POISONOUS//lashton au

Eight

The day after his dinner with his family, Luke had his normal Monday schedule. Chemistry at 10, Calculus at 12, lunch at 1, and work from 2-5.

At 1:30, Luke sat on the campus picking at a sandwich. He kept glancing towards a set of doors, waiting for them to open. Finally, at 1:34, they burst open, with Michael exiting them. Michael looked around the area, trying to spot his best friend. Luke had no intention of showing Michael where he was. He would find him. Luke took a bite from his sandwich and lowered his gaze from the older boy. Then sure enough, Michael bounded over to Luke and took a seat next to him.

"Hey buddy. How was your dinner with your family last night?"

Luke shrugged. "It was alright. The food was good."

"How are they all doing?"

"Pretty good. I think."

Michael never expected longer answers from Luke so he never pressed for more information. He knew it would make Luke slightly mad and he knew Luke didn't like to give long winded answers. For the most part, their conversations consisted of Michael talking and Luke listening and replying with short and to the point answers where required. This was okay with Michael. Michael liked to talk and Luke liked to listen. They worked very well as friends. Luke always appreciated Michael and was glad they were friends. Mostly, he appreciated that Michael respected his lack of partaking in a conversation. And because of Luke's lack of participation, Michael was shocked when Luke spoke without having a question directed at him.

"My family knows Ashton is in town."

Michael looked up at Luke who was having a staring contest with his lunch.

"Really? They saw him?"

"I guess Jack did. He didn't talk to him or anything. Just saw him. Ashton didn't see him though."

Michael's original look of confusion turned into a look of worry mixed with anger.

"And he brought it up in front of you? Why would he do that?"

Luke shook his head. "He didn't. He thought I was in the washroom but I wasn't and I heard. He didn't mean to."

"Still Luke why would he do that when you're around? He could have waited until you left or really whenever you weren't around it was really insensitive to-"

"Michael." Luke stopped Michael who stopped talking. "It's fine. It's not a big deal."

Michael hesitated but slowly nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry." Luke shrugged his shoulders then checked the time.

"It's 1:49. I have to go to work."

"Want me to drive you?" Michael volunteered.

"You don't have to."

"I want to. Come on."

Michael stood up from the table and looked down at Luke who was still sitting down.

"Seriously Luke it's not a big deal. Now come on. you're going to be late."

Luke looked up at Michael the nodded. "Yeah okay. Thanks."

The two walked over to the parking lot and climbed into Michaels car. Michael started the car and turned on some music. Neither of them talked for the whole drive.

Everything was a blur as Luke looked out the window. He thought about where he'd be without Michael and Calum. They were his best and only friends and he really loved them. They had always been there for Luke since he'd known both of them. Before Luke had met Michael, Calum had been one of the only people Luke had. And when he met Michael, it didn't take long for Michael to care about Luke the way Calum did. They were protective over Luke and cared about him. Luke was always thankful for them.

Michael glanced over at Luke then back at the road. He and Calum hated to see Luke in pain. They hated it but for as long as Michael had known Luke, that was the only side of Luke he really knew. Sure he'd seen Luke in better moods but he'd never seen Luke truly happy. He wanted Luke to be happy again. He wanted to see Luke smile a real smile. When Michael first met Calum, Calum told him that Luke used to sing. Michael wanted to hear Luke sing.

But Luke hadn't sang in three years. So neither Michael or Calum ever got their hopes up. They loved Luke and wanted to see it happen one day, but they were never too hopeful about it.

In the short 10 minute drive, neither Michael or Luke spoke. Both of them we're fine with this. Luke more than Michael however.

Once Michael pulled up to the library, he finally spoke.

"You want me to pick you up after you're done work?"

Luke shook his head. "No. I'm fine. Thanks though."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It's a nice day. I can walk. I don't mind walking."

"Okay. Well have a good day."

"Thanks. You too."

Luke pushed open the door and half heartedly smiled at Michael before closing the door and making his way up to the doors. He walked inside and quickly got behind the desk then sat down.

For the first hour of his shift, it was a normal and quiet time. Nothing irregular. Just the way Luke preferred it.

Then, while Luke was reading his own book, someone spoke.

"I hear that's a really good book."

Luke choked a little on the coffee he was drinking. He lowered the book and looked up with his wide, unblinking eyes to see Ashton standing in front of him.

Ashton smiled a sad smile then spoke again.

"Hey Luke."

~

Anxiety is dumb and I want to die

Anyways that's enough from me

-Ash