Embers [Lashton]

Chapter 10

*Luke's POV*

Everyone's eyes are plastered to the bruises and cuts on my face. No one says anything. They just stare. Their minds are formulating inventive stories on how I got these marks. Most would assume it has to do with my father's work. They'd be partially correct. I wring my hands together, blinking at the board to remain focused.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I ignore it. It vibrates again.

Glancing around, I realize there's no way to check it without getting caught. Everyone was watching me anyway.

I raise my hand, the teacher notices because she was staring at me to start.

"Yes, Mr. Hemmings?"

"May I be excused?"

She doesn't answer verbally, instead she gestures to the door. I stand up, my chair squeaking against the tile loudly. The room is dead silent.

I quickly walk into the empty hallway and pull out my phone, lit up with two new messages.

Unknown number: if you think about telling your body guard, you're dead.

Unknown number: we know you don't have what we want. You know what that means for you. We'll be seeing you

I breathe heavily, rushing to my locker and throwing my phone inside. My fingers tremble as I slam it shut.

"Mr. Hemmings?"

I whip around to face the voice, seeing the principal staring at me with concerned eyes. Her bun is pulled back tight, seemingly pulling her thick eyebrows with it.

"I... Um. I had to use the bathroom," I scramble to find an excuse. She looks over the bruises on my face. The black eye, the cuts. Her arms cross and broadens the shoulders of her blazer.

"Are you alright?"

The simple question almost brings tears to my eyes but I nod my head.

"I'm fine," I reply. "I just had to use the bathroom."

She hesitates, "if you need to talk to someone, I'm very open minded."

"Thanks, I need to get back," the words sound shorter than intended, but I don't care. My feet skitter across the linoleum, leaving her to her thoughts as I suffocate in my own.

When I reach the classroom, everyone's eyes fixate on me. Some with looks of pity, others in curiosity. But no one speaks, and the teacher returns to the lesson. I flip open the textbook and start to study, thankful that my phone is away from me.

The day passes and I've gradually calmed myself, waiting in the room of my last class so some teacher is monitoring. These guys wouldn't be stupid enough to attack me in front of a teacher.

"Luke, do you need help with anything?"

I shake my head, offering up a smile.
"I'm just waiting for my cousin, he's going to meet me here."

The teacher nods, before returning the small grin. "Well, if you're going to be in here, you may as well get to work!"
An eraser is tossed my direction and the teacher motions to the chalkboard. I stand up and start cleaning. There's an unspoken comfort in the normalcy of this moment. No questions , no stares. Just normal.

A loud bang causes me to jump out of my skin.

"Hemmings!"

I whip around, only to be faced with Calum. He eyes my face sympathetically.
"Can we talk?"

"No, I don't want to talk to you," I mumble, bitterly turning back to the board.

"Luke, listen to me. It wasn't me!" Calum steps towards me and my anger flares, "Ashton even said so."

I spin around to face him, glaring at him so harshly, he retracts his hand on my shoulder.

"Stop lying to me! I thought I could trust you. But... But I can't trust anyone!" I snap, tears spilling from my eyes. My heart aches, desperately searching for someone to just hold me.

The door opens again, but I barely notice. The tears blur my vision as footsteps approach us. I realize the teacher had left once Calum came in and suddenly felt scared. I wipe at my eyes, only to see Ashton.

"Luke?" He asks simply, but it's enough to send me into sobs. Calum catches me in his arms and I cry against his chest.

"I didn't beat anyone up, Luke," he mutters into my hair, gently rubbing my back. "But I will the second I figure out who did this."