Finally a new update! (: if you haven't already seen, I updated Savior of Sweden as well. I'm so so sorry for taking this long of a break, but I plan on finishing these stories, even if it kills me! I hope all you readers are still there, you're awesome!
As the next morning came around, Lukas had to admit, he had a bit of a new skip in his step. Though, he tried desperately to not show it while walking up the cracking stone steps of the school beside Emil. Even the torrential rain had decided to take the day off, the sun peering over thinning, gloomy clouds.
"You seem like you're in a good mood." Emil commented quietly after a moment, looking curiously at his brother. "I thought you hated school."
"And you would be right." Lukas snorted and rolled his eyes. "I figured if I have to go through this torture another year, I might as well be minutely happy."
Lukas? Happy? Emil repeated blankly in his mind. Those were definitely two things which were most assuredly not synonyms. The only times he had seen his brother truly smile was when they were doing things together, without any other people around. "Oh, um I see..."
"Besides, shouldn't you be doing the same thing?" the older brother questioned softly with a slim eyebrow raised, he elbowed Emil in the side gently. "I know you're only a sophomore, but.. you're bound to be loads better than me at making friends."
"What are you trying to say..?" the younger's face grew puzzled slightly, as his amethyst eyes surveyed Lukas' generally unreadable face.
"I think.. I think you should try and make friends." Lukas said firmly, putting a hand on Emil's shoulder. "I'm not sure it's healthy for you to be stuck with my grumpy attitude all the time." he mused, a tiny playful smile dancing across his lips.
A sigh. "Well.. you're probably right." Emil paused and tilted his head ever so slightly, "I'll try if you try. Though.. it looks like you already have one stray puppy following you around." he gestured towards a figure that was running towards them and waving its arms frantically.
"Lukaaaasssss...! Lukas!"
"Oh, for the love of-" Lukas was in the process of facepalming, but was interrupted by a lung crushing hug.
"I can't believe I caught you going in! I thought for sure I was running late, like I always do.." Mathias commented, his grin seeming to rival the sun's brightness.
Lukas barely managed to stay on his feet, the Dane's stupid.. muscular arms being the only thing that kept him up. He spluttered and tried to shove him away, "I-idiot..!" he hissed.
"Oh, oops, sorry..!" the Dane quickly released him, managing to look mildly apologetic. It didn't last long though. "Look, I gotta put some shit in my locker.. but I'll see you in photography, okay? You better be there or else!" Without much warning he took off sprinting through the front doors and down the halls.
Lukas mused over the thought of the people and teachers he was bound to crash into. "He is hopeless."
"If he annoys you that much, why do you put up with him?" Emil spoke up, having watched the entire exchange rather curiously.
"It's not so much 'putting up with him'.. I'm just dealing with him as quickly and efficiently as possible so he goes away all that sooner."
"Oh... we should probably get inside." Emil changed the subject as he glanced at his watch, sensing that his brother wasn't going to reveal much more. "The first bell rings in a few minutes."
In photography, there was an extremely noticeable thing lacking. Mathias' desk was strangely empty. It didn't really make much sense because Lukas had just seen the Dane about twenty minutes ago. Could he seriously have gotten into trouble that quickly? Well.. he guessed it wouldn't be all that of a shock.
His thoughts were interrupted as the door slammed open. Mathias' expression looked sullen for a mere millisecond, you would have missed it if you blinked, before he replaced it with his characteristic grin. "Whoops, sorry!" he announced, sauntering over to his desk.
Lukas rolled his eyes, "Where the hell have you been?" he whispered to the teen in a harsh tone as he sat down in the desk beside him.
Mathias opened his mouth to reply, but held up a finger. He rummaged through his bag to pull out a few crumpled pieces of notebook paper. He scribbled furiously with his pencil, managing to break the lead a few times before he was through. Without another word, he passed the paper to Lukas.
"Passing notes? Are we in kindergarte-" Mathias interrupted him with a soft "Shh..!"
Lukas rolled his eyes. What a moron. But still, he was genuinely curious. He unfolded the scrap of paper and began to read:
Do you know this idiot named Bershmald, or Berdald, or Berwald, or something else as stupid as that? He's soooo annoying! :( Like talk about the biggest, dumbest guy ever.
The name sounded familiar, and from what Lukas knew Berwald was the correct version of the teen's name, but he couldn't be sure. He just knew Berwald was freakishly huge.. no, no not fat just.. huge. Taller than Mathias by at least several inches. He never said much to people unless it was to this shorter, sandy-haired teen that seemed to follow him around like a little lost lamb. What could he have done to upset the Dane so badly? Lukas began writing a reply:
I think so. Large, terrifying face? That would be Berwald. He paused in his reply before adding, What did you do? It made more sense then asking what Berwald did, because he was sure something happened on Mathias' part. Lukas passed the note back, attempting to not look overly curious.
Mathias huffed as he scanned the reply quickly, jotted down a response, and passed it back.
I like.. accidentally touched his little boyfriend's ass or something? I swear I didn't mean to! I was running and I tripped and fell on him and I guess it just looked bad.. :(
Lukas stifled a snort. It looked like he had guessed right. Well, it's still your fault? Did you apologize?
Um, sorta kinda.. I guess. Okay, no. I would have said sorry to the little guy but then Mister Stupid Pants came up and was like blaaahhh and all pissy. How can I say sorry to such a jerk!
What did Berwald do, exactly?
He started yelling at me, of all people! I mean you know how awesome and nice and a gentlemen I am, right? His accent was so weirdy I couldn't really understand him, but we started arguing anyways.
Weirdy? Was that an actual word? And? How did you end up in Photography late?
I don't want to talk about it. :(
Lukas' brow furrowed as he folded the note up and placed it inside his shoulder bag, Mathias seemingly wasn't going to shed any more light on the subject, and Lukas really didn't want to seem too interested in the Dane's affairs. Plus, it was too dark to see his face clearly as the teacher had the lights off while the projector was being class droned on uneventfully, and Lukas managed to find a few pieces of information that were mildly interesting to him. The shrill of the bell made him jump, and it was made even worse when the teacher flicked the lights back on, leaving no time for the Norwegian's eyes to adjust. What he saw when they did, however, nearly made him emit an audible gasp. Painted across Mathias' right eye was a swelling, dark purple, disgusting-looking bruise.
The Dane noticed Lukas' staring and sighed, letting his head fall onto the desk before he stood up, "You should see the other guy.." he joked halfheartedly.
As much as he hated to admit it.. and he really, really hated it, Lukas felt concern swell within him. "He hit you?"
"Like I said, it's a long story." Mathias frowned and blew the pieces of broken lead off of his desk before gathering his things. He smirked momentarily, "Don't worry though, I can totally handle myself. I super awesomely punched him in the stomach! Like falcoln punch awesome. Scout's honor."
".. Falcon punch?"
"You don't know what a falcon punch is?!" the Dane exclaimed, seemingly in shocked as they walked out of the room together. "It's like this firey, super awe-"
"Forget it." Lukas interrupted him, glaring. "Just.. just don't piss Berwald off anymore, okay?"
"Aww.. does someone care about me?" Mathias fluttered his eyelashes, bending down to the Norwegian's eye level. Ew, his bruise definitely looked a lot more disgusting this close up.
"No! Of course not. I just.. want to keep the halls safe, that's all." he nodded solemnly.
Mathias stared at him, eyebrow raised as if that was the stupidest excuse he had ever heard in his life. And well.. it kinda was. "Yeah, riiiiight."
