turned - muke - the distortion trilogy 2

0.7

LUKE'S P.O.V.

It's Tuesday, and the first day back at school since Michael's attempt. He was rushed to the hospital on Friday night, and I visited him in his inpatient ward Monday, seeing as it was a three day weekend.

I'm sure that somehow word got around, and I'm terrified of what the people at school will say, because there's no way that there aren't rumors about Michael.

I walk into school alone for the first time in weeks, seeing as Michael is usually by my side. Like in a cliche high school movie, people in the atrium turn to look at me as I enter the school, pity scrawled all over their features. The whispers begin immediately, so I look down and make my way to my locker, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

The situation is similar to the one that I faced at my old school, after Ashton happened. Trying not to think about that, I spin open my locker. I'm getting the textbooks that I need for my first few classes out of my locker when someone approaches me with the audacity to ask me about a rumor.

"Hey, Luke, right?" a girl I've never talked to before asks me. I think she's 'popular', meaning the other girls all hate her behind her back and are slightly afraid of her—but only slightly.

"Yeah," I sigh. "Can I help you?"

"Is it true that your boyfriend is in a mental hospital?" she asks. I groan and slam my locker door shut, causing her to jump. "Well?"

I choose not to answer, walking past her and to my class instead.

-

By the time lunch rolls around, I've been pelted with an infinite amount of questions regarding Michael's mental health and our relationship, and I'm ready to cry. I drop my tray on the cafeteria table with a thud, falling into my seat across from Calum and Amber.

Amber smiles at me sympathetically. "How's your day been?"

"Hell," I groan, running a hand through my hair, messing up the perfect quiff.

Amber gives me a pitiful look. "I'm sorry, Luke."

"Don't listen to any of these a ssholes," Calum sighs. "They don't know shi t."

He's been extra protective over me ever since he found out about Ashton.

"Yeah, I know, but..." I trail off, resting my head in my hands. "I don't know, it's hard."

Did your boyfriend really try to kill himself?

Looks like they finally put him in an insane asylum!

What's it like fu cking that freak?

Don't you think that he wouldn't have tried to commit suicide if he was happy with you?

Maybe you should break up with him, he's kinda dangerous.

The comments never stop coming.

"I'm sorry, mate," Calum sighs. "You don't deserve this. You haven't deserved any of this."

I don't respond.

"I really admire you, Luke," Amber tries to pull on my heart strings. "You and Michael are both so strong."

I kiss my teeth. "I guess so."

-

I walk into the psychiatric ward's visiting room an hour after school ends. Michael comes rushing into my arms immediately, burying his face in my neck.

"Missed you," he mumbles, pressing a chaste kiss to my collarbone.

"I missed you, too," I sigh, moving our bodies to one of the slightly discolored couches provided in the room. I sit down, trying to make myself as comfortable as possible. As soon as he sees I am situated, Michael climbs into my lap.