Between The Books-Michael Clifford

Thirty Two

"That's good! No, that's good, Star. Shows he cares about you and wants this thing between you guys to work. So where's Jax? The sooner you tell him, the sooner you can be with Michael." Leo takes a drink of his beer. He smiles at me drinking my water.

Stella got a ride home with Tyler a little while ago. She had a migraine. Leo was going to take her but she wanted him to stay with me. He hasn't had much to drink, where as the rest of us....

"The water was his idea, Leo. He said I was shitfaced!" I say, laughing.

"You are. All of you. I mean look at this table!"

There's probably forty shot glasses stacked on the table in front of us.

Leo and I are the only ones at the table at the moment, making it look like the two of us are serious alcoholics. The waitress, Lisa, who lives in our dorm, comes over to our table with a tray.

"Sorry, guys. I need to take these. Between you and that table of frat guys, we're running out of glasses."

Embarrassing.

She clears the table and then comes back with a drink, placing it in front of me.

"This is from Mikey. He says he's all in. Just do your part and he'll take you home with him tonight." She grins. "You and Jax done?"

"Yes, but I haven't been able to talk to him yet, so please don't say anything." I say.

"No worries. Mikey's hot. So's Jax though. If you're done with him, any problems if I ask him out? Course not right away."

"Wow, Lisa! No, it's fine but wait a while ok. I still care about him." Seriously?

I hear the band start up. This is their last set. Laney joins us just as Lisa walks away.

"What's that?" Laney says. She looks like she just got laid. Her hair is a mess and her eyeliner's smeared. She climbs up on her stool, adjusting her bra strap.

"Michael got it for her, with a reminder to do her part and he'll take her home with him tonight." Leo says, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"Um, HELLO! What's Mikey want you to do, Star?!" Laney says, picking up the drink and taking a sip. "It's a Slow Screw. Nice."

"I haven't told Jax yet. I was going to tonight, you know. He just never showed up. Weird."

"Yeah, not like Jax." Laney says.

"Where's Synna and Becca?" I say looking around.

"They're over at the bar. You guys, tell me Marcus wasn't FUCKING HOT the way he handled Nate?! Just, oh my God I was so ready to jump him!"

"Yeah, and by the looks of it, you did." Leo says, laughing.

"Ha, Leo! Um, yes I did, and it was sooo good." She says grinning like the cat that ate the canary....but in this case the canary was Marcus, and he probably ate her.

"You know, Star has a lot of guy friends, Leo, but you are DEFINITELY my favorite." Laney says.

"Thanks, I guess? Do you want a drink, Laney? I can get it, I'm goin' up for a beer."

"Thank you, Leo! Yes, a red headed slut, please!"

Leo leaves and Laney and I continue talking about Marcus and Michael. We've never dated guys in a band before. It's sort of fucking awesome to know that at the end of the night, while all the groupies are screaming and flirting with them, they go home with us.

Course I don't have as much to contribute to this conversation yet, as I've only been kissed by Michael twice. Actually, Laney could contribute WAY less and it would be fine with me. She has a talent for not leaving out any detail. Some things you just don't need to know.

I must have checked my phone twenty times tonight for a text or a missed call from Jax. Nothing. I really want him here. I want to talk to him. I'm so ready to be with Michael, but I know we can't...not until I break it off with Jax.

The sad thing is, he has no idea. I mean he and I were absolutely fine, no problems, until Michael walked into my library a couple weeks ago. If he and I were fighting, or drifting apart, this would be easier. It's going to hit him hard. I hate hurting him like this.

As much as I want to talk to him and get this over with, I'm actually starting to want him here for another reason. It's completely unlike Jax to just not show up, no text or call. I'm starting to get worried.

Maybe he ran into Nate and is dealing with his drunk ass. Yeah, that's probably it.

He'd have texted you.

Yeah, he would've.

Leo and Laney seem to have hit it off really well. She found out he's a huge fan of Sons of Anarchy, so they've been talking about it for the last four songs.

"Hey! Why you look so down, girl?!" Synna is beside me. I was so lost in thought about Jax I didn't even see her come over.

"I'm worried about Jax. He was supposed to be here hours ago. It's not like him to blow me off and not call."

"Oh, you still have to break it off with him don't you? You know Michael won't get with you 'till you do. He's kind of a Nazi that way." She's switched to water too now.

"A Nazi?"

"I just mean, he had a girl cheat on him a long time ago. He makes sure never to move on with someone else until he's broken up with whoever."

Makes sense.

"Well the boys are done. They'll wanna have a few drinks. You gonna be with Michael? I mean, you're not cheating just sitting with him, talking. If you wanna sit ON him, shhh, I won't tell." She winks and grins.

I laugh. Synna is funny. She's exactly what I needed to bring me out of my mood. I'm sure Jax is fine.

The guys eventually get back to our table after talking to some of their fans. Michael pulls up a stool next to mine.

"Hey. How ya doin?" He says, drinking a beer.

"I'm feeling better. The water was a good idea. You guys were great." I say smiling.

"Thanks. Did I forget to mention how great you look tonight?"

"Yes, actually, you did forget to say that."

"Well, you look amazing." He grins.

Yum.

"Still no Jax though, Michael." I lean next to his ear. "I know you want me to break it off with him, but I can't find him. He's not returning my texts or calls. Does this mean you won't touch me?" I pull back looking at him.

He looks at me, taking a drink of his beer.

"Well?" I say. I'm so freaking ready for him. I just need him to do SOMETHING. Even if all he does is hold my hand, I just want him to touch me.

It seems like his stare is going right through me. I know he's torn. I can see it in his eyes. Jax is his friend. They're in bio together as it turns out. They didn't even realize because neither of them hardly ever go.

Dying. I'm literally hearing the seconds tick by as he's trying to decide what to do.

Finally he reaches under the table, taking my hand in his. Our fingers lacing together. He smiles at me and leans in close.

"You should come home with me."