"You Jerk..." Michael Afton x Reader

Chapter 7. Boys Will be Boys

The creak of corroded swing chains, oak benches with moss growing on the underneath, a sun-bleached yellow tube slide. That was the local park, more typically known as Michael Afton's hangout spot with his friends. All kids who live nearby know to stay away from Michael, and especially their hangout spot. Nobody in their proper mind would go around Afton and his gang in their territory. On this fatal summer's day, Y/N was unknowingly testing her luck.

The sun was beating on her skin, it felt good. She was sitting on one of the numerous swings at the park, kicking her feet in the dirt below. To reward her for babysitting the Afton kids, Mom and Dad let Y/N spend today scouring the town and getting to know all its landmarks.

She had plans to stop by the convenience store after her time at the park to grab a drink. William and Vera paid Y/N $20 for babysitting the kids, which was plenty for Y/N. She wasn't even anticipating payment. A cool breeze blew through the large trees enclosing the park, Y/N soaks up all the refreshing feelings it gave her before she starts pushing herself on the swing once again. Swinging back and forth, she lets out a faint sigh.

A continuous pattern of creaking from the swing chains was the only noise at the park. The town was starting to grow on Y/N a bit, she had to acknowledge it was cozy. However, that doesn't mean she isn't continually thinking of her old home. She loved the town she lived in, and she adored her old house, she had an abundance of friends, she had it all worked out. This place just doesn't seem like home yet.

The young girl was yielded in thought, pondering of anything and everything that came to her mind. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even detect Michael and his gang approaching from behind her. As they drew nearer and nearer to the park, they noticed a girl on the swings.

"Yo someone's at our spot." one of his friends points to her, "The fuck is she doin' here? Who does she think she is?"
Michael narrows his eyes, "I can't tell who it is, she has her back turned to us. What are we gonna do about it?"
The boys look between each other for a moment, one of his friends smirks slightly and cracks his knuckles, "Well, I have a suggestion."
Michael smacks him and furrows his eyebrows, "Dude, we aren't gonna hit a girl! That's ridiculous!" he sighs and glimpses toward the swings, "Let's teach this chick a fucking lesson though..."

They begin walking towards her quietly, attempting to sneak up on her. Y/N was still oblivious to them. The boys were looming behind the girl so closely they could reach out and touch her. One of his friends takes the opportunity to jump in front of her, "Boo!" he grabs the chains of the swing and stops her in mid-motion. 

Y/N yelps, her face going pale from the shock. "Hey! What the fuck-" her expression shifts to a grimace once she sees the teenage boy in front of her, however, she gets cut off by another one of Michael's friends leaping to the side of her. "What's a pretty thing like you doin' in a place like this? Don't you know we're bad news?"

Michael walks in front of the girl attempting to get a look at her, once he sees who the girl was his eyes dilate to the size of saucers. 

 It was Y/N. 

He locks eyes with her, she gazes into his eyes with a look of bitterness, and puzzlement. "Michael..?"
His friends turn their heads to look at him, "You know this chick, Michael?"
All eyes turn to Michael making him redden slightly, "Y/N...fancy seeing you here."

The guys start oohing and ahhing, their jaws were nearly at their feet as they look at each other again. "This is Y/N L/N?" they laugh and shove each other playfully. "So you're the new kid everyone's talking about? That explains why you're here." one of them grabs the chains of the swing and brings her closer, their noses touched, she could feel his hot breath on her face. "Listen bitch, you're gonna get off this god damn swing and go home, or I'll beat your ass so hard you won't be able to sit in this swing ever again."

Michael stands behind his friends observing as they intimidate Y/N. He shifts his weight on his other foot and chews on his lip. All he could do is standby and watch, it felt as if he was frozen. It's true, he did want to help Y/N; but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"Alright, alright. Get out of my face first!" Y/N tries to squirm her way out of the swing while the boy entrapped her there. She lets out a frustrated breath and shoves him out of the way, stumbling slightly as she did.

He raised an eyebrow and chuckles grimly, "Getting physical are we?" his eyes were dark with anger, nobody fights back against Afton and his gang. Once she got her footing, Y/N backs up slightly, trying to put space between her and the boys.
 "Yeah, I am, you wouldn't let me go. How am I supposed to get off the swing if you're blocking me?"
"Shut the fuck up, bitch." they all start laughing, all but Michael, he stood there silently. Still standing there, a small smirk paints itself on his face. He did enjoy seeing her get defensive, he was just hoping his friends wouldn't go too far.

Y/N felt her face grow red in frustration, "Whatever, you guys are pricks..." she looks between the three boys, then to Michael. She gives Michael a dissimilar glare from the others, a look of slight betrayal. In a way, she expected better of Michael, she's been working hard to get along with him, only to be met with this. 

She clenches her fists and walks up to Michael. Staring up into his callous blue eyes, she stares at him stone-faced. Her knuckles turned white from the pressure of them clenching, harder and harder each second she looked at him. It took everything in her ability to not strike him in the face, she knew she couldn't take four guys on in a fight by herself, it wasn't even in the question. She swallows hard and points an accusing finger at him, "You Jerk..."