5SOS Preferences

Badboy - Michael Clifford

You chuckled as the ball of paper hit another student on the back of the head. She turned around and glared at you, but somehow that made it funnier. Michael nudged you and pointed towards someone who had fallen asleep. Michael's paper his him on his cheek, startling him awake. You both giggled.
"Mr Clifford, Miss [Y/L/N]!" Our teacher yelled. Oh no. "Get out! Get out of my class!"
Neither of you could suppress your laughter or your grins as you sauntered towards the door, which seemed to make our teacher even angrier. The second you got outside you both burst into uncontrollable fits of giggles.

"I can't believe we got detention again." Michael half laughed as you waited outside the detention room. You smiled at him. "Really?"
He grinned at you, his smile crooked and mischievous. "Nope. You sitting in your usual seat?"

You felt a rubber hit you on the back of the head just as you were about to drift off to sleep. You sat up and turned around, being immediately greeted by Michael's grinning face. You smirked at him and flipped him off, earning a scowl.
The teacher in charge of detention was barely paying attention to you - she was just playing on her phone. After a while she told us you could leave, despite the fact that it hadn't even been an hour yet. She just didn't care.
"You wanna come round to mine? My parents are on a business trip again." Mike offered. You nodded; you would do anything to keep yourself out of the hellhole you called home.

---

You watched Netflix for a while and ordered a pizza - but eventually you both got tired.
"You staying here tonight?" Michael asked you.
"Yeah, if you don't mind." You responded. You'd just steal some of his clothes for tonight and tomorrow, like you usually did.

You crawled into his bed next to him, ready to pass out instantly. However, he had different plans for you. He slipped his hand round your waist and pulled you into him- making you that close you could feel his breath on your face.
"Wh-what are you doing?" You asked him. You tried your best not to sound nervous, despite the fact that he could probably hear how fast your heart was racing. It was dark, but you could see his small smile. He looked a bit nervous as well.
"Well, I, uh, I just thought it might be nice."
"It is nice." You told him. His body relaxed a little bit. "Good."
Each time he spoke you could feel his lips brushing against your cheek. If you moved slightly you would be able to feel his lips against your own, but you daren't make that move. It was too risky.
"Your heart's beating pretty fast, [Y/N], are you okay?" Michael whispered.
"Uh, yeah, it's just..." You trailed off. What were you supposed to say: 'oh yeah it's because I've never really been this close to you and actually I kinda like it'? He would think you were a freak if you said that to him.
"It's just...?" Michael repeated, pushing you for an answer. Your mind went blank.
"I, uh, dunno. Nothing." You stammered nervously. You weren't even sure that made sense. You felt kind of dizzy.
Minutes ago you had been ready to fall asleep, but now you had never felt more awake. Michael always made you feel this way, but you tended to push the feelings away and deny the fact that you were feeling anything other than friendship. He made you feel awake - he made you feel alive. Whenever you were together you were the better version of yourself - you were brave, witty, daring... Even sexy. When you were with him you felt like you were living life in a better way - maybe even to its fullest. And, try as you might, you couldn't shake these feelings. So, instead of owning up to them, you repressed the hell out of them.
You didn't want to have feelings for Mikey. He hadn't had a serious relationship in all of your years of friendships. Sure, he had experienced plenty of one night stands and enough 'casual' relationships to last a lifetime, but nothing with any meaning. The only reason he could ever want you would be sex.

"[Y/N]..." Michael mumbled. You smiled up at him. "Hmm?" You answered.
"We're pretty close, right?"
"Uh, do you mean literally or metaphorically? Well either way the answer would be yes, but still." You rambled.
"I meant metaphorically. But, uh, I have this issue." He began, "and since we're close... I thought it best that I told you."
"Go on."
"Well you know how a while ago I told you that I'd never had serious feelings for anyone before?" He said slowly. You nodded.
"Well, uh, I kinda lied."
Your heart dropped.
"You did? Who is she?"
"I... Well it's... Um..."

His lips gently grazed yours, seeking your permission. At first you were hesitant, but then curiosity (as well as pure lust) took over. You returned the kiss, pressing your lips fully to his. His mouth was warm and soft against your own, and you couldn't stop your eyes from fluttering closed any less than you could stop the butterflies from erupting in your stomach.

"M-me?" You stammered. Michael had his forehead pressed against your own, so you could feel his hot breath on your lips. It made you want to kiss him again.
He nodded. This didn't make sense.
"For how long?"
"I dunno. A few years?"
"B-but what about the one night stands? And the sex buddies?"
"They were a way of filling the void. They were just a distraction...  A distraction from you. You've gotta understand that I tried to stop these... feelings." He shivered as he said the word, as if it was poisonous to him.
"So why are you telling me now?"
"Because, uh... Because I've realised that I don't want to stop them. I hate the fact that I feel this way, but I like the fact that you're constantly on my mind. I like that it's you making me feel like this. And I want to do something about it. I want you."
"I don't know Mikey... What if..." You paused, not sure if you should say what you were thinking. "What if you're only saying this because we're in bed and you just want sex and then tomorrow I look like an idiot?"
To your surprise he laughed.
"I can't believe you would think that. Well, I can, but it's just... This is you. You're my best friend. You know when I'm lying, and I'm not. And I would never do that to you. I never want to hurt you. I don't even want to have sex with you right now, I just want to be close to you. I want this to work out. I want to do this properly... Dates and everything. No sex until we're there... I want us to work." He sighed, "do you see how mushy this is making me? I hate it."
You considered his words, realising how truthful his voice sounded. He wasn't lying to you. At least, you hoped with every fibre of your being that he wasn't. You wanted this so badly. But, even if he was lying, you decided it would be worth it. Even if this all turned out to be a big lie, you would've tried. And you knew Michael was worth that.

"Okay." You mumbled nervously.
"Okay?"
"Let's try this. Us. I want us to work out."
The happiness on his face was unreal. Well, that and the relief. He looked overwhelmed.
"We will work out. It's us. We're great together." He murmured, before pressing his lips to yours once again.