You Are My...

Part 3

Everyone got out of their seats and scrambled around to find a partner before they got paired up with the kid that no one wanted to be partners with. That kid, was me. I stay seated, watching everyone run around to find a partner. I usually end up just working independently, which I don't usually mind but its nice to have a partner to fall back on to. I fiddle around with my pencil and it falls off my desk and rolls on the floor under my chair. I groan immediately as I hear the sound of the light piece of wood hit the cheap tiled floor, and I lean to the side reaching for my pencil. I sit back up, and Michael is standing in front of my desk with that side smirk that only he has.
"Hey partner." He says.
"Wha-"
"Return to your seats! Whoever doesn't have a partner can work by themselves or see if there's anyone left to work with." By the end of my teacher's announcement Michael is already seated back at his desk in the second row.
Alright, he better not be a slacker.

...

Monday is over, and by that I mean the school day. Making my last trip to my locker I keep my head down as usual. When I close my locker door I don't even bother to look beside me, because I know he's there and he's going to try to convince me to go home with him for the hundredth time. As I walk away towards the doors I hear footsteps following me, not urgent running, just calm walking footsteps.
"Alisson?" I hear Michael's voice, and I can't help the smile that is creeping up on my face as I turn around to face him.
"Hey partner." I say, bringing up earlier's event.
"Yeah, sorry about that. You don't have to work with me if you don't want to, I just thought that..." He chuckles, and looks slightly nervous and embarrassed.
"It's fine, don't worry about it." We stand about a 5 feet distance from each other that is filled with awkward tension.
"May I walk home with you?" He looks up at me waiting for a response.
"Sure." I casually reply before turning back around to face the doors, and I hear Michael running behind me to catch up. He runs right by me and grabs the door handle, holding it open for me.
"Thanks." I smile at him and walk outside.

...

Before I know it we're standing in front of my house laughing at what one another is saying. I look up at my house, signalling the awkward goodbye small talk.
"So, the project. Could I..." He seems to be gathering his thoughts judging by his expression.
"Have a number to reach you at in case we want to work on it some time after school?" He finishes his sentence after a long pause.
"Yeah, of course. Just text me to let me know its you." I smile and he copies my cellphone number down into his contacts.
"Alright, thanks. See you around?" He says as he puts his phone back into the pocket of his black ripped skinny jeans.
"Yeah, bye." I say politely and begin to walk up the front steps.

...

When I was doing my usual studying on my balcony later that day, my phone buzzed. I unlocked it and it read "Hey, it's Michael :)".
I actually giggled a little to myself, because this was the first time in a long time that my phone vibrated and it wasn't a notification or a text from one of my parents.
"Hey :D" I replied.

...

It has been a while since Michael sent me a text, and there was no point in having my books open and telling myself I was going to study. Because I knew that wasn't going to happen. My binders and textbooks are neatly stacked on the small glass table beside me, and I can't help but smile or giggle at my phone occasionally.
The sound of the door behind me opening breaks my focus on my phone.
"What are you doing?" She has a questioning look. I always stay in focus on studying and I rarely use my phone because I honestly don't have much use for it.
"Nothing, just kind of relaxing. I'm not really in the mood to be working right now."
"Not in the mood to study? That's a first."
I can tell by her tone that she isn't buying it. Mothers just seem to know some how.
"Yeah, today's just not my day I guess." I sigh.
"Did you ever talk to that boy again? What was his name... the boy with the coloured hair."
"His name is Michael, and of course I have. I see him in the hallways so of course we talk a little." This wasn't a complete lie. It's not that I'm hiding anything it's just that of I tell her the truth that I'm actually texting him right now, it will be a game of 21 questions. My phone buzzes, and "Michael" shows on my screen. I snatch it and put it in my pocket, but by the look on my Mother's face I know it's too late.
"Seems like you talk more than a little." She smirks, knowing that she has caught me. I just stay silent.
"Anyways, I'm off to work now." She sighs, running her hand through her hair.
"Work? It's that late already?!" I really was off task today.
"Yes, I better run. Have a good day tomorrow, te amo." She says before closing the door and heading downstairs. Instead of saying "I love you" we say "te amo". Just inside the family. (My Dad's side of the family is Mexican). I'm not really sure why, it's just been like that since I can remember. Left alone in silence by myself, and my focus on texting Michael back broken, I realize that there's no reason why I should keep it quiet from my Mom. We are friends. That's it, bottom line. Even if I wanted to be more than friends, which... Do I? It doesn't matter. I don't have time for relationships, my time needs to continue to be spent on school. I look over at my books that I should be studying, and then at the phone in my hand and instantly feel a pang of guilt. I open my notes back up and begin to read, setting my phone down. But knowing that there's an unread text from Michael on my phone is burning into my brain. I grab my phone off of the table and unlock my phone to read it.
"Do you want to come over to work on the project?" I smile, but remember I haven't even studied what I need to for myself yet. I've already wasted most of my night not studying, why not make it the whole night?
"Sure, I'll be over in 5." I reply.

...

After I brushed my hair and teeth quickly, I slipped on my shoes and headed next door to Michael's.
I ring the door bell and he almost immediately opens the door.
"Hey, come on in." He smiles and moves aside so I could walk in.
"We can work upstairs or down here, it doesn't really matter."
"Upstairs is fine." I say with a smile.
The house is pretty quiet, but I can hear some sort of muffled sound coming from somewhere upstairs. As we walk up the stairs to go to his room, I see that the noise is coming from a TV in a room at the top of the stairs.
"One sec." Michael mumbles.
"Luke can you turn down the TV. Please." He sounds frustrated and annoyed, which isn't usual for him. There's no response from the person in the room, but the volume drops.
"Sorry, that's my idiot of a little brother." He says with annoyance but softens the sentence with a chuckle.
"My parents won't bother us." He simply states.
As we walk into his room, I notice that is extremely tidy. The bed is smoothly made, the carpets vacuumed and the shelves dusted. Michael walks in behind me and closes the door. I turn to look at him as soon as I hear it close. He gives a slightly nervous look.
"Oh my gosh I'm sorry I'll leave the door open." He turns back around and opens the door widely. I laugh at him and turn back around.
"Oh look at that, your room is right across from mine." I look out his bedroom window.
"Yeah, I know." He says and I hear him walk towards me. I turn my head slightly to meet his eyes.
"How?" I ask.
"I see you sitting on your balcony sometimes." He says.
"If that sounded creepy I'm sorry." He quickly adds to his previous statement.
"It's okay, it wasn't creepy, that much." I say and we both chuckle.

...

"I'll see you tomorrow." He says as his final goodbye before closing his front door. I walk home with no beginnings of a project, but maybe a beginning to something better.