The Prince's Curse

Chapter 9 - The Friendgroup

~Chapter 9~

*The Friendgroup*

"Come on, he's lame, but once you get to know him, it really isn't too bad,"

After finishing his little 'good will' speech, Luke received identical blank looks from his friends.

He was trying to get them to open up to Ashton a bit more, but it didn't seem to be working.

"I mean, you've seen the kid, right?" Liam glanced at the person in question, who was ignoring them and pretending he couldn't hear them speaking about him. "Are we talking about the same person?"

Luke sighed. It was going to be a long year if he couldn't get his friends to accept Ashton.

"Come on, guys, just lighten up. He's not that bad."

It didn't look like they believed him, but suddenly a kid with bright green hair passed by and Zayn's face lit up.

"Bro, Luke, you totally missed it on Friday, yo. That party was bangin'."

"Oh yeah? What could have possibly happened that was so great?" Luke leaned back against the table they were sitting by. Niall was on his left and Liam and Zayn were sprawled on the grass in front of them. Ashton was sitting two benches away, closer to the wall than the entrance, that way if something went down, Luke would have the chance to do something before Ashton was compromised.

"Yo that kid over there," Zayn pointed at the long-haired boy with the most angular jaw Luke had ever seen, who sat near a tree with his blue tray and a big salad. "His name's Otto Wood. Dude is a legend."

"Oh, yeah. He hosted the party and chugged the keg upside down for a minute and a half before he vomited it up,"

Luke tried not to wrinkle his nose at the thought and instead grinned.

"Whoa, no way?"

"Hell yea, mate, I got a video," Liam fished his phone out of his pocket and pulled something up. He got up and sat next to Luke on his other side to show the video, the other boys crowding around him.

Luke grimaced when the long-haired kid, Otto, pulled the tube out of his mouth and started coughing, then retching all over the place. The two guys holding him almost dropped him, but they ended up gently, though not gracefully, setting him down, laughing and cheering as he emptied his stomach. The video ended as Otto propped himself up on one arm and gave a shaky grin and thumbs up.

"He's awesome," Niall said wistfully, like he wished it could have been him puking his guts up for five minutes of fame.

Luke didn't comment, instead he did a sweep of the area. He'd been watching the video and hadn't seen two new people show up. They didn't seem to be threats, but he couldn't be sure.

"Ash, why don't you come sit with us?" Luke suggested a couple moments later. He didn't like how many people were out here in this courtyard and wanted his charge closer to him. Ashton startled, but got up from his bench, grabbing his things and shuffling over.

"Oh good, I was getting bored. Let's mess with him, boys," Zayn whispered, receiving grins from the other boys, except Luke.

"Zayn, I thought I was clear. Stop messing with him. The soup was even a bit much, don't you think?"

Zayn rolled his eyes.

"C'mon, Luke, I thought you were fun. He's a nerd, we gotta—"

"Stop being an ass, Zayn. I thought you guys were cool, but this is just childish. Are you seven? If this is what you're going to do, then I'm out. It's me-and-Ash, or neither of us." Ashton gave Luke a confused look as he walked over, but Luke pushed his shoulder, turning him in another direction. "Speak to me when you guys can be human beings," he called over his shoulder.