As Long As We're Together

Stories

Nathan pulled his jacket tighter against him as he walked towards his college, silently regretting refusing Lucas's request to pick him up. Even though it was only May the cold nipped at his hands and made his breath visible.

After five minutes of being attacked mercilessly by the cold, Nathan reached their meeting point. A smile forced itself onto his face when he saw Lucas walking towards him, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

"And here I was thinking I was underdressed," Lucas comments, taking in Nathan's joggers and jacket. "I have to admit I'm disappointed, I expected you to dress up." Not even halfway through his sentence, a chuckle left his lips.

"You're hardly dressed up! Let's go, I'm freezing," Nathan ordered as he began walking to the endless cars parked.

"Nate, you don't even know what my car looks like," Lucas reminded as he sped up to catch up with Nathan.

"Hurry up then," Nathan ordered, his lips turning blue.

"I'm coming...I'm coming." Lucas held up his hand in fake surrender as he once again sped up.

"Thanks," Nathan said gratefully when Lucas turned on the heater

"No problem," Lucas responded as they pulled out of the car park; he flashed Nathan a small smile as he drove.

"Your driving next time," Lucas groaned as he saw the traffic ahead of them.

"I would love to, but I don't have a licence," Nathan commented, not even bothering to hide his smirk.

"So...you're still taking driving lessons?" Lucas asked as he pressed his foot on the beak.

"Nope. I haven't even started anything like that."

"Any reason? I mean I couldn't wait to get my licence, It's freedom you know?"

"Just haven't had the chance really. Raising Dylan, working, going to college, it's hard."

"Would your parents not help you? All they would have to do is look after him for an hour if lesson times haven't changed."

"I don't like to ask them. They ermm...they do a lot for me you know?"

"They're your parents. Surely they'll look after him for a little while. I assume they are now?"

"Yea they are. They're happy to look after him; I just don't like asking. I got my ex pregnant, he's my responsibility, not my parents," Nathan lied as he tapped his fingers against the door.

"If my parents thought that way I would have been babysitting a lot," Lucas spoke absentmindedly.

"Your parents weren't around much?" Nathan questioned. "You don't have to answer that!" Nathan added quickly, ignoring the blood seeping into his mouth from his bitten lip.

"Don't worry about it. Anyway, they were always busy with work."

"What do they do?" Nathan questioned as he lifted his finger to his lip.

"Mum's a doctor, dad's a writer; dad was around most of the time; it sucked when he left to promote his work. With mum's hours, we had to stay with our grandparents."

"Rich boy," Nathan mumbled, earning a smack on the arm and a glare. "I take it you didn't like it? Spending time with your grandparents."

"I did, kinda. They're strict like even when I was young they made me work hard. I had to be the top of my class; that was their expectations. They want me to get a good job, make a good living like my parents. That's why they hate what I'm doing; they know teacher's don't get the best pay," Lucas admitted. "I'm sorry, I lost my head there for a second."

"Don't be sorry. I wouldn't have been able to deal with that. I'm cracking as it is; I can't judge you. Besides, as horrible as this might make me sound, it kinda makes me feel better in a way like I'm not the only one that's gone through bad stuff," Nathan admitted, his mumbling almost caused Lucas to miss the end of his sentence.

"I get what you mean. If it'll make you feel better, I have countless stories about how I've messed up or embarrassed myself over the years," Lucas offered, a smile on his face.

"Like what?"

"There was this one time when I was like fifteen, my family and some of my parents' friends were at DisneyLand. I hate rollercoasters and my dad and granddad knew it, so they decided to try and force me to go on it. They literally picked me up and tried to carry me when I refused. Bare it in your mind I was fifteen and I kicked and screamed in the middle of this amusement park with everyone watching. I must have been hysterical with crying at the end of it; I was sobbing."

By the end of the story, Nathan couldn't contain his laughter. The image in his mind of Lucas screaming brought him even further into hysterics."

"What did your parents say?"

"They weren't very happy, to say the least. My brother was the worst though, didn't shut up about it for weeks."

"How old is your brother?"

"Fifteen now, turning sixteen in two months."

"Has he had any embasising things happen to him?" Nathan questioned, turning his attention away from the window.

"Probably more than me; as much as I would love to tell you, he'd kill me."

"That wouldn't be good, but he would never know." Nathan pointed out.

"He would believe me."

After around ten minutes of comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts or listening to the radio, the car finally pulled to a stop.

"We're here," Lucas announced, taking his key out of the car.

Nathan nodded and undid his seatbelt before getting out of the car as he attempted to prevent the butterflies rising in his stomach.