drive ♢ muke ✔️

xix

"there is no fucking way that monday's already here." i grumble tiredly as i flip onto my back.

even then, i hear an urgent banging. a noise persistent to wake me up.

i grunt and stare around the pitch black room. it's way too dark to be the morning. i look at my phone which is charging next to my bed but my alarm's not going off. also, it's 3am.

three in the fucking morning.

i realize that the banging noises is coming from the door.

normally, i would be terrified to hear such a loud noise in the dark but right now i'm too angry to be thinking straight.

i march right down the stairs, not caring if there's a murderer or vampire out my door. i don't even grab a weapon or peek through the peephole first. i fling the front door open, ready to kill any monster outside.

what i'm not prepared to see his a tear streaked boy with blotchy red cheeks and messy hair.

"luke? why are you outside my house at three in the morning?" i wonder curiously. my anger evaporates; i can't really stay mad at a boy who's crying.

"can i stay here overnight? it's just for today." luke asks painfully. i can't help but pity him.

"come in," i widen the door to let him through.

he hugs me tightly as he walks in. his smells faintly of cologne and blood; a terrible combination but luke managed to pull it off.

he follows me as we walk up the stairs. he's dead silent, i wouldn't even remember his presence if it weren't for the occasional sniffle.

as we enter my room, luke turns the light on and sits on my bed. i hiss when i'm exposed to the bright light.

"are all gays part vampire?" luke tries to make a joke as he wipes away a tear.

"yeah, pretty much." i nod, trying to brighten the mood.

"i'm really sorry for being an asshole and everything. i'm over that homophobic phase, it turns out you're a really cool guy." luke mumbles under his breath.

"it's okay." i accept his apology awkwardly.

"i bet you're wondering why i'm here," luke sighs.

"a little," i admit.

i'm still drowsy so i lean into the frame of my bed. my back is cushioned by the stack of fluffy pillows. luke takes that opportunity to rest his head on my chest.

"i went home yesterday, ready to surprise bryana. i had everything, i bought candles, a card, flowers, chocolate, even a teddy bear. i expected her to jump into my arms and maybe even shed a few happy tears. instead, i found her butt naked in our bed with some guy i've never seen before. she told me it wasn't what it looked like but i'm not an idiot." luke explains looking like he was ready to burst into sobs all over again.

i gulp, unable to bring myself to say anything.

"long story short, i beat the guy up, told bryana that i expected to have all her shit out of my apartment by the afternoon and ran away for a few hours. now i'm here," luke continues.

once again, i find words trapped in my throat, unable to escape. i know that if i open my mouth, words that i'll regret will fall out. instead, i stroke his hair.

"i just feel so played. was i not good enough? i mean, why would she find someone else?" luke wonders out loud.

"i guess it'll remain a mystery," i choke out.

i'm a shit liar. i know exactly why.

"you're honestly so fucking shady," luke squints at me. "and please don't start talking about your farts again."

"me? shady? psh, no. of course not." i chuckle weakly, avoiding all eye contact with the police officer.

"michael," luke trails off as he says my name.

he sits up, looking directly in my eyes. his expression is deathly serious.

"tell me why you're acting so suspicious." luke finishes his thought.

i try to swallow the lump in my throat.

"i, i uh, um. well you see, i, uh. i killed my goldfish when i was seven." i blurt out breathily.

"huh?" luke asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

"i had a goldfish named timmy turner and i got sick of his shit so i didn't feed him for two days and he died. i accused my mom of killing him so naturally she felt bad and bought me a cat." i continue talking nervously.

"uh, cool? i'm not talking about your deceased goldfish, i'm talking about bryan-"

"about how tired you are?" i cut him off. "yeah, me too. let's get some sleep, we'll talk in the morning."

before he can argue, i slide out of bed and run to the light switch. hopefully luke will forget about this conversation later.

i cower back under my blankets but this time, there's a warm boy lying next to me. i match his steady breathing as i snuggle myself in the space between his chest and his arm.

"goodnight officer pickle."