high score ✩ muke

0.6 - they're taking the hobbits to isengard

six; they're taking the hobbits to isengard

PLS watch the video after the reference in the chapter if u want to die

----

michael

i'd like to say i tried to concentrate in chemistry.

but that's a fucking lie.

while professor gomez was talking about acids and ions, my gaze was fixed on the clock throughout the entire lesson. my stream of consciousness consisted of lukelukeluke.

"michael, what's the formula for hypochlorite?"

"um," i mumbled, distracted. "SO4?"

"that's sulfate, michael," she corrected me. "but anyway, nice try!"

i just nodded, looking back at the clock. 30 seconds.

finally the bell rang and i immediately grabbed my things, making my way quickly to the door. i had one foot outside when professor gomez called me back.

i swallowed nervously, afraid she might ridicule me the way professor morgan had done earlier.

"michael, i know you're a really smart boy, but you seem to be a little rusty in chemistry," she said, with a smile that was anything but threatening. "now, i know you don't like to talk much, and it's only the first day, but if you don't start studying now you might fall behind."

i simply nodded, trying to fight the redness threatening to dye my pale cheeks.

"i think it would be helpful if i assigned you a tutor once a week, starting friday."

i nodded again, looking at the floor. "every friday?"

"i think it'd be a good idea," she smiled sympathetically. "i hope this doesn't discourage you, because you are a very clever boy, michael. but with a little tutoring you'll know your stuff inside and out!"

-

i was happy to finally leave class, but hated myself for landing a tutor the first day of school. she didn't even say who would be tutoring me. i took my Dragon Age lunchbox from my locker, sighing. i walked towards the cafeteria, ignoring any looks from my peers and searched for my friends.

i spotted them in the back corner with calum's computer between them. i lowered my head to avoid any attention and briskly walked to their table. "hey guys," i muttered, giving a small smile before falling into the chair next to ashton.

"mikey," calum laughed, wiping away his tears, "you have to watch this."

oh god, calum and his videos. "what is it this time?" i said, watching him with an air of annoyance. ashton began to laugh hysterically with him.

"believe me, you won't regret it."

ashton jabbed the replay button, and started laughing before the video even started up. the title read "they're taking the hobbits to isengard."

"christ, calum, you know the lord of the rings is my everything," i said.

"i know, so shut up and watch," he giggled.

a techno beat started, causing surrounding students to shoot us glares, but i was too busy laughing to notice. "they're taking the hobbits to isengard!" we all sang together, after watching the video for the third time.

"they're taking the hobbits to isengard!" calum shouted.

"gard, gard, gard, gard, gard," ashton joined.

i laughed with my idiot friends and decided to take part too. "the hobbits, the hobbits, the hobbits, the hobbits, to isengard-"

"michael?"

i froze in place by an angelic voice, pausing the video so fast i was afraid i broke calum's spacebar. i turned to see luke standing there, an amused look on his face.

i stared at him, realizing how stupid i probably just looked in front of the most attractive boy in the world.

"um," luke chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "i just wanted to make sure you were, you know, okay and stuff. after math and everything."

i nodded slowly, shyly, too embarrassed to talk. luke looked from me, to calum and ashton, and then back to me. "good. okay."

"luke, right?" calum casually asked, giving me a look.

"yeah. and you are?"

"calum," the kiwi gave a friendly smile before gesturing to the sandy blonde next to him. "this is ashton."

"nice to meet you guys. you're all sophomores?" luke shifted his weight from side to side, looking uncomfortable. maybe because we were younger than him? or maybe he didn't want to talk to a group of boys watching a lord of the rings remix repeatedly.

"yep," ashton confirmed.

"well, um, i should get back to sophie. my girlfriend," he smiled uncomfortably, but still shot me a small wink before heading off.

i exhaled, letting my head bang against ashton's shoulder. "we are such losers and now luke knows it," i groaned.

"hey, speak for yourself," calum scoffed. "i happen to be cool as fuck."

"sure, as long as people don't realize you're michael clifford's best friend. the mute loser."

"hey, stop calling yourself a loser," ashton frowned, lifting my head from his shoulder.

"anyway," i mumbled, starting to eat my lunch.

"hey michael," calum whispered, voice strained with what sounded like suppressed laughter.

"what do you want, calum."

"they're taking the hobbits to-"

"shut the fuck up."