"Foolish Dreamers" Michael Afton x Reader

𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓣𝓳𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 (Ch.31)

Saturday
December 1, 1984 9:34 P.M.

TW: maybe a little TINY bit of tension? Maybeeee

Michael parked his car a good three houses down from Nana's, killing the engine as Y/N unbuckled her seatbelt with a groan. She shot him a playful, half-annoyed look. "Alright, come on. Just... wait by my bedroom window after I sneak you into the backyard, okay? Don't move until I open it."

Michael smirked, but there was a flicker of amusement and curiosity in his gaze. "Got it, boss."

Y/N rolled her eyes at the nickname as they quietly slipped out of the car. She led him through the darkened streets, trying to keep them both as quiet as possible until they reached her backyard. She waved him toward her window, whispering, "Stay here. I mean it."

Michael gave a small salute, leaning casually against the side of the house. "I'll be the best window guard you've ever had."

Y/N snorted, but the knot in her stomach twisted tighter. God, this is such a bad idea... The sensible part of her brain screamed at her to call it off, but it was far too late to back out now.

As she slipped through the front door, she plastered on her best nonchalant smile. "Nana! I'm back!"

Her grandmother's voice called from the living room, warm but weary. "Did you eat, sweetie?"

"Yeah, I ate at Freddy's," Y/N answered quickly, sliding her shoes off. She kept her tone light, praying Nana wouldn't sense anything out of the ordinary. "Just tired, so I think I'll head to bed early."

"Alright, sweetheart," Nana replied, already making her way to her bedroom.

Y/N exhaled quietly in relief as the soft click of her grandmother's door closing reached her ears. Okay, step one: complete. Step two... sneak Michael inside without getting caught.

She tiptoed to her room, heart thudding wildly. Sliding the window open as quietly as she could, she poked her head out and found Michael waiting just like she told him. His hoodie was up, and he gave her an expectant grin as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

"Alright, come on," Y/N whispered urgently, holding the window open wider. "Hurry, before I change my mind."

Michael chuckled under his breath as he pulled himself through the window, landing softly on her bedroom floor. "From sneaking out to sneaking a boy in? Oh how you've changed Y/N."

Y/N shot him a look, half-scolding, half-amused. "This is a terrible idea."

Michael grinned, brushing dust off his hoodie. "Yeah, but you're still doing it."

Michael's gaze wandered around Y/N's room, taking in the warm, lived-in charm that gave it a cozy, cottage-like feel. The soft blankets draped over the bed, the string lights hanging along the wall, and all made the space feel... peaceful. It was a little messy—books stacked in uneven piles, clothes folded but not quite put away—but still far neater than his own disaster of a room.

He noticed her radio sitting on a small wooden shelf, surrounded by a collection of cassettes. Most were, unsurprisingly, The Smiths. With a soft chuckle, he plucked one from the pile and held it up, examining the cover.

"You know," he said, turning the cassette over in his hands, "I knew you were a fan... but not a die-hard one." His voice had that teasing tone to it as he flashed a grin in her direction. "'This Charming Man' dropped on Halloween this year, and you already have the cassette? Must've cost you a fortune."

Y/N crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look. "It's called having taste."

Michael laughed, a sound that made the corners of his eyes crinkle. "Taste or obsession?" he shot back, raising an eyebrow as if daring her to argue.