The Clifford Project

Chapter 7

As we approached the parking garage of the old run down apartment building, Luke motioned for me to take the wheel as he searched for something in the back seat. He came back up with a bright pink sweatshirt in hand as I parked the car.

"Oh god I hate pink!"

"Exactly. Right now we're going to do anything to keep you disguised. You would never wear pink so we are disguising you in pink." I grimaced taking the sweatshirt and throwing it on. He opened my door grabbing me by the hand and pulling me to the flat as fast as possible. He slammed, locked, and chained the door behind us. I pulled the sweatshirt off of me running to the kitchen to make some tea.

"So Luke?" He strut in, playing with his lip ring as I played with mine.

"Hmmmm?"

"Why do you even have a pink women's hoodie?"

"Real men wear pink Paisley."

"Sure they do Lucas." He walked up behind me slipping his arms around my waist and rocking back and forth.

"How did I get so lucky as to have a best friend like you Pai?"

"Trust me Luke you really aren't that lucky. I'm just a hassle now that you have to protect me." I went to grab my tea but Luke quickly turned me around, removing my bangs from my face with his thumb on one hand, and holding on to my hand tightly with the other.

"Don't say that Paisley. Do you remember how we met? You protected me. Without you I don't know where I'd be now."

"I'm not that important Luke I-"

"No Paisley! You are one of the funniest, sweetest, most punk, and most beautiful girl I've ever met! Don't you dare think you aren't worth what I'm giving you! If anything you deserve more!" He leaned in quickly but surely he let his lips graze mine before pulling away.

"I-I-I" I was cut off by a frantic knock at the door. Luke immediately ran to go answer it. Right after the door was opened I heard the sound of Michael's voice. It sounded like he had been crying.

"Luke! Thank God your here! Is Paisley okay?!"

"Michael I think it might just be best for you to leave."

"Luke I need to see her. Please Luke you have to understand!"

"Mike! Just leave!" He started to push him out of the door way, so I walked out from the kitchen into his sight. He pushed Luke out of the way and ran towards me, picking me up and twirling me around, holding on to me tightly.

"Oh my God. I thought they killed you Paisley! I thought you were dead!" He sobbed squeezing me tighter. His crying made me start crying and after a while I was full on weeping. I pulled away wiping the tears from his eyes and holding his head in my hands.

"I'm okay Mikey. I'm okay and you're gonna be alright. I promise babe."

"Ehhhm" Luke cleared his throat trying to show us he was still there.

"Oh yeah um sorry Luke. Thank you for keeping Paisley safe Luke. And please stay safe yourself I love you guys."

"Of course Michael. But you need to try to meet in secret. Calum isn't afraid."

"Don't worry Luke I'll handle it ."

"I um I'm gonna go find Lucy. Tell her whats going on. See ya guys." He turned around and awkwardly walked out of the flat. After he left, Michael turned to me. He pulled up one hand, caressing the side of my face and rubbing my cheek with his thumb.

"My fear proves that I might be in love with you Paisley. I didn't know what I would do if Calum would have already killed you." He leaned in to kiss me but I stopped him.

"Michael I know about what you did in high school."

"Pais I-"

"I'm sorry. About your girlfriend I mean. That must have been hard." He swallowed hard, looking back up with tears in his green eyes.

"It was. But Its done now. Now I have you. And though I loved her, she was then and you're now."

"Michael you can't tell me that you don't miss her."

"I do Paisley. I really fucking do. But it's so dumb to dwell on the past and be alone forever because of it. So now, for the first time in three years, I'm moving on. And I think Maya would be happy about it."

"So her name was Maya?"

"Yeah."

"That's beautiful." I twiddled my thumbs for a little while before continuing the conversation"What about your family Michael?"

"Well it's just me my mom and my dad. They know about Maya, but I told them I was just studying abroad for a while before coming back to Australia. I haven't really visited them since."

"Maybe we could go see them sometime?" He smiled at me.

"Yeah maybe. Well enough about my fudged up past, what about you? Any interesting relationships?"

"Just one."

"Ooooo! What was his name?"

"Luke."

"OH MY GOD NOW WAY!" He fell over in laughter. "Now that just seems like incest!"

"I KNOW RIGHT!" Now we were both just dying doubled over in laughter.

"So why'd you break up?"

"He umm he cheated on me." I scratched the back of my neck gawkily and giggled.

"Wait what? With who?"

"Lucy. It's okay though. We obviously weren't meant to be. And they're  adorable." I shrugged.

"Is that why he's always on about how he doesn't deserve you?"

"Yeah when I saw him getting some with Luc in his bedroom I was devastated. I kept asking him why I wasn't good enough. Why wasn't I worth his love. I told him that we should just stay friends for now. He said he was okay with that because I was his best friend, and he promised to spend the rest of our lives proving that I was worth it."

"Your lucky to have him Paisley."

"I'm lucky to have you Mikey."

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A/N:

Yay update weeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I have like nothing to say other then I have a new account on ask.fm so if you ever have any questions I'll answer them on there. Username: gettingthefeels . Kay baii

-Sophie/Cashton baby