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michael/erin/luke

"I still have detention," Michael groaned, taking a seat beside Erin, who rolled her eyes, and scooted away slightly. He sighed heavily, rolling his eyes and looking down at his food, picking at it. Luke took his usual seat beside Neri, Molly by his feet.

"That was your fault, though." Luke pointed out to Michael, shrugging. Michael flipped Luke off, smirking because Luke didn't even know. Erin elbowed him in the stomach, and he groaned, doubling over. Madeline actually sat at the table, beside Neri.

"Congrats! You're sitting with us again!" Neri joked as Ashton came and sat beside Luke, his hair slightly messier than usual. Luke felt beside him, finding Ashton's face and slapping it lightly. "You missed a super fun time last Tuesday."

"I had fun!" Ashton threw his hands up, "My family isn't totally boring!"

"Mm, okay." Luke smiled slightly. Ashton pouted, stealing Luke's bag of chips. Luke opened his bottle of water, taking a sip.

"ASHTON HAS A HICKEY." Erin yelled and Ashton's hand immediately went to his neck, his cheeks bright red. "No I don't."

"AND IT'S FRESH!" Erin added and Ashton glared at her. "Shut up!"

"Who is giving my baby hickeys? Who's getting Molly sicced on them?" Luke smirked at Ashton, who huffed. "Even you?"

"Yep." Luke laughed. "Who dunnit?"

"No one!" Ashton groaned, putting his head down and covering it with his arms.

"Well, Ashton, you didn't do it yourself." Neri said in a condescending dad voice. Ashton glared at her, sighing. "You're all assholes."

Luke smiled sweetly, giggling. Giggling. Molly whimpered, nuzzling under his hand impatiently. Luke chuckled, rubbing her head softly. "Okay, okay."

Neri watched him, remembering all those weeks ago when she'd heard him crying in his house. She wondered if that was always how he felt, and just masked it behind sarcastic humor all the time. There were times where she would notice his smile fade for just a moment, or he'd even frown slightly. But just like that, he was laughing and joking along with everyone else.

"Hey, Neri, will you come over sometime? I want to play a song for you." Luke mumbled in her ear, biting his lip as he always did. Neri smiled, "Yeah, of course."

Luke grinned, messing up his hair slightly. For the first time everyone noticed Michael and Erin arguing quietly about something, until finally he got up, dumping his tray and storming out, running into some poor freshman and nearly knocking him over.

"I'm not going after his sorry ass," Erin rolled her eyes. She crossed her ams, looking down at the table.

"What was that about?" Neri asked quietly.

"None of your business," Erin snapped rudely.

"Hey, just because you're pissed at everything doesn't mean you get to be rude at everyone else. That's coming from someone who is constantly pissed at everything." Luke said softly.

"So? Look, you don't know the story, I can be rude if I want," Erin snapped and he held his hands up.

"You shouldn't be surprised when all of your friends get fed up and leave you, then," Luke said fiercely, getting up and leaving, able to find the door by now. Ashton sighed, shaking his head and following. Erin watched him, her jaw dropped slightly.

"Asshole!" She yelled after Luke, who just laughed.