The next day Benji sat with Luca at lunch. Under a tree.

"This is uh.. Secluded," Benji commented.

Luca raised his shoulders in a shrug, eyes falling down onto the book he was reading.

"I can leave if you want. I feel bad for invading—"

"—it's okay," Luca cut him off.

A faint sigh escaped his lips and he found it in himself to shut his book and place it away in his bag.

"Are you okay Luca?" Benji asked, quickly growing cautious of the boy's blank expression and monotone answers.

"Fine," he said, leaning back against the tree and closing his eyes in bliss.

The warm air tickled his bare hands and face, the rest of his body covered in layers of clothing causing an undesirable amount of sweat though he didn't mind too much.

"Can I ask you something?" Benji leaned back beside him, mindlessly watching onto the school building and passing students.

"Sure," Luca whispered, his eyes still locked in the dark.

"It's about Ashton," he spoke, pausing when he felt Luca tense up beside him.

He hesitated before continuing, "What's with you two?" he asked.

Luca's lips parted slightly and he embraced the complete darkness for another second before opening his eyes and turning them to the boy next to him.

"What do you mean?" his voice was quiet, soft—it confused him.

"Well are you friends?" he asked.

"No."

"Oh," Benji grunted, "But—"

"Never friends, never will be," Luca whispered, shoving his hands into his hair.

Benji watched him tentively, a moment passed and just like that, everything clicked and fell into place.

"You like him."

"What?"

The dynamic shifted immensely. If Luca was tense before, he was stiffer then a board now. And for Benji, it all just confirmed his assumptions.

"I think he likes you too," his voice was a whisper, like he was lost in a wonder of thoughts.

"Shut up Benji," Luca's words were harsh, but his tone wasn't. It was unreadable.

"I mean he looks at like I don't know...like I think the way he looks at you is different to the way he looks at Betsy."

"Benji."

"You hate him because you like him right?" Benji asked, ignoring Luca's silent pleads to stop talking.

"You don't know anything about me," Luca murmured, unaware of the tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

"No, I don't but I'm good at reading people, and right now you're pushing me away, you don't like the confrontation. What if its true Luca? What if Ashton likes you back? You'll just keep hating him, won't you?"

"Stop it," he begged, gripping tightly onto the boy's shoulder.

"I'm being nosy yes?"

"Yes."

Benji grinned, "Great. It's my speciality," he lifted his gaze and set it on the brunette, "What do you want Luca?"

"For you to stop talking."

He laughed at this and in turn, closed his dark eyes, "Okay I'll stop. Because we're friends right?"

"No, because you're a decent human and you won't stick your nose in business that isn't yours," Luca shot back.

"No nose needed, just good eyes. Do you think I'll be a good forensic physiologist?" Benji asked, and he reached out for Luca's arm.

Luca's tears vanished and he found himself confused, but smiling at the boy.

"Yes," he replied, nodding at his own words.

Benji was happy. Benji had no filter. Benji was well liked and respected. Benji knew what he was saying, what he was doing. Benji had his whole life figured out.

Benji was everything Luca craved to be.