Luke went upstairs twenty minutes ago to get changed for dinner. I sit, anxiously, barely paying attention to the talking figures on the TV. “Luke! How long does it take for you to get dressed?” I finally yell into the marble abyss.

“I’m coming!” His voice carries down from upstairs followed shortly by the pounding of his feet skipping down the steps. When he steps into the living room, he has on a blazer, button up dress shirt, nice pants and a fancy set of shoes.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” I stand up and gesture up and down his body, befuddled. “You’re just begging to get mugged! You look like a massive ass hole.” I walk over to him and turn him around, pushing him back down the hallway. “I’m not going out with you dressed like a kid whose mom dressed him for a dinner party.”

“Wh-what? My clothes are fine!” He’s trying to fight against me but my shoves are firm.

“No they’re not. Upstairs. You’re dressing like a normal human.” He finally concedes and makes his way upstairs with me close behind. “Hoodie, t-shirt, jeans, whatever. Just not that.”

He sighs and heads into his bathroom and I opt to wait in the bedroom, reading the book spines. Barely a minute later, he’s already in a bind. “Charlie, can you come in here? I don’t know what you want me to wear.” I groan and walk into the bathroom to dress the man who’s older than me.

However, I’m stopped in my tracks by him standing in only his underwear and socks. “Jesus, man! Put on some clothes!” I squint and barely cover my eyes knowing that I can’t close them completely if I have to help him.

He turns around and I see that he’s actually rather fit. He’s got the outline of a six pack on his stomach and his arms are the kind of thin that you know he could still lift quite a bit. It’s not helped when he throws his arms up causing his pecs to push together and his strong shoulders to flex. “That’s the reason I called you in here!” I swallow and try to keep my face covered, more to hide my blushing cheeks than my own vision.

“God, alright. Just stay behind me.”

He chuckles, “that’ll be easy.”

I sigh to myself and start digging through drawers. It takes me until about the tenth drawer until I find the t-shirts and throw one at him. “Where are your jeans?” He leans over me, his chest barely touching my back, and points to a drawer in the corner. I crawl away, refusing to lift my body up into his. I grab the first pair I find, and once again toss them over my shoulder. “Do you have any hoodies?”

“No. I have some sweaters though.”

“Just put on those clothes and you can borrow one of mine.” I stand up and wait for the all clear on him putting on the clothes. But no word comes, instead he grabs my shoulder to turn me around. I’m practically backed into the corner and he’s barely a foot away.

“How do I look?” The jeans and t-shirt were surprisingly tight, typical of someone with his sense of style. He looked… admittedly hot. But I could never tell him that.

“Like a normal person. Now come on, I’m hungry.” I shake the thought away and rush to my room to get something to cover his torso.

I grab one of the hoodies from my shelf and toss it to Luke in the hallway. “Let’s go. Do you have a metrocard?” I waste no time in heading down the steps without waiting for him.

“A metrocard? Yeah but why? Can’t we just drive?” He rushes down after me, sliding the hoodie over his head.

“We’re going to Brooklyn and there’s no way I’m showing up in that car.” I stop by the door and get ready to open it before I remember my house arrest system. “Enter the code so we can go.” He punches the digits in and a high pitched tone alerts me that I can open the door safely. I pull it open and jog down the cement steps to the sidewalk and wait for him to lock the door. “Also, you’re gonna have to buy me a metrocard.”

He smiles as he comes down the steps to me. “My pleasure. So what line do we need to take?”

“The L.” I turn away and start making my way down the block.

“Station is the other way.” I turn around and begin walking up the block.

Once we’re sitting on the train he starts to get antsy. “Where are we going to dinner? What kind of food are we getting? How far is it?”

“Luke. Chill. We’re getting burgers. It’ll be like twenty minutes, just relax.” Relax, he did not. His leg bounced at near super speed the whole ride.

We finally hit our stop and I grab his arm to drag him off of the train. “God, what’s your deal?”

“I almost never ride the subway.” I stop before the stairs and push to the wall. His cheeks are flush with embarrassment.

“What?” He just shrugs. “God damn,” I sigh and head up the stairs. I press on the emergency exit and swing it open.

“Charlie! You can’t go out that! It’s an emergency exit door!” I roll my eyes, grab the collar of his hoodie and pull him through.

When it slams behind me, I gesture back to the door with an ‘I told you so’ smile. “Oh no! We’re gonna get arrested! You’ve got a lot to learn rich blood.” I have him follow me up the steps and into the city.

“Where are we, Charlie?” He clings to my left arm like a scared child.

“Bushwick. Now get off me.” I try to shake him but his grip is firm. “You’re like a rich, gay boa constrictor.” I eventually concede and turn the corner guiding him down the block. “Look, a Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s normal. You feel safe enough to let go yet?”

“Why is it across from a hospital?” He whispers into my ear.

“Cause sick people like donuts. I don’t fucking know. Come on.” On the opposite corner of the hotel is a simple corner store that I have to drag him into. I walk up to the meat counter and wait out the guy in front of us. When I step up, I see a familiar face. “Sal! Long time, no see.” I turn around to Luke, who’s looking up at the menu nervously. “We’re in for a treat.”

Sal greets me with a smile. “Charlie! Where have you been?”

“Eh, around,” I lie hoping not to scare him. “This is Luke.” I point back to the terrified boy. “Just give us two cheeseburgers with fries. Everything on ‘em. He can take off whatever he doesn’t like.” Sal gives me a nod and gets to work. I return to Luke and pull him over to the side. “Will you chill, man? You look like a scared tourist. Now give me your wallet.” Luke gives me a puzzled look but complies with my demand. I open up the the fine leather and find a collection of large bills. I pull out a twenty and drop it in the tip jar.

“Did you just put a twenty in there?” So now he can speak.

“You can afford it. Now, grab your food and let’s pay.” I hand him his styrofoam box and walk down to the cash register. I smile at the man behind the counter, gesture my head to Luke, and say “he’s got it.” I wink at Luke and step back with a sly grin.

He gives me a genuine smile in return which only serves to piss me off more. He pays for the food and we walk out the door. “So where are supposed to eat?”

I lean against the brick by the store. “Right here.” I pop open the container and start at my fries.

“We’re going to eat outside?” His fear is starting to creep back up his face.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Just start eating.” He looks around worriedly but relents and bites into his burger. “Mmm… This is actually really good.” I nod and start scarfing down my own meal.

The two of us finish up and toss the trash. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s walk around until you’re comfortable.” He gets visually upset with the idea. “... You can hold on to me…” I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head.

He’s quick to latch on to me again. I roll my eyes and we start to wander the streets of Brooklyn together. “Why don’t you tell me something about yourself, Charlie?”

“I’ve been homeless for ten years, what is there to know?” I barely pay his comment any mind.

“Well, I didn’t know the psychology thing. That was interesting. How about we start with your last name?”

I swallow and realize that I hadn’t told anyone my last name in years. I guess I’ll need to start now if I’m going to live a normal life now. “It’s… Kennedy.”

“Charlie Kennedy? That’s really cute. I love it!” He edges up closer to me. I’d push him away but the heat of his body is rather nice in this cold. “Did you have any siblings?”

I let out a long, annoyed sigh. “Yeah. A brother.”

Luke gasps in astonishment. “Really? What’s his name?”

“Not gonna tell you. Is this whole night gonna be you asking me questions?”

“Yep!” He smiles and shakes my arm with his. At least he’s not scared anymore.