All About You / Luke Hemmings

Six: Whatever

AILAINA

I tap my pencil against my notebook to the beat of the song playing in the background. I look up to see Calum in a daze. "You okay?"

He shakes his head to snap back into reality. "What? Oh, yeah. Just thinking."

I push my math homework aside. Pre-cal can wait until later. "What about?"

Calum swivels in his computer chair to face me. "My Science Bowl project," he says.

"Oh yeah, how's that going so far?"

He sighs, slumping into his seat. "Terrible. We had to write notes today and of course, Luke shows up ten minutes before class ends. If he can't show up to class, how is going to help me with this project? 12% of my mark comes from teamwork, you know. I can't afford to lose that 12%."

I push myself off my stomach and sit on my bum, legs crisscrossed. "I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work. I mean, it couldn't be too difficult, right?" I say with even the slightest bit of hope, trying to reassure him.

"Now that I'm not too sure. I'm planning on asking him to come over tomorrow to work on it. If we start early, I might be able to get the entire thing done."

"There you go! You've got it all figured out."

•••

CALUM

I'm sitting here in Mr. Datzkiw's class scribbling down notes and doing research for the project I'm supposed to start tonight. I haven't been able to ask Luke to come over tonight because - as you could've guessed - he hasn't shown up to class.

The door creaks open then shuts close with a thud. The focus of each student in the room turns to see who has entered the class. Of course, it's the one and only Luke Hemmings. He always shows up last minute or not at all. I'm doomed for my project, I tell you. Doomed!

"Sup, kid," I hear over my shoulder as someone takes a seat next to me. I look to my right to see Luke who is now seated next to me. I roll my eyes at him. "Well that's no way to greet a friend," he chuckles.

"Not your friend, just your partner," I retort, gluing my eyes back to what I'm writing down on my paper.

Luke laughs again. "Thanks for doing the work today," Luke says and gives me a rough pat on the back, "and every other day."

"About that," I begin, "I'm going to need you to come over to my place tonight."

"And why would I want to do that?"

"Umm, our project?"

"I thought you've gotten that all under control?" Luke questions, taking an unlit cigarette and lighter out of the inside pocket of his leather jacket and places it between his lips.

I grab the lighter out of his hand, "You know you can't light those indoors, right?"

He snatches it back from me, "Thanks, mom. I appreciate the reminder."

I roll my eyes. "In order to maintain my grade for this class, I'm going to need you to help out. It is a project that requires teamwork after all."

"You're smart, you can do it on your own."

"No," I try to say as politely and firmly as possible, "you need to come over and help me out."

"I don't see why you can't just-"

"Is there a problem, boys?" Datzkiw asks from his desk, not caring that he put the entire class' attention on us.

"Nope, we're all good," I respond. I give him a sticky note with my address on it. "Just stop by sometime after dinner, okay? It'll only take an hour or two to start off."

"Whatever." Luke takes the note and shoves it on his pocket then turns on some sort of heavy metal playlist which blares through his headset.

I pop my earphones in to cancel out the sound of his music. Well at least I got him to help out, right? Good enough.



After school I text Ailaina and update her about the whole Luke situation.

Lains: He was going to smoke in class...?

Me: yeah he's so stupid. Like why would anyone think it's ok to do that INSIDE a building

Lains: Well at least he didn't.

Me: ya bcos I stopped him

Lains: Did you manage to get him to come over tonight?

Me: yep

Me: I basically forced him hahaha didnt rly give him a chance

Lains: That's good! At least he's participating. Text me when you guys are done and fill me in??

Me: for sure

•••
How do you guys feel about the different points of view?
Please listen to the lyrics in the YouTube video :-) I chose this song for Luke to listen to for a reason