I glare at the sheet music on my piano as I hit yet another wrong key. Brian had given us some pretty advanced music to rehearse and this is a piece I am unfamiliar with. Frustration courses through me as I take a deep breath and try again.

I haven't had this much trouble with a piece of music for years.

I hit another wrong key and jump when a voice laughs at me. I turn around and glare at the intruder.

"Dude, you suck." Michael says, throwing a tennis ball at me.

I catch it swiftly and toss it behind me, rolling my eyes.

"You really aren't in a position to judge." I mutter, recalling his fleeting attempt to learn the guitar.

"I was trying to impress a girl, and she wasn't that hot. I need some good incentive." He says with a shrug.

He flops down on my bed and throws his tennis ball at the wall opposite, catching it deftly as it returns to him. I turn towards the piano, shaking my head when I pause and turn back around.

"What are you doing here?" I ask curiously, not entirely sure why he is here on a Friday night. Michael is in the habit of dropping round unexpectedly, but it's usually because he's hungry and my mum cooks for 400 instead of 4.

I'm surprised to find that Michael looks vaguely embarrassed. He catches his ball again and sits up, his eyes fixated on the tennis ball in his hands.

"Well, you know the winter formal is coming up and everything? Well, I have this girl that I want to ask and I need some advice" He says,

I nod, my mind fumbling to guess who he's talking about. It could be Rebecca, he's been hanging out with her a lot, or maybe Charlotte.

"And, I guess, ask your permission." He finishes and my mind finally makes the connection.

"Aw man, my sister? Really?" I groan, grimacing at the mental images of my best friend and my sister.

I'm not an idiot, it's not like I didn't know they were close, but this is a different kind of level. I sigh, knowing that if Kia has to date anyone, I'd trust Michael with her the most.

She might not even say yes.

I perk up slightly at that thought.

"It's weird, I'll admit, but it's not like I didn't know. It's fine man, just treat her with a bit of respect, yeah?" I say, my tone a little sharper than intended and he nods, his face breaking into a tentative smile.

"Will do man. So, how should I ask her?" He asks, his arms folding behind his head as he settles in.

I shrug unhelpfully, equally as clueless in this department.

"Do something cringey that'll make her laugh?" I suggest, knowing that Kia isn't a huge romantic and Michael grins.

"Already got that covered." He says confidently. I roll my eyes and turn back to the piano, my mind drifting towards Clara. I hadn't even thought about how I would ask her to the dance. I'm too preoccupied with not passing out every time I'm in the same room as her. Pathetic, I think with a frown.

"So, you gonna ask your lady?" Michael asks, practically reading my mind and I sigh.

"I don't know." I mumble hopelessly and Michael wisely drops the subject, resuming his tennis ball throwing. I remove the thought from my mind and focus on the piece of music again, my hands roughly practising the movements of the melody. I manage to get it right this time, and although it's no where near fluid, at least it's right.

Michael interrupts my victory by sitting up dramatically, his tennis ball wildly bouncing off my walls and narrowly missing my head.

I turn to face him, about to comment on my near decapitation when he speaks.

"Do you know how to dance?" He asks, his expression concerned. I shake my head slowly, my face dropping in pure terror.

Michael's expression slowly morphs into one of mischief and I shake my head.

"No, no way." I say firmly, but my resolve is slipping.

Michael simply smiles and nods his head.