Just a little lie (Expensive Headphones//BMC)

Monday

"Are you ready to go?" I say as I finish tying up my shoes.

"I was up since 5 today, trust me I'm ready." Says Rich on the other side of the line. I roll my eyes and laugh.

"Then I'll be heading your way soon, be ready!" I say.

"See you soon mikey~" he says it a little flirty and I can't help but blush. I giggle a bit and hang up, setting my phone in my pocket and going upstairs to grab my keys.

After the events of yesterday, we decided to set aside the conversation and try to go back to normalcy. Rich finally went to the gym today and he seemed like he's getting back into his old routines. I was happy for him, I truly was. But I couldn't help but still feel that inner turmoil in my heart.

Don't get me wrong now, I made the right decision and I'm glad I'm with Rich. Everything played out in my favor, even though I didn't deserve it. The only thing that kept me feeling dreadful was the fact that I permanently lost my best friend.

I get it. 'Shut up Micheal!' But I can't help it. Something seems to be always wrong these last few week's. I don't have a day where I feel like I can genuinely breathe and feel calm for certain. In an ideal scenario, Rich would be my boyfriend, Jeremy would still be my best friend, and everything would be handy dandy! Unfortunately that scenario would most likely never happen.

I shake my head and try to stop thinking about it now. I'm surprised my head doesn't just fall off my shoulders with how heavy I think sometimes. But Whatever!

I head out the door, get into my car, light a blunt, and head towards Rich.

——-

"You ready to head in?" I say helping him out the passenger seat and closing the door behind him.

"Yup, Jake texted the group chat, he said he's the first one there, he's sitting at our table right now." Rich informed me while looking down at his phone.

"Alright then I guess we will meet him inside." I say blushing a bit with nervousness. The girls had no idea that me and Rich were together again so I had no idea how they would react. Well I guess not "together" exactly but you know, getting there. That's kinda why I was so nervous.

As we made our way inside the building, I feel a warm pair of hands on mine and look over at Rich to see him blushing a bit. I guess he was a bit nervous too. I give him a little squeeze just like the ones he used to give to me and he smiles. I think that calmed him down.

We head in and immediately spot Jake from across the room where we usually sat. He was indeed by himself, probably waiting for the other girls and Madeline to show up, now that they were dating of course. We walk over to him as he spots us and waves.

"Rich! Micheal! Glad to see things went okay?" He says smiling and glancing at our interlocked hands.

"We're okay. well... I'm more on the road to redemption to be honest." I say nervously, earning a chuckle from Jake.

"We aren't officially together yet, just working our way up there if that makes sense?" Said Rich sitting down across from Jake as I do the same.

Jake nods in an understanding
Manner and smiles at us.

"Any progress is good progress! I'm just happy to see my boy up and smiling again. Thank you again Micheal, for fighting for him." He says leaning closer to us and giving both our shoulders a tight squeeze.
I smile at him and watch as Rich goes to grab Jake's hand, squeezing it back.

"I appreciate what both of you have done for me. It means a lot." He says smiling, causing me to blush at his sincerity. Jake doing the same.

"Hey boys! Micheal?" I hear as Brooke approaches behind us and comes to give me a hug.

"What are you two doing together? Did you guys makeup?!" She says excitedly.

"Well, we are friends! Kinda working our way up!" Says Rich nervously laughing. Brooke smiles at him and sits across from us next to Jake.

"I'm so happy for you two regardless! I was low key rooting for you guys anyway haha." She says laughing a bit.

I blush at all the attention and what's to come. I'm just really happy to be with Rich.

"Hey why don't we go celebrate after school? You know, go grab some pink berry?" She says, probably not asking us and more so demanding. Trust me, when she says "want to grab some pinkberry" it really means "we are going to go get some pinkberry" so I agree with her.

"Yes I think that's a good idea, Rich?" I say turning to him. He nods and agrees, along with Jake.

——-

The rest of the day went by smoothly, Jenna and Chloe were excited for us as well, mostly Jenna but both were happy nonetheless.
They did try and pry for details when they saw us again but Jake and Brooke shut them down, which I was grateful for.

The pink berry hangout was a success as well, we were able to explain to the group some of what happened and I got to apologize for everything. We didn't tell them about the fake dating thing though, that would have been too much. We also didn't really feel like getting too deep and personal at the pink berry so we kinda saved it for some other day, assuming me and Rich would even tell them at all.
Not likely. They would be a different kind of mad I think...

(Blah blah lame filler 😥)

——-

After pink berry, I drove Rich back home, dropping him off at the front of his house.

I get out to open the door for him and pull him up out of the seat.

"Today was wonderful, thank you mikey." He says with his cute toothy grin.

"It was wonderful because you were in it." I say smiling at him, and pulling him in for a hug. I didn't want to overstep my boundaries with him but I just couldn't help myself. I'm crazy about him, and he knows it.

"You are such a flirt!" He says giggling and smacking me in the arm playfully as he pulls me closer.

We stay like that for a while, just holding each other until it was time to pull away. I look at him in his eyes and he looks at me in return. I soon found myself glancing down at his slightly parted lips. I felt that same ecstatic feeling I felt that night, when I had kissed him for real.

I wanted him so badly to just kiss me right now. I didn't want to be the one to initiate it since I was being respectful of his wishes but if he didn't kiss me right now, I don't think I'll be able to contain myself.

But After a while I finally let him go. He looks at me and smiles.

"I'm gonna head inside now. Thank you for the ride Mikey. I'll see you tomorrow?" He says grabbing his stuff out of my car.

"Yeah I'll pick you up at the same time, see you tomorrow, take care." I say smiling back at him and watching as he headed inside. I wait until he closes the door behind him so I could leave.

I pull out of his driveway and head home, thinking about him and how lucky I am to have him.