𝚆𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝙾𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛

1984

Careless whisper.

We all know the song, we all know the singer.
I probably spent my entire childhood being in love with the man who wrote this song. My whole room was plastered with posters of George Michael and I had every single cassette of his songs that I would always play on my new walkman.

So you can imagine how ecstatic I was when my parents got me a limited edition cassette on my eleventh birthday that had careless whisper and wake me up before you go-go, my two favorite songs on it.

It was just before I joined middle school and the proposition of going to school every day listening to my favorite artist was beyond exciting for me.

Until the moment a bulky boy named Fletcher Andrews ripped it out of my hands and held it up high, so I couldn't reach it.

"Give it back to me now!" I protest and jump up trying to reach the chubby boys hand while an evil snicker leaves his mouth.

"Who listens to George Michael, that's the stupidest singer I've ever heard off." He says making the few girls and boys who gathered around us laugh at me.

"It's none of your business! You don't have to listen to them. Give it back!" I stomp my foot on the ground making his lips stretch out into a wide disgusting smile.

I know that Fletcher and I won't be friends in this life and I try to make him believe that I'm confident and strong but mostly I just want to cry.

I want my cassette back because my parents gifted it to me and I don't want them to be mad at me when I come home without it.

"Please Fletcher. It's a birthday present."

"Please Fletcher it's a birthday present." He mocks me making the crowd laugh and I already feel my eyes sting with unshed tears.

I clench my hands into fist trying to hold the salty tears back because I don't want to come off as weak but I don't see any solution out of this situation with getting my cassette back.

"Your daddy is going to be really sad if you don't get home with your stupid cassette? I'm sorry, here I'll give it back to you." He suddenly says and puts his arm down making me narrow my eyes suspiciously.

Nonetheless I stretch my hand out and grab it but what I didn't see coming, was him pulling at the black band and the whole band gets knotty and messed up when I pull at it.

My mouth opens in shock when the crowd starts to laugh, including Fletcher who pulls the cassette back and throws it on the ground.

"No!" I protests but it's too late, he jumps on it repeatedly and I can't do anything but watch my cassette crack into a million pieces, my favorite songs, my present, my heart.

I can't stop the tears now as something pulls at my heart and every laugh of every kid feels like another jab at my body, making me hug myself while the first tear rolls over my cheek.

"Enough of that." A voice speaks up and everyone shuts up making me turn around to see a tall, lanky boy stand behind me.

His arms are crossed in front of his chest. His brown hair a mess on his head while he stares angrily past me at Fletcher.

"Oh and who are you to tell me that Williams? Is this your little girlfriend? Are you trying to protect her?" Fletcher now mocks him and the boy steps past me, close to the chubby boy.

The lanky boy is much more taller than Fletcher and his green eyes glimmer dangerously making Fletcher take a subconscious step back.

The crowd is quiet, everyone waiting for something to happen while the two boys stare at each other but I have only eyes for my crushed cassette.
My parents are going to be so mad.
They'll never allow me to stay up past eight again I know it.

"You should be careful who you go against Williams." Fletcher growls before he finally steps back, the tall boy not moving one bit.

"Next time you better go against someone your size Andrews." He says before Fletcher shoves a few kids back to exit the circle breaking the spell and making everyone move away.

I rush over to the remains of the cassette and fall onto my knees the tears going on full speed.

"No, no, no." I say stressed while I pick up the band and stare at the black plastic laying in my hands that was my favorite. I cradle them to my chest as if it was any help, as if I could fix it.

A shadow moves over me and a second later the lanky boys squats down beside me picking up the last pieces of my cassette.

"I'm sorry that he did that. He's an idiot." He speaks up and I look surprised at him to see his eyes on me while he gives me a small smile.

I dry my cheeks with my long sleeve nodding.

"It's not your fault." I say while he lets the last pieces fall into my hands.

"I think George Michael is pretty cool." He says once we stand up straight again and I have to tilt my head into my neck to look at his face due to his height.

"You don't need to feel sorry for me. I don't care if anyone likes him or not but my parents bought me this for my birthday, they're going to be disappointed when I tell them I broke it." I say staring at my dirty shoes.

If this is going to be the way middle school is then I don't want to be here.

"If that's your only concern I promise you, you don't need to have it.
My grandpa showed me how to make mixtapes I'll make you a new one with every George Michael song you like." His words make me look up surprised at him while my mouth drops open a bit.

"Really?"

"Of course! It's my birthday present for you. I can show you how I do it if you want to come over to my house after school?" He asks me his lips forming a gentle smile.

I don't know what it is about him but he has this soft and gentle exterior that makes me smile back shyly.

"I would love that." I say and hold my hand out to him.

"I'm Emilia Brown."

"Nice to meet you, I'll call you Mila. I'm Tommy Williams."