#vdsweek2020

 Today’s classes started at 7:30 a.m. due to the teacher not going last week and having to retrieve all those missing hours, so he had to wake up early to be there when it was needed. Even without the classes, he would have felt sleepy: he spent the whole night looking for the perfect scores for his students. To be more specific, transcribing them.

He was a perfectionist when it came to music and internet scores weren’t as accurate as he would like to. There was always one thing he thought he could put better, he could find an easier way for his children to play those songs and he loved listening to the songs his student suggested. They helped him to get to know them better, see what they liked, what they didn't, how they were feeling...and he found new music to listen to. After that, Lucas chose the ones he liked the most to turning them into music language. Also, what kind of teacher he would be if he just printed what he found on those websites and gave it to those kids? They could do that too.

He liked taking his time to put all the effort possible on those scores.

After having lunch, his body needed a rest. During the week, his classes were at 7 p.m. so the idea of taking a nap sounded so tempting. But now, after seeing how he had to wait for the next bus, Lucas could maybe think that his idea wasn’t as brilliant as he saw it in the beginning.

His life might sound a bit stressful and messy: going to college for 6 hours every morning, teaching kids for two hours three days per week and preparing all the material needed for his lessons, studying for exams, taking care of everything that happened on his flat…yeah, it could be awful at some point, but Lucas would always think it was worth it. He wouldn’t change any second of it. Maybe the part of his mum being on a clinic.

She wasn't happy to leave Lucas alone, but they both knew it was the best for her, and she would go back home when she got the help she needed.

One thing people close to Lucas knew it was his mum was his favourite person on the world: she was truly a fighter. During all his childhood he had to listen how she couldn’t be a good mother because of her bipolar disorder, and how hard it must be for Lucas’ dad to take care of him. In his opinion, that was bullshit and people loved to criticize what they didn’t understand.

His mum was the person who was there for him whenever he needed it. She helped him and Kes with their art projects when they were kids and needed an adult supervising or doing the complicated parts.

She was there those nights he couldn’t sleep. For a long time he didn’t want to tell her why because he thought it was embarrassing, but she never pushed him to do it: she just smiled at him, kissed his curls while she put him on her arms to hold him until he fell asleep. Time later he finally told her he was afraid of the dark after watching that scary film Jayden stole from his dad collection. At first they had a long talk about why he shouldn’t have seen it and Lucas was really scared of making his mum feel disappointed. That day after school, she picked him up and took him to the supermarket to buy those shiny stars you can glue on the walls.

They spent the whole afternoon trying to find a way to put them on the ceiling to make Lucas’ bedroom like a night sky so he wouldn’t be afraid anymore, and after some troubles that included tiny fingers glued one another and two or three tickling fights, they got it.

Of course she had her bad days, just like everyone else. The difference was she needed a bit of more help and time to get out of them. And Lucas could never get mad at her because of them, he wasn’t like his dad. Instead, he took them as a way to return her all the love she gave him: it was his turn to slide on his parents’ big bed to give his mum all the hugs and kisses she deserved. He even learnt how to cook some things because sometimes she didn’t feel like doing it for herself and she always made lunch and dinner for Lucas, so making it for her made him like he could also take care of her and she could feel loved.

His dad never understood his way of seeing things. He usually got mad at his mum when it wasn’t clearly her fault and he tended to scream a lot.

Lucas never felt comfortable with his dad, or at least he couldn’t remember if it happened. He wasn't at home for long periods of time due to his work so Lucas didn't see him that much. When he was there, the man was harsh and with a complain on his mouth of how tired he was. He always seems to be disappointed if Lucas for things he didn't understand: his mum was never mad because he liked to paint his nails to match hers, why did he have to? He tend to sleep a lot and refused to play football with his son. And then he complained because Lucas didn't want to spend time with him. When him and his mum had a fight while he pretended not listen, only his mum visited him to make sure a five years old Lucas was alright and to say she was sorry for him having to listen to all of that. The list could go on, but he didn't want to get mad at this point because his dad behaviour.

Lucas thought it was understandable at some point: his father was tired and it was okay. When Lucas was tired he could be mean without realising it because he needed to sleep; or maybe all dads were like that and he was just being an annoying kid. But when he stayed at Kes', his dad was there to give them both a forehead kiss before going to bed. He went with them both to buy a skateboard when they were 12 and they saw the old guys skating near school.

He wanted to ask his mum about it but maybe she could feel upset so he prefered to stay quiet. Lucas felt kinda relieved when his mum kicked him out when he was 14.

She was the sweetest person in Lucas’ life, but he would never forget how she threw his dad luggage through the door. Most people felt sorry for Lucas but it could have been one of the happiest days for him.

During the bus trip, he thought how glad he was his dad never saw him playing the violin. It's not he was bad at it, he wouldn't have been teaching kids for two years if he was, but his dad wasn't the biggest fan of classical music. Of course Lucas practised when he was at home, he didn't go to any classes to learn after all. He guessed his dad never thought the violin sound that came out of his room was his son, he prefered to think it was a phase Lucas had for listening to the violin on his laptop, and he already hated that.

His passion for the violin and music in general, that came from his mother. It was something he inherited of her, or that’s what he liked to think: music was something that they both shared and it was their most beautiful bond. But it was something he didn't like to bring up to his head when he was in the middle of a bus on his way to his lessons.

This time their communication is even better, maybe Jens also sobered up a little by now but somehow it's even more fun than earlier.

They hit surprisingly often but so do the other two - and in almost no time Jens is at least as drunk as before again.

Then only one cup left in both teams, now it's all or nothing.

Jens throws with all of his concentration but he hits the edge of the cup. Then Kev throws, the ball bounces in the cup but both, Luc and Jens lean down quickly to blow it out of the cup again.

They succeed.

When Jens looks up Luc is really close. Again he contemplates if this is a good time to touch him, maybe even kiss him but be just quickly gets upright again, holding his hands up for a high five.

Now they have to hit - just once would be enough. Luc leans forward, bounces a little and throws directly into the cup.

They cheer loudly, Jens just lunging forward wrapping Luc in a hug, feels his laugh vibrating against his chest.

Once they rearranged the cups, once the last two, teams are in position and no one pays them attention Luc pulls a joint out of his pocket.

"Wanna go outside?"

"Hell yeah"

They disappear outside , Jens hopes no one follows them - he doesn't want to share. Not the weed and especially not Luc.

The stuff is good, from the Netherlands apparently. Once they sit on the ground, legs touching Luc starts talking.

"So, why did you really come up to us? Not because of the beerpong, right?"

Jens laughs lightly.

"No, not because of the beerpong."

He thinks for a moment before continuing, noticing how warm Lucs leg is against his own.

"Because of you"

Luc laughs, Jens isn't sure if he laughs about him but he doesn't care, the sound is way to beautiful.

"Because you wanted to get me in bed?"

He asks, boldly, his chin upwards, eyebrows raised.

"No! Or yes but not like that!"

Now Lucs eyes are big.

"I just... Wanted to get to know you, you know. If I would search something for one night I would've already found someone"

This again gets a chuckle out of Luc.

"Then why would you want to get to know me."

Jens shrugs.

"I don't really know. You look beautiful. You seem special."

There is a faint blush on Lucs cheeks now. He's even more beautiful like that.

"And I think it would be a waste to only have you for one night, so..."

Luc hides his red cheeks in his hands for a moment before he speaks again.

"So you thought challenging my friends to a beer pong tournament would help you get to know me?"

Jens shrugs again.

"Well it somehow did. And to my defense - I'm pretty drunk. I'm way smoother when I'm sober."

There is this beautiful sound again, this time more of a giggle but Jens enjoys it nevertheless.

Now Luc seems to remember the joint, both of them somehow forgot about it while talking but Luc lights it up again to take a long drag, letting the smoke escape through his mouth.

They sit in silence while he hands it over to Jens.

"So, you want to ask for my number?"

It's pretty straightforward but Jens doesn't mind, he nods quickly while exhaling the smoke.

"Wait"

He reaches for his phone and hands it to Luc while he takes another drag.

"So, you do that often?"

Luc asks once he gives back the phone.

"What exactly do you mean, going to partys, beer pong tournaments or talking to pretty boys?"

Luc laughs softly.

"Trying to get to know strangers. Maybe noticing they're not as special as you thought."

"If you're referring to yourself, you're way more special than I thought."

Again Lucs cheeks are tainted red.

There is silence for a few beats, just, the bass of the music heard through the walls.

"Is your 'getting to know me first' thing okay with kissing me now?"

The question comes little out of the blue for Jens, he expected Luc to laugh about him, maybe even text a few times or meet up for an actual date but not this. He can feel the heart in his rib cage.

"Yeah it is"

His voice is quiet but that's okay because Lucs face is already pretty close, maybe they're just sitting really close, maybe Luc already leaned forward a bit, maybe both.

"I'm glad"

Now Jens can feel Lucs breath on his lips, sees how his eyes alternate between looking in Jens eyes and on his lips, hears his own heartbeat even louder.

And then they both move at the same time, lips meeting lips, Jens can't help but to let his eyes flutter shut.

Soft. Warm.

There's something about kissing Luc that's just different than kissing anyone else, something in the way he moves his lips, the way his skin smells, the way his hand moves in Jens hair while Jens instinctively pulls him closer by the waist.

Then his brain just stutters to an halt and all he can think of are those lips.

He doesn't know how much time passed when they hear someone calling their names, Kev walking up to them, talking something about that the match is long over.

Then slowly, Jens brain starts working again and he lets go of Lucs waist. He notices Aiden standing behind Kev, grinning to himself.

"Oh we can leave without you Luc if you two need some more time..." he speaks up now, taking a step forward.

Jens wants to nod, wants Luc to stay but the boy already gets up.

"No worries. Bye Jens."

He winks shortly, Jens isn't even sure if je only imagined it, and then walks away, his friends following him shouting their goodbyes.

And he's gone.

Jens wishes him back, but even now he knows that staying here won't help so he gets up to search for his friends.

They are still at the beer pong tables, Moyo and Aaron in another mach while Robbe and the white haired guy are making out in some corner.

Just when he sits down he feels a vibration in his pocket - a message on his phone.

It's from a number saved as 'Someone for more than one night'

See you tomorrow at the small Café on campus?

Jens can't help but to grin wide.

Yes. Definitely

He sends back, just now noticing how content he feels.

*Let's see how you think about that when you're sober

I'll probably wonder how I scored a date with the most beautiful guy while completely drunk

He gets a laughing emoji back.

Maybe I just like your honesty.

He puts the phone back in his pocket, collecting his friends to go back home.

A couple of months later

"Hey" He plants a little kiss on Lucs mouth, accompanied by the kissing noises Kes and Jayden make behind them (Jens still can't believe how he got their names so wrong in the beginning)

"Hey, how was your day?"

"Kinda boring. But now you're here."

Luc grins wide as he starts pulling Jens away from his friends. They sit down at the side of the skate park, legs entangled.

They talk for a little while longer until the words get lesser and the kisses more and soon Kes is next to them announcing they have to leave. It's already dark even though it's the middle of the summer so get their boards and walk together.

It's a party, the last big one this semester. And then, tomorrow, they both will pack their stuff for their first shared holiday. Jens can't wait.

At the entrance they meet Moyo and Aaron who are already a little tipsy.

"This time we'll win!"

Aaron announces with a huge grin and Moyo cheers behind him.

"We'll see"

Jens looks over to Luc who's already grinning at him. Of course they'll win again.

"Let's go search Robbe and Sander"

They find them on the dance floor, twirling each other and laughing.

Once they reach the couple Moyo and Jayden each pull one of the boys with the group.

"Beer pong tournament!" Moyo exclaims, full of joy.

And Jens still almost can't believe how seamlessly their friends merge to one big friend group, how hes able to put his arms around Lucs shoulder and leave tiny kisses on his cheek while walking over to the Beer pong tables.