((Vote pls :) thank you for reading))
Michael was still mad at Jade. She had ignored him for a week, then she had once again blown up at him on Friday, then she was a no show at school for three days. And then she texted him in the middle of the damn night. He had been writing a song for the band and it was kind of working a little bit. He was messing around with the chords and trying out different melodies. He even had some words down.
Even when the sky is falling down
Even when the earth is crumbling 'round my feet
We just gotta get out
He was iffy about it, but that's how songs were written. That was, until his phone lit up with the text. He hadn't known it was her number because only she knew his, but the message itself made it clear who it was. And of course, Michael had to be an idiot and screw it up. But from the way she replied, it didn't seem like she cared.
Now he was sitting outside, wondering what reason he could possibly give Jade to get her to trust him. And why did she want one? Just on Friday, she had told him that she wanted nothing to do with him, that she was afraid. So what changed? But whatever it was, it was bad. Because she looked tired as fuck. It was dark and that made it hard to see, but it was obvious that she was exhausted. There was absolutely no color in her cheeks. Her face was completely lifeless. The bags under her eyes were so prominent even in the darkness that Michael was sure she hadn't slept in days. Her cheekbones were sharper than usual, making her look skinnier than she really was. Everything about her appearance screamed that she was sick. Sick and fucking tired beyond belief.
"What kind of reason?" Michael asked because he really wasn't sure what brought this change in her.
"What do you think?" Jade said, looking down at her lap. "What do you think I need when you look at me right now?"
That was easy. "I think you need a friend," Michael told her truthfully. "You look like you've been through hell and back and it's drained the life out of you. I don't know what happened and obviously you still aren't ready to tell me, but I'm here, Little Mermaid."
It was in that moment that Michael decided to screw the dare. Jade very clearly had some weird shit going on in her life and Michael genuinely wanted to help her. He didn't care that she was rude to him more often than not. He was going to crack her tough exterior. He was going to take this girl to prom with him because he actually liked her. Michael didn't care if he was being ridiculous. They had only known each other for almost three weeks, but Michael liked her. She didn't take any shit from anyone and he loved that. He never had to work this hard to get a girl and this time he actually wanted her.
"Do you know what, Little Mermaid," Michael said. He knew what he was going to tell her. And she would listen. Even if it meant probably going home with a black eye or two. "I hate you. I really fucking hate you. This past week and a half all I've been able to think about was you. I've been losing sleep over you. How the fuck does that make any sense? You think I'm out to get you. You think I'm doing this to get in your pants so I can brag to my friends. Well, I'm not. I don't care what the fuck you have to say about it, but I like you." He put one hand on the side of her face and turned her head so he could look at her, but it was pointless. Her eyes were cast down. "I want to be your friend," Michael said. "I want to help you, but you're not letting me. Please, give me a chance."
Jade looked up and the corner of her mouth twitched. "That's still not a reason."
Right. Reason. Trust. What was he supposed to say? He could tell her about the dare and get killed, but hopefully get some trust. It seemed like a semi-good idea. But he brushed it off as he remembered something that would always be a part of him. He pulled up the left sleeve of his shirt past his elbow and held his arm out in front of Jade. She looked from his arm to his eyes then back to his arm, a silent question in her own green eyes.
Michael traced the three inch long scar just below his elbow, keeping his eyes on Jade. He wasn't sure if she could see it, so he took her hand and traced her finger over the disfiguration. "My dad gave me this when I was seven," he spoke quietly, intently watching Jade's reaction. Her knitted eyebrows raised a little and her lips formed a silent O. "I can't even remember what he did."
This was really the first time Michael was talking about this with someone. Calum and Luke knew that his father was a dick, but they didn't know the extent of it. He didn't like discussing it with anyone. But he wanted Jade to trust him, and this was the best way he could think of.
"What happened?" Jade asked and then immediately bit her lip.
"Do you trust me?" Michael smiled grimly at her.
The corner of her lips lifted up a little in a sad smile. "Not completely."
"I'll take it," Michael said. It was better than a straight up no.
"You don't have to tell me," Jade said slowly. She pulled her hand away from his arm and clasped both of hers. "I know I've been a bitch to you, but it's easier that way. I don't expect you to be any nicer or any different."
Michael took her right hand and held it in both of his. This time she didn't try to resist. "I'm still me, Little Mermaid," Michael said. "I'm not going to change."
"I still don't like people touching me," Jade said, but still didn't pull her hand away.
"And I still like holding your hand."
"Why?"
"What's this?" Michael asked, twisting the heart ring on her middle finger.
"A ring?" Jade said skeptically.
"I know it's a ring," Michael chuckled. "What's it mean?"
Jade pulled her hand away and twisted the ring off her finger, gazing at it like it held the answer to all her questions. She turned it upside down and traced the underside of the heart with her index finger, handing it to Michael. He took it from her and there was a single word engraved in it: Christian. Michael was confused. "It's my dad's name," Jade spoke after a few seconds. She sounded like she was choking on a sob, but knowing Jade, she wouldn't cry. She never did. "Mom used to wear it, but she doesn't anymore. It's mine now." Her voice shook horribly. She took the ring from him and slid it back on.
Michael looked at her again and was beyond astonished to see her wiping away a single tear. It broke Michael's heart. His Jade wasn't supposed to be broken. But she had been through a lot of shit that would've completely shattered Michael. It made sense for her to be broken. As long as someone was there to pick up the pieces. "It's okay to cry," he said softly.
"No, it's not," Jade shook her head. She put her head between her knees. "It's not okay."
"It is," Michael argued. "It's human to cry. There's a reason we have tears. When shit gets too much, it's makes sense to cry."
"That's stupid," Jade said and this time her voice wasn't the only thing shaking. Her shoulders shook just a little bit. "That's like saying that just because penguins have wings, they're meant to fly."
Michael smiled just a little, but it hurt to see her like that. He turned so he was facing her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders to pull her into his chest. "But penguins have flippers, Little Mermaid."
"Shut up," she said weekly, her getting muffled.
"If you want to cry, it's okay."
Jade pulled back a little and lifted her head. "I don't deserve you to be nice to me," she said. Her eyes were bloodshot, like she was holding back a storm.
Something tugged at Michael's heart. "You deserve a lot of things." He put his hands on either side of her face. "Please, let me be your friend."
This time it was Jade who leaned into Michael's chest. "I'm too fucked up to be someone's friend," she mumbled.
Michael disagreed. He was the one with an alcoholic and abusive father. Jade just had dead parents. That didn't mean she was fucked up. "Go out with me," Michael said suddenly. He didn't know where the words came from.
Jade stiffened. She recoiled from him as if he had slapped her. "Excuse me?"
Michael had to think fast. He had just landed himself in deep shit and he had to get out. "I think I've earned enough trust points to take you out somewhere. Wouldn't you say?"
"I don't do that," she said.
Michael rolled his eyes. "Jesus Christ, Little Mermaid, do you do anything?"
"Michael-"
He cut her off. "No, no, no. We're making progress here. We're not going to backtrack. I'm Gordon and you're Little Mermaid. We're sticking to that."
"Fine, Gordon," she said. "I need time."
Michael shook his head. Any amount of time was too much when the girl he liked had tears in her eyes. "Come meet my friends, watch me play, go to the zoo with me, anything." Michael sounded so desperate and he didn't give a shit.
"What do you play?" she asked.
"Guitar. I actually have a band with Luke and Calum," he said, feeling more than a little proud. "If we found a drummer we could make it big time."
"What would you say if I told you I could hook you up with a kickass drummer?"
"I would say that I could kiss you if you hooked us up with a kickass drummer."
"Then I don't know a kickass drummer," Jade said and turned her head away.
"Oh, c'mon, Little Mermaid," Michael whined. "I was joking."
"No, I'm serious," she said, looking at him again. "I don't like those jokes. They make me uncomfortable. Why don't you get that?" She sounded angry.
"I'm sorry," Michael said. "I'll stop if you come with me. And hook us up with this kickass drummer."
"I'll come," Jade said after a minute. "Then I'll think about the drummer."
Michael knew that night that something had changed. He knew Jade still didn't fully trust him and he didn't know her well enough to know why, but he knew that they had made progress. He was falling hard for this girl and he didn't want to stop.
-
Can they fuck already like Jesus Christ cmon
This is when 5sos was conceived and it shall be born soon. Jade and Michael are like it's parents and I'll shut up I have no idea what I'm saying next week will be a double update¡!!¡!
Dedicated to luciferhemmo bc damN she's a good writer I love her
Also I need more and new music to listen to so tell me your favorite songs or bands pls and I'll check them out ok bye