Ad Lib

2 | @xpanickedperspective

By the time lunch rolled around, Jemma had completely forgotten the events that took place earlier that morning. Placing her books into her locker, she checked the timetable written on her arm and tried to tighten the ever-present ponytail atop her frizzy head before she shut the locker door.

"Talked to Cameron yet?"

She gasped, spinning around. "God, Luke! You scared me!"

He chuckled, leaning against the lockers beside them. "I try."

She scowled at him, but couldn't help the smile tugging the sides of her mouth. "No, I haven't talked to him yet. I've got chemistry last - remember?"

He shrugged. "I remember now. Just saw you on my way to lunch. Grace is probably waiting for us. You ready to go?"

She tucked her dark curly hair behind her ear and nodded, feeling slightly shy for some reason. Why? Grace and Luke had been her friends since they first started primary school. She knew them like the palm of her pale hands - the cause of sitting inside reading all summer. "All set."

They headed off, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

Wanting to say something, but not knowing what, Jemma stuffed her hands in her pockets, forcing herself to find comfort in the silence she found awkward.

Hearing a sigh beside her, she looked up at her friend. "Something wrong?"

He glanced down at her for a moment, as if deliberating. Jemma held her breath without thinking.

Luke shook his head. "No. Everything's fine. I'm just tired."

She stopped herself from frowning. She noticed the hesitation before he spoke. The look in his eyes. He was hiding something. Something was wrong.

Oh well, she thought. It's his business. He'll tell us if he wants to.

Jemma looked down at the floor, watching his tall silhouette walk next to hers. Even his shadow seemed tense.

But that was that; they didn't speak again.

+ + +

"So the real question is," Grace dug her spoon into her yoghurt again. "is it really possible for ice creams to have three layers one on top of the other like they show on the advertisements?"

Jemma shrugged, "Who knows?"

Her friend shrugged, "Either way, I want one."Finishing her yogurt, Grace frowned. "I'm hungry for ice cream now. Do you wanna get some after school?"

Jemma looked across the table to Luke. He was deep in thought, his brown eyes studying the table.

"Luke? What do you think?"

"Huh?" He looked up, distracted. "What?"

Grace grinned at him, unconcerned. Jemma forced herself to relax, nothing was wrong; she must be overreacting. "Wanna get ice cream after school?"

Luke frowned, "Why are you getting ice cream? It looks like it's going to rain."

Jemma glanced outside, he was right. Which reminded her. "I can't come, sorry Grace. I need to look after Mrs. Meerson's kids again this afternoon."

Grace sighed. "Those kids will be the death of me. You never get to hang out after school anymore."

Jemma rolled her eyes, laughing. Typical Grace. "That's not true and you know it. Whenever I'm free you're always with your parents at another one of those dinner parties."

Grace's parents worked in a big hotel business and it felt like they were always in meetings or attending dinner parties. Grace never complained; Jemma knew if it was her she wouldn't either. The food they served was delicious even just to look at.

She shook her head to herself. That made no sense.

Grace grinned, "Well I'm never going to turn down the chance for a free all-you-can-eat buffet, am I?"

Even Luke grinned then. "You never change."

Grace dug a Mars bar out from her bag. "Nope. Never will."

Jemma checked her phone and stood up with a sigh. "The bell goes in a few minutes. I'm gonna go get my books."

Grace jumped up from her seat. "I'll come!"

Luke grinned up at her. "You're so excited for class... It's a little creepy."

Grace linked arms with Jemma and turned her head away dramatically. "I reject your criticism!"

Laughing, worries forgotten, Jemma and Grace flounced away from their redheaded friend.

"Want to come over this weekend?" Grace asked. "Meetings have been cancelled."

Jemma smiled. "I'll ask, but I think I should be allowed."

Grace smiled, then frowned. "Were you okay at lunch? You seemed distracted."

"Yeah." Jemma nodded. "I'm fine. Luke seems a little off, though. Has he mentioned anything to you?"

Grace frowned. "Nope. Best to leave him to tell us in his own time, though."

"Yeah..." Jemma sighed. She wasn't a patient person. "That's what I thought too."

"Jemma!" The girls heard a shout from behind them and both turned. Jemma recognised his voice immediately.

"Hey, Cameron."

"I wanted to ask about the homework we were given? I did pages fifty-six and fifty-seven—"

Grace watched Jemma laugh as she walked away with him. "Cameron, we were told to do pages sixty-six and sixty-seven!"

He stopped walking and winced. "Oh."

Grace grinned, shaking her head slightly.

+ + +

Edited for grammar.