“I can’t believe you were stalking me on my date.”

“Look, don’t make it sound weird.”

“It kinda is Luca.”

“I was just making sure you were okay… alright? I’m sorry…”

The car was silent for a moment before Ashley let out a soft sigh, “I’m not mad. I’m glad you care about me as much as you do but can’t I get a a warning next time?”

“Yes, of course. Won’t happen secretly again.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He gave a small smile, “Now tell me about the date.”

The streetlights cast rhythmic shadows through Luca's car windows as they drove home from the café. As soon as Luca let her talk, she couldn't stop, her words tumbling out in excited bursts, but Luca's usual teasing responses were oddly absent. His fingers drummed against the steering wheel in an uneven pattern, his mind clearly elsewhere.

"And then Arek started talking about The Little Prince, and—" Ashley paused, finally noticing her friend's distraction. "Lu? Are you okay? You're being weirdly quiet."

"Hmm? Yeah, fine." His eyes stayed fixed on the road, but a slight flush crept up his neck. "Just... thinking."

"About what? Or should I say about whom?"

"What? No one. Nothing. Just... stuff."

Ashley twisted in her seat to face him fully. "Luca Smith, are you blushing?"

"It's just hot in here." He cranked up the AC despite the cool evening air.

"You met someone." She sat up straighter. "Tonight, while I was on my date. That's why you've been so quiet!"

"I didn't—it's not—" He stopped at a red light, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "Can we not do this?"

"Do what? Talk about the mysterious guy who's got you all flustered?"

"I'm not flustered!" But his voice cracked on the last word.

"Lu..." She softened her tone. "Talk to me. What happened?"

The light turned green. Luca pressed the gas maybe a little harder than necessary. "Nothing happened. Nothing can happen. I don't... I can't..."

"Can't what?"

"Fall for someone!" The words burst out of him. "I'm not... I don't want..." He took a shaky breath. "Love isn't for me, Ash. You know that."

"Since when?"

"Since always! Since..." He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up in frustration. "What if he's straight? What if he's not but then realizes I'm too much? What if—"

"What if he likes you back?"

Luca's breath caught. The car slowed slightly.

"What if," Ashley continued gently, "there's someone out there who gets you? Who makes you feel safe enough to be yourself?"

"That's what I have you for."

"It's different and you know it." She watched his profile in the passing lights. "Tell me about him?"

Luca was quiet so long she thought he wouldn't answer. Then, softly: "He hums when he works. Did you know that? And he knows everything about chemistry but gets flustered talking about music, even though..." He caught himself, cheeks darkening.

"Even though what?"

"Nothing. It doesn't matter."

"Clearly it does." She studied his face. "I've never seen you like this before."

"Like what?"

"Scared. But not in your usual 'everyone will judge me' way. More like... scared because you actually care."

Luca let out a hollow laugh. "That obvious, huh?"

"Only to someone who knows you." She reached over to squeeze his hand. "So when do I get to meet him?"

His whole body tensed. "You don't—I mean, that's not—we're not—"

"Oh my god." Ashley's eyes widened. "I already know him, don't I? That's why you're being so weird!"

"I'm not being weird!"

"Is it someone from school? Wait, no, you were at the café..." Her mind raced through possibilities. "Oh! Was it that new barista? The one with the—"

"Ashley." His voice was strained. "Please. Can we just... not?"

Something in his tone made her pause. She studied him more carefully - the tension in his shoulders, the way he kept swallowing like his throat was too tight. This wasn't just his usual avoidance of feelings. This was something deeper.

"Okay," she said softly. "But Lu?"

"Yeah?"

"Whoever he is... if he makes you this nervous, maybe that means it's worth being brave for."

Luca didn't respond, but his grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly.

They drove in comfortable silence until Ashley's house came into view. As she gathered her things, she couldn't resist one last attempt.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I know." He managed a small smile. "Just... give me time? This is all kind of new."

"Take all the time you need." She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "But when you're ready, I want every detail."

"Even the chemistry lessons?"

"Especially the chemistry lessons." She paused with her hand on the door handle. "Though I have to ask - what kind of chemistry are we talking about here? The scientific kind, or...?"

"Get out of my car."

Her laugh echoed as she stepped into the night air. As she walked to her door, her mind kept circling back to his hints. Someone at the café, someone who knew chemistry, someone who hummed while they worked...

She stopped mid-step, a possibility forming.