even feel anything towards me. So why am I even thinking about this?"
"Exactly," Leo said. "If you ask me, it's safer to just stay with Scott."
"Safer doesn't always mean better," Nick countered.
"No, but it's less of a risk," Kurt said.
"Sooner or later you're going to have to make some risks to get the things you want," Nick said.
"I don't want to hurt Scott, but what if Ryan is the one?" Kurt asked.
"Kurt, you're always on this quest to search for 'the one,' but maybe you should just take the time to see where life takes you," Leo replied.
"Exactly," Nick followed. "You're only twenty four. You have plenty of time to find Mr. Right."
"I've been dating since I was sixteen," Kurt sighed, "It's always been one person after another and I'm tired of it. It's getting frustrating, I want to meet 'the one' because I just don't want to deal with it anymore."
"I know what you mean," Leo sighed. "I think that's why I didn't want to see the problems I was having with Jesse. I just wanted that search to be over."
"But I think it's better for him to be out of your life," Nick said.
"I saw him today," Leo said.
"You did?" Nick asked. "When?"
"Right before you called me," Leo answered. "He stopped by."
"What did he want?" Kurt asked.
"He wanted to see how I was doing," Leo replied.
"That's nice of him I guess," Kurt said.
"Are you okay?" Nick asked.
"You know, I actually am," Leo said. "We decided to try and be friends."
"Friends?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Leo replied.
Nick and Kurt both exchanged concerned looks.
"Do you think that's the best thing so soon after the relationship ended?" Kurt asked.
"Why?" Leo asked.
"If you already try hanging out and being friends it might be tough," Nick said. "Feelings don't just go away."
"I know," Leo said, "But I really can't imagine him not being in my life in some way."
"Well, good luck," Kurt said, "We're here for you."
"Don't worry," Leo said. "I think it will be okay."
After dinner the guys opened up their fortune cookies they got with the check and read them.
"You have everything you want," Nick read aloud.
Leo thought over his situation and decided the best thing to do was to lie to himself that he could have an easy friendship with Jesse. Nick thought over his situation and decided the best thing to do was to lie to himself that he enjoyed being single. Kurt thought over his situation and decided the best thing to do was the lie to himself that he doesn't have feelings for Ryan and can have it all with Scott.
"So do we have everything we want?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Leo lied.
"Yeah," Kurt lied.
"Yeah," Nick sighed.
To Be Continued...
With any comments, questions or feedback please e-mail me at ILJ4EVER44@yahoo.com. Thanks! All My Best!