Love and War - (Book 1)

Chapter 1 (Part 4 - Heartbreak)

Desperate to return to a home that was glorious and content, Lucas paces along the streets, starting to recognise some of the signs and names of places. 'I'm almost there,' Lucas says in his head. 'I can make it,' he continues. He never had any doubt that he wouldn't have made it at least this far. His feet beginning to pain him once more. He ignores the pain. To make the dreaded walk go faster, he lists of all the Elements, singing Tom Lehrer's Element song in his head. Making no mistakes, he reaches Sodium - the last Element in the song - and smirks to himself.

Reaching the street where he lives, he finds a missing poster stuck to a tree. Who else but himself? 'James must've put that there for me,' Lucas thinks. 'And Jordan, I would hope.' He wanders towards it. He stares longingly at the poster, getting emotional and tearing up, remembering those long six months. 'Not the best picture of me, though I don't like being in pictures often. I know James would use that picture,' he continues in his head. 

He recognises a man strolling his direction. His dark coloured face is easily a recognisable one. "Hey, Johnson, I'm back," Lucas says to the man. "Eh? Who are you? I know your face from somewhere. It wouldn't be that poster of that wanker, now, would it?" Johnson jokes with him. Lucas laughs lightly and replies, "Fuck you, man."

"You say the F-word to me?" Johnson proceeds to play around. "It's been ages, where've you been?" He finally asks.

"Don't worry. And I know I look terrible, but please tell me James hasn't moved or anything." The woe on Lucas' face is clear.

"Same house, yeah. Not that I do stay in touch with that twat, but as far as I know, he's still there." 

"Thanks, man. I'll see you around, and perhaps I'll find the courage in myself to tell what happened to me those past, long six months," and with that Lucas jogs towards his and James' home.

This is place he remembered being before the Military Base. He was standing right where he is now, outside his front door, before bang! And then blackness. And the headache. And Alexander. Only, that time their car was there. Now there was a different car. Lucas and James had bought it together. Could it have been stolen? Broken down? Or perhaps James had just gotten rid of it for whatever reason. Nevertheless, this upset Lucas somewhat.

He knocks rapidly but lightly a few times on the door. James opens it. He was as cute as Lucas remembered. The gelled black hair, the green eyes, that perfect mouth and nose. Everything looked perfect to Lucas when he saw James. Especially his fit body, that almost six pack James had and those strong muscles. James only ever tried to impress Lucas, but he always liked him for who he was.

Lucas smiled contentedly at James. "I'm back..." Lucas says, leaving a long pause. The thing James picked up on first was the bruised face. Clearly he had been through some trouble. The long pause had lasted long enough. Neither of them knew what to say. "I love you, too?" Lucas said to his boyfriend.

"What happened? Where were you? Why is your face injured? Did you leave me?" James fires questions at Lucas.

"Wow, that was a mouthful," he replies.

"You'd know all about my mouth being full," James jokes with him. At least he was still witty and sarcastic. And Lucas is still cheerful. Lucas brings himself into James and they hug for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only several seconds. Lucas goes to kiss James on the lips, however James prevents it by pulling away.

"Whoa, whoa. What are you doing?" Lucas uneasily asks.

"I can't kiss you. I-I-I..." James stutters. The worst had happened. Lucas feared every day of those long six months what Alex or Robert would do next, but what James would have done whilst he was gone never really crossed his mind to something this serious.