The sun came out very brightly the next morning, which was odd as winter was nearing. Mike squinted as the brightness filled the room. He moved slightly, feeling uncomfortable as his body protested to waking up on the hard floor. Feeling a warmth in his side, he turned to see Charlie cuddled up to him. Mike sighed, knowing that he was really starting to fall hard for Charlie.
I can't fall in love with him, Mike thought to himself, it would never work. Then staring at the figure resting next to him, he wasn't sure if he could fight it. "No, I can." Mike told himself. "Love is just a chemical reaction after all. Pheremones and stuff, that's it. Maybe I should back off just a little."
Charlie stirred, opening his eyes and shutting them again quickley when he realised how bright the room was. "Good morning. How are you feeling?"
Mike wanted to stay there, just to sit and hold Charlie for awhile. Though the thoughts running through his mind made him protest. "We have to get to breakfast."
"I don't want to go to breakfast. I can live." Charlie replied, taking Mike's hand and planting kisses on it.
Mike sat up and stretched, looking around the room for his uniform. "Well, I'm starving. Besides, I have gym first and if I don't eat I'll collapse."
"Okay, I guess I'll see you at lunch" Charlie replied as Mike began quickley shoving things in his bag. "I'm really happy for you, with your parents and all."
Mike turned to him, finding it really hard to resist curling up in his arms. "Thanks. I hope things get better with you and your family soon. It will take a bit of getting used to." He changed into his uniform quickley, like his life depended on it. Maybe it wasn't his life, but Mike knew his emotional well being depended on him getting out of that room. He gave Charlie a quick kiss goodbye before running out the door.
Charlie just sat in the middle of the room, slowly gathering his things together. He didn't know why Mike running out the door was hurting him, but he couldn't deny that it was. It seemed that whenever Charlie thought him and Mike were getting closer, possibly to the point where he would blurt out that he loved him, Mike was running off, pushing him away or subtly changing the subject.
"I'm with him though. I should be happy. He wouldn't be with me if he didn't like me." Charlie said to himself. Weighing up everything going through his mind. He just wanted to know Mike's thoughts and feelings. Not all the time, but just on occasions. It was annoying to spend time with him and be on a super natural high, then have it all crash down when Mike seemed that he wanted to get away, and fast.
Charlie sighed and packed his books in his bag, looking at the clock and realising the bell was going to ring in a short time. He looked out the window, seeing the couples walking to breakfast holding hands, even though the school frowned upon it for some reason. He wished him and Mike could be like all the other couples, but he knew all the trouble that would lead to and they would surely put two and two together and figure out that 'unacceptable behaviour' was going on in their dorm room. Picking up his art project from his desk, he pushed everything to the back of his mind, concentrating on getting a good mark for the assignment.
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Mike was walking down the hallway after English. He rolled his eyes at the book they were forced to read. Not only had he read it before but knew everything that the assignment required. He knew he could do the three week assignment in 3 nights tops. It was a relief knowing it was lunch time, he wanted to see Charlie, but at the same time he couldn't help wanting to be left alone.
"Hey, Mike. How's it going." Stopping in his tracks at the voice, Mike saw Louise standing in front of him invading his personal space.
"I'm okay and how are you doing?" Mike asked before walking again, hoping she'd get the hint and leave.
Louise linked her arms through his. "Fine, except that English assignment is going to keep me up for nights on end. Plus I haven't been spending any time with you. I know you're helping Charlie out and that's cool but I was wondering if you wanted to eat lunch with me today?"
Mike shook her arm off, though it didn't seem to sway her. He rolled his eyes at her being so naive and so preppy. "Why should we be spending more time together. We just went to the dance, that's it." He told her bluntly.
She pulled him aside, away from the crowds walking through the hallways into an empty classroom. "Listen, I know the effect I had on you at the dance. There's no point denying it anymore. Besides, I see the way you help out your friends. You act tough, but deep down you're a big softie Mike Teavee."
"Wow, you know me well." Mike mumbled back sarcastically. "Look I'm hungry and I want to get to the gym before lunch ends, so I have to go now."
Louise moved even closer. "I will win you over someday, but for now I will just have lunch with you."
Mike sighed in frustration. "Don't you get that I don't want to have lunch with you?"
"Like you didn't want to go to the dance with me either?" Her lips were brushing his ear as she whispered the words.
Mike, not wanting to push a girl, edged away from her and ran to lunch. He reached his spot at the tree, where Charlie was sitting, before realising he hadn't grabbed anything to eat. Though he didn't want to get up again and run into Louise. He just sat down to catch his breath.
"What's up with you?" Charlie asked him, edging closer so those nearby couldn't see him brushing Mike's knee with his fingertips.
Mike shook his head in disgust. "Louise. I had a run in with her after class. Have barely spoken to her since the dance which was three weeks ago."
"What happened?" Charlie asked, listening intently.
"Let's just say if you thought her little show at the dance was something, that was just the beginning. Basically told me she knew that she had an effect on me. I told her to back off but she didn't get the hint." Mike explained.
Charlie sighed listening to Mike tell him the story. Due to recent events he couldn't help asking the question. "Have you given her any reason to think that way?"
"You know I wouldn't do that to you." Mike seemed offended by the question, though he was smart enough to realise that maybe pushing Charlie away was being very hurtful. "You're the only person that has any effect on me in this school."
Before Charlie could reply, two other students came towards them. Mike recognised them as Mark and James. Two of the biggestrich boy snobsMike had ever seen and with their attitudes, the silver spoon wasn't stuck in their mouth but somewhere else. Thinking that their shadows were threatening, Mark started the conversation. "So, I here you are trying to get with Louise?"
"I'm not trying to get with any preppy at this school. Why do you want some kind of compensation for her time? Money is the only thing you people understand." Mike grabbed half of Charlie's sandwich and took a bite.
James shook his head. "That's the point. Louise is like you. She isn't like us, the ones who truely belong here. We accept her because, let's face it, she's a sight to see."
Mark added, grinning like the cocky guy he was. "Not to mention hot lips. Which I'm assuming you know all about."
"Actually no." Mike stood up. "Listen, the only thing more disgusting than people like you, are people like Louise trying to pretend they're not like you when they are. So why don't you back off and let me have my lunch."
James sneered. "I notice you're friend has nothing to say in your defence."
Charlie stood up, having held in his anger for the whole conversation. Nobody said stuff like that about Mike, especially not about Mike being with someone else. "Listen. Why don't you just admit that you're jealous Mike is getting the girl and you, well frankly I don't think you've ever had anyone look at you twice. Good thing your rich so you can pay someone to look at you once in awhile." His temper became harder to handle as he saw them there, both boys staring in shock. "Now before you come here, picking fights with us again, just remember that we aren't interested in your sluts okay. Now, goodbye."
Mike watched them walk away, a mix of anger and shock on their faces. He turned to Charlie. "I've never wanted you more. I just love seeing you come out of your shell."
"Well, it's all thanks to you. You mean a lot to me and have an effect on me that no-one else could even hope to have." Charlie turned to him and smiled.
"Charlie..." Mike started, then realised he was what he was going to say and stopped himself. He was never one to admit when he was scared, or to stop himself saying what he really felt. Though he just couldn't bring himself to say the words. Not at that moment.
"Don't worry Mike, you don't have to say anything." Charlie said, as though he had figured the answers to all his questions by simply looking in Mike's eyes. "I know."