We Were Young

Gone

  Luke sat at the kitchen table, silently listening as his mum walked around, cleaning and telling him how she told him so....
"You know, I saw this coming the whole time... gay relationships don't last. They just aren't natural, now you see. If you were engaged to a woman, like Arzaylea, that nice girl from college, this wouldn't have happened..." Luke bit his lip as she started chopping carrots for dinner.
"Mum... please, I don't want to talk about it," he whispered, hearing the waver in his voice.
"There's no point in denying it, darling. The sooner you admit it out loud, the better," she said as Jack walked in with Celeste. "You really should make better choices, Luke. See this is what happens-"
"Mum..." Jack said, sticking up for his little brother. "You don't choose who you love."
"You stay out of this, Jack. This doesn't involve you." Tears started welling up in Luke's eyes. "Men can't love men without it ending terribly." Luke couldn't handle it anymore. He burst into tears, and stood up, running upstairs to his old bedroom. He sat on the bed, trying to stop crying. Jack came in after him, sitting beside his baby brother.
"Hey... you okay?" He asked, putting his arm around him. Luke just shook his head.
"I-I hate her... she doesn't even care about me..."
"That's not true-"
"Jack, just. Don't, please. You know it's true. If she cared she wouldn't insist on making my life a living hell..." Luke sighed and looked down. "She can't even be sympathetic for one damn moment after I was cheated on..."
"Have you talked to him?"
"Who? Calum?"
"Yeah. Have you talked to him?" Luke just scoffed.
"No. I'm never talking to him again..."
"Not even to let him explain?"
"What is there to explain? He fucked someone else, that's all there is to it..." he sighed and slid down onto the floor. "I thought he loved me..."
"Did you love him?"
"What?"
"Did you love him?"
"Of course I did... I loved him so much... but.."
"But?"
"I guess I always knew it wasn't going to last..."
"Why's that?" He sighed, as he fidgeted with his fingers.
"Because of Michael..."

~~~~~

Calum stood outside the court room with Michael, arms crossed and brow creased in concentration.
"Cal, are you okay? You seem out of it," Michael said, hoping that Luke hadn't told him about the kiss.
"Oh yeah, fine. I'm great," he said sarcastically, sitting down on the bench. They had just been dismissed from today's session. Calum sighed and put his head in his hands. "I'm sorry, I'm just tired... I haven't gotten any sleep all week."
"Really? Why?" Michael asked, sitting next to his friend.
"Because I'm a total fuck up, that's why?"
"What'd you do?"
"I-I cheated on Luke..."
"What?"
"I wasn't thinking. It was never supposed to happen like that... I love him, it's just my judgement was so clouded. Whenever I'm with Ashton, I just can't think straight..."
"You cheated on him with Ashton?"
"I know, I feel awful... and he kicked me out. We broke up... It's so weird without him, at the office he just ignores me. I-I need him back. I can't sleep without him at night, but Ashton is so broken... so alone. He's my first love, and I dont want to lose him."
"Well you can't have them both... and you certainly can't just go around hurting Luke."
"I know, but what do I do?"
"Choose. But if you choose Luke, you better have a pretty good explanation for him... once he's hurt, he isn't easy to get back... trust me, I know..."
"What are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter... but I have to go... I'll see you next month," he said, standing up and walking out.

  He stood infront of the apartment door and knocked lightly, waiting a moment before Luke answered.
"Michael... what are you doing here?" He asked, looking down.
"Calum told me about what happened... I wanted to come check on you, make sure you're okay..."
"I'm fine," he lied, tears starting to well up in his eyes again.
"I know you better than that..." he said, stepping in the room and closing the door. Luke bit his lip and looked up at Michael.
"I-I was so stupid for thinking that he actually cared about me..." He whispered as a tear slipped down his cheek. "Why would he love me when not even my parents can manage it?" He asked. "Why would anyone love me?" He started crying again. Michael wrapped his arms around the boy tightly. 
"Hey, don't say that. I love you. I've always loved you, more than anything."
"Why, though?" Luke asked, breathlessly.
"Because you're the only one who's ever cared about me this way..." Luke pulled away and looked at his old best friend. "I'm in love with you..."
"I-I'm in love with you too. I always have been..." Michael pressed his lips softly against Luke's, wrapping his arms around his waist. Luke wrapped his arms around his neck as he was pushed up against the wall. Michael started kissing down his jaw and neck, biting it lightly.
"Mikey... wait," he whispered.
"What is it?" Luke sighed and looked down.
"It just... it doesn't feel right... not so soon anyways. I mean, I know he cheated on me... but it's not right to move on so fast, right?" Michael let go of his waist and took a step back.
"Yeah... you're right. Let's just take things slow?"
"Yeah. Slow." Luke sighed and took a seat on the couch, Michael following behind him. "Will you stay the night? Please? I can't sleep in an empty bed..."
"Of course I'll stay. Whenever you want." He wrapped his arms around Luke's thin waist and rested his head on his shoulder. "I love you..."
"I love you too..."