"Foolish Dreamers" Michael Afton x Reader

𝓝𝓮𝔀 𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭? (Ch.11)

Sunday
November 25, 1984 9:23 P.M.

Inside Michael's car, the hum of the engine and the soft chatter of Evan and Elizabeth filled the air. Y/N sat in the passenger seat, her bag tucked between her feet, as the car rolled down the dimly lit streets. In the back seat, Elizabeth and Evan were strapped in, swinging their legs and chatting like they had endless energy despite the late hour.

"You should come back soon!" Elizabeth chirped, leaning forward as far as her seatbelt would allow. "It was fun today! You should quit working there and just be our babysitter instead."

Y/N laughed, glancing back at them. "Oh yeah? You think that's a good career move?"

"Yes!" Elizabeth said eagerly, her green eyes shining with excitement. "We'd pay you in candy. Lots of candy."

Evan nodded solemnly, as if this were the most reasonable offer in the world. "We have plenty left from the prize counter."

Y/N shook her head with a smile. "Tempting. But I don't think candy can cover rent."

Michael scoffed from the driver's seat, his eyes focused on the road. "She's not babysitting you guys. Y/N has a life."

Elizabeth crossed her arms, her mischievous grin creeping onto her face. "Oh yeah? Then what's she doing hanging out with you?"

Y/N stifled a laugh as Michael shot Elizabeth a dry look through the rearview mirror. "You're hilarious," he muttered.

Elizabeth beamed, clearly proud of herself. "Thank you, I try."

Evan tugged on his sister's sleeve and whispered something Y/N couldn't catch. Elizabeth gasped dramatically, her eyes widening. "Oh! Evan says maybe Michael likes you enough to be our babysitter."

Michael groaned, slumping slightly in his seat. "I'm about two seconds away from pulling over and letting you two walk home."

Y/N burst out laughing at that, covering her mouth with her hand. The kids dissolved into giggles in the back, their teasing relentless but good-natured.

"Don't listen to him," Elizabeth whispered loudly to Y/N. "He'd never leave us on the side of the road. He's too nice."

"Yeah," Evan added with a small grin. "He's just pretending to be mean."

Michael shook his head with a huff, though the smallest of smirks tugged at the corner of his lips. Y/N caught it and leaned back in her seat, enjoying the rare lightheartedness.

This wasn't what Y/N had expected at all: Michael Afton, the guy with the perpetual scowl, driving her home with his two firecracker siblings in tow. But something about the way he was now, relaxed and teasing, felt different. Out of all the personas she'd seen him cycle through; the smooth-talking subtle flirt , the detached and professional yet teasing worker, the responsible cool guy, joking and sarcastic guy. . .this was the most genuine one she'd seen. When he was with his siblings, there were no masks, just a tired brother keeping up with two hyper kids who clearly adored him.

Y/N scoffed quietly to herself, brushing off the way she almost felt drawn to this side of him. She had to remind herself that he was still Michael. . .still a player, still someone who wore too many faces to tell which one, if any, was real. Whatever this moment was, she refused to fall for it.

He was charming, sure. But charm could be dangerous, especially when wrapped in so many layers of pretense.
______________________
9:49 P.M.

Elizabeth chattered away with Evan in the backseat, her voice rising with excitement as she bounced from one topic to another. Y/N had mostly tuned it out, watching the familiar streets pass by until the car slowed in front of her house.