The smile that had been stretched across Lucas's face suddenly loosened. He didn't have very many friends in Foxby, and none that he had any intention of seeing for the night. But the second the doorbell rang a second time before the first ring had finished, he was all too aware of who it must have been. The third ring only solidified it. And when he knew, a bucket of ice water felt as if it poured over his head making his body grow colder than the Foxby weather. His heartbeat didn't go any faster, but seemed to stop altogether until he heard Gala's voice playing through his speeches and calling for his attention.
There was concern written all over her face, it was impossible to ignore. He found his voice again and kept up his smile, though less than it was before.
"Just a sec," he mumbled, his voice quieter than the night as he switched off his mic and quickly after, his video.
Lucas sighed and rose as quickly as possible from his desk, making a beeline from his room to the front door. His hand reached out for the doorknob, his fingers brushing against the brass before pulling back as if burned. It was stupid, it was so utterly stupid and silly but if he was going to see Iago again he had to look good, didn't he? He had probably come back from a club full of attractive men and women in slutty costumes and Lucas was smelling of pasta and sugary cream.
His hands ruffled through his hair, ignoring the elaborate styling he had gone through hours before. Quickly after, he breathed into his hand, smelling his own breath and wincing at the pungent cheese smell. Lucas turned on his heels to run to his bathroom and brush his teeth, but the doorbell was suddenly ringing again and again, so, he opted for mouthwash.
He was too hasty to answer the door when there was someone he wasn't looking forward to seeing. He'd turn him away and could go back to laughing at blowing up sprite in Stardew Valley. The simple plan was thrown out when he opened the door and was suddenly faced with pretty merman dressed like a 50s bikers.
"Hey," he whispered, his voice husk as he pushed his way inside, making Lucas take several steps backwards before closing the door with his foot.
"I missed you."]
His hands were suddenly on his shoulders and pulling him close, and where they once used to feel comforting they now felt foreign and unwelcomed. He didn't dare shake them off, though, instead, he took another step back.
"I'm - I'm sort of with someone right now." He swallowed,
"you sho-"
"Who?" Iago's very well-made "look of longing" mask was replaced with a frown and before Lucas could think to answer he was making his way to his bedroom. Lucas was quick to tail after him, feeling less cold now, and increasingly growing warm. It wasn't the pleasant warmth, but the warmth that quickly turned hot and made his head pound.
"Where are they?" Iago asked, his head whipping around the room before he was looking in his closet and under his sheets. He left no room for Lucas to explain when he looked to his computer and found Gala's face. Then, he threw his head back and laughed as Lucas was washed with embarrassment.
"You meant miss Galaxy?"] Iago dropped into his desk seat and swiveled the chair to turn to him expectantly.
Lucas's eyes darted to his screen and his hand grasped each other as he watched Gala, wondering how he could exit the call as quickly as possible. He had never introduced them. Even during every period he and Iago were together, during the good and bad times. Some part of him just knew if he introduced her to him, it would poison everything. He rarely spoke of him to her, though he spoke plenty of her to Iago before he grew annoyed hearing about the "little miss Galaxy".
Iago waited for him to speak, but Lucas was stuck inside his own mind, looking for any way out. His eyes watched his ex reach for the mouse and click on the mic, but his mind didn't fully register it before he was clicking for the camera too. He practically threw himself over to stop him, but he was far too late and fell onto his lap when he was seeing his screen reflect their image.
"Hello," Iago waved a hand at the screen.
Lucas's heart was in his mouth, beating loud. He only moved as Iago helped him into a seated position a top of him. He still couldn't find his words.
"I hope you don't mind me crashing your two-person party."
(An online conversation with
Gala in Rockcaster)
