Finding The Universe // Michael Clifford

Four.

I spent the remainder of the evening with my phone in hand as I talked to four idiots who had happen to become the source of the small smile that had continued to grow on my face, occasional giggles leaving the newly found happiness.

The numbness that once consumed my body only a day early had completely vanished, leaving seemingly hundreds of emotions to run into my body where they quickly filled the void that was left from the feeling of nothing.

Michael was the only one from the boys that I had met so far, but the others had promised that we could all meet up after school tomorrow and then we would get to know each other.

Getting to know the boys had proven a simple task when it was through a phone screen and lies were easily transmitted from person to person, but with reality they could easily pick apart each of the lies I had thought up for them.

As I went to sleep that night the thoughts of each of the boys slipped into my mind, each of them picking at a different section of my brain for answers that I did not even have for myself.

Out of each of the boys that I had come to enjoy, Michael was the one that I would despise lying to the most.

Green had become the color of my favorite things, eventually causing my brain to imagine swimming in the emerald color of his eye while green grass grew beside of the pool of green.

After a while my eyes slowly closed, preventing me from exploring the boys messages any further and instead sending me into a pit of darkness that comforted me in every way possible.

I woke up the next morning with nearly fifty messages from the boys but as I clicked on my messages I noticed that Michael had also privately texted me, I widened my eyes slightly before sitting up to read the message.

MikeyMouse: Good morning! Cannot wait to introduce you to the boys later!

I felt a small feeling of warmth in my chest and then I felt the corners of my lips turning into the position that I had grown accustomed to over the last day.

I stood up with my bare feet pressed against the cold wooden planks of my floor, a small yawn leaving my lips as my arms surpass my head and stretch out into the cool air of my bedroom.

Within minutes I had managed to change into clean clothes and make my way outside, my feet coursing themselves onto the familiar sidewalk which led straight to the school.

My eyes landed across the street on the house that was surrounded by a large picketed fence, my mind had already begun to wonder over to the residents of the house.

I felt my heart stop slightly as my eyes caught sight of the emerald green I had been looking forward to seeing, only this time the color was strolling out of the house that was located across the street.

I saw the color glance my way and I quickly made my way down the sidewalk, eventually arriving at school with a small pink tint covering my cheeks from the cool breeze of the outside environment.

"Wait up! Slow down!" I heard the familiar voice shouting from behind me as my legs carried me from the hallway into the gym.

"Gees. Are you deaf?" He asks playfully as he smiles and then I roll my eyes playfully at his comment before smiling.

I let out a small hum before I turn to look at him, my eyes meeting his for a moment before both of our expressions turn into smiles and joy.

"I'll see you out front this evening then? I'll drive you over to meet the boys and we can all be one big happy family!" Michael cheers causing my body to erupt into fits of giggles, a small chuckle acquainting my giggles.

I nod slowly before I trail my eyes down to his lips, staring at the rose color of the plump area before I notice that his eyes were locked on mine. I blush before quickly diverting my gaze to the littered floor.

"You don't have to pretend I didn't just catch you staring at my lips, we all know everyone would kiss me if they had the chance," He teases playfully with his elbow moving to nudge my side.

I felt my eyes widen in surprise at his comment before the heat arose to my cheeks, a small chuckle leaving his lips before he saunters off towards his classroom, the thought of his lips against my own was enough to keep myself in a daze for the remainder of the day.

Before I knew it I was sitting inside of Michael's car with Nickelback blaring throughout the vehicle as we sped down the roadways, my heart rate had become irregular and odd but I could not make it slow.

"Alright, we're here," Michael whispers and I snap out of my thoughts to realize that we had parked outside of a house, the one across the street from my house in which I had witnessed Michael leave this morning.

I give him a swift nod, not trusting the words that were stuck inside of my parched throat. The feeling of a familiar lump seemingly absorbing in my throat before expanding into my chest.

I watched as he exited the car with his long legs carrying his body towards the entrance to his house, another empty car was parked beside of his which led me to believe that the others had already arrived and were waiting inside for my arrival.

Uncertainty washed over my body like a tidal wave, the pressure in my chest building as if the water was filling my body. I watched as Michael unlocked the front door before allowing himself inside and before he could glance back I ran.

I got out of the car and I ran as fast as my legs would allow me to go. I had no thoughts of where exactly to go or how this would affect anything other than the moment.

I heard him calling my name but my legs would not allow me to stop, not even for the reason that I had become anything other than numb.