A knock came from his door, but he didn’t have the power to go and answer it.
Eventually, there was the sound of metal on metal, a key grinding in the lock and then the rush of cool air coming in from the communal hallway.
“Lucas?”
Ah, Bonnie was here.
“Dudes are you in here?”
And Fletcher.
“L-U-C-A-S!!!”
Shit. Frizz-face was here too. Which meant Milo was probably somewhere behind her.
Suddenly the lights were on, searing his eyes. The heavy silence that had felt like a muffled helmet around his head was shattered, and the presence of too many bodies and sounds was over-whelming. He was barely able to untangle himself away from their groping hands before hurrying down the hall and locking himself away in the bathroom.
Hyperventilating, he ripped his clothes off, buttons scattering everywhere and stepped into the shower. He wrenched the hot tap on and yelled out loud as the scorching water rushed over his cold skin.
It burned. Everything burned!
He scoured himself raw with the scrubbing brush, wincing as the hard bristles scratched over his renewed tattoo. He almost ripped a chunk out of his cheek as he bit into it to suppress the rest of his screams. Once his body burned raw from the intense scrubbing and hot water, he hunched down against the cold porcelain, pressing the heels of his hands over his mouth, and let out more screams.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Lucas? Lucas open the door; you need to talk about this!”
He couldn’t answer her. He didn’t have the words for the panic he was suddenly feeling inside him.
“Lucas! Don’t make us call Rodrick! You know he’ll come!”
It almost made him get up –almost –but his legs refused to move out from underneath him. The voices outside seemed to muffle down to a quieter conversation. He drew in deep breaths, begging his insides to calm down, to unknot themselves and let him relax. His eyes had streamed with tears as he’d soaked himself, however now they were sore, raw and all he wanted to do was to sleep.
Swallowing down the gooey lump in his throat, he stood up, using the shower rain as a support rod, and heaved himself out of the tub. He shut the water off and gingerly dried himself off, shuddering at the cooler air around him. He managed to claw on his clothes, wincing as they stuck to his damp skin. He dried his hair roughly with a towel, not wanting water to soak through his collared shirt. Unlocking the door, he glanced down the hallway. No one was waiting to ambush him as far as he could see. He just needed a few minutes to gather his thoughts. There was a light coming from the lounge and hushed tones telling him that everyone was in there waiting for him to come out.
Taking himself to his bedroom he quickly stripped out of his clothes and took his time drying himself off properly. Once his hair was blown-dry and he had changed into clean, dry pyjamas, Lucas caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. He looked shocked –like he hadn’t expected someone to be looking back at him. His mind was still reeling inside his head, desperately trying to catch-up with the events of the day.
‘I can do this,’ he thought, mentally steeling himself. ‘They just want to know what happened. That’s all.’
Yet, it still took him another ten minutes to muster up the courage to turn the door-handle and leave the sanctity of his bedroom.
His living-room had been transformed; all the chairs and been positioned into a circle formation, including the two large bean-bags from Bonnie and Fletcher’s apartment down the hall. He felt the air escape him. This was not a comforting sight. He really wanted to just be left alone. Clearing his throat, he made all their heads turn to look at him.
Suddenly, he was ambushed with hugs and questions asking if he was okay.
He was wrestled down into one of the armchairs and handed a mug of strong, unsweetened tea. He was encouraged to drink it, almost choking in the process but somewhat grateful as he hadn’t eaten since getting home that day. It took a little while before they settled down, giving him some much needed space and clarity to the situation. All his friends were here –that meant Rodrick must have at least told one of them –probably Eleanor –and the message had spread like wildfire among his little circle.
Glancing at the clock on the radio told him that it was only 6PM.
Settling the mug down, he watched as everyone resumed their seats, the small snacks spread of the table crinkling as Eleanor helped herself to a handful of crisps. Bonnie sipped on her own mug of tea, knees drawn to her chest as she watched him with wide, brown eyes.
“Lucas?” she finally breathed, as though scared he’d bolt back to his bedroom. “What exactly happened today?”
Her tone was so gentle and caring it almost brought more tears to his eyes. Almost.
Fingering a frayed thread on the hem of his shirt, he drew in a few deep breaths. “Two police officers came in this morning,” he started, his breath already hitching. “There was an accusation against me that I was having an affair with an under-aged student.”
“WHAT?!”
He winced at the combined voices.
“What the fuck?”
“Who would say something like that?”
“Do they mean Cavan? I thought he was twenty-one!”
“Okay!” Lucas yelled over them all, effectively silencing them all. They watched him with angry, confused faces. ‘Yes,’ he thought. ‘I felt that exact same way.’ He drew in a deep breath but dropped his gaze from their own. He levelled his voice, the emotion emptying out of him almost instantly. “I understand your anger. Believe me, I understand it.”
“Lucas …” Bonnie started, but a pointed glare shut her mouth.
“I let them come to my office and ask the questions that they needed to,” he swallowed thickly, momentarily reliving those questions. “They stated that they’d had an anonymous phone call the previous evening explaining that I had been having a sexual relationship with a minor.” He fought past the lump in his throat and continued. “I’ve been asked to not go to work for the week whilst they investigate and go through my internet history and phone records and things like that.”
“They can’t without just cause!” Eleanor snapped.
“Why do you think they took my things?” Lucas glared at her. “I have nothing to hide, Eleanor. They can search all they like but they won’t find anything.” He rubbed his temples with a groan. “I –I just want this over with. Rodrick said that he spoke with them sometime beforehand and that it was established that as a long as nothing was found, this wouldn’t go on my record.”
“That’s a concern?” Bonnie frowned, worrying her lip.
“If it goes on his record he won’t ever be allowed to teach,” Fletcher stated sombrely.
A heavy silence hung in the air. It was only broken by the heavy banging on the front door.
“Shit! Is that them?!” Bonnie jumped to her feet. Lucas could only watch his heart in his throat. A hand on his shoulder forced him back into his seat. He watched as Milo, closely followed by Fletcher walked out into the hall to answer the door. His panicked heart was thumping heavily in his ears. What had they found? Could it really be bad enough that they were coming to arrest him here and now?
The voices were quiet enough that Lucas couldn’t distinguish their conversation. Footsteps came down the hall and he nearly blacked out.
To see Cavan step through the doorway was like a sign from God.
The tall brat barely paid heed to anyone else as he marched over to Lucas, dropped down to his knees and enveloped the older man into his arms. He cupped Lucas’s face in his hands and pressed urgent kisses to his cheeks and lips before pressing their foreheads together, his hands gripping the fabric of Lucas’s shirt.
“I’m so sorry!” he said, breathless from no doubt running up the stairs to their floor. “I heard Dad talking on the phone to the police asking if there had been any updates on what he’d reported or some bollocks!”
“How did you kn
ow it was about me?” Lucas asked, frowning at the small portion of Cavan’s face. “It could have been anyone.”
“I confronted him about it, but he didn’t budge. Refused to say,” Cavan sat back on his haunches, Lucas’s hands gripped in his hands. He was warm and secure, a ready anchor, a life-line. “It was only when Bonnie messaged me, asking if I knew what had happened. Then I confronted my dad again. He admitted he was the one who’d reported you for this bullshit.”
Lucas felt his stomach turn cold. “And?”
“And we had a huge argument. I –I may have punched him.”
“You punched your dad?!” Lucas felt his jaw drop. “Cavan, he’ll report you for assault!”
“Let him,” Cavan challenged. “You’re worth it.”
Lucas closed his eyes, wishing to ever be worthy of those sentimental words. Yet, he didn’t feel like it. Those thoughts must have been emblazoned on his forehead because Cavan wasted no time in squeezing his hands tightly.
“You ARE worth it to me, Lucas,” he repeated. “I called the police on my way over here. They said it was a preliminary investigation and that they couldn’t give me any details. I told them that my dad had falsely accused you. I don’t know whether they believed me or not, so I said I’d go down there first thing in the morning and prove it.”
Everything being said to him was making him feel sick. He bowed his head, his composure lost and his body quaking.
“Cavan … You –You shouldn’t have come.”
Cavan sat back as though he’d been slapped. “Don’t you want me here?”
“Of course I do. I just don’t want you to lose family over me.”
“For fucks sake, Lucas, if I wanted family like that I’d be there right now and not here with you!”
“He’s still your dad.”
“Then he needs to start acting like it.”
“Cavan,” Bonnie broke the argument with a placating hand on his shoulder. It was only then that Lucas remembered all the other people in the room, watching this emotional exchange with rapt interest. It was like they were soaking the scene up. “Let’s calm down okay? It’s been a rough day. We’re all trying to piece this together.”
Lucas suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe. He stood up abruptly from his armchair and swayed on his feet. “I need to get out of here,” he grunted, heading for the hallway and down to his bedroom.
Bonnie ushered Cavan after him. “See if he’s okay,” she said.
He nodded and hurried after the teacher. This was all new to him as he hadn’t been to Lucas’s place before and barely had time to drink it all in before reaching the bedroom. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, hunched over with his head in his hands. He wasn’t crying as far as Cavan could see as he closed the bedroom door behind him.
“Hey,” he said, trying to keep his voice level. He edged into the room and settled on the bed, making sure not to touch the older man. “I know this must be difficult for you,” he murmured after a few moments silence. “I didn’t mean to just barge in here. I didn’t know your friends would be here.”
“Neither did I.”
Cavan’s mouth twitched. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay since you didn’t reply to my messages.”
“Didn’t want to talk about it. Plus they took my phone.”
“I get that.” Cavan hesitated before inching over and placing a hand over Lucas’s. He flinched but didn’t pull away. “I’m here if you need me okay?”
“I just need to be somewhere quiet for a little while.”
“Do you want me to leave you alone?” Cavan asked, gently stroking his hand.
Lucas glanced down at the young man’s hand. Suddenly, being alone seemed like a horrible idea. “Would you stay with me?” he finally murmured, not daring to look up.
“Of course I will.”
8:51PM
An hour’s nap did him a world of good. As Cavan used the bathroom, Lucas tidied his hair up and tried to rub some life back into his limbs. His brain was still foggy from the events of the day and the fact that Cavan had travelled over an hour on the train just to come and make sure he was okay.
The thought made him feel lighter.
The glowing numbers of his alarm clock glared back at him through the soft light from his bedside lamp. His stomach gave an irritable growl. He hadn’t eaten all day and as a result all his previously numbed emotions gave back with a savage vengeance.
Cavan came back in from the bathroom and stretched his arms. “Dear God, I hope you’re hungry. I skipped dinner coming to see you, you know.”
Lucas gave a wry smile. “I appreciate it.”
Bending down, Cavan pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “You should go and get food; I need to message Sophie. She’s a bit panicked I upped and left home … again.”
“I’m a bad influence on you, clearly,” Lucas remarked drily.
“Naturally.”
Whilst Cavan dialled his sister’s number, Lucas opted to wonder back down the hall to the living room. True to form, his friends were still sitting there talking quietly amongst themselves with the TV on quietly in the background. All eyes turned to him as he stepped through the doorway.
Bonnie spoke first. “How’re you feeling?” she asked, standing up and coming over to him, hesitating before inching in for a hug. He didn’t resist her, even leaning his chin on her shoulder and wrapping his arms around her. He held her for a few moments before leaning away.
“Not great. Not bad, either, I suppose.”
She gave a sympathetic smile and rubbed his arms. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “We can order some food?”
“Yeah food sound’s good.”
“Thank you! We’re starving!” Eleanor whined, pouting moronically. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, though, Lucas. What’s happened is just awful! I want to see this Doctor prick for myself and give him a piece of my mind!”
Lucas shot her a look but didn’t respond.
“So what does everybody want?” Fletcher asked a little too cheerfully considering the gravity of the situation. “Chinese? Indian? Pizza?”
“We have Chinese all the time!” Bonnie whined. “Let’s just get pizza and a bunch of sides.”
Whilst they bickered and debated on what sides to order from the JUSTEAT app, the sound of footsteps came down the hallway. Cavan emerged into the doorway and froze as he ended the call to Sophie. Lucas frowned over his shoulder at the younger man and then turned, following his gaze.
“Miss Locke?!” Cavan exclaimed. “What’re you doing here?”
All eyes turned to Eleanor as her face split into a huge, manic grin. “Oh my GOD! Lucas?! THIS is your Cavan?!”
“What the fuck is going on?” Bonnie hissed, her eyes darting from one person to the other.
Lucas was just as confused. “Do you two know each other?” It was a moot question, as their reactions to one another was speaking volumes. Especially in Eleanor’s case as she leapt to her feet and slung an arm around Cavan’s neck.
“You little git! I always had my suspicions, but I could never confirm it!” She gave Cavan a noogie and he tried to squirm away, batting her offending hands off as much as possible.
Finally wrestling out of her grip, Cavan backed away towards Lucas’s armchair and rubbed the back of his neck, obviously embarrassed. “You remember I said my sports medicine teacher was sort of … hyper and insane?”
Lucas couldn’t believe his ears. “Yes?” he said slowly.
“Well …” He gave an awkward nod towards Eleanor.
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