Page 13 of Open Water

And Max nods in agreement. He can do that. No pressure of writing and sitting exams and doing group presentations which clearly scares the hell out of him. It will be tight timewise, Lukas explains, but as long as Max sticks to the lesson plan and completes all the learning tasks, he can get away with a decent pass mark and move on to Year 3 as planned.

“With Drama, though.” Simon hasn’t even looked in Tom’s direction. He just stares at Max and leans forward to lean on the table. “You need to come back to class. However you can manage it, we need you in that group.”

“I will try,” Max says, hiding behind his hair. Shuffling on his seat and looking just as uninterested and blasé as he wants to look. When in reality, it’s quite clear he probably is – a little bit – interested.

“Youwilltry.” Simon almost shouts. “You are a fucking natural, and there are so many brilliant things in Year 3. I already have ideas for our exam project and the play for the Summer festival, and you would be so bloody brilliant in all of it.”

Max shrugs and Tom’s eyes are now playing ping-pong across the room. Looking at Lukas who won’t look up from the paperwork in front of him. Simon who is waving his arms around speaking loudly about some drama project, Max chewing on his fingernail and himself probably looking like someone has died.What a fucking bunch of losers.

“The extra cred you can earn to make up for missing Drama hours are with Lukas again,” Simon says, and gives Max a stern look. “I hope you are paying attention, because this is a one-time offer.”

“Yeah, right,” Max mutters. “Whatever. I’ll do it.”

“You haven’t heard what I am asking.” Lukas sounds pissed off. No wonder.

“What are you asking?” Max snarls, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I run one of the after school social clubs, and to be honest, it’s a fucking mess.” Lukas sighs.

“You run the Queer group,” Max huffs, and his chair scrapes against the floor as he moves it further away from the table. “I’m not fucking joining that.”

“You don’t have to join. It’s not just for students who are on the spectrum or are questioning their sexuality. We have several students who have joined for other reasons.” Lukas is speaking calmly and quietly, when it’s obvious he is neither calm, nor wanting to be quiet.

“Yeah, right.”

Max is an idiot. How the hell has Tom not brought him up better? Taught him manners and how to fucking sit at a table? Not half-lie back in the fucking seat like some junkie.

“Max, I have one openly queer kid, two girls who won't open their mouths, and fourteen idiots who watched some TV series and are now obsessed with something called ‘EVOK’. I haven’t got a fucking clue what to do with them all.”

Tom has to kind of smile. He’s still funny Lukas. Still full of that snarky charm and the way he throws his head back, and fuck, he’s still him. He hasn’t changed at all.

“It’s EVAK.” Max kind of half smiles. “Where the hell have you been for the last year? Everyone knows fucking EVAK.”

“What is EVAK?” Tom questions. He’s lost now too.

“I taught a guy who was an extra in that. He went to this fine school a few years back. Very cool kid.” Simon is actually smiling. For about a second before he fixes his gaze on Tom again and scowls, as Lukas continues.

“All I am asking of you is that you attend the Queer meeting next week and help me devise a roleplay thing to get people to talk about things that are important. You can be there as a sort of support teacher if you prefer, because you are good at this Drama thing and I am bloody shite at it. I need scenarios and ideas of how we can open discussions and make people think before they open their gobs.”

Max just shrugs his shoulders.

“Because,” Lukas continues, “if I have to sit through another meeting of all of them watching YouTube clips and squealing every time those damn boys kiss, then I think I will have a serious breakdown.”

“I thought you liked boys kissing,” Max singsongs. And Tom rolls his eyes. Honestly. The kid needs a gag.

“Max!” Tom booms. Like a freaking idiot.

“What? Lukas is out. He’s not afraid. “ Max looks defiant again.Cocky little shit.

“My sexuality is not the topic here,” Lukas snarls. “You passing Senior School is. So, will you agree to do the Queer workshop with me for extra Drama credit? It will include you providing a breakdown of roleplay ideas and questions to raise for Simon to assess for an assignment grade.”

Simon nods.

Max shrugs his shoulders.

Lukas rolls his eyes. Discreetly, but still.

And Tom stares at Lukas like he is a starving man. Like he is still seventeen again. Like he is about to die.

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