Dating the Dead • lrh

22. michael

"I have been texting you." Michael snapped the moment he closed the door.

After the conversation with Mum, I quickly got dressed and went to the Clifford's house a block away from ours.

I plopped on the single seating couch. "Sorry. My phone cracked," I said, showing him the screen for proof.

He sat on the long couch as he raised an eyebrow at me, "So?"

"So, what?" I reached for the guitar leaning on its stand beside me to stall. I knew what he meant, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk about it.

"You very well know what. I saw you with Shelby Lawler," he said, "what was that about?"

I plucked a string softly and tuned it. "Is your insomnia back again?" My head turned to see him staring. His green eyes clouded with something I couldn't quite guess. Was it anger? Jealousy? I can't say for sure.

"Can you cut the bullshit already?" He spat. "Look, mate, I just want to know why you were hanging out with her in the middle of the night."

I let out a sigh. "She went to my house and we walked to Maccas."

"But why?"

It was my turn to be pissed off. "What is it with you? Why is Shelby hanging out with me suddenly became an issue? Is there something I needed to know?"

"No," he said quietly, standing up and went to his kitchen.

I continued tuning the instrument while I wait for him to come back. It wasn't long before his ass took a seat. He brought a bowl of chips with him.

"Mikey, you wouldn't be this angry for nothing. Tell me what's wrong."

He heaved out a breath, placing the bowl to the side and leaned his head in the back of the couch so he's staring up at the ceiling. When he straightened up, I could only see sadness in his eyes as they bore down on me.

"I used to be friends with her. But when shit went down in her family, she shut me out. I tried to understand but she became a different person. She wore bizarre clothes and talked to no one," he swallowed before continuing, "After a year or so, she was back to being nice, the clothes didn't change much, but the Shelby I grew up with was gone."

"But she's nice to me-"

"She is, trust me, I know. But," he ran his palms over his face, "I don't know, I'm just upset that she's hanging out with you. You're my best mate and she was. I-I can't help but wonder why I feel like I'm left out or something. It sounds stupid but-"

While he talked, I carefully placed the guitar back on its stand and stood up to sit next to him, the bowl now resting on my lap. "I'm still your best mate, alright? When I see Shelby, I'll go ask her about it."

"No!" He shot up, looking mortified.

I laughed, grabbing a second console. "Am I still your best mate if I beat you on this game?"

He grabbed his and pressed play. "You wish."

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