Truth - Lashton

Chapter 10

Luke's POV

I arrived early again as I decided to get me a coffee on the way to class. It was just me and a good few other students in the classroom. Mr. Irwin was off getting papers for our work.

I heard some girls whispering to one another, I knew they tried to keep it quiet but the classroom was already quiet and only accompanied by the sound of me drawing and the frequent wind outside.

"Luke looks so thin.."

"Do you think he's sick?"

"Probably.. Who knows.."

I wanted to cry. I wasn't sick, I was healthy. I was doing everything right and I'm so tired of people saying I'm sick when I'm not.

"Hello, Class!"

Mr. Irwin chimed in as he walked through the door. One of the three guys laughed.

"There's only 7 people here!"

Mr. Irwin chuckled as he went over to his desk and organized some papers.

"Oh well.. Hello, my small class!"

I softly laughed. I enjoyed his energy and excitement for his students.

Minutes passed as students walked in, it wasn't long until everyone was here.

I heard 3 claps, Mr. Irwin's way of getting everyone's attention.

"Alright, everyone! We have a new student arriving today and I wish for you all to greet him with kindness and respect!"

Everyone ultimately agreed as the lunch lady came by with breakfast. Shortly after, the vice principal came in with a boy.

He had black hair with a dark teal streak, green eyes and was wearing a black and white flannel with ripped jeans.

He was intimidating definitely.

"Your new student is here, Mr. Irwin!"

The woman smiled, the boy softly chuckled in response.

"Well hello! I'm Mr. Irwin. You must be Michael Clifford, right?"

"Sounds about right, yeah."

The boy definitely sounded confident, which made him that much more intimidating.

"Well you came just in time for breakfast so grab yourself some and take a seat beside Luke, okay?"

Mr. Irwin pointed to the empty desk beside me. I'm glad I just got coffee as my nerves were so high I probably wouldn't be able to keep down breakfast.

Michael grabbed some of the breakfast and sat beside me.

"Luke, huh?"

He was talking to me. Fuck I probably look so horrible and he's probably gonna say something.

"Mhm.."

"Michael, nice to meet ya."

I looked over at him. He was slightly slumped in his chair and looking right back at me.

"N-Nice to meet you too, Michael."

I will forever curse my nervous stutters. He seemed to have picked up on it and laughed.

"Why are you so tense there? I don't bite!"

His accent really complimented him. I softly smiled and nodded, not entirely sure how to respond.

"You aren't eating breakfast?"

I shook my head and took a sip of my coffee. I always had it black, iced and with some stevia.

"Coffee makes you shit hard, Luke. It's probably best if you ate so you don't shit out your stomach or somethin."

I laughed at that cause he was right. I should eat something but everything here was processed and unhealthy. I couldn't put my body through that.

"The food here makes my stomach hurt enough.."

He let out a chuckle and took a sip of the orange juice they offered.

"I could understand that. You seem cool, Luke."

I smiled and put my notebook away, deciding to focus on the conversation.

"You too.."

Michael smiled at the way I was starting to ease up.

"Where do you get your coffee? That doesn't look like a Starbucks cup?"

Michael asked, genuinely confused. I chuckled and took another sip.

"I make it at home. Starbucks is too expensive."

"That's why I asked! I can't afford Starbucks!"

I laughed as he whined on and on about how he wanted coffee but couldn't afford it.

"What's your favorite drink from Starbucks? I always ask as someone people usually have a cheap favorite."

I just tapped my cup.

"This. I always ask for an iced black americano with stevia."

Michael let out a fake vomit sound, earning a laugh from me.

"Why black?! Black coffee is the worst!"

I chuckled and shrugged, taking another drink.

"If I have some, I put sugar free syrups in it."

"Sugar free?"

I nodded, his face plastered with confusion.

"Does it still have the same taste as non sugar free?"

I shrugged again, not entirely sure as I've been scared of the real syrups for so long I practically forgot their tastes.

"Couldn't tell ya, they probably do."

Michael nodded. Before we could continue our very important conversation, Mr. Irwin started the lesson.

Today was gonna be good, I could feel it.