fourteen

Michael walked through the balcony of the old theater holding a bouquet of blue flowers—Luke's favorite color.

His shiny dress shoes glowed under the dim lights as he looked around for a seat in the crowded room. It seems as if everyone from Luke's graduating class decided to bring their entire extended family plus distant relatives to their graduation.

He heard his name being called, and figured it was a student or another teacher.

He was wrong.

It was Mrs. Hemmings.

Michael got along with Ms. Hemmings perfectly well. It was a normal teacher vs. students' parent relationship. But, he was dating her son. Which was weird. Very, very weird. He was constantly scared of saying something that Luke's mother was not supposed to know.

Michael walked over to the Hemmings family, smiling at the group of four blondes. "Hey, how are you?" He politely asked.

He held out his hand over the golden banister, shaking Luke's fathers hand, then Luke's two brothers.

"We're doing good! And you?"

"Alright, trying to find a seat in this crowded mess."

Ms. Hemmings stood up, "Let me get people to move, sit with us!"

"No, no, it's al—." He gave up as she leant over, asking the family next to them to move over a single seat.

They did, giving Michael no excuse to not sit next to his boyfriend's family. His secret boyfriend's family. His one day in-laws, maybe.

Mike climbed over the other family, sitting directly next to Luke's mother.

"I'm so excited for him to graduate, he's worked so hard these last few years," she said. Her voice didn't travel far in the loud room and Mike had to lean in to hear her.

"Yeah, I'm proud of how far he's come," Michael answered. He had to put his head into a different scenario. He had to be Luke's teacher again, just Luke's teacher. He wouldn't lean in to Ashton's parents and tell them what a lovely bum their son had. With do respect, he wouldn't really do that with Luke's parents either, though.

"He really doesn't want to go to college in the fall, and I feel guilty about forcing him. I just think that's what's best for him."

Both of them looked forward, glancing down at the bottom pit where the orchestra was warming up. They continued to talk like this, not having a straight-on conversation. It was easier to hear, and less awkward.

"Luke is a very smart boy, I trust that he might know what's best for himself."

She gave him a half smile. "I guess, I'm just afraid of letting him go off and do his own thing only for him to come back angry for us not forcing him to go to school. I want him to have a good adulthood."

Me, too, Michael wanted to say. He realized that every adult in Luke's life was most likely worrying for the little blonde boy. It was easy to worry for Luke.

"I'm constantly surprised at how truly intelligent he is. It's more than just book smart. Your boy knows what is good for him on a day-by-day basis." Michael was so used to calling Luke 'My Boy', and he was so close to dropping a pet name.

"You really think so?"

"I know so," he responded.

"Luke might kill me for telling you this, but he talks about you all the time. You're definitely a needed, trusted adult in his life."

"Yeah?" Michael asked, a grin upon his lips.

"He's just in a good mood for a while after your study session. Then he goes back to being grumpy and eating out our kitchen."

Michael smiled bigger. The simple thought of Luke made him so happy. "That makes me feel really good, Liz."

She patted his hand in a friendly, motherly way before turning away, saying something to her husband.

Michael wiggled his phone out of his pocket, dimming the screen just in case Luke's mother looked over again.

To / Lukey

Your mother made me sit next to her. Should I mention that I knocked up her son?

From / Lukey

You fucking bastard, don't you dare.

To / Lukey

;)

Luke looked up from his seat, he could only see the many classmates ahead of him and the bright lights shining directly on his class. He turned around, Ashton only a row and two seats behind him.

He got the brunette's attention, tossing his phone in his direction.

Ashton read the messages, looking up at him and laughing. Luke watched his phone buzz in Ash's hands as his best friend read the message with wide eyes.

He stood up, glad the ceremony hasn't started yet. "I didn't know your boyfriend felt that way about me," the tanner boy said with a giggle.

Luke opened the screen once more, reading the newest message.

From / Mikey

Meet me in the bathroom after the ceremony, I've gotta a present for you.

To / Mikey

That's probably the stupidest hint at fucking you've ever made.

From / Mikey

Okay, Lefty.

Luke rolled his eyes, even though no one could actually see him. He put his phone back in his pocket as the orchestra began to play. He was ready to finally be done. 

(a/n) guess who is one year older today (me) guess who's friends forgot (mine) guess who has to work (me)