Loud And Clear (boyxboy)

Breakfast

"Luke! Do you want some more pasta salad?"

William looked at his mom where she was hovering behind the counter with a bright grin and sank down into his seat.

"Yes please!" Lucas shouted back grinning.

She was about ten feet away from their table and there were only three other people there, so the volume was unnecessary but William chose to focus on other issues.

"Luke?" he asked incredulously. "Since when do you go by Luke?"

Lucas shrugged.

"Your mom," he started, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Can literally call me whatever the hell she wants."

Arriving with another generous portion of pasta salad, William's mom giggled and ruffled Lucas' hair affectionately.

"You're a magician," Lucas said, grinning up at her.

"Aw, I want to take you home," his mom said. "William, why haven't you invited him over yet?"

William knew that being jealous right now would be ridiculous, so he clamped down on the emotion as best he could and shrugged up at her.

"It just hasn't come up, that's all."

"Well, you should come by any time you want," she said to Lucas. "You two can have sleep overs."

She winked at William over the top of Lucas' head and he felt his cheeks heat.

Lucas looked back and forth between them.

"Do you not want me to come over or something?" he asked.

His mom giggled again.

"Oh, honey," she said. "That couldn't be further from the truth."

"Mom, can I talk to you?" William asked, abruptly jumping out of his seat.

He didn't wait for her answer before storming off into the backroom, cheeks burning red and heart thumping erratically.

She came in behind him a moment later, looking completely unconcerned by the way ha had his arms crossed and shoulders hunched.

"Why didn't you tell me how adorable he was?" she squealed. "He's like a scruffy kitty!"

"Mom!"

Actually, that was a really good description of him.

William sighed.

"Look, can you just back off a bit? You're embarrassing me."

She bit her lip in an attempt at holding in a smile.

"I can't help it," she said. "You haven't told me anything about him. I want to know all about the boy that has my son so interested."

William flushed.

"It's not that big a deal," he said.

Her smile dipped and she reached out, taking both of his shoulders warmly.

"William," she said. "It's been so long since you put yourself out there. For you to not only try to make a friend, but to also put your heart on your sleeve that way you are... Of course its a big deal."

She smiled at him but there was a sadness in her eyes. One that made him think maybe she worried about him a lot more than she ever let on.

"Lucas must be really special..."

William followed her to the front, caught by the sight of Lucas sitting at the table where he'd left him, sunlight streaking his hair in that way that it always did. Light always seemed to find him.

When William sat back down across from him, Lucas was still eating.

"What was that about?" he asked. A bit of tuna sprayed out of his mouth and he grimaced.

William shook his head in wonder. 

"Didn't your mother ever teach you any manners?" he asked.

Lucas shook his head. 

"None," he said promptly.

William chuckled and then when Lucas still watched him expectantly, he let out a little sigh.

Being direct didn't seem to be working with Lucas, but William wasn't much of a quitter. Plus, judging by his words earlier, it seemed like maybe Lucas was more interested than he let on. Or, knowing him, maybe he was more interested than he even knew he was.

"I just wanted to talk to my mom... about you."

Lucas' brows drew in and he finally stopped eating.

"About me?" he asked uneasily.

"Yeah," William admitted. "Because she knows how much I like you..." and god, after the things he'd already managed to say to Lucas, why was this making him blush so hard?

Lucas carefully put his sandwich down.

He looked down at the table for a long minute and then slowly a warm smile filled his face. He looked up at William, tenderness in every line of his face and William thought he could die happy.

"I really like you too," he said quietly.

He probably didn't mean it the way William wanted him to but William wasn't going to clarify. Instead, he let the happiness fill him along with the hope. Maybe this really would be a reality someday when Lucas was ready. Maybe that day would come sooner than William thought.

Lucas' phone buzzed then and the moment was broken.

He tore his gaze away, to read the message and a grin lit his face.

"Alex is having a few people over," he said, looking up at William eagerly. "You'll come with me, right?"

Despite the desire to suss out Lucas' friends, anxiety rose in William.

He hated meeting new people.

"It'll be fine," Lucas said, seeming to read his mind. "Just tell them about your ears first thing and it wont be an issue."

William rolled his eyes.

"Hi there," he said. "It might seem like I'm ignoring you but i'm not. I just cant hear you clearly. Please speak up and also, nice to meet you."

Lucas nodded, clearly missing the sarcasm.

"That's perfect," he said.

William sighed.

"It's not just that," he said. "I'm not use to breaking the ice anymore.Lucas, if you didn't literally fall on top of me, I never would have said a word to you."

"And look what good friends we are now," Lucas said.

William flushed. How was Lucas always so open, his warmth exposed for all to see? And also, how did he not have a line up of people trying to be with him? It didn't make any sense.

He leaned forward, eyes glinting up at William.

"It's possible to have more than one friend, you know."

"No way, really?"

"Yup," Lucas agreed. "Crazy, right?"

They fell into friendly chitchat, laughing as the day went on and by the time William finally got home, he knew he would go to the party. He would try that stupid line every time he spoke to someone and even if it didn't work and everyone hated him, at least Lucas would be there to smile at him.

~

AN: OMG! This chapter kicked my ass! I don't even know why! I honestly kept trying to write it but ugh! Sorry it took so long and is so short. Hopefully the next chapter is a little easier on me. I had such a good updating rhythm for a while there...