My Best Friend's Love (boyxboy)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

        Caleb and Luke ate dinner silently. Sitting across from Luke, Caleb couldn't help but notice that there was something going on, he couldn't figure out what it was. He looked up occasionally, seeing that Luke was staring blankly at his bowl of chili. Luke would, every so often, lift the spoon up to his mouth and wince because he kept forgetting that it was hot. Whatever he was thinking about, Caleb knew that it was serious. 

        "Luke." 

        Luke snapped out of his reverie with a jolt. His eyes were wide and his hand wiped the corner of his mouth. He raised his eyebrows in question. 

        "What's going on? Something's up and you aren't talking. It isn't like you to go through an entire meal without showing me see-food. 'Sup?" 

        Luke paused and stared at his friend. How would Caleb react if he told him he was gay? Or that he was in love with him? He told Kathryn and Natalie and it lifted some weight off his shoulders. He knew it wouldn't be completely gone until he told his best friend. He was scared that he would lose him forever. 

        "I'm going to look for another place. I hate feeling like I'm a moocher." 

        It wasn't what he was going to say but he knew that it would be a good idea to live somewhere else before he told Caleb. Caleb looked at him like he grew two heads. Why would he leave when he liked the company? 

        "Luke you don't have to leave. You're like my brother." 

        With that one sentence, Luke felt another crack in his heart. He heard that sentence so many times and saw so many things that his heart must look like a jigsaw puzzle by now.  

        "I need to get out on my own and live my life, Caleb. I can't do that if it feels like my- What I mean is, I just need to do it. Okay?" 

        Caleb paused. He felt something but he couldn't figure out what it was. He nodded his head slowly. 

        "Alright, Luke. If that's how you feel then I'll help you look for stuff later this week." 

        "No. I'm going to take myself to the motel tomorrow and look from there. It will make the transition easier." 

        Caleb felt a sharp pain to his gut but he ignored it and just kept nodding his head. He made a cup of hot chocolate after dinner and sat in the living room, staring at the fireplace. It wasn't lit but it still had the same effect on him, clearing his mind. He could hear the faint sounds of Luke getting ready for bed and he found himself listening to the sounds, smiling faintly when he heard Luke stub his toe on the side table, as always.  

        Caleb finished his hot chocolate and started walking up the stairs, pausing every so often to look at the pictures hanging on the wall. He stopped at one that showed him and Luke at the creek. They were trying to fish that day and Luke fell in. Caleb had been laughing his little butt off and Luke took advantage and pulled him in. He smiled, reminiscing about the good ol' days. It made him miss his parents.  

       He walked up a couple of steps and looked at another picture. They were older in this one. It had been Luke's twenty-first birthday and he had a drunk smile as wide as his face. Luke was standing right next to him, arm around his shoulder and he was smiling stupidly at Luke. It had been a night to remember and it was in the top five of their 'drunk shenanigans' list.  

        He continued up the stairs and stopped outside Luke's door. He usually stopped in to talk to Luke before bed but he couldn't do it. It would be so awkward. He opened the door going against his thoughts and saw Luke already asleep. Caleb walked forward slowly and, without thinking, stroked Luke's hair. He pulled his hand back so fast, as if it were burnt. He left in a hurry and shut the door.