"Foolish Dreamers" Michael Afton x Reader

𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓓𝓪𝔂, 𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓘𝓶𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 (Ch.12)

Monday
November 26, 1984 4:02 A.M.

Y/N sat cross-legged in the middle of her room, surrounded by piles of rejected outfits. The floor was a battlefield of sweaters, jeans, skirts, and jackets, as if she were waging war against her closet.

"Oh my God, Joyce, why didn't I plan this sooner?! What do people even wear on the first day? If I look too nice, they'll think I'm some stuck-up rich kid. But if I dress too casual, they'll think I don't care. I can't win!"

Joyce's tired voice crackled through the phone. "It's 4 A.M. Why are you doing this to yourself? School doesn't even start for four hours."

"I know, I know, but I need time! This is a big deal, Joyce! I actually get to wear whatever I want for once. No more stupid Freddy's uniform with the black pants, red shirt, and name tag. I need to make an impression!"

Y/N tossed a pair of jeans onto the growing pile beside her and yanked a dress off a hanger. She gave it a hard look before groaning and throwing it on the floor.

"What if I pick the wrong vibe? What if they can tell I don't belong here? I mean, I know I don't belong, but they don't have to know that right away!"

Joyce yawned into the phone, her amusement cutting through the haze of sleep. "Babe, relax. It's just high school. It's not the Homecoming Dance."

"But it's high school! Teens are judgmental as hell! And if I somehow run into Michael—" Y/N cut herself off, realizing what she'd just said, and rubbed her face with both hands.

Joyce perked up at that. "Ohhhh, so this is about Michael now?"

"No!" Y/N snapped. "I just—okay, if I do see him, I need to look good. I can't look like a disaster. He'll probably mock me for the rest of eternity if I show up in something dumb."

"But Michael technically not even go to our school." Joyce reminded, sounding amused. "He is sorta homeschooled?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know!" Y/N groaned, falling backward onto a mountain of clothes. "He just does the work without going in, but what if he shows up randomly, just to screw with me? Or worse, what if he doesn't show up, and I'm worrying about nothing?"

Y/N exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "God, I need to chill."

Joyce laughed softly. "You really do."

Y/N paused for a moment, absentmindedly twisting a shirt in her hands. "It's just... Michael was weird yesterday. Like I met his siblings and. . .as I told you last night something was off about the staff that day and him! Even how he acted. Not in a bad way, though—like, he was still sarcastic, but it felt...different. He wasn't acting like a total jerk when he was with his siblings. It was more...I don't know...natural."

"You think Michael was being natural?" Joyce teased, fully awake now. "This is new."

Y/N rolled her eyes, though a small smile crept onto her face. "Yeah, I mean... he seemed embarrassed around them. Like a normal guy, for once. You know, not just the walking scowl or fake cool dude who tries to look cool all the time."

"Wow." Joyce's voice dripped with fake awe. "So, you're saying Michael Afton actually has emotions? Fascinating. Someone call the press."

"Shut up," Y/N muttered, laughing despite herself. "It's not like that! He was just...I don't know. Less of a jackass than usual. I still don't trust him, though. He's got too many personas. Who even knows which one is real?"

Joyce snickered. "Sounds like someone's overthinking things again. Just wear something you like and call it a day. Who cares what anyone else thinks?"

"Ugh, easier said than done," Y/N mumbled as she stood up, staring at her closet with renewed determination. "But you're right. I just need to find something...perfect."