Lukas regretted being so out of shape. He lived fifteen minutes away from his school, and he was already out of breath. He stopped just as he was getting close to the main gate and leaned against a tree. His legs could barely move anymore, and his chest burned. He tried catching his breath, but his lungs felt like they were being squeezed.

He glanced over at how much further he had to go. It wasn’t that far. It was half a block away. Lukas pushed himself off the tree as he continued to catch his breath and noticed a car in front of the school. The door opened, and a boy about his height with blond hair came out. He spoke to the driver before closing the door and heading towards the school.

“Charlie.” His voice was barely audible as Charlie passed the school gate. Lukas took a deep breath and forced his wobbly legs to move. "Hey." Lukas ran up to Charlie and stopped when his body could no longer take it. "Where were you this morning?"

"What do you mean?"

"Were you with Hiro?" Lukas asked.

"Yeah. Why?"

"You should've told me!” Lukas was still out of breath but tried as hard as possible to sound normal. “I showed up at your house this morning. Your mom freaked out because she thought you were with me."

"What?" Charlie stopped walking. "You went to my house? And my mom..."

Panic flashed on Charlie’s face. It was a look Lukas was all too familiar with. He had seen it so many times growing up.

"No worries, though. I told her that I forgot we were meeting at the dep. So they don't know."

Charlie sighed, and the worry left him. Lukas still felt terrible, though. He hoped that he was right and that nothing would happen.

"Okay, thank you."

"Next time, text me that you're going to Hiro's. That way, I won't make that mistake again."

Charlie nodded.

“Are you okay?”

“I ran here.”

“Why?” Charlie took his water bottle and handed it to Lukas. “We live fifteen minutes away. So there’s no rush.”

“I thought I had to let you know as soon as possible.” Lukas took the bottle and started to chug it. “And you weren’t answering your phone.”

“Next time, don’t run.”

“Okay.” Lukas nodded as he handed him the empty bottle. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

"So, how was your weekend with Hiro? Did you guys you know?"

"No." Charlie shook his head. They started to walk towards the school. "We haven't done it, and we won't wait until after I graduate."

"What? Why?" Lukas wrapped his arm around Charlie's shoulders. "You guys have been dating for two years now."

"Yeah, but he doesn't want to put an even greater burden on my body."

Lukas looked at the floor and nodded. He knew all too well what he was talking about. Though they never brought it up in public, they always talked about it.

"So why graduation? Are you guys finally gonna move in together?"

"Yeah." Charlie nodded as he smiled.

"That's great.” Lukas pulled his arm away. “When you do, don't forget to invite me..."

Lukas was suddenly violently pushed forwards, forcing him down to the ground. He had barely enough time to comprehend what was going on or break his fall when he fell flat, hitting his head on the pavement. A noise resounded in his head, and his vision blurred.

"Oh, my sorry faggot." A big muscled guy smirked as he leaned towards Lukas. "Did I ruin your lovers' moment?"

He laughed with his friends and went on his way. Charlie quickly went to Lukas and helped him up.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Lukas gently wiped his hands on his pants. They stung when they touched the fabric. "I just scrapped my hands a little."

"Your head is bleeding."

Lukas reached up. When he looked at his fingers, there was blood on them.

"Huh... um... well, I think I'm..." Lukas rocked back a bit, nearly falling again when he hit someone. "I'm sorry."

Lukas turned around and froze. Behind him was a big dark wall looming over him. Lukas and Charlie had seen him around the school before. He was in the same grade as them but in the advanced class. Tate Fowler. The smartest student in the whole school. Tate stared down at Lukas. His eyes were peering down at him, like a hawk locking onto its prey. Lukas stood perfectly still as if even the slightest movement would result in his downfall.

Tate’s eyes went to the wound on Lukas’s head. He stared at it a while before leaving.

Lukas noticed he had been holding his breath.

"Scary," Lukas mumbled.

"Lukas." Charlie grabbed onto him as they looked at Tate leave. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Don't worry about it."

“What if you have a concussion?”

“I don’t.” Lukas smiled as he pressed his sleeve against the cut on his head. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”