"What the flying fuck are you on about?"

Truth was, Nolan knew exactly what Clark was on about, he just wanted to hear it, to have everything out on the table. Plus, he was really enjoying the way Clark was turning red and looking kind of pissed at being called on his shit. Served him right. Nolan had little patience for head games and he was starting to suspect that Clark was all about the game. Well, to hell with that. Getting off was one thing, playing twister with his head was another.

"I just thought…well, you know. We could do it again." Clark looked at the books piled in front of him on the table and pointed. "More fun than studying," he added lamely.

That almost made Nolan laugh, and it did make him smile. He'd wondered how far Clark was going to drag the whole 'I need help with my Modern English Lit paper' thing. Clark was a lot of things, but a lit major wasn't one of them. Nolan was though, and he was taking the class that Clark had asked for help in. There were over a hundred students in that class and Clark wasn't one of them. He'd gone to the rather extreme effort of making it look like he was though, showing up with the right texts and everything. Nolan hoped he borrowed them; there was about two hundred dollars worth of books there. Lot of money spent just to get laid.

"Let me get this right. You had such a good time last month *studying* with me for the one class we actually do have together-" he was rewarded with a guilty look and a rise in Clark's flush, "-that you thought 'Hey, I'll just avoid Nolan for a few weeks then come up with some lame excuse to get him alone again. Yeah, that'll get me fucked.' I'll ask you again. What are you playing at?"

He'd pushed too far. Clark looked pissed now, dark eyes flashing. "Look, just thought you had fun, too. Thought wrong, and I guess I was wrong about you in general." He stood up and started picking up books. "See ya around, right?"

Damn. What Nolan wanted to do was grab the twit and throw him across the table, but it wouldn't do to let him know that would it? Nolan shrugged. "Didn't say no, did I? Just want to know why you're screwing around with shit like this," he said, pointing to the books. "You don't take the class. So I'm thinking that this study thing is kinda sweet. But the rest? All the 'no big deal' stuff? Telling me something else. So just spit it out and tell me what you're after."

Clark looked at him suspiciously. "Now *you're* playing."

This was just getting ridiculous. Nolan pushed a hand through his hair and sighed. "Sit down, will ya? We'll not get anywhere with both of us being pissy." Clark sat and Nolan gave him points for obedience. Which sent a shiver up his spine. He reminded himself to focus.

"I just don't get it. Look at you," he said, gesturing at Clark, like he hadn't any idea whom he meant. "Varsity athlete, golden boy of the drama club, and the only outer than out gay guy on campus that never gets hassled. You're untouchable and everyone likes you, everyone knows you. And then there's me. So not hiding in the closet, but no one even notices. What do you want with me?"

His confusion was real. He had no idea why a guy like Clark would be interested in him at all, even if all he wanted was to play around. Why would Clark-handsome, talented, popular-want anything to do with a bookworm who really *would* rather stay home and read than go out and drink?

Clark looked at him like he was crazy. "Why you? Shit, man. Do you own a mirror? You're sex on legs, you're smart, you're discrete, and you're sensible. What I *don't* want is some airhead who'll kiss and tell, someone who wants to party with me 'cause I'm public, or someone who wants a big relationship. I don't do relationships well."

It was Nolan's turn to look like someone in the room was crazy. After he stopped blushing from the sex on legs comment. Nolan wasn't really used to compliments. "So, you want a decent, reliable and clean fuck buddy who you don't have to promise to call in the morning?"

"Uh…yeah. Sounded better in my head though."

Nolan thought about if for a couple of minutes. He figured his mind was made up when he realized his erection hadn't faded at all since Clark had walked in the door, even when they were bitching at each other. "Three things. Latex stays, I don't care how often we test clean. We test every three months. You start fucking anyone else, you tell me. Not that I want exclusive, I just want to know when my risks go up."

Clark nodded. "Sure on the first two. Will you want to know who?"

"Not unless you want to share." Nolan hadn't really meant to say it out loud, but Clark's eyes sort of glazed over a bit and he was glad he had.

Clark focused on him again and stood up, hard on obvious in his jeans. He didn't try to be subtle about it either, practically pointing to it with his pen. "We got a deal?"

"I think we do." Nolan licked his lips.

"Can we go to your room now?"

"Oh yes, I think that would be a very good idea."