The Academy

by Quinn Anderson

  He glanced between them, keeping his expression neutral. “Honestly, it’s about time.”

  They broke into grins, crossed the threshold, and each threw an arm over him.

  “Happy for us?” Dante asked.

  “Ecstatic. Though the real question is, how am I going to be both of your best mans at your wedding?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” Theo teased. “I’ll ask Nick to be my best man. That won’t be awkward, right? Considering you two are so over.”

  Nick chose that moment to appear in the doorway to the kitchen. “Yeah, about that.”

  “Quelle surprise.” Theo tossed Sebastian a sharp look. “Care to tell us what happened?”

  The two couples brewed some coffee and sat opposite each other on Sebastian’s twin couches. Between sips and giggles, Nick and Sebastian related (most of) the story of their reconciliation. Leaving out the more salacious details, of course.

  Dante and Theo listened attentively, though they abandoned their coffee mugs in favor of holding hands, Theo’s head on Dante’s shoulder. There was a miniscule part of Sebastian that twanged with awkwardness every time he glanced over and saw his two best friends cuddling, but when Dante ran his fingers through Theo’s bright hair, and Theo gazed at him with eyes that were liquid bliss, that awkwardness evaporated, never to be seen again.

  “So, this is it, huh?” Dante gestured at the room as if to encompass them all. “Happy endings all around? It almost doesn’t seem real.”

  Theo shushed him. “Don’t jinx it, darling.”

  “Darling?” Sebastian’s lip curled up. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to be a cutesy-pet-name sort of couple.”

  “Oh, absolutely.” Theo grinned. “And the sort to engage in PDA. In fact, I feel a bout of bunny kisses coming on.” He leaned over, and Dante rubbed their noses together while they both made cooing sounds.

  Sebastian pretended to retch.

  “I think it’s sweet.” Nick slid his arm behind Sebastian’s shoulders on the sofa. “I was rooting for you two from the start.”

  “Same for you guys.” Dante glanced at Nick. “When Theo first proposed we Parent Trap you, I thought it was a longshot, but look at you now. Someone finally defrosted Sebby’s icicle of a heart.”

  Sebastian opened his mouth to deliver his usual rebuke, but Nick beat him to it.

  “Don’t call my boyfriend Sebby.” Nick smiled over at Sebastian. “He doesn’t like it.”

  Sebastian’s whole body warmed with happiness.

  “Adorable,” Dante said. “And disgusting.”

  “You’re officially not allowed to make fun of us ever again,” Theo said. “And I mean ever. Not even if Dante and I wear a couple’s Halloween costume and start calling each other pookie.”

  That devolved into a round of good-natured ribbing that had Sebastian laughing harder than he had in a long time. And all the while, he couldn’t get over how right this seemed.

  For so long, it’d been just him, Theo, and Dante. The three musketeers. Licking each other’s wounds and shutting everyone else out. But Nick fit right in with them. It made Sebastian wonder if maybe the future—and all the changes that were sure to come with it—wasn’t so scary after all.

  “So, what’s next for you two?” Dante asked after they’d settled down. “You worked through all your issues, and now it’s smooth sailing?”

  “Mostly.” Nick shrugged. “Obviously not everything. We both have serious baggage when it comes to our parents, and there’s a lot we don’t know about each other still.”

  “And I’ve never been in a serious relationship before, so I have a lot to learn.” Sebastian squeezed Nick’s hand. “We’re going to take it one step at a time.”

  “Plus, I know I need to work on my communication.”

  Sebastian chuckled. “We both need to work on that. No more secrets from here on out. And the bet is officially retired forever.”

  “Oh hey, that reminds me of something.” Theo leaned down and reached for where he’d thrown his bag at his feet. After some rummaging, he produced a worn and admittedly hideous trophy. “This is for you.”

  “Barbzilla!” Nick and Sebastian said at the same time.

  Sebastian peered at Nick. “How’d you know that’s Barbzilla?”

  “I saw her in Theo’s room once. Besides, I sincerely hope you don’t have a second mutant Barbie hanging around.”

  “Nope, it’s one of a kind.” Theo plunked it down on the coffee table between them. “Technically, since I won the bet, I should have permanent ownership of it. But Dante and I talked about it, and we realized for Sebastian to go so totally overboard trying to win this thing, it must mean a lot to him. So—” he flashed a smile at Sebastian “—it’s all yours, buddy.”

  Sebastian’s eyes widened. “I can have this?”

  “Yeah.” Theo’s grin was evil. “And to think, if you’d asked me for it in the first place, this whole thing could have been avoided.”

  “But then we might not have ended up here.” Sebastian started to reach for the trophy, but then he stopped. “On second thought, I don’t want it anymore.”

  “Really?” Nick nudged him. “Are you sure? You said it means so much to you.”

  “It used to. I’ve realized a lot in these past two weeks, including the fact that I don’t need to cling to the past. And I definitely don’t need some old trophy to remind me where I came from. Or who my friends are.” He glanced at his friends. “Thanks, you guys.”

  Dante pretended to wipe away a tear. “It’s like a Hallmark card. But I’m not taking it, and now that I’m with Theo, it can’t stay in his room either. The thing gives me the creeps.”

  “I know who it should go to.” Theo turned his gaze to Nick. “To the newest member of our little group.”

  Nick pointed at himself. “Me?”

  “Sure. Call it a consolation prize for all the trouble we put you through.”

  “I dunno.” He nodded at Sebastian. “What if Sebastian and I break up tomorrow? I’ll have your beloved childhood heirloom as my hostage.”

  “Somehow, I think Seb and you are gonna make it in the long run.”

  “Me too.” Sebastian snuggled closer to Nick. “Think about it: if I ever piss you off, you can send me photos of you about to throw Barbzilla onto a grill.”

  Nick laughed and took the trophy, setting it in his lap. “Actually, I can see us having a lot of fun with this thing. We could have a dinner party, set a place for it at the table, and when people ask about it, we can pretend we don’t know what they mean.”

  Sebastian snorted. “We can refer to it casually in conversation like it’s a person.”

  “When we take Christmas card photos, we can cradle it like a baby.”

  “Oh my God, I bet that would freak my parents out enough that they’d insist on spending the holidays with us.”

  “Good.” Nick rested his head on Sebastian’s shoulder. “I want to meet them.”

  “You two are weirdly perfect for each other,” Dante said.

  “Yeah.” Sebastian’s face hurt from smiling so much. “We are.”

  Dante and Theo hung out for a bit longer before they excused themselves. They had their own date planned. Sebastian didn’t mind at all that they were hanging out without him. He had everything he needed in his apartment right now.

  When they were gone, he took Nick by the hand, nervousness fluttering in his stomach. “I have to admit, what Dante said about this seeming surreal gave me pause.”

  Nick quirked a brow at him. “No worries there. I vividly recall the half a dozen fights, lies, and missteps it took us to get here.”

  “Touché. Do you think we’ll be able to start over?”

  “No.”

  Sebastian startled. “What?”

  Nick touched his cheek. “We can’t start over, and I don’t want to. I don’t want to pretend the last couple of weeks didn’t happen, because that was what got us here. I grew a lot, and I think you d
id too. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Would you?”

  Sebastian put a hand on top of Nick’s. “No, though I might have ditched the bet and just asked you on a date.”

  “You know something?” Nick leaned in for a kiss. “I would have said yes.”

  Wrapping Nick in his arms, Sebastian shared a kiss with him that reached deep into him and soothed all his worries about the future. No matter what happened—no matter what tribulations they faced—Sebastian knew with utmost certainty that they could handle it. Together.

  Graduation Day

  When asked later, Nick would say all he remembered about graduating from college was worrying his tassel was on the wrong side, being blinded by a dozen camera flashes, and praying Don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip as he walked across the stage.

  The truth was much more detailed and bittersweet.

  The ceremony took place in the auditorium, which—ringed by May flowers—seemed to get more beautiful every time Nick saw it. Inside, white candles in tall, gold sconces adorned the wooden stage. A gorgeous May pre-sunset filtered through the stained-glass windows. Two hundred spectators filled the red velvet seats: family, administration, and some of the students who had become Nick’s friends over the years.

  He had to admit, he’d wondered at times if this day would ever come, and now here it was. After five years, he was graduating from college with a degree in physics.

  This ceremony represented both accomplishments and regrets for Nick. He remembered when Dad had first packed him up for college. They’d driven to his new dorm together and set up. Dad had joked about only seeing Nick when he needed food money, and they’d both thought that in a few years, Dad would watch him get his diploma.

  As Nick looked out across the auditorium, he thought, I did it, Dad. I made it.

  But Nick wasn’t alone on this day. There were three very important people graduating with him, and a guest he’d invited personally, sitting somewhere in the stands. It was with extreme pleasure and pride that Nick watched Dante, Theo, and Sebastian cross the stage, while Deen cheered them on, louder than any of the proud parents sitting around him.

  After, everyone poured out into the courtyard, where a formal reception was being held. Tables had been set up with hors d’oeuvres, and as the sun slowly lowered, lights flickered on in the windows facing them.

  Campus was as beautiful as the day Nick had first set foot on it. The redbrick buildings were unchanged, though the creeping vines were determined to claim the face of the gymnasium as their own. The trees were full of new leaves, and the smell of fresh-cut grass was sharp in his nose.

  Dr. O’Connor was standing off to the side, looking particularly willowy in a gauzy green gown. She spotted him and waved, a huge smile on her face that spoke to him as clearly as words: Congratulations. Be proud. It made him feel like the sun had briefly stopped setting so it could shine on him in particular.

  He couldn’t see Powell Hall from here, but he could imagine the beautiful old building that’d been his home for a hell of an eventful year. Sometimes, when he woke in the morning, he still expected to open his eyes and see sunlight pouring through attic windows.

  As if summoned by his reminiscing, a familiar voice called Nick’s name. He turned toward the sound just as Deen broke through the crowd. Deen was wearing a nice suit jacket, which was only somewhat diminished by the tuxedo shirt he’d put on under it.

  “’Gratz, Nick!” His brown cheeks were red with excitement. “You did it! You didn’t trip, and now I know what to expect when I graduate next year.”

  “I’m so glad you could make it.” Nick tossed an arm over Deen’s shoulder and held up the fake diploma they’d handed him. Each student had gotten a symbolic piece of paper tied with red ribbon. “What they say about college is true: you go through all that work, and at the end, they hand you a lousy piece of paper.”

  “You’ll change your tune when the real one comes in the mail. My parents already bought this giant embarrassing frame for it. It has a tassel and a slot for a photo of me in my cap and gown and everything. It’s way over the top.” Despite his words, he was grinning.

  “You’re loving this, aren’t you?” Nick squeezed his shoulders. “Getting a glimpse into the future. I bet you’re going to be the only college kid ever to experience reverse senioritus.”

  “Probably. But enough about me. This is your day. You must be so jazzed to finally be free. I’m going to miss having you around, though.”

  “We’ll always have Powell Hall. Besides, we had this whole past year to get used to living with other people. Speaking of which—” he scanned the crowd “—where’s Andi?”

  Deen pointed to a woman standing a few feet away, talking to two elderly Indian people: Deen’s parents. Deen had said they were flying in for a “visit,” aka a thinly veiled reason to meet his girlfriend.

  Andi, who played on the Academy’s basketball team, would have towered over Deen’s parents on a normal occasion, but she’d donned a sundress and heels for the ceremony, making Nick wonder how he hadn’t seen her sooner.

  She noticed them staring and waved, a big smile on her face.

  Nick waved back. “I’m gonna miss her. What am I going to do when I go grocery shopping and need something off a top shelf?”

  “I know, right?” Deen giggled, sounding utterly gleeful. “I still can’t believe we’ve been dating for nine months. How lucky am I?”

  “Congratulations. Invite me to the wedding?”

  Deen crossed his heart. “Of course. Listen, I know graduation is a prime time for everyone to make mushy, emotional speeches and blah blah blah, but promise you won’t forget about me when you move back to the big city?”

  “I’ll never forget you, Deen.” Nick pulled him into a fierce hug. “You were the first friend I made here, after all. You can visit me in Chicago, and I’ll visit you here. The bus route from Chicago to Evanston is one I know well. Although, promise you won’t let me crash any college parties and talk about what things were like in my day.”

  “Deal.” Deen patted him on the back. When they both stepped back from the hug, Deen’s eyes latched on to something over Nick’s shoulder. “Well, that’s my cue.”

  Before Nick could ask what he meant, Deen said, “My folks are taking Andi and me out for dinner, but maybe we can meet up later for a celebratory drink? I’ll call you.” Deen about-faced and left as quickly as he’d appeared.

  Nick understood why a moment later, when someone brushed up against his side. “Hey, handsome.”

  “Sebastian.” Nick turned around and threw his arms around his boyfriend. “Congratulations, fellow graduate. We made it.”

  “Yup. We’re alumni now.” Sebastian slid his arms around Nick’s waist. “How’s it feel?”

  “It hasn’t hit me yet. Probably won’t until I’m holding my diploma. I loved getting to watch you walk across stage, though. I thought you said you were going to high-five the president?”

  “Yeah, but I made the mistake of telling my mom about that little plan, and she threatened to disinherit me.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t quite worth it.”

  “Fair enough. How is she, by the way? I haven’t talked to her since that dinner party.”

  “Good. She and Dan are somewhere in the Galápagos right now. They want us to come on their next Christmas cruise with them.”

  “Will your dad be cool with that?”

  “Yeah, so long as we spend Thanksgiving with him this year.” Sebastian shook his head. “I never would have guessed he’d be the one to start nesting after the divorce, while Mom runs around doing all this traveling. He sent me a photo of him the other day holding a pie he’d baked from scratch, and he was wearing an apron. It had ruffles, Nick. When I was growing up, he didn’t know where we kept the baking sheets.”

  Nick laughed. “Things certainly have changed these past few years. So, where are—”

  He was interrupted by a loud popping sound followed by raucous cheering. The crowd p
arted, revealing Dante and Theo over by the refreshments, holding a freshly opened bottle of champagne.

  “Drinks all around!” Theo shouted while Dante handed champagne flutes to everyone in the vicinity.

  Nick whispered to Sebastian out of the corner of his mouth. “He does know it’s nonalcoholic, right?”

  “Yeah, but he’s been so excited all day, I’m surprised he didn’t get a megaphone. Besides, he hasn’t touched alcohol since that party we threw last semester.”

  “The one where he kept trying to go streaking, and Dante had to handcuff him to the kitchen sink?”

  “That’s the one.” Sebastian crinkled his nose. “I never did ask Dante where he got those handcuffs from. And so fast. We’re probably better off not knowing.”

  They laughed, and a second later, Dante and Theo strolled over to them. Dante had a glass of champagne in each hand and one tucked into the crook of his arm. Theo had one and a bottle of champagne, which he probably wasn’t supposed to remove from the refreshments table.

  Nick wisely chose not to say anything and took the glass Dante handed him. “Cheers, guys. Anyone want to make a toast?”

  “I do.” Dante raised his flute. “To making it count.”

  Sebastian tsked. “You can’t steal the toast from Titanic. Come up with your own.”

  “Fine.” Dante glared at him. “To final chapters and new beginnings.”

  “Nice one, darling.” Theo clinked their drinks together before doing the same to Nick and Sebastian. They all repeated the toast and took a sip.

  The bubbles tickled the roof of Nick’s mouth, providing proof that this was, in fact, really happening. “What an incredible two years it’s been. I almost can’t believe it’s over. We’re college graduates.”

  “Cheers to that,” Dante said.

  “I have a toast as well,” Sebastian said.

  Theo groaned. “Oh God, are you going to toast to Nick and say something cheesy? Like, ‘To the love of my life’ or ‘To finding my better half’?”