Lukas got out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. The water in his hair leaked down to his shoulders and ran down his back. He didn't take the time to dry himself off and just slipped under the covers. It had been a few days since his encounter with Tate. Nothing had happened, and he hadn’t seen him since either. Things seemed to be getting back to normal. He thought he would enjoy a nice nap after school, but it seemed his mind had other plans. It was the second time he had a dream about Tate. The second time that Tate would drive him crazy with pleasure. Lukas groaned and pulled his knees in towards his chest, changing his position into a fetal one.

He heard the front door of his apartment open and footsteps followed. He knew it couldn't be his mother. It was too early for her to be home. It could only be Charlie.

"Hey, Lukas, I have good news." Charlie stopped once he saw the ball that was his best friend on the bed. "What's going on?" Lukas sighed and turned towards Charlie. "Did you have another dream?"

Lukas nodded as he wrapped the blanket around his head, covering himself in a cocoon. Charlie lay down on the bed next to him.

"I feel like I'm going crazy. What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you." Charlie grabbed his hands. “It happens.”

Lukas sighed. He knew Charlie was right, and in different circumstances, he would’ve even welcomed it. Lukas wiggled closer to Charlie. He was feeling lost and confused. Charlie wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close, so they cuddle. Lukas stared at his friend’s shirt. He wondered if he should mention to Charlie what had happened that morning he ditched him.

“Um… Charlie?”

“Yeah.”

“I… stalked him a few days ago.”

“Who? The guy?” Lukas nodded. “No.” Charlie held back a want to laugh. “Is that why you ditched me?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Charlie sat up. “What happened?”

"Nothing. He was just a giant jerk."

"What do you mean?"

Lukas opened his mouth to say something when his mouth quickly closed, and he shook his head. Charlie sighed. Lukas knew that Charlie wasn't going to push. It was one of the things he loved about him.

"So why do you think you keep thinking about him?"

"I don't know."

Lukas sighed and buried his face in the mattress. He felt a light tapping on his neck and turned his head to look at Charlie.

"Maybe you should try talking to him. You might find out why you’re obsessed with him.”

“I’m not obsessed with him.”

“Right.” Charlie smiled. “In any case, it might help you figure stuff out.”

Lukas lowered his head. Even after two days, he wasn't thinking about going back to speak to Tate. He just thought he would ignore him and never have to talk to him again. Just forgetting everything that happened.

"So hey, what's the big news?"

"Oh, my parents are leaving for three-four months."

Lukas's eyes widened as he processed the words his best friend had just told him.

"What?" Lukas jumped up. "Why? Never mind. I don't care. When are they leaving?"

"Next week."

"Oh my god! That's great!" Lukas wrapped his around Charlie. They both fell on the bed. Lukas leaned his forehead on Charlie's. It was something they used to do when they were kids. It was their way of getting even closer to each other. They didn't have to talk. They just had to stay there, forehead to forehead. "I'm really happy that you can finally be free."

"Yeah."

"We need to celebrate."

Lukas let go of Charlie and jumped up. Lukas smiled and rushed out of the room. After everything that had happened in the last few days, he had finally gotten a piece of good news. He grabbed a bunch of menus that were on the kitchen counter before going back to the room. Charlie was on the phone. He could only guess he was talking to Hiro. Lukas lowered his head. He had forgotten that between him and Hiro, Charlie would probably want to be with Hiro. He forced a smile on his face to hide the disappointment.

"He can come over if you want." Lukas walked back into the room. "But Hiro owes me pizza and cake."

"Okay." Charlie smiled. "I'm at Lukas'. He said you could come over, but you have to bring pizza…" Charlie blushed. “See you soon.”

"Is he coming?" Charlie nodded. "You guys can use my room. But you better wash the sheets in the morning."

"We're not gonna do anything."

"So you say. But I'm sure the minute you see Hiro, clothes will be scattered everywhere." Charlie began to blush. Lukas knew him better than he thought he did. "No worries. You guys have fun. I'll be in my mom's room. Just try and keep quiet. I don't want to hear all the weird things you say to each other."

Charlie threw a pillow at him, which started an official pillow fight.

Lukas spent the rest of the night in his mother’s room once Hiro arrived. He put his headphones on and started watching whatever stupid thing he could find on Netflix to entertain himself. It was mostly so he couldn't hear the cheesiness that was going on in the other room.

As he watched the teenage drama he watched, he thought of what Charlie had told him about talking to Tate. He didn't like the idea, but he didn’t think he had a choice with the way things were going. He sighed and rolled on his side.

“Guess I can try talking to him.”