Running from You

16

"How did you even..."
"It's called an ultra shortcut" Lucas says, smiling proudly. "I saw a video about it. Look, if you drive against this wall just right..."
I already stop listening to what he's saying and try to focus on the screen again. We're playing Mario Kart, and I finally agreed to do coconut mall. Mario Kart is a great way to spend time together without having to talk, because I try not to talk whenever I'm beating him in every single course. Except for coconut mall. Curse you, coconut mall. Apparently he found some way to beat the level while I'm still in the middle of the second lap.

"...and that has to do with certain checkpoints. So, if you just circle wide enough over the parking lot, and it'll think you actually drove the entire course. The world record is 34 seconds, I think".
Lucas takes a deep breath, and when I realise he's ready to continue rambling, I put my hand on his shoulder.
"I really wonder how you can remember all that but completely forget about every test we have".
He shrugs.
"I only remember useless information that interests me" he says, with a small smile. Such an adorable little smile.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" he asks, while I look for a next track to play.
"Sure" I say, absent mindedly. It's quiet for a while. Confused, I look up, and notice he's looking at me. His head slightly tilted, and his fingers messing with his hoodie strings again.
"You've been acting strange today" he says. I raise an eyebrow, trying to hold back the unavoidable blush creeping up onto my face.
"I have?" I ask. Just pretend you have no idea what he's talking about. Keep denying.
He shrugs, and gets a red colour on his cheeks. Dangit, of course he looks like the sweetest, most precious human being when he blushes.
"I just thought it was kind of weird how you barely talked to me" he says, visibly uncomfortable. I know he's not very good at picking up social cues. It has happened multiple times that I was just tired and he felt like I was mad at him for something.

"Oh" I say. I'm not sure entirely how to respond to that. He looks a little hurt. He takes things personally very quickly, I'm completely aware of that. It took him a year to realise that every time I say he annoys me, I don't actually mean I hate him. I realised my pathetic attempt to avoid him today at school could hurt him, which is probably why I barely went through with it. It's just hard to look at him the same way after my realisation yesterday. But I'll try.

However, I still can't tell him what's really going on with me.
"It's just... Yeah, there's some stuff going on" I stutter. He looks up, and his green eyes urge me to tell him what it is. But I can't. I shouldn't. It would be really stupid if I did.
"Stuff?" he asks, and he lets go of his hoodie strings. "Could I help? I've had lots of stuff in my life".
"I don't think you can" I mutter. "All your stuff ended with you obsessing over someone for months only to have your heart broken".
Please tell me I don't end up doing that too. I would never live it down if I ended up obsessed with Lucas. Jay would know instantly. And she would never let me forget that.

I glance at Lucas again, and feel my stomach drop when I see his expression. He has a small smile on his face, arms crossed and eyebrows raised.
"So it has to do with liking someone?" he asks.
"What?" I ask, and I let out a strange laughing sound that I don't believe I've ever made before. "Why would you think that?"
"Because you said my stuff had to do with crushes so your stuff has to do with that too" he says, and his smile grows more smug when I don't answer right away.
"When did you get smart?" I groan, and I stuff my face in a pillow.
"I always am, I don't show it so I surprise my enemies" he shrugs casually. "Anyway, who is it?"
"It's not important, it's stupid" I say.
"It's important to me! I'm your best friend! I need to know. If you don't tell me I'm going to tell everyone I know you like someone and they'll help me find out".
I stare at him for a moment, dropping my pillow. I'm such an idiot. How do I get myself out of this situation?

Suddenly, my mom barges into my room.
"Dean Walker, we need to talk!" she yells. I stare at her with big eyes, half grateful for interrupting the conversation, half terrified because I've never seen her this angry. Her dark brown hair is pulled up in a messy ponytail, her dark eyes fixated on me.
"Hey mom, Lucas is here" I say, hoping she'll calm down a little. She glances at Lucas, and her angry expression softens for a moment.
"Oh, hi dear. Would you mind going home for a bit? I need to talk to Dean" she says.
"Oh" Lucas says. "Uh, yeah, I'll just call my dad to ask if he can pick me up".
He looks at me, and raises his eyebrow. I shrug back at him. I have no idea what my mom could be so mad about. Except...
"Dean!" she booms, returning to pretending Lucas isn't sitting in the room. "Have you been talking to your father?"

I hear a gasp beside me, but I don't pay attention to it.
"What?" I ask. Shit. Lucas doesn't know about Rob, I don't want him to find out by my mom traumatizing him.
"Why would you think that?" I ask.
"Because he told me! You gave him your number?!"
I cringe a little, staring at my mom. Pleading she won't eleborate. But now she's already said it, and now Lucas knows.

"We'll talk more once Lucas is gone" she says, and she turns to Lucas. I do too. He's frowning slightly.
"Lucas sweetie, sorry about this. Do you want me to call your mom or can you do it yourself?" she asks, her voice sweet again. She really likes Lucas. I relate.
"I'll call her" Lucas says, and he gets up and walks out of my room. Something's not right. He's quiet. I get up to follow him, but my mom puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Not so fast mister" she says. I turn around, and look at her. Her face is cold, but changes a little when she sees my expression.
"Lucas didn't know about the whole... Rob situation" I say quietly. "I just want to explain this to him".

She gives my shoulder a little shove.
"The minute he's out of this house, you're mine" she says. I smile thankfully, my smile disappearing at her annoyed expression, and walk into the hall. Lucas is sitting on the top of the stairs, talking to his mom on the phone.
"Yeah, uh... His mom had to ask him something. I could take the bus if you... Okay. Yeah, I know. Thanks".
He hangs up, and rests his head in his hands for a second.
"It's okay" he whispers to himself. "He's not mad at you, Lucas".
Oh lord I feel awful now.

I open the door, and close it again, so he won't know I just heard him talking to himself. He looks up, and forces a smile on his face when he sees me.
"Hey" he says. "How long have you..."
"Just a second" I reassure him. "Listen, I didn't tell you because..."
I frown.
"I don't know, actually. I guess I just wasn't ready. But whatever, it wasn't because I'm mad at you or don't trust you or anything. I was going to tell you soon, I swear".
He nods slowly, a calculating look on his face.
"When were you?" he then asks.
"Someday" I shrug. "It's nothing, really. All he does is text me, and I don't even reply. Most of the time. You've seen him, actually".
"I have?" he asks.
"Yeah, Rob Deacon. The motorcycle guy with the tattoo".
He gets a look of disgust on his face.
"Dean Deacon?" he asks.
"He was going to name me Elvis" I sigh. The disgust grows.
"I don't think we'd be friends if your name was Elvis" he says.

I smile at him.
"We're still good, right?" I ask. He smiles back, a shy smile that makes my stomach flutter and my heart burst, and nods.
"Yeah, of course" he says. I stare at him for a second, before tearing my gaze off him towards my bedroom door. I guess it's time to face this whole new obstacle now. My furious mom.

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