faerie • muke [v slow updates]

5°

that day in school, luke spent the classes he didn't share with michael thinking of ways he could make his house more human-proof. all his faerie clothes were already hidden deep in his drawers under layers of regular clothes and school uniform, and his makeup lived under the bathroom sink where it could be assumed to be his mom's. his "unfinished" basement that guests weren't allowed to see was full of faerie-related things and had the highest ceiling luke had ever seen in a house that was blended in with human houses.

this was one of few perks of having a father that was high-up in the faerie world. he made money that he gave to the family he didn't have a lot of time for, so the hemmings house was nothing to sneeze at. it was modest, in a middle-class neighbourhood, but inside it held up-to-date kitchen appliances, technology, and rotating seasonal decorations. karen didn't need to work with the money they had, but it was beneficial for other reasons. working in healthcare helps you prepare for health emergencies, it helped with the human facade, and it gave her something to do.

"hemmings?" luke snapped out of his thoughts at his third-period teacher's voice.

"sorry sir," luke mumbled, looking down at his notebook.

"you've been called to the office. the period is almost over, so bring your belongings," the chemistry teacher said, turning back to the board.

luke quickly packed up, mumbling another apology as he left the room. on his way to the office, luke was intercepted by michael. "hey, i heard your name called throughout the school. why were you called to the office?"

"I'm not sure," luke said, wiping his hands on his pants. his anxiety was on the rise because he didn't know why the office wanted to see him.

"do you want me to come? there's still some time left in third period, and this is my spare after all," michael replies, moving to hug his boyfriend to comfort him. luke welcomes the embrace but declines the offer.

"i don't want any admin to see us together, and if you set foot in the office then they'll probably assume you're in trouble," the lilac-haired boy says.

"fine," michael complies. "but text me so i'm in the loop, okay? don't get too worried unless it's something to worry about."

"thanks, mikey," luke smiles, walking towards the main office. he's not sure how he got lucky enough to date michael, and despite hiding a part of his life from the other boy he did care about him.

walking into the office, all the secretaries greet him. he's on good terms with them all, which is nice. "head on back to ms. brady's office luke," one of them says. "she's waiting."

luke doesn't like the thought of the principal waiting for him, so he knocks on the door with a knot in his stomach. "come in," he hears, so he pushes the door open. "have a seat luke," the principal says.

after luke sits in the chair across from ms. brady's desk, she speaks. "i was supposed to tell you this a few days ago, but i was busy, and i actually now have two important things to tell you. do you want the good news or the bad news first?"

the thought of bad news makes luke's blood run cold. "good first, i guess," he says nervously.

"well, congratulations mr. hemmings, because not only did you get a full ride to the emily carr university of art and design, but they want to come and do an acceptance profile on you and the school. they loved you and your art," the principal says with a smile. her office phone then buzzes, a secretary's voice coming though.

"ms. brady, luke's mother is here. are you finished with him?"

she blinks before replying. "not yet, give me two minutes."

"thank you," luke says. "why is my mom here though?"

"yes, i was getting there. she called this morning to let us know that she was coming to pick you up. she says that your father was injured overseas and was being sent home. i'm sorry," ms. brady says, her voice having seamlessly changed from happy and proud to somber.

"i- okay, thank you ms. brady. can i get back to you on the university's student profile? i need to go," luke says as he stands up.

"of course, luke, go be with your family. thank your father for his service on behalf of the school, and i hope you're able to come back to school soon."

luke gives her a tight smile and leaves her office, making his way out of the main office altogether. his mom and josephine are sitting in some chairs just inside the office, and liz stands when luke comes out. "let's go?" she questions.

"i need to get stuff from my locker before we go, can i meet you in the car?" luke asks. liz agrees, taking her daughter to pull the car to the front of the school.

when they're out of earshot, luke calls michael on his way to his locker.

"hello?" michael answers on the second ring, sounding worried.

"my dad was injured in combat," luke says, working to make his voice sound wobbly. before michael can reply, he continues: "oh, and i got a full ride to emily carr in b.c."

"oh luke," michael replies, not sure what to say. he's not good with parent stuff, considering both of his aren't winning awards anytime soon. "congrats on the award though." he doesn't want to sound excited that the two could be together in british columbia next year, without parents to hide from.

"yeah, i'm leaving right now with my mom after i get my homework from my locker," he says.

"hold on, i'm coming to say bye," michael says, hanging up.

after luke unlocks his locker, he crouches at the level of his locker shelf to organize the books and binders he needs to take. michael walks up, and luke looks up at the footsteps.

michael almost melts at how sad luke looks. "i'll be okay. he hasn't died, so how bad can it possibly be?" the lilac-haird boy says, acting as though he knows what's really going on.

the dark-haired boy leans down and pulls luke up into an embrace, and in that moment luke wants nothing more than to tell michael everything. he resists though, shrugging off michael's hug to pick up his backpack. "sorry mikey, i have to go. see you soon, yeah?"

"okay, call or text me as soon as you can," he says, leaning against the locker next to luke's.

luke agrees, pecking his boyfriend on the cheek as he clicks his lock shut and turns to leave the school, unsure of the real reason his mother has pulled him out of school early.

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a/n: ok kinda awkward end but this is the longest chapter by like 400 words so we can calm down a bit here