Into An Idiot

7. Talent

It's simple to see that the boys were accepted to the talent show, they have loads of talent.
As for me, I've decided that my friend and I were going to dance.
We picked out a song and costumes and had our duet choreographed.
The stress was piling on top of us before we went onstage.
"Even if you forget, smile." Chloe whispers before the curtains go up.
We start off strong, and I almost mess up a turn but catch myself.
We land in our ending positions, and walk off with tons of emotion and energy.
The applause is fantastic.
I run offstage, right into Michael's arms.
He laughs and picks me up, twirling me in the air.
"You were amazing!" He cries, hugging me.
"Calm down, it wasn't a competition or anything."
"But you're still good." He smiles.
"Your act was better." I say breathlessly.
"I suppose." He smirks.
I laugh.
"You're supposed to say, 'No, Sophia, you're the best'!" I joke.
He laughs. "Alright, Soph, you're the best."
\\
//
School is boring as usual.
A few people congratulate me on the dance even though we weren't doing anything, and I meet up with Michael after school as usual.
He's late today.
I wait nervously for him, I hope he's okay.
He comes running around the corner of the school.
"Hi." He says breathlessly.
"Hey, what's up?"
"I forgot." He says. "And then Jack came and.."
"What? What did he do?"
"He pinned me against the wall like this..." Michael takes hold of my arm and shoulder and presses my back to the brick wall of the school, "and he did this." Michael steps closer, so I'm looking right into his green eyes.
"And.." Michael's stomach is on mine, his warm breath on my neck, and then he slams his soft lips into mine. I'm not expecting this, and I'm shocked.
Michael moves his hands down to my waist, and I free my arms and push him off. I reach out with my arm, slapping him in the face.
"Ow!" He shrieks.
"Ow? What the hell was that? You can't just run up here and snog me!" I spit.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I just-"
"Michael Gordon Clifford, just get the hell away from me!" I realize that I have a tear running down my cheek.
And I left a red handprint on Michael's.
He frowns, and walks away.
A voice from behind us laughs.
There stands Jack Davids.
"Rejected again, weren't you, Idiot." He sneers.
"Shut up." Michael says.
"Sophia, you can do so much better than him." Jack calls.
"No." I snap.
"No?" He raises an eyebrow, coming closer.
"No! Because I love Michael no matter what you try to tell me, he's my best friend; he's been my best friend for two years."
"She still hasn't seen anything in you, Clifford. You're just a friend." Jack narrows his eyes. Michael looks away.
"Crying again, idiot?" Jack bellows.
"No." Michael mumbles, wiping his eyes.
"Yes you are. She slapped you, if only it had been the other way around, bitches deserve to be slapped-"
"Shut the fuck up, Jack. You're a dick." Michael yells.
"How would you know, it's not like you h-"
"Leave him alone!" I scream. "Just stop fighting!"
"Ha! This idiot can't even tell what fighting is."
Michael sighs, and looks at me helplessly.
"Oh, trust me, he knows what fighting is way more than you do. He's the strongest person I know."
"If you love him so much why don't you just kiss the fucking idiot?" Jack yells.
"We just did." I say slowly.
Jack shakes his head.
"Fine." I hiss.
I grab Michael's face in my hands and press my lips to his, lasting only three seconds before getting grossed out and letting go of Mike's face.
"He's so dumb, look at him, he looks like he's seen an angel."
"I have." Michael mutters. "She just kissed me. Twice."
I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
For a second, Jack seems almost lost for words.
"Whatever, just go kill yourself." Jack scoffs, walking away.
Michael goes pale.
His eyes water. He looks down.
He reaches into his pocket.
Before I know it, blood is running down his arm.
"Michael, give me that."
He ignores me.
"Hey, listen to me."
He looks away.
I take the blade out of his hand. He doesn't even look at me, and just cradles his other arm with his now empty hand.
I throw the blade.
I see the sun glint off of it as it flies through the air.
I help Michael up and blot his arm with a tissue.
He collapses into me for a hug, immediately sobbing into my shoulder.
"Hey, calm down. It's okay."
"No it's not." He whimpers.
"It's going to be fine, then."
"Maybe." Michael says. He inhales deeply into my neck before exhaling in sobs.
I hug him tighter.
"You hate me." He cries.
"I absolutely do not hate you." I deter.
"But... then... how? Why do you even hang out with an Idiot? Why..." He sniffles, squeezing me tightly, and sighs.
"Don't be sad, come on, let's stop by Macca's and visit Ashton and cheer you up."
"Okay." He breathes. I hold his hand, and he keeps his other arm crossed in front of him as we walk.