All kids have imaginary friends - then as they grow older those imaginary friends disappear. But for Lukas it was different: he still had imaginary friends. They say children stop around the age of 7 - Lukas was now 11 and still had imaginary friends: his parents didn't mind at first.

He even made a friend who was the same as him, a young British lad named Arthur Kirkland. Together they had started an imaginary friends club, they would stay behind school just chatting about them, it made them both oh so parents, however, were not so pleased - to them it was worrying, made them angry at their childish behaviours because they couldn't understand how Lukas could be so mature (the eldest, at that) yet so bizarre at the same time. Naturally, they worried - what if their youngest ended up the same? It needed to stop.

Chapter 1:

The rain came out of nowhere. The entire day had been sunny, but then it just started with a single drop, and then a downfall. Luckily, Lukas had just gotten home in time, no one was home other than Emil (who claimed he wasn't feeling well and didn't want to go to school). Walking upstairs, he stopped by the teenager's door, waiting for a second to hear any sound of movement after hearing nothing he knocked gently on the door, then once more.

"Emil, I'm back from shopping," he paused for a moment, "Are you asleep?" Lukas waited for another second or so - still he was answered with silence.

Sighing softly, Lukas turned his back to the door, making his way back downstairs for a cup of coffee to warm him up. As he made his bitter drink he thought back to Emil: about how much he had changed lately: he was more distant, and gloomier. Everyone in the house had noticed it and they couldn't help but fear that it might become something much, more worse. After all, Emil was constantly isolating himself; what could he be doing alone?

Staring into his coffee, he saw a familiar face appear out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, Lukas was faced with an old friend, someone who would be with him until the end of time: Mr Troll. Smiling softly, his eyes glistened with tears - he couldn't help but feel some sort of relief or calmness at best, someone he knew he could trust was here.

Emil sat up from his bed. He didn't feel like talking to anyone, but he knew it was just Lukas home at the moment, so he was fine with making the most of whatever he could manage to say. Quietly making his way downstairs, he could hear Lukas' voice

'Who is talking too? Is he on the phone?'

Emil thought as he stood on the bottom stair deciding whether he should go to Lukas or back to his room - he made his final decision then, heading towards Lukas' voice.

Hearing the soft footsteps Lukas became quiet, trying to distract himself from Mr Troll by downing his coffee - then quickly making another one. He knew it was Emil who was now standing in the doorway, not saying a word Lukas just turned to face his brother giving a small wave; it was meant as 'it's okay, come in, come talk to me,' gesture.

"Who were you talking too?" Emil was straight to the point, no hello

"No one," Lukas' response was quick, "Just thinking out loud," he went back to making his coffee

"Oh, okay." Emil didn't believe him, he could tell his brother was lying, but he just didn't have the energy to press on.

"Do you want a drink?" Lukas glanced at the teen, who gave a nod.

Lukas grabbed another cup, then started to make another coffee - sweeter this time. The room was silent again and Emil edged further into the room, heading over to the dinner table at the other end. Lukas watched his slow movement, how he cradled himself and the way he would rub or tug at his sleeves. He didn't want to think about what could've possibly happened, it scared him. Shaking his head he brought the sweet coffee over to Emil, placing it down gently next to him - he took a seat opposite him, sipping his new coffee. Lukas thought back to the idea of Emil self-harming - he didn't like it, but he didn't actually know if Emil had done such a thing - but his demeanour gave Lukas a feeling that he was right.

The two sat in silence as they, drank neither of them making eye contact with each other - only glancing towards each other when one moved a little or hummed softly. They were always like this but now, it felt different. They stayed like this for a while until they heard the front door opening and Tino's voice telling Peter and Lars to take their muddy shoes off - Emil was quick to get up - he wanted to go back to his room as he didn't want to deal with the others. He made his way to the stairs, not making any eye contact or replying to their hello's.

Tino went to the kitchen, he saw the blonde man with his head down, slowly he came over to him placing a hand on his back. At first, the Norwegian jolted slightly, but he knew the soft touch of Tino - he glanced up at the smiling man.

"Did anything happen?" He asked referring to Emil coming downstairs

"Not much, we just had coffee," he spoke in his monotone voice, staring into his coffee not wanting to face Tino's sad eyes.

"That's something," he smiled giving a gentle rub on his back, "it'll take time, for him and us but we have to be patient,"

Lukas just nodded at the words before getting up, he placed the two cups in the sink before turning to Tino.

"I forgot something, at work. I'll be back in an hour," and with that Lukas left with a million thoughts and feelings.