Title: You CAN Compare Apples And Oranges Author: Jules - mailto:goddess_julie@just-in-dreams.com Part: 1/1 Sequel to Nothing Says Love Like A Basket of Fruit Rating: PG Pairing: TimberNick Disclaimer:Fiction for entertainment purposes Warning:Slashy situations implied. Bigroupal Notes:Someone suggested a sequel from Nick's point of view. It was a good idea. Still using Citrus Fruit. Oh, and I don't know their favourite fruits.. so just bear with me here folks LOL. *** You CAN Compare Apples and Oranges by Jules "Nothing says love like a basket of fruit,"Kevin didn't even try to hide the snicker behind his voice. "Fuck you. Last time I checked, I didn't invite you here."Nick pushed past Kevin to grab the brochure from his hand, smacking him in the head with it for good measure. He should have gotten rid of any evidence, but had been too wrapped up in other things to remember. Now, after dropping in unannounced, Kevin had found the pamphlet of the basket place that Nick had used to send Justin his latest present. "I think I liked it better when you were on Broadway, all the way across the country. Sure you don't want to do another run?" Kevin simply glared at his younger friend, giving him the finger. "Screw you junior."Nick faked a shudder and burst into laughter. "Nah. Tried that, still in therapy."Kevin couldn't help but let out laughter at that as well. "Seriously though Nick. What are you doing?"Kevin's voice was soft and gentle this time as he put his arm around the younger man. They headed into the den to get comfortable on the couch. Nick on one end, Kevin on the other, their legs tangled between them. Despite the age difference, despite what the media and fans thought, the two men were actually very close. They'd tried the sex thing. The relationship thing and the not talking thing. They'd since then, settled on the best friend thing, finding that was what worked best for them. "Nothing."Nick tried to hide the apprehension in his eyes, the tremble in his voice. No one knew that he still sent Justin presents on the anniversary of ...that day. The day his heart was shattered. He'd hoped that no one would find out either, but Kevin shot that plan to hell when he'd found the pamphlet. When Kevin simply raised an eyebrow Nick sighed. "Just ...showing him that he was wrong." "It's been a year Nicky, if he doesn't know it now, he never will."The two men stared at each other. "I know." Kevin hated the way Nick's voice shook, how it sounded so young. "I've seen him, he's hurting as much as you are." Nick took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He leaned his head against the arm of the couch and replayed that day over in his mind. He had been expecting it, and so that was why he wasn't as shocked when Justin approached him as the younger man had thought he would be. When the suits had propositioned him with a 'Justin or the CD' ultimatum, Nick shook his head before the sentence died on their lips. He'd told them where they could shove their promoting and he'd do things on his own. He didn't want to owe anything to anyone. He was going to do this CD on his terms. "You're making a big mistake here Nick. You're only one fifth of the Backstreet Boys, and no one is going to care. You need us more than we need you."Nick had laughed as he stood, walking towards the door. Their next sentence was what caught his attention. "You had better hope that your boyfriend is as committed to your relationship as you are, or you'll wish you'd accepted our offer today." It was then that he knew they would be approaching Justin with the same proposition. And he knew, without a doubt that Justin would take it. And he had.

		Justin looked as if he'd lost his best friend and Nick knew it was 'the time'. Justin spoke of being too different, not being able to work with those differences and feeling that it was time to move on before they got too attatched. Nick would have laughed if it hadn't hurt so much. Although he'd been expecting it, it was as if his heart was being ripped out of his body. As if they were killing him painfully, second by second and making him watch. Because watching Justin fight not to cry in front of him, was as painful as being told that he was now on his own. That they weren't Nick and Justin anymore. He was just Nick, and an empty shell of Nick at that. "You knew he'd take the offer didn't you?"Kevin asked, startling Nick slightly. Nick nodded. He'd never really talked with anyone about it. He'd gone straight into the studio, cutting himself off with everyone. "And you still love him?" "Of course."Nick didn't know how to explain it. "He didn't do it to hurt me. It wasn't about me." Kevin sighed, it was just something he wouldn't ever understand. How after everything that had happened, Nick could still be as in love with Justin as he was the day he left. How, with every performance Justin did, every glowing report on him, Nick could watch him and beam with pride. Justin's rise to the top was done with ease and little effort, while Nick had to work twice as hard for a third of the recognition. Kevin didn't think he could be as strong as Nick. He didn't think anyone was as strong as Nick. But he did see the expression on Justin's face when Nick was mentioned. When he would see one of the other Boys and ask how the blonde was doing. Justin was just as miserable as Nick was, and that made Kevin feel at least a little bit better. "So, why fruit?" Nick grinned, rolling his eyes. "You'll think I'm stupid." "Guaranteed," Kevin teased, yelping when Nick pinched his foot hard. They both broke into laughter before settling back against the couch. "But tell me anyways. I want to know what I'm missing out on. What I'd have to look forward to if we'd have worked out." "He said that we were too different. That's why it wouldn't work out with us. It was always something that hung between us. In one way it was great that we were so different, but then again, it always seemed to be what was working against us. So many people saying so many things ...it always came down to that. That we were different." "So?" "So I sent him a basket of fruit. It's like our relationship ... comparing apples and oranges." Kevin still looked lost and Nick laughed. "Okay. His favourite fruit is oranges.." "Oranges, or citrus fruit in general?"Kevin teased. "Like you know, grapefruits.. or tangerines..."When Nick didn't answer, but stared at him blankly he stopped and blushed. "Never mind. Continue." "Thank you. So his favourite fruit are oranges. Mine are apples. So I just compared us both to oranges and apples. I'm the orange, he's the apple." Kevin couldn't help but wonder if Nick actually did need therapy rather than joking about it so often. He simply stared at Nick, waiting for it to make sense. "God Kevin. How stupid are you? So you have apples and oranges. They're different and you can't compare them. You know? Like the old saying, you can't compareapples and oranges. Which I get, but ...you know ...it's all fruit. It doesn't matter how different they are, they're the same. You know? We're fruit." Kevin grinned, "you got that right."Nick giggled and snuggled deeper into the couch. "So, I just wanted to show him that no matter how different that he thinks we are,that other people think we are, we're the same and it doesn't matter. It's just ...insignificant." "I think I get it. Strange. Very deep, especially for you Nick, but I understand."Kevin stood and stretched. "Well, I don't know what to tell you kid. Good luck." Nick nodded, not bothering to get up. He knew that Kevin's visit was just a short one as he was passing through. They said their goodbyes, and Kevin let himself out. Nick wondered what Justin was doing. What he thought of the fruit basket as well as the card. He could only hope that one of these days, he'd finally get through to Justin. Grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch, Nick curled himself in a ball. Slowly, the tears began to fall, memories of he and Justin flooding back to him. Even after a year, he hadn't moved on. Hadn't gotten over

		his one true love. It still hurt as much as it did the day he'd left. Nick wondered if it would ever get easier. The tears had only stopped for a few minutes when the phone rang. Instantly, his pulse began to race and his stomach fluttered. "Hello?"Nick asked. It wasn't until he heard the soft voice on the other end of the line that he allowed himself to breathe again, his jilted world finally tilting upright again. FINIS