Michelle Mist

Michelle sighed softly hearing his words. They were all too familiar with the same ones she’d been saying to her own self every day. Shrugging softly she looked towards him with a small smile. “Me too. You’re kinda had it coming for you though if all the rumors are true through Peter. It’s all really messy, but .. yeah.” It wasn’t like Michelle knew all sides of the story, but she at least would be here to hear Peter out if he wanted to talk to her. “I found out the guy I’m crazy about and thought everything was going so smoothly with .. has been sleeping with one of my good friends. I think the only thing I really could say was I’m fine. You can vent if you need too. I am curious to your side of things while it’s the topic.”  || @captainpeter

Tilting her head she looked at the board in front of them. Michelle had always appreciated arts, and while she knew she didn't hold nearly as much talent as most.. she liked to try some creative outlets. This one was just a bunch of balloons filled with paint, and all they had to do was throw darts at them. Sadly, neither was showing the best aim. "I mean maybe we just need to stand a little closer? That might do something helpful right?" She let out with a small giggle. "Or we can just run and charge at them, that's fail proof." || @elvisenthusiastast

Michelle sighed softly, letting her back fall on the couch as she tossed a pillow over her face. “I mean weren’t we already in sorta a storm to begin with? I think everyone’s emotions just being blasted for the world sorta brought the thunder.” Then again the after effects of a storm sometimes truly were the real storm upon everyone. Pulling the pillow from her face she looked at him with a playful pout. “If I just bunker down here, in the couch cushions you never saw me. I’m safe, and like hidden in them right? And at least someone knows where I’m at and you can just sneak me snacks.” Michelle laughed a little before chewing on her cheek for a second. “At least we’re all in the storm together.. I just don’t know what else could possible get worse.” || @colincubby​

Cubby smiled, knowing he had made sure to order her favorite. What kind of friend would he be otherwise? He took a sip of his own oreo milkshake, surprised to hear that Michelle had spent the evening with Nolan. “Yeah? How did that go?” He asked, another smile forming as she asked about how his holiday went. His mind immediately went to his kiss with Wendy, something that hadn’t left his mind since it happened. He hadn’t talked about it really since, eager to tell someone but worried about jinxing his luck. “It was .. Amazing, actually. Me and Wendy hung out almost the entire night.”

Tapping her fingers against her glass she shrugged her shoulders softly. Though the blush was quick to rush to her cheeks. Of course she knew not to get her hopes too high up. It was a moment a lot of people seemed to get rather caught up in. “Uh... probably the best way to start a new year, that will come around soon and just break my heart again.” She stated with a scrunch of her nose. Michelle was getting better at not feeling so hurt by everything, and just accepting what it was. “we might have kissed at midnight, and I have no idea what any of that even means.” When the topic switched and he was talking about Wendy she felt her smile grow on her face. “Really? Amazing huh? You know I need more details then that, Cubs.” Michelle playfully kicked at his foot under the table as she gave a knowing smile. 

She laughed with her friend as she mentioned how much she hated the change she was making in her life. “I told myself I wasn’t going to make any because it’s too stressful to keep up with…” Isabella trailed off, bringing her own soda to her lips. That one didn’t make her list of resolutions. There was nothing wild there, she kept it simple this year. “But you know me. I like organization too much.”

“You’re not wrong. I think the first two weeks are always the hardest, or easiest. Some people choose things that makes them just feel better about their own everything. Like cleaning out a closet, or their car and just keeping up on small habits. but noo... I just had to do something like this.” Grumbling she let out a small laugh before looking towards her friend. “Though.. with the holidays over the best time of the year is around the corner and I can not wait to live on the beach again.” 

Cubby hadn’t seen Michelle since before the new year, and he’d been wondering on how she was holding up. He sent her a quick text to see if she was free, inviting her to meet him at his work to get some milkshakes and catch up. His shift at The Candy Bar had just ended, so he was still in his work uniform as Michelle got there. He smiled, motioning her over to a booth with milkshakes already made for them. “Hey! Glad you came,” he said as he slid into the booth, pushing her milkshake toward her. “Did you have a good new years? I thought I’d see you at the fundraiser, but I must’ve missed you somehow.” @mistyymichelle​

It was the longest breath of relief that left her when Cubby reached out. Michelle had truly been in her head since New Years.. the kiss. It was like kissing everything she’d ever wanted good bye, but also setting a small fire within her to just know what Nolan’s lips felt like against hers. While it felt like a movie, it also felt like the most confusing heartache she’d felt. Why would he kiss her if .. he knew her feelings. Thankfully, Cubby knew her little crush, and also was close to Nolan. Perhaps he had a better insight. Walking in she smiled once she caught sight of him. “Ooo, and you got my favorite. Thank you.” Quickly taking a sip she let out a small sigh. “I.. found myself with Nolan. How was your New Years?” 

It was surprising to hear that Tiara had spoken more to Wendy than one of her best girls about how she was feeling, but that was really only because she had gone straight to the source herself. It seemed like Michelle was hiding something, like she had some sort of feelings of her own that she needed to share. “It was an interesting conversation, yeah. I think we’re on about as good of a page as we’ve ever been.” Wendy had been honest, as she wish she had been in the past with Tiara. “You seem like you have … I don’t know, something like you’re holding back from saying. You know you can share whatever you need to. I’m not one for sharing behind everyone’s backs.”

Michelle nodded softly. “It’s .. all just interesting and could all really go any direction at this point. Although.. I think all of this could have also put you both on the same page and maybe seeing things almost eye to eye? Or at least similar feelings across the board.” Chewing on her cheek she was starting to question why she even walked up to Wendy. There was just all sorts of everything happening around them, and people they were both close to. A clashing of worlds almost with everyone’s heart just thrown in a blender. As Wendy spoke Michelle’s eyes went a little wide. Truthfully, she didn’t expect Wendy to be so bold to speak up about it. Michelle certainly was hiding something, and really only Rosie and Cubby were in the loop of her own foot print in the mess. “It’s just a crazy thought to think all of us have just been crushing on one another in secret. Kinda makes me think we’re all more alike then we give ourselves credit for somedays, and now found ourselves all on the same boat.. kinda.” 

Seeing the frozen water felt like torture. He was looking at Misty incredulously while she asked him to jump into the cold water. “I-uh, what?” His eyes were widened, as if maddened by her own idea. Did she really think that Peter would jump into a freezing pool? Was he that mad that he’d take up on that offer? He shook his head, turning around as if to find the exist, until he suddenly took off his shirt, turned around, and started sprinting towards her. “Then let’s welcome it with full energy!” He was running, catching her by the waist, then finally jumping in the freezing pool. The water clung to his skin, and he felt like screaming, the pain and the pleasure both overwhelming his senses. “A-a, ow!” The laughter overwhelmed him, and somehow, Misty looked perfectly fine. “Happy New Year, buddy. We didn’t die this time.” He raised his hand above the water for a high-five. She was right; this was a good way to cleanse himself, like a baptism for a new life. Except everything was painful, and he wasn’t finally alone. “Now, I don’t have a towel, so I might as well freeze here.” He said, jokingly.

Michelle’s hands found her hip as she watched him turn away. Even if he didn’t jump she had the plan of doing it herself, and there wasn’t much that would stop her. At least she knew she could get him with a big splash. Though when he turned around and started to run her eyes were wide. “Wai-” Before she could get much out she was laughing as she felt Peter take her into the cold waters below. It certainly was a shock, and something she needed for a bit of time. There was so much clouding her mind. Even if the water was freezing, she felt relief and comfort as it wrapped around her body. “See, the whole shock thing does some wonders. Happy New Year, Peter.” Giving him a high five she laughed as she got out of the water. “Well, who needs that when you have me.” Michelle lifted a hand and removed what water she could from them and gave a sheepish smile. “Better?” 

Wendy was quite tired about talking about the drama between her friends, but she knew that it was all any of them wanted to ask her about. She didn’t quite know how to curb the question that was posed to her by Michelle. “Me?” Wendy repeated, lacing her fingers around her mug of tea. “Everything’s fine, yeah. I’ll be okay. You know, time heals all wounds.” She wasn’t sure whether going more into detail would be beneficial, since she wasn’t entirely sure what part of all of this Michelle was asking about. “How have you been doing? Has Tiara been talking to the girls at all? I went to go see her, actuaally.”

Michelle nodded. Time - it would fix everything and she wouldn’t feel like she was walking with a million pounds on her heart. her stomach would stop twisting, and she’d feel back to as normal as she could with everything. At the mention of Tiara she felt her stomach twist again. Truthfully, Michelle was avoiding. If her and Nolan wanted to make something out of their relationship, she couldn’t dare speak a word of her feelings to Tiara and throw in a wrench. “I .. if she has it hasn’t been me. I hope she is though. I don’t want her getting to lost in her own head trying to figure everything out on her own. I’m fine, yeah.” Biting her cheek her eyes went a little wide. “I’m sure the two of you would have .. an interesting conversation, huh?” 

nolan couldn’t shake the way michelle’s body language was saying one thing while her words were saying other things. he couldn’t wipe the puzzled look from his face, like how his brows knitted together, as he watched her hug koda closer. plus, was he supposed to ignore how glazed over her eyes looked when she finally briefly looked up at him? if he was, nolan had missed the memo, he was never really good at following rules. clearly. he opened his mouth to say something about her eyes but ended up saying something entirely different, “thank you for not hating me. i was worried you’d never want to speak to me again,” he admits, letting out a small sigh of relief. her questions to follow made him wince a little, for some reason, it stung a bit when michelle pointed out his secret more so than when gg had publicly done so, “i wasn’t kidding, no.  i wanted to tell you, believe it or not, but….it really wasn’t my secret to spill, not entirely. plus, at first, i did think keeping it a secret was the best thing to do. it’s no one business, really, but then i guess a bit of guilt kept eating at me whenever i was around peter.” or you. he kept that thought to himself, though, and instead let out another small sigh. “it is a lot but i can’t pretend like i’m surprised or shocked at how much it is. i kinda knew it was bound to be a shit storm if things ever came to light. peter is more quick to act than think most of the time,” he says, “so, if anything, i just can’t stop thinking about taira. she’s got to be dealing with even more than me. all i did was make things worse, and even if it isn’t a regret, i shouldn’t have let anything ever happen.” because now he was certain any chance with michelle was ruined, his friendship with peter was ruined, tiara probably hated him, and he didn’t even want to think of what the lost boys thought of him. he didn’t have the heart to let michelle know that he had picked up his liquor bottle a bit more now to cope with how he felt these days, as everything was so uncertain, most of all he just didn’t want to worry her. “i hope i haven’t somehow hurt you in some way, michelle.” he pauses, briefly, “have i?”

Michelle bit her cheek. The heartbreak in her wanted to say something snarky, something that would just jab at the secret she had bubbling under the surface. But instead she just shook her head softly and put on her best smile. “You’re impossible to hate, Nol. And I don’t think I could handle not speaking to you.. I’d miss you too much for that.” Which was true. There wasn’t much he could do that could drive her to never wanting to speak to him again. Michelle was already attached before she understood her feelings. Besides, it wasn’t like they were anything other than good friends. What Nolan did with others shouldn’t effect her. The tension was thick though, and she knew at some point she’d have to come clean. As Nolan started to unload she listened, forcing herself to be present and keep her eyes on him. He needed this, and she was thankful regardless to be someone he felt safe enough to let everything just fly out of his mouth. Even if it hurt, she was still someone in his life he cared enough for to speak honestly. “Neither one of you should feel guilty.. You weren’t in anything committed, and its just messy because everyone is so close. Emotions are bound to be high right now, but they’ll come down and everything will fall into the place it’s supposed to. You were two single people, and that alone is .. enough. Once the hurt clears .. it’ll work out. I promise. Peter.. Tiara.. you.. emotions are running wild right now, but it all settles.” Giving him a soft smile she hoped she was doing some good in it all. At his question she stated to hear her heart beating in her ear. Nolan... Cubby.. Ti.. Everything was aired out for the world to see, and this was her chance to tell Nolan before it become public  and she had to face it and a million others. Letting her gaze fall to Koda she just shrugged her shoulders softly. “Not on purpose, Nolan. I don’t think you could hurt a fly on purpose. Guess it’s better to tell you now before I’m really called out.. I... I-I.” michelle knew the second her next words hit reality nothing would fall into place the way it was.  “I just.. somewhere in everything started to really... r-really like you. It’s nothing though , really.. I’m more worried about you and Ti. It’s so much, and I don’t want to add anything more on your plate. I’m fine really, please don’t think you did anything wrong, or need to fix anything here. There are far, far, faaaaar bigger things than this. And I’m still here, for all of you It’s... like I said, It’s nothing.” 

“Yeah,” he agreed softly. There was a lot to process with it all, even things he’d learned from Tiara after having a talk with her. Cubby was good at holding in secrets, but that obviously didn’t make a difference. There was no controlling when or how something could come out, he learned. He smiled as she pulled him in for a hug, the gesture making him feel a little better. “I hope you’re right.” He shrugged his shoulders as he pulled away from the hug, knowing there was only so much he could really say. “Just wanting to follow my own feelings, but also be considerate of others in the process. It’s a lot easier said than done.”

Michelle knew she had to give Cubby more comfort than this. They were always both so open with each other, and found a common ground most of the time. At his final sentence she let out a soft sigh. “I get that more than you realize. I’m sure you’ve ... seen the posts. Me crushing on a lost boy.. it’s Nolan.” She admitted with a small shrug. “So, I get it Cubs.. and I am here for you, and you’re very valid in feeling that. I hope you know that.” She stated giving him a small smile. “You’re not alone, okay? and if you want you can join me in eating ice cream and awful movies.”

things felt like they had been going from bad to worse since the gg post unleashed the secret he had been keeping buried deep. there weren’t many people nolan felt like reaching out to right now, or be around for that matter, but there was also a small handful of people he was terrified to see anyway. michelle was someone nol had been terrified to reach out to since the news hit but he also knew that he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, hide from her forever. as he got koda ready, putting on a little jacket he had bought for the young pup, he tried to ignore the knots forming at the pit of his stomach. it wasn’t like he wasn’t used to feeling a bit more anxious than usual  when around michelle but this time his nerves weren’t due to the butterflies she normally formed in his stomach. “do you think she’ll hate me. koda?” the pup simply gave him a little high pitch bark and wagged his tail, which nolan took as a ‘yes’ response. at least she didn’t hate him enough to want to call this co-parenting thing quits, and enough to tolerate going on a walk with him. even if it was mainly for koda, nolan was happy she had agreed to meet them.  nolan knew it was going to be hard to see her but once he saw how koda got excited to see his ‘mommy’ and the way she interacted with the pup he realized that it was going to be harder than he anticipated. their eyes locked for a second that felt like an entirety but in that moment nolan felt something shift between the two, although he wasn’t sure what exactly it was. her question didn’t throw him off guard, he had expected the gg post to be a topic of conversation, it was the way her eyes glazed over and the softness of the question. “yes,” he gently replies,  watching her movements, “it’s true. i couldn’t tell you how we ended up getting to the point of letting it happen, but it did. there’s not much more i can say, i feel.” he felt like he should’ve apologized to her, but truthfully, he wasn’t sure why he felt like that. “do you hate me?” 

Michelle hated the snap that happened in her heart. Even more so she wished she’d ask him over a phone call or anywhere but face to face where she had to fake everything. Gg was right, he wasn’t anywhere near interested in her in the slights, and michelle got carried away in her own head. All she could do for a small moment was hug Koda closer. It made their cute co-parenting sting like salt in the wound, but she wouldn’t walk away from it. Before her heart fell for him, Nolan was her friend, and it was her secret to take to the grave just how broken she felt. Nuzzling her face into Koda she let a few tears fall as she collected herself. With a deep breath she looked up at him. “Hate you? Never... so far from hating you, Nolan. You weren’t lying when you said we all have our secrets in the group, huh?” Michelle did her best to laugh it off but she still couldn’t find his eyes cause she knew she would just start crying. Michelle wouldn’t even have to say her truth, her reaction enough would blow her cover. Last thing he needed was to add rejecting her on his list of things to deal with. “I’m sure it’a a lot to deal with right now.. I’m sorry Nolan, are you alright?” Chewing on her cheek, her foot started to tap to distract herself as she looked up and found his eyes. Ever hope, dream, little world she felt they had was shattering in front of her. Every moment they shared apparently ended up in one of her close friends bed.. and perhaps every moment he was wishing she was Tiara. “you don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to, but I’m here for you.. to the grave remember? and we have a child.” She added with a sad smile as she shook her head softly at her self and her horrible attempts to seem fine.