Lucas Carter is struggling to find his place after moving to Seacrest and enrolling in Seacrest High.
As he settles in with a new group of friends, Lucas becomes caught in a complicated love triangle with Tyler, a closeted jock, and Alec, a my...
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(Lucas)
Friend...
I knew what we were, but being reminded of that, hearing it, especially from him, hurt.
I suddenly became more and more aware of the loudness of my heartbeats, how it pounded inside me like a never-ending drum solo. Only it did end, for a slight second it stopped beating.
Friend.
The words echoed through my head, taunting me, teasing me. "Lucas?" Tyler's voice called, sounding blurred, like he wasn't really there. "Lucas, are you okay?" His voice reverberated through the silence.
"Lucas, are you okay?" Tyler's voice broke through the stillness I had felt, and as if regaining consciousness, I was back in the motel room, perched on the edge of the bed with Tyler in front of me, his towel swung over his shoulders, headed for the bathroom.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied.
He looked skeptical but seemed to brush it aside, "Yeah, well, I'll be right back," before heading to the bathroom and locking the door behind him. Soon, I heard the shower begin to run; the sound became a backdrop to the tornado of emotions I was feeling in that moment.
I laid back against the bed, staring into the ceiling that seemed to stretch forever within the darkness. It was almost humorous-different ceiling, same thoughts.
I decided to try and push the thoughts away. It wasn't so bad, I guess. Being his friend was better than being nothing. But the weight of the word was crushing me.
I needed air, so I stepped out onto the metal walkway outside our room and leaned against the railing, trying to steady my thoughts.
Friend? My head kept spinning with that word. Was that all I really was. The confusion in my chest twisted tighter with each passing second.
Before I could catch my breath, the door to the room next to ours creaked open, and out stepped Nick. His eyes met mine, and I groaned inwardly. Great, just what I needed. But he didn't turn back inside like I'd hoped. Instead, he walked over and leaned against the railing next to me, a smug grin on his face.
There was a pause, thick with tension, before he spoke. "I gotta hand it to you, I did not see that coming."
I frowned, already tired of whatever game he was trying to play. "What're you talking about?"
Nick's grin widened. "Well, first you steal Casey, and then my best friend."
"I didn't steal anyone from you," I snapped, trying to keep my voice steady, but Nick's tone was dripping with something ugly, something that sent a chill down my spine.
"It's a shame, though," he continued, his voice low and suggestive, "someone should really warn him about what kind of guy he's sharing a room with."
