Chapter Text
Our lives don't collide, I'm aware of this
Luke had made it to school just as the bell went leaving him only seconds to get to his first class, he was fortunate surprised that he hadn't broken into a sweat from the insane panic that went through his head. He was never late, he made sure he was always there on time but this morning his mother wanted to talk to him quickly, leaving him running behind his normal, everyday schedule, it normally meant that Luke would have a bad day if it didn't start how he wanted it too.
Luke panicked inside, knowing he was being stupid, the teachers didn't ever care if pupils were late, Luke just liked to be on time. It was his own personal preference and he really did care about his school work like the good boy he was.
He made it to math class on time, having walked a little bit faster than normal, but not to fast, he didn't want people to think he actually wanted to go to class- not that anyone ever paid that much attention to the lanky shy kid, but just in case.
He took his seat on the second row, once again, not the first as he didn't want to look to eager. He actually did enjoy maths a lot, you could probably tell by the way he always does his homework on time compared to everyone else.
Luke always found himself getting carried away in the set work, bursting his head in his text book and scribbling out the answers easily, he barely noticed when 2 hours of maths passed and when the bell went for 1st break.
Luke smiled to himself before packing his text book and pens away and slinging his backpack over his shoulder, making his way to the canteen table he and Ashton always sat at. Ashton was a senior whereas Luke was only 16 but he always looked out for the blonde boy. He was his best friend.
Luke wasn't unpopular, just shy so the only person he felt comfortable talking around was the senior. They met in a music class when Luke was interested in playing guitar and Ashton was in there playing drums. They clicked since then as they discovered their similar taste in music.
"Lukey" Ashton greeted from behind the blonde who was sitting at the table already. Ashton ruffled his hair as Luke moaned in protest but couldn't do anything about it.
"I told you not to call me that" he pouted and Ashton thought his friend was the most adorable thing ever.
See, Luke had this certain look about him. His blonde hair and blue eyes gave him the classical innocent look that made you want to protect the young boy from the world and people around them. Thats what Ashton did and that's why Ashton stayed with the kid during breaks. He knew that if Luke was exposed to the truth about high school, about drugs and alcohol he wouldn't be the innocent blue eyed boy Ashton always wanted him to be.
"You'll always be my Lukey" Ashton smiled, his dimples making an appearance like always, Luke managed a small shy smile before looking back down at the table.
He sat opposite the blonde before making their usual conversation.
"How was maths then genius boy?" Ashton asked, knowing Luke would like to talk about it.
"It was so good, we did quadratic equations and they are my favourite and everyone else was struggling So bad and I managed to finish before everyone else and the teacher gave me an extension task and I even finished that so I have no homework" Luke rushed out excitedly as Ashton just chuckled at how the kids eyes sparkled at the mention of his favourite subject.
He loved the way Luke was so confident when talking about what he liked. He wasn't about to shoot him down and make him feel shy and hide what he likes.
"That's great Lukey, I've always known you're the cleverest out of this school of idiots"
"Well- I guess, I guess that I'm quite clever, but only when it comes to maths" he mumbled, looking down at the table.
Ashton sighed as the blonde boy lowered his gaze to the table, his head and shoulders dropping slowly and making the boy look younger than he was and defeated.
"Luke, you're the cleverest person I know okay?-" Ashton said seriously, urging the boy to look at him.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Luke looking at the table and Ashton scanning the cafeteria. His eyes landed on Michael Clifford, who was smirking in Luke direction, staring out at him as if urging him to look his way. Ashton frowned to himself wondering why the hell Michael Clifford was staring at Luke. Luke of all people. As far as Ashton knew, Michael had no idea who Luke was and Ashton wanted to keep it that way. He didn't want Luke any where near the guy.
Luke was oblivious to Michael's stare, never paying attention to his surrounding as he didn't like making eye contact with anyone who wasn't Ashton.
"Luke" Ashton almost whispered. He didn't want to startle the boy, so spoke as softly as he could.
Luke looked up slowly.
"What?" He asked quietly, nibbling his bottom lip nervously like he normally did and pulling the sleeves of his sweater down passed his hands.
"Why is Michael Clifford staring at you?" Ashton asked almost harshly.
"W-what?" Luke stuttered, his bright blue eyes wide and alert, looking like a dear in the headlights before a red tint made its way from the tips of his ear to his cheeks.
"Why is Michael Clifford staring at you?" Ashton repeated.
Luke took a moment to process the words.
"I don't know" he mumbled, blushing , he didn't like attention and didn't want to think that Michael Clifford of all people was staring at him.
"Stay away from him, okay?" Ashton warned. Luke sat there confused. He had never spoken to Michael in his life, he was too intimidating for Luke to even cast a glance at.
"I've never spoken to him in my life" Luke said confused "he's probably just looking at something behind me" Luke started to worry, becoming insecure and nervously glancing to both his sides.
"No, he's definitely looking at you" Ashton said.
"Don't be silly" Luke said chuckling nervously, trying to change the subject and laugh it off so Ashton would stop freaking him out.
Ashton was concerned now. It had been almost 2 weeks since that day in the cafeteria and Ashton had taken it as his own job to look out that extra bit more for Luke.
He always caught Michael staring at the blonde kid, with that same stupid smirk on his face, in the hallways - leaning against his locker casually while a group of his friends talked around him, in the cafeteria, after school as Luke made his way to Ashton's car.
Ashton always caught Michael's stare and glared back at him, while the bright haired boy smirked before sauntering off throwing one last glance at the blonde kid and some times raising his eyebrows at Ashton.
Michael got the message Ashton was sending him every time. It's as if When Ashton was around Luke, there's no way that Michael could get to him and Ashton made pretty damn sure that there was no way Michael would get within a few feet away from him.
Sadly, well to Ashton, he couldn't always look out for the blonde kid as it was impossible to follow him every where, he was after all three years older and had different classes to attend.
Luckily Luke wasn't in any of Michael's classes because Michael was also a senior, sharing a few classes with Ashton. So there was no way Michael would get to the kid during lesson time.
But of course Ashton had to stupidly forget his music theory homework on the kitchen side at home in a rush to get his siblings to school. He of course had to pay the schools consequences of detention during lunch break.
All throughout his detention, He couldn't help but worry about the blonde boy he had left alone. Luke was probably wondering where he was and why he didn't at least tell him where he would be. But he was also worried that he wasn't there to look out for Luke or meet Michael's stares at the blonde boy.
Luke kept his head down, locking then unlocking his phone again the next second to check the time for the seventh time. It was 13:07. Ashton was never this late to lunch which made the blonde boy worry. Normally Ashton would text him or at least tell him if he wasn't going to be there. Luke worried whether the people around him thought he was even more of a loser now.
Someone slid into the seat opposite him. Luke finally sighed in relief.
"Ashton-" he cut himself off his cheeks flushing pink. "Oh" His shoulders slumped and the blonde boy tried to make himself as small as possible, too insecure to look up and meet the eyes of the brightly coloured hair boy who definitely wasn't Ashton.
"Hey, Ashton has detention" Michael said, intensely looking at the blonde boy, urging him to look back but Luke carried on staring shyly at the table. He wasn't good at speaking to new people, especially as Michael was intimidating. "I'm Michael" he said, trying to prompt Luke.
"Luke" he mumbled back quietly.
"I know" Michael smirked.
"Oh" Luke said quietly. Making Michael huff, the blonde kid obviously didn't like talking.
"So... You're a sophomore?" Michael asked, although he already knew the answer.
"Yeah and you're in Ashton's year"
Luke mumbled.
"Yeah... So Lukey..."Michael said seeing Luke's head snap up at the nickname only Ashton and his family call him. Michael smirked at this. "There's a party tonight, you should come, bring Ashton"
Ashton had just walked into the canteen as quickly as possible. His heart dropped when he saw that Luke wasn't alone at their usual table. In fact Michael fucking Clifford was there and Luke, Luke was actually laughing with him and making eye contact.
"Luke?" Ashton said sitting right next to the blonde.
"Ash"
"Uh I had detention sorry'
"Michael told me" he blushed. While Ashton glared at Michael. "H-he invited us to a party tonight" Luke smiled shyly. "Can we go?"
Michael looked to Ashton expectantly.
"Absolutely not Luke" Ashton said sternly. He wasn't about to take Luke to one of Michael Clifford's parties. He knew what happened at them, he heard stories.
"P-please Ash. I've never been to one." The blonde boy looked at him pleadingly.
"What are you? His mother?" Michael smirked. Luke turned red at his comment.
"No. He's not, he's just- just..." Luke wasn't sure what to say so trailed off into silence.
"Then you don't need his permission." Michael smirked gaining another glare from Ashton.
"Please Ash" Luke asked again. Whenever Luke used to ask about parties, Ashton always warned him about the dangers but he obviously didn't listen.
"Look. You can go if you really want to Luke, I can't tell you what to do, but I'm not going with you" Ashton said although part of him wanted to but he really really hated parties and he also really really hated Michael Clifford.
"Ash please come with me"
"No Luke"
"Fine" he huffed to himself, a small pout on his lips. Ashton nearly gave in right then and there but he didn't.
"Don't worry lukey, I'll look after you" Michael said, a small smirk on his face.
He met Ashton's glare, smirking before getting up from the table.
"See you tonight Lukey"