Finding Yourself

Chapter Nine: In the Moonbeams

(No video today because the internet is bleh and I'm LAZY! Gotta go write the next chap! See ya in A/N below!)

Dinner was less awkward around Lucas that evening, Dakota realized, and- in fact- it felt strangely like the family had gone back to normal. As if the hype of having a new member had dwindled into something less foreign.

Dinner consisted of roast beef with slow-cooked veggies, fashioned by Nick himself. If Dakota didn't catch the firey passion in Nick's eyes while he cooked and baked, he would wonder why Nick didn't just hire a chef. After all, Nick had six children to take care of, a decently large house to clean, and- on top of that- he cooked every meal.

And, where was Xavier? Working at his boring desk job. Slowly climbing up the business ladder.

Dakota crossed 'businessman' off the list of jobs he was given- he would not end up like Xavier.

He also crossed off 'chef'- he didn't enjoy cooking, but he did enjoy watching someone cook. And he crossed off anything in the cosmetic field; Dakota viewed makeup, fashion, and hair as an art form...and Dakota never saw himself as artistic. 

He decided the best way to dwindle his decision was by process of elimination. Soap and Maria both seemed to enjoy dance- Maria and Soap both liked different kinds of dance. But again, that didn't seem like Dakota's type of job. He imagined dancing took many years of practice, of which he did not have.

He also crossed off a few others he didn't believe he could do: Therapist- he had his own problems to deal with, least of all others' problems. Scientist- he never understood science as a concept, especially not during school. Astronaut- Why was that even on the list? He had the least interest in the ominous black void that was space. Plus, Dakota found that there were so many types of doctors, how could he eliminate the entire category?

He was getting mildly frustrated until a loud moan came from the television, which shocked Dakota into looking up. It was some sex scene from an adult show, in which Lucas was showing a rapt attention to. Lucas was watching their movements with observant detail and absolutely no shame.

"Um," Dakota was about to say something, but when Lucas heard Dakota's voice, he quickly paused the show. The screen was frozen on the pleasured face of a girl.

"Sorry, is this bothering you?" he asked nicely. Lucas was still in Dakota's clothes. Dakota thought Lucas was trying to cover himself for Dakota's virgin eyes, seeing as how Lucas seemed to wear more clothing more often. Dakota silently appreciated it.

"Not really, I guess," Dakota replied. He just wanted to know more about Lucas; plus, Mr. Morgan told him to ask other people. "I just have a question?"

Lucas did that puppy-head-tilt thing that he did, which urged Dakota to continue.

"What do you want to do?" Dakota asked, "You know, when you go to college. Or get a job. Or whatever." Lucas frowned in response to that question, then sat up from where he was laying on his bed.

"Well, that's complicated," Lucas said, somewhat sadly, "I didn't get a chance to graduate high school. So...really... I can't go to college, can I?"

Dakota, digesting that knowledge, decided to take the question a bit differently.

"Yeah, I guess...but what is your...dream job?" Dakota pieced together slowly. Lucas chuckled sadly and shook his head.

"I could be a stripper. Or a sex slave. Or a sugar baby. OR! I could be a whore," Lucas joked, smiling. But this time, Dakota could tell Lucas wasn't really, genuinely smiling.

"Seriously," Dakota said, not laughing or smiling, "What's your dream job?"

Lucas looked at Dakota with surprise, sort-of awe. As if he didn't expect Dakota to be so forward. then his surprise melted slowly into sadness again. His lip twitched a little, as if he was trying to keep up his facade. Then, he sighed.