looks good on you

Michael lifted his gaze when the bell rang and he packed his things before he stood up. His gaze went to Kellin for a moment, still curious about what was going on. Eventually pulling out a piece of paper, he wrote his number on it, along with In case you need somebody to talk to, I'm here. After setting the note on Kellin's desk, he offered a smile before he looked to Luke. “Alright, slow poke, c'mon,” he chimed.

Clara looked to her phone when she got the text and she chewed on her lip, unsure of how to reply. Hearing her friend, though, she grabbed her things, packing up, and slid her the note and her phone. “He dramatically gave me a note and had me text him,” she said with a small shrug, “Read it and weep.”

Kellin took Clara's phone and the note Luke had given her, studying them both with a low whistle, toying with her lip as the bell rang, indicating it was time for lunch. Sinking in her seat slightly with the thought, Kellin handed Clara the note, and her phone, back with a nod. "This is weird." She murmured, scrubbing a hand across her face. She looked up though, as Michael approached her desk, and he set a piece of paper down on her desk. Seeing his smile, Kellin watched him as he spoke to Luke once more, taking the note and seeing his number and the words he wrote beside it. Saving his number onto her phone, Kellin text Michael with a quick Hi..., just so Michael had her number in return - there was no point holding a conversation with him through text if she was going to be sat by him for the next hour.

Luke lifted his head as the bell went and he grinned. "Finally!" He sighed over dramatically, throwing his books into his bag carelessly. He was glad that it was lunch time, because hopefully Luke could find a way around getting to know Clara without pushing her too far out of her comfort zone, but Luke couldn't ignore her, or how she acted, much longer. Feeling the concern bubble up within him, Luke kept up his energetic facade. "See you later, teach." He made kissy faces at the teacher, dropping Clara a quick text. We'll be at our usual table, when you're ready and hearing Michael's words, Luke grinned, not bothering to hide it. "I'm coming, Clifford, keep calm and carry on." He grinned, pointing to the quote that hung up on the wall of the History classroom. Overtaking Michael, Luke led the way out of the building, happily stepping out into the sunshine.

Michael looked to his phone when he got the text but he grinned slightly, saving Kellin’s number quickly. See you at lunch! he sent back immediately, peering back at her for a moment before he led the way out of the classroom. “Oi, Luke, copying motivational quotes, how boring!” he teased with a grin before waving to the teacher. “Next time, teach!” And, he followed after Luke once his friend had overtaken him, rolling his eyes with a grin as he caught up. “It’s not a race, mate.”

Clara nodded slowly in response to Kellin. “It is,” she murmured quietly, breathing out a sigh as she shrugged gently. “I wonder what they’re up to… If this really is some kind of sick trick…” She frowned gently, dropping her gaze to her phone when she got the text but she moved to stand up, grabbing her backpack to slip it over her shoulder. Okay. she sent back to Luke, figuring she might as well give the confirmation, but she looked to Kellin. “I guess we should get going.”

Luke grinned with Michael's words. "It kind of is, mate." Luke grinned, trying not to let his eager attitude for the whole situation shine through. He had a real chance to show Clara he was so much more than what he was letting himself on to be, and that was a chance he wanted to grab. Slinging his arm over Michael's shoulder, Luke grinned. "The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I get to spend more time with Clara." Luke explained, his grin broadening. "Plus, I'm starving." Luke pouted, leading the way to the cafeteria with an air of confidence that no other students had.

Kellin looked to her phone as it vibrated, seeing the text from Michael and opting to ignore it. Running a hand through her hair, Kellin listened to Clara carefully and nodded. "I don't know." She admitted quietly. "It's always difficult to tell with those two." She shrugged, smiling weakly when she saw how exasperated the teacher looked. Slipping her messenger bag over her shoulder, nodded with Clara's words, unsure about spending a whole lunchtime at Michael's side. It was bound to draw attention. "Let's go."

Michael offered an amused look to Luke but he nodded in agreement. “I know what you mean,” he said honestly as they walked, his gaze going ahead as he thought for a moment. “I never thought I’d get a chance to spend time with Kellin, it always seems like her walls are built up so high and so strong that it’s impenetrable,” he admitted before peering over at his friend, “So I’m gonna do my best to make this a good experience.”

Clara nodded slightly in agreement. “It’s weird,” she murmured quietly, breathing out softly, because she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around it. And, she knew she had to keep her distance either way - the last thing she really needed was Luke Hemmings finding out about her home life. “Yeah, alright, let’s go. She nodded slightly, moving to lead the way quietly.

Luke smiled and nodded along with Michael's words, because he understood. Clara's walls seemed to be exactly the same, high and sturdy and impossible to pass, but that wasn't going to stop Luke from trying. She was the one thing he wanted to pursue, and Luke wouldn't let Clara feel as though she was ever alone, or disliked. Choosing their normal table, in the middle of the cafeteria, Luke dumped his backpack onto the table, looking to the door for any sign of Clara. "We have to make them feel happy around us." Luke pointed out to Michael, grinning at Calum. "Oi, oi."

Kellin nodded in agreement, her messenger bag hanging lazily from her shoulder. "Maybe we should ditch them," Kellin suggested with a soft voice. "Or just sit down and shut up." Kellin scrubbed a hand over her face, exhaling heavily, unsure of just what to do. Michael had reassured her that he could be trusted, but was he telling the truth, or just trying to comfort her? Following Clara, Kellin stepped into the cafeteria, her head slightly ducked.

Michael nodded his agreement to Luke’s words, his attention ahead as he thought about Kellin still, worried about her, about what had her so closed off to… Everything, everyone. “Yeah,” he said quietly, agreeing to Luke’s words with a nod, “I’m sure even we can manage that.” He offered an amused look to Luke, though his words were completely serious - and hopeful, too, because he wanted Kellin to feel like she belonged.

Calum grinned at the others, nodding slightly. “Oi, guys,” he said, watching them, “What are you talking about?”

Clara listened to Kellin quietly, debating, and she shifted, unsure, worried, because the last thing she wanted was for this to turn into something bad or for somebody to find out what was going on. But she also didn’t want to seem rude, and she worried that not going would just… Raise suspicions, anyway. “Maybe we should just sit down and shut up,” she said quietly, peering over at her friend.