First week of May, Belladona Academy's outdoor dining hall, Artemisia, Gale and Nathan were having lunch in the afternoon break, the others were busy with some activity, and these three had their free time on their schedule. The three friends were there resting and rambling, Nathan was looking lost and thoughtful.
– Still thinking about my brother? – Artemisia laughed eating her fruit salad.
– Thinking about what to do, I've been trying for two months and nothing... I don't know what else to do. – Nathan said sadly.
– I don't know what you're going to do, but better act quickly, he's already hooking with Erik, Liam, Theo, Lucas, Malik... There was Jaiden and Carlos from the second year, Tristan and Haiden from the last year... Artemisia excuse me, but your brother is not lit, it's an entire firestorm. – Gale said laughing.
– Nah! He hasn't had sex with them, he's just hooked up, I know my brother, he likes Nathan, he's just been bitten by what happened years ago... Sometimes it's hard to trust again after being hurt, especially when you love the people. – Artemisia said.
– I know I screwed up and so far I haven't been able to fix things... At least he's talked to me again, but I can't tell if it's just as a friend or if he still really feels something for me. – Nathan said, curious and tormented.
– Calm down, Nate, things will work out... Let's put together a scheme... Polo told me he's going to spend the night studying the magical theory for a new medical spell that aunt indicated for him... We'll combine something with the boys you stay alone in the dorm and work your magic, I doubt he can resist an empty dorm, you shirtless, I know my brother. – Artemisia laughed maliciously.
– Anyone who looks like that doesn't even think that you and your brother love each other, they talk about him as if he were a "bitch". – Gale laughed.
– It just pisses me off, I know he likes Nate, but he doesn't open his guard, I know my brother, the same way he knows my cardiac and metabolic status just by looking at me, I know how his heart works, sometimes he's very stubborn. – Artemisia said, sure of what she was saying.
– I just know that everyone has already figured out their feelings, and not one of the boys will be a competition to you, I don't say the same for the other boys in the class. – Gale said being realistic.
– Really… Apollodro is a perfect match for anyone. – Nathan said that he saw the beloved almost as an angel.
– If it's up to me, I'll make any other brother-in-law's life a hell. – Artemisia laughed, who was sorry for her friend.
– Artê, I want to ask you, why do you want to help Nate so much, that I never quite understood. – Gale said curiously.
– I like you Nate, I really like you, my dear friend these last few months, but I insist on it because of my brother, he is happy, joyful, but he has never had that sparkle in his true eyes since he was disillusioned, and knowing you love him, I know he loves you, I do what I can to help fix this mistake. – Artemisia said sincerely and remembering her twelve-year-old brother with the glow of a young man in love.
– You're a big sister, I wish I was such a good brother to Tate. – Nathan smiled.
– He was very small the last time I saw him. – Artemisia laughed.
– He's 12 years old now, he has that innocence and insight I had, but he luckily has fewer demands than me, as he's 3rd in the line of succession. – Nathan said, remembering his brother.
– And the kid idolizes Nathan. – Commented Gale.
– We do everything for our brothers, right. – Artemisia said.
– Nate and Tate are like my brothers since I'm an only child. – Gale laughed. – That's why I always try to help this dummy... See if, get on with Polo. –
***
At night, Apollodro's boys' dormitory, Keith, Nathan and Adam, the boys had a very tidy and organized room, Apollodro took a lot on their feet to take care of the place, otherwise it was going to be a wet towel festival on beds and underwear everywhere, the room tones were gray and blue. The boys were gone, only the Prince of Celestia and the young medical mage remained. Apollodro was wearing loose white shorts, he was barefoot and a loose white tank top with a sea print, while Nathan was only in white swimming trunks, standing with his arms outstretched, he was serving as a model for the young mage to study physiological medical magic.
– Thank you so much for staying, I was going to study a new spell, but with you here I decided to improve more magical physiology, you can take basic average medical class and even then you can just stay in theory, I'm taking the advanced classes and it's staying very complicated. – Apollodro laughed with a medical book in his hand and the other was passing very close to Nathan's body emanating a green magic, he was recognizing the process of traction and retraction of the muscles, he felt the tension of those muscles, and how strong they were, he controlled himself so as not to fall into weakness and give in.
– Be my guest, all for you. – Nathan said smiling.
– You're an excellent friend, I'm glad you and I got back to talking, you're important to me. – Apollodro said that continued to analyze the anatomy of the prince.
– We are friends just because you want to, you know that for me we would be much more. – Nathan said, who kissed Apollodro, took him by the waist, had his other hand on the young man's thigh.
It was a long, wet and passionate kiss, they both liked it, but some feelings prevailed and Apollodro broke away from the kiss and the hug.
– Nathan, please, let's not mix things up, please, I don't want either of us to get hurt. – Apollodro said, the kiss had moved him deeply, but he wouldn't give in yet.
– Polo, I'm sorry for what I've done in the past, and I want to fix it now, be with the one I love. – Nathan said emotionally and not wanting to play dirty he wore his pajamas.
– Nate, I really admire your insistence, don't think I didn't realize, all your plans and all your jealousy attacks, but I have to be honest with you, I don't know if it's true, if this feeling that you call it "love", actually I don't know if it is not just pity, pity for the boy you hurt... I don't need pity and I don't want to get hurt again with you, you're too important to me for me to suffer all that again , better to stay just as friends. – Apollodro said emotionally and crying, that hurt him a lot, but for him, at that moment it was the best for both.
- For sure what I feel is not pity, I never stopped loving you, I was just an idiot boy who didn't know how to appreciate it, and I ask you for this chance. – Nathan said.
– Nate, this is beautiful, really beautiful, but I can't, we are so fine the way we are, confusion of feelings is very common, please, I don't have the strength for this. – Apollodro said, crying almost giving in, but keeping strong.
– Tell me you didn't feel anything with the kiss? – Nathan said with a passionate and intense look.
– I won't be a hypocrite, I felt, but please, I don't want any of us to suffer when you back down again, I'm doing this for you and me. – Apollodro said, crying and hugging Nathan.
– If that's how you want it... I won't pressure you, but I won't give up on you either, I'll wait as long as I have to wait for you to understand that I love you. – Nathan said that little by little he let himself be hugged and cried.
– Nathan, in a while this illusion ends, you'll end up falling in love with someone else. – Apollodro said.
– I won't, but if you just want my friendship, then I'll give you this, but my hopes will never die... I'm still a virgin, you know? I never slept with anyone, because I wanted it to be someone special, you. – Nathan said with a passionate air.
– Nate, believe the words of someone who had a broken heart, sometime you get tired, sometime you'll move on. – Apollodro said, he wanted Nathan to overcome him and move on, he was not willing to suffer all over again, even wanting to pass an image of a whore, he was still a virgin too, he had no desire to have actual sex to anyone yet.
– If that's your wish, don't worry, I know how to be patient. –Nathan said that soon after he left the room, he wanted to go air his head.
Apollodro was alone in the room, crying, he had feelings for Nathan, he was just not sure of his true feelings, he was wrong once, he could be wrong again, he was still hurt by their past, but he wanted Nathan's friendship because he wanted him around, but he didn't exactly know if this was to really get over the past or torment himself, he controlled himself not to give in, he didn't want to go through it all again, but he didn't hate Nathan either, he wanted her well; it was a secret, but he still dreamed of the prince of Celestia.