End Up Here (Michael Clifford a.u.)

Chapter 6

A week passes by after we all hung out together. Things are great. Michael and I text each other nonstop, and we're always together. We're inseparable, and so are all of our friends. Our group of eight has become closer.

As we sit in history class, Michael keeps tossing small paper wads over his shoulder, hitting me in the face. I flick his back, and he turns around and smiles.

Ms. Ryan pulls out a giant stack of papers and passes them out.

"You have a project due," she says. "You will find a partner and follow the instructions you are given. Whatever number I give you, is the project you'll work on."

"Since nobody wants to work with the weirdest guy in the room," Michael says, slowly turning around in his seat.

"Shut up. You're not weird," I tell him.

"Right. I'm the weirdest."

"No you're not."

"You're the prettiest," he says. I smile and feel my face heat up. Damn him.

We are assigned our project, and we plan to go to his house after school to start it. And when we go to lunch, he begins rambling on and on about it.

"I'm really excited," he says. "You could meet my parents."

"That makes me even more nervous to go," I admit. "What if they don't like me or something?"

"I like you, and that's all that matters."

"Thanks, but that's not helping me that much."

"I'm sure they'll like you. What's not to like?"

"Everything."

"Yeah okay," he says sarcastically. "I promise it will go well. If it doesn't, we'll work it out."

"Look at you being such an optimist." He smiles a little.

Luke and Claire finally sit with us. Claire is beside me and Luke beside Michael across from us as it always is. She drops a textbook on the table and sighs.

"How much homework do you have?" I ask.

"An entire chapter of terms," she says. "And it's due in about twenty minutes."

"Could be worse," Luke points out. "You've got a tough teacher."

"I know. I'd like to tell him off for being such an asshole anyway," she mumbles.

"Wouldn't we all?" I ask.

"So what's this about you going to Michael's house?" Luke asks as he looks at me.

"It's not a big deal."

"Check your phone."

I look and see I have tons of messages on our group talking about me and Michael. I glance up and see his pale face changing a slight shade of red as he smiles like an idiot.

Basically they're trying to find our ship name. The options are Michenna or Makael. I can't help but laugh.

"I personally think Makael fits well," Luke says.

"Me too," I reply.

"So this ship could sail," Michael mumbles mainly to himself, but Claire overhears and bursts into laughter, quickly having to wipe her eyes.

"That was good, Michael," she says.

"Don't you have less than ten minutes to get your homework done?" Luke asks.

"Okay, okay. Sorry, mom."

Luke laughs before returning his attention to his phone.

"No need to be sassy," I tell him.