A Fiend as a Friend

Chapter 18

I walked ahead of Mike, leaving as much gap between us as possible. He caught up with his long legs, but that only made me walk faster, almost running. I had my reasons for that. One, I feel somewhat giddy around him. Two, he was walking quietly behind me, obviously thinking me to be a crazy lady. That doesn't count, does it? Anyway, I just want to avoid him as best as I can.

So, I checked Michael's room first-it was locked. Then, we checked the studio, kitchen, garden, makeshift offices, the whole of the men's wing and finally the gym, but, he was no where to be found.

"Michael can't be here. He loves clubs."

I didn't turn around to look at him. There was just this wierd feeling I had at the pit of my tommy. Maybe because he said he liked an elf, which apparently is me, right?

"Wrong", my subconscious adds.

I sigh and inhaled deeply. "Elf?" I closed my eyes, registering his voice. He was calling me that name again, so I was the only one he could have been referring to.

"Elf!" he shouted this time, causing me to jump with fear. I turned back slowly to look at him.

"Yes, Mike. I get it if you want to leave. I never really asked you to follow me, so it's your headache if your legs are aching you."

He frowned and then, smiled. "I never said anything in that direction, elf. All I wanted to say was that--"

"Listen, I need to find Michael. Tell me that later", I said, cutting him off. I really didn't want to talk to him. Not because I was angry but because he was making me feel self conscious.

"If we are going to find Michael, you need to stop walking so fast. Talk to me. S'not like I have a disease or something."

I opened my mouth to talk, but he beat me to it. "I really want to help you."

"And why?" I asked. I was used to his yelling, not this. This was wierd. Too Wierd, I might add.

He shrugged his shoulders and looked down at his feet. Wait, this was getting out of hand. What was wrong with him for goodness sake? "Is this a bad dream or something? Where did your talking skills go?"

He looked up at me and chuckled. "Yeah, what am I doing?"

"Are you asking me that?" I asked, quirking up an eyebrow.

"You know what?" After I shook my head, he continued. "I tried, okay? You're just Wierd and I don't know anymore, really." Good, his voice was rising. "Text me when you find Michael." I nodded and used my head to gesture that he should leave.

"You're annoying, elf. I just wanted to help and... and you are just treating me like a piece of shit. Just get lost."

I willed myself not to talk back to him.  Anger wasn't what I was feeling now. I just felt like strangling someone to death. "Did you just tell me to get lost? I never forced you to tag along, dude. So, please, stop being so irascible."

He wanted to say something, but his phone rang. He picked it up and eyed me, before talking to whoever on the line. "Hey, Gold."

I scoffed. Gold. Such a player.

"Yeah...lets meet at your house...what, mine?...that's ridiculous...oh yeah...see, call me back in the next five minutes. I'm with someone." He hung up and sighed. "I have to leave now, elf."

I glared at him. "You don't need to inform me of that. Just go to Gold."

He blinked hard at me and chuckled dryly. "Gold?"

"Stop playing dumb with me. The Gold you just finished talking to. Go meet her. Well, for the records, STD is very common now. Be careful."

He laughed this time, causing me to glare harder at him. "Are you worried about me now, elf?"