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Charlie pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from her backpack and slammed them down on the desk of Michael’s bedroom.
“Stop whining and just do it!” Charlie demanded, placing her hands on her waist.
“I tell you, Charlie, it’s really not worth it…” Michael argued, downcast, sprawling on his chair.
“Then I’ll write it for you,” she resolved, grabbing the pen and stooping on the desk to start writing.
“Okay, okay, I’ll do it!” Michael perked up and snatched the pen from Charlie’s hand, turning around on his swivel chair. “Geez, how stiff.”
“As if you weren’t head over heels for him,” she scoffed, getting closer to see what Michael was going to write.
For the last few minutes, they had been discussing whether Michael should send a Valentine’s card or not. It was going to be Valentine’s Day tomorrow. Charlie obviously said yea based on all the time Michael had been pining for this boy from their school for the past months, but Michael was too much of a coward to dare taking that step.
But as soon as the tip of the pen brushed the paper, Michael realized his mind was blank. He had never done something remotely as cheesy as this, and he didn’t know how to do it.
“Just tell him how much you love him!” Charlie suggested. “Ask him out!”
“But how do I tell him that?” Michael was beginning to sound desperate.
“Oooh Jeremy, I’ve been in love with you since the moment I first saw you,” Charlie spoke with a mocking, high-pitched tone of voice, overdoing a romantic confession. “Please please please kiss me!”
“Oh fuck off!” Michael cursed, scowling. A faint blush crept up his cheeks because of that. “What if he says no? What if he doesn’t like me?”
“I’ve seen how he looks at you, Mike. There’s no way that’s platonic,” she assured.
With a huff, Michael pressed the tip of the pen against the paper again. It took him a few moments, but he was able to come up with something decent.
wondering if maybe you would like to spend valentine’s together
<:P
“That’s the crappiest love letter I’ve ever seen,” Charlie commented when Michael let her see.
“Good thing it’s not for you,” he retorted. He agreed with her that it wasn’t the best, but the sole idea of sending it was already making his stomach turn. “I think he’ll appreciate me efforts.”
Charlie sighed. “Can you at least put it in a nice envelope?”
“That’s a bit over the top…” he doubted.
“It’s to show him you really care!”
“But I don’t wanna look intense!”
“Don't you wanna toss it at his face, for that matter?” Charlie asked.
Michael huffed again and just folded the paper twice, not before signing it with his name.
“I'll just slip it in his locker tomorrow,” he resolved.
Charlie shrugged and sat down on the bed.
“I guess it's better than nothing.” But then she saw the helplessness in Michael's eyes and felt a bolt of pity. “I'm sure he likes you back. Maybe he thinks you don't like him.”
Michael nodded in partial agreement when William entered the room without knocking.
“Your father's here, Charlotte,” he announced.
Charlie sighed and stood up, grabbing her stuff and saying goodbye to Michael.
On the other hand, William was scrutinizing both teenagers and the whole room too. He was looking for anything that could mean something was going on between them. Of course there wasn't, but he was trying really hard to show how united the two families were: the Aftons and the Emilys. A relationship and a possible marriage between the children of William and Henry would be great for the image of their company, however, Michael and Charlie had never seen each other as anything but best friends. In fact, for Michael, being gay was a splendid way to argue with his father.
William glared silently at his son, but the former held his gaze, like challenging him to find something he could nag him for. But there was nothing, so he retreated without saying a word.
Finally alone, Michael laid down on his bed and pressed the letter against his chest, sighing. He just hoped he wouldn’t make a proper fool out of himself tomorrow.
Michael Afton couldn’t help but gag at all the awfully corny affection that all the couples at school were sporting. He despised cheesiness and yet here he was, in love and about to deliver a love letter.
He tried his best to walk casually as he approached Jeremy’s locker. With a swift maneuver of his hand, he slipped the letter into the locker while Charlie was rooting for him from a corner. The mission would’ve been a success if it hadn’t been because the letter’s subject arrived at the world’s worst timing.
As soon as Michael’s eyes caught a glimpse of the blond, he yanked the piece of paper out of the slit and hid it behind his back, looking as if he had just seen the most horrifying ghost, but it was too late already.
“Jeremy!” Michael cried out, trying to play it off, but actually he just looked guiltier.
“Hey Mike. What were you doing?” Jeremy snickered, tilting his head to try and see what Michael was hiding.
“Nothing!” he denied it, turning his head to look at Charlie, who seemed to be on the brink of a heart attack. “I was just walking by…” but then Jeremy pounced on him, reaching out to snatch the letter from Michael.
“Wait, no-!” he protested, but to no avail. With a winning smirk, Jeremy unfolded the paper and read it.
His smile fizzled out quickly, the realization hitting him in the face. He looked up at his friend, baffled.
“This is for me?” he asked, hesitant.
“No…” Michael denied it, elongating the ‘o’.
“Then why were you putting it in my locker?”
“Fine, yeah, it is for you…” he confessed, staring downwards.
It took him a few seconds, but Jeremy finally reacted by chuckling as he re-read the letter.
“Michael Afton sending love letters? You never struck me as the type,” he teased.
“Reckoned you’d fancy it…” he murmured, still deeply ashamed, but a speck of hope began brewing in his chest.
Seeing how embarrassed he was, Jeremy decided to wrap his arm around Michael’s so they could walk together.
“I loved it. I think it’s very you,” he smiled. “So where do you wanna go?”
“Hold on- is that a yes?” he asked, incredulous. “I didn't even think what to do next. I thought you wouldn't accept…”
Jeremy let out a cackle. “And there I was thinking I was being too obvious. You really don't take hints, man.”
And Michael rubbed the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly. With a quick glance, he saw Charlie cheering on him from afar.