Half-Truths [hs, mc, zm, nh, lt +]

Chapter Eighteen

"Michael, how am I going to get out of the water? I'm buckass naked!" I'm hanging onto the ledge again, wanting to get out because I'm absolutely exhausted.

"I'll turn around." Michael grins and turns his back to me, giving me time to get out and wrap a towel around myself.

"Alright you can turn around now." I say, holding my towel around myself. I don't see him as he climbs out of the water, but I hear the water splashing as he gets out.

I don't face him, instead I toss him his towel.

"Thanks, Beanie." He says. I bend over and grab my bra and underwear.

"Any time." I respond, giving him a thumbs up. He gives me the okay to look at him after a few seconds.

I turn around and almost slam into Michael. I didn't realize he was this close.

"Woah watch it there, kid!" He exclaims, putting his hands on my shoulders to steady me. I huff and flip my hair over my shoulder, getting it out of my face.

"Why were you so close anyways?" I ask, hiding a chuckle. He smiles.

"Wanted to scare you." He admits, an amused glint in his grey-green eyes.

Michael backs up, and now I can clearly see him. He has a large black ring tattoo covering his upper arm and the underneath of his elbow with a design in the middle, and an X on his middle finger. On the inside of his other arm he has 'To The Moon" with a little moon at the end.

He has a toned torso, which is hard to not stare at. The towel he was wearing was draped loosely around his hips, showing off his v-line.

I pull my eyes up and realize he's staring at me, too. He's staring at my tattoo on my wrist. It's a lit match, a trail of smoke leading up my arm and stops at the middle of my forearm.

Emma has a matching tattoo. Hers is 3 pieces of firewood burning. I see his eyes wander around my body, as if to find more tattoos. I have a few, I wonder if he'll be able to see them.

He stares at my other forearm, and I look down to see what it was he was looking at. I realize he's staring at a scar.

The long, crimson red, line curves around my arm. It looks absolutely nasty. I got it when I was 16. My brother tried teaching me how to shoot an arrow, but I missed. I shot it wrong, so it flipped around right I was about to fire. It raked down my arm, creating that line. I had to get stitches.

Michael meets my gaze, and for once I hold eye contact. He slowly starts to walk towards me, but I don't back away. He finally reaches me, and too say the least, he's much taller than I am.

"Your arm." He says lowly.

"What about it?" I question him. Without taking his eyes off of mine, he takes my arm in his hand. He pulls it up so he can show me my scar.

"This. What happened?"

"Failed attempted at archery."

He chuckles.

"You can kill people, shoot guns, but you don't know how to fire an arrow?" He raises an eyebrow at me, smirking.

"I was 16, back off." I roll my eyes. I realize how close he is so I back up a little, creating more space.

"Do you think it's time to go home?" He asks. I do a little nod.

"Yeah, I think so. I want to be there when Zayn gets home." I answer.

"Alright, well let's get dressed then." He turns his back to me, and I do the same. I don't dont bother putting on my wet undergarments, so I just slip on Zayn's hoodie and my track pants instead.

I ring out my hair then turn to face Michael again. He turns around the exact same time as I do, and I start laughing. He giggles, confused.

"What?" He asks, tilting his head.

"We turned around at the exact same time." I say, still laughing. He laughs.

"So we did." He picks up his boxers and starts to make his way back into the forest, leading us back to the car.

We make it to the car after a few minutes, and I get into the passenger seat. Michael gets in beside me, puts the car in drive, and off we go.

The car ride back was a comfortable silence, both of us listening to the radio. I hear 'Why'd You Only Call Me When Your High' start playing, and I start tapping my fingers to the beat.

The mirror's image, it tells me it's home time
But I'm not finished, 'cause you're not by my side
And as I arrived I thought I saw you leavin', carryin' your shoes

I look over at Michael and see he's bopping his head slightly to the song.

Now it's three in the mornin' and I'm tryin' to change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls and to my message, you reply
"Why'd you only call me when you're high?"

I hum along to the words, and so is Michael.

Somewhere darker, talkin' the same shite
I need a partner, well, are you out tonight?
It's harder and harder to get you to listen
More I get through the gears

After a while, we pull into my driveway. I turn down the radio and look at Michael with a smile.

"Thank you for tonight, Mike. I had a great time." I thank him. He returns the smile.

"Any time, Bean. As I said before we left, I figured you would've been bored." He responds. I give a light laugh, and open the car door. I step out, not realizing Michael got out too.

"What-?" I cut off my own question, beyond confused.

"I'm going to walk you to your door. Is that alright?" He asks me for my permission. I nod.

"Yeah of course! I was just confused." I say. He chuckles, and we make our way to the front door of my house.

I take out my keys and unlock the door, then turn to face Michael again.

"All jokes aside, I had fun." I say, giving him a half smile. He grins.

"I'm glad. So did I." He answers. I'm lost on what to do now.

He makes up my mind for me, and leans down to give me a hug. He wraps his long arms around my waist, pulling me to him.

His shirt felt soft against my cheek. I lift my arms and circle them around his neck, hugging him back.

My face rested in the crook of his neck as we hugged, so whenever I inhaled I could smell whatever shampoo and conditioner he used. It smelt like coconuts, and it made me feel at ease.

He lets go of me, and I pull away from him. I open my front door, and give him a little wave.

"Bye Michael!" I say. He waves back.

"Bye Beanie." He responds, and I close the door. I wait until his car is out of the driveway before I go upstairs to put my stuff in the laundry and put on my pyjamas.

I take off my clothes, toss them in the laundry basket, and then slip on a new bra and some new underwear. I go to my drawer, taking out a pair of silk short shorts and a tang top.

I put them on quickly, then go into the bathroom to do my skincare routine. After I was done that, I brush my teeth and braid my hair.

I go back out into the bedroom, and crawl under the blankets and turn off the lamp.

As soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out.