august 08, 2014
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"so, lucas- is it?" michael spoke, breaking the extremely awkward silence.
luke nodded, still standing by the door, afraid to move.
"already giving me the silent treatment?" michael laughed. "that's gotta be a new record."
luke bit down on his lip so hard he thought it might bleed.
"well come here," michael said, "i won't bite- yet."
luke hesitated and shuffled his feet toward the red haired boy, avoiding eye contact.
michael stood up, the two boys realizing their drastic height difference. michael, who towered over tiny little luke, held out his hand for the small boy to shake.
"name's michael clifford. bipolar and intermittent explosive disorder. i'm already nineteen and i haven't gone through my- meant to be -eighteen year old matching ceremony because i've been stuck in here for three years." michael spoke.
luke finally looked at michael, locking eyes with him and shaking his hand. michael's gaze shifted to luke's wrist, which had been revealed when his sleeve moved slightly.
"nice wrist. what's your story, kid?"
luke cleared his throat and looked away from michael quickly, avoiding his beautiful green eyes.
michael sighed.
"let me guess- you don't talk at all."
luke nodded.
michael held up one finger as if to tell luke to wait, and climbed up onto his bed, pulling a whiteboard off of his wall and erasing the calendar he had written on it.
he hopped off his bed and held out the whiteboard and marker to luke.
"write something about yourself now."
luke nodded and sat on his own bed.
he began to write and after about a minute, held up the board for michael to read.
"my name is luke hemmings, i don't like to be called lucas by the way. i'm suicidal, have severe depression, panic disorder, and i'm selectively mute. i'm only seventeen and i hate to break it to you but it's only fair you know since we're roommates now- i'm gay. i was used for sex by my 'best friend' calum and i fell in love with the idiot. i knew it was stupid, and that i'm going to have to get over it because i know i'll be matched with a girl at the ceremony. four suicide attempts later- i ended up here." michael read aloud from the board.
he raised an eyebrow at luke.
luke sighed, knowing michael must be judging him for being gay.
he considered writing, 'don't worry, i don't find you attractive' on the board to get michael off his ass. problem was, he was very attracted to michael and couldn't bring himself to lie.
he didn't know that michael wasn't actually worried about luke being gay at all. in fact- michael was quite intrigued by luke. he'd never met someone who was gay before. it just didn't happen in this society.
"lights out!" the boys both heard someone yell from outside the door.
michael groaned and climbed into bed.
"you might want to get in bed gayboy, they might beat your ass if you don't listen." michael smirked.
