Chapter Three (Lucas' POV)

Don't ask me why I made the deal with Ethan.

It definitely wasn't that I needed protection from a bunch of small-minded jocks. I've handled myself against a murderer, a pervert, three adoptions, bullies, and Ethan himself. Handling a couple of guys like that would've been fine- Sort of. After a while...

Okay, not the point.

Point is, I probably did it because he was interesting. Most people didn't get my whole 'don't touch me' rule and just did it anyway, which is why I hated most people in the first place, but Ethan wasn't most people.

He was arrogant, rude, tempermental and I wanted to be around him more. And what better way to do that than pretend I was a sweet innocent little kid? I could do that just fine.

And Ethan was falling for it.

He kept his promise and by the next day, he was stuck to me like glue. He was like my shadow. My huge, hulking, threatening shadow. If people didn't stay away from me before, they would now and I felt a sliver of superiority that I normally didn't feel. Hell, I wasn't even sure if it was superiority or not, it was just the closest word to describe it.

He also refrained from talking to me when he felt I didn't need to be spoken to. It only mildly irritated me that he thought I was ignoring him, when I wasn't. It mostly amused me, though. It just made him more... what was the word? Attractive, maybe?

"Not doing gym again, Patterson?" Coach asked during fourth period, his brows furrowing and his lips tipping down at the corners in a deep frown. His mustache also wiggled when he did that and I wished he'd shave it off. He looked like a creep.

I just shook my head as I dropped my bag by the bench, plopping down as the Coach stood nearby, refusing to leave.

"Then why are you in gym?" He asked. We looked up as the guys and a couple girls started to file in, all laughing obnoxiously and joking around. Ethan came in last and I felt a jolt of excitement when I saw him.

Whoa. Ethan was really interesting apparently.

I'd never gotten this excited over someone before. Something about Ethan just highly intrigued me.

"Ah." The Coach stated as he followed my gaze to Ethan, who walked over and started doing stretches a few feet in front of me to see casual. I looked at the coach, daring to let a quick smile cross my lips before I pulled my book out. Even though it was out, I couldn't concentrate.

I didn't like that part about this obsession with Ethan.

It was like he was the only thing keeping me rooted in reality, which I hated, but at the same time, I liked that I had something else to occupy my time. The romance between the two main characters in my book was starting to get uncomfortable. She was describing the steps of falling in love, if that makes any sense at all.

Instead of reading as usual, I peeked past my dark hair and the dark blue hoodie I borrowed from Blake to watch Ethan stretch.

Man, he was... masculine.

His skin had a slight tan to it from so many football practices during the summer. His hair was black, not as black as mine, but pretty black and short. Right not, it was almost spiky because of the sweat on his face, making his white t-shirt stick to his skin. Because of the sticky, sweaty shirt, you could easily see the outlines of his rippling muscles.

He was reaching over, touching his toes and it was like he felt me staring at him because he glanced behind him as he stood up, his eyes meeting mine. I stared right back at him, totally unashamed for staring at him. He scowled and went back to stretching before he went sprinting around the gym as the coach yelled for everyone to hurry their stretches.

I suddenly felt breathless and for a second, I thought it was a panic attack, but then I realized it wasn't painful or anything. I felt like bliss and it just intensified the more I watched Ethan run his laps. He had long, powerful legs, his sneakers beating the wooden floor as he ran, pumping his arms at his sides and moving far ahead everyone else.

I shivered and squeezed my eyes shut, quickly looking down at my book and trying to lose myself in its pages, but the next couple passages made my eyes widen.

He made me breathless in a way no one ever could. My whole body felt warm whenever I thought of him, even his name gave me butterflies. I know he felt me watching him as he stood across the court as he shot another hoop. It was the first step of love, I realized. The thick, warmth of love engulfing me in the arms that belonged to-

Oh God.

I shut the book quickly when the coach blew his whistle for shower time before we departed for our final class. I stuffed the book away quickly, jumping up way too fast and slamming right into someone, my breath catching in my throat.

Now I knew I was having a panic attack, the same as last time when Carter had grabbed me. And the worst part? I had slammed into Carter. I stumbled back and hit the back of my knees on the bench, causing me to fall backwards over the back of the bench, my legs still propped up on the bench, but my butt hitting the floor painfully. I winced and looked up to see Carter smirking at me, sweat dripping from his temple.

"Excited to see me, queer? Next thing you know, you'll be throwing your underwear at me and I'll have to shove a fucking pole up your ass for it. Or maybe you'd like that, wouldn't you?" Carter mocked. I glared at him past my hood, trying not to show how badly I was shaking at the physical contact, but he seemed to notice and gave me a wicked grin before the coach barked at him.

As soon as Carter was out of the gym, I scrambled for my things and raced to the exit of the locker rooms to wait for Ethan instead. I didn't want to get into another scuffle with Carter. Even with Ethan protecting me, he couldn't take on Carter for several reasons, which made me shudder.

"The hell are you doing out here?" I looked up to see Ethan walking out of the locker room, drying off his shower wet hair with a towel that he stuffed in his duffelbag. I frowned, but said nothing to him, which made him sigh.

I knew it made him angry when I didn't speak, but I didn't care. He wasn't that special enough to get me to talk as much as Oliver did.

"So, anyway, you going to the Halloween dance tonight? I was thinking about going, but it'd be weird if I showed up by myself. I mean, just as friends, though. Sorry, but I don't swing that way." Ethan said quickly, his cheeks turning pink with embarrassment as he looked away quickly.

I stared at him. Why the hell would he going to one of those dumb dances? I thought he was too cool for those sorts of things. My curiosity for him intensified as Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Si or no, amigo?" He mocked. I raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. Ethan threw his hands up.

"I give up. If I wasn't protecting you from those asstards, I'd leave. You need to get some balls, kid. Here, let me teach you how to talk because apparently you know only a couple words. Yes, Ethan, I'm going to the dance and I'll go with you in a totally straight kinda way. Or No, Ethan, I'm too cool for that shit." He explained, mimicking my voice very badly. Actually, it sounded better than what I actually sounded like. I just cocked my brow even higher at him.

Should I go?

Should I not?

If I went, there'd be too many people. Elbow-to-elbow contact and I'd be on full alarm. Hell, I'd probably have a seizure and faint. Not to mention, I was sure Carter and his butt-buddies were going with him and there was no way I was going near that guy or his croonies.

But, on the other hand... If I went, I'd have more time to spend with Ethan. I'd get to know him more and maybe then I'd find out why he was so interesting, what he was hiding from everyone. All the skeletons in his closet, and maybe a few in my own.

I nodded at last. Ethan blinked, looking surprised.

"You'll go?" He asked. I nodded again and he looked relieved, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, but he kept a straight face and nodded back at me just as the bell rang.

So there it was.

Ethan and I were going to the dance together. As friends, of course.

Ethan was straight. I was.... broken.

"So, since we're going to there together, mind I go home with you?" Ethan asked casually as we headed to class. I glanced at him, confused. Why would he go home with me? Didn't this hobo have a home of his own? It'd be so much trouble if he came over. I'd be getting questions for everyone and there was no way I was gonna answer any of them, which would only make them angry.

It made me think of the other day when Blake took my things away. I didn't want him to do that again.

I started to shake my head when Ethan rushed on.

"Cuz, it'd be easier, save some time and gas. And then there's no awkward introductions at my house or anything and I'm okay with other people, just not my people, ya know? And I'll just tell 'em we're friends- I mean, cuz, we sort of are, right? Or maybe, just employer and employee. That sounds better, doesn't it? Yea, let's go with that. So anyway, I won't eat you out of house and home or anything either. We'll just- I dunno, hang out or something. And you can talk to me without people staring at you if that's why you don't talk.... and stuff." Ethan stopped, looking embarrassed and avoided looking at me.

We had stopped and were facing each other, but he still didn't meet my eye for the longest time. The hallways cleared by now and we were both so obviously late, but without anyone else- As Ethan said- I decided to throw him a bone.

"Okay, but don't ask so many questions." I stated. Ethan blinked and stared at me for the longest time, a strange look crossing his face. It reminded me of the way Nick stared at Oliver whenever they were hanging out, but it couldn't possibly have been that, right?

Nick and Oliver were in love.

Ethan and I were- again, as he said- employer and employee.

The guarded and the bodyguard.

"Cool," Ethan breathed, looking relieved, then glanced around to see that everyone was gone, making him wince, "Shit, we're late. I'll meet you out by the parking lot and we can head over to your place, wherever that is. Not sure. I'll find out. Anyway, see ya." He quickly spun around and went off to class, but I took my time heading to class.

For some reason, I was giddy. I didn't get giddy. Giddy was weird. Giddy was wrong. Giddy was for girls. So why did I feel like that? I asked myself that all throughout fifth period, wondering what Ethan was gonna do at my house. Eat? No, that required being around the family. TV? More family, or annoying advertisements. Read? And what would Ethan do? Ugh.

How do you entertain a short-attention spanned football player who just got outta jail?

In a sanitary way anyway. I could think of several dirty methods, but they weren't mine.

I surprised myself by thinking that. Since when did I get so perverted? Besides, even if I wanted to do something dirty- which I wouldn't- I couldn't. The idea of someone just brushing their hands on my bare skin gave me waves of chills, goosebumps rising on my skin.

That's too bad, though. I was hoping maybe I'd be as lucky as Oliver. He was always really happy when Nick touched him. I've walked in on them multiple times and even though Oliver is writhing and moaning, he obviously likes it.

How? I could never understand.

By the time class was over, I was walking out and weaving past people, avoiding them like the plague as I hurried outside, spotting Ethan standing at the corner of the building, talking to Nick.

I stayed rooted in place, though, watching from the doorway. Ethan looked so animated and alive talking to Nick, who was grinning and laughing at something he was saying. They looked happy talking together and for some reason, I wish Ethan would just shut up.

Weird.

Maybe his constant cheerfulness was pushing my buttons at long last?

I swiftly moved across the parking lot, easily making it to Ethan, who didn't notice me until Nick greeted me. Ethan almost jumped ten feet in the air before turning to face me.

"Lucas! Jesus, don't do that! You may be like twelve, but I'm like twenty and I'm at risk for a heart attack." He scolded me. I tilted my head at him, then looked at Nick, who rolled his eyes.

"He's fifteen." He told Ethan. I smacked my hand on my forehead, hiding the look of disbelief on my face.

I wasn't fifteen. I was technically sixteen. I just had my birthday moved upon request.

I didn't bother to correct them, though, as they argued about whether Ethan was really at a risk for heart attack or not. I looked up when I felt Oliver's presence appear between a couple of cars before he was standing next to Nick, who's attention almost immediately left Ethan and plunged full force on Oliver's lips.

No one dared to pick on Oliver knowing that Nick, the champion of our homecoming game, would kick their ass all the way to Jupiter.

Although, Ethan looked like he was considering it. I felt a jolt of irritation at Ethan's glare at Oliver, who swiftly ignored him and turned pink when Nick licked his lips opened in a full tongue action kiss beforehe pulled away.

"Get a room." Ethan snorted.

"Get a life." Nick returned.

"Get a dick." Ethan mocked. Nick glared at him and Oliver rolled his eyes before elbowing Nick carefully in the ribs, muttering something in his ear before he went back to his new 2012 Ford Fusion, which was my ride back home, so I prepared to leave when I remembered Ethan was coming with me.

"Do you have to be such a prick, E? This is why he doesn't like you." Nick scolded, ignoring me now as I stared at them in hopes of them looking at me. I was so used to it working that when it didn't work, I was dismayed.

"And I don't like him. Oh, look! Something in common!" Ethan drawled sarcastically, shaking his head.

"Ethan, I'm serious! If you hate him so much, why did you defend him when those guys were mauling him?"

"I wasn't defending him, I was defending-"

"That's bullshit and you know it. Look, just go home and have your dad drive you to the dance tonight and we'll talk then. Maybe."

"He's not going home, he's coming with me." I heard myself snap. Nick and Ethan both jumped and looked at me, perplexed. I raised an eyebrow calmly, hugging my textbook to my chest as I waited for a response. They acted like I'd slapped them both. Nick finally blinked and snapped his head to look at Ethan with wide, disbelieving eyes. Ethan stared back at him, then quickly brushed past him and avoided me entirely as he went to Oliver's car.

Oliver looked up from piling his things in the backseat when he saw Ethan and I coming. He slammed the door shut and gave Ethan a weary stare.

"This is it, isn't it? You're gonna kill me and hide my body in the trunk of my own car." He muttered, making Ethan scowl.

"I'm going home with Lucas." He snapped. Oliver stared at him, then stared at me. I looked back innocently.

"You're kidding me! Lucas, you didn't even ask me. And I'm pretty sure my dad told Ethan to fuck off nicely. Besides, what'll your parents think when you bring him home like some kind of mutt you picked off the streets of New York?" He demanded. I watched Ethan blush and I swore I saw hurt swimming in his eyes for a split second before he rolled his eyes and leaned against Oliver's car.

I wanted to argue back, but something in me held back and I just shrugged. Oliver threw his hands up and whirled on Ethan, who pushed off the car, holding his hands up in surrender as Oliver shooed him away from the door. Without anything else said, Ethan and I got in the back seat of the Fusion and sat in silence as Oliver drove us out of the parking lot.

"What're you gonna tell your parents?" Oliver asked me. I shrugged in response, leaning against the car door, my knees pulled up against the back of his seat as I watched the trees and houses go by.

"Lucas." Oliver commanded. I glanced up to meet his eyes in the rear view, then scrunched up my nose and shook my head in response. He groaned and went silent for the rest of the ride. Ethan was smirking until we pulled up in the driveway. Ethan's eyes flickered at the sight of our house- or rather, Oliver's house. Danny, Blake, and I were only living here until we could find our own place somewhere nearby.

"Nice house." Ethan managed.

"Thanks." Oliver responded dryly, making Ethan roll his eyes. Oliver led the way inside and so far, so good. Until Oliver closed the door behind Ethan and I rather loudly.

"Hey, everyone! Lucas brought a friend over!" He called for everyone in the whole world to hear. I glared at him and he just batted his lashes innocently before grinning as the sound of footsteps came thumping through the house from several directions. The first one to make it was Blake, coming from upstairs in his leather jacket and torn jeans, but no shirt, which made... no sense, nor did I care.

"Oh," Blake blinked and studied Ethan as if he were familiar, but he couldn't quite place a name for him, "You're friends with Lucas?"

"Sure." Ethan answered, looking uneasy at the attention. It didn't help when Rick came in from the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Oh God. Not you."

"Nice seeing you too." Ethan responded testily. Rick glared at him and Blake looked between them, confused before Devin came in, grabbing Rick's arm to tell him to buzz off until he saw Ethan. Devin was usually a nice guy, talkative, and terrifyingly happy, but he suddenly looked like he was contemplating Ethan's death.

"Ethan." He greeted stiffly.

"Uh, er... Sir." Ethan said at last. He stepped closer to me, but not so much that we were touching. If that had happened, I'd of hyperventilating involuntarily and everyone would've turned homicidal, even Oliver, who was raising an eyebrow and smirking at the scene.

Molly and Anya came in next. Molly ooed and awwed over him, grinning at me suggestively. Anya just scowled and muttered something under her breath.

"Why did he come over?" Blake asked me after he'd managed to get Molly to shoo her family away, leaving Ethan and I to stand awkwardly across from my shirtless adoptive father. Ethan looked at me and I just stared at him back. He looked looked horrified in an expression that said you don't even talk to your parents?! I just shrugged and looked at Blake, who frowned at me.

I tried to think of the shortest way to tell him we were hanging out before the dance, but it was too difficult so I took a deep breath.

"Dance tonight." I replied. Blake looked relieved that I'd spoken to him. Probably the closest thing to a sentene I'd said to him since a couple days ago. It'd been mostly one worded responses and the occasional smartass 'hello', but this. This was like candy to him. The more I talked to Blake, the more he smiled and relaxed and bought me books.

"You're going? That's great! What time does it start? I can take you both over there and pick you up since I just got my truck fixed." He offered.

"Six and ends at ten." Ethan replied, looking far more relaxed with Blake than with Rick. I began to relax too. This meant no tension and no more talking. Blake nodded.

"Sounds good. Well, I won't keep you guys, go ahead and do whatever, but... Uhm, keep your door open a little bit