"I already told you guys, I don't want to talk about it." The Five Guys- minus Kostya- were situated in a narrow, empty corridor after school hours.
"Seriously, is this really that important? I just want to go home." Nikita sighed. The boys had promised to show him something- quite suspiciously- and with enough persuasion, Niki had given in and followed them to a vacant area after their final lesson of the day.
"It won't take long!" Benji persisted energetically, attempting to emphasize the excitement. "Please just stay."
"Alright, alright, just tell me what it is then." Nikita said. Ari smiled at him, looking at his friends that were in on the ordeal.
"Oh, you'll see..."
They walked through the almost silent school, words unspoken, as Nikita's mind overloaded with possibilities of what they could be leading him to. He just couldn't shake off the feeling that he wasn't going to enjoy it, that whatever he was going to see would make him wish he'd never given in to their plies. The constant and undying feeling of anxiety and discomfort loomed over him like an ominous thunder cloud; it brought him to speak out about it.
"You know, on second thought, I really don't think I should be here. Could we just go home?" There was no answer. Puzzled, he gazed around him, immediately realising the fact that Ari, Mikolas and Benji were gone.
"Guys?! Guys?!" The confusion only rose as he circled the corridor in curiosity and worry. "This isn't funny, what am I supposed to-" he paused. Niki couldn't help but to think he could hear something in the distance. An extremely faint but definitely present continuous sound. He felt a strange but strong and intense impulse to follow it. As he synchronised his steps towards the peculiar sound, it immersed into a tune, a tune that took Niki by surprise. The transcending melody only enticed him more as he gingerly followed it. Before he knew, he could begin to make out a voice paired with the melody- beautifully familiar and mysterious, a hypnotic state of wonder, curiosity and comfort overcoming the eager follower.
He found the door at last, barely ajar, an old room situated beyond the vast music corridor of Euro High. He hadn't seen that classroom in a long time, he hadn't seen it since... since he first met Kostya. He remembered going there every lunch break- not a friend to his name- to read in his own confined space in the unused classroom. That was until one day a tall, handsome stranger had discovered his spot and decided to use the old piano in peace, the immediate connection they felt and the friendship they built in less than a heartbeat; it all felt so simple back then. That's when it hit him like a ton of bricks- it had to be Kostya's voice. Nikita wasn't sure wether to be more enticed to open the door or to shy away from the memories held by his protector turned enemy. Though his singing made him feel nothing but undying comfort and love towards the boy he'd once seen as a soft, secure companion. There was nothing left to do but to face his fears and to open the door. Niki sighed silently and pushed the door as gently as his delicate fingers could manage; the rusted hinge still sounding a loud squeak.
Kostya abruptly stopped playing the piano in the corner of the spacious room and turned to face Nikita, preparing his lecture on how he was oh so sorry and how he was fully to blame and... no. Maybe that wasn't what he had to do. Kostya had rehearsed a conundrum of ways to apologise and was sure he was ready, but now as he faced him once and for all, he suddenly changed his mind. He had to say something spontaneously, from the heart, no scripted speeches or robotic explanations, no-
"Hey." The sound uttered from the teenage boy in front of him was close to inaudible but enough to cut off his racing mind.
"Hi. Yeah, so I uh just wanted to play a song for you. No reason. Actually, no never mind, there was a reason, sorry, no I mean... uh sorry, I just wanted to-" He continuously contradicted himself as he spoke so quickly that Nikita could only stand and step back in alarm.
"It's alright. I get it." Nikita muttered. It was a monotone and emotionless response that tugged at Kostya's heart strings. He was trying his best but couldn't seem to blame Niki for feeling the way he did after he harmed him on that dreadful night.
"No really. Regarding the Formal..."
"You don't need to be sorry, I just don't want to talk about it, okay?" Niki stayed standing as Kostya sat on a nearby stool. "Please just tell me what's going on. Does this have anything to do with the guys? Did you plan something? Because this isn't the time. I just want to go home and forget about it."
"But I..." Kostya began. "I owe you an apology don't I? I shouldn't have lashed out at you without thinking and I just hope that you won't hold that against me."
Niki simply looked down at him coldly, all feelings of security he'd went into the room feeling drifting off into the harsh silence.
"It's alright, I accept your apology. Friends make mistakes sometimes."
Kostya scoffed. He felt like he'd just been struck, his heart aching at the thought of what Nikita had just dared to say. He waited for him to correct himself, something, anything.
"Ouch." Kostya breathed, his hoarse throat muffling his reply.
"I know it may sound harsh but... maybe somethings just weren't meant to be..." Nikita turned away, approaching the door and ready to leave the Ukrainian to himself. A firm hand gripped his shoulder desperately, keeping him back.
"But what if that's not true. Remember when I first saw you. Didn't you..."
"Didn't I what? Fall into your trap based on your looks and charisma, unaware that your hopeless anger issues would pull me away in the end?"
Kostya pulled his hand away. Even Nikita couldn't believe his ears as those words left his lips.
"What's...gotten into you, Niki?
"I don't know, I just..." He looked back at his hopeless crush. "I don't want you to get caught up in all this...this aggression. I understand it was an accident but friends don't lay their hands on eachother."
"Friends? After all of this, friends?"
"Can't you take a hint? Leave me alone, Kostya." He turned away and walked right out, leaving him flushed and completely speechless. Hopeless infact. After everything he'd ever done to get that boy to share his feelings, he'd lost it all in the blink of an eye- all down to his insufferable thirst for meaningless wrath. There was just nothing he could do to save his happiness as it was slipping right through his fingers...or was there? As thoughts of anguish seased his mind, hope still remained- this wasn't over yet.
Nikita stormed down the hall, his heart aching to an unbearable point. His mind congratulated him- telling him what he did was the right thing to do in the end- but his broken heart begged him to go back. No. He wasn't going to break now, he was stronger than this. But what if walking away only exposed his weakness? Maybe he was running away from his strength, his love, his everything. Kostya had played such a beautiful song, he'd tried his hardest to make it up to him. Did he really deserve to be treat like this? Or was he getting a taste of his own medicine for hurting his true love- whether it was physically or mentally that is?
It must be something that we call love,
Wherever I go I'm coming back.
And time can not knock me off my track, this resolution is final...
Niki shivered as he heard his voice echo from the top of the hallway. He Should have known, it wasn't like Kostya to give up that easy. As his whole body conflicted between desicions, all he could do was stand in silence, facing away from his resilient partner.
It must be something that we call love,
It's when you're craving to say her name,
And all reality seems to break apart in her arrival...
Kostya paused. Nikita still wasn't paying attention to him, not even after he memorized his breath-taking song- something he'd been doing ever since the night he'd truly been able to endorse himself in its everloving glory. But Niki was being stubborn. Kostya was ready to give up now, there was no point in only angering him any further; he slowly turned away, ready to abandon the failed mission.
No need to worry,
Rain falling down,
It's our happiest story,
And there's no one around...
A wide grin immediately graced his lips as he heard the symphonic silk of Nikita's voice: echoing almost eerily yet so beautifully, it made his heart beat furiously. He met eyes with the sophomore from the edge of the corridor, their smiles only exchanging as Kostya joined in; a duet that sparked every dose of forgiveness they'd been unable to express.
We will go for it and I know you'll be mine forever...
Nikita gazed up at Kostya with his dazed, teary eyes and lept into his arms, longing to feel safe and sound in his protective shield of love. Everything they'd ever wanted to pour out to eachother came out in an instant, emotional and incomprehensible and all in unison- to the point it really didn't make sense, but the meaning stayed strong. The forgiveness stayed strong. The rest of the Guys made themselves present soon enough, all three of them dashing down the hall in glee. They were more relieved and over-joyed than they'd ever been before upon seeing their friends finally reunite in each other's embrace.
"I love you." Nikita whispered.
"I love you too." Kostya replied.
So, you're probably wondering what happens next right? Well summer wasn't too far away actually. The Guys wrapped up the year- finally all back together; just the way they liked it. They were excited- like all Euro High students- that the year had finally came to an end, a happy one for that matter. This one was sure to hold a lot of memories for the near future: new love, new drama, new friends, new possibilities. Who knew what next year could hold for the wide array of students inside the walls of
Euro High.
Hello. Well it's been a while hasn't it? A few of you probably know i was taking a social media break and a break from writing as the thrill of this hobby was just
G O N E.
And I hated that, so I quit for a bit, and people were super duper supportive of that so tysm guys! Is this the end of Euro High? Most probably, yes. I'll label this as COMPLETED but who knows? Maybe I'll randomly be up at 1:20 in the morning on a night like this and imagine a whole new concept for a new chapter? Only time can tell am I right?
Well I'd like to thank each and every single one of you for the reads, votes and lovely comments from you guys, it really means a lot (yes I know I probably say that a bit too much but I MEAN IT) you are all so so supportive, I couldn't ask for a better set of readers :))))))
Love you all-
Ellie x