The Opening Act

Chapter 3: Heart to Heart

A FEW WEEKS LATER. 1pm.
Michaels POV:

        Ever since Calum started dating Arianna things have been quite awkward between us. Cal knew I liked her, he broke the bro code. It's not the first time he's done it either, this has been my life ever since elementary school. He always gets the girl I lay my eyes on, always. I looked down at my guitar strumming a few chords. I found myself composing a really pretty melody, maybe a new song might come out of this feeling.
        Suddenly, the door slammed open. I jumped from my seat. "What he f-" "Hiya Michael!" Arianna walked in holding Cal's hand. Calum and Arianna had come back from whatever the fuck they were doing.
        "Oh, hey Ari" I mumbled, going back to where I left off.
     "Michael, wanna go out tonight? Get some beers, you know, with Calum and Gracie!" She smiled. Damn her smile was amazing. I find myself often getting lost in it with her deep brown eyes.
        "Uh, no thanks. I'm kinda working on a new song. " I mumbled.
        "C'mon man, you love beer!" Cal insisted.
        I really didn't want to go.
        "Yeah, and I have lots of it in my fridge." I went back to strumming my guitar.         
        He shrugged. "Babe, come upstairs, I'm kinda hungry ya know!" He said winking at her. Fucking pig.
        "No one needs to know your business, Calum!" I growled as I got up and walked towards the hub.
        I opened the door and threw my guitar in the nearest bean bag. "What's up mike-ro-wave" I heard a voice coming from my my gamer chair. The chair turned, with Gracie on it. It was almost like the godfather scene, she's so short I probably would've never noticed her there.
        "Gracie" I laughed. "You scared me!"
        She chuckled a bit. "Wanna play?" She pointed at the screen, she was in the middle of a sticks and stones match.
        "Who gave you consent to use my Xbox?" I teased.
        "Excuse me?" She playfully said.
        "I don't need any, your stuff is mine." She giggled.
        I quickly got up towards the console and turned it off.
        "Michael!" She squealed. "Why'd you do that for!" Gracie said as she punched me in my chest with her tiny fists.
        "I kinda want to talk" I admitted.
        "Yeah, I'm listening"
        "Well you see, uhm..." I couldn't say it.
        "Luke likes you!" I blurted out.
        Fuck. Michael you're an idiot! I thought to myself. I usually end up blurting something else.
        "Yeah, I know" she shrugged. "But I was expecting you to tell me about your feelings for Arianna." She said with a smirk on her face.
        Lovely, just lovely. She knew. I wasn't quite sure what to say. I just sat there paralyzed.
        "Well...?" She was waiting for a response.
        "She's with Calum now, and she's happy." I frowned.
        "But are YOU happy Clifford?"
        It echoed in my brain. Am I happy?

Grace's POV:

        I've never seen the soft side of Michael. He's always the type to crack jokes and mess around.
        He stood there silent.
        "Michael" I whispered. "I know I'm the whole anti-relationship one here. You're my best friend and Arianna is like my sister, but you have to tell her"
        "No! Are you crazy. Calum has anger management issues. He'd kill me!" He anxiously said.
        "I never said fuck her, Michael" I laughed. "Just tell her. If you keep holding the feelings in, it won't do you any good."
        "Yeah, but she'll reject me." He pouted.
        "Of course, she's with Calum. But you need that closure Mikey." I asserted.
        He smiled and looked up at me. "Thank you" he said, giving me a tight hug.
        "You know..." I said, loosening the hug. "She was a Michael girl when she was 16" I chuckled.
        "Really?" He laughed. "I guess I may have a chance after all!" He added.
        "Shut up Michael." I said, slapping the back of his head.
        "Wanna get some pizza?" He asked.
        "Let's go!"