A N A Ï S

"Hey, I saw you crying and I couldn't not come and sit with you" He says

"So we meet again" I laugh and wipe the tears that I didn't even notice slipping out from my eye.

It's the boy from the diner earlier today, what a coincidence.

"You sure you're not stalking me?" I laugh, my nose was a bit blocked from the crying and I probably looked like a mess in-front of the boy, I'm embarrassed.

"I swear, I'm not stalking you. I come to feed the ducks here everyday. they're my friends" The boy sends me a cheeky smile, lifting his hands up in surrender. I couldn't help but crack a smile.

His smile is pretty contagious. He gives off a very bubbly vibe.

"You never really told me your name. I'm Anaïs" I say, my fingers unconsciously playing with the grass.

"Lucas" He says and brings his hand out for me to shake. he had a ring on his middle and pointer finger. I reach my hand out and shake his hand. Half of my hand was covered by his big ones. I pull my hand away and start fiddling with the grass again.

"I'm not going to ask you why you're crying cause I'm not good at confrontation, let alone trying it make someone feel better. But I'm good at districting people—"

He actually wants to sit with me?

"—so how about I introduce you to my duck friends?" He asks looking at the pond that was on the other side of the tree we were sitting near.

"Sure" I shrug and got off the from the ground and walked to the pond, there was a bench near the pond so I took a seat on it. Lucas sitting right beside me. the ducks were swimming around in the pond minding their own business. there were a total of 4 ducks.

"I'll start of by introducing the grey duck with the white patches over there,His name is Alfred" He says, pointing at the duck that kept dipping its head inside the water.

"Why'd I name him that? I have no idea, he looks like an Alfred" The boy shrugs and then points to a different duck, I glance at him for a second and he looks so concentrated. I wanted to burst out laughing but I just turned back around and I let him continue introducing me to his duck friends.

"That duck over there that's completely white? That's Carrot. Why'd I name her carrot? because her beak is orange. Next to carrot with the black feathers is Hot Wings. they're both dating, I named him Hot Wings cause I want to cook him and eat him" He says matter of factly.

I turn to look at him with wide eyes but he only bursts out laughing.

"I'm kidding, I wouldn't ever do that. Plus I'm vegetarian." He shrugs and points at the last duck which was a brown duck with a green head.

"And that last duck is Emma, cause he looks pretty basic" He shrugs and looks at me.

"Wow...I have no idea what to say right now. Thank you for introducing me to your...duck friends?" I look at him in confusion.

"They're your friends too." He smiles

"How long have you been...friends with them?" I ask, a laugh wanted to bubble up.

"Almost 2 months now, I started feeding them 2 months ago when I found out about this park" He says, the sun was starting to set and the orange tint from the sun was shining on his face making his black hair shine under the light, and his skin glow in an ethereal manner, his light blue eyes getting lighter, if that's even possible.

"Wait what do you mean by you just found out about this park? many people come over here during the weekends. It's pretty well known" I ask

"Well, I'm not from here. I was actually from Chicago. I moved here 3 months back. So this place is still new to me" He says.

"how old are you?" He ask me turning in his seat to look at me better.

"I'm 17, how old are you?" I ask him, he doesn't look older than 19 that's for sure.

"I'm 18" He says.

"You've graduated from high school already?" I ask him.

"No actually, I'm in my last year. I transferred to a school here. I think it's called Hillview High? I'm not sure. But it's my first day tomorrow" He says

"Shut up" I say and look at him, he's joining the same school? Holy fuck. What a coincidence, am I right?

"Oh, what's wrong?" He says looking at me confused.

"Sorry, that was a bit harsh. But I go to that school" I shrug, play it cool.

"Oh great. So I've made my first actual friend that's from the same school as me" He says glancing at the ducks for a few seconds.

"I'll show you around tomorrow then" I smile.

He's pretty friendly, maybe he can hangout with Evelyn and I.

We ended up getting along really well and we talked for almost two hours after that.

I then realized it started to get really dark, the sun had already set and it was currently 8pm. I need to get back home before Dad and Cohen get worried.

"Listen, I need to go. It's getting quite late and It's pretty dark now. My parents are probably worried. I'll see you in school tomorrow then?" I smile and got off the grass. We had ended up moving to sit in the grass where we sat in the beginning because it was way more comfy.

"Yeah it is getting dark. I'll drop you off" He says and stands up, dusting his black jeans with his hands.

"It's okay, I can walk home. It isn't that far anyways" I shake my head.

"I don't care how close your house is. It's still dark and it still doesn't make it any safer." Lucas shrugs and we both start walking out the park.

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" I ask him turning to look at him, he was looking straight forward and his side profile was just so perfect, his nose especially, I would die for a nose like that.

Why the fuck am I comparing?

"Well, why would I be excited for going to school? I'm a bit nervous. What if no one wants to talk to me?" He shrugs and turns to me with a grin.

"First of all, I'm talking to you right now. And secondly, I can bet you people would 100 percent talk to you" I say.

Why would no one want to talk to him? God has favorites and it shows.

"Sure Anaïs" Lucas laughs and shakes his head.

Around a 20 minute walk later we reach my driveway, I turn to him and thank him.

"Are you sure you'll be fine walking home?" I ask him, it's gotten pretty dark.

"I'll be fine, my house isn't far" he smiles.

"It may not be far, but it's dark. And it's not safe" I use his words against him.

"If I don't end up coming to school tomorrow, just know I've been kidnapped, Bye" He laughs and starts to walk down the road before waving me  goodbye.

I walk into my house and close the door shut behind me, Dad was sitting on the sofa watching a show on the tv, he hears the front door shut he turns and walks up to me.

"Where have you been? I started getting a bit worried, you okay?" My dad asks

"I'm fine, I made a new friend" I smile.

"The diner boy? Yeah I know, I saw you just talking near the driveway. I could see you guys through the window" My dad winks at me and asks me if I wanted to eat any food. I told him I wasn't really hungry and that I was tired.

I hug my dad Goodnight before I walk up the stairs and I walked to my room, while walking to my room I passed Cohen's room and his door was open just a bit and the light from his room was seeping out from the crack.

He's home? I thought he comes home late nowadays?

I didn't bother trying to talk to him because we all know how that would end up.

I walk into my room and shut the door behind me, I got ready for bed and while I was changing into some lose shorts and a top I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

"One sec!" I say and put on my top before opening the room door. I stare at Cohen in confusion and shock.

He actually bothered talking to me today, yay.

"Yeah?" I say and open the door wider for him to come in, I walk to my side table and picked up my bottle of water. He doesn't come in though, he just leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

"Who was that buy who dropped you off?" Cohen asks.

"Why does it matter?" I raise my eyebrow after I drank my water.

"It just does" He shrugs and walks in and took a seat on the chair near my study table.

"It really doesn't Cohen" I say.

"What if he's a kidnapper or something? I'm just trying to make sure that the people you hang out with are safe" He says twirling in the spinning chair while looking up at the ceiling.

"He's a new boy that's joining our school tomorrow"

"How do you know?" He asks and looks at me, he stops spinning around in the chair and focuses his attention on me.

"He told me?" I answer his silly question.

"No no, how did you meet him?" He shakes his head, making his question make more sense.

"Oh, Dad and I went to a new diner that opened today and he works there. Then I went to the park by myself later and we met there" I shrug

"Okay" Cohen states before standing up and starts to head for the door.

That's all?

"Cohen, listen. I need you to listen to what I have to say about this whole Dante situation thing" I say and stood up from my bed following him to the door.

"I really don't want to talk about it now Ana, I'm tired, and I've actually cooled down about that so don't bring it back up right now" Cohen shakes his head and just walks out the door, closing it shut gently behind him.

At least he's talking to me right? He even called me Ana, he usually calls me by my full name if he's mad or pissed at me.

Progress.

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