inevitable entanglements » a.i. + l.h.

12

It was endearing, really, the way Luke clung to Ashton's side when they walked into the classroom. He still didn't feel that well, but he didn't want to spend another day in bed. He wasn't used to this kind of luxuries.

"Luke, I'm guessing you came to learn how to read and write?"

Gabriel asked, happy to see Luke by Ashton's side.

"Yes, if I'm not a burden."

The boy replied, shyly shuffling on his feet. Gabriel seemed like a nice guy and Ashton had told him a lot about him, but he couldn't help but feel nervous.

"Of course you aren't. Especially now Michael's not here, I have lots of time on my hands."

The man said, pushing back a chair behind one of the desks, indicating for Luke to take a seat.

"What'll Ashton be doing?"

Luke asked, reluctantly breaking contact with the older boy.

"I'll be right there, studying Astronomy."

Ashton reassured him and he opened his book to start.

"Let's get started then, shall we?"

Luke couldn't help but nod enthusiastically. He really wanted to be able to read, to decipher all the weird symbols in Ashton's books and to be able to read them by himself.

Gabriel immediately handed him a pen and some paper and taught him how to hold his pen. He let him scribble on the paper for a while, until he felt like he had a grip on it.

Then came the first letter, an A, something Luke was rather excited about because he recognised to symbol. Gabriel was taken by surprise, but happily showed him how to write one. After that came another and another. At first, he had to guide Luke's hand but soon, the boy did it all by himself.

Ashton looked up from the pages and grinned at the two, incredibly proud of Luke. He didn't remember much of when he first learned how to write. He could only recall learning a few letters a week, whereas Luke had learned seven in the past two hours. He appeared to be a quick learner.

"Ashton Fletcher Irwin, do your Astronomy."

Gabriel scolded without even looking up. He was carefully observing Luke's writing and found himself rather pleased. The boy was writing an L, utterly slowly and with his tongue stuck out in concentration. Ashton simply couldn't help himself, it was such a cute sight.

When he had learned a few letters, Gabriel made him write words. they were easy ones, like sun and sack, but it was still a miracle that Luke managed to write them. He seemed rather excited about it and kept scribbling more and more letters on the paper. Gabriel watched him with a smile, trying his hardest to ignore the boy's winces and whimpers. Sometimes pretending not to notice something is the best way to handle it.

A few minutes later, Luke had learned how to spell his name, as well as Lucas. "Why does it have to change letters? Why can't it just stay k or c?" He had whined exasperated, convinced that he had an annoying name.

Ashton found it harder and harder to focus on his Astronomy, especially when they started reading.

Luke, having to read everything letter by letter, ended up in mess of stutters. He scowled and sighed, growing rather annoyed with himself. He wished he could read as well as the older boy, who rarely made a mistake, whereas Luke couldn't read three letters without messing up.

Ashton couldn't help but smile at him. Because, fuck, that was the cutest thing ever.

Luke really tried his best. He kept going, even though deciphering certain words took him several minutes. Yet he soon got mad at himself, getting sick of all the stuttering. He sighed and buried his head in his hands in frustration.