Chapter 70: Chapter 70

Ethan's POV

" What the fuck did you do, Ethan ? Why did you let him hug you ? And why were you caressing his face and all ? That too in front of Gabriel ?", Gavin asked me as we moved a little away from the Tornado.

" He got really scared when the cart entered the tunnel. He might have panicked if I didn't hug him. And Gavin, I can't control myself when he smiles.", I said brushing my hair backward, thinking about Michael's dimples. "Gavin, I don't think I can continue like this anymore. It's okay if he don't confess to me. I just want to be close to him. And I think he is okay with that now."

Gavin sighed." I thought you were starting to like Gabriel.."

" What ?", I asked surprised.

" You seemed so happy when you were sitting with her yesterday at the auditorium. You both were laughing hard and talking endlessly. You like her, right ?", he asked.

" What ? No ! Weren't you the one who told me to act close with Gabriel when Michael Comes to the auditorium ?", I asked.

" But I didn't think you will go to the extend of flirting with her. You were playing with her hair and all. It didn't seem to me like a mere acting.", he said.

" C'mon..I don't like her. I agree she is fun to talk with but I don't have such feelings for her.", I said.

" Are you sure ?", Gavin asked.

" Yeah..", I said sternly.

" Then no need to get that much close with Gabriel. I don't want you to break her heart after giving her hope.", he said. " And about Nate, he is playing so hard. He definitely likes you but I don't think he'll accept his feelings publicly or confess to you anytime soon, especially if you start acting so sweet and nice. At the end you'll just hurt yourself and Gabriel."

" So what should I do ? You guys are the ones who pulled me into this, right ?", I asked frustrated.

" I don't fucking know. First of all you don't have a bit control over yourself. You just can't act tough to him. You just need a simple smile from him to go all soft on him. And that boy is a fucking coward. When he gets jealous, he just runs away instead of doing something to break you and Gabriel apart. Same with other girls too. I think he'll just keep on running and never confess his feelings to you. Ethan, I'm freaking tired. You didn't get anyone else to feel a crush on ?", he asked.

I felt angry hearing Gavin's speech. He has such a low esteem for Michael from the beginning itself. But then why he is helping me to get Michael to confess to me ? I can't seriously understand Gavin.

" Why do you have to feel tired ? Okay, you don't need to interfere in my and Michael's matter anymore.", I told him.

Gavin left a sigh. " C'mon Ethan, I just meant you should act a bit more tough towards him if you want him to come desperately behind you."

" Hey Guys.."

I turned to see Gabriel and her friends. Grace and Michael were coming behind them.

" Why are you guys simply standing here and talking ? Let go ride some other rides.", Gabriel's friend Tessa said.

" Yeah..let's go.", Gavin smiled to them.

And then we went to the horse carousal ride as the girls suggested to go for a Mild ride before we do an adventures ride again. Gavin also agreed. I didn't have any objection. I just wanted the day to somehow end. I was feeling so angry, annoyed and frustrated.

I kept distance from both Gabriel and Michael as we walked to the ride. During the ride, I found Gabriel occasionally glancing at me. Michael was on the horse just opposite to mine and he sat there cutely on it's back with his chin on the horse's head, his lips spread into an innocent smile revealing his dimples and his arms clutching the horses neck, tightly. He was happy. He was giggling and waving at Grace and Gavin who were on the horses on his front and back. But his smile slowly faded when he waved at me and I instead of waving back, turned my face away.

After that ride ended, I spotted Aaron and Liam from my football team, walking towards the flying chair along with a few other guys and girls. I quickly went and accompanied their gang without telling Gavin or Grace. Thankfully they welcomed me warmly into their team.

My phone was ringing continuously as I was in the flying chair ride. There were a lot of messages on my WhatsApp from Gavin, Grace and Gabriel as I got out of the ride. I just texted Gavin that I am with my football friends and placed the phone back in my pocket. I met them again only at the Ferris wheel. I would have avoided them the whole day if Mr Garvey hadn't asked us to wait at the Ferris wheel at 1 pm.

" Ethan, why did you suddenly disappear with your football friends without telling us ?", Gabriel asked me.

" I had told Gavin.", I said blankly whilst eying Gavin who was standing with a crossed arm and pissed look on his face.

" You told him only after he texted you, right ?", Grace asked. Michael was standing beside her, looking at me with sad puppy eyes.

" I felt like going with my football friends. That's all.", I said irritably.

" Ethan, What's wrong ?", Gabriel asked. " Did you have a fight with Gavin ?"

" No. My friends just asked me to join them. Can't I just enjoy a few rides with them ?", I asked.

" So will you be going with them afternoon also ?", Grace asked.

" No..", I said, but my annoyance reflected in my voice.

" You can go with them if you want.", Gavin said. I let out a long frustrated sigh while Grace rolled her eyes at Gavin.

I kept my gaze on my plate and didn't speak anything as we had lunch. But I could feel both Michael's and Gabriel's gaze on me. The both of them together were making me crazy. After lunch we went to a few rides and the whole time I ignored both of them.

At last we were walking towards the water rides. Gabriel suddenly came walking beside me and grabbed my hands. I tilted my face and looked at her. She smiled uneasily at my cold stare but didn't leave my hands. I too didn't yank my hand away as I noticed Michael looking at our intertwined fingers.

Gabriel kept on holding my hands until we reached in front of the long flume ride. We couldn't get into the flume ride that started just after we reached there, as it had only three seats left which were also quickly occupied by other people. So we had to wait for that round to end.

Gabriel was again standing beside me talking about the rides they went morning. I just nodded to her, although I was feeling annoyed. Suddenly someone tapped on my back and I turned to see Michael standing in front of me holding two Ice cream cones in his hands. He smiled stretching them towards us.

" Oh..thanks.", Gabriel smiled and took one cone.

" I don't want.", I said cold. His smile instantly faded away.

" It's nice.", he said again stretching it to me.

" I said I don't want it ! ", I said through gritted teeth. He was horrified and his expression was a mix of nervousness and sadness. His baby blue eyes started to pool almost instantly and he turned around speedily walking away. I felt a strong pang in my heart. Why can't he just tell me he likes me ?

" I think you are in a really bad mood. What happened?", Gabriel asked. I didn't reply and just stared into the water in the pool. She didn't talk further and dedicated her attention to having her Ice-cream.

So, Michael is trying hard to get my attention. Maybe if I continue like this for some more time, things might work.

When it was time for our ride, Michael suddenly came rushing. He tried to enter the cart behind me but Gabriel already stepped in behind me and was about to sat down beside me.

What Michael did then, really surprised me. He just gave Gabriel a push and she lost her balance and stumbled down onto the floor of the cart. Michael was taken aback at his own action. He looked with huge guilty eyes at Gabriel who was groaning, lying on the floor.

" What did you do !?", I snarled at Michael, jumping up from my seat.

" I- I'm..s..sorry.", he gulped and stammered in fear.

I stretched my hands to Gabriel and helped her stand up. All the people inside the cart were looking at her and she was flushed with embarrassment and shock.

" Why did you push me ?", She asked Michael.

" I didn't d..do it on purpose.", He lied.

" You did it on purpose. Why did you do it ?", I asked him making my expression furious. In reality I was impressed by his act. He is starting to respond to us instead of running away.

My cold tone scared him more. His lips trembled. " No..I.."

" Yes he purposefully pushed the girl. I saw it ! ", one of the elderly men who was inside the cart said. Michael's face turned really nervous.

" Do you think pushing down girls is funny ?", One women who was sitting on the seat opposite us asked.

Shit ! Why these people have to interfere in our matter ?

Michael was getting more and more scared at the cold stares he was receiving from the people around. His eyes were again starting to pool.

" We are all friends. There is no problem here.", Grace said, coming towards us. She grabbed Michael's hands and motioned him to sit on the seat behind us. He quickly sat down and Grace sat down beside him.

I felt extremely miserable during the whole ride. I once turned back and saw him sitting with his gaze on his feet. His eyes were red as he stepped out of the cart. He once again apologized Gabriel and she said it was okay. But I knew she wasn't convinced, he accidentally pushed her, as she looked disturbed with thoughts.

Michael never looked at me or came near me again. My heart constantly ached seeing his miserable looks the rest of the day.

It was almost 7 PM when we returned from the Amusement park. I sat with Aaron and Liam at the back of the bus. Michael was along with Gavin on a seat, three seats in front of us. Gabriel and Grace were in the front. I had noticed there was some kind of tension between Gavin and Grace during after noon. Gavin was sitting with Gabriel's two friends during rides and Grace was always with Michael. Maybe something happened between them, morning.

So I guess, today was actually a terrible day for all of us.

I was feeling like crazy as I sat at the back watching guys jump and dance to the heavy music that was blaring out of the speakers. After an hour, the jumping and dancing finally died down and everyone fell tired in their seats. Gavin then turned around on his seat and motioned me to come to him. I stood up and went there not knowing why he was calling. What if Michael wants to talk to me ? What if he is finally going to...

But when I reached them, I was just greeted with the sight of Michael sleeping peacefully on Gavin's shoulders. His hair was fluttering in the wind blowing through the window.

" Wanna sit here ?", Gavin asked and already stood up whilst holding Michael's head, so that he won't wake up. I quickly slid into the seat and leaned his head against my shoulders. Gavin grinned at me before he walked towards the back.

Michael's hair still smelled like fresh vanilla even after the long day. His breathe tickled against my neck and I couldn't help but smile. I quickly gave him a kiss on the head without anyone noticing.

I sat like that for the next half an hour, staring at him and occassionally kissing his hair. I felt so sad for hurting him. I made him cry. If he once said, he liked me, I would have done everything I could possibly do to make him smile.

We reached in front of our hostel gate too soon, even before I could look at him properly. I didn't want to get up. But I had to get up before he wake up. So I slowly got up after leaning his head against the window. Gavin came to me as I stood up.

" You go. I'll wake him up.", he muttered. I nodded to him briefly and walked down the aisle of the bus.

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