Chapter 2 (1/2)

Soundtrack: Ladyhawke- Another Runaway  A smile graces Luhan’s lips as he walks nervously across the cafeteria, tray in his unsteady hands. He’s practically memorized the seating of the room over the past few years of his school life; he sits by the far left wall in the corner with Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Sehun, the misfits of the grade.

Kris and Tao, the jocks that also happen to be super smart, sit by the opposite wall, in full view of everyone. They sit closest to the food and often the staff slid hot chips and other goodies across to their table, free of charge.

That is where Jongin also sits. He had been at the school for barely a few hours before Kris had gestured for him to join that table. Most people had expected their first lunch together to be a mess. Group mentality of ‘pick on the new kid’ had been a foundation for Kris and Tao’s place on the social ladder, selectively picking their latest victims to laugh at and embarrass in front of the whole school.

But, after a week, Jongin was still sitting there and still he sits there today.  Luhan has caught himself many times throwing glances across the cafeteria to that familiar tuft of almost black hair (for Luhan knew that in the sunlight it shone much lighter, and sometimes even looked more burgundy than actual brown).

Luhan passes by his regular table, throwing an ecstatic look across to Sehun, who is chewing monotonously on his packed kimchi. His eyes flick questioningly up at Luhan, who gives him a warm smile.

“I get to sit with them!” Luhan announces, trying to keep himself from jumping up and break dancing on the table.

“But… we always eat together…” Sehun breathes.

Baekhyun looks up from his sandwich, giving Luhan a blank stare. He shakes his head in disbelief, letting the tomato fall from his folds of bread.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah! Jongin and me are partners for a dance routine. We’re going to meet up on the weekend… Saturday?”

Luhan doesn’t notice Sehun look down, intent on staring down Baekhyun’s fallen tomato. Sehun could swear his ears were reddening from anger and frustration. How could Luhan forget? They’ve always picked out a movie to watch on a Saturday, always. Always something kitsch and stupid and really nothing particularly amazing, but all Sehun really wanted was to watch Luhan laugh. How?

“OK, so I’m going…” Luhan breathes, pointing across the room.

“Fine,” Sehun responds in a monotone. He doesn’t look up to watch Luhan all but skip between the tables, capturing the gaze of all the occupants of the large room.

---

“Uh…”

Luhan slides a hand down his shirt, hoping that there are no creases on the white fabric. He knows his hair is already ruined, and if he wants to sit here, he has to at least look presentable. Luhan remembers the time Kris had forcefully removed that poor kid from sitting next to him on account of Kris thinking ‘anyone without freshly styled hair’ or an obscene amount of BB cream smothered on their face is not worth his time. Luhan sincerely hopes his appearance is enough.

“Luhan?”

Jongin turns, waving warmly as he slides up the bench, patting the spot next to him.

“Come, sit.”

Luhan drops his tray on the table, blushing profusely as he scoots into the seat beside Jongin, all too aware that Jongin’s leg is brushing up against his, with nothing more than two layers of fabric between them. He shakes his head, trying to tidy his thoughts.

“Guys, this is Luhan.”

Luhan finally looks up, giggling nervously as he meets Kris’ scrupulous gaze. Kris narrows his eyes and nods, wrapping his arm around Tao’s broad frame. Kris’ deep brown orbs take in Luhan’s disheveled appearance with eerily good intent.

“I didn’t believe you when you said he was cuter than a doll,” Kris says, eyebrow raised. Jongin lets out a nervous laugh, eyes flickering across to Luhan.

“Cute?” Luhan squeaks.

“Me?”

“Yeah, wouldn’t shut up about you,” Tao says, fiddling with the silver necklace that definitely is not school approved. Luhan’s eyes widen in surprise. For Tao’s overbearing and intense appearance, his voice was much higher pitched and relaxed than Luhan ever imagined.

“Welcome to our table,” Kris announces, holding a hand out to Luhan. Luhan hesitates before sliding his fingers between Kris’, biting his tongue as Kris squeezes his fingers too tightly for Luhan’s liking.

“Better than sitting over there…”

Kris’ eyes travel across the room, letting a smirk slither onto his lips as he meets the occupants of Luhan’s regular table.

“You sit with Sehun? Oh Sehun?”

There is something about Kris’ tone that Luhan doesn’t like. He gives the taller teen a wary look, nodding.

“You mean that blank guy? He’s in my mathematics class!” Tao pipes in.

“What a weirdo. Always so blank and lifeless… it’s a wonder he has any friends at all.”

“That guy!” Kris says, smirk never leaving his face.

“He was in my gym class. Pretty tall but completely expendable. I had him on my team and when I passed the ball to him he practically screamed and ducked away from it! Psycho.”

Luhan can feel his skin prickling up. Sure, it’s hard to coax an emotion out of Sehun but Sehun is not an emotionless psycho. Luhan’s seen him laugh so hard he had to keel over and sit in a fetal position, and only because Luhan said some stupid joke. Luhan’s seen him cry, he’s had Sehun lean on his shoulder and sob into his shirt until he could feel the damp of Sehun’s tears on his skin, for a reason Luhan still tries to figure out.