Water Tower

Chapter 3

"Amanda?" A knock from the door and a voice feels the room. I turn over, not opening my eyes.

"What?" I grumble.

"It's time to get up." My cousin Jared's voice sounds through the room.

"Do I have to?" I ask, leaning up on my elbows.

"Yes, you have to." He says. I throw the covers off of my body and swing my legs over the bed. 

"Alright, if I have too." I say. I get up and head to my closest to get my clothes of the day. I start to pull my top from over my head until I hear a voice.

"Take it off baby." I shriek and pull my shirt back down quickly. I turn around and see a smiling Michael in my window.

"MICHAEL!" I pick up the closest thing to me, a shirt.

"Hey, don't stop." He pulls himself up and falls to the ground. 

"Michael, what the hell are you doing here?" I ask him, helping him up.

"Wanted to see if you wanted to hang out. Like old times." He says.

"Well, you didn't have to go all creeper on me." I laugh.

"It's just like old time Mandy. Remember when I'd come to your window and ask if you wanted to go to the tower?" He smiles.

"Yes, I do." I smile back.

"So, do you wanna hang?" He asks.

"Yeah, sure." I say, "But I need you to leave, so I can get dressed." I say, standing up and pulling Michael with me.

"What? Why?" He stutters. 

"I need to change." I push him towards the door. "You can tell Aunt Shelia why you're coming out of my room." I say, closing the door.

"Mandy." I hear him groan on the other side of the door.

"Shut up Michael." I say and walk back towards my closet.

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"So what is on the agenda Mike?" I ask, climbing into his truck.

"Well, I thought I'd show you the new things they've put up around here after you left." Michael says, starting his truck.

"Then?"

"Then, we'll go to that little diner we'd go to." He says, driving down the road.

"Does Judy still work there?" I ask.

"Just like she said, 'You'll find my dead in the kitchen."" Michael says. Judy was the nicest woman you'd ever meet. She always gave Michael and I a free desert every time we went there.

"Do you know how happy that made me?" I say, reaching over and slapping Michael's leg.

"What? My presence didn't make you happy?" He fake pouts.

"Awh, shut up." I say slapping his arm.

"Oww! That fucking hurt!" He says and I laugh. "You can roll your window down."

"What?" I ask, looking over to him.

"You can roll your window down. I can tell by the look on your face. You're dying for the wind through your hair." Michael says, shaking his head. I roll the window and he was right, I missed the feel of the Indiana air blowing around me. "You look so beautiful."

"What?" I ask, looking over to Michael.

"It looks so beautiful. You know, outside." He says. He turns back and watches the road.