Between The Books-Michael Clifford

Twenty Six

"What do you wear for a night out with your boyfriend, his friends, and the guy you can't stop thinking about, which also happens to be friends with your boyfriend?" I say.

My closet has all kinds of options but right now they all make me crazy.

"Just wear the black skinny jeans and the blue flannel. Wear your black lace tank under it. That'll get both of them hot and then you can decide who you'd rather fuck." Laney says, squeezing into her own skinny jeans.

"Wow, Laney. I'm not fucking anyone but Jax."

"Yeah, I know, but don't pretend you haven't thought about doing Mikey." She's giving me her one eyebrow look. I see this look from Laney a lot.

"Yeah, I've thought about it. Is that crazy?! I mean, I just don't know what to do. I love Jax...or at least I thought I did. Do you think you can be in love with one person but want someone else too?" I pull my jeans on and open my drawer to look for the tank top.

"No. Simple as that. That's why I think it was easy for me to let go of Nate. I thought we'd be together forever, you know? Even when I was with Max, I still wanted Nate....but then when Marcus came along....fuck. There's no going back. I don't even know WHAT I was feeling for Nate, because what I THOUGHT was love was nothing compared to what I feel for Marcus."

Seriously? Ok, these two are just too cute....and also pissing me off. I'll admit I might be a little jealous. I wish it was just easy and obvious for me to know how I feel and what to do.

Laney pulls a light green tank top over her head and grabs her hairbrush. She pulls her hair out of her shirt and flashes me a corny smile.

I sit down on my bed holding my shirt.

"Really? You're that sure about Marcus, after only being with him for one week?" I can't even imagine knowing, really knowing, that fast.

"I knew, Star. I knew the minute I saw him....I just felt it." She starts brushing through her hair. She's been the happiest I've ever seen her, this last week. Maybe Marcus really is the one.

"Well....I do feel something for Mikey, and I've never felt this before, even with Jax. I'm not saying it's love, I don't know him well enough, but....it's so intense..."

"Mmm, sounds like more than just a crush, Star. You should see where it goes. If I hadn't followed my gut with Marcus, I'd probably have gotten back with Nate, and I would've missed out on the best thing to ever come into my life." Her hair is smooth and shiny, after brushing it. She hands me the hairbrush.

"Oh my God! I completely forgot. Ok, now don't be mad, I was caught up in my own Jax and Mikey shit. So Jax said Nate is coming tonight and wants you back." She's going to kill me for not telling her this sooner.

"WHAT?! I know you are NOT just telling me this now. Really, Star? Well, what the fuck am I going to do now?!" She stands up and grabs her purse, pulling out her phone.

"Ok, yeah that was stupid of me, but here's what we can do. You have to tell Marcus what's up, that Nate doesn't know you're with another guy, wants you back, but that you'll talk to him and handle it. I think it's best if Nate and Marcus don't actually meet, you know?"

"Star, I'm not ignoring Marcus because Nate's feelings might get hurt." Laney grabs a pair of seriously high heeled boots from the closet and sits down on her bed.

"No, no. I don't mean ignore Marcus. Just tell him you're going to talk to Nate and explain you don't feel the same about him. Hopefully Nate will get a clue and leave." I pull the brush though my hair and walk over to my closet to find my own black boots.

"I'm sorry, have you met either Nate or Marcus? Nate isn't going to just be all, "Ok, well thanks for the last year, see ya around!", now Marcus will probably be ok unless Nate pushes things. Shit, Star! If I'd known sooner, I could've talked to Marcus before he left! Now I'm gonna have to tell him at the bar right before he has to play! Just what he needs right before going on stage." She finishes getting her boots on and picks up her phone.

"Hurry up, I wanna catch him before they start to warm up. I'll text him that I need to talk....no, that sounds bad, like I'm gonna dump him or something. Ok, well just hurry up so we can go!"

"Ok, ok. Let me grab my purse and we can go." I grab my perfume, spray it into the air, and both Laney and I take turns walking back and forth through it.
"Do you have gum and lipstick? Wait, I don't have any cash!" I say, grabbing my coat and Laney's.

"Yes to lipstick and gum, don't worry about money. Marcus won't let us pay anyway. Come on, let's go find your men....ugh, and mine! Star, I have a really bad feeling about tonight."

Awesome....because so do I.