Corrupt Me

nine

I have another spare at the end of the day so I make sure I am ready for when Michael finishes his last class.  I don't want to make him late for his practice and make him angry with me.

Finally the bell rings and the students usher into the hall.  I stand off to the side making sure I am not in anyone's way.  As I wait for Michael I realize that people will notice if Michael and I walk out together. Oh no. 

As Michael gets to him locker I nonchalantly walk over to mine and pretend to grab something.  "So how do you want to do this?"  I whisper.

He looks over at me with his eyebrows raised.  "What?"

"I mean, people will notice if I just walk out with you and get in your car."

He chuckles, "I don't know Emily.  Maybe you should walk down a block and I will pick you up around the corner."  He grabs a textbook from his locker.

"That is a great idea! Okay I'll be waiting for you on the corner of Birch and Meadow."  I say as I shut my locker.

"I was just kidding but okay.  We can do that I guess."

I see Kyla speed up to get to me so I quickly walk away from Michael.  "Hey do you need a ride home?"  

"Nah, I kinda wanted to walk today.  It's a nice day and I ate lots of junk food yesterday."  I reply.

"Really?  You never want to walk home."  She laughs, "and you definitely don't have to walk off any calories Em.  But okay, whatever floats your goat."  We continue to talk about random stuff as we head to the parking lot.  I wave goodbye as she gets in her car.  Then I start walking to the corner I am meeting Michael.

Once I get there Michael is already waiting for me.  "You are crazy.  Like actually crazy."  He laughs as I hop into his car.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever.  Do you have a hat or something to cover up my head and sort of hide my face?"

He bursts out laughing at my ridiculousness.  "No, but I have a hoodie."  He reaches into the back as we pull up to a stop sign.  "Here you can put this on."  

"Thanks."  I say quickly.  I feel stupid but I really don't want people to think things that aren't true.  I pull it over my head and immediately I can smell him.  It smells absolutely wonderful. 

"Don't you have your own hoodie?"  He asks.

"No."  I saw quietly.  "I am not allowed to own them."

"You what?  I couldn't hear you."  He says with a little smirk.

"I am not allowed to own them, okay?"  I say louder.

"Do you have a lot of rules like that?" He laughs.

"Yes."

"Is that why you dress like that?"  He nods his head pointing to my outfit and laughs.

I go quiet and put the hood up, turning so I can look out the window. "Yeah." I speak softly.

"Hey,"  he looks over at me, "look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude.  I just- ugh fuck- I am sorry."  I look over at him and he is gripping the steering wheel tighter. 

"No, it's okay."  We sit in silence for the rest of the drive.

We pull up to a house I am assuming is where the band practice is.  "So do you wanna sit out here for an hour?  Or do you want to come inside?  You can watch us or do homework or something I don't know." He grabs his guitar from the back of his car.