a lesson in romantics | c.h & l.h

chapter two

"you ran into luke? you mean, that luke?"
ashton was sitting across from calum in the cafeteria with wide eyes. it was the first time calum had told anyone about friday morning's encounter and it was now monday - luke wasn't at the bus stop that morning, much to calum's dismay.
"yes, now shut up about it. if michael finds out then i'll never hear the end of it."
a sly smile spread across ashton's face as he laughed softly.
"do you really think i won't tell michael?"
calum rolled his eyes and pushed his food around with a fork. as soon as ashton said michael's name, the boy sat right next to him.
"speak of the devil," calum muttered and looked up at his best friend.
"you will be telling me what exactly, ash?" michael questioned, shooting a curious glance to calum.
"cal pal here ran into his lover on friday morning," ashton wiggled his eyebrows and laughed. michael burst into laughter and proceeded to ask ashton a million different questions about what calum had told him, resulting in a lot of giggling from the two boys. calum just tried to block them out and eat his lunch, however was pulled out of his little bubble when he heard michael all but shout, "look calum! satan himself has decided to show up in school for once."
the brunette's eyes shot up and he looked to where his friend was pointing. there was luke, sauntering into the cafeteria as if he owned the place. and well, he basically did. he was accompanied by a girl, a beautiful platinum blonde, petite seventeen year old in a white chiffon number that reached just above her knees. calum recognized her as serenity daaè. she was the school's social butterfly, everyone knew her and everyone loved her. how she had come to befriend someone like luke remained a mystery to everyone but the pair. the two were inseparable, whenever luke decided to show up at school he would spend most of his time with the girl. a lot of people thought they were secretly dating, or screwing around, but calum knew better. serenity just seemed too innocent to be with a guy like luke, and if they were dating, luke wouldn't have a new hook up every other day.
the pair had entered the cafeteria and serenity skipped to the counter, purchasing lunch for her companion and herself. luke was running his eyes all over the large room, it almost seemed like he was looking for someone. calum's analysis of the situation was cut short by ashton's whining.
"why does serenity love someone like luke? why can't she love someone like me?"
the curly haired boy pouted and rested his chin in his hands. ashton had the biggest crush on serenity, a lot like calum's feelings for luke, and he was always very vocal about it to calum and michael.
"she's smart, i'm smart, she's sweet, i'm sweet, why can't she just love me?" ashton rambled on and michael rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "am i the only one at this table not whipped?"
calum gave michael the finger before glancing back towards luke. serenity had sat down at a table full of the school's most popular people, and luke was heading towards the back door. calum saw the outline of a lighter in the boy's hands - when he wasn't with his best friend he was either in detention or smoking somewhere.
ashton was still looking over at the girl when he made a decision.
"i'm going to go over to her and start a conversation. how hard can it be?"
"does she even know who you are? and what would you speak about?"
calum shook his head at his friend and warned him against it, but ashton had already began walking towards serenity's table. michael watched him with an amused expression, calum with a worried one.
"art. we have art together. that's what i'll talk about."
ashton strolled over to the table of the school's most popular students and with a nervous smile he stood right in front of the girl he was infatuated with.
"hi there, serenity, i'm ashton. uh, ashton irwin. we have art together." he faltered a little when he spoke, but thanked god that he managed to say a proper sentence.
the blond flashed a smile and nodded, looking across at ashton with her emerald colored eyes.
"yes! i see you in class, your paintings are extraordinarily great," her voice was silky and angelic, ashton could listen to her speak forever. "is there something you need?"
slight panic set in - the boy didn't realize he could get this far. he had no idea of what he could say. think, ashton, think, there must be something!
"yeah, uh, the um, winter projects! i've seen your drawings and i was hoping you could maybe possibly give me some tips on how to draw?"
his whole reply came out in one quick breath, and he inhaled sharply when he was finished speaking. one of the boys sitting next to serenity snickered, and the girl backhanded him on the shoulder softly. "don't be so rude," she turned back to ashton with a genuine smile.
"i'd love to! listen, i'm hosting a party at my house on saturday night, we can talk more about it there. bring a few of your friends along too, the more the merrier!"
ashton was awestruck, and with one last grin he hurried a quick thank you before running back to his friends and sitting down.
"well, how did it go?"
ashton held his head high and had the most smug expression on his face.
"i got us invited to serenity daaè's party."
calum almost spat out the hot chocolate he was drinking and michael froze in shock.
"you, ashton irwin, managed to get us invited to an actual party held by the most popular girl in school?"
calum and michael glanced at each other, furrowing their eyebrows in disbelief.
"yes i did. and you both have to come. even you, cal. luke will definitely be there."
it took a few minutes of planning (and convincing calum that parties were more important than sleep) but the three boys decided they would meet up on saturday evening and go to their first ever real high school party together. calum hoped that his friends were right, and that the possibility of seeing luke there was greater than his need to do well in school. it's not like one night would change anything, right?

a/n: if you want a visual on what serenity looks like, she's basically just a platinum blonde ariana grande from her victorious days with green eyes and vintage clothes.