01. Chlamydia
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me." Michael groaned in aggravation as soon as we left his doctor's office.
"Maybe if you didn't sleep with random girls this never would have happened to you." I pushed his shoulder on our way back to my car.
Michael is a slut, and as his best friend, I had the right to call him that. Not to over exaggerate, but at least every other weekend Michael has a new girl. Partying does come with its perks (the constant and inevitable sex in his case), as Michael discovered a year ago in our Junior year of high school. The whole "partying" scene was never really my thing though, so I don't understand those perks quite yet. Although, having a few drinks with the boys was a normal routine for me; the closest I'd get to partying.
"But it's so worth it, Maddie." He dragged on the 'so' as we began to approach my car.
"Really, Michael? It's worth the chlamydia?" I laughed as I unlocked the car, "Wait 'til Luke and Calum hear about this."
"Really Madison? It's worth being a virgin?" He mocked me, climbing into the car.
I hopped into the car, started the engine, and began to drive off. "Hey, at least I don't have to worry about stupid shit like this. Chlamydia, Michael. God."
"But she was really good. Like, really good. The best I've ever had. Seriously, like, better than words."
"I really don't wanna hear that. You boys are disgusting."
"Is that why you're a virgin?" Michael laughed, "Are you scared you're gonna get cooties?"
Trying my best to keep my eyes on the road, I told him to stop with the virgin jokes. Thankfully, Luke's house isn't very far so I don't have to deal with Michael much longer. I love him to death but fuck he's so annoying at times.
After being in the car for 5 minutes with him, I was done. It's really hard to concentrate on driving with your best friend as it is, but when Michael Clifford is your best friend, it's much more distracting. At least he keeps the mood up though. I complain about him the most of all my friends, but I don't know what I'd do without him. He's always been there for me, through my first breakup, my first F, my first time getting drunk, and many other times you'd want a good friend. I've known Michael since I entered the 5th grade, and here we are now, 8 years later talking about how he got his first STD.
Pulling up to Luke's driveway and putting my thoughts aside, we got out of the car and went up to knock on Luke's door.
"Michael, is it true?" Liz, Luke's mom asked up after she opened the door and was greeted by our faces.
"Ugh, they told you?" Michael responded with exasperated sigh.
Liz did not like that.
"Hi Ms. Hemmings. The boys are here right?" I asked, trying to take the attention off of Michael.
"Of course. You guys should come in, it's pretty windy."
We thanked her and after entering, we made our way down to Luke's basement where he and Calum were playing video games.
"Michael has an STD!" I screamed on our way down the stairs.
"Michael Gordon Clifford!" Liz faintly yelled in response.
The boys bursted out in laughter.
Luke was the first one to speak, "We thought you were kidding when you said you slept with Brooke Johnson, everyone knows she's a slut!"
"Yeah, it's kinda obvious that she would have something mate. She got with Chad yesterday," Calum added. I kinda felt bad for Michael, he was just sulking in the boys' insults.
"If one of you guys had chlamydia you wouldn't be laughing, now would you?" I said, trying to defend Michael, although I was being hypocritical.
"At least I get some. Luke's in the virgin club with Mads." Michael tried to defend himself.
"Dude, I was the one defending you!" I sighed
"Dude, really?" Luke groaned.
"Yeah mate, second base doesn't count as sex." Calum laughed as Michael looked at my sympathetically
. "Where's Ash?" Calum asked Luke.
"He didn't wanna come. It sucks that he hasn't been hanging out with us lately, I miss him." He responded, then followed with a shout of aggravation, seeing as Calums beating him at the game.
"It's only been like 3 days. You're overreacting. Maybe he just needs space." My response made the boys paused their game.
"Do you know what happened, Maddie?" Calum questioned.
"No."
"Swear?"
"Stair."
"What?"
"I just told you."
"You're keeping something from us."
"I literally just told you I'm not." Michael looked at me sympathetically.
"Michael knows!" Luke realized.
Everyone looked at Michael as he looks down.
"What are you guys hiding from us?"
"We just got in an argument. All three of us," Michael came up with a lie and I gave him a quick look of appreciation.
"Mate, you guys always argue. How could it possibly be that bad?" Calum pushed, adjusting himself on the couch.
"Just drop it, okay? It isn't a big deal, please," I pleaded, already annoyed with this conversation. Everyone but Michael looked at me questionably as they mumbled their "okay"'s.
"So, chlamydia. How's that feel?" Calum asked, trying to stir up a new conversation.
"You should know."
"He's not a slut like you, Michael."
"I am not a slut. I am a sexually active teenager. You guys will know what it's like soon." He winked.
"You're so gross." I pushed his shoulder as we finally took a seat and the couch, "So what are our plans for tonight?"
We never really knew what we were going to do, so it was kind of a stupid question for me to ask. The five, or four, of us usually just go with whatever. We never really plan anything unless we're actually leaving one of our houses', which was not very often.
The boys didn't know how to answer, so they chorused a series of mumbles.
"I have an idea, anyone have money on them?" Michael said.
"Oh no."
"Michael, last time you had an idea for us we ended up hours away from home without cell phone service."
"Okay, but that wasn't my fault. Ashton was the one driving and we all know he's horrible at it."
"Michael, you just said we were going to the beach, we all know where the beach is so I'm sure it's not all Ashton's fault."
"Considering it's autumn, trust me when I say we won't be going near a beach." Michael sighed, "I just wanted to go to the store to buy paint and canvas."
Sure, Michaels my best friend, but it's hard to trust him in situations like this.
"Just paint? Like for a painting day? Like what little kids do?" Luke asked in the prissiest way. Typical.
"In a sophisticated way, yes." Michael moved his hair back, "I have about ten dollars on me, I didn't bring my wallet. Who else would be willing to spend money?"
We all mumbled that we'd chip in and how much we have.
"Can we grab food, too?"
