forget what you thought

Michael's eyes ran over Melody's features for a few moments and he wished, more than anything, that he could take all of her pain and concerns away, because she deserved everything good in the work, and the fact that Robert was going to such lengths to hurt somebody as incredible as her made anger flood through Michael's veins in a way he'd never felt before. Still, he tried to push it down, knowing that Melody needed him. "I love you, too," he told her quietly, kissing the top of her head, "More than anything." His hands rubbed her back gently, but he frowned when the bell rang, his eyes watching Melody with concern when she stood but he nodded slightly. "Everything will be alright," he promised her quietly, shifting to stand up, "I'm right here, I won't let anything happen. We'll get through it together."

Liana listened to him quietly, offering a small smile up at him. “I bet you use those perks to your advantage way too often,” she joked lightly, trying to force back her anxieties and concerns in order to just enjoy being in the arms of the man she loved, the man who loved her. As he continued to speak, she smiled slightly. “I hope so,” she murmured honestly, because all she wanted was a future with Luke, and she wanted to be a part of his family, of his world. Breathing out with the thought, she buried her face against him, her fingers curling into his shirt. “I love you, too, Luke,” she promised, her hold on his shirt tightening a bit before she heard the bell ring. Sighing out, she climbed off his lap, watching him but putting some distance between the two of them. “I guess it’s show time.”

Melody listened to Michael's promises carefully, knowing that he meant each one bringing such a rush of love to her that it was almost overwhelming. She had never expected herself to settle down for anyone, but Michael made life complete, and Melody knew that she'd be miserable without him, despite not knowing him for long and falling faster than she'd anticipated. "I just want him to get this over with," Melody admitted, slipping her hand into Michael's discreetly, needing his touch to soothe her anxiety; but still, she was ready to stand defiant in the face of idiocy. Hearing footsteps approach the classroom, Melody held her breath for a moment, exhaling heavily and pulling her hand from Michael's. "Here we go."

Luke grinned when Liana offered a smile up to him, and when she spoke, he couldn't help but laugh, dimple prominent against his cheeks. "Well," Luke shrugged with mischief hiding behind his eyes. "Let's just say I saw an opportunity and I took it." He teased, rubbing Liana's back in soothing circular motions, wanting nothing more than for her to feel less stressed about the whole situation that was happening with Lucas - and as much as Luke wanted to break his neck, he decided that remaining calm and being there for Liana was all he could do. "Imagine our kids," Luke hummed with amusement as Liana buried her face against him, kissing the top of her head with a smile that was so full of love he almost couldn't believe how lucky he'd gotten with the girl curled up in his embrace. "They'd be little shits." He teased, nuzzling into Liana. As the bell for lunch rang, Luke's hold on Liana tightened for a moment, and he pressed another sweet kiss to her head before standing to his feet. "Let's see what this idiot wants."

Lucas walked into Luke's classroom with confidence, because he had his goals set in mind, and he was determined to have them. "Good afternoon, lovebirds." He greeted nonchalantly, knowing that what he was doing was twisted, but not really caring. "Ready to have our little negotiation?"

Michael watched Melody with concern, wishing there was something more he could do, anything, to make this easier for her. The fact that somebody was putting her through this made his blood boil, and he knew she didn’t deserve it - and that just made him hate Robert more, made him want to bury Robert in the deepest hole, made him want to watch Robert suffer. “It’ll be okay,” he assured her quickly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before he leaned to kiss her temple. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.” He gave her hand one more squeeze before Melody pulled her hand from his and he peered over to the door, determined to be here for Melody so that Robert couldn’t do anything to her. He’d put her through enough and Michael would be damned if he let Robert cause any more problems without any sort of intervention to stop it.

Robert smirked when he made his way into the classroom, arching a brow as he spotted the two - despite that they were pulled apart from each other, he was determined to not be thrown by it. “Well, don’t you two look cozy,” he chimed easily, closing the door behind him. “I believe we have a lot to talk about, don’t we? Hm?”

Liana smiled with amusement, feeling her heart swell a bit with the thought of having children with Luke, of having a future with him, aware that it was the best future she could ever ask for. “Sounds like a dream,” she said quietly as she stood up, grabbing her bag and moving away from Luke to avoid suspicion, looking to the door when Lucas walked in. Any vulnerability Liana had been showing disappeared quickly, because she refused to be vulnerable in front of Lucas, she wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. Crossing her arms over her chest, she scoffed quietly, rolling her eyes. “Funny that you think you have any kind of leverage here,” she said simply, watching him, “I’m only indulging you for now because you seem like you’d make for a good laugh, Lucas. What do you want? I have better things to do than to deal with you.”

Melody could feel Michael's eyes on her, and she was grateful for his concern, because she was sure that without him by her side, she wouldn't be handling the situation as well as she was. Smiling softly with his words of reassurance, Melody looked at Michael as he kissed her temple, capturing his lips in a peck full of adoration. "I know," she promised, her voice soft, although her exterior toughened as Robert confidently made his way into the classroom. "Wipe that smirk off your face before I wipe it off for you," Melody warned. "What do you want?" She asked, watching as the classroom door shut, ignoring the feeling of being trapped as she placed her hands on her hips, always so authorative.

Luke felt himself tense as Lucas strode into his classroom with an air of arrogance that Luke couldn't stand, and although he wanted nothing more than to pull Liana from view and punch Lucas as hard as he could, Luke knew he had to bide his time and patience. For comfort, Luke allowed Liana's words to sink in; that she wanted a future with him just as much as he wanted one with her, and just the thought made Luke smile a little. Still, rolling his eyes at Lucas, Luke leaned against his desk, looking at the boy with disgust. "And I have better things to do than to allow your childish paranoia distract Liana from her studies and myself from my job." Luke frowned. "What do you want?"

Lucas smirked. "Well, it's an easy compromise, really." Lucas shrugged, ignoring the act of defiance Luke and Liana gave. "First of all, you can drop that stupid act. I saw you kissing, and I got the photos to prove it, so don't even try." He warned. "Liana... I think deep down, you know what I want the most." He smirked. "You. On my arm. Even if you are dating this hippy." He nodded to Luke. "And as for you, I want to finish this year with an A. Was that so hard?"

Michael watched Melody with concern, wishing there was a way he could make this easier for her, that he could take away all the concern and stress that Robert was causing her. He could deal with whatever Robert decided to do to him, whatever problems he caused for him, but Melody didn’t deserve to be put through any of this. Looking over when Robert walked in, he sighed quietly, folding his arms over his chest, not wanting to give Robert any more ammo to use against them. “Just tell us what you want,” he said, watching him with a frown, “We don’t have all day and it seems that nobody has the time to deal with you or wants to deal with you at all. So get on with it.”

Robert offered an amused look as he watched Melody. “So tough, aren’t you?” he asked easily, tilting his head, “But we both know it’s an act, don’t we? You can act like you’re the one in control, but we both know you’re not.” Still, he lifted his shoulders in a shrug and moved nonchalantly around the room, moving to sit on one of the desks. “Just like we both know what I want.” He watched her, his smirk broadening. “I want you as mine.” His gaze went to Michael, then. “And for you to stop being an ass and to give me the grades I deserve - solid A’s should do, considering I can out you two at any point in time if either of you cause trouble.”

Liana looked over to Lucas as he began to speak, though she rolled her eyes. “Yeah, photos that are poor quality to the point that the hair doesn’t even look like mine, much less the grainy face - and the face is only a side profile, which makes it even worse. And the fact that you think it’s me is ridiculous when the girl in the picture looks nothing like me. You’ve got nothing, Lucas,” she pointed out easily as she watched him, though her jaw clenched when she heard Lucas’s demand, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “Nobody in their right mind would even believe that I would give the likes of you a chance, much less actually date you.”

Melody listened to Robert carefully, her eyes widening as he made his stupid little demands, and although she could of told him to go to hell there and then, her gaze went to Michael, and how he was such a great teacher, how every student that stepped through his door seemed to think so fondly of him, and Melody realised she couldn't put his job on the line like that - even if the photos could barely prove it was her and Michael to begin with. "...Fine." Melody seethed. "But no kissing, no sex. The fact I have to be around you for the school day is enough to make me sick. And yes, Robert, when it comes to my body and my choice and my affections, I am in control. I'll never be yours, I'm not some Barbie you can play with." Melody frowned. When Robert demanded full A's though, Melody looked to Michael, watching him carefully for any kind of reaction.

Lucas smirked at Liana then. "Shut your mouth or I'll put it to good use right here," his hands went to his belt then, and noticing Luke's hands clench into fists, Lucas snorted with amusement. "Yeah, hit a student, hippie. What good will that do for your career in teaching?" Lucas challenged, kicking up his feet onto Luke's desk and knocking over a sculpture Luke had been working on, knowing that, for now, he could get away with it. "So, Liana, that little dating agreement?" He reminded.

Luke tried hard to not let his temper get the better of him, not when Lucas made his foolish demands, not when he broke the sculpture Luke had been working on for weeks, but there was something in the way the boy gazed at Liana with a predatory look that had Luke ready to pull her into his arms and protect her at all costs. She was his Liana, the one Luke wanted to spend the rest of his life with, their love nothing short of a miracle, and yet, Lucas seemed determined to ruin it all, to throw their happiness under the bus for a chance to call the prettiest girl at the school his. "Straight As can be arranged." Luke seethed, unclenching his hands. "But just know, you can't control Liana like some kind of fucking doll."

Robert smirked slightly as he watched them. “Wonderful,” he said simply before he moved closer, eyeing Melody for a long moment. “Just let me know when you change your mind about that no sex thing.” His smirk grew and he ignored the way Michael stepped closer, his smirk forming into a cruel grin instead. “No need for any of that, Mr. Clifford. I’ll be taking my leave now.” Brushing past them, he headed out the door.

Michael frowned deeply, his jaw clenched as he watched Robert, his protectiveness growing to a new level when Robert spoke further. He watched the boy leave, and waited for the door to close before he quickly moved over to Melody, taking her into his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked immediately, lifting a hand to run his fingers through her hair as he held her close to his chest. “I’m so sorry about all of this, Melody. I should have been more careful.” And, because of him, she was stuck in this situation. He hated himself for that.

Liana felt her stomach flipping anxiously, disgusted by Lucas’s implications. Her hands clenched at her sides, her jaw clenching as she ducked her head, feeling trapped, especially when Luke was involved. She could handle any damage done to her reputation, but she didn’t want Luke’s reputation and job at stake. “Fine,” she muttered quietly, “But it’s only in title.” Lifting her gaze, she glared at him. “I’m not going to kiss you, I’m not going to fuck you - in fact, don’t you dare even touch me.”

Melody frowned with Michael’s words. “Don’t you dare, Michael Clifford,” she warned, gently pulling away from her lover’s chest. “None of this is your fault, do you hear me?” Melody gently took Michael’s face within the palms of her hands, gently pressing a kiss to his lips. “I love you. And nothing can change that, nothing can change what I feel for you Michael, nothing.” Melody warned. “Let him play his stupid games. He’ll just end up winning stupid prizes.” And with those words, Melody wrapped her arms around Michael’s middle. “I don’t want to leave you…” She murmured. “But we’re going to get through this.”

Lucas grinned with Liana’s defiance. “Stubborn little minx. Don’t worry, Liana. I’ll break you down in time.” He winked. “We’ll start with holding hands, who knows? We’ll be the school’s hottest couple, huh?” He smirked, approaching Liana.

Luke stood in front of Liana. “She’s agreed to your terms, and so have I. Don’t you fucking touch her.”

Seeing Luke’s protective streak, Lucas laughed. “Alright, alright. Cool it, hippie. Just make sure I get my straight A’s or your cat is out of the bag.” And turning on his heel, Lucas turned to see Liana once more. “See you later, baby.”

As soon as Lucas had shut the door behind him, Luke went to Liana, wrapping his arms around her middle, needing her comfort. It couldn’t of been possible, he’d only known her for a short amount of time and yet Luke knew he met his soulmate. “I love you. He’s not going to win,” Luke promised. “Not now, not ever.” And squeezing around Liana’s waist, Luke sighed. “I’m so sorry, Li. I should of been more careful with all of this. With us.” Luke buried his face into her hair. “Because now you’re at the mercy of that dick, and I can only do so much.” Feeling his eyes fill with tears, Luke squeezed around her once more.