Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Ethan's POV

After lying for like ten minutes with his face buried into my pillow, Michael finally turned around on his back. His cheeks still had a pink glow and he was still not looking at me.

" Are you shy ?", I asked smiling.

He turned his face to the other side and muttered something.

" Uhm..? What did you say ?", I asked. He suddenly flinched and shot up from the bed as someone knocked on our door.

" C'mon..Ethan, open the door.", Gavin's voice was heard from outside the door followed by a another knock and Michael left a sigh. He thought it was Warden. He was really afraid Mr Garvey would come and catch us here during school time.

" Coming ! ", I shouted and crawled out of the bed. I looked at the clock as I walked to the door and found the time was 5 : 40 PM.

Oh ! It's this late ? Then where was Gavin until now ?

I opened the door and Gavin walked in. He had a plastic bag hanging from his hands and his school bag slung on his shoulders.

" Where did you go after class ?", I asked him.

" Grace had asked her Dad to send her a dress for the ball. We were waiting for it and then when she got it, she found the dress I'm going to wear is not matching with hers. Then at last we went to buy a new Tuxedo for me. Here...", he raised the plastic bag in his hands.

" I see. What colour ?", I asked.

" White. Her frock is light blue.", He replied.

I wanted to ask him why he finally decided to go to the ball with Grace. I turned around to see whether Michael is still sitting on the bed and found he is not. He is now standing in the balcony, looking at the opposite row of dorms. Probably he didn't want Gavin to see his flushed face.

" Gavin, I want to ask you some important thing.", I said lowly, turning back to Gavin.

" I know what it is.", he chuckled.

" Let's go out and talk ?", I asked. I didn't want Michael to hear our conversation. Cause I don't want him to learn Gavin has a crush on Gabriel.

" Yeah..sure." Gavin nodded.

" Michael, we are outside in the corridor, okay ?", I called out to Michael.

" Oh..okay.", he responded turning around. I nodded to him and then walked out of the room with Gavin.

" Yes..so why did you ask Grace to the ball ?", I asked Gavin after we stepped into the corridor.

" I felt like asking her. And I thought she actually wanted me to ask her.", He replied.

" So what about your crush on Gabriel? Why didn't you ask her ? Or you just lied to me you have a crush on her ?", I asked.

" No..ahm..Ethan, I actually like both of them. I like Grace's character and I like Gabriel’s looks.", he said shifting his weight of his legs.

" woah ! ", I shook my head. " So whom do you like more ?"

He ruffled his hair before replying. " Of course Grace. But something attracts me to Gabriel."

" Cause you are going behind looks.", I said.

" I agree.", he nodded. " Her green eyes are so gorgeous and she is hot. But Grace is just a plane, kinda messy girl who doesn't really care about dressing or makeup or anything. I like her carefree attitude though.", He chuckled. " But on that party night, she totally looked Gorgeous. Maybe she would look really beautiful tonight. That's also why I asked her out."

" You need to make up your mind. ", I sighed. " And Gavin, Grace really likes you."

" But why doesn't she tell me ? Why does she act like she only see me as a friend. I'm afraid she would reject me if I confess to her.", He voiced his worry.

" C'mon..she won't. She totally has a crush on you. ", I assured. " She is just waiting for you to confess first."

" I need more time.", he said.

" Yeah..take your time. But don't be too late to take a decision. Anyway you are safe since nobody is behind Grace. Thanks to her police Dad. And people think you guys are already dating. Last day I heard someone referring to Grace as your girlfriend."

" Really ?", he chuckled.

" Yeah..", I nodded to him.

" And there's rumours since a long time that you and Nate are secretly dating. It died down a bit during the last few weeks. But last day in the tour bus, Aaron and Liam asked me what's going on between you two. ", He said. I wasn't very surprised.

" I know.", I replied nonchalantly. But I'm really worried if someone goes and directly asks Michael. That would be enough for him to break up with me.

"Oh..! Let me go get ready now. Ball will start by 7.", Gavin said and walked inside. I stepped in behind him and saw Michael still standing in the balcony. I walked to him as Gavin went to the bathroom to take a shower.

" What are you looking at ?", I asked Michael after following his gaze and seeing he is just staring at a far away spot.

" I'm hungry.", he said.

" Oh..my boy is hungry ? Then shall we order Pizza and a cold Milkshake ? ", I asked.

" I want chocolate I- Ice-cream.", he said without taking his gaze from the spot.

" Oh ? Chocolate Ice-cream ? Canteen probably will be closed. Shall we go to a nearby cafe then ?", I asked.

" Yeah..", he nodded surprising me.

" Okay then C'mon. Let's go quickly and come back before Gavin leaves for ball.", I said.

" Uhm..okay. Is my hair really messy ? D..do I need to comb ?", He asked touching on his hair.

" No..", I smiled and ruffled his hair making it more messy before quickly combing it with my fingers. " Now you look cute.", I said and he smiled, causing his dimples to appear. I was a bit surprised at his change of mood. Cause he agreed to go with me to the cafe and all. What happened to him ?

He then walked inside and took his shoes from under my bed before sitting down to wear it. I quickly crouched down in front of him, proceeding to help him with it.

" I can d..do it myself.", he said.

" But I want to do it for you.", I said and smiled, tying one of his shoe lace. He looked away and played with the sleeves of his shirt.

"Ahm...let's go.", he said and stood up once I bend up. He then walked enthusiastically out of the room without waiting for me. I quickly wore my shoes and rushed out behind him after yelling to Gavin that we will come back in half an hour.

Michael was already skipping down the stairs. " Hey wait ! ", I called, speedily running down the steps to catch up with him.

" Slow down Ethan.", he said and stopped on the steps, looking up at me.

When I reached him, I stretched my hands to him and he took it without reluctance. We walked down the steps hand in hand and when we reached down, he pulled his hands away from me.

" Hey Michael, what about we become roommates again ?", I asked him as we passed the hostel office.

" No ! ", he immediately shook his head.

" Why ?", I asked.

"What about Gavin ? ", he asked.

" Simple. He will shift to your dorm. ", I replied. I'm sure, Gavin would be happy to move to Grace's dorm.

" No..I like Grace as my roommate.", he said.

" So you don't like me ?", I asked. He didn't reply. " Michael, you didn't even tell me once you like me. C'mon...what is the big deal in telling the truth ? "

" What is the need in t..telling it ? You know, right ?", he asked.

" But still, I want to hear it from your mouth.", I said.

He sighed. " I'm not going to say. And I d..don't like you that much."

" Ahh..baby that hurts.", I groaned placing my hand on my chest. Not only that he didn't say anything but also didn't protest or show any particular reaction at me calling him 'baby'. I think he is enough babied at home and used to being called baby. Maybe I should try with some other nick names.

" Cupcake, you don't really like me that much ? Can you defy if I say you have cried after seeing me and Gabriel close ?", I asked.

" Cup..cup cake ? Do I look like a c..cake ?", he asked.

" Absolutely.", I laughed. " Anyway answer my question."

" I want to eat c..cake with Ice-cream.", he said.

" Nate..don't try to change the topic.", I said.

" Ahm..maybe I cried a little.", He scratched on his neck.

" C'mon..you like me so much.", I said.

" Because you look like my brother.", he said crossing his hands. I groaned at that. I'm sick of this brother thing. " Between wh..why you like me ?", he asked.

" Because you look like my Mother.", I replied blankly.

He tilted his face to me. " You think I l..look like your Mother ?"

" Your eye colour is same as my Mother's.", I replied and he nodded briefly. " Okay now, shall we ask Miss Rose to put us in same room ?"

" No ! And what r..reason are you going to tell her ?", he asked.

" That we are partners in History and Arts and we need to work together a lot. So it would be convenient if we are roommates.", I said.

" No..", he shook his head. " And a..arts assignment is over."

"Oh C'mon..new assignment will come. What's your problem ? Are you afraid I'll do something to you? I won't do anything without your permission.” I said.

" You didn't stop even after I t..told you to stop.", he said.

" But you wanted it, right ?", I asked.

" No ! ", he scoffed. A pink blush dusted on his cheeks again.

We were already out of the school gate. So I grabbed his hands and he let me intertwine our fingers. But I could only hold his hands for five minutes as we reached in front of the nearest cafe 'Black swan' .

We walked inside and occupied an empty table near the window. Soon the waitress arrived and Michael surprised me with his order. He ordered Pancakes and doughnuts along with Pizza.

" Will you really eat that all ?", I asked him once the waitress left.

" Yes..", he nodded.

Soon our order arrived and he proceeded to stun me by eating his body weight in pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries. Honestly I'm seeing him earing like this for the first time. I knew already he isn't actually a nibbler like I thought but I didn't think he could eat like this and remain so small.

" Finished ! ", he squealed while I was finishing my portion of Pizza. I looked at his plate and only a doughnut remained there.

" What about that ?", I asked pointing at the doughnut.

" I wanna h..have it with Ice-cream.", he replied.

" Okay..", I nodded staring at the bit of whipped cream that was sticking on the side of his mouth. Immediately his pink tongue flicked out and licked it off.

" Don't s..stare at me.", he then said wiping his mouth with the back of his palm, the other hand fiddled with a spoon on the table. I couldn't help but chuckle at him.

" I- Ice-Cream.", he said.

I finally turned around shaking my head and motioned to the waitress. We ordered two scoops of chocolate Ice-cream and she brought it to us without delay.

" I'm going to ask Miss Rose to switch you with Gavin, okay?", I told Michael while he was having his Ice-cream.

" Then..people will get doubts s..something is going on between us.", he said looking up.

" What if people know ? Why are you so scared ?", I asked. He didn't reply and just bit down on his lips. " Michael, nothing will happen if people know. Look, I'm not worried. And I promise, I'll be there with you in everything and I won't let you face anything alone. You don't need to be scared when I'm there with you."

" You..you won't leave ?", he asked. He looked emotional all of a sudden.

" No. I won't leave you.", I replied. He lowered his eyes and went back to having his Ice-cream.

" Baby..look at me.", I said. But he didn't look up. He looked like he was about to cry. He might probably have thought about his brother again.

I took a spoon of my ice-cream and stretched it to him. " I- I've mine.", he said quickly looking up at me.

"But have this.", I said. He hesitated for a moment but then leaned in and swallowed the ice-cream quickly. I smiled and dipped the spoon back in my cup to get a scoop for myself.