university ☼ hemmings [a.u]

Nine ; Lighten up a bit.

As Michael stormed off, he half expected for Quinn to come chasing after him, but honestly didn't care.  Her words kept replaying in his head and it stung. Of course they weren't together, but it disheartening that Michael kept getting stuck in the friendzone again and again. His arms were held stiffly by his sides and his fists were clenched. What was wrong with him? What did she see in Luke that wasn't in him? His disappointment was slowly fading into anger. 

Michael's thoughts were interrupted when he was joined by Kristen and Calum. "Hey, Mike!" Kirsten bumped shoulders with her best friend as he hugged a textbook to her chest. "Hey," he grumbled back, glancing at the two with a frown. Calum and Kirsten looked at each other in confusion.

"What's wrong?" Calum asked simply, looking at his friend in concern. "And where's Quinn? She's usually here by now," Kristen wondered aloud, glancing around the courtyard as the trio kept walked down the path towards the math building.  

"Don't know, don't care," Michael grumbled, frowning even more, if that was even possible. "Michael, what's wrong? You were happy this morning.." Calum repeated. He sped up to walk in front of his friend and stopped to block the path. Michael stopped with a huff. "Ask Quinn," he narrowed his eyes. 

"What, did she friendzone you again?" Kristen snorted, biting back a laugh. Michael shot an angry look at her and dropped his gaze, emotion filling his eyes. Kristen widened her eyes and opened her mouth in the shape of an 'o'. "Oh, Michael! I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry," she exclaimed, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder to comfort him. 

"It was worse this time. She was already upset and I made her even more upset. And I think she found out something. Something bad.." Michael sighed and glanced up at Calum, who knew what he was talking about. Kristen just looked utterly confused. "Found out what? Tell me guys!" she looked back and forth between the two, practically begging for the information. 

"Shit, Mike. That's bad," Calum mumbled, sighing. "What's bad? Can someone please explain to me what's going on?" Kristen groaned. She always felt like she was the last to know stuff in their friend group. It always annoyed her. 

"Um, I might have told Luke that I was dating Quinn," Michael bit his lip, waiting for Kristen to unleash her wrath on him. Instead, she just looked at him with a bored expression. After a moment, she sighed and shook her head. "You're an idiot, Michael. But, I'm sorry," she told him sincerely. 

"I know I am. I regretted it the moment I said it. He just gets on my nerves so much, and I don't want to lose her," Michael said, staring at the ground. He rubbed the back of his arm nervously. "But what she said hurt more than the other times she friendzoned me. It just hurts in my head and my heart and my chest. I had trouble catching my breath."

"God, Michael. You sound poetic. Now, let's hurry up and get to class. Maybe it'll get some stuff off of your mind," Calum joked, moving out of the way so the group could keep walking down the path.

"Math isn't going to get this shit off of my mind, Calum," Michael sighed as the group started to slowly walk towards the building. "But I know what will." Michael stopped walking and a smirk started to grow on his face. Calum and Kristen stopped in front of him and raised their eyebrows in curiosity. 

"Michael.. what are you thinking?" Kristen asked skeptically, kind of nervous to hear the answer. 

"You'll see. Come on," he turned to walk down a path that lead away from the math building and towards town.