Not much like myself (Luke)

[Salem Hirch]

Salem still acted much like he had since the death of his brother. Getting in trouble, occasionally drinking, hitting on every guy that looked at him the right way and yet he couldn't make this empty feeling leave. He was out late the night before, he had even slept on a park bench just because he simply didn't want to be at Hammel. Now he'd been back in his room for a few hours, had taken a shower and was relaxing on the couch in their living room area. Sure he was clean, but the boy still looked a mess, not that he really cared. All he really wanted was to be left alone...or some company.

Hell, at this point he'd take anyone talking to him. Even his roommate Luke. Salem had never really spoken to him, other than introduce himself when he first got there. His eyes slowly fell on Luke's door and with a grunt, he stood and made his way over. His pajama pants shuffling loudly on the carpet. Knocking softly he asked with a rough sounding voice. "Luke? Ya in there?" 

He wasn't really clear on the boys schedule, but he thought he heard noises. So, he figured waiting would be the best thing to do.

[Lucas Blacke]

Lying on his bed Luke was reading the lyrics to this new album he'd gotten, trying to mouth along with the songs blasting out of his speakers. It was In Flames, a band he had liked for a long time and they had just gotten back from having.. less enjoyable music with their new album which Luke was now playing day and night. He felt like this was their best work and he could find himself in a lot of their songs, they hit just the right mix between okay and not okay. Especially the song he was listening to right now. 'Delight and angers' 

He heard a knock on his door as the song went to chorus, and only because it was silent enough to let him hear knocks on his door. Before he had a chance to turn down his music he heard a voice calling him out, asking if he was there. He knew the voice he realized, it belonged to his roommate. Salem something or other. Luke turned down his music a bit as he scuffled over to his door while still repeating the words to the song in his head.

He wondered what Salem wanted. They had only met briefly before and hadn't spoken since, he didn't even know if the boy was nice or not. Though his voice somewhat answered that question.

''I'm out right now, leave a message at the wicked solo.'' He replied jokingly as the song got into the solo part. Luke grinned and opened the door. ''Ya need anything?''

He quite instantly turned around and left the door open, moving to his sound system to turn it off as the song ended.

[Salem Hirch]

"Well, he has questionable taste in music..." Salem thought as he listened at the door and waited for a response. Honestly, the reply was a bit odd, but then again, he didn't really know Luke. Normally he would have laughed at that, but once again he wasn't himself. Stone faced, he stood there as the other boy opened the door, then gave a weak little smirk. He didn't really want anything, well except that odd need of company. Slowly, he stepped inside the room and cleared his throat, his voice a lot softer now. "Oh, nothing..just got a bit lonely out there and wanted to come hang out with my roomie." So, it wasn't a total lie, he did, kind of. 

Salem rarely knew what he really wanted anymore, but since his initial outburst of "being bad" he had calmed down some. He still felt angry and empty though. Taking a few steps into the room he looked down at the corner of the bed. The old him would have waited to be asked to sit, but he didn't. Instead he set roughly down on the bed and looked at Luke. A small part of him wondered why he never took the time to get to know him. Granted, for the longest time, all he heard was that Luke was a jerk. The blonde had no time for that, but so far, the dark haired boy seemed, pleasant. At least enough to talk to. 

Leaning back on his elbows, Salem looked around the room and then back to him. "And, I figured we could maybe get to know each other a little bit." Though it may have sounded like he meant something other than what he said, Salem was being honest. Even if Luke was kinda cute. That thought was going to linger the entire time he was there, and he somewhat hated himself for it.


 

[Lucas Blacke]

Luke turned around and put his arms over his chest as Salem plopped down on his bed. ''Okay, you should know I usually don't have boys in my bed on the first date.'' He joked as he leaned back against the closet and eyed the blonde who leaned back on his bed.

Lucas grinned as he had to admit thinking about plopping down on the bed also, something about this guy seemed down. And the last thing he wanted was for people to feel like that, he hated to feel like that himself and felt the strange need to comfort everyone who felt the same. He nervously eyed the posters splattered all over his room; as if he hadn't seen them a million times before.

He wasn't all too keen on a roommate of his talking to him, he had done this once before and it ended in perpetual silence. His eyes landed on Salem once more as he tilted his head slightly at the mention of them getting to know each other. ''I'd be up for that, what ya wanna know?''

[Salem Hirch]

Salem actually cracked a smile at this comment. It was actually funny after all. Hell, he even decided to let himself chuckle at it. "Nothing like me then.." He added with his only little have joke. Truth was, Salem had been with a few guys in his bed recently. Any guy that smiled at him the right way. Was Luke smiling at him the right way? No, Salem knew better, but that didn't stop him from toying with the idea in his head.

Salem raised a brow as Luke himself peaked around the room. Honestly, Salem thought the posters were kinda cool. Not like stuff he'd have, but neat none the less. He set up, just a little and studied the other boy for a moment. He wasn't really sure what he was looking for, but it didn't really matter. Fact was, he came here because he was bored and wanted company. Feeling the gaze of the dark haired lad land on him, Salem pulled a fake blush to his cheeks and sort of smiled. It was just an automatic reaction he had anymore.

Shrugging, he thought about Luke's question. He definitely didn't want anything to get awkward, least not right away. So, he wanted to word his questions in such a way as to not freak him out. "Well, how about...um..hmm. Oh. So, what are you plans after graduating?" Still reclined on Luke's bed, he looked and felt pretty comfortable.

[Lucas Blacke]

If the confirmation wasn't there bfore; Salem was gay. And while Luke was no homophobe or anything it did make him rethink his last comment, what if it gave the impression he was gay? Did Salem know he had a girlfriend? Did he care? How the hell was one even supposed to react around gay people? Did they have a different ruleset? Luke was quite lost, and mainly so due to his own thoughts.

He noticed the boy, who was still on his bed which he was sure not to sit down on now, eying stuff in his room and scanning over the posters. He smiled a bit. ''In Flames is awesome. You just heard them. This is them.'' He turned around and pointed at a poster right behind him. ''Their new album is sex.'' Choice of words Luke, choice. of. words.

Salem then tried to conjure up a question and happened to decide on the general ''Plans after graduating'' thing. Luke snapped shut as his mind went back to his date with Karalie, where she had posed pretty much the same question though a bit differently phrased. At least Salem didn't assume straight off he was going to college.

''I-'' He began as he paused a moment and clenched his fists. ''I don't fucking know! I don't care! Why does everyone want to know this?! Why do people care what I do?!!''

[Salem Hirch]

Instantly, Salem could tell that Luke was nervous now. Which kind of made him smile a little. Salem normally didn't have that effect over others and it was kinda nice. Not that he really meant to, but there it was. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on in the other boy's brain right now. Did Luke know Salem was gay? It wasn't like he really hid it, but then again...they never really spoke.

The odd tension was cut by Luke speaking of the band on his walls. The band that Salem had just mentally dissed moments ago. For a moment, he considered being mean and saying something nasty, but decided to just let it go and be nice. "Yeah, they um...they're pretty good." Salem lied through his teeth about his opinion, and could care less that he did. Another feeling of nerves came from Luke as he used the word "sex" and Salem just busted out laughing. "Dude, relax..." He said as he slowly stood up.

At first he was gonna attempt to make a friendly gesture of getting closer, but not creepily so. Then Luke yelled and he flinched. "The fuck man. I just asked a simple question." Salem felt the anger that had been hiding inside him welling up and he turned away from his roommate. "Ya know what....I knew this was a fucking bad idea." He started walking towards the door. "Every said you were an ass and oddly enough I tried to not believe them..."

[Lucas Blacke]

It wasn't like Luke hated Salem or even failed to understand the question. He totally understood why anyone would ask him about his future plans, it was just that it was all a bit too soon for him. His past had caught up with him a while back and he was just now starting to live like a teenager should, except he was not a teenager anymore. Why did he have to decide? Why couldn't people just let him enjoy some peaceful years?

He completely dropped the subject for a moment as his roommate had attempted [or so Luke assumed] to make a friendly gesture and get closer. While at times look might have seen this as an invasion of his privacy he was slowly letting people get closer to him, even guys. And his body welcomed it, he knew that from the last accident with caffeine in his system.

''I..'' The boy began as he simmered down slightly. ''Everyone is saying I'm an ass?'' He continued with a slightly tilted head in confusion as Salem went for the door. He considered his answer. It might have been best for both of them to just let his roommate leave and never mention it again, but deep down Luke didn't want him to leave. He wanted someone to talk to. He needed someone to talk to. And when women weren't close by he figured the next best thing was a gay roommate, right?

''You're probably right to believe them.. sadly..'' Luke said as he slumped down on the bed Salem had just left. ''But I kinda don't want you to go, I guess.''

He looked at Salem and forced a smile. ''I need at least one roommate who likes me, right?''