Between The Books-Michael Clifford

Twenty Eight

He pulls back and looks at me. I'm speechless. My mind is spinning a hundred directions, and the biggest direction is how much I want him to do that again!

"Ok, I'm sorry. Star...I'm just gonna lay it all out there, and you decide what to do with it. I'm sorry I kissed you...well not really, but I'm sorry I put you in that position..."

Any position is fine....Oh My God.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since Tuesday. I shouldn't have left you that note...I shouldn't even be SAYING this to you! I like Jax and I'm really not trying to be a problem for you...I just felt on Tuesday, like we had a connection...or something. If you feel the same, decide what you want to do about Jax, because I can't do anymore with you being his girl." He takes another step back, leaving some space between us.

I can't even breathe.

"If you want Jax, I'll deal, and I promise I won't make things hard for you." He let's out his breath and smiles. "You look fucking hot tonight too, by the way. Ok, not ANOTHER word! I promise. I'm just gonna turn around and go back up on stage. I'll see you on our break....or have Laney tell me to stay the fuck away, if I've totally misread our situation!" He says, laughing.

He walks away, leaving me standing there with my mouth open, completely unsure what just happened.

I really need a drink, SO BAD!

"Hey, Star. Did I just see my brother kiss you?" Becca asks, walking towards me.

"Um...yeah." She has a tray of shots. Thank God.

She smiles. "I knew he liked you." She puts the tray down on the table, and hands me a blue one. "After Tuesday night, he's been weird. I knew it had to be because of you. Aren't you dating Jax though?" She's being nice, but she has to be worried about it.

I tip the shot back. Blue raspberry. Not sure what, don't care.

"Becca, I REALLY like your brother. I mean....so much. I just....I have to talk to Jax. I can't, won't, cheat on him. I just want you to know...I wouldn't do that to Michael either."

She's looking at me. No doubt trying to read me, see if I'm being honest.

"Ok, Star. I don't know you, and didn't hardly get any time with you Tuesday because I passed out." She smiles. "I believe you though. Just be sure who you want. Don't jerk Michael around and then dump him because you decide you should've stayed with your boyfriend."

"I promise."

Just then the crowd starts yelling, whistling. The band's on stage warming up.

I can see Michael. I just can't call him Mikey. I like Michael better. He's taking to Toby. Holy shit. I can't even believe he kissed me! I don't even think I kissed back! Did I? I was so caught off guard, I don't even remember.

Laney shows back up, a new hickey on her neck, courtesy of Marcus marking his girl. Take that Nate! No chance he won't know about Laney having a new boyfriend now.

"Oh my God, Star, Becca! Marcus is....wait, what's wrong? Is Nate here?" She says, looking around.

"No. Mikey just kissed her." Becca says, grinning.

"What?!" Laney's staring at me.

"After you left, he asked if Jax was here yet, I said no....and he kissed me! It was fast, I don't even know if I kissed him back. He said he can't stop thinking about me. I have to decide, Laney....I mean that's what he said. He said he won't say or do anything else until I decide." I say, downing another blue raspberry whatever.

"Yeah but, you already decided. You told him, right? You want him?" Laney smiles at Becca and takes a Loopy shot.

"No, he had to go warm up, and I was just standing here stunned, I couldn't even speak. Idiot! Oh my God, he probably thinks I'm completely stupid."

"So, you need to go tell him. RIGHT NOW, Star!" Laney say.

"No, not now. They're getting ready to play."

"Are you sure about Michael? No more Jax?" Laney says, rummaging through my purse.

"Yes. I'm sure. Oh my God, I'm sooo sure, Laney."

"Ok!" She takes out a pen from my purse, and grabs a napkin from the tray of shots.

She scribbles something on the napkin, holds it up and presses it to my lips, then gives it to Becca.

"Becca, would you mind?" She says.

Becca looks at the paper and grins. "Absolutely!" She walks away, towards the stage.

"Laney, what did you write on that napkin?"

"I want you, just you." She says, a satisfied grin spreading across her face.

"And it has my lipstick on it...and Becca's..." I turn my head to see where Becca is.

"Giving it to Mikey." Laney says smiling. She picks up two green shots and hands me one.

"This is my fourth shot in, like, fifteen minutes..." I say, taking it from her.

"So you'll get a coke after this! Drink up, Baby. You just got yourself a new man!"

I watch as Becca hands Mikey the note. As soon as they break, he opens it and reads it. He looks over at me and slowly smiles.

I smile back. Holy shit this is really happening.

I turn back to Laney and see Nate walk in on the other side of the room. Shit! Where the hell is Jax?!

"Laney, Nate's here. He just walked in." I say.

"Ok. It's ok. I can handle Nate." She pulls her hair around her neck to cover her hickey. "You better call Jax though, not just because he might need to help with Nate, but you need to talk to him. Be nice Star. Jax is my boy! I love him like a brother. This is gonna kill him, but I love you and want you to be happy. All of this....tonight, me and Nate, you and Jax, it's all gonna be ok." She says, taking a deep breath.

"Hey, Laney." Nate says, walking up. "Hi Star, Becca."

Oh damn. Nate's a good guy. So is Jax. Why can't they just find new girls and make this easy on all of us?

"Hey, Nate. Have you seen Jax? I can't get a hold of him." I say.

"No, I was trying too. He must've left his phone in our room. He's supposed to already be here, I thought."

He looks at Laney. She smiles at him.

"Hey, Nate." She says.

Ok, here we go.