Luke had never looked forward to a Monday morning before, but he just had to see Clive again.
They didn’t get to do much after the film, Luke simply dropped Clive home, of course sending him off with the remaining bags of crisps and what not.
Clive had promised to return his clothes back next time he saw him and no, that wasn’t the reason Luke wanted to see the boy. In all honesty he’d rather have Clive keep the clothes, like some sort of reminder of Luke.
‘God that’s creepy.
It’s not like you’re dead Luke.’
Luke was in class now paying absolutely no attention to the teacher who kept yapping about figures of speech or something whilst Luke had his chin resting on one palm reminiscing Friday night.
‘He wants to get to know me better…first?’
He had said ‘first’? What did that mean? Like the first person who ever tried to be Luke’s friend maybe?
‘Awfully sweet of him.’ Luke smiled as he felt his insides warm up for the umpteenth time since he had spent time with the other boy.
He’d have Clive over any day. It wasn’t that hard to convince his parents that he was having a friend over and that they’d have to stay out longer. Yes he really did have his parents out for a whole day just so he could have Clive over.
“How was your date then?” his dad had asked, his mum eagerly awaiting Luke’s reply as she made her way into the room behind her husband.
They were quite disappointed when he let them know that he had actually only had a friend over. They felt they had stayed out for nothing.
Luke wasn’t sure what he was going to tell Clive when he saw him later that day. He couldn’t possibly suggest they hang out again even though that’s all Luke wanted. He wanted to get to know Clive just as Clive had suggested the other day but Luke just didn’t know how he’d bring it up again. It didn’t matter, it’d be enough if he could just see the boy for a few minutes.
•••
Clive sat with a few of his friends during lunch, disinterested in both the sandwich that sat before him and the conversation at the table.
They were planning on getting into some night club without IDs. Clive would love to go but honestly? It wasn’t his scene. A room full of sweaty drunk people? Hard pass.
He’d much rather stay at home doing homework or maybe hanging out with Luke. Luke was so much more his pace well at least the other boy made it seem like it. Clive was still doubtful of Luke’s intentions or his personality in general, the boy was such a charmer he could charm his way into anyone’s heart even without uttering more than 3 words. His disposition had Clive hooked, he really did want to understand him better…well that’s what he told himself, any excuse to be near the other boy.
He debated on whether he should have Luke over later in the guise of doing homework or something but didn’t want to seem too clingy.
He sighed but no one really noticed, they never did. Everyone thought Clive had it good and maybe Clive did but there was always this part of him that was never content, he felt a great deal of comfort when he could interact with people one on one. He was the kind of person who’d feel alone even in a room full of people
And despite being everybody’s friend he always wished he could have that special someone who he could truly be himself around, someone he could have all to himself…maybe someone he could love.
Clive got himself out of his seat, he was going to look for Luke. He hadn’t seen the boy all morning for some odd reason, hopefully he wasn’t trying to avoid Clive after the failed attempt at a one night stand. Clive found himself frowning, leave it to him to come up with the most bizarre theories known to mankind.
Maybe there was nothing suspicious or weird about his relationship with Luke and if there was then he’d find out today. He was going to have Luke over and nothing was going to stop him.
•••
School was done for the day and to Luke’s utter surprise he hadn’t run into the curly haired boy all day. It would be quite the exaggeration to say dread filled Luke’s being but that was somewhat exactly what was happening.
Call him dramatic but Luke couldn’t help being paranoid about Clive leaving him. Was it abandonment issues? To hell with the psychological aspect of his sorrows he needed to act quickly.
He rushed his way and made it out despite the bustling corridors, looking at his wrist to see the time.
He never wore a watch. Great.
He just stood there by the large doors of the school looking through the mass of students hoping to find a head of soft curls walk out.
At first he waited for 2 minutes, then 5 minutes and then a whole 15 minutes. The school grounds looked almost deserted save for a few students scattered here and there.
Had he somehow managed to miss the boy? Or did Clive have to stay back for something? Strange, Luke was sure Clive was free on Fridays and Mondays. Guess he’d just have to go home now. He lifted himself off the wall. ‘You massive pillok, you’re 80% frozen now.’
Why hadn’t he just stayed in.
Clive on the other hand was wiping off the sweat that had formed on his brow.
‘Where. Could. He. Be.’
He had been to Luke’s final class for the day only to find it with every other student but Luke. He couldn’t have missed him by mere seconds now could he? Luke couldn’t have been in that much of a hurry.
‘Arsehole, he ditched me.’
Clive had been to every other room in their tiny school and still no sign of the boy, he even made it onto the field in hopes of finding Luke relaxing on one of those benches like the effortless model he was. But to no avail.
Luke had left.
Feeling a great sense of defeat Clive was now walking through the narrow familiar corridor that led to the school doors. He was in a foul mood, one could say because he didn’t smile at anyone as he made his way out. Not that there were many people anyway, he had spent over 20 minutes looking for Luke. A waste of time.
He was beginning to fully regret his actions when he caught sight of a familiar figure.
“LUKE YOU PRICK!”
Luke flinched and slowly turned to face the boy he had been waiting all this while to see, standing on the stoop.
Clive quickly made his way to Luke’s side and sent the boy a glare. “Where have you been!?” He demanded answers.
Luke was taken aback but could not help the chuckle that left his lips at the sight of the other boy who had steam coming out of his ears.
“Waiting” he replied rather vaguely.
“For?” Clive asked, his face still twisted into a frown.
“You?” Luke had asked, wasn’t it obvious?.
‘No ’cause for real, who else?’ It was sad but true.
“Oh.” Clive said with a smile, waving it all off like his fit 2 seconds ago never happened.
“You’re red.” Luke said as he pressed his finger against Clive’s cheek, just to make sure if he was as warm as he seemed to Luke.
“Bloody hell!” Clive flinched at the contact but quickly grabbed Luke’s hands, holding them in his warmer ones.
“You’re freezing” he almost whined as he frantically began rubbing Luke’s hands.
And as Luke was still trying to process this, Clive held Luke’s hands to his mouth and began to blow into them.
Clive was turning redder by the second but one couldn’t say if it was due to his frantic huffing or the fact that to an onlooker it’d look like he was making out with Luke’s hands.
Meanwhile Luke was caught up in one of his trances, his hands were now way warmer and with Clive’s every huff the sides of his palm would come in contact with the other boy’s cheeks.
‘Oh his warm soft cheeks.’
It was official, Luke was a creep. He’d learnt to accept that and now he didn’t want to do anything more than press his fingers flush against Clive’s cheeks, maybe even get a hold of his face…and plant a cold kiss to the boys forehead. The warmth Luke would feel against his lips would have him on cloud 9 in no time.
Clive let go of his hands to Luke’s utter dismay .
“Much better now I suppose.” He said and looked away shyly wondering what on earth was wrong with him, not one day went by without him totally embarrassing himself in front of Luke.
Luke felt warmer, both on the inside and the outside. But his inner creep wasn’t having this sudden withdrawal of hands.
“No. Still cold.” He bluntly stated before taking Clive’s hand firmly into his and intertwining their fingers.
Cue the butterflies.
Clive physically couldn’t handle how violently the butterflies in his stomach had taken flight, he wouldn’t be surprised if he just fell to the floor that instant.
He wasn’t even sure what sort of facial expression he was supposed to sport. He’d never had a friend treat him like this before and most importantly he had never reacted this way to anyone. The problem lay more with him than anything else.
He was the one swooning over an innocent friendly gesture.
He felt a slight tug at his hand and looked up at Luke who sent him a weak smile and began walking, dragging Clive by the hand.
“Where are we off to now” Luke asked, bold as ever.
Clive noticed Luke’s boldness and felt a small smile forming on his face.
“My place. My parents aren’t home.”
Luke didn’t understand why Clive’s pulse had quickened after he had replied to Luke’s question.
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