Lucas ✔️

Ten

Amy found me after classes finished, as she said she would, Shax trailing along behind her with a scowl across his face. I stood there awkwardly, just outside the doorway of the classroom as Janie looked between us nervously. She let out a shaky laugh as Shax looked her up and down before he looked at me, doing the same. I felt horribly underdressed suddenly, my unwashed hoodie feeling less comfortable with each moment his gaze lingered on it in distaste. 

Sorry we don't all have amazing bodies and amazing clothing to show it off, I thought, narrowing my eyes at his fashionable, yet still black, attire. That was a bit of a lie since I did have fashionable clothes at home - I did use to care about my appearance, after all. Just not anymore. 

Whose fault is that, Dad? 

Amy cleared her throat and elbowed Shax not-so-discreetly before sending me a sweet smile. 

"So," she breathed, looking at Janie as she talked. "Are you going to come too?" Her question was innocent, but Janie looked like she had just been shot and shook her head quickly. 

"Nope, sorry. I- uh, have plans," she finished lamely, her voice quivering. I have no idea why she was so nervous, but I chalked it up to the intense look Shax was giving her. I said goodbye, giving her a wide-eyed look that said I would call her later, and she ran off quickly.

"So, shall we go to the library?" I asked, clearing my throat and looking up to meet her eyes. She nodded her head and said nothing more walking down the hallway towards the library. "Are you coming, as well?" I asked Shax, briefly meeting his eyes before he rolled his. 

"Yeah, but I'm not helping you unless I get paid," he muttered, stomping down the hallway after Amy. I let out a deep sigh, blowing my cheeks out and shaking my head as I followed. God, what the hell had I gotten myself into? 

Amy had chosen a secluded desk in the corner of the library, but it still didn't shield us from the curious glances and intrigued stares, no matter how much I wished our black clothing could blend us into the shadows. 

Shax leaned back in his chair and dumped his feet on the table unceremoniously, pulling his phone out and tapping away on it again. I unpacked my bag, pulling out my books and pens, before sitting up attentively and looking at Amy. A small smirk spread on her face as she looked at me before she pulled my book over to her, flicking through the pages.

"What page are you up to?" She asked, looking across content I had barely glanced at.

"Aren't you taking the same class?" I asked with an eyebrow raised. She shrugged and threw the book back towards me, it slamming on the desk and sliding until it reached me, causing a few straight-A students to glare at her disapprovingly. 

"Yeah, sure," she said with a laugh. "But I don't pay attention, I just know the answers." I nodded my head as though that made sense, even though it didn't, and opened it to the stuff we were working on today. 

"This is what we did today, but I'm, like, a few months behind, so we might need to start elsewhere," I said, shoving the book back towards her. I honestly wouldn't care where we started, as long as I could scrape a pass in the finals. 

"How come?" She asked, looking at me curiously as she pulled the book towards her and skimmed over the pages. Even Shax looked interested, looking away from his phone and watching me.

"Oh, you haven't heard?" I said with a bitter laugh. "I mean, I know you're new, but in such a small-town news usually reaches everyone." Shax looked at me with his eyebrows raised, as though he were shocked at my tone. Amy looked interested still but said nothing, just looked at me and shrugged.