Every morning, Lucian found a lunch sitting just inside the backdoor of his house, there was always a note. Jonah picked him up and he stayed silent at school and just played his part. The happy, popular jock. He looked forward to lunch every day but was too afraid to talk to Gabe again. Gabe never approached him either.

It was February before Gabe even realized it. Time flew by. He stared at Lucian during school and went to the gym after school and on the weekends. He still volunteered at hospice. His life didn't change but his mood did. By Valentine's day, Gabe's least favorite holiday, he was back into his routine and denied missing Lucian. He missed talking to him.

Gabe's dad was actually home and Gabe was shocked. He couldn't remember the last time his dad was home on any day. He always walked in late and men never talked to each other.

His mom told him to keep communications open because guys were bad at talking. She was right. Man, he missed her.

It was a Saturday and Kevin Brown didn't work and apparently had nowhere else to be, for the first time. Gabe never knew where he was anymore. They hardly talked. He missed his dad. He kind of shut down after Gabe's mom died. Hell, they both did. Gabe was playing games in his room when the doorbell rang.

"Uh, Gabe? Maybe come here?" Kevin shouted up the stairs.

Gabe hit pause, jumped down the steps two at a time. He stopped at the door. There was a person at the door. A delivery person, holding two dozen red roses. Gabe took them and read the card.

Gabe, I never truly thanked you for everything you did for me. Thanks.

Gabe stared. It was unsigned. "Who are they from?" Gabe's dad, Kevin, asked.

Gabe stared at the card as the delivery person left. "Uh..." He walked to the kitchen and put them in a vase of water. He smelled them and smiled.

"Let me see the card!" His dad snatched it up and read it. "Who is this? A girl?" Kevin knew his son was gay.

Gabe laughed. "No! Dad, I'm still into guys. This is from a kid from school. He was having a tough time." He paused. His dad nodded. "So, I just helped him for a couple of days but that was in January? We haven't talked in almost a month!" Had it really been four weeks since he talked to Lucian? Where did the time go?

Kevin nodded. "Do I know this kid?"

"I don't know. Mom knew him and probably knew I had a crush on him...before..." (Before she died). He wasn't saying that. He hated pointing out that she was dead. His father had a tough time already.

"I see. Do you have a crush on him?" Kevin smiled.

Gabe sighed. "I don't know. Maybe. We have to hate each other at school."

"You have to?" Kevin stared at his son.

"Yes, he isn't gay or out of the closet? Everyone thinks he's straight and he doesn't know if he's gay. He's questioning, I guess and I'm giving him space. I make lunches for him every day though. I see him smile at me at lunch. I know he likes them." Gabe smiled. He touched the flowers and smelled them again.

Kevin smiled. "Oh, Son, you have it bad!"

Gabe was about to deny it but his phone vibrated and he pulled it out.

Luc: So...?

Gabe smiled. He rushed to his room, forgetting about his dad.

Gabe: Those roses are from you?

Luc: Of course! And how about dinner tonight?

Gabe: Really? You know this is Gabe right? ;)

He was putting his shoes on. Wrong foot. He switched and tried again. He was giddy right now.

Luc: Hilarious! Yes. Dinner. My house. Now.

Gabe: Nice. not bossy at all, Luc.

Luc: I am bossy. I said now. You owe me.

Gabe: Lol. How?

He was already down the stairs and out the door. He walked/ran to Lucian's house. He shouted to his dad that he was going out.

Luc: l said now!

Gabe chuckled and knocked on his door. "Open up, you jerk!"

Lucian stood on his side of the door and smiled. "Who's there?"

Gabe glared. "You're girlfriend, open up!"

Lucian glared as he opened up the door. "About time, Baby!"

Gabe glared more. "Thanks for the flowers, Lucian." He smiled.

"I think you can do better than that." Lucian smiled a wicked smile.

Gabe pushed past Lucian through the door and walked into the house. "Is your dad home?"

"No."

"Is there really food?"

"No." Lucian laughed at Gabe's expression. "Yes, I cooked. Come on. Baby."

Gabe's face broke into a smile. "Lead the way, Lover. I have missed you!"

Lucian nodded. "Me too. Gabe...I have no idea what I'm doing."

Gabe smiled. "Me either. Well, I don't know what you're doing but I'm eating!" He stood by a chair and cleared his throat. "Uh, rude."

"What?" Lucian glared.

"Uh, chair. Be a gentleman and pull out my chair." Gabe hadn't moved.

Lucian moved to Gabe, very close. He moved his face to Gabe's face, their noses almost touching and looked into his eyes. "Sorry." He bent around Gabe and pulled out his chair. Gabe was sweating. He sat as Lucian walked back to his seat. He took the covers off the plates and smiled a very proud smile.

"Is this...take out?" Gabe stared at his plate. He recognized this meal.

"Okay! I can't cook but it's the thought so shut up and eat!" Lucian glared.

Gabe finally laughed. "Lucian, this is the sweetest thing anyone ever..." He made eye contact. "We have to talk more!"

Lucian smiled. "I know it. I missed you and I know I shouldn't. I just wanted to thank you for the lunches. Those make my day! I love going to school just to see what I'm eating for lunch. It's crazy. I've been going to the gym."

Gabe smiled at those gray eyes. "I know. My uncle told me. I keep missing you." On so many levels. "What are we supposed to do?" Lucian was the jock at school. They were both popular and no one knew about them. And they weren't friends at school.

"Enjoy this meal with me. Be here right now. Did you throw the roses out?" Lucian was worried that Gabe didn't like him much.

"I kept them. They're in a vase in the kitchen. I really did love them and never got flowers from anyone." Gabe smiled. "Lucian. Thanks."

Lucian smiled. "Welcome and eat, Babe." That just came out and felt natural. "I really like you, Gabe. Is that alright?"

Gabe nodded. "Me too. Eat."

Lucian smiled as he took a bite and watched Gabe enjoy the meal. It was after a dessert brownie, covered with caramel and chocolate syrup that Lucian talked.

"So, I did a little experiment last month. I tried hooking up with Kim Jenkins. I went to a party, I didn't drink, thank you. We danced and she dragged me upstairs ..." Lucian stopped.

Gabe nodded. He was waiting for Lucian to say he was straight and dating Kim. It was a fear. "And..."

"I couldn't find her attractive. I couldn't get hard, at all! I thought about you and..." Lucian sighed. "I felt like I was cheating on you. I left. I pretended to have the flu so Kim never said anything."

Gabe gasped. "You mean that one day you didn't go to school?"

"Yes. I stayed home and ate the lunch you left. I love them and those notes are great. I saved all of them." Lucian smiled. "And...guess what?"

Gabe stared. "I have no idea!"

Lucian turned red. "I feel that I should share this with you. My...nether regions are hard just sitting here with you!" He laughed as he covered his face. "Embarrassing!"

Gabe chuckled. "Lucian, my gay friend! What now?"

Lucian took a breath and dropped his hands. "I don't know. Play games and...cuddle?"

Gabe nodded. "Sounds great!"

"You are helping me clean this up first!" Lucian glared.

"Oh, sure! Take a girl out and then expect something in return!" Gabe glared. They both laughed.

Gabe was happy to secretly date Lucian. They spent weekends and any day they could together. They never talked at school though. Lucian agreed that it was fun to hide this. They texted every night before bed. Things were going great for a month... Until...