“Clive,” Stephen pointed toward the boy, “do you know how to work a computer?”
They were all sitting around the table as usual with Stephen fully utilising his powers as council president to set order.
“Uh…yeah?”
“Good. You’ll be taking care of the flyers for the drive. I want you to type out all the necessary details; venue, time, eligibility for donation and all the other bollocks.”
“Got it.”
“And use someone’s assistance,”
Carol beamed over at Clive when Stephen mentioned assistance. Clive smiled and nodded.
They were soon dismissed and made their way out of the council room.
“Hello,” Clive smiled at Carol who had made her way to his side as they walked through the corridor.
It was Tuesday and they were told to start working by tomorrow.
Clive spotted Luke and Emily at their table and walked over to them, Carol in cue.
“Good! Clive’s here,” Emily said as she shoved her phone into his face, “boys in skirts, your opinion.”
“Uh…they’re alright?.” Clive replied.
“See I told you they’re cute.” Emily said smugly as she retrieved her phone.
“I didn’t say they weren’t…I just told you not to show me the pictures.” Luke mumbled as he looked away.
Clive looked at him with amusement and when their eyes met Luke quickly looked away, his face on fire.
‘Aw is someone shy.’ well it was either that or Luke was a homophobe, Clive shivered.
“Oh hey Carol,” Emily smiled, only noticing the girl.
Carol smiled warmly in return as she redirected her analytic gaze back to Luke.
“So how was…” Emily paused in thought, “whatever it is that you do in that meeting.” She completed it with a smile.
“Clive and I are working together on the flyers for the drive!” Carol chirped.
“Oooo” Emily said as she wiggled her brow.
Clive just smiled and Luke just looked back and forth, not sure if he was on the same page as the rest of them.
“Right!” Emily nearly yelled as she abruptly got out of her seat, “I’ll see you lads tomorrow.”
“And hope you two have fun.” She said with a wink, her words causing Carol to blush.
There was something terribly wrong and Luke could sense it.
Clive waved Emily goodbye and redirected his attention towards Luke and Carol, “Right we need to be heading home as well.” He said as he walked over to Luke and yanked his arm.
‘Damn right.’ Luke thought as he got off his seat.
“Oh! Yes! I’ll see you tomorrow!” Carol said, a tad bit embarrassed.
She looked up at Luke and muttered a bye before literally running away.
“Sweet girl.” Clive said with a soft smile.
“Uh…yeah” Luke replied as he placed a protective arm around Clive’s shoulder and pulled the boy into his side.
They made it out the gates and walked the streets draggingly.
“I’ll have to stay a bit later tomorrow.” Clive turned to look at Luke.
“Oh that’s alright. Emily and I are making s’mores.”
“You’re not staying?” Clive asked sadly.
“I am.”
Clive sent him a quizzical look.
“We’re using a lighter.” Luke shrugged.
Clive chuckled and looked at Luke adoringly, “you’re sweet.”
‘Ha take that Carol!’
Luke smiled triumphantly.
•••
It was the next day, Wednesday to be precise and school was done for the day. Like every other day since Clive and Luke had become friends Clive stood outside Luke’s final class of the day so they could leave together, like the best friends that they were.
“I mean look on the bright side you won’t have to be on the field sweating away” Luke shrugged as the both of them made their way to the computer lab.
Clive hadn’t complained about having to miss track practice because of the drive and he didn’t know why Luke thought that way.
“I know, I know,” Clive chuckled.
Carol was already in the lab and when she caught sight of Clive at the door she sent him a shy wave.
“I’ll be with Emily.” Luke said.
“Making s’mores with lighters,” Clive said teasingly.
“Luke, that can’t be safe.” His voice was laced with concern this time.
Luke softly shoved him to the side with his shoulder as he walked away.
“Is he going home?” Carol asked once Clive walked over to her.
“Luke? No, he’ll be waiting outside.” He said with a smile, smiling more over the fact that Luke decided to stay even though Clive would be long.
•••
“So we’re supposed to eat this?” Emily asked as she and Luke stared at the charred remains of the marshmallow.
They looked at each other and shrugged instantly putting it into their mouths.
“I’ve never had s’mores before, is this supposed to taste this shite?” Luke asked with a grimace.
“Well first off, the chocolate we got? Bitter as fuc-”
“Emily?”
Emily turned in her seat to face the person who had interrupted her.
“Oh? Hello?” She sneered at her ex boyfriend Nasir.
“Can we talk?” He said completely ignoring Luke and the mess they had made on the table.
‘Good to know I’m not a potential threat’ Luke thought bitterly…like the chocolate.
Everyone has (at the very least) an ounce of self respect but that’s the thing about Emily, she doesn’t. Yeah she was all sassy at the moment but even Luke knew she would give it all away to be with Nasir again.
They stood a few metres away from Luke as they threw arguments back and forth. Luke didn’t want to be nosy but more than that he didn’t care so he just burnt random things with the lighter in hand.
“YOU HAVEN’T EVEN TOLD YOUR PARENTS ABOUT US!”
“EMILY YOU KNOW I CANNOT DO THAT!”
Luke had a good mind to tell Emily and Nasir to tone it down but he did not want to get in between that, and it didn’t look like he could just stay there and not listen to them so he decided to leave.
He made his way to the computer lab where he found Clive and Carol hard at work.
Luke just stood behind them as they worked on one of the computers.
“Oh hi,” Carol said once she noticed Luke looming over her shoulder.
He looked at her but before he could get in a word or smile she looked away awkwardly.
“Luke, what do you think? Should the venue be given more importance or the date?” Clive asked as he clicked away at the mouse.
It honestly didn’t matter to Luke but of course he was going to have a say, if Clive asked him.
“What do you think?” Luke asked Carol.
“Um…I was just saying how the date should be mentioned before the venue”
“See, and I think it should be the venue because these flyers aren’t only for the stude-” Clive tried explaining his opinion.
“Venue.” Luke said bluntly without a thought. He didn’t care for the bloody flyers, Clive should have known by now that Luke was always gonna be on his side. And maybe Clive did, one could say by the giddy smile on his face.
“Uh…okay, that does make a lot of sense.” Carol murmured more to herself than anything.
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