Chapter Eight

Julian left a few delicate kisses to Nova's soft lips before fully pulling away from him, but still let his hand linger on his cheek.

He felt alive. Like he had just downed a whole espresso in one gulp.

"Julian."

He slowly opened his eyes to see Nova's sparkling hazel ones looking at him with curiosity. "Yeah?"

"We can't be together can we?" Nova stated simply, fidgeting with his fingers.

Julian felt his heart falter at his words, he just felt his mood drop again. "Nova," he began but got interrupted by a knock to the door.

The boys both looked over to it and Julian sighed standing up. They would have to talk later.

He walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Mark standing on the other side. The manager saw the look in both the boys eyes and crossed his arms over his chest glancing between them.

"I interrupt something?," he asked raising an eyebrow.

"No, we were just talking," Nova answered surprisingly quick as he stood up. He gave a light smile and as he said, "I'm going to take a shower."

Julian and Nova gave each other one last look before he closed the two doors to the bedroom behind him, the shower turning on a few seconds later.

Julian looked back towards Mark who was already watching him. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"What?"

Mark just shook his head, "nothing, I just came to tell you that the press is having a field day with what happened at your concert."

Julian immediately felt defensive, "what happened wasn't Nova's fault." He wasn't going to let anyone blame Nova for what he couldn't control.

"I know," Mark answered back, assuring the singer that he agreed with him. "You just know how reporters can be, but you'll be happy to know your fans started a hashtag, or whatever it is called, on twitter for Nova."

Julian couldn't help but smile and chuckle. He loved his fans. "I'll tweet something out to thank everyone."

Mark nodded, "that wasn't the only thing I wanted to talk about though."

He bit his lower lip, Julian had a feeling of what he was going to ask next. "Yeah?"

"I saw the way you both looked each other downstairs, and I've noticed for a while how close you both seem to each other. So," he paused before continuing. "I guess I'll just be blunt," Mark chuckled.

"Do you want to be with him?"

Julian inhaled sharply, he knew Mark was going to ask that, but he still didn't want to tell his manager. He was afraid that he was going to fire Nova. And Julian couldn't bare if he caused it.

"If I said yes would you fire him?" Julian looked at him with his dark blue eyes, his face staying emotionless.

Mark sighed and let his hand go through his black hair, "no, I can't be the one to make you unhappy like that."

"So you'll get someone else to fire him?"

"No Julian," Mark said frowning at the singer. "I won't let anyone fire him, if you want to be with him then I'll do what I can to make sure it stays hidden as long as it can."

Julian blinked, he didn't expect that. "Won't you get in trouble though for letting it go on?"

"Listen Julian, I don't really care if I get fired." "They can do whatever they want to me, I could honestly care less," Mark snorted.

Julian smiled widely before Mark continued.

"Your happiness, is more important than anything." Mark gave him a light smile in return, "you're like a son to me Julian." "I've been with you from the beginning of your career, watched you grow as an artist and a person."

"So if this boy is really that important to you," Mark said rolling his eyes making Julian laugh. Mark smiled shaking his and resting his hand on Julian's shoulder, "then I'll do what I can to make sure he stays."

He smiled softly and threw his arms around Mark's shoulders, hugging him tightly. Mark hugged back a little awkwardly as Julian whispered, "thank you Mark."

He rubbed the stars back and answered, "no problem kid."

Nova had just gotten out of the shower and was rubbing the towel over his dark hair to dry it. He then hung the towel around his neck and picked up his glasses from the counter, putting them back on and pushing them up the bridge of his nose.

He rested his hands on the counter and let out a sigh as he looked in the mirror. Nova lifted one of his hands ran his fingers lightly over his lips, still feeling Julian's kiss. He couldn't help but smile to himself as he thought about it, but then he remembered that they might not ever get do that again and he turned on the sink, splashing his face with cold water.

A knock on the door made him jump and he heard Julian's voice on the other side.

"Nova? Are you okay?"

Nova cleared his throat and called out, "Yeah!" "I'll be out in a second!"

Julian rested his hand on the other side of the door, hesitating, but called back, "okay, I'll be in the front room."

"Okay." Nova answered back quietly. He looked back to the mirror and ran his fingers through his damp hair. Nova took a good look at himself in the mirror.

He'd never been on to think he was beautiful, but Nova had a soft sort of beauty about him.

Nova had a sweet heart shaped face and long pretty eyelashes that girls would kill for. His nose looked a bit crooked which was because of an old unhealed break. Nova brushed his night colored haired from his hazel eyes and bit on his bottom lip, them being light pink in color.

He took one last looked at himself and let out a sigh before exiting the bathroom.

Julian looked from the couch. Since the two doors were open he saw Nova as soon as he walked out.

He stood up and gave him a warm smile, just a hint of the dimples at the corners of his lips showing. "Hey."

Nova thought he looked a lot happier considering the talk they almost had before. "Hi," he said confused. "What did Mark want?," Nova asked walking into the room and stopped in front of Julian.

"He said he would try and keep our relationship, I mean if you want o-one," Julian stammered, feeling a bit of his confidence slip. "That he would do what he could to make sure no one would find out about us."

Nova's fingers fidgeted by his sides. He didn't really like to hide it, but if this was the only way right now than he would do it.

Julian's smile dropped from his face and he bit on his bottom lip. "Look, I know you probably don't want to hide this, but it's the best chance we have at even trying to be together."

He walked closer to Nova and lifted his hand to rest it on the smaller boys cheek. Besides his eyes, the second favorite thing about Nova he loved was how cute and small he was.

Nova leaned into and rested his hand over Julian's. "I'm willing to try if you are."

Julian chuckled deeply sending a shiver down Nova's spine. He leaned down resting his forehead against Nova's.

"I am more than willing," he murmured. Julian leaned in pressing his lips to Nova's, kissing him gently.

Nova couldn't help but smile into the kiss and murmur, "well then I guess I'm yours for however long we can be together."

Julian pulled back and wrapped his arms around Nova's waist, pulling him so close that they were pressed chest to chest.

"I'm okay with that."

Julian leaned his back against the seat lifting his feet to rest on the small table between them. "Now this, is better than flying," he said folding his arms behind his head.

Since his next concert was only in Manchester, three hours away from London, Mark got a tour bus instead of having them take a flight.

Julian was pretty happy.

Nova just looked around in slight awe because he had never seen such a thing before. The bus had full length couches on either side and a little kitchen with all the works. It even had a little bedroom with a bathroom in the back.

"Novaa," Julian said in a sing-song voice.

The photographer looked over at him to see he had a pouted lip and he giggled softly at the sight. "Yess?"

"Come take a picture with me," Julian said as a grin came over his face.

Nova laughed softly but nodded his head and stood up, walking carefully to other side, since the bus was moving. He plopped down next to Julian and took his camera from around his neck so he could hold it out in front of them.

Julian hugged Nova's waist with both arms and squished his cheek against his and gave a big grin to camera. Nova laughed and accidentally took the picture that way.

"Whoops," he said bringing the camera back to him. "Hold we can redo it."

"Hey let me see," Julian said taking the camera from him quickly.

"Come on Julian I probably look stupid," Nova said reaching for his camera.

Julian stuck his tongue out and pushed him away playfully as he looked at the picture. He smiled softly to himself at the sight of Nova and him looking so happy together.

"It's perfect, you don't need to take another." He kissed Nova's cheek as he handed him his camera back.

Nova felt his cheeks heat up and turn red from Julian kissing his cheek. Still not use to being in a relationship with him, or whatever they were.

He turned to look at Julian fully who was just gazing at him with adoration in his eyes. "Kiss me?," Nova asked quietly.

Julian smiled softly, chuckling lightly. "You don't have to ask," he murmured softly cupping Nova's face and bringing him into a kiss, their lips moving together gently.

Nova rested a gentle hand on Julian's chest, gripping at his shirt lightly. Julian moved his hand gently into the smaller boys hair and let his fingers tangle gently into his soft locks, tugging on it gently causing Nova's breath to hitch against Julian's lips.

Nova slowly pulled away trying to get his breathing and fast beating heart under control. His face was flushed very red as he opened his eyes to look at Julian who was already watching him, a soft smile on the singers lips.

"You're so adorable."

Nova turned even more red and pushed Julian away from him playfully. "Shut up, I am not." Julian then got a mischievous look in his eyes and the smaller boy looked at him with suspicion and said, "what are you-"

He was cut off by Julian tackling him to the ground, starting to tickle him.

Nova started to laugh uncontrollably squirming underneath Julian, "J-Julian, stopp!" He tried to push his hands away but was to busy giggling.

Julian got a grin on his face and hummed as he kept tickling. "You're gonna have to try harder than that."

He just letting out a string of giggles before finally being able to push Julian off him. Nova panted lightly, once again trying to catch his breath, stuttering out, "N-No more, let me breath heathen."

Julian couldn't help but laugh shaking his head, "who the hell says the word heathen?"

Nova stuck his tongue out at him, "I do, thank you very much."

The two both stood up as they felt the bus come to a stop. "We're here mister Kyle," the driver called back in a Boston accent.

Julian rolled his eyes calling back to him, "I told you Garret, you don't have to call me mister Kyle." Walking towards the front of the bus, Nova following behind him.

"Sorry, Mark told me too," Garret shrugged his shoulders giving a light chuckle.

"Well Mark's an idiot," he said shaking his head.

"Nice to know."

Julian jumped and looked over towards the open door to see Mark standing outside the bus.

He gave his manager a sheepish smile, "I was just kidding?"

Mark rolled his eyes in return and just said, "lets get inside so you can get in your room and have a short break before your concert tonight."

"You're sure you'll be okay in the crowd tonight," Julian ask him for about the hundredth time since they got in the limo.

Nova sighed and nodded his head. "Yes Julian I promise I'll be okay. I took my medicine this morning and I feel fine."

Julian chewed on his bottom lip with uncertainty and then he felt a warm hand over his and looked up to see Nova giving him a reassuring look.

"I promise you that I'm okay, if I wasn't I would tell you." "Okay?," he said squeezing Julian's hand.

Julian gave a small smile and leaned over pressing a small kiss to his lips causing Nova's cheeks to flush red in embarrassment because Mark was sitting right next to him.

When he pulled back Julian grinned at Nova's flushed face and gave him a wink before leaning back against his seat, pleased with himself.

Mark watched the two with his arms crossed over his chest with a gentle smile on his face. He had to admit, they did look good together.

The car came to a stop and they all got out heading towards the back stage door.

Nova stopped just outside to catch some pictures of a few fans who were waving at them and calling Julian's name, along with his own.

"Nova are you okay!"

"I'm glad you're feeling better!"

"Good luck tonight!"

Nova felt a warmth in his chest at all the concern thrown his way from Julian's fans, he wasn't even the main start of tonight but the fans still were making sure he was okay.

He opened his mouth to answer them but then got pulled through the door and looked up startled to see Mark who rested his hands gently on the smaller boys shoulders.

"Look I know you said you were okay, but just as a precaution I'm gonna have a body guard of Julian's stand next to you to make sure no fan gets to close for comfort okay?"

Nova nodded feeling a bit more relaxed knowing he wouldn't be by himself in the audience, even though he did in fact feel okay it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Okay, thank you Mark."

The manager just gave a curt nod and then walked off to go talk to the body guard that was going to be with Nova.

Nova walked off towards Julian's dressing room and giggled softly at the many disgusted faces Julian made as the makeup was brushed over his face.

He looked up and pouted at Nova as he stood in the doorway. "I thought you liked me Nova." Julian turned his head away and huffed, "Now I see your true colors."

Nova rolled his eyes but then looked warily at Cassie and hopped she didn't take what Julian said a different way.

Cassie, feeling his eyes looked up from Julian's face and gave a light laugh. "If you are wondering if I know about you two dating or not I do." She gestured towards Julian saying in sarcastic tone, "big mouth over here can't stop talking about you."

Both boys flushed red and Julian murmured, "shut up Cassie."

She swatted him on the head with a brush and he grabbed his head saying, "ow," as he looked at her with a pout once again on his lips. "You just love to abuse me don't you?"

Cassie laughed walking over towards his clothing rack, "yep, it's my favorite thing to do."

Nova was confused though, he thought only Mark would be the one to know. "Does all of your crew know about us? Aren't you afraid of one of them blabbing to the paparazzi?"

Julian understood his concern, but he just shook his head. "No, my crew is loyal, but not every single person knows."

Nova nodded and then Mark walked into room and said, "Nova, Nate is waiting for you."

He looked up and nodded his head, remembering that Nate was the same body guard that would accompany them on all their littler outings.

"Okay," he walked towards the door, then at the last second in a boost of confidence walked over to Julian and kissed his cheek gently. "S-See you on stage," he stuttered quietly and then hastily walked out of the room.

Leaving Julian with a big grin on his face.