Unlocking Love

Love Story

It all started when he started disappearing at times.

Sure, he was the best boyfriend ever, buying her flowers and chocolates, cuddling and making her heart sing with happiness.

But lately he had become distant to her, disappearing for long times with his friend Nick and returning home hours later, cheeks flushed and eyes shining. At some points, it even seemed like he was trying to avoid her.

Julie really, truly did like him, but she just couldn't take it anymore. She hated the thought of him being with someone other than her, someone else who got flowers and chocolates, who's heart sang for him.

The next time he prepared to run out again, Julie confronted him.

"Hey, we need to talk."

Michael stopped in the middle of shrugging his jacket on. "Oh, uh, okay. Make it quick though, I gotta meet up with Nick soon."

Julie's hands clenched at the mention of Nick. Nick, who she had trusted, who now was stealing HER boyfriend from her.

"Hey, you alright?" Mike asked, gently wrapping his hands around hers. Julie hadn't even realized that her hands were shaking so violently, her knuckles had turned white.

"I'm fine," she snapped, yanking her hands out of his grasp and curling her fingers in.

Mike recoiled, a look of hurt, confusion, and-was that amusement? Sure enough, his signature smile, the kind of mischevious, troublemaker smile, flashed on his face for a pure millisecond.

God that smile was annoyingly cute.

Shaking the naughty thoughts out of her head, Julie crossed her arms and did her best to scowl at him.

Mike just stared back, leaning casually against the wall. 

They stood there for a moment, just having a silent staring contest.

Finally, Mike sighed and broke the silence. "So what'd you wanna talk about?"

Julie's anger had built up to a boiling point by now, fueled by his cool, laidback manner. How dare he just stand there while Julie fumed?

"Are you gay?"

The question spewed out of her mouth suddenly, surprising even her.

Mike blinked. "What?"

Julie took a deep breath to get her emotions in check. In an even voice, she said, "Are you gay."

Mike cocked his head and this time, he didn't bother trying to hide his amusement. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, for one, you've been hanging out with Nick a LOT lately. And don't give me any of that it's-just-guy-business crap either. I've been talking to Amy, and she says you two go into the same store every single day, and you come out looking like-like-like-"

Julie hesitated, not knowing how to put her thoughts into words.

"Like we had sex?" Mike offered, that endearing smile of his still pasted on his face.

Julie glared at him. "You're not helping, Mike."

He laughed lightly, and his melodious laughter nearly had Julie swooning.

Damn her weak heart.

"My point is, Mike, you've been getting really distant lately. You act like I'm not as important to you anymore, you go out a lot more than usual, and I just feel like you don't love me anymore. You're acting like, like, gah, I don't even know anymore."