Black Licorice and Butterscotch // Dennor

Spoiled Plans

When Lukas clocked out of work for the day and stood up from his desk his two senior counterparts grinned in his direction.

"Please think about whatever you're about to say before you say it-" Lukas began with an exhausted look on his face, already predicting an ambush of embarrassing questions and doting phrases to be thrown at him as he left. The two women very obviously pixed up on his anxiety and immediately wiped off their cheeky grins. 

"Just- have fun on your date" Helena said kindly, sparing Lukas the embarrassment. Lukas gave a polite nod as a quick thank you and proceeded towards the exit. 

"Have a good night" he called out, before taking a tep out the door. When he was just far enough to not want to turn back and scold them, Ada took to screaming out the door behind him,

"Don't forget to use protection! Call me if you need me to pick you up! I've got a few majong games planned but for you- anything."

Lukas cringed and lightly rubbed his temples before bolting down the stairs towards the exit to the municipal building. He really could not catch a break with those two. He shook it off as he looked down at his phone. 1 text from Emil, 1 from Mathias. He decided to open Emil's first. 

Emil: hey I wont be back for a bit tonight-.. hanging out with a few friends

Lukas paused for a moment. He never really policed Emil's behavior because he wasn't really comfortable stepping in as the parent when it came to discipline, but the teen had been staying out far later than Lukas ever had when he was in high school. He usually wouldn't worry about him because he was pretty self-suficient, but Lukas didn't entirely love the other kids he hung out with. 

Lukas: How late are you going to be out? You've been staying out really late on weeknights lately- I'm a bit worried about your schoolwork

Lukas paused for a moment as he reread his response. God he sounded like such a buzzkill. He was in his 20s going on 50s. This is why he was so keen on going out with Mathias. Maybe for once he would feel his own age. 

Emil: dont worry about it- i'll be back before midnight

Lukas wanted push back on him but figured he'd let him go one more time. Midnight was the curfew anyway, it's not like he could really argue. Plus, Emil had never let his grades slide. The kid was consistently at the top of his class. 

Lukas: Alright have fun- just let me know if you need me to pick you up and be back before midnight

He swiped out of the conversation feeling slightly better. Lukas never wanted to be a replacement for their parents because that clearly was never the case, but he wanted to think he was at least doing a decent job at raising a teenager for someone who was just recently a teenager themselves. 

He opened his conversation with Mathias and stifled a laugh. 

Mathias: I'm really excited for tonight!!! Can't wait to see you!!

He wasn't really sure how to respond to that. It was a bit too much enthusiasm for him to digest. He stared down at his phone before mustering the most lukewarm response he could manage. 

Lukas: See you at 7

Lukas shoved his phone in his pocket and continued his walk home. He had a few hours before the date and figured he'd change into a different outfit before heading down to the candy shop. Plus he needed a few hours of social isolation before heading back out. 

When he got home he set his bag down and moved into the kitchen. The kitchen looked like it had been run through by a group of badgers. Emil's half-eaten plate of breakfast was sitting on the kitchen counter, all of the cabinets were open, the sink was full of dishes, and an open bottle of milk had been left out on the counter, sitting in the early-summer warmth. Mildly annoyed, Lukas took his phone back out of his pocket. 

Lukas: Did you seriously think it was ok to leave the kitchen like this?  Come back and clean it or you're not staying out

Emil: you're joking right

Lukas: No? You let the milk go bad and it looks like you haven't done the dishes in years

Emil: first of all you're not mom... so stop trying to act like it... and i'll wash them when i get back.. relax its not a big deal

Lukas tensed his jaw as he felt himself grow angry. He never really felt anger but Emil's attitude recently paired with the increased stress of providing for the two of them meant a spoiled bottle of milk was more than a small deal. He was making only enough money to pay for the house and groceries for the two of them. Emil had no idea the stress he was under, ahnd Lukas repeatedly put up with his behavior because he knew Emil's adolescence hadn't been the easiest to stomach. This was really the final straw.  

Lukas: alright come home then because you're not going out with your friends if the kitchen looks like this...

Emil: you can't force me to come home lol

Lukas: Get home now. 

Emil: good luck finding me

Lukas wanted to throw his phone across the room. He was beyond frustrated. He wasn't even in the mood to go out anymore. He opened his messages with Mathias. 

Lukas: I might need to rain check

Mathias replied almost instantly. 

Mathias: What? Why? Are you alright- need me to get you anything?

Lukas: Yeah I'm fine just dealing with my brother

Mathias: Oh- that's alright! He doing alright? Everything ok?

Lukas: Just a rebellious teenager- don't worry about it

Mathias: Well let me know if I can do anything- and when I can see you again

Lukas: Thanks

Lukas set down his phone in disappointment. He had genuinely been so excited to go out with him. Despite the anxiety, he was excited to talk to someone who wasn't an old lady or an angsty teenager. He was absolutely furious at Emil, and worried about who he was hanging out with. His attitude had been bad but he had never once just refused to do something simple that Lukas was asking of him. Plus, the kid had been hanging around in the woods recently and Lukas wasn't entirely secure with the concept of a group of 17 year olds hanging out in the woods past midnight .

Lukas was just worried enough to feel desperate. He suddenly had an idea. 

Lukas: Actually Mathias- do you have a car?

Mathias: Yeah- you need a ride somewhere?

Lukas: Sorry to ask this when I barely know you- but I'm a little desperate. Could you potentially help me find my brother?

Mathias: OoooOOOoo a manhunt? Count me in

Lukas: Really? Again I'm sorry we couldn't hang out-

Mathias: I could not think of something more fun to do on a first date than track down a missing teenager with his ridiculously cute older brother

Lukas felt his stomach do a flip. The mixture of  frustration about Emil yet excitement to see Mathias was creating a weird combination of feelings in his body.

Lukas: I'll meet you at the grocer's in town- I don't live too far

Mathias: I'll see you in 10 :)

Lukas set his phone down and quickly ran into the bathroom. He looked tired. He quickly tussled his hair to his satisfaction and splashed some cold water on his face to look more alive. He ran into his room, changed into a cozy sweater, and slipped on his hiking boots. He had a feeling the the night may lead him to a few obscure places. 

He quickly dumped the spoiled bottle of milk into the sink and set it out on the doorstep for collection. Taking one last glance at the messy kitchen before heading out, he let out a sigh. Parenting was not something he was getting used to.