Stronger

Chapter 5

Work was a drag.

But yet I found myself oddly even more impatient to leave at the end of the day, because I knew I was seeing Micah.

I don't know what it was, but I was too excited to see him.  Too excited.

I strolled to the park, not even bothering to change out of my business attire, I was sure he wouldn't mind, enjoying being free of my dismal work environment.

Micah was sitting a little way off, watching a couple people play a friendly game of football from the bench. When he noticed me, he waved, patting the seat beside him.

"Nothing like a game of football, eh?" I asked, sitting next to him and following his gaze.

"I love the sport," he said, cracking a smile.

"You must love it, you live with two players."

"I'm a player, too, you know," Micah told me, looking down at his lap shyly. "Not as good as Niall and Louis, but I play."

"If you don't have better aim than Niall, we might have a problem," I teased, gently jabbing him in the arm with my elbow.

"I don't know a single person who doesn't have better aim than him. Even Paige can play better," he joked, and I had to admit, I laughed pretty hard. Maybe I was nervous, I don't know, but I was so giddy.

"So, this whole football match tomorrow, are you playing?" I asked, returning my attention to the game.

"Hopefully. I've been bench-warming the past couple times. Coach said I needed to practice. I have no time for that shit." Micah smiled, shaking his head. "I have to deal with Paige."

"What do you mean?"

"She's... well... she's just going through some things right now, and she's too scared to tell Niall about them, so I've been around to help," Micah explained, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"You like her?"

Micah looked at me, searching my face for something. Whatever her found, made him burst into chortled laughter.

"What?"

"How can you not know?"

"Know what?"

"Harry," he said, trying to contain himself, "I'm gay."

I mentally kicked myself, blushing with embarrassment at my stupidity. Micah continued laughing, despite my dismay.

"Are you coming to the match tomorrow?" he questioned, trying to start the conversation up again.

"Yeah, yeah, I might."

"I hope you do," he confessed, blushing.

"Hm? Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Well, you know, Louis and Niall always have people there for them. Niall has Paige cheering him on, and Louis, well, whatever boyfriend he has that week. It'd be cool if you, well, you know-"

"If I went to support you?"

He blushed harder. "Yeah."

I contemplated his offer, nodding my head after a while.

"I'll go to support you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

*

"Shit," I mumbled before stumbling into my flat.  I kicked the door closed behind me and intentionally fell face first onto the floor, sighing loudly in the process.  My thoughts still dancing around the events that had just occurred.