Implications to the Unaware

"Where are his cars?" Greg asked as he and Nick stood on the porch of Warrick's townhouse, the younger man ringing the doorbell for a second time.

"Probably in his garage," Nick said sarcastically, absently twisting the bag of groceries in his hand.

Greg sucked his teeth. "Yeah, but he usually leaves the Mustang out when I come over." He paused and looked at Nick thoughtfully. "Like he's intentionally taunting me or something."

Nick opened his mouth, paused and closed it as he realised that Greg may have had a point, but conceded that it was probably something more coincidental than intentional. "That's not the point."

"It's a classic. That's all there is to it," Greg said simply. "And while you know more than me about the inside of cars and how they work, the outside is really all I care about."

"That's surprisingly...shallow of you," Nick said, a hint of a smile on his face.

"It's a car," Greg replied, taking the other man's teasing in stride. "I have a right to be." He was ready to ring the doorbell for a third time when Warrick suddenly opened the door.

"Finally," Nick said as Warrick moved to the side to let them in. He headed toward the kitchen, voice echoing in the house as he set the bag he was carrying on the counter. "What took you so long?"

Warrick didn't reply as he closed the door behind Greg, following the younger man to the kitchen. He pointed to two bags on the counter, inside of which were beer, soda, and plastic cups. "I just got in because I ended up spending all my time looking for this." He opened the refrigerator door, took out a small carton and placed it in front of Greg.

"Thanks for picking it up," Nick said to Warrick as he took a package of frozen hot wings out of a bag.

Unaware of the implications of the exchange between the other two men, Greg found himself preoccupied with the small carton in front of him. "I went to the store to get some earlier but they didn't have any...and said they wouldn't get any until next week."

"Warrick found another place that sells it. And since he was already there, I asked him to pick up some of that expensive organic soymilk you drink." Nick paused thoughtfully. "That really expensive organic soymilk you drink."

"No kidding. And for eight ounces of that stuff..." Warrick shook his head. "What's wrong with regular chocolate milk again?"

"I have special tastes," Greg said as he opened the carton and took a small sip. He released an exaggerated sigh of content as he licked the lingering traces of the liquid from his lips.

"I didn't ask for this," he said, pointing to the small carton sitting innocuously on the counter; unaware of the growing dilemma between the three men.

"You would have wanted it," Nick retorted as he emptied a bag of chips into a bowl.

"Plus tax," Nick added as he closed the microwave door; not taking notice of the look Greg sent his way.

"Normally, I would," Greg began, "but since I didn't even ask for it this time..."

"How about this then: I'll make a deal with you. Since I only bought it because we're watching the game-"

"Uh uh," Nick imposed before Greg could become susceptible to whatever it was that Warrick had in mind. Though, he had a pretty good idea where the other man was going. "No, Warrick."

"No to what?" Greg asked; curiosity piquing as his gaze darted from Warrick to Nick.

"Look, I'll just give you the five dollars myself," Nick said as he reached into the back pocket of his jeans.

"Warrick..." Nick sighed as felt the stares of the other two men, realising that they were already set against him. "You know it wouldn't be right...taking advantage of him like that."

"Hello, I'm right here," Greg said as he waved a hand in Nick's face. "And since when do people take advantage of me?"

Nick only turned his face to the side, hiding the frown that appeared on his face.

Warrick refused to comment, his face neutral as he looked at Greg. "You know how you've been saying that you wanted to uh, get a closer look at my car?"

"The Mustang?" Greg asked disbelievingly, excitement tingeing his voice.

"Yeah," Warrick said agreeably, the curve of a smile already on his lips, "the Mustang."

Three and a half hours later

"No wonder why you were keeping it in your garage. Your car is filthy, man."

"I know."

Despite being in the shade offered by Warrick's garage, Nick straightened his sunglasses as he peered at the man sitting next to him. "Didn't you get it washed after that case with-"

"Nope," Warrick said with no hint of remorse in his voice. "You should have seen the inside before he cleaned it."

"It couldn't have been worse than the outside..." Nick looked at his friend dubiously, now remembering the disgruntled noise Greg made earlier.

Warrick shrugged his shoulders, making himself more comfortable in his chair as he pulled the straw out of his mouth. He put the glass he was holding on the small table between Nick and himself and licked the trace of liquid from his lips.

Nick looked at the other man thoughtfully. "So...you've been planning this for a while, huh?"

"Yep." Warrick pulled his own shades down as he peered at Nick. "You've seen the way he takes of his care of his car, right. He's worse than you...if that's even possible," Warrick added as an afterthought.

Nick ignored the jibe, inwardly agreeing that there may have been some truth to the statement. "I guess I have to give you props for that. He won't even touch mine and I live with him."

"No comment."

"Still...I'm starting to feel bad about it, now."

"I don't see you out there helping him," Warrick accused.

Nick didn't move from his chair, turning to look at the other man with an incredulous expression on his face. He pointed to driveway -the area outside of the shade, where he and Warrick were seated comfortably. "It's hot out there, man."

"Weren't you just saying something yesterday about the importance of commitment?"

"In that heat...?" Nick scoffed. "Look, I helped Greg put on sun block."

Warrick snorted at the other man's reasoning. "And you wonder why you feel bad."

"Not really. I'm not the one who had five dollars worth of soymilk on the line over whether or not your team would win." Nick shook his head. "Besides, part of the bet is me not helping. Not that Greg would let me help him even if I tried to..." he trailed off, eyes following at the water on running down Greg's face; droplets reflecting in the sunlight.

"Greg's a big boy, he can handle himself. It's not your fault he tried to get out of paying me by gambling over basketball. And look at it this way...at least you tried to warn him."

"I guess you have a point." Nick took another glance at Greg. The younger man was dressed in one of Nick's old t-shirts, long shorts and a pair of old sneakers.

"I know I do," Warrick replied simply, as if it was undisputed fact.

"And I have no choice but to appreciate the view," Nick said, his head titling to the side as Greg was bending down to take a sponge out of a bucket filled with soapy water - said soapy water beginning to drip down Greg's arms.

"Is that a reference to something sexual?" Warrick asked as he looked at Nick warily.

"Not if you don't want it to be."

"No, I really don't."

Nick shrugged his shoulders, trying to hide his burgeoning smirk from Warrick. "It's just that Greg doesn't like wearing shorts much."

"And I'm not going to ask why."

"He thinks his legs are skinny."

"And yet, you tell me anyway."

"Which they are," Nick added; ignoring Warrick's comment. "But I try not to bring it up, you know."

"Well, I do now." Warrick shook his head, watching as Greg reached into his pocket. The younger man turned to face them; fixing an earphone that was threatening to fall out and unintentionally transferring soap suds to his face.

"I can hear you - both of you," Greg said in annoyance and considering his appearance, it made it somewhat difficult for the two older men to take Greg's words seriously. Nick for reasons obviously different than Warrick.

"And stop talking about my legs, Nick."

Nick bothered to at least look sheepish, but Warrick remained non-pulsed.

"And we can see you - not washing my car. What are you waiting for, Sanders?"

Nick looked at Warrick as Greg frowned, reaching into his pocket once more as he returned his attention to Warrick's car. "Sanders?"

"At least I didn't say Cocoa..."

"Hmm..." Nick nodded his head in agreement. "He might think that's worse than Peanut, though."

There was a moment of silence before the two men came to a mutual understanding, shaking their heads at each other before speaking at the same time. "Nah..."

"I'm surprised he actually heard us, though."

"Would that have stopped you from admitting you set the whole thing up?" Nick asked.

"I doubt it."

"Now, I'm starting to wonder if I should be worried about having you as a friend," Nick said as his attention trailed back to Greg, the younger man now rinsing the soap off the car.

"You're just mad because you didn't think of it first."