Crush Culture [M.Wheeler]

[38] JUST SHUT UP AND KISS ME, LOSER

While the music plays in Nori's room, the two teenagers find no interest in the song, but more in each others' lips. Nori cups Mike's cheeks while he keeps his hand on her arm.

Slowly, she moves her hands down, holding his. Suddenly, Mike pulls away. "And nobody wants to know you now." He sings along with the music.

He imitates the guitar break, shaking Nori along with him. She looks to him with an amused expression, chuckling. "And nobody wants to show you—" Nori reaches her hand forward, covering his mouth, causing his singing to be muffled. "Mike!"

"Mike, stop! Stop!" She laughs. He pulls her hand away, intertwining their fingers. "So if you're lost and on your own." He continues to sing.

"Mike! Stop!" She says as he moves her arms around. "Mike! Mike!"

"You can never surrender." He sticks out his tongue, making a sound which only makes Nori laugh more. "Never do that again." She shakes her head with an amused smile.

"What, you don't like it?" He asks. "No." She chuckles. "That was terrifying." She adds. "You know, I'm gonna take offense to that." He raises his eyebrows.

"Just shut up and kiss me, loser." She playfully rolls her eyes, leaning in and placing a hand on his cheek as their lips connect once more. Her hands find his chest, holding them there.

"Hey, Ellie, did you steal my Farrah Faucet spray again— Woah!" Steve shouts as he barges in through the door, covering his eyes. "Steve! Knock!" Nori yells, pulling away from Mike.

Steve groans, stepping out and closing the door, then knocking. "Sorry." Nori mouths to her boyfriend, then turns off the music, opening the door. "Yes, Steve?"

"I see the hairspray on your dresser. Hand it over." Steve holds out his hand. "Fine. But I didn't take it all the other times." She denies, walking over and taking it.

"All those other seven times? Sure. I also came in here to tell you I'm going to work." Steve nods, not believing her. He takes it from her hand, and before he leaves, he pauses. "Did Dad agree to this?" He asks, motioning between the two.

"Dad's not home." Nori responds, taking a seat beside Mike. "Alright. I'm watching you, Wheeler." Steve glares at the boy.

"Like a hawk, I know. This isn't the first time you've told me this." He rolls his eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me. I will find you, and sneak into your room—"

"Because you're stealthy like a ninja, we get it." Nori cuts him off as she begins to push the door closed. "We get it." She repeats, laughing when she closes the door.

Mike chuckles, watching as she takes a seat beside him again. "Honestly, I don't know how I deal with him." She comments.

"Did you really steal his hairspray?" Mike asks, leaning in a little closer towards the girl. "Maybe." She raises her eyebrows.

Mike shakes his head with a smile, before kissing the girl once more, smiling into the kiss. Suddenly, Nori pulls away.

"Shit. We're gonna be late to the movies with Will, Lucas, and Max." She realizes, checking her clock.

"Do we have to go?" Mike whines. "Yes, we have to go! This is, like, the millionth time we're late. They're gonna murder us. Come on, you lazy bum." She rolls her eyes, taking his hands and pulling him off the bed.

"We can continue this later." She adds, continuing to pull him along.

***

"You're late." Lucas says with crossed arms as the two arrive on their bikes. "Sorry!" Mike apologizes. "Again."

"We're gonna miss the opening." Will complains. "Yeah, if you guys keep whining about it. Let's go!" Mike says, taking Nori's hand and pulling her ahead.

"If you guys keep whining about it. Nyeh-nyeh-nyeh." Lucas mocks. "Just please stop talking, dude." Nori rolls her eyes.

"Let me guess. You two were busy." Lucas smirks, smacking his lips. "Oh, yeah, real mature, Lucas." Mike remarks in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh, I wish we could make out forever, and never hang out with any of our friends." Lucas imitates the two.

"Lucas, stop." Max cuts in. "Thank you." Nori smiles to her friend. "Will thinks it's funny." Lucas comments.

"Because it is." He laughs. "Yeah, it's so funny that I want to spend romantic time with my girlfriend." Mike rolls his eyes, wrapping his arm around Nori's shoulder.

"I'm spending romantic time with my girlfriend." Lucas argues. They make their way down the escalator, muttering apologies as they squeeze through the people.

"Watch it!" One of the girls yells as Mike bangs into her, Nori sending her an angry glare. "Yeah! Watch it, nerd!" Erica calls.

"Isn't it past your bedtime?" Lucas fires. "Isn't it time you die?" She responds, causing her friends to laugh.

"Psycho!"

"Butthead!"

"Mall rat!"

"Fartface!"

Lucas sticks out his tongue at his sister. "Oh, now that was mature." Max says sarcastically, pulling him away.

They make their way into scoops, stopping in front of the counter. "Hey, Robin." Nori greets with a smile.

Mike begins to ring the bell repeatedly. "Hey, dingus, your children are here." Robin calls, causing Steve to open the window in the back.

"Ellie?" He rolls his eyes. "Again? Seriously?" He asks in disbelief. Mike purses his lips, ringing the bell once again.

Steve leads them inside through the back, rushing them. "I swear if anybody hears about this—"

"We're dead!" They all finish.

***

"All clear." Mike confirms, walking into the theatre along with the others who trail behind him. They seem to make it just in time, Will, Mike, and Nori going into one row while Max and Lucas sit in the one right in front.

"See, Lucas? We made it." Nori whispers. "We missed the previews." He argues. "Still made it. Fart face." Max teases.

Will reaches inside his backpack, pulling out a few snacks and passing them over to Nori and Mike, before handing them in front to Lucas and Max.

The movie begins, but unfortunately, seems to stop working just after. The crowd boos, angered. Nori groans, leaning her head back in annoyance.

Just a few moments later, the power returns, earning cheers. Nori and Mike smile to each other, then clap.

Suddenly, Nori notices that Will had a scared expression, his hand resting on the back of his neck. "Will?" She whispers, leaning over Mike to tap him.

He gasps, turning to her. "You okay?" She asks. "Yeah." He nods. "Are you sure?" Mike chimes in. "Of course."