Damn, You're Cute (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 70

Luke's words stung more than I let on. I felt the tears roll down my face as I hurried out of the courtyard toward my car. I couldn't spend the rest of the day here, classes or no classes.

Luke's mom didn't attempt to stop me since my obviously puffy red eyes refused to meet hers. I pushed through the double doors of the main office and took gasped breaths once in my car.

My phone broke the silence by ringing and caused me to let out a groan of frustration, rolling my head back against the leather seat. I didn't want to speak to anyone, but the fact that it was Caroline on the caller ID surprised me.

"Hello?" I asked before sniffing and wiping underneath my eyes. I prayed that my mascara wasn't running, although at this point I didn't care.

"Hey! Where are you?" Caroline said through the phone, obviously surrounded by several loud students.

"In my car," I told her with a cracked tone. I was never good at faking my emotions. "I'm not exactly in the talking mood."

"What's wrong?" she ignored me and the voices in the background got softer as if she had walked away from them.

"It's nothing." I assured her and flipped down my car mirror. My eyes were just how I imagined: red, puffy, and slim with sorrow while my voice was distorted by my stuffy nose. "Why'd you call?"

"I noticed you're not in French." she said, but it was almost a question. The realization of all the work I'd have to make up hit me, but then again I wouldn't be very focused in class anyway.

"Oh, well, I think I'm going to go home," I sighed and started up my car, the engine roaring to life and the radio switching on. "Im not in the best state to attend classes right now."

I laughed softly at the wreck that I was. I had makeup strewn across my face and flushed skin. All I wanted at the moment was Michael because I knew he could cheer me up, but I wasn't going to drag him out of school for the day, especially since he'd kindly come get me without a second thought. He'd gotten his grades up and the last thing I wanted was to make him work harder due to make up assignments if he missed.

"Don't move. I'm coming." Caroline said and I quickly sputtered, trying to think of an excuse. Caroline was my friend, yes, but I didn't exactly want to explain to her what had happened. Reliving my argument with Luke was not on the list of things I needed. However, Michael and a Netflix date was.

"Um, no, Caroline, you really don't need to do that. I'm fine, I promise." I argued but she was set from the moment she spoke. Caroline was coming to cheer me up.

"Stay." was all she said and then hung up, leaving me in my car with the music humming in the background. I exhaled and checked the mirror one more time while I waited. I sniffed and tried to appreciate the cleansing feeling that you get after crying. It was like all my emotions got washed out of me.

A knock on the car window let me know Caroline made it out of school alright. Maybe the ladies at the office were out at lunch because it never used to be that easy to walk out during the day.

"You look awful," Caroline remarked as she climbed inside my car and took in my appearance. This made me scowl and rub my cheeks as if that would make the tear stained look fade away. "Sorry, that was rude."

"I'm going home. Are you coming with me?" I asked abruptly and put the car in reverse, backing out of my parking spot. I was not in the mood to occupy my friend. I had never realized how dependent I was on Luke's friendship until then.

"Sure," she shrugged and watched the road as I easily maneuvered out of the school lot. We were silent for awhile until she cleared her throat and looked over at me with a concerned glance. "You want to tell me what happened?"