BAD OMENS ✬ luke hemmings

1.1 | trust and communication

Cooped in the gym, the next event on the itinerary –for these good ol' community days meant to build bonds and introduce the small senior class to one another – is a sort of blindfolded maze exercise.

Luke doesn't know why they have to do this, he wonders how could these activities ever bring people together when social groups have already been made since the first day of high school. And it's far too late to make any new 'connections' and friends now.

That's ironic, of course. He simply thinks it's stupid.

A blindfolded maze exercise, as if this is some episode from Total Drama with a bunch of teenagers fighting for a million dollars. Teachers can't possibly expect the students to take any of this seriously can they?

Sure, a few of his friends get a bit competitive from time to time. Still, the biggest reward they can offer is one of those 'pizza parties' that never happen, and even then, you can't make a competition for a group that keeps getting divided – literally and figuratively.

To make the entire situation worse, he's stuck with the worst possible person, blindfolded, and looking like a complete idiot during this life and death situation.

Luke's seen what the little obstacle course looked like before he got paired with the devil and blinded by a cheaply cut piece of red fabric. Someone definitely raided the P.E departments' storage room and picked out anything colorful or on the verge of decay, and thought, this works.

He's being negative, yes, he knows.

Would he rather be sitting through that drab called 'economics'? No. Though he is upset this off-schedule day had to happen when he had study hall, and instead of lounging on those dirty comfortable couches, he's here. If anything, he'd be a lot happier if they planned this day when he has Spanish, or Chemistry.

"Okay! First one to successfully lead their partner to the other side wins a handful of candy!" Jeff White announces, "So, you guys better put your heart and soul into it!"

"Quick reminder guys!" Ms. G adds, "You are not allowed to take off your blindfolds, and your partners are only allowed to guide you once! Everything else has to be done by voice and trust."

If Luke could, he'd roll his eyes. Knowing Aria, she'd probably lead him to a wall and leave him there to look stupid in front of everybody. He doesn't trust her, he can't. "You better not fuck this up for me," he says. He wants that handful of candy, he saw the selection and wasn't disappointed.

"It's a handful of candy, and a fucking game." Aria replies.

"Hey, Aria!" Calum calls out, "Make sure to have him trip over those hurdles, I need a good laugh."

"Hey Aria! Can you make sure that Calum doesn't try to sabotage me?" Michael asks, standing at the redline with his arms crossed, upset that he got paired with Calum Hood.

"Alright! Go!" White yells, causing a bunch of pairs to start their path and a lot of chatter to echo in the gym.

Luke walks ahead, ignoring any instruction from the girl. Why should he wait for her to tell him what to do, or where to go? He's better off doing this on his own, even if it means tripping over a few hurdles or kicking a couple of cones out the way.

"Dude, what are you doing?" Aria groans, "You can't do this on your own, and if you keep walking around like an idiot, you're not going to get that handful of candy you so desperately want."

"I'm better off doing this on my own than trusting you." The blonde remarks, taking cautious steps with his arms out in case he happens to run into anything, "I don't need your help, and I certainly don't want to listen to a word that comes out of your mouth."