"There you are," Feliciano said happily as Ludwig walked back to the beach. "I was starting to get worried."
"Sorry I couldn't find what I was looking for," Ludwig laughed nervously as he took a sip.
"I thought we brought flavored waters down?" Felicano asked looking at him with a mix of confusion and anger. The latter Ludwig couldn't tell why.
"Oh, I didn't see," Ludwig took a quick look at his bottle. "Cherry flavor."
Feliciano looked back at the cooler in confusion. He thought he had seen cherry flavor in the cooler though he could have been mistaken. Or perhaps someone took the last one. Still, something didn't make sense. But he couldn't really see what.
The rest of the day was very quiet. Feliciano and Ludwig kept close to each other but were rather silent. Feliciano eventually got bored and went back to hanging out with Tezera and Emma. Ludwig meanwhile kept to himself for the rest of the afternoon.
"Did Ludwig and Feliciano get into a fight or something?" Alfred whispered as he shoved some chips into his mouth.
"I don't think so," Matthew said looking over at Ludwig, who was silently reading. "But it is strange they aren't speaking."
"Would you two stop," Arthur said as he leaned back. Watching a kettle heat up. "He can probably hear you."
"Are you making tea?" Alfred asked between bites of chips.
"Yes, is there a problem with that?" Arthur asked sounding very offended.
"Well maybe because it's like 85 degrees out here!" Alfred shouted waving his arms around. Causing his chips to fall off the counter. And if it weren't for Matthew's quick reflexes they would have spilled all over the floor.
The two continued shouting as Matthew tried to calm them down. Ludwig closed his book and walked outside to the porch. Looking out he looked at the nature surrounding it. Bits of the lake peeking out from behind the trees. Looking back into the house, he still couldn't see Emma, Tezera, or Feliciano. The lake's shore was visible but they were nowhere in sight. He sat on the swing and kept staring out. He knew he could trust Feliciano but he couldn't just shake this feeling.
"It's getting really annoying," Feliciano said as he tossed a smooth rock into the lake. It jumped once before down. Feliciano snapped his fingers in frustration before walking back to Emma and Tezera. "He's been very distant since we got here."
"Anything happened with his family?" Emma asked with a shrug.
"He seemed fine when talking to his mom," Feliciano sat down a sighed. "I hope we're close enough to talk about this stuff. But I guess where not."
"Eh, Ludwig has always been the quiet type. It took almost all of our first semester for me to learn he had a brother. Which he said in passing because Gilbert was annoying him. He didn't say brother! I had to ask!"
"He is a man of few words," Feliciano laughed a little. He started to stare out at the water. "It's just been so hard to talk to him. No matter what I can't get anything out of him. I don't even want to see him at the moment. You two can go inside, you don't have to sit out here with me."
"You know we don't have to sit around here all day," Tezera said with a little smirk. Tossing a small rock in her hands.
"Tez honey I don't feel like doing anything crazy," Emma explained sounding very disinterested.
"You have your car Em," Tezera said a bit annoyed. "I was going to suggest we go on a drive or something."
"I don't mind that."
"Could be nice."
"Then what are we waiting for let's go!"
The three of them picked up their stuff and started to run back up to the house. Emma digging through her bag as they got closer. They hung up their damp, sandy towels on the railing in front of the house. Feliciano started to head inside. However, glancing behind him he saw Emma and Tezera climb into Emma's car. Shrugging to himself, he turned around and hopped into the car. He made himself a little comfortable before pulling out an extra t-shirt he had with him. With a few cheers, they drove off. Feliciano leaned his arm on the opened window. Letting the cool breeze hit him. He smiled and ran some fingers through his hair.
"So where should we go?" Emma asked very excitedly.
"Where ever the road takes us!" Tezera shouted, raising her arms in the air.
Feliciano couldn't help but laugh to himself. He stared out the window letting everything pass him by. Any worries, fear, or cares. Just going away. After a little while, they came across a little shop and got themselves some drinks. Feliciano smiled. Truly enjoying himself. Every moment of it. The three of them went back to driving. On the off roads, crossroads, anywhere they could find. There was so much freedom in driving.
Hearing a small ring come from his cellphone, Feliciano looked down. He saw it was Ludwig. His eyes couldn't leave it. Quickly stirring the straw in his drink. Slowly reaching for it, he turned the ringer down to silence before placing it in his bag.
"He can wait," Feliciano thought to himself as he took a sip of his drink.
"Hey let's stop here," Emma said after looking out the window. Tezera turned to Feliciano who shrugged but smiled. Emma then parked the car and the three of them got out.
Currently, they were on the side of the road. This part of it was highly elevated and from what Feliciano could tell, they were at a different part of the lake. Emma sat on the stone wall. Tezera and Feliciano joined her. Feliciano stared out at the scene. Smiling as a cool breeze blew over them. At that moment almost everything was perfect.
"There you guys are," Arthur said the three adventures walked back into the house. They were laughing to each other as they removed their shoes. "We were wondering where you were."
"Oh we just went for a drive," Tezera said stretching a little. "Figured we explore the area a bit."
"Well, thanks for the invite!" Alfred yelled crossing his arms.
"It was something we did on a whim," Emma said with a laugh. She looked at Alfred apologetically. "Don't worry we'll be sure to invite you next time."
Feliciano smiled before heading upstairs. He walked into his room and placed his bag on his bed. Before collapsing on it. He heard a small knock on the door. Confused he sat up as Ludwig walked in.
"Oh hi, Ludwig," Feliciano said as he walked over. Ludwig didn't responded only walk over to the other side of the room. "Um, I said hi."
"You know I called you a couple of times," Ludwig said staring at the wall. Feliciano dug through his bag and pulled out his phone. Sure enough, there were a few missed calls from him.
"Sorry I was with my friends," Feliciano said very annoyed.
"Well, you could have texted." Ludwig finally turned around to face Feliciano.
"I don't see the big deal."
"I was worried about you." Feliciano didn't respond only glared at him. "I didn't know where you were."
"We're in a relationship, you're not my parent," Felciano said through gritted teeth. Slowly stood up from his bed. "I thought you'd trust me to make my own decisions."
"Well, something could have happened."
"Ludwig if something happened I would have called you," Feliciano said now sounding much calmer. "I promise you I will. Trust me nothing is going to happen."
"No something's going to happen. Something bad is going to happen I can feel it."
"You can feel it?" Feliciano smirked and laughed a little. "Ludwig you're overthinking things."
"Oh come everything that's happened has been good. Something has to go wrong."
"Really?" Any sense of joy was gone from his voice. Annoyance and anger were building up with every second. "Everything that's happened it has been good."
"Yes, everything I thought would go wrong went right. There has to be some catch to it."
"Ludwig." Feliciano started walking closer to him. Trying his best to keep his composer. "Really think about this. Please."
"Okay not every single thing in my life was gone good, but..."
"There's the key, your life," Feliciano said forcing a smile on his face. "You think everything in your life is good. Well good for you with your loving parents. Parents who love accepted you, despite not being hetro. That's so good for you. Meanwhile, my parents could not only accept the fact I am a guy. They decided that it be better to kick me out and leave me out on the street than admit they have three sons instead of two and a daughter."
"But you're living with your friend Mei right?" Ludwig asked walking closer to Feliciano. "You're not living on the street. And isn't it better you got out of a toxic environment?"
"You don't get it, do ya!?" Feliciano screamed. "I can't see my brothers at home. I can never go back. My parents who I thought loved me and cared for my wellbeing threw me out. To them, I'm no better off dead than alive. And here you are complaining about how good your life is! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. What I wouldn't give to be in your position right now! But here you are complaining about everything. Oh no my life is so good. Boohoo!"
"That was very uncalled for!" Ludwig crossed his arms and shook his head.
"Uncalled for! Uncalled for! I think I have the right to be upset! You on the other hand are acting like an entitled asshole!"
Without another word, Feliciano stormed out of the room. Slamming the door behind him. Ludwig remained frozen. Staring at the door before collapsing on the ground. Realizing exactly he had just done.