Flowers from a lover [rewrite]

16.0

Ryan had texted Lucas at six in the morning, asking for his help.

Ryan: Hello, Lucas. I do apologize that this text finds you so early in the morning, but I would like to ask a favour. Are you busy today?

Lucas: It's no problem, I woke up early anyway but no I don't have any plans as far as I know.

Lucas was curious as to what the favor was. He thought it might have been an invitation to something at first but from how semi-serious Ryan's tone was, he knew that wasn't the case.

Ryan: Are you good with kids?

Lucas: I'm not horrible I guess, why?

Ryan: Would you be able to watch over Oliver? I know he can be a handful but my family and I have found ourselves in a sort of emergency and all the adults are needed.

Lucas: Is everything ok? Also yes, I reckon can watch Oliver.

Ryan: I'm going to be honest, I'm quite unsure There's a lot going on right now, I've taken a work leave and Scott's even closed his store for the rest of the week We all just hope everything will be fine Thank you for your concern, we appreciate it.

Lucas: No problem I hope everything turns out ok, whatever it is but anyway, would you like to bring Scott here? or should I go to yours?

Ryan: Is it alright if you come to ours? He's easier to take care of when he's entertained and out of your hair All of the stuff he has to entertain him is here.

Lucas: Yeah sounds good I can be there in an hour?

Ryan: That works out Thank you again, we definitely owe you one.

Lucas plugged his phone in while he went to the kitchen to make himself a bowl of cereal (as it was the fastest to make and eat). After that he rushed to wash his face and change out of his pajamas. Finishing faster than he expected, he asked Ryan if he could come earlier than he had planned. Ryan said it was actually convenient, since he, Mary, and Scott were leaving soon. It took a couple turns and attempts to find their house in the neighborhood, but after Lucas spotted the number painted on the curbside, he parked on the side of the road before locking his car and knocking at the door. The house was decorated beautifully on the outside, with the roof lined in hanging flowers, a white archway on the path to the door, and wind chimes that sang together as the last of the warm summer wind blew on them.

The door in front of him opened, revealing Mary. "Lucas!" She gave him a hug, surprising him but he found himself hugging back, "I'm sorry this was so last minute." Lucas dropped his keys on accident, and he leaned down to pick them up before looking to Mary again, "No, no. You've been great company to me lately and this is something I feel like I owe you." "Oh don't be silly," Mary smiled, "you don't owe us anything for friendship." Ryan walked up behind her, carrying a small backpack of things. His eyes looked dreadful. They were baggy and dark, and the amount of hours he had slept the previous night could be determined by his face alone. "Lucas, good to see you." He greeted, patting him on the shoulder, "Thank you for coming by so early. Oliver is up in his bedroom right now, still asleep. He wakes up in around ten minutes."

Ryan gave Mary the backpack to load into the car, where Scott was already sitting at the steering wheel waiting for them. Ryan led Lucas inside, showing him where everything was kept and also where he had put Oliver's meals (which were pre-prepared for Lucas's convenience). He urged him to not hesitate to call if there was emergency, and that he could eat whatever he wanted from their kitchen if he should ever get hungry. "That should be it," Ryan told him as he led Lucas into the living room, "the TV and computer is all yours to use too. The TV has a password lock on Youtube since we found out he was finding content he shouldn't have been watching. It's written on the back of the cable box."