"Why are you crying?"

Luca glanced up from where he was seated under a tree providing him with shade from the hot sun.

Tears streaked his cheeks rosy red and covered his eyes in a glassy layer.

Ashton stood above him, a curious and concerned expression written over his features.

A couple moments passed in silence, Luca not uttering a word because he was too occupied with trying to stop his tears from continuously leaking.

Breathing out a sigh, Ashton carefully took a seat next to his boyfriend under the tree and pulled him closer.

Luca cuddled up into his chest and drew out heavy breaths as he calmed himself.

"Because I can't handle Betsy not talking to me. You don't understand, she's all I had till I met you and now I've lost her. It's all my fault," Luca cried into Ashton's uniform.

Ashton wanted to pull the smaller boy closer and wrap his arm around his gentle frame until the tears stopped but his surroundings frightened him in doing so.

People were around. They would see. He knew it was stupid, especially now when his boyfriend was crying but he just couldn't risk it. Not yet.

"Shhh baby," he murmured, resisting the urge to touch him comfortingly.

"Sorry, I know this is awkward for you," Luca sniffed, sitting up, "I don't want to out you."

Ashton tilted his head to the side, a sad look passing his features.

"What about you?" he asked.

Luca wiped away a few loose years from his cheeks and sighed heavily, shyly meeting Ashton's gaze.

"I've been thinking about it and well, it's different situations for us both. Everyone knows you, everyone loves you, people would actually care about your sexual orientation whereas nobody knows me except like three people. So, I'm not scared of people finding out because nobody would care. When you're ready, I'm ready," Luca told him, leaning back against the tree and shutting his eyes.

"But you'll be waiting on me," Ashton reasoned, feeling a little shitty about the situation.

"Then I'll wait," Luca mumbled.

Ashton gently brushed his fingers across Luca's thigh, "What if I'm not ready for ages? What if it takes a while?"

Luca shrugged, "Then so be it. As long Betsy accepts it and won't hate me for it, I don't care. I'll wait for you however long Ashton. I have nothing else left to lose."

"You're too occupied with waiting on Betsy that when she finally comes around, you'll be waiting on me instead. Don't you read romance novels Luca? You'll get pissed, tired of waiting. You'll leave."

"Then so be it," Luca mumbled, not really knowing what he was saying.

"So be it?" Ashton wondered.

"We either work out or we don't. Right now, we are fine. So enjoy it," Luca told him, sending him a warm smile.

"We're not fine Luca. We won't be until Betsy talks to us."

Luca nodded, biting down on his lip, "I'll never leave you Ashton."

"I hope not," he whispered back.

♡