INSTABILITY | M.C | COMPLETE

003

E D I T E D

He adjusted his band T-shirt and put on his black jeans. None of the clothes were in a perfect state and no one even knew the bands he gave free publicity to. But he didn't care. He wasn't trying to impress anybody. He roughly slid on his combat boots, swung his small backpack over his shoulder and carried on downstairs.
His dad had already left and he barely acknowledged his mother before grabbing a toast and heading off to school.
The October air was chilly and he had yet again forgotten to take a jacket. Or any form of heat. But like hell, was he going back in that house. It was freezing and the walk was 25 minutes to school. He had been walking 5 when a car pulled up beside him.
The pilot rolled the down the window to reveal Avery. She was smiling. Transfer students do tend to smile a lot. And be weird.

"Michael get in!" Avery said, her enthusiasm could be sniffed from the next town. Michael was almost sure.

"Um, no thanks." No thanks as in No, I don't enjoy casual conversations. He stared back at cement sidewalk and continued to walk.

"Michael, I didn't ask. Get in the car." She said shifting her view from the road to the sidewalk and so on.

Well. He was freezing. And he was gonna be late... why not? ]Michael sighed and opened the door to Avery's car before sitting and slightly moaned at the hotness inside the car. (Temperature obviously)
Avery smiled at him. Her blue eyes glowed and her reddish hair was very noticeable.

"You enjoying yourself?" She asked amused as she looked at him for a second before turning to the road.

"Compared to the weather out there, this is marvelous." Michael muttered as he rubbed his hands together. Avery half smiled.

"Really original. Talking about the weather. That must show your lack of social skills." She teased him. She wasn't sure how to react. Nobody ever really talked to Michael. And she knew if he accepted her request he must've been freezing. Michael played with his hands nervously. She seemed to take notice of his hesitant state. "Hey come on. Smile. I don't bite."

"I really hate it when people say that." Was the only thing Michael responded. Taking her off guard. She raised an eyebrow and looked at him. 

"What?" She asked. He wasn't sure if she was asking or was asking that to herself what freak she had led inside her car. But he responded anyway.

"'I don't bite' I mean I just find it quite silly. If I find someone at least a bit intimidating the first thought that would come into my head isn't going to be me wondering if they are going to be biting me. I mean I know it's not literal - most of the time - but I guess I just can't help it. That sounds a little too dramatic." He was rambling. Again. He hated doing that. He noticed and he blushed from embarrassment.

"Michael, I think we are going to be great friends." With that thought, Avery parked into the school parking lot. After, they both got out and hurried off. Smiling lightly to each other before heading to different directions.

Before they could fully part ways she yelled at him. "Michael, I love Sleeping With Sirens. You've got great music taste." He couldn't help but slightly smile. He also patted himself on the back for wearing that shirt. Figuratively of course. 'It would've been extremely awkward if I patted myself in the middle of the hallway' he thought.

~

Lunch was never a problem. He could go and sit anywhere. There was a specific group of people that he could hang out with. They weren't that bad. But he never got to be close friends with them. He would always end up getting caught up in his own thoughts. That's why he barely noticed they were talking towards him until Luke elbowed him slightly.

"Michael, Steve asked if you were going to the party on Friday." Luke was kind enough to repeat. Michael just shrugged and everyone knew he wouldn't.

Back in the days, Michael really did like parties. He would never miss one and Luke was his best friend. But after everything that happened, Michael didn't have the time or any effort to put in anything apart from school. Even his friendships. Luke kind of knows what happened. And he still hurt from losing his best friend and feeling like he wasn't good enough of a friend so Michael can tell him everything.
Luke has always had killer looks. Blond styled hair and a tall figure. And very beautiful blue eyes.   He had never been one to let anyone down. He misses his best friend. And it hurts to see him all alone.
Michael just kept munching on his sandwich. Luke sighed. And he caught a glimpse of Michael's hands. He saw paint. And he couldn't help but feel better about everything. Because he never thought the same after Michael's mother had called him.

"Hello? Luke replied on the phone, he sounded accelerated as he was playing his favorite video game.

"Hello, Luke." Luke paused the game and took the phone with both hands as he recognized the voice.

"Um, hello Mrs. Clifford," Luke responded, much more serious.

"I'm sorry I had to ring you, Luke, I'm just worried about Michael. After what happened, I assume he talked to you about it." Luke furrowed his eyebrows. Michael had been completely distant. Every time Luke asked if he was okay, Michael would snap, get angry and leave.

"No, actually he hasn't talked to me about it. I tried but, he's not very open about the situation. I only know what I have heard on the news or newspapers." Luke replied and got up to the kitchen to get himself a glass of water.

"I just- Luke, I'm so worried. He's not the same. He barely speaks. He doesn't go out with his friends anymore, he doesn't even paint." Luke let the cold liquid down. Michael's mother had started crying be now. "I, just- I thought you might have talked to him. I'm sorry to interrupt your evening." Before Luke could protest, Michael's mother had cut the call and there was a flat tone at the end.

Luke sighed and sat on the couch.

Was it really that bad?
But he could only blame himself. He needed to get close to Michael again. He was destroying himself little by little and if he kept going he was going to implode. And destroy himself completely.

After that, he couldn't help but notice a change in Michael's behavior.

He's destroying himself. And he doesn't know if he can stop it.

I'm trying to be descriptive and stuff like that. I don't know if it's working. There will be more dialogue further on. But this isn't exactly a romantic story as much as one where he's trying to beat his demons. I don't know how you will like that. But there will be some romance here and there. But I wouldn't put this in the "romantic" genre. This was a long one for me. They might get longer as I go deeper into the story but they might not. I don't know ;)

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