Branded

Chapter 10

He's no longer holding me when I wake up. The sound of a guitar echos from the level below me. I walk downstairs silently and find him staring out a window strumming chords. I stand and listen for a while.

"You can come closer, ya know" he finally says without turning to face me. I take a few more steps and sit beside him. The window is open and the air is cool on my bare legs. I scoot closer to Michael to warm up. He continues to play his guitar for a little longer. I listen and recognize the tune: Latch by Sam Smith. I find myself quietly singing the words.

Michael looks over and smiles, "You have a nice voice."

I silence myself immediately. I don't sing around anyone except for Lee. Michael smirks a little and encourages me to sing some more. I shake my head and just listen to him play. He laughs a little before moving closer to me. He starts to sing the words of the chorus in my ear. His voice cracks every so often. I can't help but laugh a little.

"I'm latching onto you" he says before kissing my cheek.

"How long have you been playing guitar?" I ask

"Since I was little. Just somethin' I've always done. Do you play?"

I shake my head a little too fast. I used to play when I was younger. I was pretty good, but my dad and I had to move and I couldn't find a new teacher.

Michael stands up and takes me back to his room. He sits criss-cross on his bed and pulls me into his lap. My back presses against his chest and my heart skips a little. He puts his guitar in front of me and puts his hands around my wrists.

"Hold it like this." He says placing my arms in the familiar position. He places his fingers over mine and helps me to form chords. He strums every so often before having me take a turn. He holds my hands in his as he guides them to where they need to be. He teaches me how to play again and I feel safe in his arms.

I lean back into him, and we both lay back in the bed. He puts the guitar aside and just pulls me close to him. I curl into him and wrap my arms around him. He twirls his fingers in my hair and heaves a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong?" I ask

"Nothing, baby girl, just thinking." he replies.

"About what?"

He pauses for a while, "You."

"What about me?"

"About how I-" he pauses for a while as if he were choosing his words carefully, "About how lucky I am that you actually came home with me. You do like me, don't you?"

"Well..." I feel my face getting warm, "Yes, I do."

"Good. I like you too." he says before turning and kissing me.

- Lee's POV -

Sand is everywhere. Its in my hair, my clothes, on the blankets, but I don't care. Calum's soft skin counters the rough sand. He's breathing slowly and seems so relaxed. I sit up and to see the sun just starting to color the sky. Calum inhales deeply and starts to move. He places his hand on my lower back and speaks in his soft morning voice, "Are you alright, babe?"

"What time is it?" I ask staring out over the ocean.

"I'm not sure. Why?"

"I have school"

"Its not that early, Lee. You're fine. You don't even need to go today. Your finals are done and there's only a few days left anyways. Just stay with me for the day." Calum offers.

"I can't do that Calum. I've got Nikki and - oh shit, what is Nikki going to think? She's probably worried sick about me." I get up fast and start to brush all the sand off.

"Whoa, whoa slow down," Calum grabs my wrist and pulls me down. I kneel in front of him and he just smiles, "I'm sure your friend is fine. Michael probably took her home anyways."

"No, Nick would never go for that. She doesn't open up to people and would never go home with a stranger." I insist.

"But Michael isn't a stranger anymore. She's known him for a while, and besides, she likes him."

"I know she likes him, but she's too good to go with him. She can play bad when its just me and her, but she would probably stop herself if things got too heated. She denies herself happiness a lot."

"I have faith in her and Michael that they're either sleeping right now or-" He stops and just smirks a little.

I shake my head, "Is that all guys ever think about when they see a girl?"

"Pretty much" Calum says shrugging.

"Of course. Thank you for that insight into your mind." I stand and throw the blanket at him and storm up the beach. I ignore the pounding in my head and Calum calling me back. At least Calum took me to the beach I know. I start to jog and suppress the lump in my throat.

I hear Calum curse at himself and kick his car before I start to run. Tears start to stream down my face as I'm running, but it don't know whether its from pain or if its from leaving Calum behind. Either way, I don't stop running until I get to my flat. I run in, close the door, and crumble to the floor in tears.

I don't know what I was thinking. How could someone like Calum, a person in and out of jail, fall for someone like me? Of course he only sees me as an object for his use and not a person. How could I be so stupid? And yet, it hurts so bad.

I curl into a ball and just start to whisper the words of the first song that comes to mind. Out of pure exhaustion, I fall asleep.