A Mistake of the Past

Liam stood frozen as he stared directly into Luke's eyes who was just as visibly shocked as he was.

In truth, he has missed Luke like crazy these past two years. When he had first gotten into college two years ago, he was a total mess!

He tried calling Luke but he had already blocked him, he tried contacting him through his social media accounts, but Luke had deactivated them at the time of the incident.

There was no other way of contacting the boy loved and he felt he was losing his mind. He couldn't focus on his studies, he couldn't do anything, guilt was killing him all he wanted was to see Luke's face.

The only way for him to keep his mind sane was through basketball, that way, he would actually think like a human being.

No day passed without Liam thinking about Luke. He tried to get over him at some point. He even went to every gay bar around his college just so that he could get over Luke, but the problem was… none of them enticed him as Luke did.

During summer breaks, he'd constantly go back home to see whether he could see Luke, but Luke never showed up. It was like he was not even in existence any longer. And his sister, Kelly, who still clearly hates his guts, wasn't helping matters.

But here he was, sitting right in front of him, after two long years of searching! God bless the universe!

“I gotta go!” Luke suddenly announced to Travis, springing to his feet.

“Huh?” Travis gave him a confused stare. “What are you…”

“I'm terribly sorry, but I gotta go right now.” He voiced, panic setting in his throat.

“All of a sudden?”

“I'm sorry, why don't we continue this date sometime later, I owe you a date!”

“But …” Travis made to protest but Luke was already running up the stairs to the exit.

Liam watched him run and chased after him, not caring a dime if his team lost, besides, he's been the one scoring most of the goal since the game began. Someone else should do it for a chance.

Luke was already out of the arena and was now scurrying down the hallway in ragged breaths.

“Luke wait!” Liam yelled after him, his footsteps, heavier with each step.

Luke wanted to break into a run but come on, Liam was an athlete for fuck's sake! And he would eventually catch up.

Liam had now reached him, he pulled Luke by the arm and swung him around.

A small squeal of excitement escaped Liam's lips.

It's him! He thought happily, it really is him! I'm not imagining it!

He threw his arms around Luke and gave him a tight hug. Luke didn't hug back, he didn't know to react.

Should he shove him away and curse at him? Or should he hug him back? But he did neither.

He could feel his heart pounding furiously against his chest… oh wait, it wasn't his, it was Liam's. No, was it both?!

“I've missed you like crazy Luke,” Liam mumbled, still hugging Luke tightly, choking the life out of the poor boy, “You have no idea.”

Okay, that's enough hugging!

Luke gently jerked Liam backward… his eyes widened in shock, gosh, is Liam seriously crying right now?

“Luke, I know you must still hate me but I'm so sorry for what I did back then…” Liam began.

“Hold on!” Luke quickly cut him off. “Liam, I don't need your apology.”

“Then, what can I do to make it up to you…”

“Absolutely nothing!” Luke retorted. He believed that he needed to sound angry to ward him off, if he acted all nice, Liam might want to be back in his life, and that was the last he wanted. Liam was a mistake of the past and so should he remain. “Just go back to your life at your… whatever town it is you're living in. After everything that happened back home, I decided to put everything that happened, including you in my rearview mirror and move on. You should do the same. Please!”

Liam swallowed hard.

He still hates me, he thought sadly, despair filling his mind, I still disgust him.

“Do you still hate me?” He asked slowly, nervously running his lips through his tongue.

“I can't answer that, Liam.” Luke replied, “But I've forgiven you. You have a game to get back to, and I have places to be. Good luck beating our school, although you don't need it. Bye.”

Luke wanted to give him a smile before walking off but it just wouldn't appear.

He spun around and scurried away, without so much as a last glance. Liam despondently stood, watching Luke walk away.

“Hey, Luke! What the hell is wrong with you?” Their coach yelled from behind, startling the boy.

“Sorry coach.” He apologized, running back into the arena.

Luke might have moved on, but he hadn't. And he was now determined he would stop at nothing to make Luke love him as much as he did back then.

He finally found him… he wasn't going to let go.

***

Luke slammed the dorm's door behind him as soon as he stepped in and threw himself on his bed.

It wasn't a surprise that Sam wasn't here, the stupid boy is always never around. You'd find him at a friend's party or one of his hookup’s houses.

He never studies except during exam periods, and Luke always wondered how he always got a B.

Luke stared up at the ceiling and then told himself to calm down. His breath was still ragged and his heart was still pounding against his ribs.

He facepalmed himself and let out a small groan.

Liam has gotten more… manlier. He found himself thinking, his jawline is so defined, his hair has grown so much, his Adam's apple… God! He looks so… so … good!

Luke refused to admit that he was happy seeing Liam. It was unexpected, yet pleasant.

He instinctively knew that Liam would be stuck in his mind for the whole week! He'd have a hard time getting him off his mind now.

Great, just great!

Only if he hadn't agreed to go watch the match with Travis… no, this was Sam's fault! Where is that dumbass?! He's going to kill him the moment he sets his eyes on him!

He set this whole thing up!

His phone dinged and he stared at the screen.

“I really enjoyed today, Luke. You were fun to be with. Too bad you had to leave like that, but it's okay, you promised me another date. Hope to see you soon, Travis.”

Luke helplessly dropped his bed on the bed and sighed, rubbing his eyebrows.

How lovely!