Damn, You're Cute (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 80

This is kind of a short chapter, but it's the way things have to be since I have it all planned out from here. It's crazy to think that we're getting close to the end...For those of you who asked me, the book will be 100 chapters because that's always been a goal of mine.

Thank you for always reading, even when I take forever to update <3

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"Luke," I barely spit out his name, unable to see anything but his worried blue eyes watching me like I was about to shatter into a million pieces. "Oh god, what have we done?"

"Leah, I'm so sorry," he quickly apologized again and wrapped his fingers around my forearm to keep me steady. I felt like I was going to double over as the kiss replayed in my head like a broken record.

"Michael's going to hate me," I hoarsely whispered. My heart continued to beat in my ears, the sound like a drum that I couldn't escape. The farther I tried to run, the louder it got.

"He's not going to hate you," Luke tried to reassure me, but he couldn't maintain eye contact as he spoke. Even Luke knew I was in for it. "He could never hate you."

The thought of Michael finding out about the kiss Luke and I just shared made me sick to my stomach. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to hold my queasiness in, and as I clutched my torso, I began to panic even more.

When Michael heard about this, when he realized what I did, he'd be gone. He'd be angry enough to forget about me and move on. He wouldn't tolerate cheating; he'd be out the door before I could explain myself. I, myself, wouldn't forgive cheating, so why would he when I was the one who kissed someone else?

A new realization hit me like a bus, though I couldn't save myself even if I tried.

I could barely manage to say the words that sent me into a downward spiral of terror. "He's going to leave me."

Luke's lips pressed together as his Adam's apple bobbed slowly. He took a deep breath before gathering my shaky arms and pulling me into his chest. I trembled as his strong hold gradually hushed my loud breaths. His warmth did little to numb the guilt and fear.

"He's not going to leave you," he disagreed with me again. Luke was playing the devil's advocate, but little did he know, I was soon to be the devil in Michael's eyes.

"He'll break up with me," I screwed my eyes shut and chewed on my bottom lip while his hands rubbed over my back soothingly. I wanted to cry, to sob and wash out all of my guilt but for some reason, I couldn't.

"Shh, Leah, breathe. It'll all be okay," Luke said, but I knew it wasn't true. Everything would be far from okay. "Try not to overreact just yet."

But as my mind replayed the last few minutes, all I could do was react. All I could do was dwell on my mistakes.

"I'm Caroline," I said into Luke's shirt, pushing my forehead into his chest. I practically burst at the thought. I was the literal definition of a hypocrite, so I beat my fists against his chest. "Fuck, Luke! I'm Caroline!"

For weeks I had looked down on Caroline for kissing Calum when she had Ashton, the boy who stopped at nothing to make her happy. Yet here I was, doing the same exact thing, only worse. Worse because Michael had no idea and somehow, he would have to find out.

"You're not Caroline," Luke tried to silence my panicked worrying, but he was lying. He and I both knew what a mess we had made in the blink of an eye. Within seconds, the tables had turned. Within seconds, I changed everything.