The Truth About Love Songs: Chapter 5

Lucas frowned and began to pout. “I know, sorry.”
“Come here” Tyler said, pulling his face closer to his own “I’m not mad or anything, I just can’t wait to start our lives together in our own place. But what you’ve done for me tonight is great and I love you all the more for it. Now, where’s my present.”
With a smile back on his face, Lucas hopped out of bed and grabbed the neatly wrapped box from his bag. He jumped back on the bed, handed it to Tyler and waited to see his reaction. Tyler ripped to multi-coloured paper off the box, when he opened the lid his mouth dropped open.

“Lucas, are you fucking kidding me? This is beautiful”
“Turn it over and read the back” Lucas said bouncing up and down like a little kid. Tyler did as Lucas requested and found the inscription. ‘Tyler, with every second that goes by my love for you continues to grow, forever yours Lucas.’ Tyler could barely speak, he was so speechless. He felt a lump in his throat has he held the watch in his hand and read the inscription again and again.
“Are you going to say something?” Lucas said after at least two minutes of silence went by. Tyler Looked up at Lucas and smiled “I love it, I love it more than words can ever express.” Then he went silent and stared down at the watch.

Lucas noticed the sudden change in Tyler’s face and worried that Tyler was upset with him for spending so much on him. “I know it’s expensive and I shouldn’t have spent so much money but I don’t care. I would spend a life time paying it off just so you could have this. And the reason why is because I want you to know how much I love you. But if it really bothers you then I’ll take it back but I don’t think they’ll take it, what with the writing on the back and all.” He reached out to take the watch away but Tyler pulled back and looked at him
“I should have gotten you something” He said softly
“What?” Lucas frowned
“Even if I had spent fifty dollars, I should have bought you something.” Tyler sighed deeply. “You go through all this hassle of getting this room, which I can’t even afford to contribute too, and now this watch. And here I am without so much of a fucking bag of chips for you” Tyler was about to jump off the bed but Lucas grabbed him before he could.

“Is that what this is about? You not getting me anything.” Tyler tried to turn his face away but Lucas wouldn’t let him. “Tyler, I couldn’t give a rat’s arse about that. I never expected anything for you because I know how things are and what you’re working towards. One day, and soon, we’re going to have our own place and that’s going to be because of you. Baby, I love you and whether we have money or not, that’s never going to change. Now you better stop frowning and thank me properly for that watch”
Tyler looked up into Lucas’ loving face and smiled. Not another word was spoken as Tyler made love to Lucas again. This time it was soft and gentle and more intense. Every movement was slow and deliberate.

The morning came all too soon for them. As they woke up and surveyed the state of the place they both laughed.
“Fuck” Tyler said looking around. He stepped out of bed and almost fell on his arse as his foot got caught in the bed sheets. He managed to make his way to the bathroom, where he turned on the shower and set it to the right temperature. He went back into the room and dragged Lucas off the bed and into the shower with him. They soaped each other up and rinsed each other off.
It didn’t take them long to pack up their things, straighten up the room a little and leave. They stepped into the cold morning air and Tyler turned to Lucas and kissed him full on the lips. When they stopped they noticed the people walking by looking at them. Lucas flushed red but Tyler didn’t care.
“What’s that for” He said
“Luc, that was for the best fucking night of my life and I just wanted to thank you.” They smiled at each other and walked hand in hand to Tyler’s car.

They arrived at Lucas’ house laughing and smiling with each other. When Lucas saw his parent’s car he sighed and said “I was hoping they would be out. Never mind. Maybe we can bypass the twenty question and head straight for my room so we can have some more fun.”
Tyler smiled at Lucas and kissed on the cheek before stepping out of the car. They walked up to the front door hand in hand again and gave each other a final kiss before Lucas opened the door. When they stepped in they could both hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Lucas put his finger to his lips, signalling Tyler to be silent so that they could go up stairs undetected but Tyler stopped him.
“I think we should say hello” Tyler whispered.
“No” Lucas replied, trying to pull him along.
“Luc, I really think we should. Besides everyone one seems to be in the kitchen now so we’ll only have to answer questions once”
Lucas looked pleadingly at Tyler but Tyler had his resolve face on and Lucas knew that he wasn’t going to get his own way. “Sometimes I wonder about you” He said bumping pass Tyler and heading for the kitchen.
“Hey everyone” He said as he reached the door.

The sudden silence in the room with deafening. Everyone turned to face the two of them standing in the door way.
“What?” Lucas said looking around at his families faces. It was then that he saw her. Her big blue eyes staring at him and smile that could light up any room. She stood up and there was an intake of breathe from everyone, with the exception of Tyler.
“Julie” Lucas choked out “How…what…”

Julie beamed as she ran and threw her arms around Lucas. “Oh Lucas, it’s so good to see you” She drew back for a second and studied his face. Then she said “I’ve missed you so much, I couldn’t stand it any more. I needed to be with you. I know it’s been hard keeping this relationship going but I think it time we really commit to each other, so I decided to pack up my things. I’m here to be with you the man I love, my soul mate.” She leaned forward and kissed Lucas on lips. The kiss was soft and gentle. Lucas suddenly pushed her back. His mind was racing, he could think straight. He couldn’t believe Julie was standing in front of him and saying all these things to him. What was he going to do? What about…

Before he could even finish the thought he spun round. For just a second he had forgotten that Tyler was standing right behind him.
For a second Lucas didn’t recognise Tyler. The look on his face was something he had never seen before and it scared the shit out of him. Even with the tears streaming down his face, they could not hide fury in his eyes which made Lucas step back a little. “Tyler?”
Tyler said nothing. He couldn’t speak. In one single moment his world had been ripped from under him. He backed away from Lucas and made his way out of the house.
“Tyler wait” Lucas yelled.

But before he could start his pursuit, Julie grabbed him by the arm. “Lucas what’s going on?” she frowned.
“I fucked up” he said pulling himself free from her grip and running after Tyler. Julie was about to follow but Lilly jumped up from her seat and held Julie back. “I think you should leave him for a minute. He’s got some things he needs to sort out.” She made Julie sit back down and poured her another glass of orange juice. Turning to the twins she said “Take your brothers and sister up stairs and close the door. You go up too Charlie” Neither child complained or argued as they tried to comprehend the seriousness of the situation.

When Lucas reached outside, Tyler had already reached his car and was just pulling out. “Tyler, please stop and listen to me. It’s not what you think” Lucas yelled, but to no avail. Tyler had driven off without ever looking back; his tyres screeching down the normally quiet road. Lucas fell to his knees. It dawned on him in that moment that he might have lost the only thing that mattered to him in this world, Tyler.