Kryptonite

Chapter 2: Complicated

L U K E

I always despised school.

Ever since I was a kid, I'd find excuses not to go. They mostly always failed and I was still forced to go and deal with certain teachers who really should at least act like they give a crap about their students and my so-called 'friends.'

My only real friends would have to be Ashton and Calum. They're the only people I can tolerate. The other people I hang out with are people who frequent parties like I do, they somehow always found a way to include me in their plans.

I was at my locker, grabbing the textbook I needed for my next period, when somebody called out my name "Luke!" I turned and and spotted Kyle, Jenna, Mark, Stacy and Eddie walking together down the hallway "Hey." I said, barely sparing them a glance before I went back to fixing my backpack.

"Why so gloomy, Hemmings?" Stacy grinned. I sighed, remembering the reason I was in a mood in the first place. "I got a C on the damned Math quiz."

"You got a C and you're already stressing? I failed that test." Jenna snorted, obviously not caring. When I first met Jenna, I got the impression that her focus in academic life was close to non-existent, and as I got to know her, turned out I was right. Most of the time, she didn't even make an effort to pull her grades up.

"I thought you would try and study to make up for your other failed tests?" Eddie gave Jenna a look, almost disappointed. Eddie and Jenna had a somewhat love/hate relationship, mainly because Eddie was the group genius, according to everyone else.

"You coming over Mark's this weekend?" Kyle suddenly asked, wrapping an arm around Jenna's shoulder. Given Jenna's efforts in looking like a movie star every day and Kyle's charms plus the reputation he'd built for himself around campus, it wasn't a shock that the two were dating. "We're having a few beers, invited a few people."

They were a group I barely wanted talk to, unless I was drunk. They were great to be with at parties though. "Yeah, sure."

"Hemmings, your little friend is here." Mark said, all of them turning around to see Calum walking down the corridor with his backpack hanging off his shoulder.

"Hey." I greeted him once he was close enough, sending a small smile. He gave one back. "Ashton told us to swing by his house after school." Calum said, not even acknowledging the others. It wasn't because he was being impolite, he had a very good reason for ignoring them.

"Aww, not even a simple hello to us?" Kyle grinned, but it wasn't friendly by any means. Mark slung his arm over Calum's shoulder. It took a lot of power not to shove him away. "I heard that you aced the quiz. You really are such a genius, Calum." He began to pinch Calum's cheek. Calum simply shrugged the arm off, looking bored of the situation.

"Want to walk to class with me?" I asked Calum before anyone else could try and annoy him. The moment we passed them, Eddie mumbled under his breath, "So f*****g weird, man."

I turned around, simply raising an eyebrow at Eddie to let him know that I heard him and that he really should try and not bother Calum. Eddie's jaw locked before he started walking off with the rest of the group.

Once we were a fair distance away, Calum decided to speak up. "Eddie seems afraid of you."

"I don't think he's really afraid. There was this dumb thing I did before, and he was the only one from their group to actually see it happen."

"Was this thing the reason you went to school with a busted lip that one time?" Calum asked, a hint of worry present in his voice even if that was a long time ago.

I smiled apologetically. "Eddie and I were both drunk, I got irritated at something he said, can't remember what it was though. Long story short, we may or may not have punched each other. But we've settled it now." I did my best to say it as nonchalantly as I could. Calum still glared at me like I was the stupidest person he knew.

"I knew you were impulsive at times, but fighting? Really?" Calum sighed sadly, looking down at his shoes.

"Hey," I nudged him with my elbow, waiting until he was looking at me. "That was before. I was barely hurt. It's all in the past."

"You better hope so. I swear, if you somehow get into another one of those situations and get beaten up, I will personally add to the damage." Calum attempted to sound threatening. Key word: attempted.

"Okay, Calum, whatever you say." I laughed. Calum pursed his lips. "I am trying to be serious here! Why can't you take me seriously, Lukey?" He asked, pouting. We both entered our next class, which was English. The teacher wasn't there yet, so we both sat down at our seats which were, surprise, next to each other.

"Well, for one, your nickname for me isn't really adding to the whole serious aura you're aiming for," I said. Calum just rolled his eyes "And pouting doesn't help either."

"I hate you," He grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. I laughed, poking the boy's cheek. "You love me." I said in a sing-song voice. He tried to ignore my insistent poking, until I started poking his sides. Being ticklish, he couldn't ignore me any longer.

"Alright, fine! You win." Calum laughed, pushing my finger away. "You're lucky you're my best friend."

My chest seemed to squeeze in on itself. Best friend.

"Yeah, obviously." I mumbled, forcing a smile. Calum seemed to notice. He was about to say something when Mr. Way entered the classroom, shushing everyone as they got into the their seats.

"Alright everybody, let's begin today's lesson." He clapped his hands, all too excited. I stared straight ahead, pretending like I don't feel Calum's worried glances all throughout the hour.

---

"Guys, this is my boyfriend, Michael." Ashton gestured towards the green-haired boy. Michael had a very pale complexion, his green eyes matching his hair. He was taller than Ashton by a few inches. He was wearing a flannel shirt with black skinny jeans, some of the tattoos on his right arm exposed because of his rolled-up sleeve.

"Hi, I'm Calum. Nice to finally meet you." Calum was the first to introduce himself, extending his arm. Michael smiled. "Nice to meet you too, Ashton's told me a lot about you." He shook Calum's hand. before he turned towards me. "You must be the famous Luke. Luke Hemmings, right?"

I scrunched my eyebrows together. "Huh?"

"You're the dude the girls in my class were talking about." Michael looked amused that I didn't know. I was about to ask him what he heard, but Ashton cut me off. "Must've been one of your special partners, Luke." He smirked knowingly.

"Ohh." I realized "Uh, yeah, I'm that Luke." I said, shaking hands as well. "So, now that everyone knows each other, why don't I bring out snacks, yeah?" Ashton grinned, grabbing Michael's hand and dragging him towards the kitchen.

I made my way towards the outside of the house, hearing Calum closely behind. The cold breeze hits us, goosebumps appearing on my skin. It was already starting to get dark.

I took out the pack of cigarettes from my back pocket, wasting no time to light one up. Calum and I were both sat on the staircases that led to the front door of Ashton's apartment.

"You seemed quiet today. Troubles?"

I took a long drag before puffing it out, making sure it was away from Calum's face. He waited patiently for an answer. "No troubles, just not excited to go home I guess."

"You can always stay with me," Calum reminded me. I nodded. "I know, and thank you. But I have to see my mom. Who knows what'll happen if I leave her with dad." I mumbled the last part. Calum looked at me with sympathy, he knew my dad was a touchy subject.

"Is he still, you know-"

"An asshole? Yep."

I had finished my first cigarette after a few more drags, lighting another one. The images of my father throwing and breaking stuff at our house while my mother tried to hold herself together just yesterday kept me quite for a moment longer.

Calum didn't say anything, and he didn't really need to. Instead, he took my hand in his and began to trace a random tattoo. I exhaled a shaky breathe, smoke coming from my mouth.

Calum knew everything, and he didn't say anything because he knew I didn't want him to.

I don't mean that in a bad way. I'd just rather keep that part of my life away when I was with my friends.

"Hey, you two," Michael said from behind us, shoulder leaning against the doorframe. "Ashton's been calling for you guys."

"Right, sorry." Calum stood, brushing off the dust. He looked at me "You ready to go?" It was more of a will you be okay?

"I'll be up in a sec." I answered. Calum gave me a worried look, so I shot him a smile. He nodded, understanding, before heading back inside.

"Ashton told me you two were in fact, not a couple." Michael walked down the small set of stairs, standing in front of me with a look that said he expected me to tell him otherwise. I finished off the cigarette before crushing it with my foot. "Yeah, Calum and I are just close, been friends for years now."

"Just close, huh?" Michael shrugged. "Honestly, it doesn't seem that way."

"What does it seem like?"

"You like him, don't you?" Michael asked, his voice implying as if he already knew the answer.

"It's complicated."

"It always is, isn't it?" He sighed. I heard laughter coming from inside, the laughter belonging to Ashton. Hearing this made Michael smile, it was almost too sweet to watch. I stood up, padding up the stairs. I was about to open the front door, when Michael asked again.

"But you like him, right?"

"I think I'm a little past the like stage, Michael"

"He seems to be past the like stage too, if you ask me."

"Believe me," I said. "It's not like that at all."