imagine | mileven au

chapter 15

"hey, um, lucas. there's something i need to talk to you about." mike said, as the two walked to their class.

"since when do you announce about that?" lucas replied dryly.

the two were on their way to their first class of the day. the party hadn't been able to chat much before as they were a little late. they hadn't seen el in the morning either, so he assumed that she wasn't on time either, which was unusual considering how punctual she was.

"look, i'm just kind of saying. yesterday, i um, asked el if she wanted to like.. bake together or something." the raven haired boy tried to explain, blushing a bit.

"is baking together supposed to be like, metaphorical for something?"

"you're crazy. no. we're literally going to just hang out and bake."

"well, that's great then. you're going to spend some quality time together."

"i know! it's just.. i'm nervous."

"for any particular reason?"

"i just.. i just don't want to mess up, you know? we haven't been friends for too long a time.. but there's just something. we get each other. we're comfortable. and it's been like that since new year's. and i am.. scared that i'm going to do something that will take us a few steps back." mike admitted.

"you've got to have more confidence in yourself, you know? come on, mike. she was literally one of the quietest girls in school, and you've got her to a point where she's been comfortable with sitting with us during lunch or common classes. that's a big thing, you know? it isn't easy to bring people out of their shells, but you were able to do that. you aren't a mean person. and i doubt you'd say or do anything that would hurt her. you're sensitive like that, and that's good. what i'm saying is, don't over think anything. you've been yourself so far and that's why she likes you. so just.. go on doing you." lucas smiled at his best friend.

mike grinned and put his around him. "you always know what to say."

"i'm smart like that."

"i know. there's something else i want to say, by the way."

they reached their classroom and sat down next to one another. putting his bag down, lucas nudged him. "well, by all means go ahead then."

"you know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"yeah, i know. same goes."

"and i mean... anything."

"i am not sure of what you're trying to get out of me."

"i'm not trying to get anything out of you. not exactly, but you know, if there's anything on your mind that you'd like to share with someone, then i'm here."

"again, thanks, but i already know this. mike, if there's something you want to discuss, just say it out loud, you're not great at dropping hints."

mike groaned, frustrated with how this was turning out. he didn't want to say it out loud because he wasn't even sure if there was anything. but he wanted to make it clear that just like he had approached him about el today, he could approach him too.

"look, i'm not.. implying anything, okay? but if you.. like someone.. and you want to talk about it.. then you can come to me."

lucas's eyes widened. his best friend had always been the kind of person who could observe small details and he shouldn't be surprised that he had been caught, but he was always taken aback by how this guy paid attention to... everything.

"am i that obvious?" he whispered.

"not really. but i thought i noticed something. in any case, i didn't mean to pry or anything, i just didn't want you to feel like... you know, like you can't talk to anyone about it or something. because i'm here for you."

"i don't even know how it started happening, man. like, we've been best friends for years. i always thought that she's like.. the coolest person. she's so funny, she cracks me up all the time. but she's also.. so understanding. like, i can talk to her about anything. and i do. it's like, when i'm.. going through something.. and i talk to her about it.. i just feel.. better. like whatever it is, it'll be fine."

"well, then, did you ever try talking to her about your feelings?"

"when i started feeling more, i didn't want to say anything because.. if she doesn't feel that way, then i fear things will get awkward between us. i really don't want that to happen. max is one of my closest friends, mike. i can't lose her." he confessed.

"i understand. but have you ever.. you know, gotten a hint from her side.. that maybe she feels something for you too?"

"i.. don't know. i have no idea. sometimes i get the feeling that maybe.. something's there. but then i think that because i like her so much, i'm just desperate enough to imagine that there's something. it's confusing."

"i understand, lucas. i really do." mike reassured him, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"thanks, mike. and i'm glad that we talked about this. i felt a little awkward, bringing this up."

"i figured, which is why i thought that i'd just let you know that i'm here. you don't have to feel weird about anything."

lucas smiled at him. "i'll keep that in mind."

~*~

"when is this period going to get over?" will grumbled.

el, who was sitting beside him, glanced at the clock. "just a few minutes to go, will. and it'll be lunch after this. you only have one question left, why not finish it?"

"i'm really not in the mood. and i know she's going to check this tomorrow so i'll finish it by then. i just want to go for lunch, like, Jesus, i'm hungry."

the honey haired girl laughed and in return, will smiled. they had been sitting together during this class that they shared in common for a week now. he really liked her. he was normally shy but for some reason, el was easy to hang out with. she always had a smile up her sleeves, and there was something about it that put him at ease.

"i can't make time go any faster. but looks like ma'am has something to say." el said as she noticed the teacher get up.

"heck, is she going to check this now? i haven't done the last question." will, panicked, looked at his textbook.

"class, i have an announcement to make." the teacher declared, catching the attention of her class. "as a part of your assessment, i am giving you all a group project. it is supposed to be done in pairs. you may choose your own partners. i'll be giving out these sheets which have the instructions on them. take one and pass the rest."

as the students began passing the sheets around, will gave a nudge to el. "partners?"

she grinned at him. "sure!" 

~*~

A/N- sorry for the delay, you guys! i hope you like this.. let me know what you think!