Starstruck (the Idea of Always)

Lucas
He was passing the alley he'd broken down in when he finally pulled out his phone.

He stopped when he did, stepping into the darkness of the alley, pressing his back to the wall and looking out into the street, watching cars pass under the streetlights. He sighed, closing his eyes and listening to the sound of the traffic, to distant voices yelling and laughing.

He opened the chat with the Jens, the last message sent by him, sent days beforehand, and he felt a pang of guilt shoot through his chest, not knowing what Jens was feeling, if Jens was worried, or angry.

Angry.

For a second, the thought of putting his phone away crossed his mind, but he'd promised his mom he would talk to Jens.

So he left an voice message.

"Hey Jens..."

---

"Jens!"

Jens startled at Moyo's voice, which was too loud for Milan's living room, and passed the joint over to his grabby hands.

"Your mom wasn't upset that this was so sudden?" Robbe asked from where he was lounging across Sander on the sofa.

"Nah, she thought it was cute," Jens said, stretching as he grabbed his beer bottle off the ground. "She called it a slumber party." He took a swig. "Reminded me to bring my toothbrush and toothpaste."

"I like your mom," Aaron said, laying spread eagle on the floor, too high to make eye contact.

"You've never even met her, idiot."

"No, but she's your mom." Aaron's head swayed, rolling on the ground with the slow beat that was playing from Milan's speaker. "And I like you."

Milan snorted, leaning across Moyo's leg that was tossed over his own as they sat against the side of the sofa to grab chips. Sander and Robbe laughed, Sander choking on his beer.

"I'm serious!" Aaron lifted his head, looking directly at Jens. Jens widened his eyes and stared back at him just as intensely. "I love you."

"You're sounding really gay right now, Aaron," Robbe said, laying his head on Sander's lap and closing his eyes.

"I don't give a shit. You're my bro." Aaron pointed at Jens. "I love you."

"I love you too, buddy," Jens said, pointing back at him.

"I love all of you," Aaron said forcefully, dropping his head back down with a thump.

"Even me?" Sander asked as his fingers ran through Robbe's hair.

"Especially you."

There was another round of soft laughter before Milan said, "Even me?"

"Fuck yeah. You're Robbe's guru."

Milan cackled, looking at Robbe excitedly.

"You told them?"

"Aaron..." Robbe groaned, covering his face. "I told you not to tell him!"

"He's too far gone, bro, he doesn't remember anything you told him," Moyo said.

Aaron sigh contently and they all laughed again.

Before the laughter died out, Jens's phone buzzed next to him and he turned, flipping it over.

He scrambled to stand when he read Lucas's name.