End Up Here (Michael Clifford a.u.)

Chapter 2

Michael has been on my mind all week. I know I shouldn't have these feelings, but oh my god his hair and his face. I have good feelings about him, but I'm not very good at containing them.

"Yeah. He sits in front of me, and he's really nice but really shy, and he's like-"

"Makenna," Kaitlyn says, cutting me off. "All you talk about is Michael."

"I'm sorry," I tell her.

"Don't be sorry," Claire says. "I mean he's a pretty cool guy, and his friends are cool too. I'd freak out too."

"I'm glad you found someone you get along with," Grace says. We laugh.

"I know. He's awesome," I say.

"I agree. He's cool."

"We're good friends."

"Are you texting yet?" Claire asks.

"No," I mumble.

"Maybe he's nervous to ask you. I mean, you did say he was kinda shy, right?" Kaitlyn says.

"Right."

The bell rings to go to first period. We get up and start walking towards the stairs.

"Hey, Makenna!" someone calls. I turn around and see Michael walking towards us.

"Hey, Michael," I reply with a smile. He smiles back.

"Ah so this is the guy with galaxy hair," Kaitlyn says.

Michael laughs quietly. "Well, it's faded now. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do next."

"This is Kaitlyn, Claire, and Grace," I tell him, pointing to each of the girls. "This is Michael."

"Hey, Luke knows Grace," he says. "I think all of my friends do. Luke talks about having art with you all the time."

"Small world," Grace says quietly. "Gotta go guys. See you later!" She turns into her classroom.

"Same here," I tell Claire and Kaitlyn.

"Don't die taking notes," Claire calls. I roll my eyes, remembering how much I hated this class.

Michael and I walk in the room and notice a different teacher. The room is rearranged and everything. She stands quietly by her desk.

"Good morning!" she beams at us. I give her an awkward smile.

"Didn't we have a guy teacher last week?" Michael asks quietly.

"Maybe she's only here for today?"

Turns out I'm wrong. Ms. Ryan is our new teacher, saying she was still moving the week before. I like her, and I immediately trust her. For one she mentioned tumblr, and we talked for thirty minutes about her favorite music.

Anyway, the entire class I stare at Michael's fading hair. It's turning into a light purple, like a lilac color, and I have new feelings about it.

I don't know what it is about him. I really like being around him. Thinking about him makes me smile. Hopefully that's not too weird. I totally don't want to freak him out.

We're given a project to do with partners during class, and Michael turns around to me and smiles.

Damn, why is he so cute?

"No one else seems to want to partner up with the color haired freak," he says.

"Shut up. You're not a freak."

He chuckles. "I guess you don't know me well enough."

But I want to know every little thing about him. His fears, what makes him happy or sad or mad, and what his dreams are. He seems like the kind of passionate person who really loves something and won't let it go.

The bell rings, and he ends up walking me to my next class. All I can do is smile as I listen to him go on and on about how he plays the guitar. To be honest, now I'm even more interested in him.

"See you later?" he asks.

"Of course."

He smiles and walks away. It's a little smirk, but it's so hopeful, and my heart begins to race. I go through the rest of my classes until I see him at lunch. He picks back up on the conversation about the guitar. And Luke joins in with him.

Claire and I listen to them tell their crazy stories, and I watch Michael's eyes as he talks. They light up, and a smile forms on his lips, and he's just so happy about it. I'm glad we met because people around happy people like him really makes me happy.

"We should hang out sometime this weekend," Michael tells me as we walk back to class.

"Sounds cool," I reply. I'm internally screaming, hoping plans will actually be made.

"Do you like pizza?"

"Who doesn't?"

"Right?!" he asks. "We should get some together this weekend."

"Okay."

"Okay. Pinky promise?" He holds up his pinky.

I laugh. "Pinky promise." He hooks our fingers together before shaking his hand a little. We laugh, and he releases his hold.

He sighs. "That wasn't so bad. I was nervous to ask."

"It's just me," I tell him.

I notice a blush creeping onto his pale face. "That's exactly why I was nervous. I'll see you later."

He walks into his class, leaving me ready to jump off a cliff out of pure excitement. I try to contain myself, but my chest is tightening and my smile is hurting my face.

That smug little shit knows what he's doing.

I get home and do my lame ass homework before getting on Netflix as usual. Suddenly my phone lights up. It's an unknown number, and I have several messages from them. I got so into the show I didn't even notice.

Unknown: hey :)

Unknown: are you still down for that pizza date?

Unknown: we agreed on doing that earlier.

Unknown: you pinky promised! so no backing out.

Me: is this Michael...?

Unknown: yeah :)

Me: how did you get my number? I never gave it to you.

Michael: I asked your friend Grace

Michael: who's currently texting my friend Ashton

Michael: so... pizza? :)

I smile. God he's so freaking cute. I want to punch him in the face for it.

Me: sure :)

Michael: good. see you tomorrow ;)

I lie back on my pillows, pull one over my face, and scream into it. My mom comes running in my room.

"What's wrong?" she asks worriedly.

"This show is ruining my life!" I yell. She rolls her eyes and leaves.

"God, you and your TV shows," she mumbles.

I'm going on a pizza date this weekend with the most adorable human being alive. Oh my god.