So here is the promised sequel to The Inherent Differences in Declarations of Love. If you haven't read that, it isn't a big deal as this story can be read separately, but if you want to read that first, it does add some context to this story.

Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: Some internalized ace and aro-phobia, mentions of anxiety attacks.


Luke was sitting on the piano, a guitar pick in his mouth as he scribbled some potential lyrics into his notebook. It had been a couple weeks since they'd played the Orpheum, and while Luke was definitely still riding the high of that performance, he was also aware that they needed new songs. And he needed something to keep himself busy while Julie was at school.

He scribbled out another line before smiling around the pick in his mouth as a new verse idea came to him, complete with a basic chord progression idea and all.

Luke's eyes flickered to his left when he heard a whoosh, but he kept scrawling on the page as he saw it was just Alex. He was probably bored as well. Luke had written only two more words before he realized that he recognized the look on Alex's face. He looked back up at Alex, instantly recognizing the beginnings of anxiety on his face.

He dropped his pen onto the piano and pulled the pick out of his mouth. "What's wrong, Al?"

"Nothing." Alex shook his head. "I'm fine. I just needed to talk to you about something."

"Of course," Luke said, "What's up dude?"

Alex's fingers drummed against the piano. "It's about Julie."

Luke's eyes shot to the garage door. "Julie! What's wrong with Julie?"

"No. No, she's fine, Luke."

"Oh." Luke nodded slowly. "So what about her?"

"It's… Well, I mean…" Alex ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath.

Luke tracked the movement, cautious at the presence of the nervous gesture, but was assured by the fact that his face didn't look like he was nearing an anxiety attack. He smiled at Alex anyway.

Eventually, Alex spit out the words, "I think Julie likes you."

Luke laughed. "I hope so. We've been hanging around for weeks."

Alex frowned. "That's not what I meant. I mean she likes you."

Luke furrowed his eyebrows, and Alex must have grasped his confusion because he continued a moment later.

"Like how I like Willie."

"What?" Luke spluttered. "No, no, no. Definitely not. No way."

"Luke…"

"Not this again. I can't." He looked at Alex. "Why?"

"I don't know. The way you smile at her, your chemistry when you perform—"

"I told you; I have chemistry with everybody I sing with." This can't be happening.

Alex nodded. "I know, but Julie doesn't know that. She might think that you like her that way too."

"I don't," Luke shouted.

"I know. Maybe you could explain that to her."

Luke shook his head, his leg was starting to bounce. "No, she'll hate me."

"Hey," Alex tapped his knuckles against Luke's thighs. "No, she won't. Why would she hate you?"

"What if she thinks I was leading her on?"

"She won't because you weren't." Alex grabbed his hands. "She loves all of us, Luke. She'll understand."

"Understand what," Luke muttered. "That I'm broken."

Alex's hands tightened around his. "You are not."

"But it won't make sense when I explain it to her."

"She understands that I like guys. She'll understand that you don't like anyone."

"But it's…" Luke trailed off, not sure how he could explain to Alex exactly what he meant.

"Different?" Alex asked, gently, "How?"

Luke shook his head again. He wasn't sure, but it was. He knew it was. He didn't know anyone else who liked no one at all.

"Just talk to her, Luke."

Luke scrunched his eyes closed.

"I'll come with you if you want."

Luke took a deep breath and opened his eyes. "No. I can do it. I will do it. Tonight. I'll do it tonight."

Alex squeezed his hand. "It'll be fine."

Luke meant to do it that night. He did. But Julie had looked so happy when she got home from school, and he just hadn't wanted to ruin it. And the next day, he told her he couldn't practice and poofed out to watch his parents for a bit when she came home.

On the third day, Luke was sitting on the couch, wearing one of Alex's sweatshirts as he wrapped his arms around his knees and stared at the ceiling.

Alex had gone out on a date with Willie—so he wouldn't be around to give Luke those looks of concern he'd been giving him the last three days ever since Luke had stolen this particular sweatshirt. Reggie had declared he'd be going to the beach. And with the Molina's all inside at dinner, Luke was pretty confident that no one was going to be bothering him.

He wasn't sure why he was having such a hard time talking to Julie. He liked talking to her, and he knew Alex was right about—well—about everything. But he just couldn't make himself say the words. Besides, what was he meant to say? Yeah, Alex told me you like me, but I don't feel the same way. It would be so random. And what if Alex was wrong?

Luke shook his head. He'd tell her. Just not today.

When the door creaked, he figured it was one of the boys coming back, but he didn't have the motivation to move from the couch.

"Luke?"

That wasn't the boys. Luke scrambled into a more upright position. "Julie? I thought you were having dinner?"

She looked worried. "We finished. I saw the lights on, so I thought I'd come out and check on you."

"Don't you have homework?" Luke rubbed his fingers on the edge of his sleeves. He didn't want to talk about this now.

She sat down in the chair next to the couch. "Are you okay?"

"What…?" Luke's voice rose. "Of course I am. Why? Did Alex talk to you?"

"No." Julie tilted her head. "You've been avoiding me."

"No, I—"

"And you're wearing a sweatshirt."

"It's comfortable."

"I don't need Alex to tell me you hate sleeves, Luke." She leaned forward. "What's up?"

Luke blinked. He opened his mouth. And closed it. And opened it again. "Alex said that you…" He trailed off. That was exactly what he said he wasn't going to say to her.

"That I?"

"No, I mean… I wanted to tell you something."

Julie nodded. "For sure. You can tell me anything."

"Yeah." Luke's lips felt dry. "Well, you know how Alex likes Willie?"

Julie laughed. "I think I might have noticed."

"Well, really I mean, you know how Alex likes, um, guys." Lukes paused. "Like you know, he…"

"You mean how he's gay?" Julie said. "I know."

"Well, I, um, I don't like guys."

"O-kay."

Luke pulled his hands into his sleeves. "And I don't like girls either."

Julie's eyes widened slightly.

"I know that's weird. And probably means there's something wrong with me, but Alex thought I should tell you, and I didn't want you to think that I… well, you know, and I just, I'm sorry, and—"

"Luke," Julie shouted.

He looked back at her and was alarmed to see that her eyes looked misty—like she might cry. Luke wasn't good with tears. "I'm sorry, Julie. I didn't mean…"

"No, no, no," Julie said, wiping her eyes and reaching her hands out toward him. "I'm not upset. It's just… Do you know there are sexualities other than gay and straight?"

Luke nodded. "Bisexual."

"Yeah," Julie said. A wide grin lit up her face for a moment before she straightened her face and continued, "but there are more than that too."

Luke supposed that made sense. But he'd never heard of them.

"Do you know what asexual means?"

"I think I heard it in school once."

Julie shook her head. "Yeah, this is probably a different meaning."

Luke sat up a little straighter, interested to see what she would say.

"Well, like how bisexual means you like two or more genders, asexual means you're not sexually attracted to anyone."

Luke's eyes fixed on hers. "So like not liking all that romance and sex stuff?"

"Kind of…" Julie hesitated. "So it really just means you don't feel the attraction, I think some asexual people can still like sex."

"Oh."

"But some also don't. And it isn't really related to romance at all, but if someone doesn't experience romantic attraction that's called aromantic."

"And," Luke considered for a second. "Could someone be both?"

Julie nodded. "For sure."

"And people are really…" He considered the words for a minute. "Aromantic and asexual?"

"Yeah. I met some people at pride last year."

Luke's breath caught. "I'm not broken…?" Oh no, he wasn't going to cry. He wasn't.

"Oh, Luke."

Julie was on her feet and on the couch in a second, and then her arms were wrapped around him.

"You're not broken, Luke. It's just a different way of feeling."

"But you…" Luke's fingers shook. "You like me."

Julie laughed. "So that's what Alex told you?" She was silent for a moment, but right when Luke thought she wasn't going to say anything else, she continued. "He's right."

Luke flinched, pulling back slightly.

"But, Luke, listen to me."

He stopped.

"It's just a crush. I'll get over it."

"But I should…" He wasn't sure what it was he should do, but there had to be something. Right?

"Nothing," she said firmly. "You should do nothing. It isn't something that you have to worry about. I love you in so many other ways. My feelings are my problem."

Luke wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you."

"I don't know everything about it, but you and I can look up more about being asexual and aromantic tomorrow if you want?"

Luke nodded. "Please."

Julie pulled away, stood up, and smiled at him. "Okay, but now I really need to go inside before Dad gets worried, but Luke?"

He looked up at her.

"If you need to talk again, just come see me. No more hiding."

"Yes, boss," he said. "I love you."

Julie smiled. "I love you, too."


Obviously, this is a very generic and simplified definition of aromanticism and asexuality. They are much more nuanced than how they are portrayed here, but Julie is not an expert on these subjects, and this is the first Luke is hearing about them, so a complicated definition didn't make sense.

I wasn't sure I would write this sequel, but for some reason, I just really felt like I needed to write it today, so I did.

I have a few other scenes I'm playing around with for this little universe—Luke learning more about being aroace, Luke explaining the terms to Alex and Reggie, the band forming a QPR, or them all going to pride—but I'm not sure if I'll ever write any of those. It is possible though.

Either way, I hope you all enjoyed this story!

-With Love, Wraith :)