choices // clifford (on hold)

three

Luke was in one big pile of crap.

Of course when he had made the bet with Michael, he initially thought that Michael was too drunk or tired to really understand what Luke had been saying. Luke didn't even really know what he was saying, he just wanted to spill feelings.

But Michael would not let him forget about it. He had insisted that this was a test of Luke's bravery with girls and could get him out there. Michael said that by doing this bet, Iris could see that he was horrible and he could go to someone else. But by theoretical standards he had a girlfriend. Just not one that was breathing, or had a heart beat or actually existed. He was determined to get to Iris before Michael, even if that was the death of him.

Luke was walking to the library to help Iris with her English paper as he opened the door, seeing her sitting at a small table in the corner of the room. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, as she bit her lip concentrating hard. He took a deep breath, shaking his hair out of his eyes as he set down his books in front of Iris.

Luke cleared his throat but got no stir from her as he noticed her headphones were in her ears. He could hear the faint sounds of Empty Gold by Halsey and smiled as she mouthed the words silently, scribbling miscellaneous notes into her notebook. He looked down at his own notebook, opening it and pulling out his laptop turning it on.

He looked up to Iris again as she was lost in her own world, her strawberry blonde hair falling perfectly in front of her face. She looked effortless and Luke couldn't help but stare. Who was he kidding? Michael was always the one who got the girls, the one who scored at every party, the one that all the girls fell for, so who was Luke kidding? He probably couldn't get a Kelsey Armstrong, the girl with grass in her hair, let alone Iris Nolan.

"...Luke," he heard as he looked up from his trance, staring into the eyes of Iris. "Yes?" he said clearing his throat. "I said I was sorry, Halsey was on and I had to jam," she said with a slight giggle. Luke shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "It's fine," he said. "So what did you need help with?" Luke asked as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Um, just the introduction, because I'm kind of having trouble with the thesis," she replied. Luke moved his chair closer to hers as he leaned towards her paper, scanning the words she had scribbled down. "Well, you start out strong, but then it gets kind of weak towards the ending. So maybe try adding transitions, make it flow," he said taking his lip between his teeth.

Iris nodded sighing as she moved the paper over to her. "Hey Luke?" Iris said slowly, like she wasn't certain she wanted to ask. "Yeah?" he said nonchalantly, turning and giving his full attention to her. "I love someone," she blurted covering her blushing face. Luke's face lit up, his breath catching in his throat as he stared into her blue eyes.

"Wh-who? Like who do you like?" Luke asked frantically. Iris shook her head fumbling with her thumbs as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, gathering her stuff quickly. "Don't worry about it, forget I said anything," she mumbled quickly, standing up and tossing her stuff into her backpack.

"Iris, what's wrong are you-"

"I"m fine," she said quickly moving her hair off of her shoulder and grabbing her backpack and throwing it on her shoulder. "Iris, you can tell me who it is, if it's not-"

"It doesn't matter, I should never of said anything," she said quietly, forcing a smile, "thanks for the help Luke I really appreciate it, I'll talk to you later okay?" she said walking towards the door and pushing her way through. She knew that she left on short notice, she knew that Luke barely helped her with one sentence, but she had blurted and said something she shouldn't have.