Numb / Michael Clifford

2 | She Looks So Perfect

- twenty two months ago

Just like any other morning, Scarlett slowly made her way into Michael's kitchen, the heels of his house slippers dragging against the wooden floors, kicking her ripped skinny jeans to the side.

Michael sat on the couch across the room, watching her as she took a sip of the coffee he had prepared for her.

Though she was just wearing his slippers, his top from the previous night and a clean pair of his American Apparel underwear, she had never looked so perfect. The top she wore was covered in her lipstick stains; bold lips were her thing. He swore they were a work of art.

Michael, on the other hand, was a mess. He kicked over the brown coffee table that stood in the middle of the flat, scaring Scarlett.

He started pacing back and forth, fingers running through his vibrant hair.

Scrambling over, Scarlett stopped him in his tracks. "Michael, what's the matter?"

He rubbed his face with his hands. "My parents." Michael started groaning in frustration.

"Simmer down, babe, and tell me what's wrong."

"They're doubting us. They're fucking doubting us!"

It's been two months since they had met. No, they weren't necessarily together, but everyone knew that they had reserved themselves for each other.

"They say we're too young to amount to anything else." He exhaled deeply. "This is not how I wanted to start my morning."

She walked up to him and placed her hands on his chest. "Look around, look at us."

"What about us?"

Her fingers traced down his body to meet with his, fingers intertwined. "We worked too damn hard for this just to give it up now."

Michael looked down at his feet, exhaling deeply, knowing what Scarlett said was true. They had gone through a lot within the span of two months. They shouldn't be letting anyone get in between them.

"If we don't keep swimming, we'll drown."

She lifted his chin up to kiss him.

//

The thought never failed to cross his mind: buying a pair of plane tickets, a shiny, diamond promise ring on the side. Running away would be paradise. After all, the deadbeat town they both lived only kept them down.

Michael had realized how sure he was of Scarlett. All he wanted was her. To spend the rest of their lives together. No one else, just him and her happily together. That way no one could tear them apart.

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I had a hard time writing this chapter and I'm still not satisfied with it.