the babysitter ; muke

seven

The tension Luke felt soon evaporated when Michael had asked if he wanted to play the new Grand Theft Auto. Luke happily agreed, loving the sense of power he felt when he played. Michael decided they would take turns, and being the nice friend he was, let Luke go first.

When Luke got caught by the cops, Michael played. And that's how it went until Mr. and Mrs. Clifford arrived home.

Throughout the game, though, Luke couldn't help but steal glances at Michael when it was his turn. He didn't steal glances in a romantic type way, more of a you-look-so-dumb-but-funny-right-now type of way. The way his tongue stuck out a bit when he desperately tried to lose the cops, and the way his foot slightly tapped because he couldn't contain his movements. He always had to be moving, some way. Whether his fingers were tapping or his foot was thudding silently against the carpet, he was always moving.

Luke almost ran out the door when they came home, but Mrs. Clifford stopped him. "Luke, we need to talk to you."

And so the two parents took Luke into the kitchen, Luke having no idea what this could be about. Had he done something wrong?

Michael's father peeked around the kitchen wall, assumingly making sure Michael was still hooked on his game, which he was.

"Luke, we have no idea what you're doing, but Michael isn't the old Michael. He hasn't snuck out once the whole week since you had babysat as far as we know, and we always know when he sneaks out. If that isn't a miracle, I don't know what is. You seem to really keep Michael in shape. We don't know how, but however you're doing it, please keep it up. And could you come back tomorrow? At the same time you came today?" Mr. Clifford explained.

"Michael is like a good friend to me now. Maybe my ways have rubbed off? But of course I can! It's a plan," Luke tried to walk off again, but Michael's father stopped him this time. He handed him his babysitting money, which this time it was 20 more dollars than last time. Luke thanked him and said his goodbyes to Michael, leaving their home and entering his car.

It was 6:30pm when Luke arrived home, giving Luke a good amount of time to nap before work tonight.

He kicked his shoes off, set the alarm on his phone, and passed out on the couch.