STARDUST ⭑ LUKE PATTERSON

fourteen and a half

IT IS NOT STRANGE FOR TEENAGERS, especially those who have dropped out of school to pursue a music career of all things, to spend their weekend absolutely plastered. One bottle of tequila had been passed around for the last hour, a blunt as well.

    Sunset Curve, Emmy always included, were obliterated, sprawled out wherever their bodies could stretch and fit into. For the last two minutes, Emmy and Reggie have been hysterically laughing. At what? They're not quite sure.

    "Hey, hey, hey," Reggie giggles. The pair pause, the dark haired boy's hand in the air. As soon as they make eye contact, another round of cackling ensues.

    "Please," Emmy gasps. "Please let me breathe!" Reggies squawks in response.

    Over on the floor, Alex was riding out his faded feeling mellowly. Lethargically, he whacks Luke lying besides him. "Hey," he grumbles. "You ever been in love?"

    Luke, eyes red, squints. "Huh?" he says loudly.

    "Love, man," the blonde sighs. "You ever felt it?"

    "Who do you think you're talking to?" Bobby laughs, head nodding off. He tries to keep his eyes open. He fails. Bobby's head falls forward.

    "What's that supposed to mean?"

    "Loverboy Lukeeeee," Bob slurs, body finally slumping against the couch. Light snores sound from him.

    "Hey," Luke says. "What the fuck is he talking about?"

    Alex jerks his head back. "How should I know? I'm not you." 

    "Love," he mutters. "Love, love, love."

    "D'ya think it's real?"

    Luke thinks for a second, staring up at the ceiling. He sees stars. Daisies. Music notes. Everything starts to spin. "I dunno," he whispers. Luke tries to close his eyes, but the dark looks like purple.

    Luke's eyes snap open at the sound of Alex's yelp. Emmy threw herself onto him, crushing him completely with her weight. "Hi," she smiles. She nuzzles her nose into his neck, tickling Alex and causing him to squirm and laugh.

    "HEY, HOT STUFF!" Reggie launches himself between Luke and the unit that was Emmy-and-Alex. He swings a leg over Luke, the latter laughing wildly.

    "I think it's real," Emmy says.

    Alex, straining his neck, looks at her with bewilderment. "You, of all people, think love is real?" he tries to confirm.

    Her eyes were closed, cheek pressed against his torso. She shushes him, placing a hand where his heart is. "Slow your heart, Alex. No need to be anxious. I got you," she slurs, smiling lazily.

    "Explain yourself," Alex orders.

    Emmy sighs, rolling over to lie on top of Reggie. "You're talking with a very mean tone, Alexander." Reggie, still wrapped around Luke didn't mind. "I would never admit it sober, so don't dou yare...don't you dou, don't you dare bring this up after tonight."

    "Learn some fucking English, Emerald."

    She slaps Reggie's neck. "I am a first generation American, you little shit," Emmy hisses. She falls onto Luke.

    His heart practically stops.

    Emmy had never been a touchy person, allowing a little hand holding, or hug every now and then. This was different. Emmy was on top of him. She was so close to Luke that he could kiss her forehead if he leant down enough.

    The room starts to spin even faster.

    "I believe in it because people make movies about it. Books are published. Songs are written. There's just no way all of it is make-believe. It's different for everyone, but love...is love, you know?"

    "I'm gay."

    Reggie, Luke, and Emmy all snap their necks to Alex. His chest was heaving up and down quickly, and they just knew he was crying. His hands were trying to cover his face, but he was trembling. Nothing could hide Alex away.

    Before he could say anything else, three bodies topple onto him. He laughs sadly, but welcomes the pressure of it as he tries his best to wrap all of them into one hug.

    "I'm gonna love you forever man, even when we're dead and ghosts and haunting the world and shit. I'm gonna love you then too," Reggie swears, burying his face into Alex's neck.

    Alex laughs at that, squeezing tighter. "Should we take a shot to celebrate?" Emmy suggests.

    "God no," he begs. "Please. I can barely feel my face."

    "Alex, I'm in love with you man. Nothing's gonna change that," Luke promises.

    They lay like that for quite some time, holding each other without another care in the world. They laugh, realizing someone was going to have to tell Bobby when he wakes up tomorrow morning. Alex says they should play a game to see how long it takes until he can figure it out himself. "I'll kiss you in front of him to see if he'll break," Luke says.

    When the laughter dies down, Alex clears his throat. "My parents kicked me out," he continues. "Luke, we're gonna have to share this couch." They all look over to see Bobby sleeping, ass raised and arm falling over the side.

    "Fine by me. I love a good cuddle."

    "I really love you guys," Alex says. "You're the best friends a gay guy could ask for."

    "Nah," Reggie smiles. "We're family."