Rachel POV
Nicki was fiddling with his fingerless gloves, picking lint off of them. I glanced at him. A couple of hours ago, Michael had stormed out with Nicki close behind. Then Luke and I heard some yelling. Nicki soon came back, grinning and blushing madly. Luke asked him if Nicki and Michael did anything and Nicki vehemently denied it though Luke thinks that SOMETHING went down or something like that.
Hey, it's none of my business so I don't ask.
"I got food."
Michael strode in, eyes never flitting to any of us as he dumped two grocery bags on the cave's floor. When I peeked inside, it just had granola bars, berries, and water in it. Of course, I was starving so I dove for the bag and tore open a granola bar. Michael didn't eat anything, only took a water bottle and made a fire for us. Nicki was stealing glances at Michael then looking away, flushing red. Michael would also glance at him but was glaring daggers at him. I caught on their gazes and the tension between them and coughed to clear my throat.
"So you two. Are you guys going to tell us why you two are giving the rest of us the cold shoulder?"
"Ask MICHAEL," Nicki said with a look at Michael.
He just gave us the finger as the fire roared to life. I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips as Luke gulped down half of the water bottle.
"Did you guys do it?" He asked calmly.
"NO!" They both yelled in unison, both f their faces going equal shades of cherry red.
He laughed uproariously as if what he asked was the most amusing thing of the century.
"I'm just joking!"
"How-Why-You-I-Who-Weird!" Michael (surprisingly) stammered.
"You never know," Luke said cheerfully.
Nicki slapped his forehead and Michael returned to his introverted self. I sighed in frustration.
"If you two don't tell us why there's so much tension between all of you, I swear I'm going to go crazy!"
"Michael's transgender and genderfluid!" Nicki blurted out.
Michael threw him a snarl but didn't say anything to refute said statement. I relaxed.
"Oh, I thought it was something horrible. Michael, now being trans and stuff is just fine to us. Why didn't you tell us?"
He grunted in response and pulled out a cigarette. I watched him light it and take a slow drag of it and sigh.
"I have my own reasons, okay?"
"People made fun of him back in Japan," Nicki blurted.
Michael threw him a glare.
"Shut up you f****** idiot! When I tell you something, I expect you not to go spreading it around everywhere to everyone you actual idiot!"
"Then you shouldn't have told me!"
"Ugh, you're impossible," Michael hissed venomously.
"Nice to know we agree on something," Nicki snapped back.
"Girls girls girls-" I stopped when Michael threw me a death glare. "Guys, just stop. We're a team and we need to get along if we're going to survive this stuff together. Can't you two kiss and makeup?"
Luke let out a laugh but closed his mouth and both Nicki and Michael's angry expressions being directed towards him.
"All I'm asking is for people not to go poking around in my person past! It's my sh*** past and only mine. Now f*** off!"
With that, he stormed right back into the night.
"You told me willingly!" Nicki yelled.
When Michael didn't answer, he got up but I grabbed his arm and shook my head.
"Sometimes, people just need some time. Think about it. Michael's used to be alone a lot. Let him be for once Nicki," I said sternly.
"But-!"
"Nicki, I'm serious! I'll get Luke to freeze your butt down on this cave floor if you try to go antagonize him!" I threatened.
"I'm not antagonizing him! All I'm doing is-"
"Sit. Down," I growled.
He slapped my hand away.
"Get off my back Rachel! You're not my kaa-san!" he yelled before running out.
I sighed in frustration. Luke also sighed, though his sounded more tired than anything else.
"They're perfect for each other. Nicki may be happy a lot, but he has a lot of emotions he doesn't show," Luke muttered.
"Luke, now is not the time to be matchmaking our two friends," I chastised gently.
"Why are you so against that?" he asked with a frown.
"I don't oppose people being relationships! Michael and Nicki would be very good for each other but their relationship might create an emotional atomic bomb if they get together. All I'm saying is that I'm... not someone who's looking for anyone to date or anything like that!"
Luke hummed, drumming his fingers against his legs. It may have been the fire, but were his cheeks... red?
"Huh, really now? Why not?"
I looking at the crackling flames absentmindedly. My hands swirled in a circular motion, making small orbs of water along the way.
"I think romance is stupid at the moment. After all, we're all sixteen. I'm just trying to focus on my family and friends, instead of pursuing a romantic relationship. My last relationship was absolutely terrible and I vowed not to ever fall in love until I really know what I'm going to do and doing at the moment. I vowed not to pursue a relationship until I've become a public speaker."
"Really? You want to become a public speaker?"
I nodded, spinning a small whirlwind of water around.
"Yeah. I've wanted to ever since I was a kid, all I've wanted to do is help others through words."
"Well, aren't you already doing that?"
I stared at Luke who shrugged sheepishly.
"I-I mean, well, you've helped calm Nicki down dozens of times. You've helped me to calm down. Not to mention, you've helped to break up our spats between each other through a mix of teasing us but also encouraging us. I think a public speaker needs to have a bit of fun to them yet, like you said, be able to inspire others through their voice."
I smiled warmly at him and his face went pink.
"Thanks for saying that Luke. You're a better friend than I think you give yourself credit for. Maybe you should be the public speaker," I joked.
"Haha, yeah no. I want to be a pilot, but..." his face fell a little bit. "My parents would never allow something like that."
"What do you mean?"
He hesitated.
"They're doctors. My dad's a neurosurgeon and my mom is a pediatrician. Both of them are amazing at their practice. Sure, being a doctor doesn't sound all that bad, but I want to fly Rachel. Like you, I've had my eyes set on the goal to become on the best pilots known to every little boy imaginable! I want to travel around the world and learn the different cultures. But again, a tiny piece of me wants to help others. Like what I did for Nicki."
"Isn't there a compromise for both of those?"
Luke just shook his head, a frown stretching across his face.
"I wish. Trust me, I can't think of one thing that compromises for both a pilot and a doctor. I definitely would've pursued that path."
I patted his knee reassuringly.
"Don't worry! I'm sure there's some solution, right? There's always a solution for everything."
"You're such an optimist," he teased.
"And you're a pessimist," I stated with a grin.
He laughed again and I felt something within me tingle. Then he stood up, brushing his jeans off.
"I'm going to go try to find Michael and Nicki. Hopefully, they haven't strayed that far, right?"
"Right."
He gave me a dramatic bow.
"Until later, my lady."
I chuckled at his antics as he left. 'He's sort of cute...'