He felt the punch connect with his jaw, a raw pain rippling through his mouth. Blood seeped in the crevises of him gums, slipping inbetween his teeth like water. There was a few scattered shouts of rage as Nick hit the grass. He gasped and rolled over in the grass, his blue eyes wide and shocked. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Downey punch Dr. Dick back, knocking him to the ground just like Nick. He stared at Downey in amazment, suprised that anyone had stood up for him when he'd been such an ass that week. Fired Up! was his home now, he realized it. And Nick was ashamed that he almost let the girls down by making him and Shawn ditch.

Speaking of Shawn, he was standing rooted to the spot, as upset as everyone else. His arm was protectivly around Carly's shoulder, pulling her agaisnt him. Shawn was lucky. He got who he had wanted out of this whole mess. Carly, the lead cheerleader of the Tiger's squad, had fallen just as hard in love with Shawn as he had her. Lucky Shawn. He got his sunset ending. Nick hadn't, which was weird being the guy he was. He could have almost any girl at the camp he wanted just by a simple wink of his periwinkle irisis. But he had one problem. It wasn't a girl that he wanted. Oh no. It was Downey that he wanted. He knew that it was virtually impossible now, after telling Downey himself that he was straighter than a ruler, and telling Shawn in multipul ways over the years that he wasn't gay in anyway possible. And after spending the summer at Cheer Camp, making out with every girl there every minuet of everyday, everyone would be furious if they knew he wanted Downey. It was just him though. No one else. And no girl compared to Downey. He was just the relaxed, surfer guy and that atracted Nick. A lot. But no matter how bad Nick wanted Downey, he'd never get him. It was as simple as that. Nick would never get his sunset ending. And it was his own. Damn. Fault.

"Oh my god, Nick are you okay?" Diora cried. She was bending over him, staring at him with concern and worry. Nick managed to nod his pounding head, his eyes still halfway closed. She reached out to touch him and he flinched away. He was through being touched and seduced by women. If he couldn't have Downey, he didn't want anyone. She looked a bit take aback, but retracted her hand. "I'm going to get you some water and an ice pack, okay?"

"Mmmhmm." he moaned.

"Nick! Oh, god Nick are you all right?" Shawn asked.

"Peachy." Nick replyed, blowing out a breath through his nose. Shawn extended a hand and let Nick grasp it before pulling him to his feet.

"Man, I'm so sorry that Rick punched you in the face. I didn't see you standing there until you spoke."

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine."

"Uh!" Shawn growled. "I want to punch him back, but he's gone now in his stupid car."

"Just forget him, Shawn. He's not worth it."

"But he punched you in the face!"

"And trees have bark. Yes, I know Shawn. But that doesn't mean I want you getting yourself arrested just because he popped me in the mouth. Please, let it go."

"Fine..." Shawn agreed grudgingly. "But only because it's two agaisnt one."

"Who else doesn't want you to kick his ass?"

"Carly."

"Oooh." Nick nodded his head in understandment. "Probably for the same reasons as me."

"Right."

"Here, Nick!" Diora jogged up to the two guys and handed Nick a frozen bag of peas. He smacked them agaisnt his jaw, sighing in reliefe at the sub-zero contact. Diora handed Shawn the water and rambled some garble to him before walking off, her ponytail swaying rythmically.

"I'm going back to the cabin to clean off my mouth and chill. Kay? Go hang with your girlfriend." Nick said to Shawn, taking the water bottle and unscrewing the cap. He chugged half of the bottle, swallowing some and gurgled the rest. He swished it around his mouth, then spat it into the grass at his feet. The blades turned into a coppery color, making Nick blanch.

"Sure thing. See ya later." Shawn replyed. He waved, then made his way over to Carly. Nick stared sadly at the couple, wishing it were him and Downey in their place. If only dreams came true.

Nick stood out on the sidewalk, staring out at the grounds. It was around eleven thirty at night, the stars freshly laid out in a blanket across the navy sky. A banana shaped moon sat amung the stars, smiling down from the heavens. Nick's jaw still ached from the day's events, but other than that he was fine. Except for the gaping hole in his heart. God, why did he say he wasn't in love with Downey when he was? He was, god he was so in love with the chill-rept brunette. He hated the fact that he had lied. Look where it had gotten him. Staring at the grass in the moonlight, wishing that the one he wanted was there with him, holding his hand, kissing him softly, whispering meaningless words and secrets in his ear. Being a Hopeless Romantic was such a killer at times.

"Hey, Nick." A sickeningly familiar voice said quietly. Nick turned his head a bit, peering longingly at Downey in the darkness.

"Hey. Downey. What's up."

"Oh, um, not much... I just saw you out hear and decided to see if you wanted some company."

"I'd love some." Nick said before he could stop himself. Downey smiled slightly and came to stand next to him.

"I'm sorry about what happened to your, erm, face."

"Don't worry about it. Dr. Dick's a douche anyways. I'm just glad someone sweet like Carly ended up with Shawn rather than Rick."

"Right..."

An awkward but calm silence filled the air, making Nick both uneasy but suprisingly relaxed. He breathed in deeply, smiling slightly.

"Look, Downey... What I said before-"

"It's okay," Downey interupted. "I shouldn't have come onto you like that. You were obviously into chicks, but I couldn't stop myself."

"No. It's not that... Listen, I know that I said that I was straight. I said I wasn't really into you."

"Yeah."

"It was a lie."

"Wait, what?" Downey looked at a very calm Nick, who seemed to be saying these things with no amount of regret in the world. In fact, he looked very relieved to be getting these things off of his chest.

"I lied. The truth is, Downey, I'm in love with you. I have been since I met you. I never told you because there were so many girls here that I kissed, I was afraid I would make them all mad, or worse... I was terrified that Shawn wouldn't want to be my friend anymore. But now, I know that he doesn't care if I like you, because I am who I am. I've been the way I am for the past seventeen years, and he's still my best buddy. So, now I'm not afraid to say it. I love you, Downey. I really do."

Downey was silent for a moment, just staring, dumbfounded at Nick. Somewhere in the distance, there was a small rumble of thunder, and a sound like a shower being turned on. A thick sheet of rain casscaded down from the sky, drenching Nick and Downey instantly. Nick laughed, grinning and looking up.

"Such a cliche."

"What is?" Downey asked.

"The rain. I just poured my heart out to you, and know it's starting to rain." Nick turned to Downey, stepping closer until they were almost touching. "In fifty percent of the chick flicks I've seen, the movie ends with the lovers kissing in the pouring rain."

"But... We're not kissing."

"Says who?" Nick gathered up the front of Downey's jacket in his fists, and pulled the taller boy down. Nick kissed Downey, and hard. It was incredible feeling, Nick's heart filling with warmth. Finally, his dream had come true. Downey stayed stock stiff, still shocked. Nick pulled back slightly, not completly moving his lips off of Downey's. "Kiss me back, Downey, or I'll break all of your Xbox games in half."

Downey smiled agianst Nick and brought his hands up to cup his face. Downey kissed Nick back, his stomache flipping and his pulse running wildly. He backed Nick up agaisnt the nearest tree, crushing him back on the trunck. Nick lifted his legs up, and succeededly wrapped them around Downey's waist, bringing him closer so that they were almost on top of eachother. Downey made a sound of suprised, then gently bit down on Nick's bottom lip. Nick gasped and opened his mouth, their hot breath mingling. Downey flicked his toung onto Nick's, gaining his entrance. Nick responded back, entwining their tounges together and creating a game of tug-o-war. Downey eventually reclaimed his toung in the tangle of flesh and moved his kiss from Nick's lips to his neck. He sucked on a sensitive part, nibbling and teasing it with his teeth. Nick moaned, grined underneath Downey. It was a little understated to say that they were both aroused.

"D-Downey." Nick gasped / moaned, tangling his fingers in Downey's thick, brown hair.

"Hmmm?"

"Isn't there some rule saying that you shouldn't be under trees when it's raining?"

Downey responded by kissing Nick passionatly, letting his fingers curl around the blonde ringlets.

"Mmm," Nick growled. "Laws of Nature be damned then." He murmured on Downey's lips.

The two kissed all through the rain, and until the rise of dawn, where Shawn saw them and broke out into the biggest grin imaginable. Nick deserved to get his happy ending.

And he got it.