Chapter Text
Luke was in a particularly good mood today. It was already 6th period and he had already finished all of his homework for 7th and 8th period, meaning he didn't have to beg to copy Calum's at lunch. He could just relax and enjoy his lunch period with his best friends.
He walked into the cafeteria, late as usual, being that his locker was on the other side of the school. He noticed Michael and Calum sitting at their usual table, already indulging in their food. Luke rushed over, dropping his paper bag on the table and taking his seat across from them.
"Listen, Luke." Calum said. "I finished the Calc homework but you can't copy my English essay. Mrs. Gates may be old, but she's not stupid. She'll notice if a whole essay is copied."
"I finished it, Cal, it's okay."
Michael and Calum simultaneously gasped. This was so unlike Luke. Usually he was coming up with some excuse of why he couldn't finish it. He worked a late shift or he completely forgot about it. They didn't have a problem with their friend copying it, they just thought his excuses were ridiculous. One time, Luke had actually tried to convince them his dog ate it.
"Who are you and what have you done with Luke?" Michael asked.
"Very funny." Luke said, rolling his eyes. "Can I just eat my lunch in peace without your judgement?"
Michael held up his hands in defense as Luke took a bite out of his sandwich, then sipped his water bottle.
"I wish my parents would make me lunch." Calum said, staring at Luke's perfectly prepared sandwich in awe. "I get handed $20 and am forced to eat this."
Michael laughed, poking at his own food. "I know. What is this? Chicken?"
"I'm sorry that my parents don't want me to get food poisoning." Luke said, raising his eyebrows at the two boys as they dissected their lunches. "Can you stop stabbing it? I think it's bleeding."
"I dare you to eat it." Calum said, shoving his lunch tray towards Luke.
Luke looked at the "meat" with disgust, shaking his head. "No way I'm eating this poison."
"Then you have to throw it out." Michael said, sliding his tray across the table.
"Anything to get it away from me." Luke said.
He stacked all of their garbage on the two trays, making his way to the trash can. After emptying his waste, he turned around, colliding with another, larger body.
"Watch where you're going, faggot."
Luke didn't even have to look up to see who it was. What he said was enough to give it away. Luke went to a school where people were pretty accepting of sexual orientation. That's what made it so easy for him to be openly gay. There was only one person who ever made comments like that to him.
Ashton Irwin.
"I-I'm sorry." Luke stuttered, looking down.
Before Ashton could say another word to him, Luke scurried away, putting his trays away, then sitting back down at his table.
Michael and Calum were too caught up in each other to see what had happened with Ashton and Luke was happy about that. He didn't like anyone else seeing how Ashton belittled him constantly.
As Luke sat back down, he noticed Michael kiss Calum on the nose. Luke rolled his eyes, making a gagging noise.
"Gross."
"Hey, don't knock us because you can't get a man." Michael said, throwing an arm around Calum's shoulder.
"I almost had Calum until you came into the picture." Luke said, rolling his eyes. "Homewrecker."
Michael laughed. He knew Luke was joking. They always joked about this. Luke and Calum had started dating their freshman year of high school, but when Michael joined their group, Calum and Michael began dating instead. None of the boys necessarily know what happened. Michael and Calum just clicked better. They were meant for each other. Luke and Calum wouldn't have lasted half of the time Michael and Calum had. There were no hard feelings about the situation, just jokes.
"It's not fair." Luke sighed. "I want what you guys have."
"You just have to put yourself out there, Luke." Calum said.
"Put myself out there?" Luke asked, eyes widening. "I'm the definition of out!"
"Not like that!" Calum laughed. "You're too stuck on one person."
Luke glanced across the cafeteria, knowing exactly who the one person he was talking about was. He sighed, resting his chin on his hand. He was just so perfect.
"I don't get it." Michael said, shaking his head. "Ashton Irwin is the most, probably the only homophobic person in this school and you're head over heels in love with him."
Luke sighed. "You guys don't know him like I do. He's not like that."
"Luke, you guys were friends in middle school." Calum said. "People change."
"Plus, didn't he dip as soon as you came out?" Michael asked.
The two boys continued picking him apart, as Luke just stared across the room at Ashton. At one point, Ashton caught his gaze and smiled.
Luke missed his smile. In middle school, they were inseparable. Luke was constantly at Ashton's house, playing video games or on the Internet. Ashton was always smiling around him. Now, Ashton never seemed to smile. At least, not the way he used to.
Luke didn't understand. How could Ashton be so awful, yet so wonderful? Why was he calling him names one minute and smiling at him the next? It didn't make sense. Yet, maybe that's why Luke was so infatuated with him.
"Earth to Luke!" Calum said, snapping Luke out of his thoughts. "Oh my god were you staring at him the whole time?"
"Like I said, You guys don't know him the way I do." Luke sighed, as the bell rang. "I have to get to Calc."
~~~~~
Luke tried so hard to concentrate on the English lesson, he really did. But Calum and Michael were on one side of him, being cute like they always were and Ashton was on the other, feet kicked up on his desk, with that stupid smirk he always made plastered on his face. Yet, despite how much Luke hated it, he still couldn't stop staring at Ashton.
"Are you like in love with me?" Ashton asked, loudly, causing Luke's eyes to go wide, as most of the class turned their attention to the two of them. "You never stop staring at me. It's weird."
"I-uh-"
"I'm not interested, dude. I like girls. I have a girlfriend. Back off."
"Mr. Irwin, that's enough."
Luke didn't know what to say or do. He was so embarrassed. Why would Ashton say that out loud? He looked to Michael and Calum, who were giving him that same look of disapproval. He glanced back at Ashton, who was staring at him now, the same smirk still on his face.
"It's okay, baby, I know I'm irresistible." He whispered.
Luke didn't know what to do other than keep his eyes locked on the board and try to at least pretend like he was paying attention. All he wanted to do was go home and sleep off his day. Everything was going fine until he ran into Ashton at lunch. Why did he always have to do stupid things like that? He needed to pay more attention to his surroundings.
When the bell rang, Luke tried to bolt out of the room, but Mrs. Gates stopped him before he could get out the door.
"Mr. Hemmings, I just want to apologize for Mr. Irwin's actions in class today." She said. "I will be writing him up. I don't want you to feel like his actions are going unpunished."
Luke's eyes widened. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't be the reason Ashton was getting in trouble. Ashton would only hate him more. That was the last thing he wanted.
"No, you can't write him up." He blurted out. "Ashton was only joking. It was all in good fun. Mrs. Gates, I promise. Ashton was only joking."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you sure about this, Mr. Hemmings?"
"Of course." Luke said, confidently. "I assure you, there's nothing to be worried about."
Hesitantly, Mrs. Gates dismissed him, accepting the fact that Luke didn't want Ashton written up. As he exited the classroom, he noticed Michael and Calum, waiting for him, their hands linked and Ashton waiting on the other side of the hallway, rolling his eyes at the two of them.
"What are you doing here, Ashton?" Luke asked, trying to keep an annoyed expression on his face.
"Aw, don't act like you don't want to see me." Ashton smirked, stepping closer to Luke. "I just wanted to make sure my little admirer wouldn't get me in any trouble."
Luke rolled his eyes. "If anything, I just saved your ass. Just leave me alone."
Luke pushed past him, beginning to walk away, Michael and Calum following closely behind him.
"Wait Luke." Ashton called.
The blonde boy turned around in annoyance. His blue eyes were glassy, like he was on the verge of tears. Ashton bit his lip, almost feeling bad, knowing he was the one who caused that.
"Thanks." Ashton said, looking down. "For saving me."
Luke sighed. "Don't expect it next time."