2 months, 10 weeks, 70 days - m.c

flower crowns (1)

“Why are you making me do this again?” Michael asks, as he picks another yellow flower out of the bright green grass.

 “Because I wanna make a flower crown for you,” I say watching for his reaction with a smile on my lips and he stops picking them and looks up at me. 

 “No,” He says, through a stern expression. And I smirk.

 “Oh yes. It'll match your hair,” I say, referring to his white, faded hair. He smiles and shakes his head at my childishness. 

 We continue picking the flowers, walking all around looking for the most pretty and the most healthy and most tall ones. We each gather enough and return to the blanket laid out for us. 

 “How are you gonna do this?” He asks, and takes a flower from his hand and puts it behind my ear. He moves the hair out of my face. And I try to hid how nervous he makes me, and how much I loved when he did those little things.

 “Uh, I kinda just assumed it’d be easy, I don't really know how. I've never done it,” I say, smiling with my teeth and he rolls his eyes. 

 “Well go for it, let me see you work your magic,” He says and sets down his flowers carefully. Then crosses his arms like he’s gonna examine me. 

 I take two flowers and tie them into a knot but as I pull to tighten it the stems rip and I roll my eyes. he starts to clap very slowly.

 “Great, just so careful char,” He says very sarcastically and I smile.

 “I forgot,” I say. Acting upset and frustrated

 “Forgot what? We have the champagne in the car,” He says.

 "To ask for your opinion,” I say, with a smirk on my face.

 “Oh god, you're so 12,” He says and shoves me. I shove him back, but much harder.

 “Woah, Woah, calm down,” He says, and puts his hands up. 

 “I'm calm, I'm calm,” I say, putting my hands up too.

 It gets quiet for a few seconds, me and Michael just kinda stare at each other. Not really knowing what else to say. 

 “Is this how we’re gonna be spending the rest of our summer?” I ask, pretending to be sad and disappointed. I would actually love to spend the rest of the summer like this. With my favorite person. simple, easy. 

 “You act like its prison,” He exaggerates. 

 “Nah, I mean, its really nice out here. I love hanging with you mike,” I say, honestly. Looking straight into his eyes.

 “You too.” He says, and reaches down to grab my hand. He wraps his fingers in mine, which catches me by surprise.

 “We should do this everyday then.” He says, still holding my hand. 

 “Uh, why are you holding my hand?” I ask him, adding an awkward chuckle.

 “You know I love you right?” He asks me, avoiding my question.

 “Mikey, why are you being all weird?” I ask him, because first he’s moving hair out of my face and giving me a flower then holding my hand now making sure I know he loves me.

 “How is this weird?” He asks, looking like he did something wrong.

 “I don't know, you don't usually ask me those things, or hold my hand. Its more of sarcasm and shoving.” Because Michael is my best friend. 

 “You know though. Right?” He asks, with a creased forehead.

 “Of course. I love you too.” I say with a friendly smile, and shove him forward a little. His intense expression doesn't change. He just stares at me. And this is all so confusing. Why isn't he smiling or happy or reassured. Its like now I did something wrong.

 “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask, kinda getting scared and worried about him. After I ask that, his once stiff shoulders move back into a slouch and his expression changes completely. Its like in three seconds he became a different person.

 “I don't know what you're talking about,” He says and looks down at our still intertwined hands and frowns, and looks super confused. And he shakes my hand off like it was wrong or something.

 "Michael, what the hell is wrong with you?” I ask him, getting very frustrated. Its like one minute he’s all funny and Michael next minute he’s serious and not himself.

 “No, nothings wrong. I'm okay,” He says but I'm not convinced. He then pulls out his phone and scrolls through something. Then he looks back up at me.

 “Look char, I think I need to head out,” He says, looking worried about leaving so early. Usually we stay out here, in our spot for hours.

 “But we haven't even opened the champagne, we haven't toasted,” I say, speaking about our summer toast.

 "Yeah, i know, I'm sorry. char. We can toast tomorrow,” He says, and he has a really worried expression on his face, like i might get super mad. I wasn't gonna punch him or anything but inside i was just disappointed and upset at him for having to leave.

 “Where are you even going?” I ask and he starts to get his coat back on and stands up. Stepping on our blanket. Now looking up at him.

 “They need me at home. Ill text you tonight okay?” He asks me, making sure I'm okay. But he seems in a rush.

 “Yeah. okay,” I say and roll my eyes. 

 "Okay, okay. Thanks char. so sorry,” He says and starts running to his car, which is parked right beside mine. He jumps in and as he starts to pull out of the spot, he waves. I don't wave back, i just smile, ever so slightly. 

 This whole day has been weird with him. First the love stuff, now this sudden leaving thing. I don't even know.