Chapter Text
Nick and Andrew have always been friends. They’ve went through their stupid arguments and silly disagreements but always ended up running back to one another by any means necessary, the other students in their grade always knew the formula for when and what happened at this point, one week they wouldn’t be talking or sitting together at lunch and then the next they’re best buds till the end.
Along with the students being very educated on Nick and Andrew’s friendship they’ve come to the conclusion that the two boys were at some point going to become partners, the rumours started as a small hushed whisper in the halls till eventually it was all Bridgeton Middle could talk about, of course this very interesting development caught Matthews attention easily.
The sudden opening theme on the schools TV’s alerted the students that Matthew had some fresh new gossip to tell about publicly. The small group of Jay, Nick, and Andrew were standing in the hallway in front of their lockers talking about some mindless topic about whales and dolphins when they stopped to listen in on the broadcast.
“This just in! From the very talkative halls of todays topic: Nick and Andrew!
Are they friends? Or maybe something a bit more intimate? Lets ask a few of our favourite clucking chickens for their thoughts! Devin, what’s your opinion on this hot new sitch?”
Devin flipped some of her hair over her shoulder while grinning an evil smile
“Well Matthew, from my point of view it seems to me like they’ve developed a thing for each other at this point, and honestly it wouldn’t surprise me if they got together over the summer break before ninth grade, haha!”
Nick and Andrew stood there before suddenly looking at each other in shock, taking a few steps away from one another before looking back to the TV.
“Lola, your thoughts?”
Lola held her hands on her hips sassy and ready to spill the beans.
“Well Matthew! I heard from a little bird that they actually kissed, it’s actually like STUPID romantic! From Best friends to lovers? Uhh YES please!”
The screen then cut back to Matthew in shock
“Well there you have it folks! Looks like they’ve already done some experimenting that really needs to be brought to ligghttt!! That’s all for this morning BYEEEE”
The TV cut out to black as the live ended.
“What the actual fuck-“
“Okay you little tic tac who did you tell??”
Nick looked at Andrew in shock
“Who did I tell?? I didn’t even say anything about that no one should’ve known about that!”
Suddenly Matthew ran up to the two
“Oh shit! SO IT’S TRUE! Mister needs to grow a few inches and mister too tall to stand properly have FRENCHED!”
“N-no no no, we didn’t! I mean at this point I’m certainly not opposed to it but-“
“WHAT! Andrew you can’t just say shit like that SHUT UP!”
Nick yelled at him and gently shook him out of both anger and confusion.
Matthew laughed as the boys just looked flustered at one another and walking separate ways.
Andrew knew he wasn’t straight, he’s known for awhile but to be pushed into admitting his deep stomach feelings for Nick in public like that wasn’t right for him. If he was ever to confess he wanted the scene to be perfect, a dinner, and then a movie or maybe even a picnic and then fess up, but now he’s feeling like those plans were definitely ruined.
As he walked to class his hands began to get clammy, feeling the spike of sudden anxiety of having the knowledge he and Nick sat next to each other during second period, it wasn’t for another hour but the fear of having to sit next to him was biting at him like a stray dog.
Things weren’t as chill for Nick either, he never wanted to admit but he really liked kissing Andrew, it just felt right. Since then he’s been projecting his crush on Andrew to other girls, first Jessi, then Gina, then missy..
It always hurt him to make Andrew angry or feel any bad emotions, it made him feel guilty and it stuck to him like tar to bare skin. It stung and he couldn’t wash it away no matter how hard he scrubbed.
Now that it’s public they did in fact kiss no thanks to Matthew, who he told in confidence about, he felt all the wrong emotions all over again.
Tito making an appearance by his side soon as the two parted for their classes told him all he needed to know, he was anxious and afraid for second period.
“You know this means you can’t sit next to him during second period right?? If you do he’ll probably just move seats anyways he HATES you!”
“Ugh for crying out loud GO AWAY! Andrew doesn’t hate me… D-does he?”
“Oh no babey he likes you like you like him, you crazy but he fuck with you baby”
His frumbled hormone monster suddenly joined the convo being supportive of him as usual.
“Honestly Rick.. Thanks, but I dont know if I should go to second period-“
“Tell the nurse you’re dying from CANCER they’ll let you go back home! Oh but then you have to make a lengthy plan about faking your death and trying to persuade you family to go in on it so you’ll NEVER have to see Andrew again!!”
“Wh-what? No that’s a terrible idea! Okay I’m just going to play it cool, it’s just a silly school rumour anyway, I mean it’s okay to be gay in todays age we’re almost done eighth grade everyone should be happy for us! Well not like he likes me back but still the sentiment stands!”
Tito suddenly exploded leaving him to his own sweltering emotions.
The hour for first period went by in a blink of an eye, maybe it was his deep rooted need to see his best friend or maybe it was the fear OF seeing him again since the awkward conversation that morning.
Hearing the bell ring throughout the school he got up and slowly put his belongings into their binder and walked even slower towards their art room, knowing his best friend he was either already in the room or hiding out in the bathroom to avoid his own awkwardness.
‘Oh he’s sitting at our table-‘
Nick thought to himself as he entered the room, looking around at the tables he knew there wasn’t any free spots for him to sit so he swallowed his pride and walked over to Andrew and took a seat.
“So… How was English?”
Nick said hesitantly
“Oh my god, I fell asleep like three times and every time I woke back up it felt like I couldn’t keep my eyes open! Class is rough when you don’t have any friends to talk to the whole time”
The two laughed as the tension melted away, Nick slightly leaned into him as the two tried to copy the sculpture tricks being represented at the front, the assignment was make a sculpture that perfectly captures a feeling that could be shared between you and your table partner.
Nick and Andrew unknowingly made a sculpture of a whale and a dolphin, since they had been debating the importance of the two just an hour before hand.
Andrew gulped down a ball of anxiety as Nick leaned in a bit too close to grab the sculpting tools from his side of the table.
He hated admitting it but Nick smelled really good, like pine and feminine conditioner. Fruity but hints of the woods emitted off him, suddenly feeling his no thought processor short circuit he blurted out to his friend.
“You smell amazing-“
“What”
“What?”
“You think I smell amazing?”
Andrew’s eyes darted back and forth before shaking his head nervously
“N-no, in fact I think you smell bad, horrible, like uhh socks and dirt!”
Nick shot him a cocky smile “Nuh-uh, you’re never going to admit it but I definitely heard you say out loud and proud! That I, Nick Birch smell ah-mazinggg”
Poking at him with his clay covered hand in a teasing matter Andrew admitted defeat and shooed his hand away. “Okay!! Is it so wrong of me to compliment my best friend? Let a man live!”
“Andrew that’s gotta be the most sensual thing I’ve seen you do with Nick, heh other than that nipple twisting incident few weeks ago-“
“Shut up!” Andrew said to Maury who was now suddenly sitting beside him.
Andrew went back to sculpting his whale while Nick let his look linger for a moment before going back to working on the dolphin.
Morning classes came and went quickly, soon they were sitting at a lunch table continuing their sea animal conversation when Jay sat down with them giving them a suspicious but knowing look.
The two looked at each other before looking back at Jay who was merely just observing.
“What?” They both said in unison.
“Oh nothing, just the obvious ELEPHANT in the room, I mean look around you guys, you are both in the spotlight right now, I just saw missy taking a picture of you two from across the cafeteria”
Nick and Andrew stiffened at this and looked around suddenly more aware of their surroundings, Jay was unfortunately right. They were met with a bakers dozen pair of eyes on them, students whispering to one another and giggling.
“Ugh this SUCKS! Come on Andrew lets just go eat outside”
“Alright, sounds good to me”
The two got up with their food trays and exited the building and sat at the outside metal bench with Jay following.
“I don’t understand what their deal is, we’re j-just friends, and I mean its 2023 gay people should be normalized right?”
“Nick we’re in middle school, everything’s funny and interesting to those miserable bitches”
“Yeah! Besides, when I came out as Bi no one even looked at me in fact they started to ignore me more than they already were! Heh, lucky sons of bitches”
“Oh yeah.. sorry about that Jay I guess it’s kind of just now hitting me how closed minded we were being when you came out..”
Nick said apologetically before taking a sip of his juice box.
“Oh don’t worry about it Nick! I’ve grown from that experience I’m ten times more stronger from it! bUT FUCK YOU, YOU LITTLE GAY CLOSET CASES, but honestly it’s like cool-“
Andrew winced at the sudden loudness of jay yelling before settling down.
“If it weren’t for the specific situation we were in I would’ve felt like pretty hot shit with all the staring. Like a middle school celebrity! Hello Instagram followers!” Andrew said in smug like humour.
Nick chuckled at this before both of their phones suddenly lit up in colourful notifications.
Gina followed you! Charles followed you! Missy followed you!
Almost like an instant manifestation the two were now popular online.
“Holy shit.. Hey Andrew, weird thing to ask but like, what if we just.. Pretended we were a couple I mean, look at all these followers! We could be e-celebrities!”
Andrew raised an eyebrow before thinking for a moment
“Hmm, horrible to queer bait like that BUT I’m a sucker for attention, lets do this!”
“Uhh yeah Jay I’m like so happy for you, you got one new follower too” He said sarcastically to remind the boys he was still there.
“Sorry Jay got caught up in the moment, hey what was your stance on the whale and dolphin debate again?”
The three of them sat there talking and barely eating.
Soon enough it was home time. Andrew and Nick already had a way to play games with their new found popularity, they decided to walk to Andrews place, holding hands and not saying anything to the other students they passed when they found each other in the hallway, interlocking hands like it was the most normal thing to do in that school.
The sounds of the students going “oooo” and “Oh my godddd” as silent photos were being taken filled their ears with each step they took.
Of course they were in it for the attention but at the same time the both of them desperately wanted this, not letting go till the boys were in Andrews room as he set up his laptop so the two could watch a movie till Nick had to go home.
“Goodnight Andrew! Thanks for dinner Mrs. Glouberman it was fantastic!”
“Oh of course Nick! Bye!” “Bye Nick see you tomorrow!”
The two waved him off as Nick got into his parents car and watched them drive off. The two walking back into the house closing the front door.
“Oh Andrew how come you never told us you two finally got together?”
“Wh-what? Finally? Why do you say that?”
“Well it’s just you guys were holding hands the whole time, not to mention you have that look on your face, the same one you had when you were dating missy”
Andrew stood in their living flustered and feeling his cheeks heat up in embarrassment
“I uh.. wanted it to be a surprise?”
“Well don’t do that! You better not mess that poor boy up you little pervert! Nick’s a good kid and you’ll never do better than that little tic tac!”
Barbra scoffed at Marty’s comments
“What he meant Andrew, is that we’re excited for you to start this new chapter in your life, I mean we always knew it would be Nick at some point, it just took some time!” She ruffled his hair before walking off to clean up the kitchen.
“So uh, how long exactly do you plan to stretch this out for? Because you’ve got your PARENTS to believe you’re actually dating Nick!”
Maury said following Andrew upstairs
“I KNOW! But like, I’m really hoping this doesn’t end, you know? I really liked holding Nick’s hand on the walk back, and he never let go of it till we got to my room! That’s gotta mean something right?”
“Ehh, I think you’re reaching a bit Andy, Nick has a boner for fame it’s like bred into him! He’s a spotlight poodle!”
Andrew sunk into his computer chair and sighed heavily.
“Yeah.. But it’s still nice to pretend for now right?”
A sudden pink glow from behind him let him know his love bug is once again making an appearance
“OOOOO, I have a feeling we’re gonna be needing this to be played out for as long as we can!! Don’t cha remember what he smelt like? HEAVEN on earth!”
Andrew put his hand on his cheek and leaned onto it.
“Yeah, and his smile? Ugh how could someone so spoiled be so pretty?” “Must be all the extra hair care products-“ Maury chimed in a quick snide comment while picking his teeth.
“Now now, I think for tomorrow we can do some more direct moves? Hm? Like no matter what sit as close to him as possible, if he moves away then you know he doesn’t actually like you! BUT if he keeps seated it’s safe to say you’re MEANT TO BE TOGETHER FOREVER!!!”
Flanny exclaimed as he flew in the air for a moment in a glow before landing on his feet in excitement.
“Uh, yeah.. YEAH!! Okay lets do that!!!”
Andrew got excited at the idea and was barely able to sleep that night, when he did manage to fall asleep he dreamt about Nick and going on stupid romantic dates.
Author: There is an insane lack of family friendly fics for these two so I am here to provide, also this is my first nickdrew fic! super excited to keep writing for this let me know what yall think!! AND THANKS FOR READING YIPPIEE!!!!