I Love Him, But I Don't Know (On Hold)

Chapter 4

I slowly went over to the general area where she was sitting with her friends. They were

chatting and laughing amongst their little group when I saw Luke enter the room. A series

of "Happy Birthday"'s acknowledged his entrance and everyone turned to look. I was

about to turn away when he came closer to me. He tapped me on one shoulder and

winked.

"Hey hottie. I don't think we properly met before. I'm Lu-"

"Luke, I know." I tried to diverted my attention back to Abigal's group of friends.

"Ooh, fiesty. Listen, I know you and Michael are kinda a thing right now, but it's my

birthday."

"I gathered." I said distractedly as I gazed over his shoulder to glance at Abigal again.

"Aheh, cute. Listen, I'm available. Call me sometime? Here's my number." He handed me

a slip of paper. Right then, I saw Abigal get up and walk over to the refreshments table. I

excused myself and pushed Luke away as I followed her, as if in a trance. I could tell that

he was still staring at me, suprised look on his face. I felt bad, but i didn't turn around. I

don't know what I was going to do when I reached Abigal, but I didn't really care. I just had

to know if she was the one that Michael had a crush on.

"Hey. I'm Serena, what's your name?"

"Uh, hi. I'm Abigal."

"Abigal..."

"Abigal Jones." She smiled and shook my hand.

"Well, nice to meet you. How do you know Luke?"

"Hm? Oh, we were classmates in middle school for a while."

"Oh, cool."

Silence.

"And, you're here because?" Abigal tried to fill in the empty void.

"Oh, a friend of mine invited me. I'm plus one." I joked.

"Which friend? Jessie? Beth?"

"Uh, no. Michael."

There was a silence from her that I expected. So she was the right Abigal.

"You know Michael?" She asked cautiously.

"You know him too, then?" I countered.

"I asked you first." She smiled.

"I asked you second." I smiled back.

She laughed and replied, "Yeah. Michael was also in my middle school. Nice kid. He

confessed to me once."

"No kidding? So that means you guys dated?"

"Uh, no. He just ... wasn't my type. Kinda. Honestly, he was sorta a dork."

"Hm, you don't say."

"Well, now it's your turn. How do you know Michael?" She took a sip of her drink.

I licked off the frosting of a red velvet cupcake. "I'm his girlfriend."

She stared at me, stunned. I smiled and twirled on my heel. "Oh, it was nice meeting you

by the way." I called over my shoulder.

I found Michael in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge.

"Hey." I tapped his shoulder.

I must have suprised him because he banged his head on the top of the fridge.

"Ow. The fuck is wrong with you, man? Oh... Serena."

"Uh, hi?"

He scratched the back of his head and closed the fridge door.

"Sorry, is your head okay?"

"Yeah, sure, of course."

I felt the back of his head for a bump and he blushed. I looked him straight at his eyes.

Man, this kid blushed at everything. But then again, I sorta do too. He looked up and

smiled at me. He gave me a quick peck on the check and smiled again.

"You're beautiful, you know that?"

"Thanks." I smiled and we stood there for a while. I never realized what a deep shade of

blue his eyes were. He put his arms around me and smiled again. A boy was standing at

the doorway that connects the kitchen with the living room and he was watching us.

"Whoop. Nice job, Michael."

I saw Michael roll his eyes, take a deep breath, and look up at the boy.

"Go away, Harry."

"Michael and ... I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Slyvadiarthorn." I said randomly.

"Oh... Michael and Sylvedeurthurn sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

I rolled my eyes and Michael giggled. We followed him into the living room again and by

then, the whole room got into the chant. I noticed that Abigal kept quiet though,

awkwardly stealing glances at me. I laughed out loud at when I found how different the

chant became.

"Michael and Slytherin sitting in a tree. K-I-S-SI-N-G. First comes love, then comes

marriage."

Michael cut it off and started laughing out loud with me. The whole room laughed along

with us and we plopped ourselves onto the sofa. I checked my watch and realized that I

had to get home soon. I nudged Michael and gestured to my wristwatch. He understood

and went to find Luke to wish him a final Happy Birthday. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I

turned to find Abigal standing over me.

"Hey, uh, sorry about before?"

"What's to be sorry about?"

"Well, I kinda..."

"Don't worry about it." I smiled.

"You are so nice. I'm so glad that Michael found a girl like you."

Even though she said that, I detected a hint of bitterness in her voice. I heard her walk

back to her group and someone told her, "Don't worry, you're so much better than that

slut. If you try, you can get him baaaack." "I never had him." "Had, as in past tense. You

still have a shot." Abigal whispered something back and they giggled. When Michael

returned, we headed for the door.  I heard more whispers and comments when I passed

Abigal's group.