Phoenix Love

One

I slowly raised my head from the wooden desk. My best friend, Lucas, still hasn't arrived. 
''Where is he?'' I muttered to myself, gaining the attention of Percy, my only real friend in common with Lucas. ''Why do you care? It's not like he's dead or summat. He's probably just runnin' late again, right?'' Percy joked, with no bad intentions. Despite that, I began to panic slightly. 
''Well- well, what if he is? Huh? what'll we do th-''
Before I could even get my last word out, Mrs. Weiler, the cover teacher, interrupted. ''Is there any news to share with the class, boys?'' I shook my head meekly. Percy, being less shy than I, grinned. ''No, ma'am. Just talkin' about Eli here's lover!''
I stared at him, wide-eyed. ''What?''
''You know, Lucas.'' 
''I'm straight, Percy! What the fuck?'' I covered my mouth, embarrassed, as the teacher looked incredibly surprised, and the class all gasped in shock. I, Elijah Jones, the good student, swore. And more importantly, I swore at the bad guy. 
''Elijah, would you please step outside for a moment?''
I swiftly raised myself, and stood outside of my classroom. I heard whispers of shock and questions rising and spreading throughout the room, with Percy being attacked by words.
Mrs. Weiler approached me, pushing her glasses up formally.
''Jones, is there something you feel you need to talk about?''
I shook my head once more, my cheeks burning up.
As I raised my head, I saw two very important things to me.
A teacher's disapproval, and Lucas. Lucas was slowly, and tiredly, walking over. His body was covered by a neon green hoodie and black jeans, the usual, but something looked different.
Something felt... off. His glasses weren't on and his hair was a mess, and his hands were in his pockets, but less than usual still. He was stressed. He pushed past the teacher and I, slamming his bag down by the desk and pulling out a book. That's new. 

By the time I'd have been allowed back into the room, the buzzer rang for a new class. In this case, it was History.
We'd just started learning about the Jim Crow laws. Not the best topic, but somehow, not the worst either. I, luckily, sat next to Lucas in that class. That'd be my chance to ask him what's wrong, I thought. If something is wrong, I know he'll tell me. And if he doesn't want to, well, that's tough luck for him. I'll figure it out. 
I begrudgingly walked to the class, my bag weighing me down. ''Eli! Wait up!'' Percy yelled from behind me. ''What'd that old bat say?''
''She said nothing important. She asked if I need to talk about anything. I don't, and so the conversation ended there.'' I said, shrugging my shoulders lightly. 
''Oh? Well, I guess she really is a bit loony.'' He grinned, darting ahead of me to the class.
How does he have so much energy? I sighed into my hand. Lucas was far behind me, so I decided to walk up to avoid conversation, at least until class begun.
''...Class F30... Great.'' I shook my head, walking into the class and sitting at the back, right where I belong. My seat was red, everyone else's is the plain gray colour of emotionless, moodiness and stress. Just like the students, in my opinion.  Red was the colour of passion, love and anger.
Honestly, not accurate.

I spent the whole of my lesson talking with Lucas, trying to figure out what was wrong. He'd told me first that nothing was wrong, and that he was just tired. When I'd told him I knew he was lying, he finally cracked- bit by bit, he told me what he was feeling. He told me three very important things.
One, he was stressed over moving boxes around all weekend.
Two, he couldn't stop crying anymore, and he wasn't sure why.
Three, in only three weeks, he would be moved houses.
Throughout the rest of the lesson, I stayed quiet. I couldn't process any of it.
He was going to move despite living here since we were babies? He was showing signs of depression? 
Am I really going to cry over this? My throat began to burn, and my eyes, water.
That's exactly why I ran out the class, and straight out of the school.
I know the teacher didn't let me.
I just couldn't handle it.

Maybe I'll just tell him later. Now's not the right time.