Cut To Pieces [Complete]

Pizza

“But seriously, what’s it like?” I put down the crust of a pepperoni slice back down on my plate. “Touring. You must miss home.” Michael rolled his eyes at my ‘blatant disrespect of pizza crusts’ and picked it up off my plate, shrugging and taking a bite.

“Yeah, I do. But it’s fun. The boys are like brothers and we’re really close so it makes being away from home a lot easier than it would be by ourselves.” I nodded slowly and took a sip of my water. “From what I gather about you, you’d like the boys.”

“What are they like?” We had been sitting in the pizza shop for a good twenty minutes now and I was slowly warming up to the amusing stranger. He had taken a photo of the pizza when we first got it and posted it on the internet. He had explained that it was for the fans, to keep them updated, but I didn’t quite get why they needed to know what he was having for lunch. Michael shrugged and a spark lit up in his eyes.

“Would you like to meet them?” The idea of meeting more people slightly overwhelmed me. I had never been good with making friends, Michael had been a convenient exception. “Later, I mean.” I nodded, deciding I might as well make the most of my time around Michael, knowing he would be leaving soon to go wherever his next stop was on the tour.

“I think they’ll like you.” He smiled, taking a giant bite of pizza. “But like, they’re really weird, so just don’t be creeped out.” He explained through a mouthful of dough and tomato and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Not a lot can creep me out.” After living with a father like mine, not much could be stranger. “Trust me on that one. I think I’ll be fine.” Michael flashed me a beaming smile before pushing even more pizza into his mouth. “Jesus, do you ever stop?” I laughed and he scowled, taking yet another bite just to spite me. “Michael you are going to choke and I will not save you.” I smirked, leaning back in the seat, sipping my water. Michael stared me down and swallowed the slowly growing amount of food in his mouth and poked his tongue out at me.

“I wouldn’t choke. I am a master pizza eater.”

“And I’m a gym leader.” I poked my tongue back at him. His eyes went wide for a moment before he coked his head slightly and leaned towards me.

“You know Pokémon?” I sighed and threw my hand sin the air.

“God, Michael!” I laughed. “You think I live under a rock!” I dig my key out of my pocket and dangled the Eevee key chain in front of him. “I know what Pokémon is.” Michael rolled his eyes and frowned at the now empty pizza platter. “Don’t you even think about ordering more.” I couldn’t help but gape at him. “You do not need to eat more pizza. You nearly ate that whole thing!” He shot me a look that clearly said “bitch, watch me” and I couldn’t help but stare in disbelief as he called the waitress over.

“Can I get another pepperoni to go, please?” The slender girl nodded and giggled as she walked away and I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew who he was. When I had found out he was in a band I was concerned that he might be more well-known than I had imagined and we’d be mobbed by cameras or whatever happened to these type of people. So far we had been bothered by no one and for that I was silently grateful. “I’m taking it back for the guys. I’m quite full due to your lack of a stomach.” The entire time we had been eating he had been poking fun at my much smaller appetite. I ate a grand total of three pieces whereas Michael had managed to devour the rest plus a side of fries and a milkshake.

“My appetite is perfectly healthy, you leave me alone.” I scowled, playing with my keys, my elbows propped up on the table. “Just because I don’t eat like a damn lion.”

“Oh,” Michael winked. “A lion? I like that.” I flicked my straw across the table at him. Missing of course, earning an unimpressed snort.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” I stood up from the table when the waitress returned with the boxed pizza and placed it down on the table. I held out a twenty pound note to pay for the meal but Michael swatted my hand away quickly and shoved his own money into the waitress’s hand.

“Quickly.” He urged her as I started to argue. “Run. Take the money, keep the change, and don’t let her try pay.” I opened my mouth to protest but before I could get out a sound Michael had clamped his hand down on my mouth, the pizza in his other, and pushed me out of the restaurant.

“What was that!?” I challenged as soon as he set me free. I stood staring up at the taller boy, my hands resting on my hips.

“I paid for lunch.” Michael stated, his eyes wide with mock innocence.

“I can pay for my own food.” I rolled my eyes and he cocked his head again.

“You do that a lot.” He observed. “And I took you for lunch. Take my gesture of fabulous kindness and shut up about it.” I sighed as I shoved my twenty pound back into my pocket, certain I wouldn’t win this battle and decided not to waste my energy. “What do you want to do?” Michael continued. “We can go meet the boys? If you’d like to of course.” I nodded, content that there was nothing better I’d spend my afternoon doing.

“I’d love to meet them.” I announced, causing Michael to beam. “They sound like fun.” He nodded quickly and hailed a taxi.

“I can assure you they are.” I jumped in the back of the cab after Michael and raised my eyebrows when he gave the name of the hotel. Isn’t that in the high end of town? I shook it off, realising I had no idea how famous or how mediocre this band was and decided to follow my gut instinct, which was to follow this odd boy around as long as he wanted me to.