BAD OMENS ✬ luke hemmings

2.0 | day ten of hell

After a wonderful, unmatched, fantastic weekend of doing nothing and getting added to the 'Halloween' party group chat, Luke is back at school for the awful detention scheme. Except today, he's getting off a bus at the elementary school as part of one of the many school services.

Apparently, he has the joy of introducing children to the wonders of music and helping them build their own instruments for an hour. Though, having a bunch of kindergarten students stay at school from three to four is very inhumane if you ask him. Those are five to six year olds, what the fuck are they meant to do at school?

He doesn't know why he could stay in the arts courtyard painting, but according to Principal Rebecca, the service group is understaffed and needed two extra helping hands to help with the kids. Something about a buddy system?

This service group, as a whole, was started as a CAS project by two girls in Luke's grade though it's attracted a lot of underclassmen... an entire friend group of ninth grade girls, to be more specific. Aria has made herself comfortable joining the two girls, considering she is friends – or familiar – with everyone but god is she third-wheeling hard that it's much easier to give up.

Walking into a large art classroom, there are a group of tiny children sitting on the colorful carpet on the floor. Twelve kindergarteners and twelve high school students, a perfect match for the buddy system.

Evelyn, one half of the duo responsible for starting this service, says that this is the last day of the service. Meaning, they've completed their planning and action stages. The past month or so of visiting the elementary school every week is coming to an end with a big bang of getting to build their own instruments.

How fun, right?

Unfortunately for Luke and Aria, two members called in sick resulting in the enemies packing up their paint brushes and getting on the bus to the elementary school.

"Hi everyone!" Evelyn smiles, standing in front of the classroom – with the group awkwardly lingering behind her – to make her big announcement. "As we all know, this is the last day of the after school activity."

And like clockwork, a strain of whines and 'aw's' sound from the children on the carpet. What five year old doesn't want to spend their afternoons hanging out with cool and older high school students? It's part of the social hierarchies, that if a child were to know an older kid they'd be popular.

"But don't worry!" Claire, the second half of the duo, perks in. "Today, we're going to have fun building our own instruments." She claps, earning a collective 'yay' from the group.

"You all know your partners, right?" Evelyn says, "So go on ahead!"

Luke steals a side glance at Aria – who has continued to ignore him, pretending that Friday afternoon did not happen – she's got an unreadable look on her features... The best description Luke can conclude is pure confusion. Aria feels like a giant, which says a lot. The tables are so low to the ground, the chairs are so small. It messes with her coordination.

She can't imagine how Luke must feel, being a giant and getting placed into a room full of doll furniture.

"Oh! Yara and Max," Claire says to the two children who can't seem to find their partners, "Jasmine and Kea aren't here today," their faces fall, "no worries, because we brough Luke and Aria!"

"Yeah!" Evelyn crouches down in front of the children, "They're the biggest kids at high school, like me and Claire. Are you okay with that?" She asks. The kids nod in response. "Great! Max, how about you go with Luke, and Yara you go to Aria."

Claire and Evelyn, two future kindergarten teachers.

Evelyn sends off the kids to the two standing near the door, at the night of the little creature running towards Aria she puts on a smile and kneels down. She has no idea how to act with kids, but they seem to love her nonetheless.