Disclaimer: I do not in ANY WAY own Modern Family.

A/N: Nothing really, this time. I just like all the ideas I have for Luke in my mind. The thing is, they're little ideas and I don't know how to connect them. Sometimes, my mind wanders to the character in a completely different scenario, or doing the opposite of what I originally intended. It's becoming more difficult to organize my ideas and it's sometimes discouraging. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter.

Also, please review!

I wonder what changed within me. Maybe it's just my acceptance of my own asexuality. I can't even think of another reason; that one alone gives me enough pride because I can accept it. It makes me strong like my Uncle.

I've debated talking to him about this. I mean, it is supposed to be this hard to come out to a gay relative? Maybe. Definitely.

I'm just not ready to come out yet. Nobody knows, and it's going to stay that way until I am good and ready.

Influence (Chapter 2)-Reflections of the Past

That was a nice nap. I wish I can recall some of the dreams I've had. I really like to sleep; I like to dream, especially when I'm stressed. When I'm stressed, I have many dreams, some relatively normal and/or realistic, and some pretty out there.

I reach for the stand next to me and feel for my phone. I press a button and the light hurts my eyes. I close one and look at the time. 6:32 PM. It's actually pretty early still. Too bad I can't fall back asleep.

I set my phone down and wonder what to do. I don't want to play any game, I don't have much homework to do. I have some Algebra 2 problems, but I can do those tomorrow at school. In the end, I decide to turn on the TV and hope there's something good on my favorite channel.

Nope.

"Ahh!" I groan out loud, wishing to be asleep or remembering a dream or thinking of something to do. I've just been in a mental slump lately. And it's not because of my revelation. Lately, I've become indifferent to everything, except family and homework. I've been distancing myself from the few actual friends I have (though the word "actual" may not even fit). Overall, I would consider myself miserable.

But why?

I really have no reason to be miserable. I have a great family, my grades are excellent, my family has nice living conditions, and I accept myself. Is it because I'm keeping a secret?

Maybe.

But all in all, I'm not miserable. Not in the slightest; I'm just missing something. I hope I can find it soon.

I decide to head downstairs, where Alex and Haley are watching a movie on TV, each with a bowl of popcorn.

I like seeing them like this. It makes me happy to know that my sisters really do care about each other and spend time with each other, instead of truly hating each other like some of my peers (I hesitate to use "friend") and their siblings do.

It reminds me of that time on New Year's Eve last year, when I had this girl Becca over and Manny had Joyce and my sisters were babysitting. It's funny because I knew exactly what my sisters were thinking, that I was going to try to do stuff with Becca. I even played along by saying I wanted to make out with her. So, I told Becca the plan and she played along. We never kissed, never hugged, just talked because we were actually setting up Manny and Joyce (who was nervous to go alone).

After that night, I thought maybe I should try to make myself like someone. Then came...Simone. I'll admit, I felt something toward her. I thought me and her would get along. I consider it a "pre-crush," and that was good enough for me to attempt something. So, I had Dad take me to the mall to help me get with her, but it fell out. And I'm glad. I definitely did not have a crush on her.

I wonder though, who will I have a crush on? Who will I fall in love with? Just because I'm asexual doesn't mean I don't have the need for companionship, the need to love and be loved.

I don't think it will be limited to gender. Honestly, I can fall in love with anyone. What would I be then? Asexual, but bi-emotional? I guess, but I want to wait until I'm in college to worry about stuff like that. I'm fifteen already and almost at the end of my freshman year, and I only have three years left of high school. I want to enjoy it while I can.

Thinking about all this makes me think of Stella. I really wish we had a pet. With a pet, I would never really be lonely. I kind of wish that Grandpa Frank would have left Scout with us. Not only would we all love him, Mom would be happier too. I can tell Mom feels empty inside because we're all growing up. Scout pulled at her strings and he would give Mom some stability in her life.

"Hey guys." I say to Haley and Alex, who turn around and smile. "Watcha watching?"

"We don't know. We just flipped the channel and started watching. It's not too interesting." Haley says, grabbing some popcorn from the bowl.

"I see. Where're mom and dad?" I ask, stealing some popcorn from Alex's bowl.

"They went out with Grandpa and Gloria because Manny has a 'date' and Baby Joe is with Cam and Mitch." Alex says, slapping my hand as I reach for more popcorn.

"Oh." I guess that means no homemade dinner tonight. Luckily, there's still some leftover lasagna from a couple of nights ago.

I heat up the lasagna in the microwave and I prepare a glass of chocolate milk with some extra salt. I gotta say, that girl Manny liked was really on to something with that, especially when some milk gets caught on what few hairs I have on my upper lip. I lick it off and taste the salt.

Usually, we eat together as a family, and we have common family banter. Dad usually says Gil Thorpe beat him in something (which is totally unfair; something incredibly unlucky always happens to Dad to cause him to lose; we all know Dad is the better realtor), Mom tries to comfort Dad (though he shouldn't need it!), and Haley and Alex have their own side-conversation.

Me, on the other hand, I try to make things interesting. Like that one time during breakfast when I was playing my video game I dipped my chin and mouth into my cereal and drank it while I played. That was pretty cool, honestly. Then there was that other time Dad and I tried to make self-flipping pancakes and it worked!

But right now, there's really no atmosphere. At times like this, I usually think about certain scenarios happening to me and just having them play out in my mind. Oftentimes I picture coming out to any member of my family, and they mostly end up well. I never imagine it going badly because I don't think it will, and I just wouldn't be able to get through it.

Sometimes, though, I imagine telling my late friend, Walt. I really do miss him. I'll admit, I was trying to ignore my pain when he died, but Mom and Dad helped me understand and accept my feelings. They let me grief without pushing me. I imagine him smiling and telling me that I'll still grow up to me a nice, successful, happy, family man.

After finishing my food, I decide to try to go back to sleep. Knowing my luck, I'm going to have hell to pay for stepping in on Manny's behalf. That guy who was bothering him is just a bully, and he likes to target people he doesn't think can, or will, fight back. The thing with that guy is though that he doesn't know when to give up. He knows Manny won't change and doesn't care what he has to say. He knows I won't stop defending my family.

I fall asleep thinking about one more scenario:

If only I had a handball earlier...

A/N: I'll admit, I really had nothing for this chapter. I know exactly what I want for Chapter 3, but I didn't know how to build up to it at all. But I think I did a decent job of relating my characterization of Luke to his canon events of the show. Also, don't forget to review!

Before I forget, I would like to thank all the reviewers so far. It means a lot to hear how much you guys liked Chapter 1 and I hope what I have in store will live up to your expectations. Thank you all once again.