Ghost (Second Edition)

Chapter Twelve--Safe In Your Arms

Nathan

The grass was soft under his back, the sun warm on the exposed parts of his skin, the air fresh with the scent of daisies.

A loud sneeze made Nathan jump and turn his head. Luis was sitting up in the grass next to him, rubbing his nose with his finger.

Nathan had convinced him to skip school today, so they could spend a whole day together. He'd seen the haunted look Luis had worn when he had arrived at school.

Luis smiled at him. That nervous smile that Nathan loved, the one where Luis would close his eyes.

"Heh. Hay fever..." Luis said sheepishly.

Nathan smiled back. "That's okay. The pollen is thick today," he murmured, "excited for prom tomorrow night?"

Luis nodded. "I heard that there will be a huge cake!" He said excitedly, looking over the field towards the back of the mansion.

"There'll be more than just cake," Nathan looked up at the clear blue sky. "There'll be dancing, a dinner with three courses... And of course me." He looked up at Luis. Still on his back, hands behind his head. Luis blushed deeply.

"Of course You. None of this would be possible if it weren't for you."

Nathan took Luis's hand in his. Luis lay down, their joined hands between them.

"Where do you come from Luis?" Nathan asked softly. "Where were you born?"

Luis took a moment to think. "My mother gave birth to me alone in a small town on the outskirts of Canada. We moved to Australia in the weeks after." He said as he looked up at the sky.

Nathan rolled onto his side. "I can take you away from here." He said, tracing Luis's cheek with his fingers. Brushing tenderly over a fading slap mark. "So far away..."

Luis looked at him and smiled. "I would like that..." He murmured.

Nathan scooted over and placed a lingering kiss on Luis's cheek, he felt the heat rise under the other boy's skin. Luis rolled over to face him and snuggled closer; his breath soft against Nathan's neck. He felt Luis trace his hand down his chest, the touch warm even through his shirt. It brought a wash of colour to Nathan's own cheeks.

There was a muffled growl and Luis rolled away. His hands wrapped around his stomach and looking very uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" Nathan asked, pushing himself up on his elbows.

"I haven't eaten since Tuesday..." Luis admitted, not meeting Nathan's eye. Nathan frowned.

"Why not?"

Luis shrugged; the haunted look had returned. "Mum didn't give me dinner Tuesday night... And she locked me in my room all day yesterday."

Nathan continued to frown. "That's not right!" He muttered under his breath. He stood up and held out a hand for Luis. "Come on, let's get you something to eat."

***

"What do you want?" Nathan asked as he opened the stainless steel fridge. It was two times bigger than a typical fridge and freezer combo. Every shelf was stacked with food, ingredients, and containers ready for reheating. Luis stared open-mouthed at the amount of food before him.

"Why do you need so much food?"

Nathan sighed. "My parents like to have big meals... And snacks... Lots of snacks..." He admitted.

Taking this in, Luis hesitantly took an apple.

"Have more than that!" Nathan said, appalled. He grabbed a bowl from the top shelf and threw it in the microwave for a few minutes. You're clearly starving! Here," he handed the now-warm bowl to Luis firmly. "Have some carbonara!"