Saving the Reject | Michael Clifford | Editing

n i n e ;

Charli

Michael returned after a few minutes with two drinks from the library's café. "Hey, sorry about that. I bought you a lemonade, I hope that will make up for the interruption," he said, placing two tall glasses of a cursed citrus liquid on the table. It was really thoughtful of him, but he really should have asked me first.

"The first and most important thing you should know about me," I said, reaching into my pocket for my money. "Is that I'm severely allergic to citrus."

He looked at me completely awestricken, his jaw dropped open. "That's an actual allergy?"

"I'm pretty sure it's possible to be allergic to anything," I inquired, holding out a ten dollar bill.

"Why are you trying to give me money?" he asked, throwing me off a bit. I thought he'd want me to pay for something he bought me that I can't drink.

"Well, I figured, since I can't drink it - "

"I'm not going to make you pay for something that'll kill you. I'm not the cruel," he told me, pushing my hand back. "I can bring it back, it's not a big deal. What would you like to drink? Coffee?"

I wanted so badly to say no, to stop him from paying for a drink for me. Did this have something to do with what I said earlier? Does he feel bad that he assumed I was rich? But, at this point, I honestly didn't care. Caffeine was very much needed. "I - um - I guess?"

So, Michael stood, grabbing the lemonade set in front of me. "How do you like it?"

"With just a little bit of sugar," I told him, looking back down at my notes, at what I would help him with when he came back.

"Alright, Sugar." I looked up in time to catch his smirk of a smile before he turned around and walked back towards the café.

Okay, then.

* * * * * *

"So when should we meet up again?" Michael asked. It was about three o'clock, and we were heading back to his house. Hey, I held up my half of the deal, he needs to hold up his.

"Next Sunday?" I asked hesitantly.

"Do you think we could do it anytime sooner? I have a math test on Wednesday, and I'm tired of my teacher expecting me to do terribly. A few hours with you, and I've learned more than I have this entire year," he complimented, which caused me to smile. I've always had an underlying love for teaching, and knowing that I'm good at it builds my confidence. "Are you free sometime after school this week?"

"Well. . . " That's the thing: a really hate abandoning tradition, and since she's left school, visiting Evie with Scarlett everyday has been a tradition. But I guess that tradition is already changing.

"What?" Michael asked, sounding a little annoyed.

"I don't know if you'll remember this, but at the end of last school year, a girl named Evie Ray was diagnosed with cancer."

"I remember that. She was one of you, right? One of the AP students? Mrs. Enfield was in hysterics when she found out." I remember Mrs. Enfield. That was our ceramics teacher, mine and Evie's. She was easily our favorite teacher personality, and we were easily her favorite students.

"Well, um. . . Evie is my best friend," I said, only loud enough to be heard and comprehended. Michael said nothing, but there had been an obvious change in the atmosphere. "Everyday, my friend Scarlett and I go and visit her afterschool. Evie would be fine with me missing a couple of days to tutor you, but I don't know about me. You may think I'm weird, but I'm a little OCD when it comes to traditions."

"No, I - um - understand." Michael wasn't looking at me. "But Charli, when did you say your brother's wedding was?"

"A little under three months."

"Well, I don't know how afraid you are of singing, but I doubt that if we only met once a week, you would be ready." He has a point.

"I - " I said before stopping myself, and taking a breath, calming my nerves. "I'll see what I can do. But do know that the first time, I may be a little on edge."

But I wasn't scared of being on edge around Michael; I was afraid that the day I don't visit Evie, will be the day fate isn't on her side.