Lucas felt so relaxed and satisfied that his eyes started to droop shut.

He couldn't remember the last time that he had laid back on cool grass under the sun and just drifted off. But right now, with a full belly, a new friend and the sound of the creak lulling him to sleep, it was hard not to.

A breeze ran through his hair, tickling his scalp and making him shiver.

A moment later, it happened again and Lucas opened his eyes this time, catching William, still sitting next to him with a hand gently touching the ends of his hair.

Lucas blinked up at the other boy sleepily.

"What?" he asked.

"Uh--" William said. 

He stared down at Lucas for a moment.

"We're going to be late for class," he said.

Oh yeah, school.

He sighed and shut his eyes.

"Five more minutes."

A moment passed and then Lucas' eyes snapped back open. He sat up abruptly, smacking his head into William's chin.

"Ow!"

Lucas rubbed the spot and looked at William apologetically.

"Sorry," he said.

"I thought you wanted five more minutes," William said, gingerly touching his chin. "Why the rush?"

"I can't miss class," Lucas said. "I have to take your notes."

William chuckled.

"It's fine." 

"No, it's not," Lucas said firmly.

He had made a deal with William and the blond was already keeping up his part of it. He had to be more reliable. He couldn't go messing up already. This was a job he wanted to keep. It came with free food. Not to mention that it came with William too.

William was watching him with his usual, unreadable expression. When he finally smiled, it was the complete opposite, warm and open and inviting. 

"Let's go then," he said.

He offered a hand and helped Lucas to his feet.

Lucas grinned at him as he was hoisted up and then, snatching up his bag, turned back to the big hill.

He had learned last time that the easiest way to do this was by climbing on all fours. He dropped to his knees and managed to make it about two feet before William spoke.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

His tone was incredulous and Lucas looked back at him. 

William was still standing where he'd left him, brows so high they were hidden under his bangs.

"I'm going to class."

William's jaw dropped.

"But you can just go around these bushes," he said, pointing.

Lucas stared at the bushes.

"Seriously?" he asked.

He jumped down from the hill, thrilled that he didn't have to scale it again, and went to examine the spot. 

There was just enough room to step around them without falling into the water and just on the other side, the exit/entrance to the arboretum was visible.

"No way! That is so much more convenient!"

William was biting his lip as he came around the bush behind him, visibly trying to hold back laughter.

"Did you really climb back up there last time?" he asked.

"Yeah, and its like a twenty minute walk to the gate from there. This is way better."

William shook his head.

"You're probably the only person who would be happy about this."

Lucas frowned.

"What else would I be?"

William shrugged.

"Most people would be embarrassed."

Embarrassed. Hm. Maybe Lucas spent so much time doing so many embarrassing things that he was desensitized. 

He looked at William's amused expression though and worry ate at him. All of his friends made fun of him. It was just what they had always done. Maybe Lucas asked for it with his personality. The thought of William, who was so nice doing it though...

"Are you laughing at me?" he asked.

William's smile vanished at once and a blush replaced it.

"No," he said seriously. "You don't over think things. I like that about you."

"Oh."

No one had ever said that about him. Not in a good way, anyway. A happy feeling bubbled in Lucas' chest and he didn't bother trying to hide it.

"You're so nice," he said. "We should hang out more. Like all the time."

William flushed and looked away.

"Why?" he asked. "Because I complimented you?"

Lucas laughed.

"Well yeah, all my other friend's make fun of me. I need a good influence in my life."

William laughed at that and just shook his head.

They sat next to each other in class and Lucas was oddly excited by it. Almost to the point of being giddy. He asked William everything he could think of; his favourite colour, his favourite movie, his height in inches and centimeters...

When class started, he had to force himself to whisper but even that was too loud, clearly, because their prof told him to shut up or get out.

Lucas managed to remain quiet after that but he was still more or less shaking with excitement. A friend that was normal and nice and gave him food. Food from a restaurant that he owned! William was the coolest person that Lucas had ever met. He wanted to parade him around and introduce him to everyone he knew. He wanted to brag about his awsomeness in acquiring such a unique person.

Half way through class William suddenly started laughing next to him. He muffled the sound in his hands and bowed his head so that the pale strands of his hair fell down to cover his face.

When he finally glanced up at Lucas' curious face, his blue eyes were glinting with amusement.

After a moment, he leaned over and wrote in neat letters across Lucas' blank notebook page; Aren't you supposed to be taking notes for someone?

Lucas' jaw dropped.

"Shit."

William burst into laughter again, muffling it as best he could while Lucas tried hastily to remember anything that was said. It was useless though, his thoughts had been completely taken up by the blond sitting next to him.

The second class ended, William put a hand on Lucas' shoulder comfortingly.

"It's fine for today," he said. "I think I managed to get most of it."

Lucas glanced down at William's notebook, the beautiful neat words and diagrams that he'd managed and felt very inadequate. 

Although William didn't seem to mind, as Lucas had already discovered, because he was actually a really nice person.

"Do you want to come over?" Lucas asked suddenly. "Some friends are bringing over board games."

William looked a little taken aback by that. He looked up at Lucas for a minute and then shook his head, packing his bag.

"I don't think so," he said.

"Oh, okay."

William probably had his reasons, he was too nice to just dismiss Lucas unless there was a reason. He was sure.

"Well, tomorrow I'm supposed to have my first babysitting shift," he said. "Do you want to join?"

Despite his confidence in William as a person, there was still a fair amount of hesitancy in his voice.

Again, William shook his head.

"Oh."

Disappointment twisted in Lucas. He bit his lip and trailed just behind William as he left the building. Maybe William didn't actually want to be friends with him. Oh no. Would lunches be awkward from now on? Should he just pick his food up and eat it somewhere else? Should he quit? But he liked William and they had just started their arrangement. He'd barely had the chance to try any of his mother's amazing food. 

"It's not you," William said. "I'm just not very social."

Lucas looked up to find the other boy watching him closely. That whole line seemed like a lie. William was friendly and easy to get along with. How could he not be social?

"You don't think I'm too annoying?" Lucas asked.

He knew he was a pretty annoying person. Why else did he find it so hard to keep jobs and friends? Maybe William was too nice to let his irritation show.

William stopped abruptly, brows shooting up and eyes widening.

"That's not it at all, I--" He pulled Lucas away from the door where they were blocking the way and stopped only when they were standing alone against the wall. Even so, his voice lowered when he spoke. "I like you."

Lucas was unconvinced.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah," William said. He shifted awkwardly and glanced around, that familiar blush filling his cheeks. And then he leaned forward, looking into Lucas' eyes intently. "I really like you. A lot."

Lucas didn't know why William was so nervous. His voice was trembling, brows furrowed, like he really didn't know what Lucas' reaction was going to be.

"I like you too," he said breaking into a smile. "Seriously, we've known each other for like two days and I'd already ditch any of my other friends for you."

William stared at him for a full minute, a stunned look on his face that slowly made Lucas want to swallow his words back up. Had he come on too strong?

Finally, William blinked a few times and looked away, still looking shell shocked.

"What's wrong?" Lucas asked uneasily.

William glanced at him, chuckled and shook his head. 

"Nothing," he reassured.

Lucas was definitely missing something but William seemed happy again and their new friendship seemed to be back on track so he grinned at the blond.

"What's for lunch tomorrow?" he asked.

William chuckled. 

"Anything you want," he said.

Lucas mouth instantly started to water. William had better be careful. With talk like that, he was never going to get rid of him.

~

AN: thanks for reading!!! <3 next time I'll try to convince Lucas to be less thick but no promises...