Jae

I yawned and took a sip of my coffee as I cruised through Luca's very suburban neighborhood, and after a few seconds, I spotted his lean frame off to righthand side of the road, hovering awkwardly by a pair of mailboxes. On closer inspection, I could see his hands were stuffed in his sweatshirt pocket, and the blustery fall winds I'm pretty sure might just blow him over. It's a cloudy, blustery day today—cold enough for a good sweatshirt, and leaves are fluttering to the ground with each gust of wind.

His attention shifts from the ground to the road as I approach, and I can't help but miss the nervous little shuffle he does while peering at me from underneath his dark green hoodie. The sound of loose rocks on the pavement made a grinding sound against my wheels as I pulled close, and Lucas meandered over to the window.

I rolled it down and smirked. "Better hop in before the wind blows you away."
Lucas tilts his head down a bit to peer through the window and blinks a few times as he looks around in silence for a beat.

He looks nervous.

"Lu, you gettin' in or what?" I chided him playfully, finding it odd he's not yet said anything. He was so talkative last night. 

He flushes, and the tip of his nose gets a bit rosy as he spits out an awkward, "u-uh yeah, yes!" Lu fumbled then to open the door and slid in, plopping his backpack on the floor between a pair of worn, black converse.

Cute.

"Morning!" I greeted him, an uncharacteristic cheeriness to my voice. I'm not really a morning person in any shape or form, and I've never felt completely awake before at least 0930, especially not on my days off. Yet, the idea of seeing Luca in person this morning seemed to unearth a special sort of energy, an energy that got my ass out of my California King this morning. I love that bed, but I was... well, strangely more curious to see his pretty face in person again, especially outside of a traffic stop.

I eyed him patiently and took another sip of my coffee, waiting for a response, but oddly none came.

I knew he could feel my gaze on him though, and finally a soft, "morning, Jae." slipped from his lips. It was all I could do not to smirk. Fuck, that sweet, tenor voice of Lu's. Every moment from last night was still fresh in my mind, and every delicious sound that left his naughty mouth had awoken cravings. Cravings I knew needed satisfying; cravings I was sure Lucas too must share.

Fuck.

I felt my cock perk up a bit in response and did my best to file such thoughts away for future reference.

"Well, buckle in, Lu." I said with a soft exhale, hoping he wouldn't notice the little problem I'd developed.

He didn't notice, in fact, he didn't even look at me. He only nods silently and pops his seatbelt on. I put my car in drive and turned us around, only the hum of the engine filling the space between us as we headed back out to the main road.

He's so quiet... just fidgeting with the strings of his hoodie and has yet to pull the hood itself off. I'm a bit disappointed, I'd like to see his face, and I'm starting to get the feeling he's using that damn sweatshirt to hide from me. I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, not sure what to do.

"You sleep okay?" I asked, hoping the question was unobtrusive enough.

Lu sinks down into his seat, and I glanced over briefly to find him shifting his whole body toward the window. "Yeah..." he mumbles.

"That's good... figured you could use a good rest after all that."

"Mmhmm." He nods.

I shift in my own seat awkwardly, racking my brain as we hit a red light. What the hell is going on? We've got at least a forty-five-minute drive to school, and I'm not the type of guy to handle this type of strained silence super well. I took a chance on Lucas last night, despite our age difference, and at the time things seemed to go very well between us. He seemed to feel comfortable and clear about the whole thing, but now I'm starting to worry he's struggling because of it.

Fuck, this is probably on me. It's probably my fault.

I sighed and found myself gripping the steering wheel like a vice...we need to talk about it, but he seems so closed off.
"We got us about forty minutes till we arrive at Sherman... long drive. You make this every day?" I commented, hoping to get him talking again.

Lucas only nods and utters a soft, "yeah... guess I do. Bus takes forever. Thanks, you know, for the ride." 

"'Course... I got today off anyway, not a problem." I said, offering a smile.

More silence followed as my gaze drifted to his right hand, still hidden underneath his sleeve. Part of me didn't want to pester him about it, but part of me also couldn't help but ask.

"So, how about that busted hand? Gonna be able to drive yourself tomorrow?" I gave into my curiosity, the words falling from my lips.

He sniffled a little, sounding somewhat congested. "It'll be fine, I think. I don't know." A forced sort of laugh rolls off him as he slumps deeper into his seat, gaze trained out the window.

"Maybe next time don't pick a fight with your car door, then, huh?" I smirked, nudging him a bit as we hit another stop light.

He nods again and mumbles a soft, "sure..."

Huh. If I knew Lucas better, I'd suspect he might have been crying a lot earlier, maybe from the pain? People often sound congested while they cry and afterward. I have a kid, I should know. The snot and the sniffles are a present threat when one cries too hard.

I frowned to myself. Does he need to see a doctor? He didn't sound too sure about it, which worries and confuses me.

Silence consumed the cabin once again, and I sighed, not sure if I should attempt to start conversation again or let Lucas take the lead. I've always been a take charge sort of guy, but it feels like Luca wants his space, so, I guess I'll give it to him.

Oh hell, who am I kidding?

I couldn't handle anymore awkward silence from Lu. I had many questions for him, and I knew I had to get him talking somehow. My gaze drifted around the car momentarily then back to the road, and that's when it hit me, I'd grabbed him a little treat during my morning run to "Bean Juice", a local coffee stand I frequent every day. I wasn't sure if he drank coffee, but don't most kids these days? He's eighteen, right?

Yeah, probably drinks coffee.

"Before I forget, I got you a little something for the ride to class. Don't want it to go cold before you get to it." I said, reaching down to pick up the small cup I'd tucked into the cupholder. Lu turns his head ever so slightly to eye my hand before taking it in silence. "Hope you're okay with black coffee." I added, starting to wonder if I should've gotten him something more... sugary.

He grips it awkwardly in his left hand, and he looks even more awkward trying to take a sip with it. I eyed him for a beat and found him using his right forearm to sort of guide the cup to his lips. His right hand, however, is still tucked into the sleeve. I thought he'd have shown me the "damage" per say, the whole reason he couldn't drive, but it's almost as if he's hiding that too.

Huh.

I couldn't exactly spend copious amounts of time staring at him to work out what was going on underneath that damned hoodie, but I could feel the tension and sadness leeching off him. It's hanging over Lu like a dark cloud, and he brought it into my car thinking I wouldn't notice. I may be a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them. Something's up, and I'm starting to think it has nothing to do with our little "fun" last night.

"Do I need to school you on manners again, Lu?" I teased gently, hoping to shift his attention, lighten the mood. Anything.

Lu exhales a near imperceptible chuckle. "N-no... sorry, I mean yes, yes! Thank you for the coffee." He babbles, gaze darting at me briefly before returning to the coffee in his hand.

I chuckled and smiled, because it was good to hear a little break in his glum demeanor. "You're very welcome. You okay with black coffee, by the way?"

He took another awkward sip and nodded. "No, this is fine, I'm used to drinking it black. My uh, dad doesn't use creamer or sugar. He says it's 'gay' to use anything else. The sugary shit is for Penny."

I shook my head and raised a brow. This must be the "bigoted father" he mentioned last night.
"I see. So, creamer's gay, then?"

"... Yeah."

"Well, I never use creamer or sugar. How do you think he'd explain my gayness, then?" I smirked, eyeing Lucas expectantly.

He only shrugs.

"Well, maybe the gayness is in the water. You know, Lu, I heard they're even turning the frogs gay now." I continued sarcastically.

Lucas lets loose a hesitant laugh, and I can feel his eyes on me. For only a moment he seemed to relax, just a little, but suddenly that energy disappears, and is again replaced with the same, mopey Lucas that entered my car. I grit my teeth together, watching the thinning trees fly by as we hit a long stretch of road, Slater Road to be exact, the same road I pulled Lucas over on.

"Déjà vu, huh?" I grinned, nudging him a little.

"What is?" He says softly, his lean body molding itself against the door again. It's like he's just trying to disappear.

"We're on Slater... where I caught you speeding?"

Lucas sits up a little more and looks around for a beat then nods, "oh... yeah, right."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened again and I bit my tongue. What the fuck is going on?
The deeper he slumps into his seat, the shyer he looks... I mean, where'd his confidence go? The young man who spoke his mind freely last night, made naughty little demands of me, the same young man who slipped me his number during a traffic stop. His confidence was so unabashed and straightforward it was both disarming and refreshing. How many adults far older than Lu have I met with nowhere near the confidence he showed? Yet suddenly he now gives off energy I could only describe as that belonging to a kicked puppy, and I don't understand..