The Year Luke Hemmings Came to Stay

Chapter 2

"So is it a guy??"
That didn't shock me that that was the first thing that came out of my best friend Ryan's mouth. I met Ry when I got to my new school when we moved to San Francisco. Let's just say I wasn't popular. The way I dressed and the way I spoke threw people off I guess. So when I was being made fun of, there's Ryan, sticking up for me. We bonded right away, first on the fact that we both had guy names and then on the fact that we were basically the same person.
"I don't know. I kinda left the house before they could tell me."
"Well that was fucking smart."
"They said they'd give me time to digest this information. Honestly it's not that weird, I just wish I knew them a little more before they'll be living with us."
"True."
Ryan took another cupcake and started eating it.
"I hope you don't get offended, but bad news should happen to you more often cause your mom goes Betty Crocker as fuck in your kitchen!"
"Um last time I checked this is my bad news?!" I said, snatching the cupcake away.
"Well, what are your concerns?" She asks.
"What if they think I'm weird?"
"Why would they think that??"
"Because of how I dress," I look down at my plaid overall dress, knee socks and jelly shoes.
"I think you look cute."
"Yeah, today. But this is me toned down. How am I gonna explain the fur jackets and Johnny depp bow tie?"
"Hey, I made that for you."
"And I love it, I'm just, overthinking."
"Okay, back to concerns. Are there anymore?"
"Yes. What if they don't like black people?"
"Umm then they can get fucked. Why wouldn't they like black people?"
"I don't know, we haven't even seen them so I doubt they've seen us."
"Well if it's a guy and he's hot, I call dibs."
"No the fuck you don't!!" We will not date this student! We have to agree."
"I'm not until I see him"
"IF it's a him."
At that, Ryan flopped back down on her bed. "If he ever needs extra room here, my beds available."
"You're such a vlut, Ryan."
"The one and only."
~
As soon as I put my key in the door, my parents called me upstairs into their room. I knew I wasn't in trouble, just that we had to figure out what's happening with this exchange student.
"Andy, I know you might not want to talk but we have to."
"Mom it's not that, it's just, you guys are bringing a complete stranger into a house with a teenager with anxiety and panic disorder and I don't even know who this person is. It's just some background info would be ideal."
Mom motioned me to come sit by her. Dad looked way more chill then earlier.
"For starters, it's a senior."
I exhaled a little bit. At least they would be on my back about how to fit into my class. Because to be honest, I never knew.
"Okay, that's cool. What else?"
Dad got a little bit stiff.
Mom looked at me like she was trying to hold back a smile.
"He's a guy."
Oh shit.
I don't know if my mom expected me to get up and tap dance because then she got stern.
"I don't want the fact that he's a guy to affect your work ethic or anything else. Do you understand, Andrew?
"Um, totally."
She relaxed a bit. "Okay good."
My dad jumped up.
"That's it?! That's your 'I'll talk to her about it' speech? Andy, come here."
I walked over to my dad and he pulled me on his lap, like he did when I was four.
"I know that you will be... curious when he's here, but I know you. Your a good kid, ace. You'll be smart about things-"
"Uhh dad? Trust me you don't have to worry. The most intimate things I've done with a guy is shake hands."
At that my dad looked like he was gonna cry. He pulled me in for a hug and said, "That's my girl! She knows how lowdown guys are. Good, cause your mom was a little.. loose when I met her. And anyway I trust you and believe that meeting Luke will be good for you and your anxiety."
I turn to my dad.
"Is that his name? Luke?"
My dad looks at my mom and back to me.
"Yes. His name is Luke Hemmings."
After about twenty more minutes of talking about who he is, where he's from, and staying abstinent until marriage, I say goodnight and run to my room to call Ryan. She picks up after two rings and I can hear the faint sound of the 1975 in the back and the smile in her voice.
"It's a guy, isn't it?"