(This starts as a flashback to when Oliver was 13 and Lucas was 14)

  (OLIVER POV)

  We're on a school field trip, but since it's taking the whole day, we stop for lunch in a restaurant.

  I'm sitting next to my best friend since- well- birth, Lucas.

  Lucas has a noticeable lisp when he talks but I can understand him fine. Plus, over the years, he's gotten better and better as speaking.

  Everyone has already gotten their food and drinks, and I'm looking at my chocolate milk curiously.

  I wonder aloud: "I wonder why my cup is smaller than the others."

  Lucas finishes chewing his food then says, "Well milk is notably more condensed than most the drinks they serve here so it makes sense that proportionally, they'd serve it in a smaller container. Plus, that's styrofoam which is only used once, while these big glasses can be cleaned over and over."

  "I... guess that makes sense."

  I'm kinda glad Lucas is friends with me because he knows a lot, and I ask a lot of questions.

  Some people get annoyed when he talks about random facts but I enjoy it. I even get to tell other people.

  "Also, the only milk served here is chocolate milk which is considered a little kid's drink, hence the smaller size and you're the only person here with a lid on your cup."

  I suddenly regret my choices a bit.

  "Wait- so..." I lower my voice. "I'm the only person here with a little kid drink?"

  "Uh," Lucas averts his gaze from me. "On the bright side- if you think about it- what you drank was more hydrating and nutritional and filling than what most the people at the table've got."

  I glance at Lucas' brown bubbly drink with ice curiously. "What did you get?"

  "Diet Coke. Want some?"

  Oh... what??

  "I can't have that."

  "Why?"

  "I'm not supposed to. My parents always said never do coke"

  Lucas looks... confused

  "You know, it's just one of those things you're told..." I look up at the ceiling briefly. "Which I never understood because they drink Coca-Cola and other Pepsi stuff all the time..."

  Lucas suddenly seems like he's had a revelation. Then he laughs a bit.

  "Olls... do you mean cocaine?"

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  "What?"

  "I think your parents meant don't have cocaine ... not Coca-Cola..."

  My mouth drops open and my eyes widen. "What?"

  "Buddy, are you serious?"

  "What-"

  "I mean carbonated drinks aren't the best for you but unless you've got a sugar issue, I highly doubt anyone would say don't ever drink it."

  "Wait, I wanna try some right now."

  Lucas moves his glass towards me.

  I notice his straw, so I decide to drink from the side of the cup instead of from the straw.

  I have zero clue what to call what happens next anything other than a warped out of body experience.

  What on earth was that and can I have more of it?

  Lucas looks amazed. "That was... the best reaction to a Coca-Cola ever!"

  "I wasn't expecting it to be..." I'm just surprised. "My tongue tickles"

  Lucas leans forward as he laughs.

  "Can I have another sip?"

  "Yeah." But Lucas adds, "You could always get your own drink."

  "We can ask for a second drink? I know there's like- refills, but..."

  "Yeah, it's fine." Lucas pints at a nearby waiter, talking to another tabel. "Call that waiter over and ask if you can have a drink."

  I whisper, "Can't you do it? Please?"

  "No" Trying to help me - I guess- Lucas whispers, "You can do it."

  I look down at my hands that fidgeting with each other.

  Ugh- why is this hard?

  I see the waiter walk past. "Uh, excuse me...?" the waiter doesn't stop.

  I think I'm too quiet... aaa, this is embarrassing...

  Lucas sighs, before raising his voice."Excuse me?"

  The waiter turns around, and Lucas nods at me.

  Here it goes...

  I ask, "C... Can I have another drink?"

  One of our classmates jokes, "Yeah, get'm a Mickey."

  Lucas rolls his eyes. "A Coca-Cola, please."

  "Just one?"

  I nod. "Yes please."

  "Alright, I'll be back with that."

  Lucas and I both say thanks.

  I then thank Lucas for calling the waiter over.

  "No problem. You just need to be a little louder next time."

  ~ ??~??~ ?? ~??~?? ~

  That's one of my favorite memories with Lucas.

  It's kinda silly since there's been a lot of other great moments we had, but that one just sticks out to me.

  Anytime I even see a Diet Coke now, I smile and think of that time.

  The time I basically had what's called "a brother from another mother".

  Lucas was my neighbor and we went to the same school and we've just always been around each other.

  I would go over to his house all the time and sometimes we argued and got tense like brothers, but more than anything else we were best friends and were always together.

  But the summer after I graduated high school, which was the year after he graduated, Lucas got accepted into Carleton University- one of the best universities in the capital of Canada. (Ottawa)

  Ever since we were little, Lucas has always loved science- especially anything about rockets or space- and I always knew one day he'd do something amazing to help everyone, just like he's helped so many people in Leduc County.

  Including me.

  I think I was too busy cheering him on while he studied his hardest to get in to realize what getting accepted would mean.

  Lucas was leaving Leduc County... leaving Alberta... and moving to the other side of the country.

  Throughout my life, I've cried around Lucas a lot (ranging from me falling on my face as a toddler to me getting just overwhelmed as a teenager) but when Lucas had suitcases and was standing in front of his dad's truck, I didn't cry, because I was just shocked this was really happening.

  But for the first time ever, I saw Lucas crying, so I finally comforted him for once.

  I guess it was scary for both of us.

  I mean imagine having someone whose always just sorta been right there... just not being right there anymore.

  I mean it's not like he died or anything, but still.

  Now, Lucas is pretty busy with the workload of university, but he still texts me and we still FaceTime a lot.

  Sometimes I get worried he'll forget about me since he's got a bunch of new friends now, but everytime we FaceTime, he looks incredibly happy to see me.

  I always tell people about my best friend Lucas, and I always feel very proud of my bond with him.

  I've even told my lover about Lucas a lot.

  Speaking of which, my phone is making electrical bubbling sounds so I know it's my reminder to meet Kai at a restaurant for our date.

  >>> ??? <<<

  "What can I get you to drink?"

  I say, "I'll just have water, please."

  The waiter looks at Kai, who says, "I'll have a Diet Coke. Please."

  I suddenly feel a smile crawl onto my face.

  Kai and I thank the waiter, who takes the menus then leaves.

  Still smiling, I ask, "Hey, wanna hear a funny story about Diet Coke?"

  "Sure."

  "When I was ... like... 13, I think, I was on a Field trip, and ~ "