neighbors//muke

fifteen

    The rest of the summer had gone by quickly. Some days were spent sitting by Michael, watching him swim. I would admire the way his muscles moved when he swam, his body smoothly cutting through the water, and then we would go inside to get ice cream from the freezer, occasionally bumping into his mother as she went out. She always seemed busy.

Some days we went out. Some I would spend sitting at a table in the cafe while he worked, sipping on coffee and chatting with Calum and Michael whenever they took breaks. Those days were my favorites. There was something about the atmosphere there that just kept me happy and calm

But school had to start, and I couldn't have been more scared. 

I had gone to the same school for most of my life, so starting at a new school was terrifying for me. 

The night before Michael and I had talked on the phone. He sounded distant, and when inquired about it, he just told me he had a fight with his mom's boyfriend. Again. But he promised he would be at school the next day.

Once outside, I didn't see his car. I don't know why, but it didn't occur to me to knock and ask if he was home, but I didn't. Instead, I walked to the school. It was tall and built from rusty colored bricks, dark ivy climbing up the sides of the building, pretty much covering the white lettering on the side. Teenagers loitered outside the school building, some talking some loudly, some sitting with their group of friends and I instantly felt alone. 

Inside, I met up with Ashton, who was leaning against a rust colored locker, his phone in hand. 

Having no idea what to do, I just wanted to not be alone, I went up to him to say hi. 

"Hi, Ashton, right?" I say, as if I didn't know his name.

"Yeah!" He looks up from his phone. "Luke? Michael's boyfriend?"

I felt mycheeks burn red at the mention of "boyfriend" but nodded anyways. 

"What's up, man?"

"I just," I stop, trying to find the words to say what I was thinking. "I haven't seen Michael and I-"

"It's fine." He smiles. "I get it.Michael isn't here again? He did that a lot last year, I just didn't expect him to do it on the first day of school." 

I wanted to ask what he meant by that, but just nodded as if I knew what he was talking about. Calum telling me about how Michael tended to be self centered ran through my head, and I wondered what he meant by that. 

"You can just chill with us for today. I get it." He runs a hand through his long hair,and smiles a nervous smile at me. "Now what's your locker number?" 

Confused yet thankful,. I told him, and we walked down the hall towards my locker. 

-

lmao i have been so busy lately i am sorry 

happy thanksgiving tho! 

new cover by @postermgc !!