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Chapter 2

First Date

"Well... That was weird," Sanjay commented as he and Luke joined the throng exiting the lecture hall.

Luke nodded in agreement. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Professor Marshall. Maybe it was his years of dealing with the alien... Or maybe it was just his imagination.

"Luke?" Sanjay said. "Could you come here for a moment."

Luke followed his friend off to the side of the building, where a cluster of trees provided a shady spot where no one else was around.

Sanjay seemed nervous, constantly shifting from foot to foot. Luke started feeling anxious just watching him.

He finally couldn't take it. "Sanjay, what is it?"

"Sorry..." Sanjay said. "I just- I was wondering... Do you want to go out with me?"

Luke reeled back, that question the last thing he'd expected. "When you say 'go out' you mean..."

"On a date," Sanjay confirmed.

A strange concoction of horror and elation welled up in the pit of Luke's stomach. He'd never been on a date before. And he had no idea Sanjay fancied him. Then he got to thinking: did he like Sanjay? All of this went through his head in about three seconds.

"Yes!" He said a little too quickly. He berated himself upon seeing Sanjay's stunned expression. All these years and Luke still found himself falling into his old habit of not doing too well in social situations.

"I mean... Yeah, Sanjay. I'd love to go out with you."

Sanjay beamed. "Great! I'll pick you up Friday at seven, yeah?" Luke nodded in agreement and Sanjay headed off.

Luke stormed into his room. "K9!"

The robotic dog rolled out from under Luke's bed. "Yes, Master Luke?"

"What do you know about dating?" Luke asked.

"I am not familiar with social constructs, Master Luke. Perhaps Clyde could be of more assistance."

Clyde did know a lot about this sort of thing. But how would Clyde respond if he found out Luke fancied a boy? Luke had seen enough of the news to know what a hot button topic same sex relationships are. He'd like to think Clyde would be on his side, but he couldn't help the growing fear forming that Clyde would reject him.

"I guess I'll just act normal, right?" Luke muttered, more to himself than K9. "I mean, it's just Sanjay. We're mates and all. No problem."

Friday night arrived and Luke felt sick. He knew these were just nerves. He'd never been nervous about hanging out with Sanjay before, but this was different. They were moving beyond friendship now...

There was a knock on Luke's door and Luke jumped up to answer it. Sanjay was waiting on the other side, a bright blue shirt tucked into khakis. Luke thought he looked wonderful, and told him as much.

Sanjay bit back an embarrassed grin. "Thanks, Luke. You don't look half bad yourself. Ready?"

Luke nodded his assent and followed Sanjay out to Sanjay's car. They drove away from the university into a suburb.

"How does ice skating sound?" Sanjay asked.

"Good. I'm pretty good at it."

"Great to hear... Because I'm not." The boys chuckled as Sanjay pulled into the car park.

Inside, Luke and Sanjay pulled their rented skates on. Sanjay grinned at Luke once before jumping onto the ice... Promptly slipping and falling on his back.

Luke hastened to his side. "Sanjay, are you alright?"

"Aside from the total destruction to my dignity, yeah."

The boys laughed. Luke reached down to help Sanjay up, only resulting in him slipping and crashing right on top of him.

They lay for what felt like an eternity, Luke feeling the quickening beat of Sanjay's heart and the other boy's warm breath on his face. Luke quickly scrambled to his feet, Sanjay following suit.

Sanjay coughed. "Well... That's one way to start a date."

Luke laughed again. They then proceeded to spend the part of an hour racing around the rink. Utterly exhausted, they retired to the food court where they gorged on chips and cola.

"Having fun?" Sanjay asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"Definitely! You?"

Sanjay smiled. "I always have fun with you, Luke. Can I tell you something and you not freak out?"

"Of course," Luke replied.

"I've had the biggest crush on you since we first met," Sanjay admitted. "I'm sure you don't feel the same way..."

"I do!" Luke blurted out. "I mean, I do like you, Sanjay. And not just as a mate..."

Sanjay hesitated, then reached out to take Luke's hand. His skin felt so soft, and so warm in Luke's. Luke felt so at peace that he didn't want Sanjay to ever let go.

But let go he did. Sanjay drove them both back to the dormitories. They walked slowly up to their floor, both lost in their own thoughts and feelings.

"Luke," Sanjay said suddenly, bringing him to a halt. "I had a really good time tonight."

Luke grinned. "Yeah, me too!"

Sanjay smiled back at him, then (seemingly on an impulse) leaned forward and kissed Luke on the cheek. Luke felt a comforting warmth engulf him at the simple gesture, like when he takes a sip of hot cocoa.

"I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Looking forward to it," Luke replied.

He watched as Sanjay disappeared into his room. He was just turning back to his own when he found the way blocked. Max Marshall, his Astronomy professor's son, stood there shaking his head.

"Er, hi Max," Luke said. Years of battling the unknown had given Luke a sense of when something was wrong, and he was getting that sense now.

"Sorry 'bout this, Luke Smith," Max said, not sounding very remorseful about anything. He pulled something from his back and lunged at Luke before Luke could even move. An somewhat intense shocking sensation caused his body to go limp, and he fell to the ground.

Just before Luke passed out, he saw Max Marshall loom over him, reaching up to his forehead. There was the sound of something unzipping and a blinding white light protruded from Max's forehead.