Just Good Friends?

Chapter 32 - Blurred Friendships

Nate

"Anyone eating that last bit?" Joe asks, but he's already reaching for it.

"You by the look of it dude" I laugh at him. He'd ordered pizza when Bex and Harry came in earlier, and we were just finishing up when Bex's phone beeps. She grabs it off the table and looks at it, then drops it back down.

"It was just Anna asking after Mike" she looks exhausted.

"Go to bed Bex, you need to recharge" I'm worried about her, she's refusing to give in, but she desperately needs to for today or she'll make herself ill.

"But what if the hospital ring, or his parents message? I might miss it if I'm sleeping" She looks helplessly at me then, and I just want to scoop her up in my arms, but I resist the urge.

"Nate's right Bex, you need to go to bed and get a proper nights rest. He'll go with you and you can both watch a film and fall asleep. You need to sleep too Nate, the both of you have been through hell and need each other right now" Joe gives me a nod as if giving me permission to give Bex some friendly comfort, nothing more obviously. And he's right, I do need her company more than anyones right now.

"Come on, we've had our orders Bex, let's go" I pull her to her feet and we say good night to the guys.

"Night dude, night Bex. Give us a shout if you need anything ok" Harry says as we leave the room.

....

Joe

"I'm worried about those 2" Harry says after we sit in silence for a few minutes when they've left.

"I know dude, so am I, but what can we do apart from what we're already doing?" I chuck him a beer over.

"Nate's playing it down about his wounds. He's in a lot of pain, doc said he was really lucky he didn't lose his eye and hit an artery. The guy is a f*****g hero and he's acting like he's got a little scratch" I wonder if Harry's guessed about Nates feelings for Bex.

"Nates always been like that Harry. He plays his cards close to his chest. He won't back down from a fight if it means protecting his friends. He'd rather be killed than anything happen to them. You saw him, what was he like?" I look over at him. He's quiet for a minute, then speaks.

"He was possessed. It was as if something had taken over his body. This look came over his face of pure rage when he saw Mike fall to the floor and he just went off. There wasn't just the 2 guys that started Joe, there were 5 of them. I only took out 1, Nate took the others on his own, that's how he ended up being slashed, they couldn't get him down any other way, but they still couldn't. It was as if he hadn't even felt it" Harry goes quiet again

"I thought as much. Nate blacks out when s**t gets serious, he won't remember any of that. Most of the time he can control it, but the sight of Mike seriously hurt, and when on his watch as he thinks it was, that would have really pissed him off" We settle down in silence and find a basketball game on TV to watch.

....

Bex

"Find something to watch and I'll go and get some joggers on. Be back in a minute... unless you want to be alone Bex, say if you do OK, I just want you to rest" Nate has been my rock the last 24 hours. I need his company now.

"Go change Nate, but come back, film and sleep is what we both need now" I pull out a pair of short pjs and change in to them when Nate leaves my room. When he gets back 5 minutes later I'm lying on my bed flicking through the films trying to find something to watch.

"Found anything?" He climbs on the bed next to me and plumps the pillow behind his head. "There's a series on Netflix, sci-fi horror thing, fancy giving it a go?" I look round at him, he looks totally worn out.

"Yeah, let's try it" I think he'll be sleeping soon.

....

Joe

I pop my head around Bex's door on my way to bed an hour after they both went up, and they are sleeping. Bex in short pj's and Nate in joggers but no top, but that's ok, she's seen him in less, probably buff naked at some point over the years... not from s*x though, just guys messing around striping off or something. I smile as I look at them, thinking Nate would have been in his element under different circumstances, and if he wasn't so tired. They look peaceful finally, so I close the door quietly and head to my room. I still can't believe what Anna did to him though, that s**t is as low as any girl can get. No wonder my man has been so f*****g off lately, she really screwed him up.

.....

"Haven't they come down yet?" It's 10am and I've been working out in the gym since 8am, and there's still no sign of either Bex or Nate. Harry has been doing lengths in the pool, no idea how many, but he's making protein shakes when I enter the kitchen.

"Nope, no sign of either of them. Want me to go up and see if they're awake?" He passes me one of the shakes he just made, and looks at me.

"Yeah go on, be quiet though incase they're still sleeping" I take the shake in to the den and throw myself down on the sofa. I don't want to go up to Bex's room myself, incase Nate is awake and thinks I'm checking up on him. Much better if Harry goes.

....

Harry

I pop my head around Bex's bedroom door, and almost laugh at the sight. Bex is stretched out practically corner to corner of the bed, and Nate is curled up in one corner, both still sleeping soundly. He pulls the door quietly behind him as he leaves the room.

Back downstairs, he finds Joe in the den.

"They ok?" Joe looks a bit anxious.

"Chill dude, they're fine. Still sleeping, fully clothed, not even touching" I smirk at him, and he throws a cushion at me.

"f**k off Harry" Joe just looks defeated somehow.

"So, what's the deal? Nate, Bex? Nate in love with her or something?" I decide to come straight out with it. I've been thinking it since I saw him react to her arriving home yesterday, but never the right time to broach the subject.

"What the f**k are you talking about you dickhead?" But Joe looks nervous now.

"I'm not f*****g stupid dude, A*s all the way remember? And I've seen Nates face, and how soft as s**t he went when he saw her last night. He's totally f*****g gone for her isn't he? OK, I know the answer to that, but what I don't know is, how long? It's not recent that's for sure" I look at him questioningly now, and I see him back down, I've won, I'll get the truth.

"Since we were about 11. Don't let on you know ok Harry. He's tried so hard to keep these feelings buried because of me, I can't let him down now" We hear a noise from the top of the stairs, so turn our attention to the TV. I can't believe I was right about Nate, he is so totally in love with Bex!

....

Joe

"Can't believe I slept so long! Has there been any news on Mike? I need to get to the hospital" Bex is looking much better after her marathon rest, she's eating breakfast and has already showered and dressed.

"No news, but I'll take you to the hospital if you want?" I'm meant to be helping Dad out with some plans he's drawing up, but I'm sure he'll understand.

"I can take Bex if you like? I want to go and see Mike anyway, and you're meant to be helping your Dad out today aren't you?" Nate grabs a bagel from the plate and starts eating. I know he's not trying to spend more time with her, he's genuinely trying to help, so I agree.

"OK, cool. You don't mind Bex? I can get these plans sorted with Dad and meet you guys later" I finish my orange juice and take my glass to the sink to wash.

"That's fine, but I'm driving Nate. You're too slow and it drives me nuts" she laughs at him when he throws a dish cloth at her.

"Right, let's go then!" He picks up a banana and heads out.

"Later Fuckers"! He calls over his shoulder to us whilst sticking his middle finger up behind his head... a very good impression of me and Harry too.

"d**k"! I shout after him, but laugh as he heads off to his room to change.