Special (Cake AU)

Chapter One

A week. Just a week left. A week to think of everything that's about to come, every challenge, every class, every person. Once the week is over, off to school, away from any sense of security, for the last year. Last year until college.

Luke's mother didn't forgot to remind him.

"Luke, are you ready to start your 12th year in a week?" she said, in a much too cheery voice, with a fake smile forced on her face.

"Yeah." he mumbled, not looking up from the book he was reading. The Hobbit.

"I can't wait! Are you excited, too?"

Luke looked up, and stared ahead. He wasn't. Even though he loved mathematics, science, and literature, he couldn't stand the way everyone treated him. Some treated Luke like crap, others treated him like a little child. Then there were the ones who acted as if he was some alien from a foreign planet. He hated it.

"Luke?"

He continued to stare ahead, not focusing on his mother.

"Well...I'll just leave then." she sighed and left the room, slowly closing the door. She knew that he was probably stressed out about the upcoming year. But if only she could put herself into his shoes. If only she could see what he goes through every single day.

Luke's thoughts turned into the very few people who considered him their friend. There was Michael, who, last year, found him crying in the corner of the boy's bathroom. His other friend, Ashton came to his help, too. Both of them were nice and funny. They didn't make fun of Luke or baby him. They treated him like how he should be treated, like normal.

Luke was then introduced to their friend, Maliyah. She was a kind, pretty girl who knew people like Luke and was delighted to meet him.

Then there was his older brother. Liam.

He may have two other brothers, Ben and Jack, but none understood him like Liam. Everyday, before Liam went off to college, they would spend hours talking, studying, and playing video games. Liam wouldn't get mad if Luke was frustrated or having trouble understanding something. Instead, he'd help him until Luke would calm down. Every time Luke was bullied or hurt at school, he knew he could count on Liam to help him and talk some sense into those jerks. Liam was his best friend.

But those times are over with. Gone. When Liam went to the University of Sydney two years ago, Luke became depressed and the bullies at school got worse when they saw how vulnerable he was. His mum knew something was wrong, but Luke wouldn't say anything. His therapist, Mrs. Yates, tried to get him to speak up and tell her, but she couldn't. At speech therapy, Luke wouldn't say anything, he'd just stare ahead as his speech therapist tried to talk to him. It was like this for quite a while until Michael, Ashton, and Maliyah came.

But even when they came, Luke was still depressed. They knew about some of the bullying problems, and they'd usually put a stop to them. But they didn't know most. Because Luke didn't want to tell them. He felt like they were too worried about their own lives to worry about his. He felt like they'd be apathetic about it. He felt like it should stay in his head since he doesn't have Liam anymore. The before-college Liam.

Whenever Liam would visit, he'd always bring his girlfriend, Kianni. Luke wanted to talk to Liam about what was going on, and he tried to, but Liam was always too occupied with talking about college life. And Kianni.

Luke needed someone.

•

"Lucas, your friends are at the door!" Mr Hemmings opened his door.

Luke sat up. He had fallen asleep.

"Ok ok, I'll be there soon." He rubbed his eyes and got off his bed. The Hobbit was lying there, open at where he left it off. He picked it up and tucked it under his arms.