Escaping Polygamy ~Muke

(8)

"Mikey?" I whisper into the home phone we had stored away for only emergencies, and well, in my mind, Michael counted as an emergency.

"Luke?" the voice of an angel asks from the other side. I sigh in relief that it was the right number. With phone in one hand, I hold the slip of paper in the palm of the other. I couldn't help but smile at the fact he dotted his 'i' with a heart in his name like some teen girl. God I loved him. When I don't answer after a while, Michael asks even more worried, "Luke? Are you okay?"

No

"Yeah. Just missed you was all," it was mostly true. I did miss him, but I wasn't completely okay. Everything was catching onto me and I couldn't take much more, "I just really needed to hear your voice right now."

"You sure you're okay?" He asks again.

I nod, tears stinging my eyes. When I realize he can't see me, I respond, "Yeah. Can you just keep talking? I wanna just listen."

"Yeah... Okay. Um...," he pauses to think, "I'm thinking of dying my hair again... Your favorite color this time."

I hum in delight, finding it sweet he would do that. He continues again when I don't say anything, "I was thinking. Wouldn't it be nice for me to take you out on a date. Like a real one. Not just some short meeting in the bleachers. A nice dinner and movies."

I'm left speechless, not expecting that at all. I clear my throat to compose myself, "I don't know. My mom.."

"I mean, it's okay if you don't want to. I'd understand," he interrupts, disappointment evident in his voice.

"No. I would love to go, but my family is very strict..." I start. He's left quiet on the end as if he was thinking.

"You're right. It was a stupid idea in the first place," he still sounded so disappointed that it broke my heart.

"No. It's a great idea," I knew I was gonna regret what was coming out of my mouth next; I squeezed my eyes shut and said it, "This Monday, after school. You're gonna take me on the best date ever."

"Ya, sure? Your mom is okay with that?" He questions. His voice was more hopeful now. It made me smile.

"Yeah, it's cool," I lie. It was bad to lie, but I'd figure something out. To change the subject I say, "Now tell me about your day. Every single detail and then some. Don't stop talking... Your voice is amazing."

And he does. Going on and on about his day. I wasn't interested much, but the sound of him talking was the trick into lulling me asleep. I was in hiding, so that night I ended up sleeping in an old closet in the hall.m, with the phone tucked under my ear as I listened.

I dreamed again about Michael that night. It wasn't bad or anything. Just a romantic possibility of us on a date. It was beautiful and so perfect that I woke up with a smile on my face.

--

"Lukey? What are ya doing in the closet ,silly?"

I crack an eye open to see Zoe standing at the doorway of the closet I accidentally fell asleep in. She wore her blonde hair into the usual pigtails, and dressed in an old dress of Hadley's.

"Playing hide'n'seek. Ohp! You found me," I try to hide the lie with a joking laugh. Zoe believes me automatically, bursting into a fit of laughter herself. After a while I start again, "Now it's your turn. Go hide and I'll find you."