Chapter Text
Mikey’s sophom*ore year in high school has been going fairly well all things considered. He had been getting better at getting assignments done on time and turned in thanks to his new ADHD medication, which a few years ago, Mikey would have never thought was possible. He was making new, better friends in the clubs he had decided to join and it made him noticeably brighter. For the first time since the fallout in freshman year, Mikey felt good. Happy.
That was until a boy named Tyler had walked into Mikey’s life.
Mikey was working at his desk one day, managing to stay focused on the math problems that were lying before him. Mikey wasn’t the greatest at math, always opting to ask Donnie for help once he got home from school. But today he was feeling optimistic to try and figure it out for himself for a change. ‘If I get this done in this period,’ Mikey thought, ‘maybe Raph will let me go to the skatepark.’ The thought was enough to make Mikey work harder and become even more in The Zone, as he called it. Until,
“Hey, you’re Mikey right?” A voice piped up next to him. Like that, the productivity bubble had popped and The Zone had been corrupted. With a small frustrated sigh, Mikey turned to see who had ruined this good moment for him. A boy was leaning against his desk, giving him a small smile. He had black fluffy hair that swooped slightly in front of his blue eyes and skin that was sun kissed. To any other person, this guy would have been found attractive, but not to Mikey whose mood had been ultimately destroyed.
Mikey tried to play off his annoyance by giving him a small smile in return. “Yep. And you are?”
“I’m Tyler. You know,” Tyler motioned to himself with a co*cky smile now plastered on his face, “the quarterback of our football team.” Mikey immediately cringed internally. ‘Man, this guy has a bigger ego than Leo.’ Mikey thought, trying not to let the negative feeling show on his face.
“Good to know.” Mikey just said in return, then turned back to his math worksheet.
“Ah, actually I wanted to ask you something.” Tyler squeaked again, drawing Mikey’s attention back to him. At this point, Mikey was just accepting the fact that he wasn’t going to be getting back to his math homework anytime soon with this guy around. So, admitting defeat, Mikey turned his attention back to him.
Tyler gave him another smile, this time not as co*cky and a little more shy. “I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me sometime?” He lifted his hand, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked downward instead of at Mikey.
“Oh.” Mikey then mumbled, his face now warming up as he bit his lip nervously. Mikey was taught by his dads that if anyone asked him out, he should say yes because they probably worked up a lot of courage to ask him. Something never seemed right about that statement. What was the point of saying yes if he didn’t return the same feelings? To lead the poor person on? So, he knew what he had to do and hopefully he wouldn’t ruin this guy's heightened ego in the process.
“I’m sorry but I’m not interested in dating right now.” Mikey said honestly, fidgeting with the pencil he was still holding. There was an uncomfortable silence before he heard Tyler scoff.
“Why not?” Mikey’s head snapped up in shock, now seeing the disgusted look on Tyler’s face at Mikey’s statement. Tyler gave Mikey a strange up-down look before continuing, “Like, is someone holding you back or something?” Mikey shifted uncomfortably under his judgemental gaze.
“No? I just don’t want a relationship right now.”
“Look, I’m a really nice guy,” Tyler started, now shifting his face to look more comforting and innocent. “Just give me a chance.” Suddenly, he reached his hand across his desk and rested it on Mikey’s forearm, rubbing his hand up and down. “Come on hun.”
Mikey immediately snapped his arm out of his reach as the bell thankfully rang. He stood up sharply, grabbing his homework and backpack in an instant. “I got to go.” He muttered, running out of the classroom with the other students. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand as he heard Tyler call out his name aggressively. Mikey didn’t slow his pace until he made it to his next class and took his seat. He knew Tyler wasn’t in this class, but even that acknowledgement couldn’t calm the rate his heart was beating at.
‘Did that really f*cking happen?!’ Mikey thought, gripping his book tightly. ‘What if he IS in this class? I didn’t even know he was in that other one? What if he followed me here either way? What if he’s going to be at my locker after this period? What if-‘ Mikey’s thoughts were cut off when the bell rang again and his teacher started going over her announcements. Mikey quickly scanned the room, making sure Tyler wasn’t around before finally allowing his thoughts to become silent. ‘Let’s just get this sh*tty day over with.’
Unfortunately for Mikey, that wasn’t the end of the exchange between him and Tyler. After that period, Mikey found Tyler lurking by his locker with an angry expression. He quickly retreated, thankful he didn’t need anything important for the next class. But after every class period, Tyler would already be stationed next to Mikey’s locker with eyes scanning the crowds at an excessive speed.
‘What the hell is his problem?!’ Mikey hissed, retreating for the fifth time this day. ‘Has he never been told no or something?!’ Mikey decided that for the rest of the day, he’d avoid going to his locker at all costs! If he needed something, he knew his classmates would (hopefully) provide. And, luckily for Mikey, it worked for the remainder of the day. Most of the stuff he needed and didn’t have was online anyway. ‘Thank GOD for technology.’ Mikey thought, relaxing for the first time the whole day. He furthermore relaxed when the bell to go home rang. Finally Mikey could be free from this place for the weekend and hopefully that Tyler guy would forget his existence by Monday.
Mikey quickly gathered his things and rushed to his locker, somehow making it there before that Tyler freak could show up. ‘Strange but not unwelcome.’ Mikey had thought, sighing with relief and exhaustion. Avoiding him all day had become a tedious task that Mikey did not have the energy for for the rest of the year. Mikey quickly shoved everything in his backpack and headed off to find his friends. Usually he would immediately head to the car to wait for his brothers but today he decided to enjoy the company of safer people. ‘Besides,’ Mikey sighed, ‘being alone doesn’t sound good right now.’
Mikey found his art club friends sitting in the gym and started chatting it up with them. They talked about all sorts of nothing, laughing at memes, sharing gossip they heard throughout the day. Mikey left out his little run-in with Tyler the Magical Quarterback, but he knew he would tell them whenever he felt less on edge with the memories. Eventually his friends had to leave, so they said their goodbyes and Mikey headed towards the front doors while scrolling mindlessly on his phone.
“Hey.” A voice all too familiar hissed. Mikey froze at it, slowly turning his head with his eyes wide in fear and surprise. Tyler was leaning against the wall, arms crossed and eyes cold. What was once warm blue eyes now turned to ice and frost. Mikey swallowed a lump in his throat as he tightened his grip on his phone for some kind of grounding. “Why have you been avoiding me?”
“Excuse me?” Mikey muttered in disbelief, raising one eyebrow in shock.
“Excuse me?!” Tyler mocked, making his voice try and sound like Mikey’s. “You know exactly what I’m saying bitch.” His eyes turned back to stone cold as he pushed off the wall and took a few steps towards him. Mikey stiffened at the movement and harsh words directed towards him. “You haven’t been to your locker all day. I know you’ve been avoiding me! What is your problem?!”
‘He can’t be serious!’ Mikey thought, glancing quickly to the side. Tyler gave him an annoyed look, signaling for him to actually answer. ‘Okay, time for Dr. Delicate Touch!’ “Are you being serious?” Mikey snorted, rolling his eyes. He stood straighter, showing he was getting serious. “You’ve been harassing me all day! I told you I’m not interested but you seem to have brain damage or some sh*t that makes you hear NO as YES!” Tyler just stared at him, shock evident on his face but still slightly hidden behind his stone hard facial structure. “Seriously, just leave me alone!” Mikey stormed off, slamming the first pair of front doors open.
“Woah, you can’t just talk to me like that!” Tyler immediately called out, rushing after him. “Look, I’ve seen you around school for a while and I think you’re really cute! Just give me a chance!” Mikey tried his best to tune this dude out while he shoved open the next pair of front doors that lead outside. As he started his descent down the stairs, he heard Tyler start up again. “Everyone wants me! I’m literally the hottest guy in our grade! You should be grateful that someone like me even wants someone like you!”
Mikey huffed out a startled laugh before jumping down the last step and turning violently towards Tyler. He shoved an accusing finger at him as he felt the fire inside his heart start boiling over. “I should feel grateful huh?! Why would I ever feel grateful for getting hit on by the lousiest piece of scum I have ever met?! I pity the people who dated you in the past! It’s no god damn wonder you’re single!” Tyler visibly stiffened, looking shocked but still pissed off. “Good luck finding someone that actually gives an f*ck about you.” Mikey turned, throwing his hands in the air and starting towards the car.
Just as the adrenaline started running out, he felt a hand violently grab his wrist and yank him backwards. Mikey let out a startled yelp as he became uncomfortably close to Tyler’s face. “If you think you can talk to me like that you got another thing coming bi-” Burning anger filled Mikey’s entire being as he swung his fist on impulse, making perfect contact with Tyler’s cheek. Tyler went flying to the ground, letting Mikey’s wrist go with little resistance. He landed hard on his forearm as he used his other hand to clench where Mikey punched.
Mikey immediately dropped to Tyler’s level, grabbing his shirt and yanking him close. Mikey glared into his soul as he delivered his words as cold as his voice would allow him. “If you ever touch me or come near me again, you’re going to find out why I was f*cking suspended last year.” He co*cked his head to the side slightly to add emphasis to his point. “You feel me?” Tyler’s eyes were full of fear and shock as he paled. He knew the rumors and the story. Everyone did. So he nodded his head, not breaking eye contact in the process.
The rest was a blur. Donnie coming up to him, Mikey walking back to the car, whatever Leo and Raph tried to say, the car ride home, all of it. The same thought was going through Mikey’s head, replaying like a broken record:
‘Did I deserve all that?’
