Cigarettes and Valentines

Chapter 7

Allison's POV

"How will watching a movie help me with history? Is it like a documentary? I hate documen-"

"It's a musical" I interruped Michael and had a slight smile on my face when I realized what death glare he gave me.

"I'M NOT GOING TO WATCH A MUSICAL!" he now shouted but I noticed the bright smile on his face.

"It's technically the filmization of a musical, if that makes any difference for you" I replied calmly.

"Also Hugh Jackman plays in it" I added before he would start yelling again.

Michael scoffed and fished his lighter out.

"Don't you dare" I threatened, letting my right hand which was lying on the gear shift hit his bandaged hand.

"I wasn't gonna light it in here, Jesus, calm your tits" he groaned.

When my gaze left the street to look at him in annoynace, he rapidy rolled his eyes.

"Soothe your boobs?" he questioned. I shook my head, facing the road again.

"De-stress your breasts?" was his next try and now I couldn't help but giggle. Michael's head swung over, lips lightly parted in shock.

"You did not just giggle, did you? Oh my god, the all so grown-up Allison Jane Parker just giggled! She does have humor!" he teased, cupping his cheeks with his hands to emphasize his exitement.

"Did I mention that you're an asshole before?" I replied, pulling into the parkinglot with mom's chevy.

"To everyone's surprise: yes you did. You develop a dirty mouth, Allison Jane Parker - what an awful habit to have" he mocked when he got out of the passenger's seat, slamming the door shut, his backpack losely hanging over his shoulder.

As I closed my door as well, watching him cup his right hand around the tip of the cigarette to keep the flame steady I was about to argue about his comment but something held me back.

"You heard that phrase quite often, didn't you?" I asked with a quiet and rather pitiful voice as we walked towards the building.

Michael bit his lip again, breathing out the smoke before he qestioned. "What phrase?"

When we were about to enter the automatic door of the huge commercial-bannered shopping centre, I noticed that he stopped walking again without telling me what he was doing.

Turning around, I remembered that he had to finish his cigarette before going indoors.

"I was referrering to your what an awful habit to have" I quoted him but he simply scoffed and didn't make any efford of giving me a proper answer.

"I'll be inside. It's cold" I murmured bitterly, passing the glass walls.

As soon as I felt the warmth hit me, when stepping into the room, it took me some time until I saw that Michael was right beside me, his steps as silent as usual. How can someone with such a tentency towards raising his voice as much as he did move so quietly and unnoticed?

"You'll go borrow that fucking movie and we meet here in 20" he spoke annoyed, flicking the box of Marlboros open and shutting it over and over again.

"Where are you going?" I asked when we stopped walking in front of the video shop.

Another chuckle escaped Michael's red lips. "You don't seem to get it"

I raised an eyebrow at him, stepping back to make space for a little boy who was too scared to ask Michael to clear the way.