Listen [Michael Clifford AU]

01 // Green

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Michael

Silence. The nice kind. The kind that makes you sigh after a long day of teacher screaming at you and students screaming at them. Lockers being thrown shut and stuff being thrown around the classroom.

I've never been a people person, someone who fits in with the crowds. I'm a misfit, as my history teacher calls me.

That's why I liked this park, and it's silence. It was a nice change from the constant judgement that was thrown at me. The ducks did look at me funny when I walked passed them without giving them food, but I guess that doesn't count.

I've been coming here a lot lately. After I got into trouble at school, and with my mom, I needed some quiet time. Normally my quiet time was my room, but my mom stole my key and now she keeps barging in all the time.

Luke, my only friend in school, told me about this park. He used to come here with his friends, before they turned on him and started bullying him. I still see them here sometimes, but not much anymore. I'm sure they found a new park to terrorize.

I like Luke, he kinda gets me. Or at least my music. Nobody really gets me, not even Luke. I found him in front of the school one day, with his bright green headphones on. He missed the bus and his mother was still working, so he had to wait.

He had the volume of his music turned on so loud that I could hear it when I walked by. He was listening to Green Day and I instantly liked him. He was probably the only one on this school besides me who listens to them.

"Hey." I spoke, standing in front of the boy. He didn't hear me, and kept his head down, facing his textbook. I bent down and tapped his shoulder, startling him and making him throw his headphones off.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." I spoke, pushing my hands in my pockets. He shrugged, turning down the volume on his music.

"So, are you waiting for someone to pick you up?" I asked, looking at the blonde boy. He nodded again, pulling his textbook against his body. "Yeah, I missed the bus..." He spoke, "...And my mom is still at work."

''Do you-'' I spoke, but I cut myself off. I suddenly remembered that people don't actually like me, and I'm sure this random guy with cool bright green headphones won't either.

''Do I what?'' He asked, raising his eyebrows. ''Like, want to ride with me?'' I mumbled, because I couldn't just say 'Nothing'. I hated when people did that.

''Really? That would be great.'' He spoke, pushing his stuff in his schoolbag. I sighed in relief, knowing that this was my first step towards social acceptance.

"You're Michael, right?" He asked, while we walked towards my crappy car.

"Yeah." I spoke, scratching my head.

"I'm Luke." He replied, still holding his headphones. "I know, we have Maths together."

"Oh, right." Luke replied. We both got into my car, and Luke gave me his address. "I would turn on the radio-" I began, "-but as you can see, I don't have a radio."

Luke chuckled, and pulled his phone out. "I got it."

I drove away as Luke tapped away on his phone. Finally a song started, Holiday by Green Day.

"I love Green Day." I mumbled, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. "Really? They're one of my favourite bands!" Luke exclaimed, turning towards me.

"I'm pretty sure you're the only one besides me who likes Green Day." He spoke. "I know, you're the first one I've met in school who even knows who they are."