Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Ethan's POV

After first hour I was happily heading to the Biology class to see Michael. He has Biology for second hour.

As I turned the left corridor, I saw Gabriel standing in front of a classroom. I prayed she won't see me. But soon she spotted me and smiled at me. I smiled back and she came walking towards me.

" Hey..", she said.

" Hi..", I responded.

" Ahm..Ethan, aren't you going to the ball today ?", She asked.

" No. Are you going ?", I asked.

" Uhm..no. Why aren't you going ?", she asked.

" Don't feel like going. And I've some works to do.", I replied.

" Oh...what works ?", She asked.

" Works from the days I was absent.".

" Oh..I see. Do you want me to help you in copying notes or anything?", She offered.

" No thanks.", I chuckled." Okay then. Catch you later." I said and her face went totally pale. But I ignored it and briskly walked away. I guess she was hoping me to ask her for the ball at least today.

I rushed to the Biology class but Miss Taylor had already stepped into the class before I arrived. I looked through the window and saw Michael sitting in the third row. There was an empty chair beside him. I thought for a moment about stepping into the class and occupying that chair. But people will wonder why I'm in the class and probably tell Miss Taylor. Or What if she takes attendance ? So I gave up the idea.

Michael then tilted his head and spotted me at the window. His eyes instantly went wide. I grinned at him and he gulped before mouthing something at me which I guess probably was ' Go away'.

I chuckled and winked at him. He looked away biting down on his lips. He is really cute when he is nervous. Soon he again looked back and rolled his eyes at me. I then quickly blow him a flying kiss. He of course didn't catch it. His face turned really nervous and he looked around to see whether someone saw it. I didn't want to make him more tensed. So I quickly waved at him and turned around walking away.

I went to my hour, English and slept in the back. The next hour also, I slept very peacefully. As I walked to the canteen for lunch, I wondered whether Michael actually sat and listened to the class after staying awake yesterday whole night.

Maybe we can cuddle and sleep peacefully today after class. I need to somehow make him agree to sleep at my dorm tonight. And is there any way I can get him as my roommate. Will Gavin agree to exchange rooms with Michael ? And will Michael agree to shift to my dorm ?

Michael sure likes me hugging and kissing him. But something is pulling him back from being himself and opening his heart to me. He is so afraid of people knowing about our relationship. But I need to make him come out to public soon. How do I take away the fear from his mind ?

I reach the canteen and Gavin and Grace are already there at our usual table. But Michael isn't there. I walk to them and sit down.

" Why hasn't he arrived yet ?", I asked them impatiently.

" Someone is already missing his new boyfriend ? ", Grace teased.

" Be patient Ethan. He will come.", Gavin smirked, accompanying her in teasing me.

" Don't say the words 'boyfriend ' ' dating' and all in front of Michael. I don't want him to end this thing which we currently have.", I said.

Gavin sighed. " What a pathetic condition is yours, Ethan ?"

" I think my condition is really good right now. I'm happy.", I said.

" Hmm...let's hope he will soon gain the confidence to come out.", Grace said.

" I hope so. And oh ! how's things going between Milan and Dulce ?", I asked. Milan isn't sitting with us for lunch since I came back from home. When I asked Gavin the reason, he said Milan started dating Dulce Johnson, the most introverted girl in our grade and now he is sitting with her for lunch. She brings lunch from home and they have it, sitting under a tree in the back of school.

" I caught them kissing in the Janitors closet today.", Gavin replied surprising me.

" Woah ! Really ?", Grace asked in surprise. He nodded to her.

" Great ! ", I said and again turned my gaze to the canteen's entrance. And right then Michael stepped inside as if by magic. But he looked so tired and sleepy. He walked slowly towards us and slumped down on the chair beside me, rubbing his eyes and yawning cutely.

" Aww sleepy ?", Grace laughed at his cuteness.

" I wanna sleep. ", he ruffled his hair in irritation. Sleep is literally waiting to engulf him.

“ Didn’t I tell you we can take leave ? Now look at you.”, I said.

“ I'm taking leave after noon.”, he said.

“ Oh..me too. I'm also really sleepy.”, I yawned. Gavin looked at me and chuckled.

“ Yeah..you guys better take leave. You both look sleep deprived.”, Grace said.

“ Between guys, we are going to the ball tonight.”, Gavin said.

" Oh ? You together as a couple?", I asked.

" Hmm..yeah.", Gavin nodded. I couldn't help but frown.

I then averted my gaze to Grace. " You said you aren't interested and all."

" Uhm..yeah..but poor Gavy didn't get any girl to go with him to the ball. He literally begged me to go with him and I finally decided to go.", She shrugged. I averted my gaze back to Gavin and he just briefly nodded at me.

Isn't he the one who told me he has a crush on Gabriel?

" Oh..let's go get lunch. C'mon Gavin. ", Grace said and stood up from her chair.

" You guys sit here. We will get lunch.", Gavin said as I was about to stand up. I nodded at them and they together walked towards the counter.

Michael was now dozing on his chair with his head hanging down. I threw a hand around his shoulder, afraid he would fall down. Strangely he didn't protest. Probably he was too sleepy to react. I had to do a great job at controlling myself from smiling at him like an idiot in front of all those people in the canteen.

Gavin and Grace soon brought our lunch and I shook Michael awake. He sleepily ate his lunch and it was adorable. After we finished lunch, Michael and I headed to my dorm. It wasn’t very easy to make him agree to sleep in my dorm. But since he was really sleepy, he couldn’t make himself to protest much.

I was very watchful of him while we walked. He was drowsy and I was worried he would stumble down somewhere. Anyway he didn't. And when we reached the stairs to the dorm, he let me hold his hands. As soon as we reached inside my room, he fell back on my bed and dozed off. I went to use the bathroom and when I came back, he was fast asleep.

I slowly crawled over the bed and lied down beside him, slowly placing my arms over his body. He let out a soft groan and then turned hugging me in sleep, squirming with his head on the crook of my neck to find a comfortable position for it, tickling me with his hair in the process. He did it yesterday also. He told me not to hug him but when he fell asleep, he turned and hugged me tightly.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and gently patted on his back. " Ethan...", He breathed against his neck after sometime. I hummed thinking he is awake. But he again called my name and I realized he was uttering my name in sleep. I couldn't help but smile at him again.

" Don't date G..Gabriel. She is a bitch.", he whispered against my neck.

I was amused. " Bitch ? Why you think she is a bitch ?", I asked.

" She... She purposefully f..fell down. I only....gently pushed her."

I couldn't control my laughter. He is such a cute baby.

But soon he was whimpering and squirming against my chest saying something incomprehensible. I instantly stopped laughing. I think he is accusing me a ' Meanie' for embarrassing him in front of people at the amusement park and threatening him yesterday. I hugged him tightly and patted on his back. Finally he stopped muttering and groaning and his body came to a rest. I planted a kiss on his head and continued gently tapping on his back.

Seems like he still hasn't believed what happened yesterday. He is still worried I'll date Gabriel. And still he can't make up his mind to really date me.