The Clifford Project

Chapter 8

a/n: (trigger warning: If your sensitive to self harm you might wanna skip some of this chapter. If it is a problem you're having please message me. Even if I can't completely stop you I need to try. I know what your going through and want you to know that I love you😘. I also want you to know I'm not trying to romanticize self harm because that's not what it's about)

"Wait. How do you know they didn't track you back here?" I asked Michael. We were cuddled up on my bed with a bowl of popcorn watching The Grace Helbig Show, laughing hysterically.
"Well the only way I can think of them tracking me is through my phone or just them seeing me. I left my phone at home and called a taxi to see you. I thought I was going to be to late. Thank God I'm not." That still didn't calm my nerves but he kept taking. "What about your family? Siblings or anything?"
"Two older brothers then me, my mom, and my dad."
"What are they like?"
"My brothers are weird. They really like classic rock and video games. I've learned basically everything I know from them. My mom is sweet but doesn't take shit, and is brutally honest. She's a teacher so she knew how to deal by the time I was born. My dad, well he's funny. Also really distant. He was always away on business when I was younger so I usually only saw him some nights and the weekends. My parents always expected so much from me and I just, I just-" I stopped momentarily and took in a shaky breath. He reached towards me with one hand pushing my bangs out of my face and behind my ear.
"Come on Pais. There's no way it's worse than what I've done."
"Well it wasn't out of the ordinary for my report card to be sent home and be hidden. If I had even a B in a class he freaked out. Once in grade eight I got a B- in science and my dad told me I'd never be accepted to college. I cried myself to sleep that night."
"Well you showed him then right? Look at you my little sophomore."
"This wasn't my first choice."
"Where did you want to go?"
"UCLA. It's in America."
"If you were in America we wouldn't have met, love." I shifted closer into his grip.
"Can we change the subject? Please?"
"Of course babe. We could play never have I ever?"
"How the hell would we do that with just us?"
"You realize you don't live alone right Paisley?"
"True." I giggled and he smirked at me. I opened my door and shouted to Lucy to get off her arse and come hang with us. Luke was still in our living room sitting on the couch playing COD.
"Can I come too?"
"Sure ya fucking dingus." He furrowed his eyebrows trying to look angry before breaking out into a smile.
They walked in and threw themselves on the bed as I sunk back into Mikey's arms.
"By playing this game, with this lovely group of people, you are taking an oath to tell the full truth and nothing but the truth."
"Whoa guys careful. This is totally serious shit to Mike. Don't wanna break your oath he might execute you!"
"I would tell you to shut the hell up if you weren't so fucking adorable." He leaned over and kissed my cheek before continuing. "Hands up! We'll each go around in the circle and say something that we've never done. If you've done what they said you put a finger down. depending on how you see it, the person who still has fingers up in the end wins for being a good person or something. On the other hand, the person who puts all their fingers down first wins for being a bad ass. If requested you must tell the story of what you did. Lucy you go first." She thought for a moment before blurting out, "Never have I ever eaten cereal without milk." Everyone but Lucy put a finger down.
"Wow Luc. you're really asking those hard hitting questions aren't you?" She rolled her eyes at me and Luke asked his question. We went on for a while before it actually got serious. It was Luke's turn to say one.
"Never have I ever been a felon on the run." Michael put a finger down, smiling angrily.
"Never have I ever cheated on a girlfriend." Luke put a finger down, clenching his jaw tightly. It was my turn to go but Luke started talking again.
"Never have I ever sold drugs just for the fuck of it!" Michael threw his hands against his sides.
"NEVER HAVE I EVER LEFT A FRIEND IN NEED TO DIE!" Michael spat. Luke jumped across the bed, tackling Michael to the ground. Lucy went running out the door. She hated fights and new exactly what was going on.
Luke threw the first punch straight for Michaels nose and a cracking noise echoed through the bedroom along with two loud shrieks. One coming from me and one coming from Michael.
He pushed Luke off to the side of his body. Climbing on top of him, Michael took a clean shot to Luke's cheek and chin. I brought my legs up to my chest, covered my ears, and leaned against the headboard, beginning to cry.
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT! YOU BROKE HER HEART!" I heard Michael shout over my sobs.
"YOUR PUTTING HER IN DANGER YOU DICK! YOU NEED TO FUCK OFF!" Fists flew everywhere as Luke grabbed the collar of Mikes shirt, pulling him up against the wall, raising his fist to throw the last punch. With all of my strength I ran up between them pushing Luke off as he blindly threw the punch, smacking straight into my jaw.
"STOP!" I yelled with my whole voice. "Please, just stop." I began crying again.
"Paisley I-" Luke reached out to hug me but I pulled away.
"Don you fucking touch me." He pulled his hand back.
"I'm sorry Pais, really I-"
"NO LUKE! YOU TWO REALLY FUCKED UP! I HATE YOU! FUCK I HATE BOTH OF YOU!" I ran out of my bedroom and into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind me. I ripped through every drawer until I found what I was looking for. That small silver blade I've been free from for months. Sitting against the bath tub, I fiddled with it in between my fingers accidentally cutting my finger in the process. A loud knock came at the door.
"PAISLEY OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW!" It was Michael. I kept silent bringing the blade to my thigh. As I went to change my mind and pull away the door crashed open, startling me and causing me to leave a deep slit in my upper thigh, bleeding profusely.
"Shit." I whispered, as Michael ran over to me, ripping the cold metal blade from my hand and throwing it across the room.
"Oh my god. Paisley don't do this to yourself!"
"I'm sorry." I sniffles covering my face with my sleeve.
"No baby don't apologize. I know you it's not your fault."
"But it's always my fault! That's the problem! That's why you guys were fighting."
"No that was just us being stupid. Try not to be down on yourself. You're so perfect and I really don't want to loose you. Lets get this cut cleaned up okay?" I nodded as he washed out the gash and rapped it in gauze. "What now babe?"
"I think I'm gonna go talk to Luke alone quick."
"Okay I'll be in the living room figuring out my maybe broken nose." He walked out and sat on the couch as I made my way to my bedroom where Luke was sitting with an ice pack.
"Paisley I- Oh god your leg? Did you cut yourself?"
"Yes Luke but it was an accident don't worry."
"Is your jaw okay?" He asked guilty handing me another ice pack.
"Yes Luke everything's okay. I just have a question."
"Ask away."
"What was Michael talking about when he said you left your friend in need to die?"
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A/n: I FINALLY WROTE ANOTHER CHAPTER! I'm sorry about not writing for a while. I get out of school soon so I will probably write more then. ALSO CLIFFHANGER! Any guesses on what Mikey was talking about?
Anyway I lub all yo bootyful faces!
-Sophie/ The Cashton baby