detraction (l.h.)

four

It hadn't occurred to Luke that midnight was approaching, and Michael's roommate was going to come around soon with the "good stuff". At the point, he was up for anything but doesn't think it's possible to get any higher than he is right now. Something about the idea of his friend approaching twists his brain, stomach, and heart into knots. Knots became neurotic, and he eagerly broke the silence between the three after his diss at Trish, "So Mikey, isn't this roommate of yours supposed to be arriving soon?"

The formality in his words made Calum laugh. Michael soon joined after processing what Luke had said, "Oh yeah. She usually comes out through the back; let's make our way there. Damn, time passes fast when you're having fun. It was only nine, like, ten minutes ago."

'She?' For some reason or another his mind lingered into what sort of girl would have an endless supply of psychedelic drugs. Perhaps, his conservative upbringing had a negative effect on his view on women. He could see himself fucking a girl with scanty clothes and a drug problem, but definitely not dating one. His dad always told him, "They're for the bad men with bad taste. You're a good man, so you'll attract good women. I can't even see you having this problem; they're probably well-aware that you're too good."

"Hey mate, you never told us you're bringing another girl around. If she's anything like the last one, we're not sure she'll be cool," Calum had said rather rudely.

Michael glares him down for a bit, "Don't talk about Trish like that. She's smart as hell. And Trish and Hades are way different though. You'll see she's not as uh...condescending."

Hades was a name Luke has never heard of outside this stupid Greek mythology course he took in Grade 6. Hades was described as the devil equivalent, and it had him wondering if that was just a nickname given to her. Even if it was, how she could've gotten something that means Satan was beyond him.

Their journey continued at a rushing pace that had Luke tumbling over his own laughter, his mind boggled. Soon enough, they're at the back entrance. Cement walls surround them into a huddle of smoke and giggles. Michael suddenly perks ups at the first few notes of song, "You guys, this was my emo anthem back when I was 15."

"What is it?", Calum asks, genuinely curious. Luke knew what the song was, but his friends and family would laugh at him if they knew he listens to early-2000s emo music.

Michael fake gasps, "This is Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance. It's a classic."

"I know it," Luke speaks up quietly, "I still listen to it sometimes."

"This is shit you stick to when you're 15 and fat, dude." Michael looks down at his phone, "Hold up. Hades wants me to go and grab her upstairs."

Cal nods and then presses his foot up against a wall, "Luke, how are you liking this so far?"

"I feel so weird."

"I can tell. You're being so not you. Or the you that you've shown me."

Luke just nods, and looks down. Everything was so fast in here. He was fast. The women were fast. The men were fast. And Michael was fast at bringing his Hades.

"Hey, you're Luke and Calum," she stated matter-of-factly. Luke eventually looks down at the girl. Everything became slow in his mind. He was so drawn to her, and she was so not him. Although he had to look down to be eye-to-eye with her, there was nothing about her that screamed 'small', and there was something in her that made him feel so inferior.

"Your friend is staring at me, Cal," she laughs in his face. A tad bit of spit came from her mouth, and it was then that he notices that she has braces. Also, that he's been focusing on nothing but her for the past four minutes.

Calum smacks him in the back, startling him, "Sorry."

She peers at him, squinting. Suddenly, she grabs ahold of his hand and smiles, "Do you wanna chill in the smoking room?"

He was taken aback by the offer, but eventually gave in and followed her bouncing figure.

Calum and Michael stood around stunned. The red-head spoke, "They're not going to hook up, by the way. I mean, usually she doesn't do that sort of thing."

"Yeah, she doesn't look like it."

And Calum was right. Hades was definitely not the type of lady you'd look at, and think "slut." She sure as hell wasn't classy though. Her hair is nearly all black in the lighting, with the exception of a few blonde streaks running through grown-out bangs. Every article of clothing that adorned her was baggy, like her shitty Hawaiian shirt and shorts. Coming from her clothes were bony, short limbs making her stand at five foot one and 95 pounds. On top of it all, she had rather large head with a rather large nose. And freckles. Lots of them.

Hours had passed, and Hades had talked Luke's head off. But he soaked every word in like a sponge.

"My hair's naturally sort of curly, but the bleach I used when it was purple weighed it down and so it's straight. It's boring," she told him with her foot rested on his knee.

"I think it's okay," Luke responded.

"Well, you're a boring, horny dude," she giggled, "Well, okay. You're not boring compared to every dude here. No tattoos? Or weird hair color? A piercing would look nice on you, though. Get that."

"I've always wanted one actually."

"Really?!" she was so excited, it was kind of embarrassing for Luke, "Why don't you get it?"

"Because I'd get in trouble with my dad."

"Who gives a fuck? I don't give two shits what my parents like. You see, my dad uh he's a drunk," she raises an eyebrow and points, "Yeah, he's drinking right now. Or dead. I don't give a shit."

"Oh," the conversation topic was a little controversial for both of them, "My dad's the prime minister..."

"Good dad raised a good kid?"

"No," he laughs and bites his lip, "Not at all. I can't do shit with my life."

"I feel as if that's better than letting your kid do too much with their life, and waste it all away.

Guilt pours over Luke's system from then on, "Do you think you wasted your life away?"

"No. I'm having a great time everyday. My mom checks up on me from time. I don't like do drugs actually. Well, I smoke weed but that's all. Drugs are for fucking pansies."

"So you bring LSD and shrooms and shit to parties, but don't do anything with them?"

"Yes."

"Then what's the point?", Luke was genuinely confused, "You could easily get in trouble for having these and you're not even using them for fun."

"Wow, you're fucking stupid."

He didn't want to but his pride was too big to swallow, so he leaves the little couch they were sitting on.

This place will never be for someone like him, no matter how much he wishes it was. 

(A/N I hate to end this chapter on a boring note so im putting together a playlist as i write this and i'll put a link in the next part of the story :)))) )