Souvenir [Complete]

Thirteen. Adrian

"Can I ask you question?" Luke hummed walking up behind Ashton in the park that afternoon. Brian had gone back to Rochester and Michael was off to work, so he was finally alone.

"Shoot," Ashton looked up from his book. The spring light was bright and golden today. He could see the little flecks of gold in Ashton's hazel eyes when he turned to the side.

"Why steal the syrup?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ashton hummed looking back down at his book, but Luke was unconvinced.

"Really?"

"Yep. All I know is Bukowski."

"Another sexist, huh?"

"What can I say? I'm consistent."

"Shut up..." Luke rolled his eyes fondly, and sat down on the bench beside Ashton. "Why did you steal it? Really."

Ashton shrugged. "I don't know. Who's asking?"

"Me. Just me. No hidden agenda."

"It was fun." Ashton shrugged.

"That's it?"

"Yeah." The honey-blond man looked at Luke with a assured nod. "There's nothing interesting about this place. I figured a good harmless prank would liven things up."

"Yeah okay. Ash, that's not a prank, that's a felony."

"I'm gonna give it back," Ashton promised with a little chuckle. "But it's fun to see John so upset. If you watch close you can see the steam come out of his ears.

Luke giggled. "You're horrible..."

"I am," Ashton agreed and finally closed his book. "What are you walking around for anyway, don't you teach classes soon?"

"That's exactly why I'm here," Luke cooed sweetly. "I'm making you come with me."

Ashton raised his eyebrows and looked over Luke. It was almost sunset and Luke thought this light looked soft around Ashton. Made his smile more happy and sweet. And it almost made him too distracted to blush under Ashton's eyes. Almost.

An innocent blush. A friendly blush.

"And do I have a choice in all of this?" Ashton asked.

"Not at all," Luke hummed. "C'mon. It'll be better now that everyone knows you."

"Alright but you're not making me sing," Ashton told him. "Not if I have to pay you to learn."

"I'm not sure you'd be a good student anyway." Luke hummed standing up.

"I resent that," Ashton looked up at Luke from the bench. "I'd be a model student. You teach, and I'll pretend to listen."

"Funny," Luke's blush deepened. "Get up, model boy, I've got people to teach."

"And boy, am I ready to take pages and pages of pretend notes..." Ashton continued as he got up.

"Are you always this dedicated to a bit?" Luke asked with a little giggle.

"That depends, is this gonna effect my G-P-A if I answer honestly?"

"Shut up," Luke giggled.

"Cmon, we'll take my car. I don't feel like walking," Ashton cooed in his normal voice, slinging his keys around his finger. Luke nodded and hurried beside him to the dark grey classic car.

The inside was a lot more roomy than the outside let on. Even though it only had a front seat, it was spacious. It had a rich red interior. The leather was slightly crackled from sunlight and age, but smelled like pine—thanks to the little tree hanging from the rear view mirror.