Toxic // m.c.

chapter fifteen.

My hands are starting to shake as I clutch the side of my dress. I’m zoning in and out, starring ahead at the road. Something’s going to go wrong, I know it. I’ll be there, Michael will be there, and that never works out.

I’m snapped out of my thoughts by Ashton shaking my shoulder and I realize the car’s already parked, and were outside a nice looking restaurant called The Sun Grove.

“Did you hear anything I just said?” Ashton asked me.

“Uh, no….” I answered, still not really there mentally.

“Are you okay Sophie?”  He asked me and I tried not to flinch at the nickname only Michael and Raelynn would call me. Concern was filling his face and I needed to think of something to say.

“I’m just nervous, you know? Kaya doesn’t seem to care for me all that much. I think she may have a small thing for you” I said with a small laugh, trying to brush it off.

Ashton chuckled a little, his curly ash blonde hair bouncing with his shoulders and I just admired him as his small laughter filled the car. He’s so handsome, and so sweet. Why couldn’t I of fallen in love with a guy like him to start with?

Ashton grabbed my hands from my sides and held them tightly in his, looking me in the eyes.

“Don’t even worry about her. She’s on a date with him, not me. And me, I’m on a date with you, not her.” He said, a small smile appearing on his face. His eyes returned back down to my hands, as he took his thumb and started rubbing it over the top of my hand in small circles.

“Why are your hands so cold?” he whispered, look up again into my eyes, but this time not dropping eye contact. Something happened; the air is different and filling with a tension of some sort and I can’t really say I hate it…

I just kept starring into his eyes, absolutely entranced with the golden flecks that were in them, too entranced to even notice him slowly moving closer until we were about nose to nose touching.

“Uh, the a-air conditioning maybe…” I said, barely above a whisper that faded into the silence once again.

“I could really kiss-“Ashton started saying until there was a loud bang coming from the front of his car. I jumped up, smacking my head on the roof of his car.

“Fuck that hurt” I whined, rubbing my head.

“Shit, are you okay?” Ashton asked me franticly, and then we heard another bang, making me hit my head, once again.

“FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! WHAT THE HELL?” I shrieked, finally looking out the dashboard to see what the hell was happening.

I was expecting it to be some problem with his motor, and to look and see the front of his car covered in smoke or something. What I was not expecting, was Michael Clifford standing there with his hand on the front of the car like he was about to hit it again.

*MICHAELS P.O.V*

I tap my fingers on the table impatiently, listening to Kaya babble on about some dumb story.

“I was dying! His face was literally priceless. You know, I’m surprised you don’t miss colleg- Michael? Are you even listening?” she rambled and huffed and I just mumbled a ‘yeah’, faking a laugh, acting as if I was actually listening. She bought it too, because she just went right back to her story.

Why was I even here again?

This is so shallow, but I know I’m only using Kaya to get my mind off Sophia. The whole ‘boyfriend’ slip was so weird. She knows were not dating. But it’s not really like it matters, when I know she’s just using me to make Ashton jealous, and that’s why it slipped. I guess were just helping each other out, in a completely twisted way…

Why the hell was Ashton even so interested in Sophia anyways?  Last time I checked, he was obsessed with Kaya, and now she shows up and everything’s changed? I swear to fucking god if he hurts her…

I check the time on my phone, and they’re already 15 minutes late.

Kaya was still rambling on about some shit I really didn’t care about, and I was actually starting to panic a little. Where are they? What are they doing? Are they okay? Most importantly, is she okay?

“So I was like-“Kaya rambled but I cut her off.

“Has Ashton texted you? Where are they?” I asked her.

She rolled her eyes, pulling out her phone to check. “Umm… No”

She twisted in her seat, eyes scanning all over the place to try and spot them, until she got to the window and froze.

“What are you starring at?” I asked, rolling my eyes. She yanked me to turn around in my seat and face the window, where Ashton and Sophia were sitting inside his car about to fucking kiss.

“Fuck!” I seethed and jumped out of my seat and headed to the door.

“Michael stop! Where are you going?” I heard Kaya call out at me but I didn’t even bother responding.

I ran to their car before they could connect their lips and banged my hand on the hood of his ugly looking car. Sophia hit her head, and Ashton just had to be so polite and ask her if she was okay. What a prick. I should be doing that. I banged my hand on the car again, maybe leaving a little dent. Whoops.

“What the hell!” I heard Sophia screech from inside, but as soon as she looked up and saw me color drained from her face and Ashton looked like he was about to run me over. Ha, sucks to suck.

Sophia rolled her eyes and opened her car door, stepping outside.

Holy shit she looked beautiful. That dress… oh my God, that dress. If only she was here with me, not him, I would-

“What the hell are you thinking?!” Sophia yelled, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I was a little thrown off. Why wasn’t she thanking me? I just saved her from kissing… that.

“I’m thinking that I’m starving in there, and so is my date. We were trying to be polite and wait for you both, but you two seem to of found something better to do. Now that’s not very nice, is it Soph?” I said, mocking a sweet condescending tone to my voice and she balled up her right fist like she always does when she’s angry.

“Alright well were ready. Come on Soph, let’s go inside.” Ash told her, his rude tone turning to a soft one when he started directing his tone to her. Prick.

He held out his hand, and even though she was hesitant, she still took it and they made their way through the restaurant door, leaving me to walk in alone while I felt like my heart was about to cave.

So that’s how she wanted to play? Game on.