Chapter 3

Social Butterfly
Someone who is charismatic and great at mingling; a social person.

• o 🦋 o •

It was Friday afternoon and my house was immaculate. I’d spent the last week cleaning the house to make sure when Mica came over everything was spick-and-span.

“What are you so nervous for?” Mom asked.

“I just want him to get a good first impression of us!”

“And that’s why our house smells like a soap company?”

“Is it that bad?” I was immediately more anxious than before.

Mom laughed. “I’m sure he’ll only find it nice.”

I rushed to the table and lit a few scented candles. That should do it.

The backdoor burst open and in came my little sister with my dad.

“HI EVERYBODYYY!” She screamed excitedly.

Mom gave her a big hug and a bunch of kisses.

“Guys, Mica is coming over so you have to not do that.” I said.

“Not do what?” Dad asked.

“Anything!”

The doorbell rang and my heart jumped out of my chest.

I went over to the door, took a deep breath and opened it.

I was met by Mica’s warm smile. 

“Hi!” He said cheerful as ever.

Mica had his hair in a messy low bun. The front pieces framed his face perfectly. He wore a bright red sweater, navy blue pants and some mustard yellow All Stars. He carried his bag and his coat in his hands. He looked so bright.

“I had no idea your name was actually James.” Mica pointed at the sign next to the door. It had all our names on it.

“Oh yeah, it is.” I said sheepishly.

“I’ve always liked that name.” He smiled.

My stomach felt warm. He was so nice.

I stood there for a long time trying to think of what to say.

“…Can I come in?” Mica finally asked.

“Oh! Yeah, of course. Sorry!” I stepped aside and he chuckled warmly.

He hung his coat on the rack and walked into the living room. My family gave him a warm welcome and he seemed ecstatic.

“I’m Mica. It’s so nice to meet all of you.” He introduced himself like a prince. I could never.

My whole family introduced themselves except for Lila. I was thankful my brother was at a friend’s because I really didn’t want him to meet Mica.

Mica squatted in front of my sister. “And who are you?” He asked gently.

My sister got all shy and started plucking at her dress. “Lila.” She said softly.

I wish she was always like this. How come she’s not all loud and annoying now?

“Lila? That’s such a nice name!”

Lila started to giggle.

I was confused and weirdly jealous of her.

“Lila and Mica, that sounds pretty good together, right?”

“Yes! We should be a couple!” Lila said happily.

My parents laughed and so did Mica.

“Sure, I’ll be your boyfriend.” He said, looking delighted.

“Really?!!”

“Really.”

Lila was ecstatic and weirdly so was he. He’d befriended my sister in under two minutes. That was impressive.

“James, maybe you should ask your guest if he wants a drink?” Mom reminded me.

“Oh, right! Can I get you something?”

“I’d like some tea, thank you.”

“Coming up!” I raced into the kitchen.

Mica sat down with Lila on his lap and chatted with her and my parents.

He’d only been here a few minutes but it seemed like he belonged here. He fit right in. And moreover, he seemed to thoroughly enjoy spending time with my family.

I came into the room with a tray of miss-matched cups and a teapot filled with hot water.

Mica poured the water for everyone and helped with the teabags. He was incredibly sweet.

I sat next to Mica and I watched him in awe. I was a pretty socially awkward person so seeing a social butterfly like him was quite impressive to me. Everything he did, he did with such ease. He never stumbled over his words, he was polite yet honest and he was kind. So incredibly kind. There was no one in the world who wouldn’t like him. I’m sure if he was talking to a psychotic serial killer he could turn them into a good person, no problem.

We’d finished our tea and it was time to start working on our project.

“Noooo! Don’t go!!” My sister begged as she clung to Mica.

“I’ll be back before you know it!” Mica laughed, trying to gently peel my sister off him.

“Why can’t I come!!”

Mica looked at me.

“Because you’re annoying! Let go of him, Lila.” I said harshly.

“Nooooooooooooo!” Lila tightened her grasp on Mica.

“Come on, sweetie. We’ll go draw in the meantime. You can make Mica a drawing.” Mom pulled Lila away from Mica.

“No! I don’t want to draw!” Lila complained. Soon enough she started to cry. Actual tears for a guy she’d just met. Let’s hope this isn’t foreshadowing her teenage years cause if so, I’m out.

Mom carried Lila outside into the garden.

“Good luck, boys.” Dad said before following mom into the garden, art supplies in hand.

“How awful. I feel so bad.” Mica said.

“You don’t have to. She’ll get over it. Come on.” I led the way upstairs to my room.

The sun was shining in through the windows.

My room was kinda greenish. Lots of earth tones and the walls were covered in pictures of butterflies.

“Oh wow. Your room is like a forest. It’s so peaceful.” Mica said as he looked around.

“You have so many pictures of butterflies. How come?” He asked as he looked at one of my favorites. A candid shot of a Monarch.

“They’re my favorite insects. I’ve been obsessed with them since I was a kid.” I chuckled.

“I can see why. They’re so pretty.”

Yes, you are.

I mean, they are.

Aha. Ha.

“I took these photos myself.”

“You did?” Mica’s eyes were wide and he seemed very amazed. I felt incredibly proud.

“Yeah.”

“Oh wow. You’re very talented, James.”

My heart skipped a beat. He called me by my full name. Usually everyone called me Jay.

“Thank you.”

Mica sat down at my desk and got a big book out of his bag.

“Ready to start?”

I nodded and sat next to him.

I loved being close to him. His scent was delicious and his presence made me happy.

Mica opened the enormous book. The first page had big golden colored letters that said:

RILEY’S BIRTHDAY PLAN In stunning handwriting.

“You didn’t write that, did you?”

“I did.”

“Wow. Your handwriting is perfect. It’s like it was printed on..”

“Oh, thank you.” He giggled.

His eyes met mine and I felt my heart beat fast not for the first time today.

Now that I was sitting so close I noticed his lips. They were the cutest lips I’d ever seen. Small yet plump, pink…

“So I was thinking the party should probably by soccer-themed since Riley loves soccer so much.” Mica said, snapping me back to reality.

I nodded.

“And she always told me about wanting a football-shaped pie…”

“Yeah, she told me the same thing.” I agreed.

“I just wasn’t really sure about the guest list. I don’t know all of her friends, you see. So I thought you might be able to help.”

“Sure! I think I could help on that.”

Riley was friends with everyone. Absolutely everyone.

Mica flipped another page and there was a chart that looked just as professional as the letters on the previous page.

It said Guest List at the top of the page.

The chart was divided into sections

Name, phone number, invited?, rsvp?

He’d really put a lot of effort into this, huh?

I started writing the names of everyone I knew. It was particularly sad seeing my scribbly handwriting next to his.

Mica continued writing on a different page. Location ideas, playlists, bakeries.. He was really meticulous about all this. So focused.

My door banged open. We both got the scare of our lives and almost jumped out of our seats.

“BROSKI!” My brother greeted me.

Oh no!

“Weren’t you staying at a friend’s house?” I said, agony in my voice.

“Nah, I bailed. Too much homework. Who’s this?” My brother eyed Mica, seeming intrigued.

Mica got up and reached forward to shake my brother’s hand. “I’m Mica, nice to meet you.” He said.

My brother simply ignored his hand and lunged forward. He embraced Mica like he knew him.

I was repulsed and shocked. Mica just laughed and drowned in my tall brother’s hug.

“I’m Kyle. The better brother.” He said as he pulled away.

I rolled my eyes.

“Just so you know, anything you might like about Jay, I taught him.”

“You taught him photography?” Mica asked eagerly.

Ha. I smirked.

My brother looked away.

“I taught him to walk.” He said after a short deliberation.

“Really?!”

“Don’t listen to anything he says—” Kyle put a sock in my mouth. An actual sock.

It stank. It was Kyle’s filthy sock. I pulled it out and tried not to vomit. I attempted to pull the stray sock fibers out of my mouth and forget that painful scent and taste.

Mica couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t laugh! I’m sick!”

“Yes, you are brother. So, Mica, want to see my room?”

I looked at my brother in horror. What was he doing?! He was straight and he knew how important Mica was to me— Hold. That was it. That was why he was doing all this. To annoy me.

“Um.. I think I should stay with the patient here.” Mica touched my shoulder. I forgot to breathe for a moment. 

I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move. I was frozen in place.

“Oh, come on Mikey…” My brother insisted.

Mikey?!

I was so ready to punch Kyle in the face when Lila came running in.

“Hey, no fair! You said I couldn’t stay but Kyle can?”

“No! Both of you, get out!”

“You don’t decide that! My fiance does!” Lila ran up to Mica who happily lifted her up and held her close.

“I didn’t know we were engaged.” He smiled at my sister like she was sunshine.

“Look!” Lila took a folded up paper from her pocket.

Mica unfolded it. Kyle and I both peeked over his shoulder to read what it said.

There was a huge drawing of a ring.

will you marry me ?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

I sighed of annoyance and embarrassment.

“Hmmm, that’s a pretty big question. Can I think about it?”

“Yes!” My sister said happily.

“Okay. Good.” Mica kissed her temple. And it was now that I really wanted to be alone with him but no one made an attempt to leave.

“Kids! I made dinner!” Mom called from downstairs.

“Dinner?” Mica said. His eyes shot to the clock and he noticed it was already seven PM.

Suddenly his joyful demeanor was replaced by stress and a hint of fear. He put my sister on the ground and started packing his things.

“I really have to go. I didn’t realize it was so late..”

We all looked at each other worried and a bit confused.

“Do… you need me to drive you?” Kyle asked.

“No. I’ll be fine.” Mica walked towards the door.

Then he turned around and forced a smile. I was worried for him.

“Thanks for today.” He said before walking out of the door.

“…Cinderella?” Lila said when he was gone.