Intertwined

Offer

Mike was honestly happy. He really was.

He made a new friend...yes, a new friend.

"I cannot wait to tell Matt" He smiled proudly to himself.
He was standing at his locker, the school day was almost finished and it was gonna end on a high note.

Suddenly, Mike could hear footsteps coming closer, disturbing his silent happy thoughts.

Nate, Dexter, and Rose walked up to Mike's locker. Nate was the first to speak. "Hey"

Mike turned around and his eyes landed on the three. He never knew them that well, but he knew they were popular....and rude, to say the least.

"Uhm...hi?" His tone came out more of a question than a greeting, but who could blame him? They never talked before.

Nate leaned against a nearby locker as he spoke "We've heard a bit about you, and we think you have potential".

Mike's face crunched in confusion"Excuse me, what was that?".

Rose smiled a bit as she spoke. "We think you have potential to be one of us".

"Oh, and who was kind enough to tell you about me?" Mike turned a bit sardonic here. This was ridiculous.

Dexter shrugged and spoke. "Unimportant".

He sighed and closed his locker before leaning on it. "Okay, tell me more".

Nate smiled. "We find you intriguing and think you would fit perfectly with us".

"And what do I get exactly for my trouble?"

"Popularity, fame" A small smirk formed on Nate's face.

Mike's eyes shined a bit "No one bothering me?".

"Yup" Rose answered before Nate could.

His thoughts flooded with fantasies. His dream was finally coming true! "Oh man, I can't wait to tell Matt and Mara!".

"Oh them? you don't need them anymore, you've got us" Nate smirked again.

"Wait what?..." Mike's excitement slightly died down...Matt is his best friend and Mara...he found her interesting. To leave them behind, that's a lot.

He brought up a finger to tap on his chin while thinking. "I guess..but still, I don't know if I can just.."

"Come on, why would you wanna stay around those losers, join us and you'll have everything you ever wanted" The smirk on Nate's face as he talked just grew.

Mike was still a bit reluctant. He always wanted this, but there was Matt and Mara. A thought occurred to him. "Well, I guess....they wouldn't mind since they never wanted to be in the spotlight"

"I accept"

They all high fived each other. Nate turned to Mike as he spoke. "Welcome to the group"

He nodded in response. "So, I'll see you guys tomorrow at lunchtime?"

They all nodded as Rose spoke. "Yup"

"Ok great, I'll get going now. Peace" He was trying to sound cool, unsure if it was working.

They all gave their forms of goodbye.

Mike knew that when he stepped out of the premises, he was the happiest he's been in a long time.

The next day, Matthew walked in the school like normal. He actually slept early for once because he had nothing else to do, so he was feeling fresh and ready to go.
He still looked very unenergetic, though.

As he was walking down the hallway, he expected Mike to show up and call for him...but he didn't.

"Weird. I don't know whether to be grateful or worried" He quipped.

"Wow, and here I was about to greet you" A voice said.

Matt almost jumped out of shock. Who on earth-

"You always have to get a quip out, don't you?" It was Mike. Speak of the devil.

Matt regained his balance and looked at his friend.

"Well, you seem to have picked up on it in the last few years" Matt retorted.

"Pshh, whatever. I just wanted to tell you, tough guy. I'm sitting somewhere else today, so you can call your boyfriend and sit with him" Mike snickered, then left.

"Wait what?" Matthew tried, but the brown-haired boy was already out of sight.

He probably spent a good minute there thinking about this interaction.

"It's like he got high" Matt scoffed and carried on. Sitting alone at lunch is not that bad, and he can always get Evan.

He still needs to figure out what Mike meant though, so when it's lunchtime, it's observation time.