Ch. 4

"What're you doing out here?" called a voice. Lorcan popped the kernel in his mouth like he normally does,
then looked up. About ten feet from him, Fred II was looking at him, slightly confused. "You don't seem the
type to skip class. Especially your favorite one."

"I guess I'm just too distracted to go to class." Fred Weasley II. He was tall, dark haired, incredibly handsome,
and very nice. He was eccentric and, at the same time, docile. Lorcan admired his strength, his shaped
personality, and unique quirkiness. Every time Lorcan saw him, his palms would sweat and his heart would
beat faster. Lysander claims it's love, but Lorcan never believed it. Lorcan would never fall in love with his
friend. Especially now that he only has two.

"Ah." Fred walked over and sat next to Lorcan. "Upset about this week?"

"I-I guess." Lorcan sighed in relief. He knew Fred was the only one bold enough to bring up touchy subjects.
He didn't know if it was incredibly smart or incredibly dumb. Either way, he liked it. "Want some?" he asked,
pushing his bag closer to his friend.

"Hmm, thanks." He smiled, taking out some kernels and tossed them into his mouth. "Wanna talk about it?"
Hisquestion was muffled by his popcorn.

"Not really." Lorcan said, taking a kernel out and beginning his eating routine. After he eats the kernel, he
looks up at the sky, his hands folded on his lap. "I can't pinpoint why I'm so upset." he sighed.

Fred looked at Lorcan with a twinkle in his eye. He admired the lightness Lorcan always had, even when he
was sad. "I hear ya. I remember when Adelia broke up with me. Heavy stuff. But we get through it." he said,
never taking his eyes off of Lorcan. As he spoke, he took notice to Lorcan's unique way of eating popcorn.
"What are ya, what're ya doing there mate?"

Lorcan blushed slightly as he answered. "It's the way I eat popcorn. I've always eaten it like this." After he
eats another kernel, he looks directly at Fred, making Fred unnoticeably blush. "How is it easy to get over
someone?" Fred looked into Lorcan's big, light blue eyes in surprise.

"Well, um." Fred pondered the question. "I guess you have to ask yourself, 'Did you love her?'" Fred hoped
the answer was 'no'. He wasn't too open to admit it, but he'd never say he had a thing for Lorcan. He was
intrigued by the way he carried himself, no matter the situation and how he seemed modest and shy and
remaining smart and sweet. He also was captivated by Lorcan's looks; his bright, light blue eyes, deep brown
hair, his composure, and the slightly tense right shoulder. He always noticed this about Lorcan and how these
traits and personalities separate him from his cocky, nearly evil twin brother, who was a lot like his twin sister,
Roxanne.

"Uh, I don't know." Lorcan sighed as he looked from Fred, to the snowy, December ground, to the cloudy blue-ish
sky, then back to Fred. "How do you know when you're in love? You say you've been in it, but you won't tell
me who. How could you know..?"

Fred breathed nervously. "It's now or never." he thought to himself. It's taken so much effort to admit to himself
that he loved Lorcan. He wan'ted to tell him so bad. "I have only a small amount of courage, make the most
of it." he motivated himself.

"There are many ways one can discover love for someone. It starts with your heart racing when you see that
person." Both of their hearts were nearly beating out of their chests. "Then, your mind begins to think of this
person all the time." Lorcan, who was captivated, reached for another kernel and gently placed it between his
teeth, but wasn't going to eat it anytime soon. "Then you hands get clammy. Here, like this." Fred reached out
and grabbed Lorcan's hand. Both were slightly clammy. The initial touch sent a tingle down Lorcan's bones and
he blushed. "And all you want to do is reach out and kiss the person." He leaned close to Lorcan and, carefully,
bit the popcorn kernel in half. Their lips brushed, which caused Lorcan to blush more.

Lorcan's thoughts: "This is how love feels. I-I'm in love with Fred. Does this mean..?"

Fred's thoughts: "Do-Does he love me back? Is that what's happening?"

Taking advantage of the possibility that Lorcan feels the same way, Fred closed his eyes, leaned in, and kissed
Lorcan on the lips, putting the arm closest to him, his right, around his waist, pulling him closer. To the pull, Lorcan
put both hands on Fred's shoulders, but showed no intention of pushing away. Instead, he closed his eyes and
sunk into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Fred's neck.

In sheer confidence, Fred slipped his tongue into Lorcan's mouth, half expecting him to pull away. Instead, Lorcan
returned the favor, deepening their kiss.

...

Eventually, the two had to break apart to breathe. Fred held Lorcan close, wrapping his arms around Lorcan's waist.
Lorcan had his arms still around Fred's neck and buried his head into the nape of the left side of his neck.

"I-I think I'm in love with you Fred."

Fred kissed his love's head, the nuzzled his head into that spot. "I love you too Lorcan."

They sat in each other's embrace until well past class dismissal. After that cold December afternoon, both knew they
would never be alone again. Fred finally released his innermost feelings and Lorcan found someone, who wasn't family,
who he could trust and love.