After excusing himself abruptly, Nolan found himself leaning up against the bar with a glass of whiskey in hand that held a single round ice cube. As he sipped on his poison of choice, he tried to fight his emotions from getting the better of him, Bas’ wink replaying over and over in his head. Was it something that the football player had said earlier that started it? One of his mannerisms or choice of words that was telling enough for Bas to figure it out? In any case, Nolan was on high alert, taking note of every breath and every glance.

Finishing the drink and promptly ordering another, the boy made the executive decision to head back to his friends before they had the chance to grow suspicious. Swirling the new sustenance in his hand, he began to saunter back to the corner table where his boozy and belligerent teammates sat blissfully unaware of the dilemma he was currently facing, but stopped as he noticed Theo sitting at one of the tables. As a kid, Nolan remembered numerous days running around campus with the Bonfamille triplets, young and naive without a care in the world. Things had certainly changed since then, but that didn’t mean that the football player couldn’t be social.

The dark haired boy offered the redhead a smile as he approached. “Party of one this evening?” He asked, noticing that Theo was sitting alone amongst pulled out and shuffled chairs at the table, meaning that previously people had been sitting there.

Theo had been so deep in his own thoughts over the impulsive text messages he sent Mac’s way, wondering how or if she would respond, wondering if she even saw them, that he didn’t notice Nolan pull up a seat at the secluded table he was sitting at. He offered his old friend a casual shrug and a smile. ”Not anymore it’s not,” he mused, grunting through a chuckle as he adjusted himself in his seat. “So what’s going on man? Figured you’d be huddled over there with your brothers in arms.” He glanced at the football players who were still as rambunctious as they were since Theo arrived with Connor and the others.

“I was,” Nolan started to reply, watching as Theo looked over at his teammates who were doing god knows what. “But I’ve been with them for almost six hours straight now and I needed a break.” The tall boy laughed as he took another sip of his drink, setting the glass down on the table and crossing a leg casually over the other. “Where are your other thirds? I thought I saw Maddie over here… did she leave already?”

“Six hours?” Theo let out an extended, slow and low whistle to announce his surprise at the man’s comment. “That’s six more than I could stand -- no offense. You’re the only one from that team who isn’t insufferable.” Theo was known for his honesty, though Bas was always the one who had some tact, which speaking of, Theo hadn’t thought of them for a bit. He did a quick search for them and noticed that at least one of them was gone. “I don’t know man. Bas isn’t anywhere in sight and I don’t see Mads. Guess they ditched me,” He laughed, “which is exactly what I did to them at the bash. Might as well be karma giving me a firm kick in the ass for being a shit brother.”

The dark haired boy nodded, a smirk crossing his features. “You get used to it after a while- you also learn how to tune them out when they get annoying as fuck.” As much as he loved his teammates and as much as they were his brothers, he could agree with Theo that they sometimes could be quite unbearable. But Nolan froze as Bas’ name came up in conversation. Did Theo see the wink? The football player tried to shake off the nerves that coursed through his veins and simply shrugged.

“I think one of the bars in town is doing welcome back specials, wouldn’t be surprised if they stopped by.” At the Bonfamille boy’s statement regarding the bash, Nolan couldn’t help but assure him that it was not the case. “I doubt you’re a shit brother- everyone has to have gotten over the fight. Sometimes things just get out of control. How’s your hand?”

“I appreciate that.” Maybe it was how close to his emotions he was tonight or just the right moment, but Theo did appreciate Nolan’s comments. Or maybe he was still reeling from the emotional performance his brother gave earlier and how it was unofficially dedicated to him. Maybe Theodore needed that and what Nolan said was just reaffirming that maybe he wasn’t as bad as he thought he was. “The hand doesn’t hurt as much as it did. More of an annoyance than anything else. I’m more interested in finding out who the leak was, if I’m being honest.” Theo thought back to what Connor’s professor/friend let slip up. “Especially after what Connor told me.” He said as he took a slow, tension-building sip from his beer glass.

But Theo’s vague statement piqued Nolan's interest. The football player’s future was almost jeopardized due to the probation that the junior class was subjected to, AND If the redhead had any leads about who leaked the video, he certainly wanted to know. Casually, he probed for more. “What did Connor tell you?”

Theo grunted as he leaned forward, gesturing Nolan to do the same. “So get this: Connor’s programming professor, Anderson, was hitting the sauce a little too hard and implied someone from our year might be behind the leak.” The good thing about being isolated from most of the chatter and hollering in the bar menat that Theo didn’t have to keep his voice too low, but he made sure to speak loud enough so Nolan could hear every word. “Crazy, right?”

Eyebrows raised, the dark haired boy took in the information that Theo gave him. Someone from their own year had ratted them out? How did that even make any sense? The great bash was a rite of passage, the biggest and most anticipated event of the year. And with only two left for the Junior class (well, now one), why would anyone want to ruin that for them? Nolan shook his head. “That’s bullshit, if it really was someone from our year, they’re going to have hell to pay.” The boy took another small sip of his drink, nursing it to make it last just a little bit longer. “Well… who wasn’t at the bash? I would only assume that if they leaked the video, they probably didn’t go.”

He shrugged. “I honestly wouldn’t know. I was too busy chilling with Connor and giving Cassian Lee some tender loving with my fist to keep track.” That produced a subtle grin on the young man’s face and he chuckled as he remembered the look on Cass’ face when Theo got one over him, regardless how limited it lasted. “Truth be told, man, I don’t even know if anyone keeps track of the invites. This year's Bash was so kept under wraps, nobody tied to last years knows anything.” There was a bit of worry and possible frustration in Theo’s voice. “I mean, that’s a lot of people to keep track of. And it’s not like the bash is everybody’s scene, ya know?”

A laugh escaped Nolan’s lips as he nodded in agreement- it was a well known fact that the Bash planning was top secret in order to not let the administration figure it out. He tried to think on the top of his head who didn’t attend the bash that he knew of, but it was difficult considering he wasn’t even there himself. At least he had an alibi that he was at Football practice. “So we then know two things about the person… they’re our year and they were in the know enough to be aware of what happened, possibly not even having attended the Bash. In any case, the only logical explanation, in my opinion, is that they had to be tied to either you or Cassian in some way and be frustrated enough to leak the video.”

“Okay Sherlock Holmes,” Theo laughed, taking a slow sip from his glass. “But let’s say you’re right and they are connected to the two idiots in the video--” Theo had to laugh at himself before everyone else could, “--who do we got on that list?” Theo wasn’t an easy person to get along with. He honestly had more enemies than friends, so trying to reduce the list was proving to be difficult. “Well, I know we can knock off Bas and Mads off that list. Conner and Shi, too. Not only would they never do anything like that, they want to see this person get what’s coming to them as badly as we do…” He looked at Nolan, “well, probably not as much as you do but still, it’s up there.”

“Theo, you don’t understand,” Nolan started, unsure of whether it was a good idea to bring it up, but the redhead seemed like a safe enough confidant for this information. “You can’t say anything because no one knows, but I have Med school riding on this. Probation could screw me royally and bar me from getting accepted. I don’t know why the hell this person leaked the video, but my future could be ruined because of it, and I wasn’t even at the Bash.”

Well, Theo didn’t expect that to come from Nolan’s lips. He had always pegged the football coach’s son and star quarterback as someone who always wanted to do the whole nine yards. There had never been a moment in all the time Theo knew him that he was actually here for something else entirely. But thinking back, Nolan had always been exceptional at the science-related classes they shared. So it’s not like it should be a total shock, but alas, here was uncharacteristically-silent Theo being a mute because he didn’t know what to say.

“Damn Nolan. Okay, so it’s no wonder you’re so anxious to get to the bottom of this.” Theo rubbed the back of his head and let out a somewhat slow breath. “Alright, we’ll figure this out man. There is no way your going to be fucked out of a medical degree because some stupid bastard decided to play with things they don’t understand. I’m with you on this.” Theo put his fist out in front of Nolan as if wanting him to pound it.

Nolan was thankful that Theo was on his side, and bumped his fist in appreciation. Although he did not expect to tell anyone, especially a Bonfamille, his secret, it felt good for someone else to know and support him. “Thanks, dude.” He tipped back his glass, finishing the rest of his drink in one fell swoop. “I’m gonna make sure the person who did this will get what’s coming to them, you just wait and see.”