stars will fall - byler

.6

i throw the wood planks in the pit as the fire was already building. i was still heated from my argument with mike earlier. he doesn't give a shit about any of us, all he cares about is el. so i'm done giving a shit. this is a good way to move on from him. to hate him.
-"you okay?" max nudged me, making me realize i was staring into the fire for too long.
-"yeah." i nodded.
-"you sure?"
-"yep, i'm great." i smiled before sitting back on a lawn chair next to max.
mike sat across the fire with lucas and dustin. seeing his face just made me angry. who was he kidding earlier? no shit i'm jealous. i've always been jealous, it's about time he realizes.
i just couldn't admit it to him.
-"hey guys, we should go down to the beach tomorrow. i heard they have seashells the size of your hand!" dustin shrieked.
-"i didn't know lake michigan had seashells." lucas commented.
-"that'll be fun." max smiled at me, trying to cheer me up but it didn't work. i looked up and made long and excruciating eye contact with mike.
this was going to be a long couple of days.

i laid my head down on my pillow after getting inside my tent by myself. mike and i had to share a tent while we were here, which would make everything even more awkward. i faced the opposite way of the tents opening and tried to close my eyes to fall asleep, but now that i was alone all of my feelings that i kept bottled up through the day started to hit me. i hugged my pillow, feeling a tear falling from the outer creases of my eye and onto the bridge of my nose. just as more tears began to fall, i heard the zipper from behind me open and i felt the presence of mike now in the tent. now it was going to be harder for me to sleep. i wiped my tears and tried to close my eyes, but i could feel his eyes on me. i could feel the tension, it was burning me.
-"did i do something to you?" he spoke up, but i didn't feel like responding. i just kept my eyes closed and hoped he would leave me alone.
-"will, i know i've been distant because of el, i'm sorry. but she's my girlfriend, i can't just push her to the side."
-"why not? you did with me." i responded quietly.
-"what?"

i sat up, crossing my legs and pressing my elbows into my thighs as i looked in his direction.
-"we were best friends, mike. ever since you started dating her, she's all you ever care about! you don't even want to be here with us right now."
-"that's not true!"
-"isn't it?"
he looked at me with no words coming out of his mouth. i scoffed, smiling while trying to compose myself.
-"i know times are rough right now, will.. with your dad and all."
i knew he was referring to my moms death. i felt my eyes watering but i couldn't seem weak to him.
-"i don't need your pity, mike. just-"
we both jumped when the we heard the zipper unzipping and dustin came climbing inside our tent.
-"can i sleep here? your car is too scary." he complained before settling himself in the middle of the tent. i glared at mike from across the tent before i laid down again, covering myself in a blanket.
i closed my eyes, praying to eventually fall asleep.

i woke up the next morning to the sound of laughter coming from outside. i opened my eyes as i saw the light beaming through the tent. i slowly sat up and wiped my eyes, looking over and seeing mike still sleeping. i felt my face becoming warm and red as i saw his relaxed face. i caught myself softly smiling but quickly stopped.
i can't like him anymore.

i unzipped the tent and stepped out, seeing max, lucas and dustin at the picnic table, eating breakfast.
they looked over when they saw me approaching.
-"hey, i made breakfast. you can get yourself some." max offered, pointing at the scrambled eggs on a pan.
i got myself a plate and sat next to dustin and across from lucas and max.
-"when are we going to the beach?" max asked after taking a drink of water.
-"maybe around 11. if mike even wakes up before then." lucas scoffed
i checked my watch and it was already 10:30. i continued to eat my breakfast in silence, listening to lucas and max's conversation.