delicate • a collection of the music freaks oneshots

Red

💗 : Lander
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Luke loves his scarf.

He adores it, treasures it, takes it with him even during summer (earning teasing from Milly and Hailey). It's his good luck charm.

He got it when he had freshly turned 15.

On the morning of his 15th birthday, he got up early, showering and getting ready with more care than usual. Today he wanted to look nice for his best friends. Celebrate with his true family.

His plans shattered when his mom entered his room.

"Luke," she said haughtily, looking at a dressed-up Luke judgmentally, "you aren't going to school today."

His expression dropped. As did his heart.

"What?" he said, trying to not start crying already. "Why...?"

"We have to go meet an important company manager. Your dad will be here soon."

"He's... here?" Luke said, an almost flicker of happiness in him. But then bitter memories of his dad saying he doesn't have time for anything Luke excels in appear, and Luke dreads the day a million times more. A day he will spend without the people he loves.

He sits through the meetings and doesn't complain. Doesn't complain when his dad comments on his weight. Doesn't complain when he doesn't get to drink water even once throughout the day. He doesn't say anything.

Ring!

Luke's phone suddenly rang, and all the eyes in the meeting were on him, his cheeks flushing at the unwelcome attention.

"I'm sorry," he silenced his phone and was about to send an SMS before he saw who it was.

Zander. His best friend.

Should he take the risk...?

"Excuse me, I have to take this," Luke said, not glancing at his parents for permission, but instead at the manager they were talking to, and she nodded encouragingly at him. She reminded him of Hailey. He wishes she was here.

He hurried out of the room, picking up the call. "Hello?"

"Luke!" Zander sounded slightly annoyed. "Why didn't you come to school?"

The guilt hit him like a truck. His friends had been waiting for him. And he'd disappointed them.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice coming out with a crack.

When Zander spoke, he sounded softer, gentler. "It's okay, not your fault, Luke. You don't have to tell me."

They stayed in silence for a moment, just Zander's presence comforting. He knows he should go back in as soon as possible but he doesn't want to. He wants to stay with him.

"Luke?" Zander spoke suddenly. "I will come to you tonight, sounds good? Which time do you come back?"

"I-I don't know, maybe around 10...?"

"I'll see you at 10. And Luke?" he spoke a bit more firmly, and Luke paid careful attention.

"I— We love you. We don't blame you at all. We want you to be safe and happy, okay?"

Zander's little slip-up, showing everything he said was meant to be from his perspective but he got shy, made Luke's melt. He prayed to God to not let him start crying right there and then.

"Yeah... I love you guys, too."

He walked back into the room, and not even his parents' glare could make the soft butterflies in his heart disappear.

When they got back home, his parents didn't say anything. Silent treatment, apparently. But he couldn't care less. For all he knows, even a good day is silent treatment from them.

Instead, he rushed up to his room, hopeful. Zander has learned from previous encounters to come up through the window instead of the door. And sure enough, Zander sat inside his room, being the only one aside from Luke to have the key to the window.

"Luke!" Zander sat up, going to embrace Luke in a hug.

Luke exhaled. The wait felt like a million years even though it had been only one day. He held Zander tightly, as if he would disappear if he let go.

"You have no idea how hard it was to get all the presents up through the ladder. I almost fell twice."

Luke chuckled. Zander showed him the rest of the music club's gifts—a journal, lavender-scented candles, some Harry Potter merch. By the time they were done, Zander was mimicking Harry Potter while wearing fake glasses and waving around the wand, and Luke was giggling, finally happy for the first time today.

It was almost midnight and they lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as 'Red' played on the phone on the bedside table.

"Hey, Luke..." Zander suddenly sat up, his cheeks flushed. "I also have a gift to give you."

He looked a little nervous as Luke sat up too, smiling expectantly.

Zander fumbled with a drawer he had hidden his gift in hurriedly. He made a small happy noise when he found it, going over to Luke and looking at him nervously.

"I know it's not much but—" Zander didn't finish his sentence, handing the gift to Luke.

"A... scarf?"

"I wish I could've gotten something better," he explained immediately, but Luke didn't need to hear any of it.

"Zander, I love it." Luke smiled, putting the scarf on immediately even though it was too hot for it. He didn't care, all that mattered was that now his whole world was with him.

"It isn't much." Zander looked really flustered.

"It's everything to me." Luke smiled and threw himself onto Zander. Zander squeaked, embracing Luke back.

The scarf was a mark. A reminder that no matter how bad of a day he has, he will always have his whole world to return to. No matter how dark the tunnel is, at the end, there's always light.

"Happy Birthday, Luke."

Yeah, everything was great.