We spent an hour wandering the streets of Brooklyn with him bombarding me with question after question. I often responded with blunt denials of information, but it didn’t slow him down one bit. We got occasional glances by pedestrians because of how close he was clinging to me but I shrugged them off. What are the odds of seeing them again?

“What do you mean you don’t have a favorite dessert?!” Luke was distraught at my lack of experience with foods.

“Well, it’s hard to buy cake when you-”

“Yeah yeah. I got it. You couldn’t buy food…” Luke looks down at his feet with a pout. “Doesn’t mean I can’t be sad about it.”

“I never said you couldn’t be sad. I had a shitty life. At least you’re starting to recognize it.” I let a genuine sentiment slip out. I was proud of him for starting to realize his life wasn’t normal.

“I have an idea!” Oh no. “I’m gonna take you to my favorite place for dessert! How do you feel about chocolate lava cake?” He looks like a child who’d just been handed five dollars. His arm is still wrapped around mine and his face is meer inches away and is only growing larger in my vision. My face is starting to heat up and I have to lean away and break eye contact.

“Well, I don’t know what that is so…” I’m scared to look at him cause I’m sure he looks like a hurt puppy.

“What?!” Or maybe not. “We’re going right now!” He turns around and tugs on me. It’s only after his arm is uncoiled that I realize that are fingers were intertwined. He’d found a way to grab my hand while he was distracting me with questions. I could let go but… I don’t.

We charge down the stairs into the subway station and he only lets go to get through the turnstile. I follow him through and feel an emptiness grasp my hand. He practically sprints down the steps to the platform and smiles at me as I catch up. “I’m so excited for you to try this cake! It’s heavenly!” I raise my eyebrows to show a dishonest disinterest. The truth was that the cake sounded amazing.

We’re lucky enough to grab to seats and next to each other. The moment his butt hits the plastic, all of his energy drains away. He sighs and shuts his eyes. His left side collapses in and forces his weight onto my shoulder and his head to rest on mine. He lets out a yawn. I’d shake him off but… He deserves the rest.

When we get back to Manhattan, I shake him off and get up with a distant “we’re here.”

The news revitalized him. He jumped from his seat and grabbed my hand once again. He pulled so fast I had to fight to keep my balance as he ran up to the street. Once we’re on the sidewalk, he stops for a moment and pulls out his phone with his other hand. I’d let go of him but I’m sure he’d just grab me again so I leave my fingers in his as we stand amidst the skyscrapers. “OK, it’s this way!”

He tugs a little less this time as we start to walk through the city. A few more blocks of probing questions later, we’ve finally reached the mythical restaurant with the majestic chocolate cake. Despite our being severely underdressed, we’re seated almost instantly and Luke gets a waiter to order the cake.

“Get excited! You’re gonna love it!” I stare at him. “Smile, Charlie! I got to learn so much about you tonight. Did you have any questions for me?”

“Nope.” Luke pouts.

“You don’t want to know anything?” He whines.

I roll my eyes and groan. “What… What do you like to do?”

Luke smiles wide and lights up. “Oh man! Well I love reading. I also love to play video games and watch TV shows and movies.” I nod my head in false interest.

I repeat back to him some of the questions he asked me to pass the time. He answered each one excitedly while I only half listened. The cake finally arrives and I waste no time shoveling it into my mouth as I’d rather not keep asking questions. “Well, how is it?” I look up at the expectant Luke.

The truth is it’s absolutely incredible. Though I don’t want him to know I think that. “It’s good.” He has a smug grin to let me know that he knows I’m lying. I scowl at him and continue to eat the hot fudge filled cake.

We finish up our dessert and make our way back to the subway and head back to the house. This time, we’re forced to stand due to the car being too crowded. He can’t take a nap on me but due to the body count, his chest is practically pressed against my back and he keeps bumping into me with each tiny shake. And I think I’m starting to feel something else... At least he can’t see my face.

I’m quick to get off the train when we hit our stop. I make sure to keep a good distance between our bodies all the way back. He unlocks the door and we walk inside. “I’m going to my room.” I walk up the stairs and shut the door to my prison cell. I take a deep breath and relax on my bed for a while.

After a few minutes, I stand up and pull off my hoodie and, consequently, my shirt. Just then, there’s a knock on my door. “What?”

Luke walks in and starts to approach me. “Looking good.” He raises his eyebrows and points to my bare chest. I can’t put my finger on it, but he feels like a completely different person from the giddy child I had just been out with. He was exuding a confidence that hit me like a bat.

“Wh-what do you want?” I blinked excessively and shot my eyes from him to the corner of the room.

“I just wanted to say that I had a lot of fun tonight.” I shrug. He keeps moving closer. I look away. “You make a good date.”

“What did you just-” I’m interrupted by seeing his face in front of mine. I swallow instinctively. Then it happens.

In an instant, his head lunges forward and his lips press against mine. His hand slides into the hair on the back of my head as he pushes me forwards into him. Once I finally realize what’s happening, the other hand is pressed firmly on my ass and he starts to squeeze. As soon as I start to pull away, he presses onto my chest and shoves me onto the bed. I barely have time to inhale before he’s on top of me and working his tongue into my mouth again.

The shock of the push leaves me paralyzed in pain for a moment as he runs his hands over my body, settling on my wrists as he pins me down. I struggle against him but my core is still too torn up put up much of a fight without tearing the stitches. My efforts must’ve only seemed like squirms.

He begins to move his hips and grind on me and I can’t keep my body from reacting to the sensation. It’s only when he leans back up and starts to take off his shirt that I’m able to place my hands firmly against his chest and shove.

“What the fuck, Luke?” He hits the ground with a loud bang.

He stands up and rubs his lower back. “I thought we were having a good time.”

“So you decided you could force yourself on me?! One night of hanging out doesn’t mean you get free reign to start trying to fuck me! Let’s not get this twisted. I’m your captive here. Hell, out of all the questions you asked me tonight, did you even think to ask if I was gay? Or even bi? No! So what fucking right do you have to do something like that?”

The guilt drowns out all the emotions he had before. His eyes start to well up. “I’m sorry. I really am…”

“I don’t care.” This time, I have no hesitation in staring him down this time. “Get out.” Luke tenses his jaw to try and keep himself from crying. He opens his mouth but quickly shuts it again. Finally, he turns around and leaves without another word.

I finish undressing and lie down. There’s a quiet sobbing from outside the door. I ignore it.