Habits | michael [coming soon]

Introduction

"Don't even fucking start, Michael Clifford."

"I just," Michael began, slightly pacing around my room with his hands in his hair. "I don't think there's any point, y'know? I'm seventeen, lonely as fuck, my parents couldn't give two shits about me, and Natalie just-"

I groaned in protest, stuffing my face into my pillow at Michael mentioning his ex-girlfriend yet again. Michael was now in his usual position, laying flat-out on his back on my bedroom floor with his hands covering his face. It seemed Michael couldn't be at my house for five minutes anymore without the topic of Natalie being thrown into the conversation. It was the same as every other night Michael came over: I'd be supportive enough, listen to his mope for a while, and then we'd play Mario Kart and everything would be fine.

"Is it going to be like this every time you come over?" I rubbed my face in frustration. Michael leant his head back to look at me, frowning. "Because if so, please, just get the fuck out." I was now sat up from my comfortable position, directing my finger at the door. I'd usually end up becoming extremely tired whenever Michael came over; playing cupid for three hours really made me want to pull mine - and Michael's - hair out. After another day of school, plus putting up with Michael moping around, I didn't want anything more than to sleep. Michael however, always decides the opposite plans for me. He rolled over onto his left side, now facing me, and his lips moved into the same sad smile I had seen all week.

"I'm sorry. I just," He muttered, one of his hands rubbing at his damp face. "I loved her so much. For fucks sake, I still love her. Am I pathetic? No wait, please don't answer that." He mutters, sighing.

Never in the thirteen years I had known michael had I seen him so smitten than when he was with Natalie. She was passionate, fiery, and gorgeous. Natural ginger hair to match Michaels spontaneously dyed bright red, I had already been her partner in two of my classes, and I couldn't seem to find anybody more perfect for him. When Michael first told me about his feelings for her, I wasn't suprised. She'd managed to attract almost the whole population of boys in our year, since her arrival earlier in the school year, so I had always known it wouldn't be long until my best-friend fell for her too. I also remember the stab of jealously I had felt when he told me. I had no feelings for Michael, at all, but being as selfish as I was, I wanted to be the only girl in Michael's life. Him, also knowing this, would always ensure me that I was the most important girl in his life.

But looking down at him for the fifth time that week, his face damp from hours of tears and his heart completely broken, I knew Natalie had taken my place, somewhere along the line. And somehow, despite her now being the reason for my best-friend feeling so fucking sad all the time, I was completely fine with that. She made this mess as his girlfriend. And, as his best-friend, I had to fix it.

"No, Mikey. Of course you're not."

- - -

"I wanted to be Mario!" Michael whined, throwing his controller onto the floor in frustration as I selected the character he wanted. Rolling my eyes, I waved my controller in his face, laughing as he snatched it away from me.

"Tough shit." I chuckled, snatching my controller back with one hand, to ruffle his hair with the other.

After Michael had eventually stopped crying and began falling asleep, I crawled onto the floor and cuddled up to him, running my fingers through his hair, my usual remedy to calm him. He eventually pulled me closer to him and fell asleep with his chin resting on my head. When we woke up, both of us groaning and rubbing our eyes, we turned on my Wii. Then, just the same as everytime Michael came over, we sat in our usual bean-bags and played Mario Kart. It was kind of our ritual. I also had my own ritual; everytime we played, I had to beat him, which was no hard task.

He kinda sucked.

Some people would call it sad that we both enjoyed staying inside so much, but we loved it. Both lazy at heart, my Mum would always say.

It was mid-way through our game, and I was far infront of Michael on the track, when he suddenly paused the game. I lowered my elbows, my arms having been locked in the perfect position to Kart properly, and glanced at Michael. His gaze continued to flicker between my eyes and my lips, making me look around in confusion, although I knew I was picking up on why he was looking at me that way. After thirteen years of being able to stare at me, he decides to do it in the middle of Mario Kart?

"Michael, what are you-"

He silenced me with a fierce kiss to my lips.

all I could scream at myself when I didn't pull away?

what. the. fuck.

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