lukas donovan

Rosie: ONE FINAL TO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Rosie: and then I am off to Europe

Luke: oh you're going to be in Europe?

Luke: You should stop off at our estate and check in

Alex just looked up to the man and for the first time he wondered if this was the type of Ryan beat up in high school and he wondered if Ryan was still in class. He looked down to this watch and sighe (the answer was yes). He just rested his temple against the wall and kept his eyes on the guy. “And how old are you?” Alex asked.

Lukas didn’t usually brag about the qualifications he had acquired over the last couple of years -- the reason he had mentioned them to this guy was to ensure that he was safe in the knowledge he wasn’t about to be taught by someone who didn’t know what they were on about. “I’m 25, but I had all my PhD’s by the age of 21, I’ve just been doing research for a while and fancied something a little more -- challenging. -- how about you?” Luke smiled innocently at the lad. “I’m Lukas, by the way.”

If Alex wasn’t green before he surely was now. He covered his mouth and just glared to the man. “What the fuck is a master’s student doing in a 300 level class anyway?” He demanded before turning away to run out of the room towards the bathrooms.

Lukas did not mean to make the other lad feel uncomfortable. “sorry -- I -- uhm, maybe it’s just spilled iodine or something? I wouldn’t worry If I were you.” he tried to put his mind at rest after clearly disturbing him by his deduction. 

Lukas’ eyebrows raised slightly as the boy swore and questioned his presence in the classroom. “I, er -- uhm. You’re lecturer is sick -- and I have PhDs in metaphysics, chemistry, chemical and biomedical engineering, and I’m working towards my PhD in biochemistry, I am doing the biochemistry masters just to supplement them. I’m qualified, don’t worry!”

Lottie walked out onto the quad paying no attention to where she was going, shoving bits of paper into her bag the blonde searched for her keys which she’d already misplaced. “Fuck,” she groaned seconds before her shoulder collided with someone else’s. “I’m so sorry,” the blonde said turning to face to person she’d hit. 

Lukas was making his way home after spending a considerable amount of time in the library, again -- he really needed to find a new hobby, maybe he could take up a contact sport or something? He decided against this pretty quickly, surmising that brain damage was an inevitable result and he couldn’t risk it. Whilst he was contemplating being tackled to the ground -- he was jolted out of his day-(bad)dream by someone walking into his shoulder. That cleared it up -- he would not be taking up a contact sport. “oh -- uhm -- it’s ok.” he replied, trying to bring himself back to reality as he dropped his bag on the floor, hoping that his MacBook was still in one piece. “it’s totally fine, don’t worry about it. You’ve just helped me affirm something, so I guess I should say --” he scratched the back of his head and smiled. “thank you?”

“...I don’t know if it counts as a childhood memory, but the one thing I do remember from my childhood was realising I got things. I was smart. Smarter than a lot of people, most people. It made me feel special, that I could accomplish things when I put my mind to them.”

“...well, I see you have no vodka with you -- so that story is going to have to wait for another time. she was like fire and water. polar opposites -- she made me feel like I was as high as a kite, and in the next minute as though I was the worst person on the planet. We’ll get into it another time.”

“I know we’re in the science building but why is there so much…. blood?”

“I think someone got to trigger happy with a scalpel whilst dissecting something -- that’s why I prefer my science a little less... uh, biology related?”

“Why are you giving me that look?” The blonde asked, addressing his frown. “You’re the one who told me that you were studying ‘some boring science thing’“ She used her fingers to create air quotes, “I wouldn’t have called it boring if you hadn’t…” a laugh escaped her lips. Ella probably wouldn’t have called it boring out loud but she certainly would have thought it. Mostly because it wasn’t her cuppa tea. “Depending on how much you like learning, you can go to my classes and learn all of that too. I’ll even pay you to do so.” It was a shame that she didn’t apply herself because she was a naturally bright girl. But, she was also stubborn and easily distracted. If something wasn’t capturing her attention fully, there was no hope.

Lukas shrugged at the question -- he didn’t mean to call science boring. “I only called it boring because I thought you would not enjoy it. It was sort of deprecating-ish?” he chuckled nervously. “What is your major? I mean I’m always looking to learn new things, as long as it’s interesting.” This was not true, Lukas was usually very strict on the disciplines he was willing to look into and seldom strayed from them, he was just being nice -- that’s what he’s supposed to do when talking to other people, right?

Rusty knew what Lukas was doing, knew exactly what he was thinking. He huffed, he hated feeling guilty. Why couldn’t he sulk when he wanted to without having to worry about other people’s feelings? It was so inconvenient. He huffed, pushing away from the wall, finishing his coffee as he stood up. “No, let’s go.” He said firmly. “You wanted to go for pizza. We’re going for pizza. Get up.” He grabbed a hoodie, pulling it on.

Lukas sat there, mulling things over in his head as he usually did. Smiling to himself as Rusty got up and ready just to appease his desire to carry out and act that he associated with his mother. It was heart-warming. “Ok, we’ll go. but if they don’t have any homemade pesto aioli I’m going to be annoyed.”

Rusty’s shoulders dropped as he realised what Lukas was trying to say. It made sense that he had blocked it from his memory, his mother dying of an overdose. It wasn’t something he liked to think about, it made him uncomfortable. If Lukas knew what was currently hidden in the drawer of his bedside table… he had no idea how he would react, but he had a feeling he would be upset rather than angry. Something he definitely couldn’t deal with. He liked anger, you could match it with your own. When people were angry and defensive it was easy to push them away. When they got upset, it broke down your walls. You couldn’t do anything but feel their pain too. “I’m not hungry. And I’m not unhappy.” He said, instead of apologising. He didn’t like to admit he was wrong. “But we can go for pizza if you want to… I don’t mind.” 

Lukas withdrew in himself, wrapping his arms around himself -- not really knowing what to say. “If you don’t want to go, and you’re fine then we don’t have to go. I am easy-going.” he shrugged. “we could order in and just chill, if you want?” Lukas didn’t know what else to say. “I can just go if you’re busy. I don’t want to be in the way.”

If she was in a sunny mood, which clearly she had been, Ella would do a good deed or two. She did for the most part, believe in karma. Not to mention she knew that starting the day with a spill wasn’t ideal it could definitely set a bad tone for the rest of anyone’s waking hours. Which, for him she hoped wouldn’t be too many more.

Both of Ella’s brows would raise, “Quantum Thermodynamics…” she repeated, “and that somehow kept you awake instead of putting you to sleep? You sir, deserve an award for that.” There were some things that kept Ella awake, sure, but none of them involved school work. She let a smirk tug at the corners of her lips as she shot him a wink, “real Ella is a lot more satisfying than dream Ella, so you lucked out. Do you have to go attempt to sit through classes or can you go home to bed?”

A small frown appeared on Lukas’ face, he was not a fan of people insulting science, purely because he felt so passionately about it -- and along with that passion came a sense of protection. “It wasn’t boring, it was interesting, illuminating, actually.” he stated quite matter of factly, but not rude. Lukas was a little socially awkward and hoped that his love for science would not scare away the girl. “I should have classes, but I’ve submitted all my term papers early, well -- the first week of the term. I had some spare time.” he shrugged. “I like learning stuff.” he smiled, hoping he didn’t sound too weird. He thrust his hands into his pocket standing up. “I’m Lukas -- It’s nice to meet you real Ella.” Luke didn’t know how to respond to the comment about him lucking out, so being the awkward person that he was just replied. “That’s me, lucky.” it could’ve sounded sarcastic, but that was not the way it was intended.

Rusty felt a pang of sympathy for Lukas, he really did look upset. But he wasn’t about to let Lukas know he was feeling guilty. He took another sip of coffee, clutching the cup to his chest. “I don’t know,” he shrugged pointedly. “Monday?” He frowned, looking at Lukas, his expression was cold but he knew his eyes would give him away. “You don’t have to leave…” He said softly. “Don’t be sorry. It’s- it’s fine.” 

Lukas sighed at Rusty’s response, he had forgotten. It was not something that Luke would hold against him though, then again, to Rusty it must just feel like a normal day -- not the day that everything fell apart for him. “It’s the anniversary of her -- the -- umm -- when she went away.” After five years, he still couldn’t bring himself to say the words out loud. It was still too much, too raw. “Maybe we could go and get pizza? I think that might make you feel happy.” Lukas was a simple soul. He didn’t want to make anyone around him sad, or see anyone sad even though he was crying on the inside, his mom used to take him for pizza, and that was one of his fondest memories of her -- but he didn’t want to share that with anyone just yet.

Rusty resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Don’t I know it.” He muttered. He knew Lukas didn’t intentionally draw attention to how well organised and competent he was, but it still frustrated him immensely. He finally turned his head to look at him when it became clear he was upset. Maybe he had been a little harsh, but was it really his fault if Lukas couldn’t take it? He was the one who had dropped by unannounced. “I’m fine.” He said forcefully, leaving no room for him to argue. He took a deep breath, sighing deeply. “Well, aren’t you going to sit down?” He said, his voice softening slightly. “…might as well now that you’re here.”

Lukas edged over and sat down on the bed, scooting backwards towards the wall to rest his back on there. He offered a weak smile at Rusty. “I’m sorry to bother you.” He sighed and smiled lightly. “I just don’t think I could be alone today. It’s been difficult. I mean, do you remember what today is?” by the conversation that had already been exchanged, Lukas assumed that Rusty was clueless as to why he was a little down. Any other day the digs and quips would just bounce off him, he was used to Rusty being a little shitty. “I’m glad you’re fine -- but I don’t think I am.” He pursed his lips and sipped his coffee, trying to hide the tear that rolled down his cheek, he swiftly wiped it away with his sleeve. “I can leave if you want -- it was just you were the first person that came to mind, I like spending time with you.” he shrugged. “sorry.”

Ella was happy to help mop up the mess with a pile of napkins she grabbed from a nearby stand. She knew what it was like to feel out of it, and most of the time it was even worse if someone felt that way in public. After sopping up a good portion of the liquid, she would walk them over to a rubbish bin before returning. 

“Three days? Wow that must have been some research. I admire your work ethic there, but I don’t think I could ever do that. What were you researching?” Picking up her own cup she took a sip before raising a brow, she had to laugh slightly, not to mention have a bit of fun with her answer, “I mean, a lot of people do say that I’m a dream but, I’m real.”

Lukas welcomed the help, it was nice of the girl to come over and offer assistance in a situation that she really didn’t need to. Lukas appreciated the gesture. He smiled up at her, thanking her through his facial expression because that was all he could appear to muster at that present moment, hoping that it was enough. 

“Oh -- it was just some boring science thing, just y’know Quantum Thermodynamics.” Lukas was 99.9% sure that the girl would not know what he was on about, but he didn’t mind -- she was kind. He laughed awkwardly as she did, not knowing why she was laughing but assumed it might’ve been better to join in. “I would say you are very beautiful so I can understand why people would say that -- but in this moment I am glad you are real.”

Rusty took a sip of coffee, leaning back against his wall, refusing to look at Lukas. “Congratulations, you noticed I’m officially terrible at functioning as a Human Being.” He muttered sarcastically, finally turning to glare at his friend. “I am a genius.” He snapped, “It isn’t like I didn’t understand your question. I’m choosing not to answer it.” 

Lukas rolled his eyes. “I don’t understand why you have to always be so dramatic, Rust.” He took another sip of his own coffee. “I know that you are a functioning human being, you just choose to be a messy one – if that works for you then good, but I need to have everything in order.” he smiled to himself, pulling out his phone and flicking through his messages. “You know – I was only asking because I care about you, I can see you’re not ok. I have eyes.” Lukas was beginning to look more and more upset the longer the conversation went on – he was struggling with staying on his own today, but the only company that made him feel safe was just ebbing away at him, bit by bit.

The bubbly blonde just completed her morning workout, it wasn’t something that she ever looked forward to. She wasn’t one of those people who enjoyed working out, but it was a neccesary evil, especially in what she hoped would be her line of work, being a performer. The worst part of it was to fit it into her schedule, Ella had to wake up early and get to the gym, which was, perhaps, her least favourite part of the whole thing. A morning person she was not.

Now something to eat was a must, so Ella was seated in the canteen, a bowl of fruit infront of her. She was picking on it while she scrolled through her phone, returning text messages from her friends from back home. While her day was just begining, because of the time difference, theirs had already been up and going for a while. 

The girl was in her own world, something that happened quite often, that is, until she heard the cup hit the floor and the male mutter the cuss word. Then she looked up to assess the situation. Standing she would grab a pile of napkins before bending over to help. 

“Rough morning, love?”

Lukas didn’t know what else to do other than give up, place his head in his hands and hope for the best. He didn’t think that attempting to stand up just yet was going to work in his favour, so he stayed on the floor for the time being, trying to sort his life out through the power of positive thinking -- that wasn’t really working out well but what else could he do. 

He shot his head upwards as he heard the voice of another approaching him. “Rough doesn’t cover it, I’ve not slept in three days -- I got really into some research.” He shrugged. “It was so interesting, but I’m starting to regret not taking a break to sleep.” He shrugged. “Not to be rude or anything, but are you actually here or are you a figment of my imagination? I don’t know if I’ve hit the delirious stage of tiredness.”