New Beginnings

Binary Orbits

Luke texted Spencer the next evening after he got off shift at the cinema, making plans with his new affliction to go look at records downtown, and grab some tacos from this amazing food truck that was his absolute favorite. Luke thought it would be an exciting date, and it was. The two boys didn't lack for conversation, and the touches were given freely and accepted readily. They had already kissed quite a few times which meant Luke hadn't felt his usual first-date jitters that accompanied not knowing what to do when, or how much, or how little.

He took Spencer on several dates like this over the next month and a half, and Spencer had even taken him on a few too. Spencer's dates may have been to places that Luke had introduced him too, and one time it was even at the cinema where Luke worked, but Luke had cut him some lack since the younger boy still didn't know the area yet. Plus, the cinema was where they had met, and it held some special meaning for them.

Luke had never had anyone like Spencer in his life and he was beginning to realize that Spencer hadn't either. It was a whole new world of firsts for the both of them. Shakey hands, sweaty palms, hushed and unsure whispers. Multitudes of reassurances, and talking about feelings which felt raw, but also made Luke's chest warm in a way that felt so very right. Luke felt truly vulnerable for the first time. He was surprised to say that he liked it, a lot, and found himself trusting Spencer so completely that it would absolutely, without a doubt in his mind, crush him to bits if it went south. He also trusted that Spencer was truthful when he said he felt that same way too. And Spencer was tender with his words, and his feelings; he wasn't the type to lie.

The two boys found themselves orbiting each other like a pair of rouge worlds slingshot together so tumultuously, yet so forcefully, that the orbital pattern need not rely around a star, only their own mutual patterns of existence. A binary partnership floating happily in a cosmic neighborhood of endless possibility.

September was fast approaching. It was the second to last week of August, the leaves were turning their backs on the world, and dawning the reddish orange hues of autumn. Luke and Spencer spent this time trying to squeeze in a few last outings before school began and everything changed. Before they had less time for each other, and the bubble of their two-man-band was burst. Luke took Spencer to the Air and Space Museum which supplied Spencer with an endless assortment of facts and statistics that Luke guessed he wouldn't stop hearing about for at least another month or two. Not that he minded. Spencer's tangents were music to Luke's ears.

Spencer took Luke to Target to pick up school supplies, and the banality of it had given Luke a big dopey grin. He'd be the first to admit that all he had ever wanted was a boyfriend to do all the boring things in life with. Just someone to always be there and experience life together. To make memories about the small things. He was a relationship kind of guy, and he was going to make Spencer his boyfriend or he was going to die trying. Though, honestly, Luke had half-assumed he already was. Like an unspoken agreement that was made through longing glances and chaste kisses. They hadn't said it outright, not yet, but he and Spencer had spent the entire summer together. They became joined at the hip since the moment the younger boy had arrived.

But on the other hand, they had yet to become intimate beyond kissing and cuddling, and holding hands. That didn't mean anything bad, right? Luke wasn't sure. He knew that it wasn't just Spencer that was holding back on that front. He wasn't ready either. Neither of them had initiated yet and neither of them had seemed bothered by it. Not yet, at least. But did that mean that Spencer wasn't his boyfriend? Was sex the all-encompassing factor that determined a couple? Or were they just friends who held hands and touched lips? Luke had never been in a real relationship before. He'd have to ask. It was the only way to know for sure.

But he didn't want to ask because that's embarrassing and scary, and he didn't want to bring it up, not yet.

"It's our last week." Luke pouted, looking at his companion from across the small table.

"Oh my gosh, I know. Time went by way too fast." Spencer stuck out his tongue in mock exasperation.

"I feel like I've known you forever but it's only been 2 months."

"Technically, it's been two months, three days, eight hours—" Spencer blushed and ducked his head suddenly when he caught sight of Luke's expression.

"You would know." Luke's little grin was gleaming at him. "That's so cool that you can do maths so quick like that. Or maybe adorable." Luke took a sip of his coffee. "Yep, definitely adorable. But also still cool. Adorable and cool."

Spencer blushed an even deeper shade of red and tried to hide his smile behind his oversized mug. "No, you are!"

Luke smiled and rolled his eyes. Also, sometimes, dumb.

_____________

The pair decided to move into the dorms together since neither was going to get much help from their families. Spencer was placed in one of the freshman dorms, Madison Hall, while Luke was staying in a second-year hall called District House. They were situated not too far away from each other and that had made Luke very relieved. He could have been stuck in South Hall which, god forbid required a shuttle to get to the main campus.

Luke had helped lug Spencer's copious boxes and tubs full of books and bobbles and bits up the elevator (thank god), and within two hours they moved everything up. Rise and repeat for Luke's dorm, except there were less books and more wires and spare batteries for Luke's big clunky laptop and other gadgets. It was nearing 1pm and the two said their hesitant goodbyes before sharing a final kiss, and both heading to their respective dorms.

"I don't want to go.." Spencer breathed into Luke's neck, his arms wrapped tightly around his chest.

"Mm, me neither, Spence." Luke nuzzled his head on the top of the younger boy's, and placed a kiss on top.

"Let's go back to July and do it all over again."

Luke laughed longingly. "I bet you can in that head of yours."

Spencer smirked. "Yeah. I can, and I will." He leaned back and captured the older boy's lips in a slow, passionate kiss.

"But, but what's going to happen now? I'm, uh, I'm nervous..." Spencer whispered on Luke's lips when he broke the kiss.

"I'm going to introduce you to all my friends, we're going to study together all the time, and we'll have so much fun together. College is going to be a blast with you, Spence. Don't be afraid. When you got to Virginia it was all new, and then it got better. Now it'll get even better again."

"You had better not be lying." Spencer broke out in a teasing smile.

"To you? Never." He gave him a small peck on the cheek.

"Miss you already, Lu." Spencer snuggled back into the hug a second time, squeezing him too tight for his own good, and stepped back to look him in the eyes.

Luke grabbed both of his hands in his. "Dinner tonight after everything?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Spencer had his freshman orientation and Luke had a meet n' greet for his hall. They parted ways and just like that, everything changed.