Exchange Student (DenNor)

Chapter 1 - The Host

Again, for those who may be just joining us, let me re-cap what has happened so far. Lukas gone to live with Mathias as an exchange student, leaving behind a little brother he promises to call every night, his mother, and his drunk of a father. Upon arriving, Lukas sees how different their lives really are...Mathias lives in a mansion, has probably never worked a day in his life, and has everything new. Lukas has had the same pair of sneakers for 3 years, working since he was 12, and is from a poor family. At first, he finds the servants assisting him at the mansion strange, while its nothing new for his young host. At dinner the first night, he learns first hand about Mathias's relationship with his father, which is rocky at best. For bonding purposes, Mathias suggests that he and Lukas join the basketball team. Thus where our story continues...
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     The scuffling and squeaks of rubber sneakers against the gym floor has stopped minuets ago, and the team is changing back into their school uniforms.
     "Great practice, eh Lukas?"
The one spoken to is peeling off his damp jersey as he replies.
     "I guess"
     "Well I loved it. It feels so nice to be out of the house and doing something! Feeling the rush of the game and what not."
A group of teens pass the two, a few hi-five Mathias.  The blond sits and waits for his  friend to finish changing, for he has learned to wait for Lukas's slow and steady speed.
     "Ready?"
     "Mhmm"
      By now they are the only two left in the locker room. Mathias locks their shared locker, and the two walk out. At the end of the long hall, a long black limo pulls up.
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     "How was practice, boys?" Asks Mr.Belvodere, the driver.
     "Great! It turns out Lukas here has some talent!"
Mathias exclaims, patting the Norwegian boy's knee. However, Lukas was caught up in a web of worries. The sun had set already, marking the time a certain bottle of vodka would be opened. Lukas quickly turns to face his host.
     "Can I call Emil when we get home?" Worry laces his tone, confusing Mathias.
     "Sure." He gives Lukas his nearly movie-star quality smile.
~~
Freshly showered, and recently having bid Mathias a goodnight, Lukas sits atop his bed, legs crossed, and dialing his brothers phone number. One ring, two rings, then three rings. It wasn't like him to wait this long. Finally, on the forth ring, a click is heard.
"Hello? Emil?"
"Hey"
"What took you so long to pick up? Usually you've picked up before the first ring."
"Sorry, it's been a long night. How are things with Mathias?"
"Fine, fine. What's going on there?"
"Oh same old, same old. Dad's at it again. But tonight somethings different." Answers Emil, voice quitter with every word. "He's got two bott-" He attempts to continue, but glass shattering in the background cuts him off.
"Emil!? What's happening?" Panic had taken over his thoughts with every terrible scenario that can be happening.
"Sorry, gotta go! I love you!"
An "I love you too" was all Lukas could manage before he hears the click again. He drops the phone in his lap, placing his head in his hands. Every scenario passing through his head was worse than the next, but he knew Emil was smart, that he knew what to do when these things happened; go up to his room and turn up his music until he couldn't hear anything else, and wait till morning before returning downstairs.
     A knock on the door alerts him. Instinctively, he grabs the item nearest to him, a book, and becomes ready to use it as a weapon.
"It's me, Mathias" A voice whispers from the hallway.
"Come in" Lukas tells the hushed voice, placing the book back on his night stand.
The door opens and the owner of the voice pokes his head in. Dressed in his pajamas, and standing sheepishly in the doorway is Mathias.
"I heard yelling. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, everything is fine, thank you."
"Are you sure? If you need a night light or something, I can have a servant get you one. Or if you need a phone, you can use ours. If you need a friend, I'm here..."
He trails off into silence. Lukas looks with pity at the boy, he can tell Mathias had just been scolded for the noise he himself caused moments ago. In the present, they both need something to keep their minds busy.

Without a word, Lukas pats the empty space on the large bed next to him. In an instant, Mathias shuts the door and sits on the bed, in nearly the same fashion as a begging dog. He begins to ramble on about basketball practice, and in that moment, Lukas truly listens. He hears the absence of glass breaking, screaming, yelling, and crying. In his arms is not a sobbing child, but silk sheets. The only noises now is the hum of the wood stove, and Mathias's voice. Lukas was free, for a little while, at least, of his father.

With this realization, he smiles at Mathias. It is a very small smile, with only the finest section of lips curved up, but it is still a smile. The recipient stops talking completely, and stares, returning the gesture. Little did he know, it was the first Lukas had done in many years.

Quickly, Mathias picks up the conversation again, making sure to keep Lukas actively involved.
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How did I do for the first chapter? :)