Between the Lines

Part 4

Michael's POV

Steinbeck library. Steinbeck library. Hmm...okay here it is. Second buildiiiiiiing....there is. Okay now second floor. Great. No elevator. Alright so was the room number 1547 or 1457? Shit I should've written it down.

As I was about to knock on a door, Luke steps out of the one next to it.

"Hi there Lip Ring." I say with a smirk, trying to play off my almost fail.

"Hi Michael. I thought you might be lost so I came to find you..." his voice trails off, looking severely uninterested.

He stands in front the doorway, appearing much more assholey than I thought he could. He seemed different than in class. His black blink-182 tshirt seemed to hang from his broad shoulders, unable to grasp on to any other part of his torso, and ripped black jeans accentuating his long, thin legs.

He looks kinda hot...also kinda skinny.

"So uh, are you gonna let me in or? I asked, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

"Oh yea, right. Come in, I guess." He says absentmindedly shrugging and walking into the room.

Inside was a typical dorm. Orderly. A few posters plastered on the walls; Green Day, Nirvana, Simple Plan.

Lip Ring's got good music taste.

"You like Green Day?" I ask, in attempt of making this situation less awkward.

"Yea. I love 'em. But Nirvana, Nirvana's my favorite." Says Luke, eyes glinting.

"They're really great. I'm a bit more of a Metallica fan myself though." I say as I point to my muscle tee.

"Yea they're pretty cool. So uh. Umm do you, uh, wanna sit or something?" stutters Luke.

I nod and take a seat on the floor, leaning against the bed with my legs crossed. Luke takes a seat next to me, bringing his knees up to his chin.

We sat there in silence for a good 5 minutes until I opened my mouth to speak when he cut me off.

"Listen Michael, I know you're trying to be nice to me and that you don't really wanna be here. So let's just cut to the chase and do the work so we can get it over with. I'm sorry you had to be forced to work with me." Luke blurts out, his voice diminishing with each sentence. His insecurities flaring as he hides himself behind his sudden interest in the rips of his jeans.

"Listen Lip Ring, that's not true okay?? That's not the kind of guy I am. You seem pretty cool alright? I don't know why we got paired together but I'm not sorry. Reid must've had a good reason to do so and I'd like to figure it out. Before we get to the stupid goddamned assignment, we should get to know each other. I haven't really seen you talk to anyone in class. So talk to me. What do you think?" I say trying to get him to look me in the eyes and failing miserably.

"I don't need a pity friend, Michael." He spat in a hush.

"But it's not pity. It's interest. You intrigue me. I'd like to get to know you, if you'd allow me to." I say, continuing to search for his eyes.

"Why? I'm just awkward." He mumbles.

"Don't say that. Nobody's just anything. Tell me about yourself Luke." I say almost desperately, him glancing up at me in slight surprise at the sound of his name.

Nothing.

"Fine then. I guess I'll go first then. Listen up Lip Ring." I state.