lockdown ☣ lashton au

i. seven days before

I forgot to mention that yes this story has to do with a school lockdown that will happen soon

Ashton sat patiently in class, noticing how Luke eyed him with disgust. Ashton sent him glares with equal amounts of hatred, peering over his black, thick-rimmed glasses. Their classmates just chuckled or watched them with amusement in their eyes.

This behavior was entirely normal when it came to Luke and Ashton. There's the cat and dog rivalries, hero and villain rivalries, then there was the Luke and Ashton rivalries. It put a whole new definition to hatred.

They were like fire and gasoline; dangerous for each other and for any and all people surrounding them.

No one knew exactly when, how, or why it happened. There was no big incident that could have triggered such a mutual hatred. But, according to Luke, somewhere in each of their separate chemical makeups there was a gene that made it necessary for him and Ashton to hate each other. It was simple science, one of the few subjects Luke understood, or so he thought. He was never the brightest in school, but people loved him. He was a star on the school's rugby team and had a reputation to maintain, so school was the least of his worries.

Ashton on the other hand excelled in anything school related, but was the opposite socially. He didn't mind, though, because he honestly wanted to avoid human interaction at all costs, with maybe three or four people as exceptions. So, maybe Ashton wasn't a people person. He was definitely not a Luke person.

The bell rang and Ashton huffed, gathering his notes and arranging them into the way he liked. If they were out of order in any way Ashton would not get over it. That little detail would be all he focused on for the rest of the day and he decided having to rush to his next class was worth having an organized binder.

He may possibly be a bit OCD, but he didn't like to think about it because he was supposed to have everything perfectly arranged and having a disorder is not perfect. It doesn't fit into his schedule and the thoughts give him anxiety, which is another disorder, which is another thing keeping him from his goal of perfection.

Not to mention he's ugly, and it wouldn't hurt for him to lose a couple pounds. And he needed some muscle, he's a scrawny loser. Plus he's gay, adding to the never ending list of reasons people hated him. Not that anyone knew he was gay, though. He had told a few people, and it went horribly wrong with some of them. He still had his best friend Michael and his mom (kind of) and siblings, so he was okay. Not great, but okay, and he could live with that.

So he wouldn't say he was in the closet. It's not like he was hiding it, but there's no reason to advertise it. When you're straight, no one labels you as that. You're just normal while anyone who is gay is considered an abnormal outcast. He simply chose not to be labeled.

Ashton wasn't sure if he would admit to being gay if asked by someone he wasn't comfortable around, but if he was hit on by a girl he'd say something. But, he had never been hit on by a girl before. Not by a guy, or a girl. There was no reason for him to go around telling people, because that would just add to the teasing he received and it was really none of their business who he was and was not attracted to.

Meanwhile, Luke just took his notes and pushed them into his backpack, not even attempting to keep them neat. Ashton could hear them crumpling from his seat and could just imagine all the crinkles and wrinkles and grimaced, not understanding whatsoever how Luke doesn't want to be organized. I mean, what's the downside to being organized? It doesn't take much effort, either.

Ashton may not be the cleanest person, but that's not what he cared about. He needed organization. He needed to know where everything was at all times and needed to have everything planned ahead of time, to the point where there was no room for error. It had been that way forever and he had always been content with the way things were. Until he met Luke, that is.

Ashton made his way to Study Hall; his next class for the day. He hated Day 2s because he had Luke in most of his classes those days. He doesn't know why, because Luke is not smart and, well, Ashton is.

Luke was in his Music, Study Hall, Biology, and Physical Education classes. So really, the only academic class he had with Ashton was Biology. But all four of these classes were that day and Ashton already had to deal with Luke in Biology and he really wasn't looking forward to dealing with him again. Especially not in back-to-back classes. Genuine torture.

He approached his locker and grabbed the books he needed for class along with a pair of earbuds, just in case he finished all his work before the bell, which he usually did. He may be different than most seventeen year olds but he's not an alien, he liked listening to music and his Study Hall teacher allowed it, if he had no other work to complete.

He made his way through the hallways, having to shove the occasional idiot, and finally took his seat in the back of the class, the one in the far corner of the room. He got out all the supplies he needed for the period, glancing up as Luke entered the room. They made solid eye contact for a moment and each scowled, disgust taking over their individual features. Ashton huffed in annoyance and stuck his nose in a book to avoid looking at Luke. Ashton knew Luke was hot, but his personality made him seem ugly to Ashton. So, he looked away.

Luke imitated his actions, mocking him not-so-discreetly while the class laughed at the pair, some pointing at Luke, some Ashton.

Ashton ignored them, quietly completing his Biology assignment. It wasn't due for a week or two but Ashton had already started it and found no reason in not finishing it because he already did all his other work at home. He needed something to pass the time by with and he always said that being ahead is never a bad thing.

Luke noticed how Ashton feverishly scribbled words on a paper for Biology and furrowed his brow, not even knowing that they had a Biology assignment. He didn't know so therefore he won't do it. Per usual.

Luke shrugged, silently deciding to not care and wondering why he was even in Advanced Biology, or Biology in general. He didn't care how people's bodies work, he didn't want to be a doctor. As long as he's breathing and not sick and had a doctor to worry about that shit it, it didn't matter to him. Whatsoever. He's healthy and learning about how the heart has four chambers won't change that. End of story.

Ashton on the other hand found the subject utterly intriguing, doing extra research for the project simply because it interested him. Luke saw how Ashton was happily reading the textbook and scrunched his nose in disgust. Why do work if you don't have to? Luke didn't understand.

Ashton noticed Luke's grossed out expression and sighed, his hatred towards Luke growing significantly the longer Luke stared. Ashton continued reading, but the uncomfortable feeling of being under someone's hateful gaze doesn't go unnoticed. Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, Luke snorting in amusement at the effect he had on the shorter boy.

So when the teacher turned his back to rummage through one of his drawers, Ashton ever so kindly turned to Luke, flipped him off and mouthed the all too familiar words,

"I hate you, you stupid bitch."

A few onlookers chuckled, to which Luke grinned obnoxiously and mouthed back,

"Touché, you douche."

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That was just to introduce their relationship and their personalities I guess. Updating sometime next week :)