You can Bet on Me

Part 16 ~ Misunderstanding (2)

Maddison
I waved goodbye to Cassie and Hailey since they both had after-school activities they had to get to – Cassie recently took up piano lessons and Hailey has been going to art lessons since she had began failing Art. I myself never usually had any after school activities since I always went straight home to take care of my siblings.
Today was no different – I was going to head home as quickly as possible and try to avoid the girls who hated me because of my relationship with Michael. As I rounded the corner, I saw something that made my heart drop. Michael was kissing the same blonde girl from this morning. His back was turned to me and he hadn't seen me. I felt wrenched – of course I couldn't expect him to actually love me. Of course – why did I even get my hopes up? Since when did I even get my hopes up about him? In my head, only one word kept repeating: cheater.
Cheater in everything – cheater in a relationship, cheater in school tests, cheater in telling the truth, cheater at even being a boyfriend.
My heart was broken. I felt shattered, watching him kiss the girl. I didn't wait around for long – once I got my head screwed on straight, I hardened my gaze and ran past, hugging my bag to my chest. How could he do this to me? How could he? He obviously saw me when I had made a run for it. He called out my name, but I didn't look around. Reaching the carpark, I found my car as quickly as possible and unlocked it. Before I could get in, someone grabbed my arm. I knew who it was instantly, but I was hesitant to turn around so he could see my face and know that I was hurt, that I was breaking inside because of his betrayal. I absolutely refused to let him see me breaking and weak.
"What do you want?" my voice came across harsher and harder than I had intended, but I didn't bother to try and attest for my tone. He had hurt me, but I wasn't about to let it show.
"I want to tell you that it's not what you think," Michael replied, the sincerity in his voice making me pause and hesitate. Had I misunderstood? But no, I saw them kissing, definitely. A kiss isn't something you can misunderstand. "She kissed me, and I'm sorry if you thought otherwise. I really wasn't kissing her – she forced herself on me. I didn't want it."
His voice was soft – I knew I couldn't trust him, or at least I thought so, but something about the way he spoke those words so sincerely told me to trust him. I swallowed.
"It's okay, I understand." I replied eventually, still not being able to bring myself to look at Michael in the face. "Who... who is she, though?"
"She's..." Michael's words were hesitant. I wanted to turn around and give him a look, yet I was almost certain that my past pain (which had subsided, by now) was still showing and I couldn't bring myself to let him see me like that. "...my ex."
Those words made my blood run cold. I had known that Michael had once had a girlfriend, but I had never bothered to look into it. I just never found the time, nor the same curiosity and hunger for gossip as Vivienne did. I didn't turn around as I asked, "what... does she want? What's she doing here?"
"I don't know," Michael admitted. "But she's a transfer student here for the time being. Please believe me though – she kissed me."
"I do believe you," I swallowed, finding my words to be true. "I really do."
"Thanks," his attribute suddenly changed and he asked, "can I drive you home?"
I shook my head slowly. "No, I've got my own car. Besides, if I let you, then my car would be left here and my mum would kill me."
Michael let out a light laugh. I finally turned around to look at Michael, hoping I could trust myself not to screw it up and keep my face composed. His eyes – they were bright and relief shone inside them. Relieved that... I believed him? No, there was no way. His laughter ceased and as he met my gaze, I found myself unable to speak, frozen like a deer in the headlights. The wind suddenly picked up and my hair went flying out behind me, and I found my face heating up slightly.
"So, uh, bye then," I didn't give Michael a chance to respond and quickly got into my car, looking away from his gaze. He seemed equally stunned, and he didn't mutter another word. I couldn't bring myself to look at him anymore – whenever I did, it made my face start burning up. What was wrong with me?