After a long time of keeping his head down, Ashton decided it was time to interact with his teacher once again. He had went through an entire week of keeping quiet, but on a Wednesday afternoon he found himself sitting in Luke's desk during their lunch hour. Luke had yet to enter the room.

Ashton busied himself with the Newton's cradle sitting on the large desk. His eyes focused on the metallic spheres moving back and forth until he heard the door open.

Luke didn't give a reaction upon seeing Ashton. If he did, it had been very discrete. He held a bagged lunch in his hand and a water bottle in the other.

"What are you doing here?" Finally, Luke acknowledged Ashton's presence.

"I need some help from a teacher," Ashton shrugged slightly, bringing his feet back to the floor and chewing his gum obnoxiously.

Luke rolled his eyes, setting his lunch down and leaning back on one of the classroom desks. "What do you need help with?"

"Monologues."

"A monologue?" Luke's eyebrows pinched together in confusion.

"Yes. I need your opinion. So just listen, yeah?"

Sighing in defeat, Luke dipped his head. "Go ahead, Ashton."

"A while ago, I was told that my sexuality is against the word of God. If I truly cared, maybe I would have given it a bit more thought. But instead of focusing on his words, I decided to evaluate the person instead. He was in denial. He turned to alcohol, and I couldn't help but feel partially responsible. You see, it's not right. It's not right to criticize someone when deep down, you are the same. For instance, a homophobic man that claims homosexuality is a sin, when it's clear he's just afraid of what's outside the closet. If I cared, I would have said something in that moment. I would have reported the claim, told someone. No, that's not like me, though. So you better give me a goddamn thank you and an apology, Teacher."

"How was that? Was it good enough of a monologue for you?" Ashton followed up effortlessly, raising to his feet and walking around the desk.

It was clear that the teacher did not appreciate such a stance. He didn't like when he was forced from a superior position. In result, his jaw clenched and he found himself speaking. "Get to class, Irwin. Save your personal monologues for your reflection in the mirror."

Ashton let his eyes rake over his teacher, an irritated expression plastered across his face. His eyes narrowed, and he found himself taking another angry step forward.

"Would you stop pretending?"

"Pretending to do what?

"Pretending to be so pure," Ashton narrowed the distance so he was only several steps away. He was closing in. "Pretending that I'm some abomination. Pretending that you didn't like those letters." Despite his usual cockiness, Ashton's words were true. Luke could have stopped him. Luke could have reported him. He still had yet to do so.

"Ashton," the teacher gave a strict warning, leaning against the wall in hopes of putting an impossible distance between him and Ashton.

"Stop it," the brunet shook his head, finally coming to a stop when the two stood toe-to-toe.

There was no doubt Luke was looking down at Ashton in confusion, but there was also no doubt Luke was glancing at Ashton's lips every now and then. When he grew to accept their proximity, Luke spoke up.

"You're a sin."

Ashton grinned, teenage hormones finding pride in that comment. "A sin?" He giggled slightly, chin close to the top of Luke's left shoulder. His face was so close, but he kept that inch of distance as he whispered in Luke's ear. "Then I suppose you're the sinner?"

"Go to lunch, Ashton." Luke exhaled, breath extremely shaky as he stared down at his student.

"You don't sound so sure." Ashton smirked, raising an eyebrow as his lips ghosted across Luke's collarbone.

Wordlessly, Luke pushed past Ashton and headed to his desk. "I'm not asking again, Ash." Luke turned when his thigh brushed the corner of the large, wooden desk. Rapping his knuckles against the furniture, he looked to his student.

And so, Ashton turned to the door, muttering a few words as he left, "Check your back pocket."

As the door closed, Luke found his pale hands reaching back and grabbing a slim piece of paper from his back right pocket.

Dear Teacher,
"I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of a woman." (Samuel 1:26)
I can quote The Bible too, Teacher.