text: Lucas groaned, rolling over under his massive pile of blankets to muffle his sister’s loud voice. After a few moments of silence, a loud stomping could be heard approaching his room. Then, his door swung open. “Lucas get up! She’s going to be here in 5 minutes, and I don’t want her to think my brother’s a slob,” urged Ariel. “But I am,” he yawned. She shot him an exasperated glare. “Fine,” Lucas sighed as he reluctantly rolled out of bed. Why did he have to make a good impression on Ariel’s girlfriend? Her relationships never lasted very long anyway. The ringing of the doorbell sent Ariel sprinting downstairs excitedly as Lucas haphazardly threw on a t-shirt and sweats. He shuffled down the stairs, introducing himself along the way. “Hey Taylor, I’m Lucas, Ariel’s brother. She’s told me almost nothing about you. It’s nice to meet-” his eyes widened in recognition when he looked up. “Oh.” As they locked eyes, Taylor’s expression shifted from confusion to dread. Ariel turned around quizzically, “Do you guys know each other?” “No we haven’t met,” Taylor sent Lucas a desperate look. “Are you sure?” “Yeah she just kind of looks like this girl in my class, but I haven’t met her before,” Lucas stiffly scratched his head. How was he supposed to tell his sister that this was the girl he hit with his moped a week ago? Meanwhile, Taylor’s mind was racing. She had thought she could vent about her worries and complaints about Ariel to a stranger, but with her luck it turned out to be Ariel’s brother. Ariel's eyes flicked back and forth between Lucas and Taylor suspiciously, but then she just shrugged it off and left to take out the lunch she’d prepared. In her absence, Lucas and Taylor awkwardly acknowledged each other. “You’re moped guy right?” “Yeah...” Lucas raised his eyebrows, amused. “And that girl you were complaining about was Ariel?” Taylor ran her hands through her hair, “Please don’t tell her about that.” Lucas laughed, “I mean you were pretty accurate, and she probably should know about that stuff.” “If you tell her what I said, I’ll tell her you ran me over with your moped,” she threatened. Lucas’ brow furrowed, “You wouldn’t.” She grinned, “You don’t know me.” “Why are you guys just standing there?” Lucas and Taylor flinched as Ariel popped out from the doorway to the kitchen. “Hurry up, I’m hungry.” They followed her to the kitchen, stealing threatening glances at each other. Awkwardness permeated through the air as the three of them ate their food in silence. “So, how did the two of you meet?” Ariel beamed, “I saw her around at the cafe I go to all the time, and I thought she was cute so I asked her out. Turns out she felt the same way, and here we are now!” “Yeah, I thought she was pretty cute, but I also thought she was taken. Otherwise, I would’ve been the one asking her out,” Taylor chuckled. “She’s pretty good at sending out mixed signals isn’t she?” Lucas snickered as Taylor glared at him. “No, I don’t really think so,” Taylor raised an eyebrow. “Although I was a bit confused at her relationship status in the beginning.” “I’m surprised you even found her cute, with how much she talks. Doesn’t it get kind of annoying sometimes?” “Lucas!” Ariel slapped his shoulder. “Stop being a jerk.” She turned to Taylor, “Do I talk too much?” “Yes, but I enjoy it because I’m not much of a talker myself,” reassured Taylor. “It’s a good thing.” Lucas snorted. Ariel shot him a skeptical look, “Are you sure you’ve never met her before?” “Nope,” he shook his head. “Never seen her before in my life... Until now, that is.” She rolled her eyes, “Lucas you’re a terrible liar.” He gasped in mock offense, “I’m not lying!” “You totally are,” She turned to Taylor. “Do you guys know each other?” Taylor shook her head in denial. “Enough about us,” said Taylor. “What are your opinions on traffic safety?” Lucas coughed, choking on his gyoza. “What about traffic safety?” “Well, I saw the moped out in the front. Those are hard to control aren’t they?” “Yeah, I always tell him to get a car, but he insists on driving that dingy old thing,” complained Ariel. “Something about it being convenient or whatever. Watch, you’re going to get into an accident, and I’m going to have to say I told you so.” “To be fair, that thing does look like it’s going to fall apart any second,” Taylor smiled. “You think he’s the type of person who’s more likely to get hit or hit someone else. I’d say he’d hit someone else.” Lucas’ eyes widened desperately, begging Taylor not to continue, but she only smirked at him. Ariel bit her lip, contemplating as she looked Lucas up and down. “Yeah he does kind of seem more likely to hit someone with the moped than get hit.” Lucas stole a gyoza from Ariel’s plate, “That’s tax for how lowly you think of me,” maneuvering his plate so she couldn’t steal one back. “You are so immature Lucas,” Ariel scowled at him. “I’m sorry Lucas, but I agree,” Taylor laughed. “You guys are perfect for each other. You both suck.” Their lunch continued as Taylor and Lucas threw jabs at each other, neither side yielding. The only cooperation they showed was in dodging Ariel’s suspicion at them having met before, which only caused her frustration to grow. When the time came for Taylor to leave, she kissed Ariel goodbye and waved at Lucas. “Be careful on your moped next time,” she grinned. She closed the front door, shutting off any chance at Lucas returning that comment with a clever response. He didn’t have one anyway, so perhaps it was better off that way. After her exit, Ariel angrily turned to Lucas. “You guys are hiding something from me, and I hate it. I finally have a great relationship with a girl I really like, and I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t go behind my back to meet up with her,” she ranted. Lucas’ expression shifted to concern. “Whoa, what do you mean by that.” “I mean that you two clearly have a thing, and she’s cheating on me with you!” she yelled. Lucas internally face palmed. He knew that Ariel had issues with trust, but he didn’t know that she would be this angry. “Look, it’s not like that,” he grabbed her balled fists in his hands reassuringly. “I promise you it’s not like that.” “Then what are you guys hiding from me?” she sniffed. “I hate not knowing.” “It’s nothing, we’ve never even met before,” Lucas said softly. “I’m being honest. Also, she’s definitely not my type. Way too strong-willed for me.” “Hey,” she punched his shoulder playfully. “I like that about her.” “Whatever floats your boat man,” Lucas shrugged. “Are you sure you guys don’t know each other?” “Yep, one hundred percent.”