L is for Luke
L is for Luke
Luke had met Tom the first day of high school. It was attraction at first sight, but they ran with different circles so nothing was exchanged other than smiles and waves until music class started.
First semester, they played different instruments. Tom played the trumpet while Luke played the clarinet. They still talked during class when they could but their friendship stayed tentative. Things changed a bit during the second semester when the bands started up. Both Luke and Tom were accepted into Competition Band and Jazz Band even though they were only freshmen. Being in band meant that they spent more time together and their separate groups of friends meant less.
Their friendship grew as they grew. By grade eleven it was rare to see one without the other. They both had grown into young men who were able to fit into any group they wished. They were both popular, even if the people they were popular with were different. As close as they were, neither had taken that extra step that would lead to more. Instead, they had both looked elsewhere for love even while thinking of the other. Relationships came and went and they fell into the habit of being the best of friends if one or the other were in a relationship but stepping away from each other while both were single. It was strange but it worked for them, mostly.
Then disaster struck. Tom met someone and it looked like their relationship was getting serious. Luke didn't know what to think or what to do. For the first time, Tom was more focused on his relationship than on his friendship with Luke. Luke felt Tom slipping away but didn't know what to do. His friends were no help, they said that it was Luke's fault since he had never taken the step any of the times Tom was available. They said that if Luke lost Tom, it was Luke's own fault.
The summer passed slowly for Luke who no longer had Tom to spend days with. For once Luke looked forward to returning to school, if only so that he could see Tom every day.
It was very obvious to Luke that there was something wrong with Tom's relationship from the very first day of school. Tom wasn't smiling as much and often looked lost in thought. Every time Luke asked, Tom brushed him off so Luke sat back and waited until he could do more to help. When the end of Tom's relationship came, Luke wanted to jump for joy but couldn't because Tom was devastated. Tom seemed to curl into himself and withdrew from everyone and everything. Luke worried but could do nothing.
It took ages, but Tom started to seem more like himself. Luke was overjoyed but a bit upset as well. Tom never came back to Luke, instead he focused on his other friendships. Luke was still there but he was in the periphery instead of the focus of Tom's sight.
It all caught up to Luke at once. One night at home, he screamed, he ranted, he threw things, he yelled and he cried. After all the emotions were out, Luke realized one thing. He had to find out if Tom still liked him. If Tom still liked him, Luke could wait any amount of time. If Tom no longer liked him, well, Luke would figure out to do once he knew it for fact.
Luke only knew one way of finding out without confronting Tom. Tom had a habit of using a composition book to write letters to and from Heath. It was a habit they had started while still in elementary school and they still continued it to date. If Luke got a look at the book, he was sure there would be some part that mentioned whether Tom still liked him or not.
It took some doing, but Luke finally got his hands on the book. Luke didn't want to read all of Tom and Heath's secrets so he just flipped though the book, skimming parts, looking for his name. His quick skim found nothing. Luke would have to do a more thorough read. Before Luke could start reading, Tom came at him like a tempest. That book was Tom's most inner secrets and thoughts. Luke had no right, none, to read them. If Tom wanted Luke to know those thoughts, he'd tell Luke. Luke meekly apologized and explained that while he did a quick flip through the book, he hadn't really read anything. He promised.
It was a week later when Tom finally calmed down enough to ask Luke why. Luke hummed and hawed, trying to find a way to say the words without completely embarrassing himself. He gave up trying to find a way out and told Tom the truth.
“I wanted to know if you still liked me.” Luke admitted, staring at the floor.
Tom was flabbergasted. “You could have just asked.”
Luke looked up at Tom trying to see how serious Tom was. “Do you still like me?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you still like me as more than a friend?” Luke needed to clarify.
Tom smiled, “Yes Luke, I still like you as more than a friend.”
“Will you go out with me?” Luke's throat knotted up with fear but he had to ask.
“It took you long enough to ask.” Tom replied, waiting until Luke looked at him in fear, “Of course I'll go out with you. We've waited long enough, it's time we faced the truth.”
“What truth?” Luke wondered.
“That we're it for each other. That no matter what we've tried, it's always been you and me. Even without talking about it, we ended up going to the same university and living in the same dorm. We aren't getting away from each other so we might as well face the fact that we're supposed to be together.”
“Oh, that truth.”
“Yes Luke, that truth.”
Deciding there had been enough talking, Tom grabbed Luke and pulled him close. Luke clung to Tom as their lips met in their first kiss.
Luke had met Tom the first day of high school. It was attraction at first sight, but they ran with different circles so nothing was exchanged other than smiles and waves until music class started.
First semester, they played different instruments. Tom played the trumpet while Luke played the clarinet. They still talked during class when they could but their friendship stayed tentative. Things changed a bit during the second semester when the bands started up. Both Luke and Tom were accepted into Competition Band and Jazz Band even though they were only freshmen. Being in band meant that they spent more time together and their separate groups of friends meant less.
Their friendship grew as they grew. By grade eleven it was rare to see one without the other. They both had grown into young men who were able to fit into any group they wished. They were both popular, even if the people they were popular with were different. As close as they were, neither had taken that extra step that would lead to more. Instead, they had both looked elsewhere for love even while thinking of the other. Relationships came and went and they fell into the habit of being the best of friends if one or the other were in a relationship but stepping away from each other while both were single. It was strange but it worked for them, mostly.
Then disaster struck. Tom met someone and it looked like their relationship was getting serious. Luke didn't know what to think or what to do. For the first time, Tom was more focused on his relationship than on his friendship with Luke. Luke felt Tom slipping away but didn't know what to do. His friends were no help, they said that it was Luke's fault since he had never taken the step any of the times Tom was available. They said that if Luke lost Tom, it was Luke's own fault.
The summer passed slowly for Luke who no longer had Tom to spend days with. For once Luke looked forward to returning to school, if only so that he could see Tom every day.
It was very obvious to Luke that there was something wrong with Tom's relationship from the very first day of school. Tom wasn't smiling as much and often looked lost in thought. Every time Luke asked, Tom brushed him off so Luke sat back and waited until he could do more to help. When the end of Tom's relationship came, Luke wanted to jump for joy but couldn't because Tom was devastated. Tom seemed to curl into himself and withdrew from everyone and everything. Luke worried but could do nothing.
It took ages, but Tom started to seem more like himself. Luke was overjoyed but a bit upset as well. Tom never came back to Luke, instead he focused on his other friendships. Luke was still there but he was in the periphery instead of the focus of Tom's sight.
It all caught up to Luke at once. One night at home, he screamed, he ranted, he threw things, he yelled and he cried. After all the emotions were out, Luke realized one thing. He had to find out if Tom still liked him. If Tom still liked him, Luke could wait any amount of time. If Tom no longer liked him, well, Luke would figure out to do once he knew it for fact.
Luke only knew one way of finding out without confronting Tom. Tom had a habit of using a composition book to write letters to and from Heath. It was a habit they had started while still in elementary school and they still continued it to date. If Luke got a look at the book, he was sure there would be some part that mentioned whether Tom still liked him or not.
It took some doing, but Luke finally got his hands on the book. Luke didn't want to read all of Tom and Heath's secrets so he just flipped though the book, skimming parts, looking for his name. His quick skim found nothing. Luke would have to do a more thorough read. Before Luke could start reading, Tom came at him like a tempest. That book was Tom's most inner secrets and thoughts. Luke had no right, none, to read them. If Tom wanted Luke to know those thoughts, he'd tell Luke. Luke meekly apologized and explained that while he did a quick flip through the book, he hadn't really read anything. He promised.
It was a week later when Tom finally calmed down enough to ask Luke why. Luke hummed and hawed, trying to find a way to say the words without completely embarrassing himself. He gave up trying to find a way out and told Tom the truth.
“I wanted to know if you still liked me.” Luke admitted, staring at the floor.
Tom was flabbergasted. “You could have just asked.”
Luke looked up at Tom trying to see how serious Tom was. “Do you still like me?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you still like me as more than a friend?” Luke needed to clarify.
Tom smiled, “Yes Luke, I still like you as more than a friend.”
“Will you go out with me?” Luke's throat knotted up with fear but he had to ask.
“It took you long enough to ask.” Tom replied, waiting until Luke looked at him in fear, “Of course I'll go out with you. We've waited long enough, it's time we faced the truth.”
“What truth?” Luke wondered.
“That we're it for each other. That no matter what we've tried, it's always been you and me. Even without talking about it, we ended up going to the same university and living in the same dorm. We aren't getting away from each other so we might as well face the fact that we're supposed to be together.”
“Oh, that truth.”
“Yes Luke, that truth.”
Deciding there had been enough talking, Tom grabbed Luke and pulled him close. Luke clung to Tom as their lips met in their first kiss.