the love club c.h.

dos

"What is the Love Club?" I ask nervously, looking around at the people around me. Everyone has one symbol of a broken heart somewhere on their bodies, whether it was a a pin or a necklace or tattoo.  Michael is just as nervous as I am; his face is pale.

"Well, the Love Club signifies all of those people who don't believe that love exists or is real. This club allows people to use, throw away, and play with any person they want. Sure, it sounds like a terrible and mean club, but the it is an escape for people who share their negative views on love."

"Oh."

"Do you still want in?"

"Of course."

~

"Michael," I draw out the 'l', hoping to catch his attention from the videogame he was playing. He grumbles a "what" and continues to play without even looking at me. I groan and throw myself on top of him. "Mikeyyyy," I whine using a nickname he hates.

He finally lowers his controller and huffs out, "What is it, you annoying sack of potatoes."

"Stop playing that stupid fifa game and do something exciting with me. Come on, get off that couch you lazy bum," I jump off his lap and pull on his hand. "Come on, this will make you really punk rock and cool, I promise!" He laughs sarcastically while I giggle at myself. I found myself just so funny sometimes.

"I can't, my mom is already cooking dinner!" Michael protests. I huff and roll my eyes.

"Just tell her that you're going to my house for pizza. It's easy come on!" I plead with my puppy dog face. Michael can never resist my puppy face, no mater how terrible it looks. He sighs eventually and just nods defeatedly. Tugging on his hand, I lead him upstairs. 

"If my mom finds out that I lied to her it's all your fault," he whispers and I giggle devilishly. "Mom! I'm going to Poppy's for pizza!" We hear a faint 'ok honey!' as we jog to my little car. It's in pretty good condition, considering the fact that it's a tiny, black fijat. 

"So Poppy Daniels, what adventure are we going on today?"

I smirk. "I was thinking a stop at that pizza restaurant and then driving to the beach."

"But Poppy, by the time we get to the beach, it'll be 8 at night," Michael protests while shaking his head. "My mom will kill me if I'm not home by 11."

"Such a mama's boy," I chide. "Don't worry Mikey, 8 is the perfect time to be at the beach!" I turn up the radio to prevent him from protesting even more and chickening out. He needs to live a little, even if that means breaking some rules.

We drive into the parking lot of the infamous pizza restaurant that is Michael and my personal hangout. No one from school really comes here except us. They all prefer Dominoes pizza, but we love our fresh homemade pizza filled with love and home. Stella's Pizzeria is its name. The owner, Stella is a huge fat Italian woman whose loud, boisterous voice fills the restaurant everytime a customer comes in. She treats us like her own children and, honest to god, she's like a mother I never had.

"STELLA!" I belt out as I enter the restaurant. Luckily there are only like two other people there, so I don't have to be worried about being a public disturbance.

"Poppy bella!" Stella exclaims and gives me a bonecrushing hug. "Will you guys be having your usual?" Whenever we come here we always get one pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and one hawaiian pizza with lots of pineapples. 

Michael and I both nod excitedly and Stella leads us to a booth. "I'll be back in a jiffy with your pizzas my dears." We both wave at her as she bounces off into the kitchen, yelling at the chefs in Italian.

"So," Michael draws out the 'o.' "Who's your new prey this week, huh? The smoking hot quarterback or the awkward new student. What was his name, Colin?"

I snort. "Neither, and it's Calum, not Colin."

"Oh my, you seem like you're getting pretty close with 'Calum', are you sure he isn't your next target?" Michael leans back against the booth and smirks at me. Of course he would say that. I roll my eyes.

"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't," I say mysteriously. "He's definitely attractive, but he's just cute. He is not my type." I shiver just imagining myself with Calum. Ugh, I don't like Asian men. "And how about yourself. Who's your new toy this week, huh? Which heart will you break, Michael the mysterious bad boy/playboy?"

Michael is part of the Love Club like me. In fact, we were both inducted in at the same time. In order to get into this "Love Club," you have to break someone's heart. Just take their heart and stomp all over it and leave it behind. Because then, then you have experienced how love is detrimental and stupid nowadays.

"There was this girl named Jennifer Fairway who was a good fuck. I heard she had a thing for me and wanted to get the Cliffoconda, and I mean, who wouldn't want this Cliffoconda. But anyway, nothing really happened after that party where we fucked. I guess she realized that I was not that interested in her. But, I've got my eyes on that head cheerleader, Naomi Bryan, she is hot." I laugh at his last statement. 

"Naomi Bryan is hot, but she's a bitch," I say as I take a sip of my drink. "I haven't even heard of Jennifer Fairway." 

Stella finally comes out with our pizzas, setting them on the table. Both Michael and I are drooling at the fresh, hot pizza laying before us. I immediately grab a piece and shove it in my mouth, ingoring the burning. Oh god it takes amazing. I look up and see my green-haired friend having the same reaction. 

Suddenly Michael chokes on his food and looks around. I frown at him as he tries to swallow his food faster to tell me something. When he finishes swallowing, he huffs in annoyance. "Look to your right!" he whispers fiercely across the table. "Looks like Colin is gonna be joining us tonight."

~

I honestly love Michael to death.