Mathias and Lukas got out of the car in stealth mode, the two of them crouching as they approached the clearing in the woods all local teenagers knew well. 

Although the late sunset of Norwegian June meant that they were practically sneaking around in broad daylight, they still crept with the intensity of a set of robbers in the dark. There was something stupidly entertaining about acting like they weren't visible when Mathias very clearly stuck out like a sore thumb in the woods. 

As they approached the smoky clearing where a group of kids had lit a fire, Lukas recognized the voices of a few of the teens. Those were definitely Emil's friends. 

The pair tried desperately not to make noise as they slowly walked towards the campfire, stepping carefully over sticks and piles of dead leaves. Lukas looked over at the Dane, who was now making frantic symbols with his hands that were difficult not to burst out laughing at.

Lukas mouthed a 'what' and Mathias motioned for him to get closer as he leant against a large tree that shielded him from the clearing. Lukas snuck over and slid behind the tree with Mathias, the two standing uncomfortably close as Mathias crouched down to get closer to Lukas' face. Lukas clenched his jaw as he could practically feel Mathias' lips against his ear.

"We gotta make a game plan" he whispered. Lukas looked up at him with a confused look on his face. 

"What do you suggest?" Lukas asked quietly. 

"Well are we going to scare them? Embarrass him? What is the play?"

"Shame is a strong motivator in this family" Lukas whispered back lightheartedly, "I say we go the embarrassing route."

"Oh you got it" Mathias shot back with a wink, his proximity to Lukas making that far more seductive than he was anticipating. The two blushed slightly and back away from each other, with Mathias clearing his throat and Lukas turning to head back to the tree he was previously hiding behind in order to run from the tension. 

The two continued creeping forwards on the trail until they were only 5 or so meters from the campfire. Lukas looked over at Mathias on the other side of the path to see how he was planning to attack this next. To Lukas' surprise, Mathias stood up tall, puffed his chest out, and began walking straight towards the group of teens. 

Panicked, Lukas jumped out from the tree he was hiding behind and followed meekly, not entirely sure what Mathias was going for here.

"Oh wow what a coincidence!" Mathias exclaimed loudly, staring at one of the teenagers he assumed was Lukas' brother. "Looks like your brother is here!"

"Over here" Emil stated montonously, raising a hand in the air as the other teens began to snicker. Mathias looked over at Emil with a slightly taken aback expression before returning to his typicaly confident demeanor. 

"Hope nothing illegal is going on here.." Mathias exclaimed, somehow giving the energy of someone's divorced father desperately trying to connect with his son's friends. This ambush was not going as anticipated. Lukas was pretty sure this was actually making Emil more cool. The teen wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. 

"Is this the guy who gave you his number?" Emil suddenly asked, turning towards Lukas with a grin on his face. "I was not expecting him to look like he hauled lumber for a living." 

The two adults' faces flushed red, eliciting even more laughter from Emil's cohort. Lukas could see Mathias fighting with himself to figure out what to say next. Little did the Dane know, no one was going to be able to combat Emil's dry sass other than Lukas. 

"Alright just get in the car you're coming home"

Emil snorted. "Um, no."

His friends laughed again. Mathias looked like he was getting increasingly more uncomfortable at the boldness of the teen. 

Lukas suddenly looked over at Emil's group of friends who were watching this entire interaction like it was a feature film at the theater. "It's nice to see you again Ingrid and Kris. It has been a while since you guys have been over to the house. I wonder if its because Emil doesn't want you meeting Mr. Snugglebuggers?"

"Mr. Snug-?" Ingrid began. 

"Alright I'm coming!" Emil frantically interrupted, grabbing his bag as he headed towards the trail. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Probably not" Lukas chimed in with a smile, placing a hand on Emil's back as Mathias began following them back down the trail. As soon as they were halfway down the trail Emil shook his brother's hand off his back and scoffed. 

"I seriously cannot believe you" Emil exclaimed, "You are the fucking worst."

"I feel the same way about people who leave the milk on the counter all day" Lukas shot back. Mathias awkwardly hovered behind them as the two went back and forth with the tense remarks. 

When they finally reached the car, the two brothers snapped out of their little tiff. "And he drives a station wagon?" Emil asked. Lukas hit him lightly on the shoulder. 

"Sure do!" Mathias said with a smile, obviously not realizing Emil meant that as a dig. Emil snickered and Lukas took a deep, frustrated breath. 

"Get in the car" Lukas commanded, causing both Emil and Mathias to hurry into the car. The three sat awkwardly in silence as Mathias started the car. The tension in the air was evident. 

As they began to drive, Emil stretched his legs out, resting his feet on the center console between the two in the front. "Is this your guys' idea of a date or something? Finding teenagers in the woods and trying to embarrass them in front of their friends?" Emil asked. "Kinky."

"You guys are really related?" Mathias asked, looking over at Lukas with a surprised expression on his face. Lukas was mortified. 

"What, you can't tell? Am I not as stunningly gorgeous as my brother?" Emil asked before jokingly making kissing noises in the back of the car. 

"It's just difficult to believe someone as insufferable as you is related to someone like Lukas" Mathias shot back, eliciting an outward laugh from Lukas. The Norwegian was really enjoying Mathias' fearless roasting of his brother. 

Emil grew quiet for the rest of the ride until they reached the grocer's, where Mathias had picked Lukas up earlier in the night.

"Do you want me to drop you off here?" Mathias asked. 

"Yeah this is great" Lukas replied. 

"I can drop you off closer to your house. I promise I don't have plans" Mathias joked, unsure as to why Lukas wouldn't just want a ride home. 

"No no- this is fine-" Lukas began

"I think what my brother is trying to say is that he really doesn't want you knowing where we live" Emil interrupted. "I don't think you're getting a second date."

Lukas was now more than annoyed. "On second thought- you can just drop us off at home. It's up the hill from here."

"Will do" Mathias shot back with a smile. "It's no trouble really."

"God just tell me you're down bad without telling me you're down bad" Emil exclaimed in an exasperated voice from the back of the car. Both Lukas and Mathias chose to ignore him. 

Once they reached their small home Emil jumped out of the car almost immediately. "Thanks for the ride Paul Bunyan."

"Lovely meeting you" Mathias shot back sarcastically. Emil slammed the car door shut and stomped into the house with a grimace. 

Lukas sighed at the teen but could not help but smile realizing that he was starting to really like the Dane. Mathias wasn't afraid to deservedly clap back at his brother. 

Still sitting in the passenger seat, Lukas looked over at him. "I am so sorry I dragged you into this."

Mathias grinned ear to ear. "This was the best first date I've ever had." 

Lukas smiled apologetically. 

"No- seriously! It was a 10 out of 10- I would totally recommend a first date consisting of embarrassing your date's teenage sibling for leaving milk on the counter."

"He- has some attitude problems" Lukas began, "so I'm sorry about the mild bullying. I'm sure he would love to get to know you when he's not grounded."

"We've all been there" Mathias shot back. "If you really feel that bad you can make it up to me by  stopping by for a one-on-one candy making class next week. Deal?"

Lukas smiled graciously. "Deal."

"I'll text you the details" Mathias said, placing a hand on Lukas' forearm. Lukas felt his heart begin to pound as Mathias made prolonged eye contact with a slight smile. 

Lukas cleared his throat and pulled away from the man's touch. "Well thank you again! See you next week!" he replied nervously, practically jumping out of the car as he said goodbye. 

"See ya" Mathias responed with a small wave. Lukas walked up the driveway towards the house and turned around before reaching out for the door. Mathias seemed to be waiting for him to get inside safely. Embarrassed, Lukas slid inside and locked the door, trying to slow his heart rate as the Dane pulled away. 

Now to deal with Emil.