Just Good Friends?

Chapter 35 - Opening up

Joe.

The next few days are a bit hectic. We have school, training, hospital visits, not to mention eating and sleeping to fit in. We all see a lot of each other, but only fleetingly.

Bex is up and out by 5am every morning running, then she goes to school grudgingly, but as soon as she's done, she's straight to the hospital checking on Mike. We all go in to see him every evening, but we don't stay too long, and one of us takes in food for Bex or she's wouldn't eat.

Mike is doing well, he sleeps quite a bit, but less and less every day. He's started sittjng up and eating, and he's been chatting too. He apologised to Nate, although he doesn't remember too much of what happened. He also said it was his mums boyfriend that got him in a state, he walked in on him hitting his mum and Mike totally lost it and threw him out. His mum broke down and said it had been happening since before Mike knew about him. He took it out on Nate because he was there. Doc thinks Mike will be fit and well for college, but he won't be playing sport for a couple of months yet, so he'll need to do some serious training when he's ready to, so he's fit for college.

Nate is still Nate, no change at all. He's still being a rock for Bex, but he's giving them space, and I know that has got to be hard for him.

......

Bex.

"You ok Bex? You haven't been yourself for a few days now. Everyone has noticed" Me and Harry are chilling by the pool. It's been a rough few weeks and i was feeling totally drained. I'm hoping the sun will energise me a bit, like a solar battery or something! Joe and Nate were helping coach out with something, and Cal had to get a final assignment in for Physics. I hadn't seen much of the girls lately. After what Anna did to Nate, I didn't feel comfortable around her anymore, and Joe and Ems were only just starting to get things back on track, so they were taking things slowly. She has taken up the offer from ASC, and will be living in halls, so we will still be seeing her all the time which is great. Jess now had a boyfriend, but he didn't live near us, so none of us saw much of her at the moment.

"Yeah, I'm OK, drained, but ok" Harry doesn't believe me, I can tell.

"OK, spit it out. I know im not rugged but sensitive serious Nate, or goofy hyper Joe... well, I am goofy and hyper, but I'm not Joe, but anyway, I'm not them, but I'm here and ready to listen, I'll even help if I can, so tell me, what's the deal?" He's not going to let this go, he knows there's something up, everyone does apparently.

"It's Mike. He's... distant. It's like he's keeping me at arms length, and I don't know why. He's told me not to go to the hospital this weekend, at all, not even a fleeting visit. He wants a quiet weekend, and he wants me to be as normal as possible for a change. Do things we used to do, go out, chill out, have a party, anything but go and be with him. He told me to get Nate to take me out somewhere, as he'd look after me, and it wouldn't be on Joe's head then to look after his sister" it was a bit of a relief letting it out, but it still hurt like hell.

"OK, so listen to him. Maybe he needs this break as much as you do, to realise what you two have is worth working at. Bex, he's in a lot of pain right now, not physical, that's manageable, but mentally he's in pain. He did something really stupid, acted really stupid, and look where he ended up... he thinks pushing you away is what's best for you, he doesn't think he deserves you. He thinks pushing you towards Nate is what's best for you, as let's face it, Nate has done better than any of us in supporting you the last few months right? And Mike sees that, and he loves you, so he wants what's best for you. Only problem is, he can't see it right now that you believe that he is what's best for you. Give him, and you, this weekend, and then go and see him" Harry pulls me in to his side and squeezes me. Why hasn't he got a girlfriend yet? And I say as much to him.

"Because I haven't found a girl as cool as you yet Bex, but it seems I need to join a queue for your affections" he winks at me and i laugh. He's a good guy, so much like Joe!

.....

Nate.

"You noticed Bex has been a bit down the last few days? She said anything to you?" Me and Joe are heading back to his car after helping coach sort out the teams new line up with the change of boys.

"Yeah I noticed, but she hasn't said anything. I thought maybe one of us could have a chat with her this weekend, when she's not with Mike" It's been tough watching Bex and Mike together again, but it's right, they are right, and I'll never come between them.

"Hmmm, yeah, maybe you should. I don't think I'm the person for this" we jump in his car and head back to his house.

......

Joe.

"Joe, you're coming for a surf, now. Bex doesn't want to but I do, so you're coming. I've got your things together, let's go" Harry demands as soon as we walk through the door.

"Ah, OK. And what are Nate and Bex going to do?" I grab my things off Harry and turn to Nate with a shrug.

"Whatever they want, but Nate is going to stay with Bex" I shrug again as Nate laughs and shakes his head, then we leave.

......

Nate.

"So, what's up? Somethings going on, so tell me" I sit down by Bex and take my top off ready to lie down in the sun. Bex looks away quickly, then tells me everything that has happened, and what Mike has said to her. I'm silent for a short time, then I speak.

"Bex, there's something I need to tell you. But I don't want it to affect anything between us, or any of us for that matter ok. Promise me that first?" I can't believe I'm doing this, but it needs to be said, out in the open, so we can all move on.

"Nate, before you start, I think I know what you're going to say, and I already know. I've known for a few years. Nobody told me, I just guessed, but I didn't want to say anything probably for the same reason that you didn't want me to know" oh my f*****g god, she knows. "What I don't know, is how long?" She looks at me then and I feel very small.

"Since we were 11. I never wanted it to affect anything Bex, so would never of told you. But you need to know now, because even though I am head over heals in love with you, and probably always will be till I die, you and Mike belong together. Everyone can see that, even me. And I won't let either of you throw what you have away because of me, and what Mike thinks is good for you. He's hurting right now, but he'll regret any decision he makes, so we don't let him do that ok. As Harry said, give him this weekend, and then go in there Monday and tell him you refuse to walk away, and he can't, so he's stuck with you till he's fit enough to get out of bed and walk away from you, which he will never do, ok? And honestly, did Harry seriously give you that awesome advice?!" I try to make light of this situation, by throwing that little remark in at the end.

Bex suddenly jumps on to my lap, grabs hold of my face with her hands on either side, and smacks a kiss down on my lips, then hugs me. I can feel the stirrings in my shorts, and feel her breasts pushing in to my chest in her very skimpy bikini top that she's practically not wearing. Oh god, this is so hard. Being with her like this is hard, my c**k is rock hard, which she undoubtedly can feel too, this is painful, but feels so good too.

"Nate, you are f*****g amazing, do you know that?" She pulls back a bit, but she stays on my lap, straddling me, looking in to my eyes.

"Yes Bex, I know. But as I've said before, I'm only human, and I'm a red blooded male who just so happens to be crazy in love with you also, so this, right here, you sitting where you're sitting, wearing that, (my hands are gesturing like mad) is making it very difficult for me not to grab you and take you right here on this lounger " I wink at her so she knows I wouldn't really, but that I really wanted to, and she grins and moves off me. I straighten my shorts up, stand up, and dive in to the pool to hopefully cool off and let the big boy in my shorts stand at ease again. I come out of the water and look at Bex. She's grinning at me.

"So, can I still curl up with you when we chill out, or does that affect you too?" She's smirking now, so I know all is good between us.

"You can still curl up with me Bex, I wouldn't want you to stop. Yes it affects me, but I can cope. Come on, go make yourself decent and get some clothes on, I'm taking you out like Mike ordered" We head inside, and I head to my room straight for the shower, where I take hold of my c**k and start pumping it, to relieve myself after that little show infront of Bex. I can see this will be a regular occurance if i dont find a good woman to help me out. f**k! She really turned me on then, I need to seriously watch myself infront of her.