Michael chose that moment to dart into the room and scratch the cat tower and Luka watched him, envious that Michael had no idea what Twitter even was.
“Breathe, baby," August reminded him.
“I'm breathing," Luka gasped, realizing belatedly he probably hadn’t been breathing. “I’m breathing, okay. Back off a bit.”
August took their hands off of Luka and sat on the futon next to him. They waited it out, letting Luka breathe for a while before trying again. “What’s going on?”
“I have like, millions of notifications on Twitter.”
“Don’t you only have a few hundred followers?”
Luka nodded and August hummed. He continued, “Jay texted me.”
“Ew.”
“Shush, he texted me that apparently, of all people in the world, Reno is asking for me.”
“Isn’t that the guy from that one band you like that you explained to me?” August’s brown eyes went wide before they said, “You have his photo card on your backpack.”
“Don’t remind me.” Luka tugged on the end of his hair before plaiting it then watching it unravel. “It’s embarrassing. Like, I could never befriend someone whose photo I’ve had on my backpack dangling next to a charm of Prince Zuko for two years. I am not that strong.”
“Okay, yeah, that’s bad," August confirmed with a nod. “You should probably sell that photo card. Didn’t you say it was worth a few hundred bucks?”
“Wait, why should I sell it?”
“Aren’t you gonna respond?” August said, as if that was so simple. Luka looked at their precious, round face and tried to form a solid argument as to why he was refusing to reach out to Reno.
“I’m just…” he started, then tried again. “I’m so, I don’t know, normal? I can’t even get a following online for my art. I work from home for a bank. Even if I became friends with him, it would just be a constant reminder of my own average standing in the world.”
“I hate when you talk like that.” They took Luka’s hand and gripped it tightly. Luka followed Michael’s path up the cat tree and to the top of the bookshelf but didn’t have the energy to scold him for being on top of the furniture. “You’re anything but average.” August squeezed his hand then stood to grab Michael from the bookshelf before he could knock anything down again. “You’re just undiscovered and have all the time in the world to find your own place. One of these days the right person will find your art and you’ll be so flooded with commissions you’ll never have to pick up a phone again.”
“Thanks.” Luka didn’t believe them, but appreciated the speech regardless.
“Want me to respond for you?” August suggested, dropping Michael on the futon before sitting down again.
“He has over four mil on there, I don’t think his DMs are open for anyone who he isn’t following.”
“Hm, go get me your phone. I bet he’s following you now.”
“I deleted Twitter from my phone.”
“Fine, weirdo. Laptop then.”
Luka got up, feeling fairly unsteady on his feet and went to get his laptop from his bedroom. He made a beeline for his phone, grabbing it from where it had landed on the carpet earlier.
JAY
if you dont respond i will flip out.
seriously man don't waste a golden chance like this
you could be living in the OD kidnapped me fic of ur dreams.
i don't like one direction.
stop being so literal.
Maria
