it's just chemistry

twelve

                               (lowercase intended)

walking into class was something el loved to do, she loved school more than anything, it was her getaway, but now.. knowing mike had her chemistry notes she wanted to throw up. she felt unprepared even though she could do this in her sleep.

she walked in and sat in her seat, all the way in the back of class under the fan—which is probably why she's sick half of the time. the class started and she tried to follow along, her leg bouncing or chipping her already chipped nail polish.

she was fine until mr. clarke went around collecting homework

she wanted to cry, mike had her homework. she could hear his snickers and teasing while holding her notes. she seen him pull out a pencil and erase her name at the top, writing his own and handing it to mr. clarke "here you go sir, i think it's my best work yet" he looked over at el and sent a wink her way.. she's not a violent person, there's not a single violent bone in her body but she wanted to hurt him to where he needed a mickey mouse bandage.

mr. clarke looked at the paper and then at mike "my my michael, seems like you're understanding it pretty quick, good job"

then he walked over to el with a smile "eleanor, may i see your homework?"

she wanted to crawl in a hole and never be seen again, she couldn't say the truth, she just couldn't, the consequences would be too much for her to handle.

so she sunk in her seat and avoided eye contact "i um.. i didn't do it sir"

it was like the whole class gasped, yes no one paid attention to her, but they all knew she was one of those "teachers pets" since when does eleanor hopper not do the homework?

even mr. clarke was stunned, doing a double take "im sorry?"

"i didn't do it"

mike laughed once again and that was enough for el to grab her bag and walk out of the classroom. she's never done this before but she couldn't be in there any longer with him.

she ran down the hallway just to bump into one of mikes friends

lucas sinclair

"ouch—el"

her eyes widened and she looked up, shit "i-im sorry"

"it's okay" he shook his head with a small laugh rubbing his head "skipping class? this isn't like you?"

she stumbled over her words, she was aiming for crying in the bathroom stall and also eating her lunch there, this was not part of her unscheduled breakdown

"yeah—no um, i'm just not feeling well"

his brows dipped in confusion "are you okay? want me to walk you to the nurse?"

why was he being nice? i mean he was nice to her at his house.. he's not like mike, yet she's scared he could be..

"no um, i'm just.." there come the waterworks

lucas looked at her and then looked around before wrapping an arm around her shoulder "come on, let's go sit outside"

she didn't respond, just nodded and let him take her, she felt okay with lucas, she didn't feel like heart pouncing anxiety when mikes around, lucas felt like.. coming home to a warm batch of cookies

they walked to his car and he opened the door for her, letting her sit down before inside before he sat down and started the car "what music do you like?"

she looked at him with furrowed brows "what?"

he laughed quietly handing her the aux "put on whatever you want to calm down"